An adiabatic calorimeter operating over the range 5 to 300 K has
been automated. Instrumentation includes computer controlled data
acquisition, a low-thermal emf multiplexer for switching low-level dc
signals, and automatic analog shield controls. Temperature
measurements are made with platinum and germanium resistance
thermometers, and the thermometer resistances are determined...
A simulation study of end-of-aisle order picking AS/R systems
is made with special emphasis on improving the system throughput by
introducing a zone near the home (Input/Output) location on each side
of the aisle, for storing partially picked pallets. The study considered
class-based-turnover assignment policies, one with a zone and...
Plywood production scheduling for years has been
considered, more or less, a sacred activity in which only
a select group of individuals with the experience and
knowledge could take part. With the advancements in
computer technology and related fields, the plywood
industry is in a position where more people can...
In this research, an analytical model for analyzing a production line consisting of a series
of automated workstations with infinite buffers is developed. Automated workstations are
assumed to have deterministic processing times, and independent exponentially
distributed operating time between failures and repair times. The analytical model starts
with existing results...
Industrial operations are becoming more mechanized and
automated. The increasing complexity of work affects the proportion
of physical to mental effort which workers spend in the performance
of their jobs. Traditional work measurement techniques which are
primarily designed to measure the individual's physical load have to
be complemented with other...
An automated multielement flame atomic fluorescence (AF) spectrometer based on microcomputer control was constructed to determine four elements simultaneously. The instrument employs a multiple exit slit monochromator where the light from various exit slits is directed to a single detector with a mirrored funnel. Each element is excited to fluoresce...
Automation of Capacitor Discharge Welding (CDW) has not been investigated in
industry due to the limited understanding of the process. The US Department of Energy's Albany Research Center (ALRC) has done an extensive study of the process and reported applications of welds in the manufacture of electro-mechanical products such as...
Capacitor discharge welding (CDW) is a rapid solidification joining process under
the influence of one-dimensional thermal gradients. Although CDW is useful for joining
small parts and dissimilar metals, CD welded joints have a large variability in weld
strength. CDW is not widely accepted because of a lack of automated process...
The creation of autonomous decision makers to handle potentially hazardous or logistically complicated tasks is desirable for the purpose of reducing human labor and exposure to risk, and for increasing the general performance of autonomous systems in a wide variety of environments. However, traditional autonomous decision makers perform poorly when...
Continuous integration (CI) systems automate the compilation, building, and testing of software. Despite CI rising as a big success story in automated software engineering, it has received almost no attention from the research community. For example, how widely is CI used in practice, and what are some costs and benefits...