Cable chains are essential in the semiconductor industry for preventing the twisting or sagging of moving cables. They can be broadly categorized into two types based on their fastening methods, with rivet-based assembly being the most common. An alternative method utilizes integral locking features without rivets, which simplifies manufacturing and reduces production costs. However, integral cable chains are more susceptible to breakage during assembly, limiting their use in various industrial environments.This study introduces a structural design approach aimed at minimizing localized stress during assembly while ensuring the cable chain meets the required retention force. Design variables were selected from the modifiable features of the integral cable chain. Through sensitivity analysis, we identified key variables that significantly influence the retention force, which allowed us to reduce the number of design iterations. By employing finite element analysis and response surface methodology, we derived an optimal shape that achieved the target pull-out force and resulted in a 9.7% reduction in assembly stress compared to the original design.

The future mobility industry is increasingly utilizing advanced tools for cutting and machining lightweight parts to enhance the fuel efficiency of automotive engines. Machining companies are turning to polycrystalline diamond (PCD) tools to boost productivity in the production of these lightweight components. PCD tools provide exceptional machining performance and a long service life, making them ideal for high-mix, low-volume production, which often involves customized requirements for various materials. To further improve efficiency, this study explores the application of metal 3D printing technology in the manufacturing of PCD tools. This technology allows for the creation of PCD tools with superior cutting performance and wear resistance, tailored for high-speed machining of lightweight materials, including complex shapes. Thus, research into this area is essential. In this study, we manufactured boring tools by brazing PCD tips onto three different laminated structures created using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), a method within metal 3D printing technologies. We then evaluated the fabricated boring tools through comparative machining experiments against existing sintered PCD boring tools. The results indicated that the 3D-printed solid tools demonstrated no significant differences in machining accuracy or surface quality compared to the conventional tools.

The Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) experiment is commonly employed to assess the dynamic mechanical properties of materials under high strain-rate conditions (10²-10⁴ s-¹) through the propagation of elastic stress waves via pressure bars. The precision and dependability of SHPB measurements are heavily influenced by the alignment of the specimen with the bars. Misalignment can lead to flexural vibrations, causing waveform distortion and undermining the assumption of one-dimensional stress waves. While previous research has explored the impact of misalignment on waveform characteristics, pinpointing the specific sources of distortion from measured signals remains a challenge. This study introduces a machine learning-based classification method that extracts features from distorted SHPB waveforms to identify the type of misalignment. Incident wave signals under various misalignment scenarios were simulated using the commercial finite element software LS-DYNA, and the extracted features were utilized to create a training dataset. Several machine learning models, including XGBoost, were trained and evaluated, with XGBoost yielding the highest accuracy and F1-score. The trained model was then applied to experimentally measured distorted waveforms to validate its effectiveness. This proposed approach facilitates the automated diagnosis of distortion sources in SHPB data, reducing the need for manual interpretation and improving analysis efficiency.

This paper presents model-based hysteresis and cross-coupling compensators designed for precise control of a piezoelectric fast steering mirror (FSM). The hysteresis compensators are developed by inversely modeling the variation in the force constant relative to various excitation voltages, enabling the system to maintain linear response characteristics across a broad range of input amplitudes. The cross-coupling compensator is formulated by creating a decoupling matrix that cancels out coupling effects, generating signals of equal magnitude and opposite phase for each axis. The implementation of these compensators reduces the hysteresis band and magnitude uncertainty in the FSM dynamics by over 89.6% and 74.2%, respectively, while also significantly suppressing cross-coupling effects by more than 85.5%. Furthermore, the performance of the proposed compensators is validated in a closed-loop control system, demonstrating a notable reduction in cross-axis vibrations and improved tracking performance in response to step reference inputs and highfrequency sinusoidal trajectories.

The rising demand for robots in warehouses has highlighted the need for efficient multi-robot algorithms. In response, researchers have focused on Multi-Agent Path Finding (MAPF), which enables multiple agents to calculate conflict-free paths to their individual goals. However, the computation time of conflict-based MAPF algorithms significantly increases as the number of conflicts rises, a common challenge in warehouse environments with narrow passages or corridors. To tackle this issue, this study introduces a new type of conflict called “Overlap Conflict.” Overlap Conflicts occur when an agent stops, causing chain conflicts among subsequent agents traveling in the same direction. When an Overlap Conflict arises, the affected agents are dynamically merged into a single group, shifting the conflicts from an individual level to a group level. If the merged agents find themselves with unreachable goals, they are split back into individual agents to continue calculating paths to their respective destinations. This approach effectively reduces computation time in congested environments, particularly in narrow corridors where alternative routes exist.

We present an extrusion-based dispensing system designed for the planar patterning of tungsten ink through direct ink writing. This system achieves uniform ink deposition by precisely controlling the dispensing pressure and the motion of the substrate along predefined writing paths. To assess the impact of pressure on pattern geometry, we fabricated line patterns under various pressure conditions and analyzed their widths and thicknesses. To gain further control over pattern width, we employed an adjacent line overlapping strategy, where several lines, each approximately 200 μm wide, were written with partial overlap. We quantitatively verified the relationship between the number of adjacent lines and the resulting pattern width. This method was also adapted to create planar patterns with complex geometries, including variable widths, curved paths, and discontinuous features. The resulting patterns demonstrated uniform quality and precision. These findings confirm that our proposed system provides a versatile solution for fabricating planar conductive patterns with intricate geometries, suitable for applications in printed electronics and interconnects.

Balloon catheters are a key technology in medical devices, essential for minimally invasive procedures. This study quantitatively analyzes how the orientation characteristics of polymer tubes, influenced by extrusion conditions, affect the mechanical properties and compliance of the final balloon—where compliance refers to the change in diameter under external pressure. Nylon 12 tubes, with a target outer diameter of 1.2 mm and an inner diameter of 1.0 mm, were extruded under six different orientation conditions by varying the screw flow rate and puller speed. The tubes were processed under identical forming conditions, allowing for a consistent evaluation of their mechanical properties. As orientation increased, elongation decreased while yield strength increased, and these trends continued in the balloon, significantly influencing compliance. To quantitatively measure orientation, we introduced the dimensionless Deborah number. We established a curve-fitted experimental model that links extrusion conditions, polymer tube properties, and balloon compliance. This model allows for the prediction of balloon performance based on extrusion-stage parameters, providing a practical framework for process optimization. Overall, this study offers an effective quantitative indicator for forecasting balloon catheter performance based on extrusion conditions and supports the systematic design of medical balloon products.

All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) utilizing non-flammable inorganic electrolytes are gaining significant attention due to safety concerns associated with conventional lithium-ion batteries. Among various oxide electrolytes, lithium lanthanum titanate (LLTO) demonstrates high ionic conductivity at room temperature but is prone to lithium loss at elevated sintering temperatures. In this study, we employed electrostatic spray deposition (ESD) at 250℃, followed by flash light sintering within milliseconds using a xenon lamp. This approach enabled the production of dense and highly crystalline LLTO thin films with minimal lithium evaporation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis confirmed reduced porosity at 650V, while X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed stable lithium content. Additionally, X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated the formation of a cubic perovskite structure that is beneficial for ionic transport. This rapid and scalable process shows promise for producing high-quality LLTO electrolytes, thereby enhancing the safety and performance of next-generation ASSBs.

This study evaluates the structural design and safety of the CanSat in launch environments. The CanSat serves as an educational replica satellite, allowing users to experience the design and operation of small satellites. To ensure stable operation during launch, the structural analysis and design must consider external forces, including vibration and acceleration loads. We determined the material properties for the structure and conducted modal and random vibration analyses, comparing the results with launch environment data from NASA, ECSS, Falcon 9, and Soyuz-2. Additionally, we performed an acceleration load analysis using actual data from CanSat launches during competitions. The modal analysis indicated that the first natural frequency was 65.34 Hz, which exceeds the required threshold. The random vibration and acceleration load analyses further confirmed the structural safety of the design. While the data from NASA and ECSS were conservatively set, reflecting higher vibration intensities, the Falcon 9 and Soyuz-2 launch vehicles provided relatively lower vibration environments due to differences in their designs. Overall, the results demonstrate that the CanSat's structural integrity is maintained under the conditions analyzed for Falcon 9 and Soyuz-2.

Fretting corrosion results from microscopic abrasion of connector contacts and is influenced by environmental conditions in automotive applications. This study designed and fabricated test equipment capable of evaluating fretting corrosion characteristics at low temperatures. A temperature–humidity environmental chamber was used, and a compact test jig box was created to fit inside it. The specimen was positioned outside the box and fully exposed to low temperatures, while the driving components were enclosed inside the box. To ensure their reliable operation, warm air was supplied using vortex tubes, maintaining the internal box temperature above 0oC even when chamber conditions reached −40℃. A hemispherical-tip jig was also produced to enable consistent specimen preparation. Experiments conducted at −40℃ used a constant current–resistance method to measure output signals. The system successfully captured accurate and stable resistance changes corresponding to displacement cycles. These findings indicate that the developed equipment provides stable low-temperature operation and reliable measurement performance. Therefore, the system is expected to support fretting corrosion characterization across a wide range of environments, including low-temperature, high-temperature, and temperature-cycling conditions.

This paper presents a method for the real-time detection of pipeline leaks using flexible Acoustic Emission (AE) sensors. The signals gathered from the AE sensor are transformed into RGB images through the application of Mel-spectrogram and color coding. These converted images serve as input for a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) based on ResNet18. With this approach, both the presence and intensity of leaks in a pipeline can be identified using the AE sensor. The effectiveness of the proposed method was validated through data collected from a testbed featuring a galvanized pipe.

This study presents a vertically deployable rotor-sail structure utilizing multi-layer Sarrus linkages. The structure fully extends during sailing to maximize Magnus lift and compresses to less than half its length for docking. An analytical beam model integrates link thickness, mid part spacing, and centrifugal loading to predict deflection and mass. Parametric comparisons of two-layer, six-layer, and twelve-layer configurations reveal that the twelve-layer design reduces structural mass by 90% while meeting an L/1000 deflection limit. Dynamic simulations using RecurDyn confirm that mid part segmentation decreases damping time and reduces peak stress, thus enhancing deployability and mechanical reliability. The findings offer quantitative design guidance for high-speed rotating deployable structures.

Sensing the internal temperature of lithium-ion batteries is particularly useful for reliable battery operation as both electrochemistry and mass transport are dictated by local temperature. In this article, we review in operando techniques to monitor the internal temperature of lithium-ion batteries during charging and discharging. We categorize existing techniques into two groups: invasive and non-invasive approaches. Invasive techniques include optical fibers, thermocouples, and resistance temperature detectors as a thermometer. Non-invasive methods cover the temperature estimation techniques, namely electrochemical impedance spectroscopy as well as X-ray thermometry. For both approaches, we review working principle of thermometry, pros and cons of each thermometry, and recent studies to tackle relevant technical challenges. This review provides useful information for internal temperature measurements, offering chances for thermally reliable battery operation.

This study presents a performance evaluation platform for sputtered thin-film electrodes used in biogas-driven, low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The design considerations include electrolyte material composition and thickness, anode material composition and thickness, anode fuel composition, and cathode composition and thickness, all derived from a review of existing literature. For the electrolyte, we propose a thickness of 100 μm for the main electrolyte made of gadolinium-doped ceria (GDC) and 0.1 μm for the auxiliary electrolyte made of scandia-stabilized zirconia. In terms of anode fabrication, we suggest a material composition of Ru/Ni-Cu-GDC, with thicknesses of 1 μm for Ni-Cu-GDC and a few nanometers for Ru in the nanoporous anode. For the anode fuel supply, we recommend mole ratios of 45% to 75% CH₄ and 25% to 55% CO₂ to assess the impact of biogas composition on power performance. Lastly, for the cathode, we propose a material composition of Pt-Ti-samarium-doped ceria with a thickness of 100 nm for the nanoporous structure.

Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) has emerged as a promising technique for fabricating thin films that enhance the performance of solid oxide fuel cells and solid oxide electrolysis cells. ALD allows for precise control over film thickness and composition at the atomic level, resulting in uniform and dense thin films. These characteristics enable the deposition of thin, homogeneous layers of various materials onto the porous electrode surfaces of solid oxide cells, thereby increasing electrochemical activity and reducing activation losses. Additionally, thin-film electrolytes produced through ALD can achieve high ionic conductivity and low ohmic losses, facilitating a reduction in the operating temperature of solid oxide cells. This review summarizes recent research trends in applying ALD technology to the fuel electrode, air electrode, and electrolyte of solid oxide cells and discusses design strategies aimed at improving efficiency and long-term stability.