The failed anchoring systems of mobile offshore drilling units from hurricanes occurring in 2004 and 2005 established a need to better understand the ultimate pullout capacity and trajectory of scaled model anchors under typical and out-of-plane loading conditions. The six degrees of freedom of small scale drag embedment anchors were studied in a laboratory testing environment with the intent that reasonable trends in anchor behavior will be found. Investigations within this experimental research program demonstrated the in-plane and out-of-plane loading behavior of conventional and prototype scaled model anchors embedded to predetermined depths in two different test beds of kaolinite clay with undrained shear strength profiles constant and increasing with depth. The anchors were loaded to failure in concentric, normal, concentric, shear, eccentric, normal, eccentric, shear, inclined, and drag embedment loading configurations. This series of pullout and drag embedment tests provided a suite of test results indicating behavioral trends of the varying holding capacities and anchor trajectories. Results were compared with similar research presented in the literature and an analytical model predicting out-of-plane loading behavior of similar anchors. It was concluded that increasing eccentricities from both concentric, normal and concentric, shear loading configurations resulted in decreasing bearing capacity factors, confirming the predicted trend from the analytical model for these loading configurations. Trajectories observed for the concentric, normal, concentric, shear, and eccentric, shear loading configurations showed that the anchors tracked straight out of the soil without deviation, but eccentric, normal loading found the anchor tending to track away from the initial loading location. For inclined loads, both anchors to track to whichever direction the anchor faced upon loading. Drag embedment trajectory was found to vary depending on the anchor, as the conventional anchor dove with an applied load and the prototype anchor rose towards the surface. / text

The paper compares electricity production between the semi-submersible and the spar-buoy floating wind turbine systems under normal, stochastic and extreme wind conditions at Utsira Nord site located on the Norwegian continental shelf in the North Sea. The analysis of complex behavior of the floating wind turbine system and the fluid-structure interaction is performed in aero-servo-hydro-elastic code ASHES. The results indicate a slightly better energy performance of the semi-submersible than the spar in all load cases but one. The pitch and heave degrees of freedom are evaluated as the most relevant for the power output. It is shown that pitch and heave platform motions have smaller displacement in the semi-submersible floater than in the spar under average environmental conditions and at the rated wind speed operating range. The simulation also confirmed that the energy yield is very sensitive to the magnitude of the loads: the spar performed best under mild environmental conditions, while the semi-submersible was better under medium environmental conditions. Small difference in energy yield is attributed to the same baseline blade and external controller properties used for both floaters where generator torque was kept constant to limit the power excursions above the rated power. The method proposed under this paper has demonstrated that a good approximation of the energy performance of the floating wind turbine system can be performed in a fast and effective manner.

<p>Real-time MRI scanning is used to visualize tissue and organs in motion. The real-time approach requires new interaction techniques to facilitate interaction with the scanning plane. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the use of input with six degrees of freedom – 6DOF. An overview over existing 6DOF input devices is given. Three devices are chosen for implementation and evaluation, Flock of Birds, SpaceBall and SpaceMouse. </p><p>A simulator application is developed to test the different input devices. The simulator purpose is to imitate the real-time scanning situation. To be able to evaluate speed andaccuracy of the different interaction techniques, methods for measuring time and error are developed. A statistical survey is done on two different tasks to gather data of the interaction. The data is analyzed and the result is that the test subjects find the SpaceMouse superior to the other devices thanks to its kinesthetic feed-back properties and ergonomic benefits. However, the statistical data shows that Flock of Birds is the fastest device and no great difference is showed in accuracy between Flock of Birds and SpaceMouse. SpaceBall was the device that generated the least satisfying data.</p>

The research presented in this thesis describes a substantial part of the design of a prototypical surgical training simulator. The results are intended to be applied in future simulators used to educate and train surgeons for bone milling operations. In earlier work we have developed a haptic bone milling surgery simulator prototype based on three degrees-of-freedom force feedback. The contributions presented here constitute an extension to that work by further developing the haptic algorithms to enable six degrees-of-freedom (6-DOF) haptic feedback. Such feedback is crucial for a realistic haptic experience when interacting in a more complex virtual environment, particularly in milling applications.The main contributions of this thesis are:The developed 6-DOF haptic algorithm is based on the work done by Barbic and James, but differs in that the algorithm is modified and optimized for milling applications. The new algorithm handles the challenging problem of real-time rendering of volume data changes due to material removal, while fulfilling the requirements on stability and smoothness of the kind of haptic applications that we approach. The material removal algorithm and the graphic rendering presented here are based on the earlier research. The new 6-DOF haptic milling algorithm is characterized by voxel-based collision detection, penalty-based and constraint-based haptic feedback, and by using a virtual coupling for stable interaction.Milling a hole in an object in the virtual environment or dragging the virtual tool along the surface of a virtual object shall generate realistic contact force and torque in the correct directions. These are important requirements for a bone milling simulator to be used as a future training tool in the curriculum of surgeons. The goal of this thesis is to present and state the quality of a newly developed 6-DOF haptic milling algorithm. The quality of the algorithm is confirmed through a verification test and a face validity study performed in collaboration with the Division of Orthopedics at the Karolinska University Hospital. In a simulator prototype, the haptic algorithm is implemented together with a new 6-DOF haptic device based on parallel kinematics. This device is developed with workspace, transparency and stiffness characteristics specifically adapted to the particular procedure. This thesis is focuses on the 6-DOF haptic algorithm. / QC 20120226

Container vessel motions need to be small when loading and offloading cargo while moored to wharfs. Waves and their reflections from structures can induce ship motions. These motions are characterized by six degrees of freedom, including translations of surge, sway, and heave and rotations of pitch, roll, and yaw. Monitoring and quantifying these motions offer a reference for design and selection of the mooring system and wharf types. To measure the six degrees of freedom motions of a container ship moored to a dock, a 1:50 scale model is moored to two types of dock, solid wall dock and pile supported dock. Irregular waves of TMA spectrum with various periods, heights, and directions are generated in the wave basin to induce the motions of the model container ship. Optical motion capturing cameras are used to measure and quantify the six degree of freedom motions. Results of the effects of wave period, significant wave height, and wave direction on the motion characteristics of the model container ship moored at the solid dock and a pile supported dock are described in detail. A numerical simulation called aNySIM is applied to numerically predict the motion characteristics of the container ship moored to a solid wall dock only. The physical model experimental results of solid dock are also compared with the numerical simulation. These comparisons indicate that the motion characteristics of the model container ship represent similar trends for both rotations and translations. The experimental and numerical prediction values of motions of the ship moored to a solid wall dock display the same tendencies while differing in magnitude.

Real-time MRI scanning is used to visualize tissue and organs in motion. The real-time approach requires new interaction techniques to facilitate interaction with the scanning plane. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the use of input with six degrees of freedom – 6DOF. An overview over existing 6DOF input devices is given. Three devices are chosen for implementation and evaluation, Flock of Birds, SpaceBall and SpaceMouse. A simulator application is developed to test the different input devices. The simulator purpose is to imitate the real-time scanning situation. To be able to evaluate speed andaccuracy of the different interaction techniques, methods for measuring time and error are developed. A statistical survey is done on two different tasks to gather data of the interaction. The data is analyzed and the result is that the test subjects find the SpaceMouse superior to the other devices thanks to its kinesthetic feed-back properties and ergonomic benefits. However, the statistical data shows that Flock of Birds is the fastest device and no great difference is showed in accuracy between Flock of Birds and SpaceMouse. SpaceBall was the device that generated the least satisfying data.

The successful prediction of spacecraft motion is often heavily based upon assumptions used to simplify the problem without compromising solution accuracy. For many analyses, a primary assumption used is the decoupling of trajectory and attitude dynamics when calculating trajectories. In cases where spacecraft or objects have high area to mass ratios, non-conservative effects such as atmospheric drag and solar radiation pressure can greatly perturb spacecraft translational motion based on rotational state. A modular, six degree of freedom (6DOF) simulation with coupled orbit and attitude dynamics has been developed to model spacecraft and orbits of arbitrary geometries. First, the basis for the modular rotational and translational equations of motion are introduced. Next, formulations are provided for the gravity gradient torque, solar radiation pressure, aerodynamic, and non-spherical gravity potential sources of perturbations, and the Marshall Engineering Thermosphere atmospheric model used is described. A first test case is performed using the 6DOF simulation to simulate the deorbit of the spacecraft Lightsail 1, which flew in 2015. Next, predictive cases are demonstrated using the simulation for a theoretical sail-boom-rocket combination representative of a debris removal scenario, and for the Aerodynamic Deorbit Experiement, which will demonstrate a passively stable drag sail technology and characterize its effectiveness on orbit. All simulation cases have had aerodynamic perturbation formulations compared against high fidelity Direct Simulation Monte Carlo runs, and suggestions have been made for the future development of the simulation tool.

<p>The aim of this thesis is to investigate how the absolute accuracy of an industrial robot can be increased by monitoring the position of the robot. The motive is to automate high precision, low volume production such as aircraft industry. A laser tracker that can measure both position and orientation with very high accuracy isused to monitor the robot tool position. The robot and laser tracker are integrated via a standard computer. </p><p>The abilities and performance of the robot, with and without feedback from the laser tracker, are investigated. Robotic drilling is performed with supervision and control from the laser tracker. </p><p>The system is implemented and tested on parts of a demonstrator for new aircraft assembly techniques. The ability to position components with internal friction to (+/-)0.05 mm absolute accuracy is shown.</p>

The aim of this thesis is to investigate how the absolute accuracy of an industrial robot can be increased by monitoring the position of the robot. The motive is to automate high precision, low volume production such as aircraft industry. A laser tracker that can measure both position and orientation with very high accuracy isused to monitor the robot tool position. The robot and laser tracker are integrated via a standard computer. The abilities and performance of the robot, with and without feedback from the laser tracker, are investigated. Robotic drilling is performed with supervision and control from the laser tracker. The system is implemented and tested on parts of a demonstrator for new aircraft assembly techniques. The ability to position components with internal friction to (+/-)0.05 mm absolute accuracy is shown.

Spacecraft missions such as spacecraft docking and formation flying require high precision relative position and attitude data. Although Global Positioining Systems can provide this capability near the earth, deep space missions require the use of alternative technologies. One such technology is the vision-based navigation (VISNAV) sensor system developed at Texas A&M University. VISNAV comprises an electro-optical sensor combined with light sources or beacons. This patented sensor has an analog detector in the focal plane with a rise time of a few microseconds. Accuracies better than one part in 2000 of the field of view have been obtained. This research presents a new approach involving simultaneous activation of beacons with frequency division multiplexing as part of the VISNAV sensor system. In addition, it discusses the synchronous demodulation process using digital heterodyning and decimating filter banks on a low-power fixed point DSP, which improves the accuracy of the sensor measurements and the reliability of the system. This research also presents an optimal and computationally efficient six-degree-of-freedom estimation algorithm using a new measurement model based on the attitude representation of Modified Rodrigues Parameters.