Hydraulic rescue spreaders are used by emergency response personnel to extricate occupants from a vehicle crash. A lighter and more portable rescue spreader is required for better usability and to enable utilization in a variety of scenarios. To meet this requirement, topological synthesis, dimensional synthesis, and an optimization were used to develop a solution linkage. The topological synth...

The relationship between form and function can have profound effects on evolutionary dynamics and such effects may differ for simple versus complex systems. In particular, functions produced by multiple structural configurations (many-to-one mapping, MTOM) may dampen constituent trade-offs and promote diversification. Unfortunately, we lack information about the genetic architecture of MTOM fun...

Mantis shrimp (Stomatopoda) generate extremely rapid and forceful predatory strikes through a suite of structural modifications of their raptorial appendages. Here we examine the key morphological and kinematic components of the raptorial strike that amplify the power output of the underlying muscle contractions. Morphological analyses of joint mechanics are integrated with CT scans of minerali...

This paper discusses a practical example of machining crank shafts, which are the central part of compressors made in mass production, in order to point out the importance of selecting proper machining parameters and presenting their further relation to product quality. As the shaft’s dimensions varied significantly after machining in comparison to the prescribed one, an analysis of the relatio...

Alterations in kinetic patterns of pedal force and crank torque due to changes in surface grade (level vs. 8% uphill) and posture (seated vs. standing) were investigated during cycling on a computerized ergometer. Kinematic data from a planar cine analysis and force data from a pedal instrumented with piezoelectric crystals were recorded from multiple trials of 8 elite cyclists. These measures ...

In this paper, we design planar nR serial chains that provide one degree-of-freedom movement for an end-effector through five arbitrarily specified task positions. These chains are useful for deployment linkages or the fingers of a mechanical hand. The trajectory of the end-effector pivot is controlled by n-1 sets of cables that are joined through a planetary gear system to two input variables....