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Machines, Volume 3, Issue 4 (December 2015) – 6 articles , Pages 268-378

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633 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Trends and Potential of the Market for Combine Harvesters in Germany

by Clemens Fuchs, Joachim Kasten and Mathias Urbanek

Machines 2015, 3(4), 364-378; https://doi.org/10.3390/machines3040364 - 27 Nov 2015

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 10744

Abstract

Combine harvesters used today can achieve throughput rates of over 70 tons of grain per hour; however, their technical performance potential is currently not being exhausted by any means. The global market for combine harvesters, its stocks and recent production is described. According to farm size distribution and regional field sizes, Germany was divided into three combine-harvesting regions. The simulation results show that in Germany about 45,000 units of combine harvesters in three performance categories are necessary. However, the calculations also show that future domestic sales of combine harvesters will depend greatly on the service life of the units currently in use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery)

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1721 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Double Lighting Machine Vision System to Monitor Harvested Paddy Grain Quality during Head-Feeding Combine Harvester Operation

by Mahirah Jahari, Kazuya Yamamoto, Munenori Miyamoto, Naoshi Kondo, Yuichi Ogawa, Tetsuhito Suzuki, Harshana Habaragamuwa and Usman Ahmad

Machines 2015, 3(4), 352-363; https://doi.org/10.3390/machines3040352 - 13 Nov 2015

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 6042

Abstract

A machine vision system to evaluate harvested paddy grain quality during harvesting using double lighting was developed. The prototype consisted of a low-cost web camera and two lighting systems: a ring white LED for front lighting, and a flat dome white LED light for backlighting. Both lighting systems were arranged in a coaxial axis, making the system simple, compact and easy to handle. The aim of the system is to analyse the captured images and determine the amount of unwanted materials (rachis branch, grass and leaves, and stems) and damaged grain (brown and crack rice) present in the paddy as it is being harvested. In this paper, we introduce the first step in the development of the system: the design and selection of components to optimize the performance of the system to monitor harvested paddy grain quality. The idea would be to mount the system on top of the inlet channel of the grain tank of a combine harvester to provide real-time assessment of harvesting operational parameters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery)

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1729 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrated Voltage—Current Monitoring and Control of Gas Metal Arc Weld Magnetic Ball-Jointed Open Source 3-D Printer

by Yuenyong Nilsiam, Amberlee Haselhuhn, Bas Wijnen, Paul Sanders and Joshua M. Pearce

Machines 2015, 3(4), 339-351; https://doi.org/10.3390/machines3040339 - 03 Nov 2015

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 10187

Abstract

To provide process optimization of metal fabricating self-replicating rapid prototyper (RepRap) 3-D printers requires a low-cost sensor and data logger system to measure current (I) and voltage (V) of the gas metal arc welders (GMAW). This paper builds on previous open-source hardware development to provide a real-time measurement of welder I-V where the measuring circuit is connected to two analog inputs of the Arduino that is used to control the 3-D printer itself. Franklin firmware accessed through a web interface that is used to control the printer allows storing the measured values and downloading those stored readings to the user’s computer. To test this custom current and voltage monitoring device this study reports on its use on an upgraded all metal RepRap during the printing of aluminum alloy (ER1100, ER4043, ER4943, ER4047, and ER5356). The voltage and current data were analyzed on a per alloy basis and also layer-by-layer in order to evaluate the device’s efficacy as a monitoring device for 3-D printing and the results of the integrated design are discussed. Full article

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2536 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Awakening the Synthesizer Knob: Gestural Perspectives

by Arvid Jense and Berry Eggen

Machines 2015, 3(4), 317-338; https://doi.org/10.3390/machines3040317 - 28 Oct 2015

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 6279

Abstract

While being the primary mode of interaction with mainstream digital musical instruments, the knob has been greatly overlooked in its potential for innovation. In this paper, we aim to open up the thinking about new possibilities for the knob. Based on an analysis of the background of the knob and the relevant theory on interaction, three directives are formulated to guide the design of a new breed of knobs. Six prototypes are tested through an AttrakDiff questionnaire and Discourse Analysis. It is shown that the proposed new breed of knobs has stronger hedonic qualities than knobs of mainstream digital musical instruments, though the pragmatic quality appears lower. The strongest improvement is seen in stimulation, an important factor in enticing investment to play, and as such, more expressive control. Through using three directives, a new generation of knobs can be made that would improve the expressive affordances of digital musical instruments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tangible meets Gestural)

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901 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Vuur: Exploring Shared Interaction with Light

by Sander Dijkhuis, Serge Offermans and Saskia Bakker

Machines 2015, 3(4), 296-316; https://doi.org/10.3390/machines3040296 - 21 Oct 2015

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4298

Abstract

As LED lighting technology becomes omnipresent, lighting environments become more advanced and allow for adjusting various parameters such as color, brightness, and saturation. This poses challenges for interaction design, particularly when lighting environments are shared between multiple users. This paper presents “Vuur”: a shared physical interface with which users can control lighting in meeting room environments through gestures on the interface’s surface. A research-through-design exploration involving five variations of an experienceable Vuur prototype revealed that the interface enabled groups of participants to explore, and reach consensus about, shared lighting preferences. The findings are presented in four themes that emerged from qualitative analysis of the performed user studies: lighting needs, continued interaction, peripheral interaction, and shared interface. This early exploration of shared interaction with light lays out opportunities and insights for tangible and gestural interaction in the emerging domain of interactive lighting systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tangible meets Gestural)

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1220 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tangible Cooperative Gestures: Improving Control and Initiative in Digital Photo Sharing

by Elise Van den Hoven and Tom Van Bergen

Machines 2015, 3(4), 268-295; https://doi.org/10.3390/machines3040268 - 30 Sep 2015

Viewed by 4170

Abstract

This paper focuses on co-present digital photo sharing on a notebook and investigates how this could be supported. While analyzing the current digital photo sharing situation we noticed that there was a high threshold for visitors to take control of the personal computer of the photo owner, resulting in inequity of participation. It was assumed that visitors would have the opportunity to interact with the notebook more freely if this threshold was lowered by distributing the user interface and creating a more public, instead of personal, interaction space. This, in turn, could make them feel more involved and in control during a session, creating a more enjoyable experience. To test these assumptions a design prototype was created that stimulates participants to use tangible artifacts for cooperative gestures, a promising direction for the future of HCI. The situation with the cooperative gestures was compared with the regular digital photo sharing situation, which makes use of a keyboard. In dyads, visitors felt more involved and in control in the design prototype cooperative gestures condition (especially during storytelling), resulting in a more enjoyable digital photo sharing experience. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tangible meets Gestural)

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