The purpose of this rapport is to present the possibilities in innovating or improving a product or service in the purpose of final thesis for the program in product development at Blekinge Institute of Technology.  The problem that was identified occurs during travel with bigger pet dogs in smaller cars where the capacity of the luggage compartment is not big enough to safely travel with the dog. To abide to Swedish safety laws the dog then needs to be safely fastened in the backseat of the car but with a big enough dog or a very small backseat issues can still occur. The prototype presented in this report is intended to be a possible solution to this problem and enable a safe and comfortable travel with big dogs in smaller cars.  The process to create a prototype consisted of initial sketches that were made to create an idea of how the product would be designed. These sketches were then used as a starting point for a 3D-model which was created using Autodesk Inventor. The prototype was designed to consist mainly out of an air mattress to create a product which is safe and versatile. The product was also intended to be sold together with an electric pump to create a fast and easy installation of the backseat extension.  A physical prototype was never created for the product which indicates that the prototype in this rapport is merely a concept. In order to further improve on this concept and create a consumer-ready product a real physical prototype would have to be made and mostly likely require further improvements.

The "SmartCane+" thesis abstract outlines an initiative aimed at improving conventional walking canes into more intelligent, helpful devices for senior citizens. The incorporation of microcontrollers, which permits wireless communication and connection functions, is the primary innovation. With the use of MIT App Inventor, a unique mobile application and this technology, the cane can send its position to the user using Bluetooth. Because it can stop the cane from becoming lost, which is a regular problem for senior users, this function is especially beneficial. The SmartCane+ design places a strong focus on accessibility and cost. The idea maintains cheaper prices and simpler technology by choosing not to add complex hardware, which makes it easier for consumers to embrace and operate without feeling overwhelmed by complexity. By striking a mix between cutting-edge technology and intuitive operation, the design hopes to keep the cane a help rather than a burden. The results of the project indicate that the SmartCane+ effectively improves the safety and independence of senior users by ensuring the cane remains within a reachable distance and providing timely alerts. Testing showed reliable performance in various environments, although closed spaces introduced more variability. Future work will focus on enhancing the system’s accuracy, optimizing power consumption, and expanding compatibility with other mobile platforms.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(経済学) / 甲第25079号 / 経博第686号 / 京都大学大学院経済学研究科経済学専攻 / (主査)教授 神事 直人, 准教授 高野 久紀, 教授 森 知也 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Economics / Kyoto University / DGAM

Denna studie syftar till att synliggöra olika bedrägliga beteenden som riktar sig mot innovatörer. I studien diskuteras möjligheterna till att etablera en funktion som skyddar innovatörer mot en typ av övergrepp som blir allt vanligare. Hur skall subtil manschettbrottslighet begränsas när den är både riskfri och lönsam? En vägledande fråga i diskussionen har varit: Skall innovatörer ha samma skydd för sin upphovsrätt som andra fria yrkesutövare, eller ska de fortsätta få vara villebråd utan skydd av rättsväsendet? Resultatet bygger på dokumentanalyser och en kvalitativ studie om upphovsmän till patent, samt intervjuer med personer inom branschen innovationer och entreprenörskap. Resultat baseras bl a på den kvalitativa studien och beskrivs genom fakta om innovatörerna Dr. Håkan Lans och M.D. Johan Ullman, vilka båda fått sina fall uppmärksammade i massmedia. Resultatet av analysen visar att* Uppfinnare är en minoritet som saknar rättsskydd i Sverige* Likhet inför lagen gäller inte för innovatörer och upphovsmän* Det är nästintill undantagslöst den ekonomiskt starkaste som vinner patentstrider Ett par av slutsatserna är att risken för upptäckt styr omfattningen av subtil ekobrottslighet. När det är riskfritt att bedriva sådan verksamhet ökar antalet brott. Det finns metoder att begränsa organiserad ekonomisk brottslighet, bedrägerier och kränkningar. Slutdiskussionen ger förslag till hur man kan skydda den svagare parten och skapa förutsättningar för uppfinnare att verka, för en större industriell tillväxt och därmed fler nya arbetstillfällen i Europa.

Master of Science / Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering / Naiqian Zhang / Mobile apps are useful tools for many different purposes. In agriculture, apps can be used to check the weather and markets, control irrigation, and monitor machine activity among other uses. This research project is a collaboration between Kansas State University and AGCO and includes the development of two apps, using MIT Application Inventor and Google App Engine. Kansas State University was responsible for developing the apps user interface and functionality while AGCO provide the data needs for the apps through Google App Engine. The first app is called Crop Maturity App and measures Growing Degree Days from a crops planting date. The second app is called Combine Efficiency App and determines the performance of a combine harvesting based on its speed. AGCO provided the server support for these apps from a weather service and their own combines that are connected. This project demonstrates the possibility of an open-source development environment with AGCO machine data.

Property rights are the backbone of Western Civilization. Capitalism can only be successful if individuals feel secure about the ownership of their assets. Patents are the property rights granted to the inventor by the government. Without these rights, inventors will find it extremely difficult monetizing their contributions to society. Thus, in an effort to incentivize innovation and commit society to human progress, our Founding Fathers built our country on a strong set of intellectual property rights. At the same time, nothing impedes innovation like a monopoly and, in essence, all a patent amounts to is a monopoly, the right to exclude others from monetizing a specific innovation over an extended period of time. Hence, at the margin, patents increase the incentive to create new patentable knowledge, while simultaneously also stifling the dissemination of that knowledge. A good patent system strikes the right balance between innovation and a government-granted, anti-competitive monopoly. After a 20-year period of an unprecedentedly pro-patent environment in the United States, the value of patents has never been higher. Patents, as opposed to their intended use of incentivizing innovation, are now seen as a form of protection against litigation, and also a weapon to litigate patent infringements to extract license fees and royalty payments from companies who are supposedly in violation of these patents. The pendulum has swung, and patents are now stifling innovation to an extent not conceived of by our Founding Fathers. This thesis will explore the reasons for the extreme increase in the value of patents over the years and will attempt to propose a plan of action to swing the pendulum back where our Founding Fathers originally intended it to be.

Term of remote-lab is certain types of laboratories which practical experiments are directedfrom a separate area by remote controller devices. This study is part of developing andupgrading advanced vibration remote laboratory. In the new remote lab, users have theability to measure the dynamic characteristics of the test object similar to the current existingremote lab. But in addition to current existing remote lab, they are capable to modifydynamic properties of the test object remotely by attaching vibration test instruments; such asa block of mass, spring-mass or non-linear spring. Doing several accurate experimental testsremotely on the test object are the toughest issues we faced as designers. In creating anddeveloping of this remote-lab, number of different approaches was adopted for producingwell-defined tests. Also, instead of implementing routine devices and techniques for regularvibration laboratories, the new prototypes were designed by finite elements method (FEM)and LABVIEW. For instance, the desirable test object, the attachment mechanism, usefulapplications, and proper software for managing via internet were prepared.

Autodesk Inventor is a full 3D CAD system. This system includes tools for working environment tool, component design tool including information data management and technical support. The target of the first part is to describe the most important new features brought by Autodesk Inventoru 2009 version. In of next chapters the work describes creation common iPart, which is basically different variants set (proportions, material …) of one entity, and preparation before correct publication to the content center, which is a virtual database of all iPart. Also there is presented how to create the content center, how to work with it and adjust data. The aim of work is then the creation database a stator and a rotor packet for the firm ATAS electromotor Náchod Inc. In the thesis there is described creation of the lamination as an iPart and their publication to the new content center.

This diploma thesis deals with a design of the simulation model of a CNC machine tool for determining the energy consumption. It describes a design of the mechanical and the electrical model of the CNC machine and a design of the energy consumption algorithm. The result of that thesis is a size of the consummated energy during a machining process.

This project is centered around the use of finite element analysis for developing a beam for a new type of motor used in a screening machine. Essentially the main purpose of the developed beam is to transfer vibrations to the screen machine that it will be attached to. Since the machine operates on vibrations from the motor, the beam was to be designed with material fatigue in mind, which demanded examination of stresses in the welded joints of the beam. Concepts were generated with a specification of requirements as a basis, and the concepts were then analysed with finite element analysis. The results from this analysis were compared and a final design choice was selected. Since the beam will be subjected to varying fatigue loads, an S-N curve was needed to gain information of the material’s cyclic stress versus life. Most S-N curves are accessible through literature or databases, however, there are some materials that do not have an S-N curve available. If that is the case then the designer has the option to estimate one using ultimatetensile strength and the material’s fatigue limit. Hence, an S-N curve was estimated in this project.