Abstract
Introduction: Electric motors account for approximately 65% of global industrial electricity consumption, mainly due to oversizing and the use of inefficient flow-control methods.

To address this issue, the adoption of high-efficiency electric motors and the widespread adoption of variable frequency drives (VFDs) have emerged as key strategies for energy savings. However, the successful implementation of these technologies depends not only on technological innovation but also on the availability of robust standardized evaluation and classification procedures.

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) introduced the IEC 61800-9-2:2023 standard, which defines testing procedures and classification systems for variable-speed electric drives. Nevertheless, its suitability for advanced variable-speed electric drives, such as Permanent Magnet-assisted Synchronous Reluctance Motors (PMa-SynRM) systems, operating under realistic industrial load profiles and harsh industrial conditions remains insufficiently validated.

Methods: In this work, an experimental study was conducted on a commercial PMa-SynRM driven by a Yaskawa A1000 VFD, comparing system losses obtained using the IEC 61800-9-2:2023 test procedure against an alternative method based on thermal stabilization at the eight standardized operating points.

Results: The comparison revealed consistent discrepancies between the IEC-based approach and the thermal stabilization method, with the largest deviations occurring away from rated conditions. These findings have relevant implications for the comparison of different power drive system (PDS) technologies.

Conclusion: For PMa-SynRM operated with Yaskawa A1000, the IEC 61800-9-2:2023 procedure leads to inaccurate loss measurements under practical load conditions. Therefore, the following recommendations are proposed: (i) consider thermal stabilization for the eight standardized operating points, and (ii) avoid misinterpretation and improve the technical suitability of IEC 61800-9-2, developing separate IEC standards, one for induction motors and another for synchronous
motors.

With the accelerated global intelligent transformation of the manufacturing industry, artificial intelligence (AI) technology has exhibited enormous application value in the ceramic industry. In particular, the integration of AI with robotics and mechatronics has become a key driving force for its intelligent production lines, automated processing, and real-time quality inspection. To explore current development and typical applications of AI in the ceramics field, especially its integration with robotics and mechatronic systems, this study retrieved 3,773 patents from 2014 to 2024 via the IncoPat database, and adopted a combination of quantitative statistics and trend identification to analyze their development trends, legal statuses, applicant structures, technical characteristics, application scopes, and research hotspots. The results show that the annual patent applications present an overall upward trend, with China accounting for 84%. Valid patents account for 53.30%, while a high proportion of lapsed and withdrawn patents indicates that commercialization and maintenance costs remain key bottlenecks. Universities and local equipment manufacturers constitute the main applicants; the technical layout is concentrated in high-end intelligent equipment, mechatronic systems, robotic production lines, quality inspection and material optimization, with IPC classifications concentrated in G01N, G06N and B28B. AI has been applied throughout the ceramic production process, supported by robotics and mechatronics for automated execution, with research hotspots focusing on intelligent manufacturing and production automation, ceramic material optimization and performance prediction, as well as quality control and intelligent detection technologies. This study concludes that China has obvious advantages in the patent layout of AI applications in the ceramics field, but faces problems such as insufficient commercialization of high-value patents, low data sharing and lagging patent examination systems. It is suggested that the ceramic industry should strengthen the international patent layout, unify data standards, improve the patent examination system, and carry out interdisciplinary research combining AI, robotics and mechatronics to break through technical gaps.

Silicon carbide/polystyrene composites with SiC contents of 1–10 wt% were developed to evaluate their potential as multifunctional materials for mechatronic and electromechatronic components, such as high-precision sensor substrates, dielectric layers for micro-actuators, and EMI-shielding elements. In such systems, materials with tunable permittivity and structural stability are essential in ensuring reliable signal conditioning and stable operation under alternating electromagnetic fields. Structural investigations by SEM and XRD confirmed that highly crystalline \beta-SiC particles (3–15 μm) are successfully dispersed within the amorphous PS matrix. Williamson–Hall analysis revealed that the 7 wt% composite exhibits the largest crystallite size (≈30.23 nm) and the lowest microstrain. This enhanced structural uniformity is critical in maintaining the mechanical integrity of mechatronic assemblies subjected to operational vibrations and thermal cycling. Dielectric spectroscopy showed a systematic increase in permittivity with SiC concentration, attributed to Maxwell–Wagner–Sillars interfacial polarization. This behavior is specifically analyzed in the context of electromechatronic interfaces, where controlled charge accumulation influences insulation performance and signal transmission stability. UV–Vis and FTIR analyses confirmed the chemical stability and improved structural uniformity of the composites. The results demonstrate that SiC/PS composites offer a tunable platform for advanced mechatronic applications, providing the necessary balance between dielectric performance and structural reliability for integrated robotic and electronic systems.

Introduction. Pantograph mechanisms are the most widely used parallel kinematic mechanisms. Their advantages include a single-drive architecture, high dynamic performance, and high positioning accuracy. The application of pantograph mechanisms is increasingly expanding in mobile robotic platforms and scissor lifts. Nevertheless, these mechanisms exhibit complex dynamic behavior and require sophisticated analytical and numerical approaches. Consequently, their analysis and modeling, especially considering energy-efficiency requirements, constitute an important practical research problem.

Methods. General methods of static and kinematic analysis were employed in this study. A calculation scheme was formulated, and analytical expressions were derived along with graphical representations of the support reactions, actuator force (driving force), and additional elastic forces as functions of the lever rotation angle.

Results. The scissor lift design additionally incorporates upper and lower extension and compression springs to unload the actuator implemented as a sliding screw–nut transmission. The stiffness coefficients of the additional springs were determined, and their operating conditions were taken into account. In the lower position of the pantograph mechanism, the upper spring is maximally extended; therefore, its force reaches a maximum value. During lifting, this force gradually decreases and becomes zero in the upper position of the platform. The lower spring is maximally compressed in the lower position of the platform and extends during platform lifting and lever rotation up to an angle of α = 25°. Consequently, the influence of the lower spring on the levers is limited, whereas its elastic force magnitude exceeds that of the upper spring. The incorporation of these springs results in a 55.2% reduction in actuator force and a 59.4% reduction in internal forces compared to the configuration without springs.

Conclusions. The incorporation of additional springs into the pantograph lifting mechanism design is justified as an effective approach to reducing the actuator force and the reactions in the supports and joints.

Introduction. In-pipe robots enable non-destructive diagnostics of internal pipeline surfaces in water, oil-and-gas, and process industries, where access is limited and inspection conditions vary substantially. Reliable operation requires adaptive locomotion that maintains traction and stability across diameter changes, bends, joints, and deposits while providing predictable sensor standoff and scan coverage. This paper presents a structural and parametric synthesis approach for designing adaptive locomotion mechanisms for in-pipe robots intended for internal pipeline surface diagnostics.

Methods. A structural–parametric synthesis framework was developed to formalize the pipeline environment as a set of geometric and contact constraints (diameter range, curvature, obstacles, allowable normal forces), generate candidate locomotion structures (multi-module wheeled/tracked and clamping–propulsion hybrid concepts) with explicit compliance and reconfiguration elements, and perform parametric synthesis via constrained multi-objective optimization. Design variables include linkage geometry, module spacing, wheel/track radii, compliant element stiffness, and clamping preload. Objective functions minimize slip risk and energy demand while maximizing traversability (minimum negotiable bend radius and step height) and diagnostic quality indicators (sensor standoff stability and coverage uniformity). The models incorporate quasi-static contact mechanics with Coulomb friction and a simplified actuator capacity model.

Results. Our method produces Pareto-optimal designs that balance traversability, traction margin, and diagnostic stability. Synthesized mechanisms demonstrate improved passability of diameter transitions and elbows while maintaining bounded contact forces compatible with pipeline integrity constraints. Compared with baseline fixed-geometry concepts, adaptive designs yield higher traction margins, reduced sensitivity to friction variability, and more stable sensor standoff, which directly improves the repeatability of surface diagnostic measurements.

Conclusions. Structural and parametric synthesis provides a systematic route for designing adaptive in-pipe locomotion mechanisms tailored to specific pipeline networks and diagnostic tasks. The resulting design maps and Pareto sets support evidence-based mechanism selection and parameter tuning, improving mobility robustness and measurement quality for internal pipeline surface diagnostics.

Introduction. Upper-limb exoskeletons for rehabilitation and assistive therapy must reproduce anatomically plausible motions while ensuring kinematic compatibility with the human arm to reduce parasitic joint loads, discomfort, and misalignment. Achieving this requires a systematic synthesis of mechanism topology and geometric parameters under biomechanical constraints and device-level requirements. This paper addresses the structural and parametric synthesis of biomimetic upper-limb exoskeleton mechanisms aimed at restoring motor functions after neuromuscular impairment.

Methods. A structural and parametric design framework was developed that defines target human joint trajectories and ranges of motion for the shoulder–elbow–forearm chain, generates candidate mechanism structures (serial, parallel, and hybrid linkages with redundant/self-aligning degrees of freedom), and performs parametric synthesis via constrained optimization. The objective functions include kinematic alignment error (distance between anatomical and exoskeleton instantaneous axes/centers), workspace coverage, and isotropy-related metrics, while constraints enforce joint limits, link interference avoidance, and attachment ergonomics. The optimization uses multi-objective search with penalty handling to identify Pareto-optimal solutions and robustness to anthropometric variability.

Results. The proposed approach yields families of feasible exoskeleton mechanisms that match prescribed joint kinematics with reduced alignment error across the rehabilitation workspace. Compared with baseline designs, synthesized mechanisms demonstrate improved workspace consistency and lower sensitivity to user-specific limb dimensions while maintaining compact link lengths and acceptable joint conditioning. The obtained Pareto set highlights trade-offs between alignment accuracy, mechanism complexity, and ergonomic constraints, providing quantitative guidance for selecting structures tailored to specific therapeutic tasks.

Conclusions. Structural and parametric synthesis enables the principled development of biomimetic upper-limb exoskeleton mechanisms that better conform to human joint kinematics and anthropometric diversity. The resulting designs are expected to improve comfort and safety and to support more effective motor function restoration through enhanced human–robot kinematic compatibility.

Low-cost Delta robots manufactured using additive manufacturing technologies are becoming increasing prevalent in educational, research, and light industrial environments. Despite their advantages in terms of cost and flexibility, these systems are typically designed for clean indoor conditions and therefore have limited protection against dust, humidity and water splashes. In particular, the motor enclosure that houses the wiring and internal electronic components often exhibits a low Ingress Protection (IP) rating, restricting operation in harsher or semi-industrial environments.

Improving enclosure tightness to achieve higher IP levels, such as IP54, inevitably reduces natural ventilation and limits heat dissipation. This issue is especially critical because the internal electronic components dissipate residual heat of approximately 5 W, while the enclosure is predominantly made of plastic materials with low thermal conductivity. As a result, increased sealing may lead to elevated internal temperatures that compromise motor reliability, continuous operation, and long-term durability.

To address this trade-off, the present work focuses primarily on CFD-based thermal modelling to reconcile ingress protection with effective thermal management. The methodology includes mechanical redesign of the enclosure in 3D CAD, estimation of internal heat sources, and detailed CFD simulations using ANSYS Fluent, considering steady-state and transient conjugate heat transfer. Several enclosure configurations corresponding to different strategies for achieving equivalent IP ratings are analysed, and multiple thermal enhancement hypotheses—such as modifications to materials, geometry and heat-spreading features—are evaluated and quantitatively compared using CFD.

While the core of this work relies on detailed CFD modelling, simplified experimental measurements are performed to obtain indicative temperature levels and to support the interpretation of the numerical trends, rather than to provide full model validation.

The results aim to identify enclosure design solutions that maintain high IP tightness while ensuring acceptable operating temperatures, enabling the deployment of low-cost Delta robots in more demanding environments without compromising thermal safety or manufacturability.

This work introduces an enhanced reconfigurable shielding mechanism for a novel drone, especially for cultural heritage monitoring, with a particular focus on thermal inspection of heritage buildings using an onboard thermal camera. The proposed mechanism allows for geometric transformation into compliant landing supports during landing operations and reconfiguration into a compact protective enclosure during flight. Experimental investigations identified misalignment problems in which the shield segments did not consistently return to their fully closed configuration. To overcome this limitation, a magnetic locking mechanism was developed by embedding permanent magnetic elements into designated structural sections, thereby ensuring accurate alignment and reliable mechanical locking in flight mode. To ensure reliable performance, the magnetic locking mechanism must provide adequate attractive force to withstand both vibrational disturbances and aerodynamic loads during dynamic flight conditions. Experimental validation confirms that the proposed design achieves substantial improvements in alignment accuracy and mechanical reliability relative to the baseline configuration. Furthermore, the redesigned structure establishes a protective zone around the propellers, thereby enhancing operational safety in confined cultural heritage environments. The magnetic-locking reconfigurable UAV protection system is effective at dealing with the problem of segment misalignment, providing greater resistance to the structure, and protecting the propulsion units during the flight. The experimental results prove that the system provides greater mechanical efficiency and reliability to ensure accurate acquisition of status data for a heritage site.

This work addresses a novel design of a cable-driven parallel robot cube structure. The primary purpose of developing the new robotic structure, as described in this paper, was to integrate the capabilities and skills of 3D printer innovative technology by cable-driven robots and provide high-precision manufacturing by 3D printing capabilities for artistic work of different sizes. The proposed design is intended to operate in a three-dimensional workspace, with the possibility of incorporating more degrees of freedom depending on the specific application requirements. The Cube CDPR structure consists of a mobile platform that has the capability of moving dynamically along the vertical (Z-axis) with sliding movement. This configuration provides increased structural flexibility relative to the rigid and stable platforms typically employed in cable-driven parallel robot architectures. The Cube CDPR structure incorporates four independent motors positioned at the corner edges of the platform. Each motor drives a cable through a pulley system, and coordinated control of cable unwinding and rewinding enables precise regulation of the end-effector position and orientation. The four cables are actuated by stepper motors on the mobile platform, while a fifth control motor adjusts the base position along the Z-axis through vertical sliding motion. This integrated control strategy enables simultaneous control of the platform configuration and end-effector position. Smooth and stable motion is achieved through controlled motor actuation. The cable-driven architecture helps to minimize the mass in motion, while dexterity and resolution of the movements are maximized, which is a requirement for drawing and complex 3D printing. The proposed Cube structure and mechanical configuration are simulated and validated. The characteristics mentioned above show the potential of the proposed system in the fields of artistic robotics and 3D printing.

This work presents a hexapod assistant robot that is designed to enhance the autonomy of people with visual impairment. Our primary objective was to create a modular, accessible, and low-cost robotic platform that serves as a technological alternative to traditional guiding methods, removing economic barriers and expanding access to independent mobility through the use of digital manufacturing technologies.

The mechanical design was modeled in 3D and manufactured using additive manufacturing in PLA. The system consists of six limbs with three degrees of freedom each, driven by 18 MG996R servomotors. The control architecture employs two ESP32 microcontrollers communicating via the ESP-NOW wireless protocol, enabling interaction between the robot and an ergonomic control unit. Inverse kinematics algorithms were implemented for leg movement, alongside a tripod gait pattern to optimize stability. The system incorporates ultrasonic sensors for autonomous obstacle avoidance and a custom-designed PCB that ensures a stable power supply, preventing voltage drops and system resets.

Tests conducted in controlled environments demonstrated the robot's ability to navigate autonomously and avoid collisions. The power system design successfully mitigated voltage spikes, allowing for smooth and continuous operation during navigation trials.

The results validate the technical feasibility of the prototype as a mobility assistant. Despite limitations in leg traction or sensor precision, the design lays the foundation for future applications in personal guidance, as well as rescue tasks or industrial inspection in irregular terrains.