Search

• Products from Polygonum aviculare and Pseudomonas fluorescens with biostimulant activity • Plant extracts with P. fluorescens for treating Melilotus officinalis seed improved germination • Infusions and macerates differed in the concentration of bioactive compounds • Fusion of extracts with bacteria elicits a greater stimulating potential • Mathematical models were developed for the tested seed treatments The empirical evidence indicated that chemicals in plants and selected microorganisms can promote the germination process and determine the growth, viability, survival and yield potential of industrial crop plants. The main objective of this study was exploring the phytochemical and microbiological synergistic activity between plant extracts from Polygonum aviculare L. and beneficial bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens to enhance germination of Melilotus officinalis seeds and improve morphological characteristics of seedlings. The derived plant preparations were analyzed qualitatively, which showed that the aqueous extracts of P. aviculare were characterized by a higher content of phenolic compounds, micro- and macroelements and carbohydrates compared to the macerates, and that no phytohormones were detected in both the infusions and macerates. Pure macerates (MAC), infusions (IF), bacterial cultures (PF) and their mixtures (MAC+PF; INF+PF) were used for seed treatment of test plants. In the control group, lower values of M. officinalis seed germination and seedling growth rates were observed in relation to the applied treatments. The most effective germination rates were obtained after the application of pure infusions (IF) and their mixture with P. fluorescens (IF+PF), while the highest growth rates (including an almost twofold increase in the length of the nostril shoots compared to the control) were obtained after the application of P. fluorescens inoculum (PF) and the mixture of the infusion and these bacteria (IF+PF). The use of modeling, as a tool for predicting germination efficiency, has been shown to provide screening opportunities for identifying the effectiveness of biostimulant treatments. Thereby, this indicates the need to develop such an approach under field conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The family entertainment center serves as the primary entertainment intermediary, catering especially to young people and adults through various games, such as virtual reality and the latest entertainment revolution of 3D technology. In order to sustain growth, family entertainment centers must regularly invest in new machines. The process of financing these investments must be precise to streamline company costs and ensure visitor satisfaction. The leadership's decision-making factors for investments can be effectively supported through technology. Therefore, the objective of this research is to create a prototype modeling system that simplifies the ongoing installation process and integrates Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) figures through Arduino, displaying them on a website. The end result of this research is a game prototype model for a family center that effectively assists managers in decision-making, particularly in evaluating machine ratings based on visitor transactions and revenue for each machine using the CAGR metric. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovation is a crucial skill for physicians and researchers, yet traditional medical education does not provide instruction or experience to cultivate an innovative mindset. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a novel course implemented in an academic radiology department training program over a 5-year period designed to educate future radiologists on the fundamentals of medical innovation. A pre- and post-course survey and examination were administered to residents who participated in the innovation course (MESH Core) from 2018 to 2022. Respondents were first evaluated on their subjective comfort level, understanding, and beliefs on innovation-related topics using a 5-point Likert-scale survey. Respondents were also administered a 21-question multiple-choice exam to test their objective knowledge of innovation-related topics. Thirty-eight residents participated in the survey (response rate 95%). Resident understanding, comfort and belief regarding innovation-related topics improved significantly (P <.0001) on all nine Likert-scale questions after the course. After the course, a significant majority of residents either agreed or strongly agreed that technological innovation should be a core competency for the residency curriculum, and that a workshop to prototype their ideas would be beneficial. Performance on the course exam showed significant improvement (48% vs 86%, P <.0001). The overall course experience was rated 5 out of 5 by all participants. MESH Core demonstrates long-term success in educating future radiologists on the basic concepts of medical technological innovation. Years later, residents used the knowledge and experience gained from MESH Core to successfully pursue their own inventions and innovative projects. This innovation model may serve as an approach for other institutions to implement training in this domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical joining has become a fully automatable machining type regarding series production. In contrast, many process steps are currently carried out manually in the field of small batch manufacturing. Economic, but above all technological reasons prevent the introduction of highly adaptive solutions with which even small batches can be processed semi-automatically. For example, current joining tools are nowadays not able to detect any deviations before the actual joining process and to adjust the processes accordingly. Existing solutions can usually only eliminate certain sources of errors and are also only designed for use during the teaching phase. This teaching of industrial robots still can be performed by a limited number of trained professionals. Hand guiding or other more intuitive teaching approaches are mainly developed for collaborative robots, but currently available payloads are not suitable for most of the joining scenarios. Therefore, this paper presents an approach to automate joining processes in small batches. For this purpose, the joining tool is coupled to an industrial robot in the payload range of +200 kg and equipped with a hand guiding application. Via this, all necessary process parameters can be controlled and the movement of the robot can be guided. By means of a superimposed system, the robot movements are recorded, stored and can be replayed afterwards. In order to optimize the joining process and make optimum use of the advantage of the applied robot, the joining tool is equipped with additional sensor technology. This allows both positioning and material deviations to be detected before and during the joining process. Through adaptions to the actual conditions, the effects of deviations on the resulting joint quality can be reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovation processes have evolved significantly. Starting with traditional Product Development Process in the 1990s, novel development approaches have been disseminated, especially approaches originating in the software and service sectors. However, understanding the influence of recent approaches to developing complex hardware-based solutions is still a research issue. This study aims to identify emerging approaches that have already demonstrated adequacy to support hardware design. Therefore, a systematic literature review has been conducted. The research screened 292 papers and analyzed in detail 25 articles published between 2018 and 2022. Our findings indicate increased adoption of creativity-oriented methods and extended prototyping in early phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Declining levels of facilities and services are a major source of concern in rural areas across Europe. Local facilities can have different individual or communal meanings, and closure can lead to a sense of loss. While many scholars advocate for empowering rural communities in the collective coping process, few studies analyse examples of co-creative planning tools. This paper describes and evaluates the development and implementation of 'Facility-Wise', an analogue serious game for co-creative planning and self-organization of facilities and services. The development of Facility-Wise followed an abductive and design-led approach through a participatory process. Five real cases in North-West Fryslân (Netherlands), and one fictional case, were used for prototyping. In the final format a moderator leads participants through various discussion-elements and helps them to explore future scenarios for health care, education, sports, cultural or private facilities. This paper provides a roadmap for how to develop and use co-creative planning tools, and critically reflects on the prerequisites that are needed for successful implementation. Six prerequisites to successfully implement tools for co-creation are discussed. When these conditions are met, it is possible to mitigate negative experiences of rural facility-decline and empower communities in the collective coping process. However, it can be a challenge to be truly inclusive since this co-creative tool requires time, effort and a certain level of collective efficacy to participate. • Co-creative planning could mitigate negative experiences of facility-decline. • Analogue serious games are promising tools for co-creative planning. • There are several conditions for communities to feel empowered by co-creation. • Participants should have actual agency and an equal voice. • It is a challenge for co-creation strategies to be truly inclusive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore the ultrahigh-vacuum (UHV) compatibility of Formlabs 'Clear Resin' via vat photopolymerisation (VPP). We report on a method for using VPP additive manufacturing, specifically Formlabs' widely available stereolithographic (SLA) printing using their 'Clear Resin' material, to rapidly and cheaply prototype components for use in high-vacuum (HV) environments. We present pump down curves and residual gas analysis to demonstrate the primary vacuum contaminant from freshly printed SLA plastics is water with no evidence of polymers outgassing from the material and thus the vacuum performance can be controlled with simple treatments which do not involve surface sealing. An unbaked vacuum system containing SLA printed components achieved 1.9 × 10-8 mbar base pressure whilst retaining structural integrity and manufacturing accuracy. Outgassing rates in the HV test chamber and preliminary results in a UHV chamber indicate that our method can be extended to achieve ultrahigh-vacuum compatibility. We further report on the effect of atmospheric exposure to components and present evidence to suggest that water re-ad/absorption occurs exclusively on the surface, by showing that the bulk mass changes of the material is irreversible on the timescale investigated (< 2 weeks). • We achieve (ultra)high-vacuum compatibility with vat photopolymerisation polymers using a simple baking procedure. • Baking induces an irreversible change in bulk water content. • < 2 weeks exposure to atmospheric conditions post-baking shows that ultimate pressure is unaffected. • Our method retains structural integrity and manufacturing accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biogas production measurement is a fundamental aspect of anaerobic digestion research. Lab-scale experiments usually require devices capable of measuring low flowrates and low relative pressures. Despite the existence of multiple commercially available alternatives for such demands, each with particular advantages and limitations, researchers have often resorted to in-house developed systems. This inclination is motivated by cost savings and the potential for of customization to suit specific research needs. Those systems, however, are seldom reproduced beyond laboratory walls due to overly complex designs, limited component availability or unpublished software. In this work, we developed a fully open-source lab-scale biogas flow meter equipped with datalogging capabilities. Our approach relied on inexpensive, widely available electronic modules. The flow meter was calibrated, tested and validated in batch biogas production experiments, alongside a comparative assessment with a proprietary device widely used in the field. The semi-continuous gas meter presented a resolution of 7.45 ± 0.13 mL and maintained a stable pulse volume (under 2 % relative standard deviation) for flowrates ranging from 60 mL h−1 to 1120 mL h−1. The device was not sensitive to the evaporative loss of up to 7 mL of packing liquid, demonstrating its applicability to long-term experiments. The developed system was shown to be robust and reliable and can be easily reproduced, revised and enhanced in laboratories everywhere. • A simple and low-cost device is proposed for lab-scale biogas flowrate measurement. • A fully open-source recording system was developed, with datalogging capabilities. • The gas meter was applicable for flowrates between 60 and 1120 mL h−1. • The device was able to sustain a stable pulse volume within 7.45 ± 0.13 mL. • The meter exhibited equivalent performance to a widely used proprietary equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human-centered system design is one way of ensuring required flexibility in assembly through cognitive and motor capabilities of humans. Human factors and ergonomics must be considered at an early stage in system development to improve productivity, quality and to secure well-being of workers. The paper presents a model-based approach for design reviews to ensure the ergonomics of assembly systems at an early stage enabled by different models of mixed reality. An information model is proposed to enable standardized review reports for the combined use of physical, digital and virtual models. System designers are supported by actionable knowledge gathered in MR enabled design reviews. Thus, efforts limiting the economic applicability of Hybrid Prototyping can be significantly reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to increasing product complexity and reduced development cycles, the need of virtual assembly validation is raising. Such capability is required, in addition, to allow for innovations in assembly technologies. In this context the chair of Industrial Information Technology at the TU Berlin conducts research for haptic interaction devices which already resulted in a patented prototype. Based on preliminary work, this paper describes a wide number of potential industrial use cases that can be addressed based on enhancements of the mechanism. This paper presents an extension of the prototype by rotational user input and introduces a new concept for force-feedback applications in multi-user scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Challenges faced by health systems have become increasingly complex, and expanding the range of methodological options available via interdisciplinary collaboration is important to enable researchers to address them. As complexity increases, it can be more difficult to ensure solutions remain patient-centered. Human-centered design is an approach that focuses on engaging with and understanding the needs of all services users while retaining a systems perspective. Therefore, design professionals skilled in these approaches are increasingly collaborating within health systems in pharmacy and health research teams. This methodological paper considers the potential contribution of human-centered design approaches to optimising development, implementation, and sustainability of patient-centered interventions in pharmacy and health services research. It provides an overview of human-centered design principles and their application, and outlines the emerging roles of design professionals in pharmacy and health services research. It focuses on three key human-centered design methods that can most readily be used by pharmacy and health services researchers. Journey mapping, prototyping, and user testing are discussed in detail. Journey mapping enables holistic visualisation of patient experience from practical and emotional perspectives. It may be used to visualize current practice or model potential future services, and can be informed by quantitative and qualitative data derived from both primary and secondary research. Prototyping facilitates exploration of interventions such as new services quickly and at low-cost. Health services researchers can utilize prototypes for services, processes, experiences, physical objects, environments, spaces, or digital tools for example. Formative evaluation and user testing supports rapid iteration of prototypes to ensure that they meet patient and healthcare professional needs. Finally, challenges with interdisciplinary collaboration and strategies to maximize the potential of using human-centered design approaches in pharmacy and health services research to address complex challenges, enhance practice and deliver benefits for service users, patients, and health systems are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces an innovative model designed to predict the optimal product prototype within the framework of sustainable development. The model takes into account both quality and environmental impact throughout the entire life cycle of the product, with a specific focus on light electric vehicles. By incorporating customer expectations using the Weighted Sum Model, the model assesses vehicle quality based on the importance of various criteria. Employing life cycle evaluations guided by the Pareto-Lorenz rule, environmental impact for vehicle prototypes is modeled. The resulting Quality-Environmental Indicator of LCA (QLCA) facilitates a qualitative environmental analysis, aiding in the selection of prototypes that align with customer expectations. The model proves effective in guiding decisions related to product development, providing a comprehensive approach to evaluating product value. Notable contributions to the scientific community include the introduction of the QLCA model, which integrates quality and environmental assessments, and underscores the significance of open innovation, sustainable development, and sensitivity analysis for organizational adaptation. Future research directions involve adapting the model to larger customer samples, exploring production costs, and assessing its applicability across diverse industries and contexts to enhance its universality and practical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raspberry Pi is an invaluable and popular prototyping tool in scientific research for experimenting with a wide variety of ideas, ranging from simple to complex projects. This review article explores how Raspberry Pi is used in various studies, discussing its pros and cons along with its applications in various domains such as home automation, agriculture, healthcare, industrial control, and advanced research. Our aim is to provide a useful resource for researchers, educators, students, product developers, and enthusiasts, helping them to grasp the current status and discover new research possibilities using Raspberry Pi. • This article provides a comprehensive overview of the various applications of Raspberry Pi in different domains. • This article discusses the benefits of using Raspberry Pi for prototyping and automation and its limitations. • This article also discusses the challenges, and related issues associated with prototyping with Raspberry Pi. • This article serves as a valuable reference for those looking to understand the current state of the art in a specific field for developing a solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prototypes enable the materialization of information and generate a common reference for those involved in the design process. The literature discusses how different types of prototype assist the user involvement in the design of healthcare products. However, it does not discuss how to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the process of prototype uses. To address this gap and advance the literature of this field, this paper aims to present the different purposes of using a prototype during user involvement activities and the benefits achieved during each phase of the design process. The presented work is the result of the study of multiple cases from the literature and the application of evidence-based research procedures to identify and investigate the purposes of using different types of prototypes. As a result, we present a rich discussion and a framework to guide designers and help them to derive better results from using different types of prototypes for user involvement in the medical design process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prototyping is an indispensable activity in product development that facilitates the generation of knowledge in the design process. It is crucial that this knowledge is the right knowledge (e.g., type, fidelity, and accessibility) to ensure stakeholders can evaluate and decision-make effectively. While this is well-recognised, prior work has focused on classifying prototyping/prototypes by their attributes rather than the knowledge they generate. As prototyping methods have a significant impact on the knowledge generated, both in the activity and resulting prototype, a means by which methods can be classified against knowledge generated would enable support of prototyping method selection, equivalence, and substitution. To this end, this paper presents the existing concept of fungibility – a context-specific value judgement as to whether two 'objects' are the same, and therefore capable of mutual substitution – and considers it in the context of prototyping and knowledge generation. In so doing, the paper provides a framework by which prototyping processes may be compared against their knowledge contributions to determine if they are fungible. This is then shown to support prototyping method comparison, selection and direction. After defining the fungibility framework, value is demonstrated via an illustrative example where it has been applied to the comparison of two prototyping instances. The framework is then appraised for its utility and limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the early stages of product development and design, physical prototypes are designed and built from varying materials with the aim of providing valuable experience and decision support for the project team. In the era of digitalization, 3D printing has become a common tool that can produce even complex organic shapes. However, methods for developing the required digital models based on the physical prototypes are still often considered a high investment in resources, reserved for later, converging development activities. In this paper, we close the loop from physical to digital, and back to physical prototyping by introducing a proof-of-concept 3D scanning method using open-source photogrammetry algorithms. The feasibility of the approach is determined from two case studies: a designer chair, and customized race steering wheel. The successful results show potential for low-cost, simple, and accurate digitalization in the early stage of product development and design, with the main challenges being the inherent limitations of photogrammetry and the often-required manual editing of mesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of an increased level of product complexity, new technologies and methods for early virtual validation are researched. In the context of early product validation and user experience studies, HMDs are getting more applicable in industrial use cases. The next step is to enhance the virtual validation environments with haptic feedback, so that the user can not only see, but also feel and experience specific characteristics of their product. In this paper, the connection between hybrid prototyping approaches and a large scale haptic device is described. A concept for secure interaction with these devices coupled with HMDs is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanobiology aims to replicate in an experimental setting the mechanical stress living cells are experiencing in-vivo. One approach for achieving this is based on so called flow chambers, in which a forced flow of cell culture medium generates a controlled level of shear stress on the observed cells. Although simulations and analytical models allow approximations of the applied shear stress, sensory solutions that observe the internal flow of the chamber is needed to get the true value in experiments. This could be made possible by measuring the shear and strain deformation of soft wall-portions inside the chamber. To test this, we produced and integrated a provenly piezo resistive material made from chopped carbon fibers and silicone into an existing flow chamber. This served as a low cost and readily available way of prototyping embedded, deformation sensors, with high sensitivity, into a flow chamber. The performance of the internal sensor was tested by comparing its ability to characterize two flow scenarios applied with two differently constructed peristaltic pumps, to external pressure and flow sensors. The results lead us to conclude that the integrated piezo resistive sensor is able to characterize flows with similar features as that of the high-end external flow sensor. This enables further research into the application of integrated sensors in flow control loops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simulation-based training offers a safe and repeatable environment where users can increase their skill level. Development of products facilitating such training is, however, faced with high uncertainty and ambiguous requirements. This complexity is a result of the intended use-cases, required product functionality and required approximation of clinical realism. In order to explore such uncertain aspects of simulation-based training equipment, two interesting factors are considered; user needs and ecological validity. This paper presents a case project where a medical palpation task trainer has been developed. In this case, a medical diagnostics procedure has been enabled through specific product functionality. As the complexity associated with simulators makes it difficult to elicit and fixate requirements, this paper highlights the benefits of using prototypes during the early stages of development. By presenting prototypes and testing these with both experienced and novice users, developers could better understand complex use cases and product interactions. Through case examples it is shown how prototyping extensively in various domains and levels of abstraction could help elicit product requirements as well as enlighten unknown problems and corresponding opportunities. In order to create products facilitating effective training, training scenarios must be made sufficiently realistic, i.e. ensuring ecological validity. To accomplish this, a simulator concept must encompass realistic tasks and physical attributes. Further, the potential of the conceptual prototype is discussed where self-directed learning and learning algorithms are of interest. Future research will, therefore, be focused on improved medical training and consequently training devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to increasing global competition, the demand for more individualization and constantly changing requirements, the importance of time to market and a high degree of flexibility in product development is increasing. New manufacturing technologies as well as improved methodical approaches in product development can be used for this purpose. The additive manufacturing industry has developed strongly in recent years and the possibilities of using this technology for final components are constantly increasing. At the same time, there are many efforts that contribute to identifying and implementing the potential of this manufacturing technology during product development. Other approaches, such as agile product development from software industry, are applied at the organizational level and also try to tackle the aforementioned challenges. This contribution therefore presents an approach using agile product development methods to develop components for additive manufacturing. The potentials of additive manufacturing are specifically used (e.g. tool-free manufacturing) to enable the principles of agile development also for physical products. The Design Pattern Matrix as an opportunistic approach is applied to systematically link the potentials of additive manufacturing with the functions of the product. Therefore, design elements are conducted from additive manufacturing case studies and provided to design engineers during the development. Furthermore, already known methods of design for additive manufacturing are classified into the procedure of the agile framework scrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In early stages of product development, prototyping is an invaluable tool which allows designers to generate learnings and uncover unknown challenges which can be used to further construct design requirements. While generous use of prototyping early in the design process might reduce the risk of premature design decisions, it also demands significant investments in terms of resources such as time, material, and skills. Tools that allow designers to rapidly implement and test new functionalities are therefore desired. With wirelessly communicating products having become ubiquitous in modern society, designers should be comfortable designing products utilizing these technologies. In this paper we present an Arduino library, named TrollBOT, that facilitates rapid implementation of wireless communication between two or more Arduinos. The Arduinos form nodes in a tree topology using inexpensive nRF24-based radio transceivers. The library is constructed in such a way that a minimal amount of new language syntax must be learned. All nodes can be programmed from a single master node in an intuitive manner, significantly reducing the amount of code that needs to be written as compared to similar existing solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart Hybrid Prototyping (SHP) describes a method for early multimodal design testing with the help of mixed reality technologies. As required by past problem specific research results in manufacturing engineering, this innovative multidisciplinary concept has recently been transferred towards manual assembly validations. By describing a development process for SHP in the assembly context, this work contributes to a future integration in industrial research and process design workflows. Successfully implemented use cases in the field of automotive assembly process validation are presented. Latter demonstrate various complexities of the prototype systems composed by virtual and physical model characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a quest of novel functional and reliable platforms for enhancing the efficiency of microextraction approaches in troublesome matrices, such as industrial wastewaters. 3D printing has been proven superb in the analytical field to act as the springboard of microscale extraction approaches. In this work, low-force stereolithography (SL) was exploited for 3D printing and prototyping bespoke fluidic devices for accommodating nonsupported microelectromembrane extraction (μEME). The analytical performance of 3D-printed μEME devices with distinct cross-sections, including square, circle, and obround, and various channel dimensions was explored against that of commonly used circular polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tubing in flow injection systems. A computer-controlled millifluidic system was harnessed for the (i) automatic liquid-handling of minute volumes of donor, acceptor, and organic phases at the low μL level that spanned from 3 to 44 μL in this work, (ii) formation of three-phase μEME, (iii) in-line extraction, (iv) flow-through optical detection of the acceptor phase, and (v) solvent removal and regeneration of the μEME device and fluidic lines. Using methylene blue (MB) as a model analyte, experimental results evinced that the 3D-printed channels with an obround cross-section (2.5 mm × 2.5 mm) were the most efficient in terms of absolute extraction recovery (59%), as compared to PTFE tubing of 2.5 mm inner diameter (27%). This is attributed to the distinctive convex interface of the organic phase (1-octanol), with a more pronounced laminar pattern, in 3D-printed SL methacrylate-based fluidic channels against that of PTFE tubing on account of the enhanced 1-octanol wettability and lower contact angles for the 3D-printed devices. The devices with obround channels were leveraged for the automatic μEME and in-line clean-up of MB in high matrix textile dyeing wastewater samples with relative recoveries ≥81%, RSD% ≤ 17.1% and LOD of 1.3 mg L−1. The 3D-printed nonsupported μEME device was proven superb for the analysis of wastewater samples with an elevated ionic strength (0.7 mol L−1 NaCl, 5000 mg L−1 Na 2 CO 3 , and 0.013 mol L−1 NaOH) with recorded electric currents below 12 μA. The coupling of 3D printing with nonsupported μEME in automatic flow-based systems is herein proposed for the first time and demonstrated for the clean-up of troublesome samples, such as wastewaters. [Display omitted] • First 3D-printed platform for nonsupported electromembrane extraction. • Enhanced interfacial area for mass transfer with the use of octanol as compared to fluorinated tubing. • Excellent clean-up of complex dyeing textile wastewaters. • Selective retrieval of methylene blue as a positively charged model analyte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prototyping is one of the core activities of product development, and understanding prototyping should therefore be of great interest to both researchers and professionals. Yet, when considering the many definitions of prototype in engineering design literature, prototyping is not fully understood. Aimed at engineering design researchers, this article compares various efforts that attempt to understand prototyping by capturing design activity. This comparison is used as a basis for discussing various methods, tools and resources available to the engineering design researcher, as well as the contexts of the studies (i.e. laboratory, intermediate and in-situ studies). From this comparison of studies on capturing prototyping in engineering design research, the authors identify that many of the studies have relatively low robustness—i.e. the ability to generalize and apply the findings to a wider engineering design context. The authors argue that the factors that contribute to the relatively low robustness of these studies are a combination of the methods, tools and resources (including participants) available to the researchers for both capturing and analyzing the data. Therefore, the authors conclude that to increase the robustness of research on prototyping in engineering design—i.e. ensure that relevant, realistic and representative data is captured—more suitable tools and methods are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to rising volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity in- and outside the company boundaries, manufacturers of complex technical systems are confronted with unprecedented challenges affecting their development environment. Many projects fail to meet their economic or technical objectives, and established companies are rethinking their traditional development approaches which are oriented towards plannable stage-gate structures. Rather than orchestrating the entire project in detail and determining stakeholder requirements upfront, companies tend to establish agile development approaches that are characterized by the iterative development of prototypes as functional system increments. When applying agile techniques to the development of complex technical systems, however, existing frameworks known from the software industry do not adequately consider the complexity caused by strong interdependencies between and within the system elements. For this reason, the paper presents a model that structures the process of dependency-oriented prototyping, not only when selecting the next prototype to develop, but also when implementing the prototype in the upcoming development iteration. By forcing the early reduction of development-related uncertainty on the one hand, as well as minimizing and controlling the early determination of interdependent system elements on the other hand, market and technology knowledge can be generated quickly and the elaborated system design remains flexible in the course of the development project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating prototypes through prototype experiments is an essential part of most early stage, exploratory, product development processes. The rate at which prototypes are tested is often high and even incremental improvements in test outcomes, such as learnings and iteration speed, can be of great influence for the outcome of projects. Based on observations from a highly exploratory product development project and use existing classifications from literature to study how test environments can be prototyped in parallel with the main prototyping activities, and how fundamental trade-offs in test environment characteristics can be flexibly changed to fit each test in doing so. By getting a better understanding of how test environments can be used as tools, a higher momentum might be achieved in iterative prototyping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a simulation study in which virtual product development tools are used to support the design of a novel robotic cleaning solution for fish processing facilities. The installation and commissioning of complex equipment in these facilities are challenging owing to the unavailability of accurate spatial data of the facilities; this generally results in delays. Delays causing unplanned stops are particularly undesirable in fish processing plants because processing facilities produce fish five days a week throughout the year. In this study, virtual tools such as 3D-CAD and 3D-scanning are utilized in product development processes to develop virtual factory layouts; these are used for simulation. These virtual tools are aimed at reducing delays during installation and commissioning of complex products in fish processing plants. The results reveal that the application of 3D-scanning and simulation technology in virtual factory layouts can reduce the installation and commissioning time for retrofitting manufacturing equipment, which are important aspects for reducing the risk of bacterial contamination in fish processing facilities. The results also reveal that virtual factory layouts, 3D-scanning, and simulation may enable further research in fish processing facilities, e.g., simulating new fish processing concepts without intervention in operational fish processing plants. Simulation and 3D-scan data aids product development processes by reducing time and uncertainty and by discovering design errors at an early stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to exemplify prototype-driven development in the early stages of product development, the stages before requirements and specifications are fixed. This pre-requirement phase provides opportunities and uncertainties for the design team to explore, and this paper shows how this could be (and has been) done through extensive use of explorative prototyping. Prototyping, in this context, is the activity building and experimenting with various concepts with the aim of producing tangible insights as fast as possible. In prototyping, prototypes are tangible artifacts built to answer specific questions, in order to explore and gain new insights as the project requirements emerge. The context for this article is product development of patient simulators used in medical training, referred to as 'Mannequins'. Mannequins are widely used in medical training to enable practice of treatment for conditions too rare or dangerous to perform on real patients. From this context, specific examples on prototype-driven development are shown through two case projects; Development of a chest for the training of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and a fractured leg in order to train on realigning and stabilizing displaced fractures. These projects are user-centered design challenges within the medical education field. This paper shows how a prototype-driven development approach could be utilized on a project level and provides insights on prototyping to gain answers, learning and inform decisions. The paper argues that before requirements and specifications are fixed, a more exploratory and prototype-driven approach is needed, in order to provide more informed requirements and specifications. This way, prototypes are the drivers of the development and the iterations impact the direction of the ongoing development. Specific aspects of prototype-driven development such as user-interaction, prototype resolution, evaluation and testing are also discussed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topologies of membrane and shell structures are not covered by existing wind load Standards and wind tunnel testing should be used to obtain representative wind loads for these structures. However, accurate scale-models of these organically shaped and often open thin structures are complex, time-consuming and expensive to build. To stimulate experimental research on wind load distributions over these structures, this paper illustrates a prototyping methodology for double curved thin shell wind tunnel models with integrated pressure sensors. The production process is illustrated for a hyperbolic paraboloid roof structure. The obtained wind load distributions are validated with literature for a flat roof and canopy that is made according to the same methodology and for two hyperbolic paraboloid roofs. Results indicate that, compared to conventional wind tunnel models, these thin shell wind tunnel models yield more realistic wind pressure distributions over very thin canopy structures. Finally, Cp-distributions are shown for the hyperbolic paraboloid canopy with the high corner under attack. The production of glass-fibre reinforced composites in a CNC-milled mould is convenient and accurate and facilitates the production of wind tunnel models to be used for wind load measurements on organically shaped thin canopy structures. • Wind tunnel models of scaled canopies with integrated pressure taps are prototyped. • Simultaneous pressure measurement on both sides of thin canopies is achieved. • Cp-distributions are drafted for two hyperbolic paraboloids with different curvature. • The low thickness results in more relevant Cp-values close to the upwind edges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Features were machined by Laser milling on PMMA sheets, adopting a 30 W CW-PW CO 2 laser. • ANNs were developed to estimate the achieved depth and surface roughness of the features. • To avoid fitting problems, at the input data matrix randomly noise was added (Rn). • Network architecture was defined on the basis of desirability indexes. • ANN offers an effective methodology for the estimations of roughness parameters. Abstract In the present work, different Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) architectures were developed and applied to predict the surface characteristics (roughness and depth) of laser milled pockets, performed on poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA) sheets. The experimental data were obtained by adopting a 30 W CO 2 laser source, fixing the average power at the maximum value and changing the wave mode (continuous or pulsed mode), the scan speed and the etching distance in large range. The depth and the roughness parameters (R a and R t), of machined surfaces were acquired by a 3D Surface Profiling System and adopted for the ANN training together with the process parameters. In order to allow network convergence, ANN training was executed by applying a random variable noise to the input data (Rn). The Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) was adopted to evaluate the ability of ANNs in surface characteristics forecasting. The results show a strong influence of the adopted ANN configuration on the forecasting ability. Nevertheless, a careful selection of the network architecture allows forecasting the roughness with a MAPE lower than 7%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces Hybrid Prototyping as a way to couple different prototyping methods; combining their complementary affordances and mitigating their limitations. To characterise and investigate this approach, a simulation-based study was conducted into the coupling of low-cost 3D printing and LEGO®. Key benefits hypothesised are reduced fabrication time and increased reconfigurability. Six primitive 3D shapes are simulated using a continuum of hypothetical brick sizes. Results show a reduction in fabrication time of 45% and a reconfigurability of 57% at the optimum. A case study highlights the compounded improvements over 3D printing for an iterative prototyping process. These findings mean that increases in prototyping iterations can be made due to reduced time and material costs, accelerating the product development process. • Hybrid Prototyping reduces fabrication time and increases reconfigurability. • Fabrication times of prototypes can be reduced by 45% at optimum brick size. • Reconfigurability of prototypes can tend to 100%, 57% at optimum brick size. • Optimum brick-to-object ratio is (4 − 8) × 10 − 4 : 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the capability to remotely monitor indoor and outdoor environments would allow to reduce energy consumption and improve the overall management and users' experience of network application systems. The most known solutions adopting remote control are related to domotics (e.g., smart homes and industry 4.0 applications). An important stimulus for the development of such smart approaches is the growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and the increasing investment in the development of green houses, buildings, and, in general, heterogeneous environments. While the benefits for the humans and the environment are evident, a pervasive adoption and distribution of remote monitoring solutions are hindered by the following issue: modeling, designing, prototyping, and further developing the remote applications and underlying architecture require a certain amount of time. Moreover, such systems must be often customized on the basis of the need of the specific domain and involved entities. For such reasons, in this paper, we provide the experience made in addressing some relevant indoor and outdoor case studies through IoT-targeted tools, technologies and protocols, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of the considered solutions as well as insights that can be useful for future practitioners. • Remotely monitor indoor and outdoor environments. • Tools for rapid modeling and prototyping Internet of Things case studies. • Insights on the development of specific case studies useful for practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contamination of surface and groundwater with arsenic is an urgent problem in many countries where the population does not have any other water sources. A new renewable/recoverable sugarcane bagasse anion adsorbent (SBAA) for arsenic removal was prepared using a greener, cleaner, and sustainable synthesis method in a mini-pilot reactor. SBAA was prototyped for the treatment of arsenic-contaminated groundwater. Tests carried out with the prototype connected to household clay ceramic water filters showed that SBAA achieved 95 ± 3% arsenic removal, reaching arsenic levels below the WHO's limit of 10 µg L−1. SBAA obtained the NSF/ANSI 61–2016 safety certification, which allows its safe and commercial use. Comparing the performance of the SBAA with commercial materials demonstrates its potential to compete with other technologies in the market. The SBAA is efficient, even in the presence of interfering contaminants. The technology validation classified it at technology readiness level 4. The financial analysis of the proposed business model considered a total sale of 180,000 units in 5 y (semi-industrial process), 4% of the Latin American market, and a sales price of USD $6.95 per unit. A Net present value of USD $52,690.51, internal return rate of 28%, payback of 3.0 y, discounted payback of 3.4 y, and breakeven point of 1.6 y were obtained. The upscaling potential of the SBAA technology was demonstrated, considering technical and market aspects for the development of competitive renewable-based technologies not yet available in the market for the treatment of water contaminated with arsenic. [Display omitted] • Biosorbent (SBAA) prepared under circular economy and cleaner production concepts. • SBAA can solve arsenic-contaminated drinking water in developing countries. • Upscaling and business model show SBAA is technically and economically viable. • SBAA underwent several tests for its safety certification and commercialization. • A prototype was developed for using SBAA in household water filtration systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for agrotechnical alternatives that improve crop yields while having a neutral impact on the environment is the essence of sustainable agriculture. Biostimulants are an important tool for integrated crop management. The objective was to assess the biostimulating activity of macerates from the leaves of Levisticum officinale L., using soybean as a model crop. The extract was evaluated for biologically active compounds as well as its ability to support the growth of soybean plants in natural conditions during a three-year field experiment. The effect of macerates on morphophysiological parameters of soybean plants was evaluated. The harvested crop was analyzed for its mineral profile, protein and amino acid content, including essential amino acids, fat and fatty acids, and fiber fraction content. The analysis showed that the lovage root extract contained antioxidants in the form of phenolic compounds, soluble carbohydrates, minerals, and phytohormones. The concentration of bioactive compounds indicates that the plant extract has agronomic potential and can be considered an effective natural biostimulant to improve soybean growth and yield. The bioactive components of the lovage extract played an important role in plant growth and metabolism. The number of pods per plant and soybean yield increased significantly after the application of the macerate. The concentration of minerals, amino acids, and total protein in soybean increased by the application of lovage macerate. The analyzed extract is an effective natural biostimulant and can be used in agricultural practice. [Display omitted] • Extract from Levisticum officinale has biostimulating activity. • Developing novel biostimulant for soybean cultivation. • Extract from lovage modifies the soybean yield and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper presents the design and prototyping of novel structure magnets–simplified multipole magnets, one octupole and one dodecapole. The field measurements of the prototypes show very good agreement with the numerical field calculations. The octupole prototype can produce either an anti-symmetric or a symmetric field distribution. Magnets with this novel structure can supply much higher saturation fields, e.g. doubled pole-gap strength of 0.6 T for the dodecapole prototype. The intrinsic field errors for the integrated field distribution are within ± 1% for a rectangular shape of good field region, which are acceptable for some applications such as beam spot uniformization. Some key technical issues of building the magnets are also discussed. The success of the prototyping will pave the way for applications of the magnet family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An assembly planning parallel to the product development allows to identify the arising assembly challenges and their resulting requirements at an early stage. However, a reliable planning of assembly for large-volume assembly groups is difficult, as the implementation of assembly for new products is characterized by recurring optimization phases until the assembly process can be considered as technically mature. During this phase, the proportion of manual activities is high and the assembly steps demand a high degree of improvisation. By using prototypes, the assembly process reliability can be increased. For this purpose, time- and cost-intensive constructions of real large-scale products are often manufactured, which correspond to the real product in their function or dimension. For the consideration of the assembly planning, only specific features of the assembly are necessary to evaluate the behavior during the handling and joining process and to provide information about the accessibility for assembly tools. A derivative product, designed systematically by using a decision matrix, offers an enormous benefit to answering function related questions in the handling of the assembly group. It requires a sufficiently high structural analogy, at the same time it demonstrates a sufficient degree of abstraction in order to evaluate assembly processes in a reduced dimension. A classification of the derivative product with regard to scale, material selection and geometry offers a possibility to select the degree of abstraction application specifically, in order to represent the assembly complexity. Based on an example of a large-volume assembly group in the aviation industry, the use of the decision matrix is demonstrated by configuring a derivate product in order to structure assembly processes and optimize the sequence of assembly, handling and ergonomics. The matrix contains different options for selected criteria, which provide an overall result to support the selection of the optimal degree of abstraction and dimension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial companies are permanently facing challenges regarding the development of Product-Service Systems (PSSs) due to the integration of different components into a holistic system and the need of integration of several contributors, especially customers, during the design and performance process. The use of prototypes is a promising approach to master these challenges, but if PSS prototypes are currently applied during the development process, the use often intuitively concerns the selection of the prototype as well as the timing of its use during the design process. In a systematic PSS design process, prototypes should be applied efficiently and systematically. Consequently, this paper presents at first a general literature scan regarding suitable PSS prototypes. Based on these findings, a structured state-of-the-art compilation of PSS prototypes is composed. In the following step a PSS Prototype Application Chart, which supports the efficient and targeted use of prototypes during the PSS development process, is introduced. The proposed chart integrates the PSS prototypes into the PSS design process and supports PSS developers to identify a suitable prototype for their individual PSS design project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract While VR grows in the range of application contexts – e.g. entertainment, training, cultural heritage and medicine – its economic impact is expected to reach around 15bn USD, by the year of 2020. Within VR field, 360º video has been sparking the interest of development and research communities. However, editing tools supporting 360º panoramas are usually expensive and/or demand programming skills and/or advanced user knowledge. Besides, applicational approaches to quickly and intuitively set up such 360º video-based VR environments complemented with diverse types of parameterizable virtual assets and multimedia elements are still hard to find. Thereby, this paper aims to propose a system specification to simply and rapidly configure immersive VR environments composed of surrounding 360º video spheres that can be complemented with parameterizable multimedia contents – namely 3D models, text and spatial sound –, whose behavior can be either time-range or user-interaction dependent. Moreover, a preliminary prototype that follows a substantial part of the previously mentioned specification and implements the enhancement of 360º videos with time-range dependent virtual assets is presented. Preliminary tests evaluating usability and user satisfaction were also carried out with 30 participants, from which encouraging results were achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurement, data transfer, modelling, controller systems are the main subjects of interdisciplinary area during prototyping of marine automatic control systems. Experimental parameter identification is an essential step for modelling and control system design are in question for various marine applications. The selection of variables to be measured, type of measurement sensors, type of control algorithms and controller systems, communication, signal conditioning are all important topics for parameter identification and real-time control applications in maritime engineering. The objective of this paper is to present a brief review of these important topics based on our case studies, such as ship roll motion reduction control, optimal trim control of a high speed craft, and dynamic position control of underwater vehicles. These projects involved extensive dynamic modelling, simulation, control algorithm design, real-time implementation and full-scale sea trials. In this paper, the presented methods, and the required characteristics of the marine control systems are demonstrated with the results obtained by the simulation studies and full-scale sea trials. Also, insight into the selection of hardware and software components for mechatronic applications in marine engineering is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Product development processes require prototypes to materialise ideas and share concepts. Prototypes’ nature can be classified as convergent or divergent. Converging prototypes represent an evolution of a concept, while diverging ones seek to cover different solution paths. The diverging group includes the “Dark Horse” prototype, which calls for the exploration of other, high-risk high-return ideas. This paper examines the “Dark Horse” influence on final design concepts. Fifty-nine projects developed by multi-disciplinary student teams following a Design Thinking approach were studied. Comparison criteria and statistical analysis were implemented to understand the effects of the “Dark Horse” on the final solution. In particular the influence of the “Dark Horse” characteristics and its level of radical innovation on the quality and nature of the final solution of the project were examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we present a new all-cellulose approach for modifying and functionalizing textiles. The use of 3D-printing and two acetylated cellulose derivatives, rigid cellulose acetate (CA) and flexible acetoxypropyl cellulose (APC), on cellulosic fabrics were studied. In addition, prototypes were generated using a design-driven approach. The interactions of cellulose derivatives with cellulose were assessed by quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D). 3D-printing of cellulosic materials on cellulosic fabrics was performed using a direct-write method by printing cellulose derivatives on woven and knitted cotton and woven viscose fabrics. The adhesion of the printed structures was evaluated via peeling and washability tests. The results indicated that although both cellulose derivatives had a positive attraction towards the cellulose substrate, CA had higher affinity and good adhesion properties, whereas the more branched molecular structure of APC was less firmly attached to cellulosic material. The applicability of 3D-printing cellulosic materials for textile modification and functionalization was assessed through iterative prototyping. Visual effects and functional surface structures were demonstrated. Utilization of 3D-printing of cellulosic materials for surface tailoring of cellulosic textiles, eliminates labour intensive processing or external glues and may enable new and simple customization processes with minimized material usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production, diffusion and preservation of knowledge are the main goals of universities, which are critical nodes for mediating intellectual capital. In recent years, 3D printing (additive manufacturing) technologies are emerging as a possible disruptive or transformative force in the knowledge economy and by extension the material economy as consumers are given the affordance of materializing information into real-world objects. To understand the role universities will play in this potential convergence of the material and knowledge economies, this paper surveys current levels of involvement of tertiary institutions in 3D printing. The paper projects how the materialization of data will affect a range of social dynamics for creators-cum-consumers at different scales: community, region and nation-state and applies case studies to the multilevel perspective (MLP) framework. Studies are considered in three empirical cases: Berlin in Germany, Lancashire in the United Kingdom, and the United States. The research indicates that the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute (NAMII) ‘America Makes’ Program is a top-down knowledge dissemination program for 3D printing. In contrast, the UK Lancaster University Product Development Unit (LPDU) is a 3D-printing value-network, which has developed organically over a decade of operation. Fablab Berlin is a local initiative loosely coupled with industry and tertiary education providers. The paper proposes a future-oriented conceptual framework to capture a variety of present-day university engagements with additive manufacturing in terms of intellectual capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article develops a model of sustainable energy demonstration projects, based on a review of 229 scientific publications on demonstrations in renewable and sustainable energy. The model addresses the basic organizational characteristics (aim, cooperative form, and physical location) and learning effects (technical, organizational, policy and market learning) of sustainable energy demonstration projects (prototyping, organizing, and market demonstrations). This article concludes that a main effect of the reviewed demonstrations is that these projects enable people to learn to further develop, apply and commercialize sustainable, renewable and clean energy technologies. They provide four specific learning opportunities; they 1) enable scientists and technicians to learn how to technically develop sustainable energy prototypes; 2) facilitate technicians and managers to learn to build an organization that produces these sustainable energy prototypes on a large(r) scale; 3) help public policy officers to learn to develop public policy that stimulates the commercialization process of these sustainable energy prototypes; and 4) support commercial professionals to learn how to bring sustainable energy prototypes to the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Smart Building Envelope (SBE) is an interactive system which is adaptive to environmental conditions by transforming its shape and functions. The success of the SBE depends on elaborate interactions among the various building components. The acutely challenging issue is to design the SBE not only to satisfy multidisciplinary requirements but also to orchestrate the technical functions of components. The research objective is to propose an exploratory model on the usability of a prototyping process for SBE design. So the research is related to the conceptualization of the prototyping process model based on complementary use of the Virtual Model (VM) and Smart Physical Model (SPM). The conceptual prototyping process model is appropriate for consideration of the characteristics of the architectural design, the resources of the educational environment and the limitations of the novice designer. Furthermore, the prototyping process model in this research will help in the formulation of guidelines for the educational process, which in turn will help not merely to make intricate engineering products but also to introduce observed results into the architectural design process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Zygomatic-orbital complex fractures are the most common facial traumas that can result in severe esthetic and functional sequelae. Surgical correction of these fractures is a delicate approach and prototyping is an excellent tool to facilitate this procedure. Presentation of case A 27-year-old man, a motorcycle accident victim, was hospitalized in the intensive care unit for 30 days. After this period, facial fractures were treated surgically, leaving sequelae such as enophthalmos, dystopia and loss of projection of the zygomatic arch. A second intervention was planned after one year for reconstruction of the orbit with the help of prototyping. Better outcomes were achieved than in the first intervention. Discussion This report permits to compare the result of conventional surgery and the use of a prototype in the same patient. Noticeably better outcomes were achieved with the second approach. Prototyping made the surgical procedure more predictable and reduced operative time because of the possibility of using preshaped titanium plates. Conclusions Prototyping was found to be an excellent option to overcome the deficiencies of the conventional technique, recovering the functional and esthetic characteristics of the patient’s face and ensuring a markedly satisfactory outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large area seals were prepared between a metal foil frame (Fe-Ni alloy with 48 wt% Ni) and a 901 × 814 mm 2 glass pane through the simultaneous application of activated liquid tin solder anodic bonding and soft soldering. An experimental facility including a liquid solder injector was built. Prototype seals were produced with tin solder alloys with variable Al contents and the hermiticity and interface integrity was determined. Solder alloys with an Al content of 112.5 ppm resulted in the strongest adhesion forces, broadly consistent with a previous study at the laboratory scale. The resulting prototypes consist of a bonded area of ∼450 cm 2 along the perimeter of a 0.73 m 2 glass pane and display consistently strong bonds for sections over a meter in length, demonstrating that activated liquid solder anodic bonding is not restricted to small-area applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much has been written about brainstorming and prototyping in medical devices. These 2 topics are the crucial ingredients to innovation; which, if well seeded by organized and structured forays into each, will net much higher quality and more valuable results. Structure and process, although slightly counterintuitive as applied to brainstorming and prototyping, can greatly improve the value proposition of the innovation itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-creation is a well-established topic in manufacturing research. Since 1999 there has been a wide range of publications about the involvement of customers in the design of end products. What is new, however, is the stakeholder, particularly user, integration at the early stage of development of product-service systems (PSS) for concept co-creation. In this paper, we evaluate the methods for PSS development at the fuzzy front-end, before we derive a co-creation oriented method that relies on prototyping at selected stages of the process. The first stage deals with the generation of a shared understanding of the concept to be developed, and in the second stage we converge towards the generation of the user requirements by employing a set of electronic tools to drive process and logic flow thinking within the group of co-creators. The methodology has been evaluated within three workshops involving 42 participants who were asked to design a decentralized bike-sharing system, where bike owners can generate revenues from their bikes by renting them out when not otherwise needed. In a future phase, the results will be compared to the outcomes of a workshop organized with a bike sharing company that is currently developing this model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decision makers in industry use IT systems to enrich task fulfilment with information systematically. Next to engineering-driven concepts, the application of Operational Business Intelligence (OpBI) is discussed to support production-specific decisions and to organize production processes. Currently, this discussion focusses rather on practicability studies than on certain implementations. Therefore, we introduce a framework to analyze industry processes using design science research. Evaluation is carried out with data from a rod and wire rolling process in forming industry. In conclusion, the framework approach improves capabilities of users to analyze a steel's rolling behavior during rolling experiments automatically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to design cropping systems reconciling crop production, biodiversity and reduced herbicide use, we organised participatory workshops with farmers in the Champagne region (North-Eastern France). The main issues of the study were to develop and implement a methodology for participatory workshop-based cropping-system design, combining expert knowledge and models, in the particular case of agroecological weed management. Methods used in this study combined cropping-system prototyping by farmers, expert opinion and models. In a first meeting, farmers determined their objectives and constraints, and chose a reference system from one of their farms (oilseed rape/winter wheat/winter wheat/spring barley heavily infested by autumnal grass weeds). In a second meeting, two sets of prototypes were designed by two separate groups, using the Mission Ecophyt'eau® tool as support. The reference and the prototypes were evaluated in terms of (1) technical feasibility from farmers' and scientists' expertise, (2) weed harmfulness for crop production and weed contribution to biodiversity with FLORSYS which simulates crop and weed growth and reproduction in cropping systems at a daily time step over several years, and (3) economic, social and environmental sustainability with the DEXiPM model. Steps 2 and 3 were carried out after the meeting. At a third meeting, these results were presented to the farmers who continued improving the prototypes, using the DECIFLORSYS model which includes decision trees to guide farmers during cropping-system design and a fast calculator estimating weed harmfulness and biodiversity of cropping-system prototypes. Both prototypes presented increased crop diversification, introducing legumes and other broad-leaved crops, crop mixtures and cover crops. Both prototypes reduced weed harmfulness for crop production (yield loss, harvest contamination, field infestation) and herbicide use intensity (approx. -60%) compared to the reference system. The best solution was a suboption of prototype B replacing most of the herbicides by mechanical weeding, dividing yield loss by nearly two compared to the reference and improving biodiversity by 5–10%. The workshop participants appreciated the knowledge on agroecosystem functioning and the complementarity of models. DECIFLORSYS allowed a direct evaluation during workshops. FLORSYS produced a detailed diagnosis of the technical and meteorological causes of the cropping systems' performance. DEXiPM assessed working times and economic viability of the prototypes. Following the workshops, some participants invested in new tools for mechanical weeding and introduced more spring crops into their rotations. [Display omitted] • A participatory approach was carried out with a farmers' group of North-Eastern France facing autumnal weed issues. • Three workshops, to define the objectives, to design the cropping systems and to present the multiperformance assessments. • Two cropping system prototypes were designed to reduce weed harmfulness and herbicide use intensity. • Models used in this study promoted knowledge sharing among farmers when designing innovative cropping systems. • Following the workshops, 2 out of 9 participants implemented new techniques for weed management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]