Abstract:The adoption of open innovation and peer production, powered by 3D printing technology, is transforming traditional manufacturing methods towards a "third industrial revolution". The purpose of this research is to provide empirical evidence for an integrated approach, based on collaborative product development and peer production, combined with 3D printing, to deliver more sustainable, yet competitive, marketable products. In particular, this experimental study is conducted in the context of mobile forensics, an emerging market where limited expensive products exist and alternative solutions are needed. The technical viability and economic feasibility of the prototype developed in this research validate the proposed integrated approach, which could be a game-changer in the field of mobile forensics, as well as in other sectors. The sustainability improvements with this approach are a reduction of the total cost, thereby making it affordable for lower income users, and a decrease in energy consumption and pollutant emissions. The validated integrated approach offers start-up opportunities to develop and deliver more sustainable, marketable products, towards the paradigm of Open Sustainable Innovation. While the device developed and tested in this research has similar features to existing products, the methodology, implementation, and motivation are original.

This paper presents the modular design and control of a novel compliant lower limbmulti-joint exoskeleton for the rehabilitation of ankle kneemobility and locomotion of pediatric patients with neurological diseases, such as Cerebral Palsy (CP). The device consists of an untethered powered knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO), addressed as WAKE-up (Wearable Ankle Knee Exoskeleton), characterized by a position control and capable of operating synchronously and synergistically with the human musculoskeletal system. The WAKE-up mechanical system, control architecture and feature extraction are described. Two test benches were used to mechanically characterize the device. The full system showed a maximum value of hysteresis equal to 8.8% and a maximum torque of 5.6 N m/rad. A pre-clinical use was performed, without body weight support, by four typically developing children and three children with CP. The aims were twofold: 1) to test the structure under weight-bearing conditions and 2) to ascertain its ability to provide appropriate assistance to the ankle and the knee during overground walking in a real environment. Results confirm the effectiveness of the WAKE-up design in providing torque assistance in accordance to the volitionalmovements especially in the recovery of correct foot landing at the start of the gait cycle.

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Early biofilm colonization takes place in Montgomery Safe-T-Tubes in most cases. The mechanical decay could be justified in part by the destructive biofilm activity and by the release of inflammatory effectors and enzymes.

bstract Background: In this paper we describe a configurable system based on laser displacement sensors for the contactless acquisition of 3D and 2D shapes of near-planar objects such as the paintings. Methods:The system is based on two single-point laser triangulation sensors, a planar robot and a suite of software for driving the sensors, acquiring and post-processing the collected data. As a demonstration of the developed system we monitored three artifacts with the different aims to monitor the elastic properties of the artworks and the effectiveness of support frames in compensating the micro-climate fluctuations: the "Annunciazione" Antonello da Messina, the "Paliotto di San Domenico", and the "Portiera Oddi-Montesperelli". Results:In the "Annunciazione" case, the canvas response to tensioning trials was analyzed. The collected data permitted to quantify a maximum displacement of 0.9 and 1.5 mm for the tensioning tests at 1 and 2 mm, respectively. In the "Portiera" case, the displacement difference between the left and right canvas sides was (1.0 ± 0.13)%, due to the inherent anisotropy of the material and by the structure of the artifact. In the "Paliotto" case, instead, minor displacement variations of the gilt leather due to the environment were observed, due to the analysis conducted prior of the restoration. Conclusions:The overall obtained results demonstrated that the system is able to provide useful data for the art conservation field, with a max inaccuracy less than 100 μm.