Irene Tamagnone, Maura Casadio, Vittorio Sanguineti
This study investigates motor skill learning in a specific situation in which the only information provided on performance consists of a reward signal. Subjects performed a point-to-point movement. After the end of the movement we displayed a score based on the distance from a hidden via-point - the maximum score corresponds to the via-point belonging to the trajectory path. The score was the sole information available on task performance and subjects got no additional clues of how to make it high. The task is highly redundant, as infinite trajectories are compatible with the maximum score....
TC18 Symposium 2013
· TC18
· 2013
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Takashi Sakamoto, Toshiyuki Kondo
In robotic rehabilitation context, it has been believed that having an active motor intention is a crucial factor. However, the effectiveness of passive motor learning with/without motor intention has not been clearly understood. To clarify this question, we investigate whether passive arm movements by a robotic manipulandum affect the motor learning of an arm-reaching task under an unfamiliar visuomotor rotation. Experimental results suggest that passive motor experiences have positive effect on the motor learning, even though it is signi?cantly smaller than active motor learning. Moreover,...
TC18 Symposium 2013
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· 2013
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Tetsuro Funato, Koji Hashizume, Shinya Aoi, Nozomi Tomita, Kazuo Tsuchiya
Human standing motion shows long-term perturbation. The present research considers this perturbation is a limit-cycle solution of nonlinear PID control including nonlinear proportional control and integral control, and shows the existence of such controls in human experiment.
TC18 Symposium 2013
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· 2013
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Shinya Aoi‚ Tetsuro Funato‚ Nozomi Tomita‚ Kazuo Tsuchiya
In the present study, we developed a neuromusculoskeletal model for human running and performed computer simulation of the running gait. We constructed the musculoskeletal part of the model based on biomechanical findings and constructed the nervous system model based on physiological findings of central pattern generators and muscle synergy. We investigated functional roles of the nervous system to produce the running gait and examined the dynamic characteristics during the running gait.
TC18 Symposium 2013
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· 2013
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Se Jin Park, Murali Subramaniyam, Moon Kug Moon, Dong Gyun Kim
Watching 3D on TV bombards the eyes and brain with a succession of flashing images that appear for a fraction of a second. This technology puts potential health risks such as visual fatigue, motion sickness, lingering depth perception problems, disorientation and decreased postural stability, especially children and teenagers may be more susceptible to health issues associated with viewing in 3D. This study performed the visual fatigue assessment of watching 3D on TV in teenagers (age: 18.81 ± 0.53 years) by electroencephalogram (EEG) for brain waves and subjective evaluation. A total of 27...
TC18 Symposium 2013
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· 2013
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Vahit Ciftci, Basak Akselli Yilmazkaya, Hakan Kaykisizli
Investigation of the blockage effects of the mechanical anemometers that are located at the end of the wind tunnel during the calibration process is one of the important research projects in the flow metrology. The presence of anemometer and its support structure that are placed at the end of the wind tunnel causes a reduction in the cross sectional area of the flow and hence a variation in the velocity distribution. It is evident that the flow rate and so the flow velocities are changed by a factor “ k ”, strongly depending on the frontal area of the anemometer with its support structure...
W. Rawes, M. L. Sanderson
This paper describes work which has been undertaken to identify individual gases and gas mixtures employing techniques which are based solely on ultrasonic means. The method employs broad-band capacitive ultrasonic transducers to measure the transmission of ultrasound over a wide range of frequencies across the gas or gas mixture under investigation. The results can be used to infer the composition of the gas and thus estimate such properties such as the density or calorific value of the gas or gas mixtures. The relevance of this work is mainly in its use in the gas distribution and...
P. Schley, R. Kleinrahm, M. Jaeschke, R. Janssen-van Rosmalen, J. A. Schouten
The paper presents a new correlative energy measurement method developed under a joint project of Ruhrgas AG, Germany, and Nederlandse Gasunie N. V., the Netherlands. The paper mainly refers to the results obtained from a previous feasibility study proposing a method using as input parameters dielectric permittivity, speed of sound and CO 2 mole fraction. On the basis of these input parameters, superior calorific value and natural gas composition can be determined. Total uncertainty envisaged for superior calorific value is 0.2 %. Initial laboratory tests confirm that the uncertainty...
Ronald A. Berg, Jan G. Drenthen
This paper describes the design and operation of a new reference calorimeter based on a flameless combustion technique. Within this technique, a mixture of (reference) gas and air is passed over a noble metal element that is electrically heated to a constant temperature. The gas is oxidized as it encounters the temperature of the noble metal element and rises above auto-ignition temperature within a small combustion cavity. The precise value of the electrical energy, required to heat the element, is stored. The same procedure is again carried out with the (unknown sample) gas and the same...
Eliphas Wagner Simões, Rogério Furlan, Dong Ho Choi
This paper is focused on the study of microfluidic devices implemented in silicon. Microactuators with no moving parts, microfluidic amplifiers, were integrated with microchannels. The operation of the obtained devices was analyzed in terms of gas flow control and division. Considering flow control, the devices presented proportional and symmetrical behavior with high proportional flow gains (output flow/control flow), similar to fluidic amplifiers with supply hydraulic diameters higher than hundreds of microns. For operation with flow division, a transition to a linear behavior between the...