Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 151-155). / by Gregg Michael Duthaler. / Ph.D.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 85-88). / by Suyeong Kim. / Ph.D.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-103). / Teams of autonomous space robots are needed for future space missions such as the construction of large solar power stations and large space telescopes in earth orbit. This work focuses on the control of teams of robots performing construction tasks such as manipulation and assembly of large space structures. The control of the robot structure system is difficult. The space structures are flexible and there are significant dynamic interactions between the robots and the structures. Forces applied by the robots may excite undesirable vibrations in the structures. Furthermore, the changing configuration of the system results in the system dynamics being described by a set of non-linear partial differential equations. Limited sensing and actuation in space present additional challenges. The approach proposed here is to transform the system dynamics into a set of linear time-varying ordinary differential equations. The control of the high-frequency robots can be decoupled from the control of the low-frequency structures. This approach allows the robots to apply forces to the structures and control the dynamic interactions between the structures and the robots. The approach permits linear optimal control theory to be used. Simulation studies and experimental verification demonstrate the validity of the approach. / by Peggy Boning. / Ph.D.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 71). / by Joseph Matthew Mensching. / S.M.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 202-216). / by Hyungyil Lee. / Ph.D.

Thesis: M. Eng. in Advanced Manufacturing and Design, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2018. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (pages 99-103). / Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), for long, has shown potential to replace the current asset identification technologies like barcode readers in the warehouse. However, while the capital costs of implementing RFID technology are well-defined, its benefits in many cases remain intangible and unclear. This thesis seeks to evaluate the technical feasibility of implementing an RFID-based dock door portal for automatic identification and receiving of consumables shipped from Ireland to the Global Distribution Center of Waters Corporation. A systematic procedure is outlined, starting with the assessment of electromagnetic activity at the distribution center to the implementation of a pilot run on a real shipment. Important aspects of RFID system deployment including identification of interrogation zones for the portal, selection of the RFID tag, and its optimal placement on the SKU are studied. Finally, recommendations are made to Waters Corporation based on the performance results of the pilot run. / by Akshay Dipakkumar Harlalka. / M. Eng. in Advanced Manufacturing and Design

Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2012. / This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections. / Cataloged from student-submitted PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 51). / Pneumatic power is traditionally provided by compressed air contained in a pressurized vessel. This method of energy storage is analogous to an electrical capacitor. This study sought to create an alternative pneumatic device, the pneumatic battery, that would be analogous to an electrical battery. A pneumatic battery allows energy to be stored chemically in a Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) solution and released when the solution decomposes, producing oxygen gas. This decomposition is sped up with the aid of a platinum catalyst. A mechanical negative feedback system regulates the exposure of the catalyst, allowing the battery to generate a user specified pressure at its outlet. The prototype produced was observed to generate an outlet pressure of up to 470 kPa (68 psi) and is theoretically capable of generating up to 689 kPa (100 psi) with a volumetric energy density greater than that of conventional compressed air tanks. / by Nigel Kojimoto. / S.B.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 67-68). / by Juan C. Deniz. / S.M.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 149-151). / by Aya van den Kroonenberg. / Ph.D.

Thesis: S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2014. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (page 42). / Snow penetrometers create a specific application for a force sensor with specifications that are over achieved at great cost when using traditional load cells. A moderately priced, compact force sensor suitable for this application does not exist, and numerous force-sensing technologies were investigated, from spring and displacement transducer combinations, to strain gauges mounted on plastics, to pressure transducers. The high dynamic range, linearity, and electrical simplicity of low-cost piezo-resistive pressure sensors lent well to rapidly developing a working design on a small budget. Preliminary prototypes show promising results where the natural frequency requirement is 60% above the target specification at wn = 10497 rad/s +/- 92 rad/s. The sensor is nearly ideally damped with damping ratio, [zeta] = .43 +/- .04. A linear model results in acceptable hysteretic error for mid and upper range force values, but the sensor performs inaccurately below 2.8 N (greater than 20% error). While the sensor's performance isn't perfect for all criteria, snowpack simulation tests suggest that the sensor's shortcomings are acceptable for the targeted application of measuring relative snow hardness. / by Samuel Tileston Whittemore. / S.B.