Abstract: Shear-induced adhesion is one of the key properties for the gecko moving safely and quickly in a three-dimensional environment. The control strategies of such locomotion strongly relying on adhesion are still not well understood. In this study, we measured foot alignment and three-dimensional reaction forces of the single toes of the Tokay gecko running on the ground freely (gravity condition) and running in a situation where the gravity force was counterbalanced (reduced gravity condition). The forelimb rotated from the outward position to the front-facing position and the hindlimb rotated from the outward position to the rear-facing position, when running with balanced force, which indicated that the adhesive system was employed behaviorally through the modulation of the foot alignment. The toe was compressed and pulled in the gravity condition, but it was tensed and pulled in the reduced gravity condition. There was an approximately linear relationship between peak normal forces and the corresponding shear forces in both the reduced gravity condition (FN = −0.40FS − 0.008) and the gravity condition (FN = 2.70FS − 0.12). The footpad was compressed and pushed in the gravity condition, whereas it was tensed and pulled in the reduced gravity condition. There was an approximately linear relationship between peak normal forces and the corresponding shear forces in both the reduced gravity condition (FN = −0.39FS − 0.001) and in the gravity condition (FN = −2.80FS − 0.08). The shear-induced adhesion of the gecko footpad is controlled by the coupling of the normal force and shear forces: that is why in this system adhesion was shear-sensitive and friction was load-sensitive. Our measurements of single toe reaction forces also show that geckos control their footpad attachment using ‘toe rolling-in and gripping’ motion in both gravity and reduced gravity conditions.

Abstract: Suspension system is one of the key parts of vehicle, the performance of suspension system has great influence on vehicle handling stability and safety In order to improve the performance of suspension system, the Macpherson suspension of a vehicle is taken as the research object, the suspension model is established by ADAMS/Car, and carried out parallel wheel travel simulation to analyze the key parameters variation of camber angle, toe angle, caster angle, kingpin inclination angle and scrub radius Simulation results show that camber angle and scrub radius are beyond normal design range and require optimization Wheel alignment parameters are determined by sensitivity analysis, and optimized by ADAMS/Insight Then carried out simulation to analyze the performance of optimized suspension system Results show that optimized suspension system satisfies the requirements of vehicle stability and safety

Abstract: The camber and toe of the four-wheel alignment technology are very important for the smooth operation of the vehicle. A digital two-dimensional angle measuring instrument is designed to measure camber and toe in this paper. The instrument consists of a hand-held terminal and a two-axles inclination sensor. Hand-held terminal is used for data processing. MSP430 is used as the control unit, and the power supply, human-computer interaction, data storage, data communication and other circuits are designed. Inclination sensor is used to measure data. By practical testing, the instrument can accurately measure the four-wheel inclination angle, which is convenient to assist the four-wheel positioning. In the engineering application, it reduces the labor cost and realizes the miniaturization and family of the measuring instrument.

Abstract: Introduction In-growing toenails commonly affect young men hampering the quality of life. There are many methods to treat in-growing toe nail but most of them have high recurrence rates and poor patient satisfaction. We describe our results of segmental matrix excision for correction of ingrowing toe nails. Material and methods It is a retrospective study over a period of 2 years. Patients with symptomatic in-growing toe nails with stage II and III were operated by technique of segmental matrix excision. All patients were available for follow-up at ∼1 year. Results 90 patients, 59 males and 31females with ingrowing nail of great toe (108 toes and 120 surgical sites) that underwent correction of by segmental matrix excision. Patient’s age ranged from 19 to 59 years. There was involvement of right great toe in 42 patients, left great toe in 30 patients and bilateral toes in 18 patients. 12 great toes were affected on both sides (74 lateral sides and 46 medial sides of toes). 15/90 (16.6%) patients had history of previous failed surgery by nail plate avulsion. Complications include bleeding (n = 1), infection (n = 2). On average follow up of ∼1 year, there was only 1 recurrence. There was no loss of cutaneous innervation or osteomyelitis. All patients went back to their normal activity on 10th day. Conclusion Segmental matrix excision should be considered as the treatment of choice for ingrowing toe nail because of high cure rate, less pain, low risk of postoperative infection, and results in good cosmetic result.

Abstract: Estimating the wheel camber error is a challenging task without attaching an additional sensors or mechanisms on the Electrical vehicles. Almost all the electrical automobiles are using several combinations of sensors to detect the camber errors, toe in/out errors and other wheel conditions measurements. This paper introduces a simple method to identify the camber and toe in/out error using disturbance observer (DOB) without using any additional sensors or mechanisms. Proposed concept is practically demonstrated by using a differential drive mobile robot. The Wheeled mobile robot (WMR) is commanded to run on a predefined path and torque profile is observed to identify whether wheels of the vehicles are misaligned.

Abstract: It is a delight to read research that adds scientific understanding to something that one instinctively thinks is correct, and then poses a great many more questions. Such is the experience of reading the report by Mosti and colleagues on the effects of hydrostatic pressure on leg venous haemodynamics. In ancient Greece and Rome, the restorative powers of Balneotherapy (treatments involving water) and Thalassotherapy (treatments involving seawater) were well known, and the use of private and public baths was widespread. In more modern times, the beneficial effects of Balneotherapy for chronic venous insufficiency have been demonstrated, but few have investigated the underlying science. Apart from one report from 1967 that has proved impossible for the reviewer to track down, there appears to be no modern scientific study into this area, until this group published their ultrasound findings of how leg veins changed when standing in water compared with air. Therefore, this paper by Mosti and colleagues is welcome and illuminating. They have shown that calf volume when standing in water, as measured by strain gauge plethysmography, is less than when lying supine out of water. Also, that standing in water virtually collapses the superficial veins, hence reducing the volume, and most interestingly, a further reduction in volume on walking in water. This measurable ejection fraction, even when the superficial veins are almost closed, shows that the deep veins must maintain a significant blood volume, when standing in water. As with all great studies, this report poses even more questions. For instance, is there any accommodation in the venous system after being in the water for 30 minutes or

Abstract: A toe protection device according to the present invention, comprises a base corresponding to a branched part of a toe while having an opening to which the toe is fitted; an end disposed on the opposite side of the base; and an encloser, between the base and the end, having a hollow for surrounding an outer side of the toe in a surface contact manner, having a thick lower part to absorb torsion force applied to a blister candidate of the toe, and made of a soft material According to the present invention, a blister generated on a lateral lower side of an end part of a toe can be prevented and rapidly removed

Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle with a steering device for at least one steerable vehicle wheel, having, inter alia, a steering handle for a driver of the vehicle for specifying his steering request, an actuator for setting a toe angle of the at least one steerable vehicle wheel by taking into account the specified driver steering request, and a steering handle actuator for generating a reaction to a specification of the driver at the steering handle, wherein the steering handle actuator can act by means of a mechanical transmission device on a steering control element which is mechanically connected to the steering handle and which is mounted in the vehicle, arranged together with the steering handle in a first housing. In this context, the steering handle actuator is mounted in a second housing, separately and independently of the first housing, in the vehicle.

Abstract: Selection of tires plays a crucial role in Vehicle Dynamics, which is important to design the steering and suspension system. An attempt is made to select the most optimum tire for lateral performance by using the tire data acquired from Tire Testing Consortium. Parameters including the tire's lateral grip, cornering stiffness, cornering stiffness coefficient, camber stiffness, and lateral frictional coefficient have aided this selection. The tire is modelled using the Pacejka Magic Formula where the lateral and aligning coefficients are found, and used to get pneumatic trail, a parameter not provided in the raw data. The novelty of the work is seen when the selected tire is analysed to set the camber, pressure, and caster using the Design of Experiments method, without the need for building and testing a car. Making the best use of the tires' forces and moments, the steering geometry is designed for a target range of radii by operating the tire slip angles at its optimum value. Further the influence of the change in toe angle on the Ackermann percentage is examined. Steering moment, calculated using the aligning moment curves of the tire, is applied to the steering column to conduct finite element analysis.

Abstract: A robust design based on DFSS is presented for double wishbone suspension system kinematic and compliance (K&C) performance. Variations in suspension K&C caused by the uncertainties of hard points and bushing stiffness coefficients are minimized. The robust design involves two steps. In the first step, suspension kinematic characteristic are optimized. The objective functions are the toe angle and camber angle, and random design variables are the hardpoints of joints. The bushing stiffness coefficients are assumed as constant design parameters. In the second step, suspension compliance characteristics are optimized, where the bushing stiffness coefficients are random design variables. The optimized hardpoints in the first step are treated as constant design parameters. The optimization result shows that the robustness of suspension K&C performance is improved.