Search results

1 – 10 of 43
Article
Publication date: 2 January 2024

Fushu Luan, Wenhua Qi, Wentao Zhang and Victor Chang

The connection between digital manufacturing technologies (Industry 4.0) and the environment has sparked discussions on firms' disclosure of negative information on pollutant…

Abstract

Purpose

The connection between digital manufacturing technologies (Industry 4.0) and the environment has sparked discussions on firms' disclosure of negative information on pollutant emissions and the pursuit of positive environmental outcomes. However, very few studies explore how it relates to a firm's robot usage and its mechanism. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impacts of robot penetration on firms' environmental governance in China.

Design/methodology/approach

The ordered probit model (and probit model) are employed and empirically tested with a sample of 1,579 Chinese listed firms from 2010 to 2019.

Findings

The study reveals a negative relationship between robot usage and the disclosure of negative indicators and a U-shaped relationship between robot usage and positive environmental outcomes. Among the sample, nonstate-owned enterprises (SOEs) display unsatisfactory performance, while heavily polluting industries disclose more information on pollutant emissions. The robot–environmental governance nexus is conditional on firm size, capital intensity and local economic development.

Originality/value

The study proposes a fresh view of corporate environmental governance to assess the environmental implications of robot adoption. It also contributes to identifying the curvilinear, moderating and heterogenous effects in the robot–environment nexus. The results provide rich policy implications for the development of industrial intelligence and corporate environmental governance in the circular economy (CE) context.

Details

Information Technology & People, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-3845

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 19 September 2018

Weilin Yang, Wentao Zhang, Dezhi Xu and Wenxu Yan

Robotic arm control is challenging due to the intrinsic nonlinearity. Proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controllers prevail in many robotic arm applications. However, it is…

Abstract

Purpose

Robotic arm control is challenging due to the intrinsic nonlinearity. Proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controllers prevail in many robotic arm applications. However, it is usually nontrivial to tune the parameters in a PID controller. This paper aims to propose a model-based control strategy of robotic arms.

Design/methodology/approach

A Takagi–Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy model, which is capable of approximating nonlinear systems, is used to describe the dynamics of a robotic arm. Model predictive control (MPC) based on the T-S fuzzy model is considered, which optimizes system performance with respect to a user-defined cost function.

Findings

The control gains are optimized online according to the real-time system state. Furthermore, the proposed method takes into account the input constraints. Simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the fuzzy MPC approach. It is shown that asymptotic stability is achieved for the closed-loop control system.

Originality/value

The T-S fuzzy model is discussed in the modeling of robotic arm dynamics. Fuzzy MPC is used for robotic arm control, which can optimize the transient performance with respect to a user-defined criteria.

Details

Assembly Automation, vol. 38 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-5154

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 November 2021

Hong Jiang, Kazuyuki Motohashi, Wentao Liu and Xu Zhang

This study aims to investigate the relevance of knowledge-oriented leadership (KOL) to technology standard innovation (TSI) from a temporary-team perspective. The mediating and…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relevance of knowledge-oriented leadership (KOL) to technology standard innovation (TSI) from a temporary-team perspective. The mediating and moderating effect on knowledge integration (KI) and leader–member exchange (LMX) is emphasized.

Design/methodology/approach

The conceptual model is built based on an exhaustive literature review and is empirically tested in terms of a sample of 341 Chinese individuals with TSI experience. Quantitative analysis was performed using a questionnaire with the bootstrapping method used to demonstrate the mediating effect of KI.

Findings

The empirical results of this study prove that KI mediates the relationship between KOL and TSI. The authors deduce that LMX moderates the positive relation between KOL and KI.

Originality/value

Few studies have investigated the innovation activities of technology standards from a temporary-team perspective. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to look into the underlying mechanism of KOL in TSI. This research deepens the analysis by introducing LMX’s moderating role in the innovation process of technology standards, thereby providing valuable insights for leaders of innovation activities of technology standards and illuminating new aspects of knowledge-intensive temporary-team management.

Details

Journal of Knowledge Management, vol. 26 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1367-3270

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 October 2019

Yanzhong Wang, Guanhua Song, Wentao Niu and Yaping Zhang

The purpose of this paper is to provide an analytical method of jet flow injection direction and to determine the influence of oil nozzle structure parameters on oil injection…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an analytical method of jet flow injection direction and to determine the influence of oil nozzle structure parameters on oil injection direction, thus providing the design method of oil nozzle structure parameters.

Design/methodology/approach

A model of oil injection loss is established to analyze the influence of oil nozzle structure parameters on oil injection direction. The computational fluid dynamics method is used to simulate the process of the deviation of jet flow injection direction. The deviation of jet flow injection direction with different oil nozzle structure parameters is calculated and their variations are obtained. Moreover, the deviation of jet flow injection direction with different oil nozzle structure parameters is tested to verify the analysis results.

Findings

Results indicate that radial velocity caused the deflection of the oil injection direction. The deviation of jet flow increased as the nozzle slenderness ratio decreased. The design method of the nozzle slenderness ratio (greater than five) is proposed to avoid the deviation of injection direction, and it is necessary to consider the matching between the nozzle slenderness ratio and pipeline pressure. The computational results coincide well with the experimental results.

Originality/value

The research presented here analyzed the influence of oil nozzle structure parameters on oil injection direction via a numerical analysis method. It also leads to a design reference guideline that could be used in jet lubrication, thus controlling the direction of the injection jet accurately.

Details

Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, vol. 73 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0036-8792

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 23 February 2024

Yang Zhang, Wentao Zhou and Xiaoyao Pan

This article empirically tests the impact of risk appetite of the executive team on the re-innovation strategy after technological innovation failure using a panel regression…

Abstract

Purpose

This article empirically tests the impact of risk appetite of the executive team on the re-innovation strategy after technological innovation failure using a panel regression model from the perspective of regional financial development level of enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

By means of time series global principal component analysis and panel regression model method, the study validated and analyzed the impact of risk appetite of the executive team on the re-innovation strategy after enterprise technological innovation failure.

Findings

The research found that the higher the risk appetite of executive team, the more inclined the enterprise is to choose the “focusing on quantity, ignoring quality” re-innovation strategy after technological innovation failure. The better the financial development level of the region where the enterprise is located, the better it can effectively reduce the re-innovation strategy of “focusing on quantity, ignoring quality” of the enterprise due to the high risk appetite of the executive team.

Originality/value

The findings of this study are helpful in improving the financial development level of the region where the enterprise is located. It can help the executive team of the enterprise to more objectively choose the innovation strategy after technological innovation failure, and reduce the phenomenon that the executive team of the enterprise only pays attention to the quantity of re-innovation and underestimates the quality of re-innovation after technological innovation failure due to its high risk appetite.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 October 2020

Mingkang Zhang, Yongqiang Yang, Wentao Qin, Shibiao Wu, Jie Chen and Changhui Song

This study aims to focus on the optimized design and mechanical properties of gradient triply periodic minimal surface cellular structures manufactured by selective laser melting.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to focus on the optimized design and mechanical properties of gradient triply periodic minimal surface cellular structures manufactured by selective laser melting.

Design/methodology/approach

Uniform and gradient IWP and primitive cellular structures have been designed by the optimized function in MATLAB, and selective laser melting technology was applied to manufacture these cellular structures. Finite element analysis was applied to optimize the pinch-off problem, and compressive tests were carried out for the evaluation of mechanical properties of gradient cellular structures.

Findings

Finite element analysis shows that the elastic modulus of IWP increased as design parameter b increased, and then decreased when parameter b is higher than 5.5. The highest elastic modulus of primitive increased by 89.2% when parameter b is 6. The compressive behavior of gradient IWP and primitive shows a layer-by-layer way, and elastic modulus and first maximum compressive strength of gradient primitive are higher than that of gradient IWP. The effective energy absorption of gradient cellular structures increased as the average porosity decreased, and the effective energy absorption of gradient primitive is about twice than that of gradient IWP.

Originality/value

This paper presents an optimized design method for the pinch-off problem of gradient triply periodic minimal surface cellular structures.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 26 no. 10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 18 September 2023

Wentao Gu, Lixiang Li, Shangfeng Zhang and Ming Yi

The purpose of this article is to explore the impact of the firm's entrepreneurship for the transformation of circular economy (CE). The role of entrepreneurship is thought to be…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to explore the impact of the firm's entrepreneurship for the transformation of circular economy (CE). The role of entrepreneurship is thought to be important for the process of four Rs in the CE, and the authors have tried to study the role and impact path of entrepreneurship in CE.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical data from Chinese listed firms are collected, and a measure of digital technology is constructed by text mining method. Mediation analysis method is used to test the proposed hypothesis.

Findings

The results show that the innovation entrepreneurship has a significant positive impact upon the CE and digital technology is playing a mediating role in the impact path. However, the business entrepreneurship is negatively affecting the CE adoption. Also, the proportion of shares hold by the institution has a heterogenous influence for the innovation entrepreneurship.

Practical implications

This study guides policy makers about the role of entrepreneurship and the mediating effect of digital technology and to encourage the adoption of CE for firms.

Originality/value

This study reveals the mediation effect of digital technology in the impact of entrepreneurship on CE in the emerging market. The heterogeneity of the proportion of shares hold by the institutions is also analyzed in the empirical study.

Details

Management Decision, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0025-1747

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 18 November 2021

Yingjie Zhang, Wentao Yan, Geok Soon Hong, Jerry Fuh Hsi Fuh, Di Wang, Xin Lin and Dongsen Ye

This study aims to develop a data fusion method for powder-bed fusion (PBF) process monitoring based on process image information. The data fusion method can help improve process…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to develop a data fusion method for powder-bed fusion (PBF) process monitoring based on process image information. The data fusion method can help improve process condition identification performance, which can provide guidance for further PBF process monitoring and control system development.

Design/methodology/approach

Design of reliable process monitoring systems is an essential approach to solve PBF built quality. A data fusion framework based on support vector machine (SVM), convolutional neural network (CNN) and Dempster-Shafer (D-S) evidence theory are proposed in the study. The process images which include the information of melt pool, plume and spatters were acquired by a high-speed camera. The features were extracted based on an appropriate image processing method. The three feature vectors corresponding to the three objects, respectively, were used as the inputs of SVM classifiers for process condition identification. Moreover, raw images were also used as the input of a CNN classifier for process condition identification. Then, the information fusion of the three SVM classifiers and the CNN classifier by an improved D-S evidence theory was studied.

Findings

The results demonstrate that the sensitivity of information sources is different for different condition identification. The feature fusion based on D-S evidence theory can improve the classification performance, with feature fusion and classifier fusion, the accuracy of condition identification is improved more than 20%.

Originality/value

An improved D-S evidence theory is proposed for PBF process data fusion monitoring, which is promising for the development of reliable PBF process monitoring systems.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 28 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 May 2024

Gan Zhan, Zhihua Chen, Zhenyu Zhang, Jigang Zhan, Wentao Yu and Jiehao Li

This study aims to address the issue of random movement and non coordination between docking mechanisms and locking mechanisms, and proposes a comprehensive dynamic docking…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to address the issue of random movement and non coordination between docking mechanisms and locking mechanisms, and proposes a comprehensive dynamic docking control architecture that integrates perception, planning, and motion control.

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly, the proposed dynamic docking control architecture uses laser sensors and a charge-coupled device camera to perceive the pose of the target. The sensor data are mapped to a high-dimensional potential field space and fused to reduce interference caused by detection noise. Next, a new potential function based on multi-dimensional space is developed for docking path planning, which enables the docking mechanism based on Stewart platform to rapidly converge to the target axis of the locking mechanism, which improves the adaptability and terminal docking accuracy of the docking state. Finally, to achieve precise tracking and flexible docking in the final stage, the system combines a self-impedance controller and an impedance control algorithm based on the planned trajectory.

Findings

Extensive simulations and experiments have been conducted to validate the effectiveness of the dynamic docking system and its control architecture. The results indicate that even if the target moves randomly, the system can successfully achieve accurate, stable and flexible dynamic docking.

Originality/value

This research can provide technical guidance and reference for docking task of unmanned vehicles under the ground conditions. It can also provide ideas for space docking missions, such as space simulator docking.

Details

Industrial Robot: the international journal of robotics research and application, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-991X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 April 2022

Can Ban, Na Na Pu, Yi Fei Zhang and Ma Wentao

This article aims to develop an accurate and efficient meshfree Galerkin method based on the strain smoothing technique for linear elastic continuous and fracture problems.

Abstract

Purpose

This article aims to develop an accurate and efficient meshfree Galerkin method based on the strain smoothing technique for linear elastic continuous and fracture problems.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposed a generalized linear smoothed meshfree method (LSMM), in which the compatible strain is reconstructed by the linear smoothed strains. Based on the idea of the weighted residual method and employing three linearly independent weight functions, the linear smoothed strains can be created easily in a smoothing domain. Using various types of basic functions, LSMM can solve the linear elastic continuous and fracture problems in a unified way.

Findings

On the one hand, the LSMM inherits the properties of high efficiency and stability from the stabilized conforming nodal integration (SCNI). On the other hand, the LSMM is more accurate than the SCNI, because it can produce continuous strains instead of the piece-wise strains obtained by SCNI. Those excellent performances ensure that the LSMM has the capability to precisely track the crack propagation problems. Several numerical examples are investigated to verify the accurate, convergence rate and robustness of the present LSMM.

Originality/value

This study provides an accurate and efficient meshfree method for simulating crack growth.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 39 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

1 – 10 of 43