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2015

When crane payloads are lifted off the ground, the payload may unexpectedly swing sideways. This occurs when the hoist cables are at an angle relative to vertical and the payload is not directly beneath the hoist.  Because the hoist point is far above the payload, it is difficult for crane operators to know if the hoist cable is perfectly vertical before they start to lift the payload.  Some amount of horizontal motion of the payload will always occur at lift off.

If an off-centered lift results in significant horizontal motion, then it creates a hazard for the human operators, the payload, and the surrounding environment. This paper presents dynamic models of off-centered lifts and experimental verification of the theoretical predictions. The inverse problem of lowering a payload down to the ground can also be very challenging, for example when laying down a long, distributed payload from a near-vertical orientation in the air, to a horizontal position on a flat surface.

This paper presents motion-control solutions that aid operators to perform challenging lay-down tasks.

William Singhose
Professor
Georgia Institute of Technology
Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering

Kelvin Peng
Graduate Research Assistant
Georgia Institute of Technology
Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering

Anthony Garcia
Graduate Research Assistant
Georgia Institute of Technology
Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering

Aldo Ferri
Associate Professor
Georgia Institute of Technology
Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering

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2015

The development of complex products and systems requires a thorough concept phase.

Especially the integration of different engineering domains and the mapping of the product requirements to domain specific functions and solution components call for this focus on early stages. Several methodical approaches are in place to support concept phase from requirements engineering to function, product logic, structure, and components.

However, tool support in the early phases of systems engineering lacks integration and also requires new competences from design engineers.

The paper focusses on tools and methods for early engineering design phases and presents preliminary results of a systems engineering and a doctoral programme on Cyber-Physical Production Systems (CPPS).

Detlef Gerhard
Full Professor
Mechanica Engineering Informatics and Virtual Product Development (MIVP)
Technische Universität Wien
Faculty of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

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2015

Is it a challenge or is it an opportunity? Usually the answer to this question depends on one´s own perception. When we look at the challenges we are facing regarding climate change, growing energy demand and volatile energy prices, or scarcity and depletion of ressources, any company developing products and/or services has to develop it´s own position - whether taking resposibility is a challenge or an opportunity. In this paper the systematic approch of ECODESIGN and its implementation in product development is presented, considering the availabible methods and standards, and is illustrated with a real (rolling stock) product example.

Sustainable product development, Ecodesign, Life Cycle Assessment, Product Carbon Footprint, Environmental Product Declaration.

Wolfgang Wimmer
Professor
Vienna University of Technology
Faculty of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Institute for Engineering Design and Logistics Engineering
ECODESIGN / Sustainable Product Development

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2015

With the defnition of Industry 4.0 as a combined research and innovation effort in the German industry, ideas have been focused on the future of manufacturing in Germany.

The producers of equipment as well as their customers face major challenges with regard how to make use of the opportunities which new technologies in mechatronics and IT have created.

This article presents recent developments in research on material handling systems. They have been started before the term “Industry 4.0” has been defined. However, with the goal to enable easily reconfigurable systems in a Plug&Play (or Plug&Work) manner, research has started around 2008, supplying prototypes and ideas for cyber-physical systems for Industry 4.0.

Kai Furmans
Professor 
KIT, Karlsruhe, Germany
Institute for Material Handling and Logistics

Andreas Trenkle, Zäzilia Seibold and Maximilian Hochstein
Research Associate
KIT, Karlsruhe, Germany
Institute for Material Handling and Logistics

Thomas Stoll
Group leader control systems
KIT, Karlsruhe, Germany
Institute for Material Handling and Logistics