Volume 14, Issue 3, 2019/Journal Proceedings in Manufacturing Systems

¹⁾Assist. Prof., PhD Student, Robotics and Production Systems Department, University "Politehnica" of Bucharest, Romania
²⁾ Lecturer, PhD., Robots and Manufacturing Systems Department, University "Politehnica" of Bucharest, Romania

³⁾ Student, Robots and Manufacturing Systems Department, University "Politehnica" of Bucharest, Romania

⁴⁾ Student, Robots and Manufacturing Systems Department, University "Politehnica" of Bucharest, Romania

Abstract: The paper presents the conceptual design, virtual prototype achievement and the real physical system implementation of a test stand for electric motor cascading PID control using a modified firmware version of an ODrive motor controller in order to control both, brushless and brushed DC electric motors. The goal of this firmware update and of the tests that are presented in the paper is to show that this new firmware upgrade allows brushed DC motors to be PID controlled by the ODrive controller board and not only the brushless motors for which the board was initially developed. The project was developed in four stages. During the first stage the core system components – the brushed DC motor, the controller and the encoder – were integrated and the issue of correct impulse reading was addressed. During the second stage the experimental stand was built. In the third stage, the PID control algorithm was implemented. The fourth stage consisted of measurements regarding the angular accuracy of the motor spindle positioning using the previously developed algorithm. The initial version of the controller board is dedicated only to brushless motors, but with current firmware upgrade the cheaper brushed motors can be PID controlled proficiently. The firmware upgrade will also allow low latency force-feedback that will allow future improvements and control optimization. Results from testing of the positioning closed loop control are presented.

Key words: Brushed motor, Brushless motor, cascading PID, motor controller, position control, force feedback.

pp. 91-96 View full text

Enabling political conditions for an implementation of upskilling pathways for adult population in Italy

Claudio Maria VITALI

National Coordinator EU Agenda for Adult Learning (IT) INAPP – National Institute for Analysis of Public Policies, Rome, Italy

Abstract: The extent of the phenomenon of functional illiteracy in Italy is extremely worrying. The data presented in the article, mainly from the OECD-PIAAC Survey, show that a large proportion of the adult population does not have enough literacy, numeracy skills and lack of digital knowledge. Moreover, there is an equally low level of educational attainment, with some 13 million citizens not acquiring a secondary school degree. In addition to the obvious impact on the competitiveness of the national economy and the difficulty for this part of population to address and support the challenges of innovation and changes in production processes, this fragility impacts on people-to-people relations, on the possibility of exercising their citizenship rights and on participation in the active and democratic life of the country. The article, considering AES and LFS Eurostat sources, highlights how the growth in participation in training and educational processes is extremely slow, even considering that the baseline remains well below the European average and, therefore, far from the benchmark ET2020 set at 15% in 2020. Effectiveness of governance and quality of educational and training provision are discussed in detail, both in terms of principles and general approaches and by offering concrete indications of measures and system actions with respect to which to concentrate resource investments. The article also revives the notion of positive discrimination policies based on the territorial dimension rather than on specific target groups, while reviving the notion of neighbourhood, educating community and territorial network for lifelong learning and guidance, as contexts to support individuals in their personal growth.

Key words: Adult low skilled, low qualified, governance, educational strategies, lifelong learning and guidance, neighbourhood, educational community, territorial networks.

pp. 97-106 View full text

Experimental investigation of an IRB 120 robot thermal behavior for heat sources and thermal field distribution identification

Constantin DUMITRAȘCU¹, Adrian Florin NICOLESCU^2*, Cozmin CRISTOIU³

¹⁾ PhD, Eng., Department Quality Engineering and Industrial Technologies, University "Politehnica" of Bucharest, Romania

²⁾ PhD, Prof., Department of Robots and Manufacturing Systems, University "Politehnica" of Bucharest, Romania

³⁾ Assistant professor, PhD Student, Department of Robots and Manufacturing Systems, University "Politehnica" of Bucharest, Romania

Abstract: The paper presents an original approach on experimental research on industrial robot thermal behavior. The experiments were developed in the ABB National Centre for direct and assisted programming of industrial robots, from Department of Robots and Manufacturing Systems, Faculty of Industrial Engineering and Robotics, Politehnica University of Bucharest. The experimental research had as main purpose to verify the preliminary assumptions regarding main heat sources in IR’s thermal behavior and thermal field distribution on IR’s main partially assemblies. The experimentally research has been conducted following up specific requirements of ISO 9283-1998 Manipulating industrial robots ‒ Performance criteria and related test methods were focused on preliminary experimentally evaluation of an ABB IRB 140 industrial robot by mean of an infrared ThermaCam SC 640 equipment for two different speed ranges working cycles. Main results obtained from experimental research and data processing confirm initially assumption on heat sources identification and supply important information about thermal field distribution. Specific external maximum temperature of each IR’s partially assembly and the thermal field distribution on each IR’s partially assembly were clearly identified as well as their temperature variations along both specific programmed experimentally work cycles. Further applicative research (FEM) and experimentally works (with laser tracker system) will be performed for future evaluation of the specific thermal displacements of IR’s tool center point along same working cycles.

Key words: industrial robot behavior, heat sources, thermal field distribution, infrared camera, thermal image, thermal data processing.

pp. 107-112 View full text

Developing the adult education training programs through educational projects: lessons learned and perspectives

Teodora Daniela CHICIOREANU1, Nicoleta LITOIU²

¹⁾ Prof., PhD, Department for Teaching Career and Social Sciences, University "Politehnica" of Bucharest, Romania

²⁾ Prof., PhD, Department for Teaching Career and Social Sciences, University "Politehnica" of Bucharest, Romania

Abstract: Among other research centers of University "Politehnica" of Bucharest, the CAMIS Centre has participated in several international educational projects, financed by European Union, on domains such as: Welding technologies, Circular Economy, 3D Printing, Augmented Reality. By request, the interested adults can follow one or more professional training program, free of charge, by accessing the online e-learning CAMIS platform. This paper presents some feedback results of the training program which has been designed and implemented in the Project Circular €conomy Digital Training Toolbox to foster Innovative Green Entrepreneurs ‒ Eng@ge Project - together with experienced partners from Spain, Greece, Malta, UK, Bulgaria. More details can be found on the Project website (http://www.engage-ce.eu/). The training program designed during the implementation of this European Project can be attended in five different languages (English, Romanian, Bulgarian, Greek and Spanish). In this way, an increased number of adults could benefit from accessing the training program in order to change economy by developing their skills in the specific areas of expertise. Accordingly, the set of tools developed by the Project experts is complex and useful in various types of learning situations as well as suitable for different needs of adults who want to learn about Circular Economy. By direct observation of the participants’ reactions during the training sessions and by analyzing the participants’ feedback, the project experts were able to change the content of program or to validate their judgments related to the changes necessary to be made. For example, the training program has been transformed and can be offered into an e-learning course, as well.

Key words: Adult education, Educational project, E-learning platform, On-line training program, Augmented Reality, Circular Economy.

pp. 113-118 View full text

Age management in adult education policy in Slovakia

Klaudius SILHAR1, Lea SZABOVA-SIROVA²

¹⁾ Ph.D., President, Association of Adult Education Institutions, Bratislava, Slovakia

²⁾ Assist. Prof., Ph.D., Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia

Abstract: The research study addresses the demographic trend of population aging which is at the beginning of the 21st century not only a social risk but also a significant social challenge. Responding to the need for fair access to employees of different ages in employers' organizations is the concept of age management which originated in Finland in the early 1980s. Age management covers the different dimensions of human resource management within an organization, with an emphasis on adequate representation of age groups. In this context, the intention is to increase the readiness of employers' organizations to create an environment with adequate representation of individual age groups, to create working conditions "friendly to the elderly" and to apply forms and methods of education with respect to the age specifics of the workforce. The study was based on the absence of a politically guided approach to the application of age management in the field of human resources management in employers' organizations in Slovakia. The aim of the study is therefore to define the competency framework for an age management advisor for the needs of employers' organizations and their employees when implementing age management practices. The study has a theoretical-empirical character. The theoretical and methodological bases of the studied subject are the biodromal concept of human development, the theory of lifelong learning, the theory of intergenerational learning, the theory of activity and the theory of continuity. In the theoretical part, the research focuses on the analysis of relevant age-related resources (transnational and national policy papers, research studies and examples of good practice). The study also provides an overview of the demographic situation in Slovakia, which confirms the trend of population aging, as well. A questionnaire was selected for data collection in the empirical part of the research.

Keywords: aging population, age management, age management advice, adult learning, education policy, human development.

pp. 119-123 View full text

Thermal digital plates versus process free plates in heatset web offset

Răzvan RĂCHERU¹, George CONSTANTIN², Dorin Vasile PIȚIGOI³

¹⁾ Prof., PhD, Robots and Manufacturing Systems Department, University "Politehnica" of Bucharest, Romania

^{2, 3)} PhD Student, Robots and Manufacturing Systems Department, University "Politehnica" of Bucharest, Romania

Abstract: This paper presents conclusions derived from testing the new type of process free plates during normal production runs obtained on offsets, heatset type printing machine, compared to developed thermal digital plates. The plates were compared based on quality of the print, durability and cost effectiveness. On the surface of the plate there are printing areas and non-printing zones that behave differently. The printing areas are oleophilic and at the same time hydrophobic to which the ink adheres. Non-printing zones have an opposite behaviour being hydrophilic and thus oleophobic. In order to achieve the required quality of the printed product, the developed thermal digital plates have to be very stable across the tonal range and the normal life cycle of the developing solution in the processor bath. With the process free plates, there is no need to develop the plates, the removal of the nonprinting coating being done under the action of the dampening solution present on the printing machine rollers.

Key words: thermal digital plates, process free plates, offset printing lithography.

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