An interactive wheeled vehicle simulator is described, consisting of a software application for simulating vehicle dynamics and presenting the results in virtual 3D environment, and a haptic interface. The latter consists of a hydraulically actuated active seat and an electrically activated active steering wheel. The system makes it possible to simulate wheeled vehicles of various configurations on arbitrary terrains. The design of the system is presented and the specific considerations are discussed. The system was experimentally verified by measurements on a real off-road vehicle. The kinematic values measured on the real vehicle and those, measured on the haptic interface were compared. The results are discussed and are generally found to correspond well, making the system usable for studying vehicle performance and training its operators.
COBISS.SI-ID: 12122139
The objective of this study was to determine precise localization and externaldiameter of the lower abdominal wall perforators as well as to investigate some vascularity differences between the same parts of perfusion zones II and III according to Hartrampf perfusion zones. The study was performed on 10 fresh cadavers (20 hemiabdomens) using the gelatin injection technique. All perforators were identified, and their localization and diameter were noted. Measurements were made at the level of the fascia. We noted localization and diameter of arteries on cross-sectional planes of either part of the flap. The median sum of the external diameter of all arteries in zone I was 17.01 mm. The median sum of the external diameter of all arteries in the medial 1/3 part of zone III was 4.17 mm, and in the medial1/3 part of zone II, it was 0.96 mm. The median sum of the external diameter of all arteries in the intermediary 1/3 part of zone III was 2.16 mm,whereas in the intermediary 1/3 part of zone II, it was 0.81 mm. Significant differences were recorded between proximal and middle horizontal regions of zones II and III and between medial vertical part of zone III and medial vertical part of zone II. Anastomoses between zones I and II are considerably smaller compared with anastomoses between zones I and III. The best vascularized parts of the lower abdominal wall were perfusion zone I, then the inner 2/3 of zone III and medial 1/3 of zone II.
COBISS.SI-ID: 29658329
The paper describes an overview of the development of the magnetic refrigeration technology at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (UL) in the last six years (2006-2012). The short review and the basics of the magnetic refrigeration technology are described in the introduction of the paper. The second part of the paper presents the development of the prototype of the rotary magnetic refrigerator developed at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. The basic operational principle and the analysis of the magnet assembly of the prototype are shown, and furthermore, some constructional problems which enable efficient operation are described as well. In the third part of the paper the developed and built experimental device for the analysis of the active magnetic regenerator (AMR), as the key element of the magnetic refrigerator, is presented. It has been shown that the geometry of the AMR has a crucial impact on the operation of the magnetic refrigerator. The innovative technology for the construction of the AMR based on the laser welding is presented and described as well. The final part of the paper presents the future work in the field of magnetic refrigeration, which includes the alternative solution for a faster heat transfer in the AMR by using thermal diodes.
COBISS.SI-ID: 12594459
A new AMR experimental device has been designed, built and successfully tested. Its operation is based on the linear movement of the permanent magnet assembly over the static AMR. Two pistons serve for the counter fluid flow operation. The magnet assembly provides a magnetic field of 1.15 T (measured). Experiments have been performed for different kinds of regenerators at different operation conditions (mass flow rate and operation frequency) in order to obtain maximum temperature span (at zero load conditions) and cooling capacity at different temperature spans. In this paper, the results are presented for the AMR consisted of gadolinium (Gd) plates and voids with thickness of 0.25 mm. Maximum temperature span of 16 K was measured and 7 W of the cooling capacity was measured at 1 K of the temperature span. The second part of the paper regards the comparison between experimental and numerical results (of the previously developed numerical model).
COBISS.SI-ID: 12461851
The paper presents a driving simulator of a combat vehicle aimed for driver-vehicle interaction studies and design of a full-scale driving simulator. The simulator incorporates a real-time combat vehicle dynamics simulation module, a graphical presentation module, a robotic seat motion system, and a haptic steering system. The simulation module simulates dynamic motion and interaction with the environment of a combat vehicle in real-time. The graphical presentation module generates driving scenes that are displayed on a screen by a back projection. The robotic system generates seat motion cues by means of a three degree-of-freedom hydraulically driven mechanism. The force feedback steering system built on the basis of a torque controlled induction motor is an interface between the driver and the simulator. The developed driving simulator is validated through comparison of motion and force feedback responses with those measured with real vehicle when performing standard test manoeuvres. The results verify matching in simulated and real driving environments.
COBISS.SI-ID: 9165652