To solve problems underlying design and manufacturing we often rely on methodologies of computational intelligence such as machine learning, artificial neural networks, fuzzy logic, fuzzy inference systems and smart optimization algorithms. In this Special Issue of the International Journal of Automation Technology, original articles are presented with reference to the engagement of intelligent computation in diverse application areas of design and manufacturing, including manufacturing process monitoring, manufacturing systems management, scheduling, design theory and methodology.

The six research papers in this Special Issue propose the use of intelligent computation methodologies to deal with various topics related to manufacturing and design. In particular, the first three papers focus on manufacturing process monitoring with reference to different manufacturing technologies, including tool wear monitoring in drilling of composite materials, sensor monitoring in CNC turning and residual stress prediction in welding. Diverse intelligent approaches such as artificial neural networks and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems are proposed to support manufacturing process monitoring. The fourth paper deals with the manufacturing system level, proposing the employment of a solution algorithm combining metaheuristics and operation simulation for scheduling of production processes. The fifth paper aims at developing tools to guide the manufacturers to manage the technology investment and cost saving target for customer satisfaction based on the application of internet of things. The last paper proposes a methodology to support the introduction of customer requirements in product and service design via a decision support system which exploits artificial intelligence algorithms (machine learning) based on inductive inference, allowing knowledge related to product/service to be mapped, structured and managed to design the service and product semantic model.

The editors deeply appreciate all the authors and anonymous reviewers for their effort and excellent work to make this Special Issue unique. We hope that future research on intelligent computation in manufacturing and design will advance manufacturing technology and systems as well as design methodologies.

To solve problems underlying design and manufacturing we often rely on methodologies of computational intelligence such as machine learning, artificial neural networks, fuzzy logic, fuzzy inference systems and smart optimization algorithms. In this Special Issue of the International Journal of Automation Technology, original articles are presented with reference to the engagement of intelligent computation in diverse application areas of design and manufacturing, including manufacturing process monitoring, manufacturing systems management, scheduling, design theory and methodology.

The six research papers in this Special Issue propose the use of intelligent computation methodologies to deal with various topics related to manufacturing and design. In particular, the first three papers focus on manufacturing process monitoring with reference to different manufacturing technologies, including tool wear monitoring in drilling of composite materials, sensor monitoring in CNC turning and residual stress prediction in welding. Diverse intelligent approaches such as artificial neural networks and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems are proposed to support manufacturing process monitoring. The fourth paper deals with the manufacturing system level, proposing the employment of a solution algorithm combining metaheuristics and operation simulation for scheduling of production processes. The fifth paper aims at developing tools to guide the manufacturers to manage the technology investment and cost saving target for customer satisfaction based on the application of internet of things. The last paper proposes a methodology to support the introduction of customer requirements in product and service design via a decision support system which exploits artificial intelligence algorithms (machine learning) based on inductive inference, allowing knowledge related to product/service to be mapped, structured and managed to design the service and product semantic model.

The editors deeply appreciate all the authors and anonymous reviewers for their effort and excellent work to make this Special Issue unique. We hope that future research on intelligent computation in manufacturing and design will advance manufacturing technology and systems as well as design methodologies.

Recently, terrestrial laser scanners have been significantly improved in terms of accuracy, measurement distance, measurement speed, and resolution. They enable us to capture dense 3D point clouds of large-scale objects and fields, such as factories, engineering plants, large equipment, and transport ships. In addition, the mobile mapping system, which is a vehicle equipped with laser scanners and GPSs, can be used for capturing large-scale point clouds from a wide range of roads, buildings, and roadside objects. Large-scale point clouds are useful in a variety of applications, such as renovation and maintenance of facilities, engineering simulation, asset management, and 3D mapping. To realize these applications, new techniques must be developed for processing large-scale point clouds. So far, point processing has been studied mainly for relatively small objects in the field of computer-aided design and computer graphics. However, in recent years, the application areas of point clouds are not limited to conventional domains, but also include manufacturing, civil engineering, construction, transportation, forestry, and so on. This is because the state-of-the-art laser scanner can be used to represent large objects or fields as dense point clouds. We believe that discussing new techniques and applications related to large-scale point clouds beyond the boundaries of traditional academic fields is very important.

This special issue addresses the latest research advances in large-scale point cloud processing. This covers a wide area of point processing, including shape reconstruction, geometry processing, object recognition, registration, visualization, and applications. The papers will help readers explore and share their knowledge and experience in technologies and development techniques.

All papers were refereed through careful peer reviews. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the authors for their submissions and to the reviewers for their invaluable efforts for ensuring the success of this special issue.

Since the transistor was invented at Bell Laboratories in 1947 and the concept of the integrated circuit was presented by Jack Kilby of TI in 1958, devices using silicon semiconductors have been developed with tremendous drive. Today, ultrastructural, highly dense, and high-functional ULSI devices have become a reality. Accordingly, novel, three-dimensional devices that aim at multiple functions and high performance have been proposed, and novel materials have come into existence. As Artificial Intelligence (AI) has drawn increasing attention, the concept of “Singularity,” or singular technical point, has become a focus of great attention. Singularity is a prediction put forth by American futurist Ray Kurzweil, who said, “Singularity will come in 2045, when the speed of the evolution of technology will become infinite and Artificial Intelligence will exceed human intelligence.” This prediction is said to have its roots in “Moore’s law,” formulated by Intel founder Gordon Moore, which states that “the degree of integration of transistors doubles every year and a half.” The deep learning and self-learning functions of computers can be mentioned as significant driving factors behind the dramatic development of AI studies. The processing capacity of AI has increased exponentially owing to the evolution and combination of various technologies, and the speed of development of technology now far exceeds the biological limits of humankind. As a result, it is inevitable that “Singularity” will come to pass, and the technologies behind semiconductor devices contributing to the arrival of Singularity are expected to develop much further.

In the process of such semiconductor development, silicon carbide (SiC), among other materials, came to be expected as the next-generation semiconductor in the 1950s, but it could not succeed significantly as a practical device. SiC also attracted attention as the material used in green and red light-emitting elements. In the 1990s, SiC came into the spotlight, along with gallium nitride (GaN) crystal and other materials, by being put into practical use as the material used in blue light-emitting diodes. Today, as the silicon (Si) as power devices have already approached the physical limits of the material, next-generation devices focus on semiconductor substrates such as SiC and GaN, which have performance indexes tens to thousands of times higher than the Si semiconductor. Especially, high-power devices and high-frequency devices have attracted special attention, because the use of semiconductor devices in the automotive and other fields has increased dramatically. Furthermore, the single-crystal substrate of semiconducting diamond is considered to be the ultimate semiconductor device, so this topic has been vigorously researched.

The above-mentioned next-generation devices are called green devices because they could reduce power consumption and carbon dioxide emissions tremendously, leading to the realization of a low-carbon and energy-saving society. Such devices are utilized not only as high-power semiconductors and light-emitting semiconductors but also as various sensors, including gas sensors and UV sensors, as well as MEMS devices. Further application of such devices is expected in the future.

To actually produce the high-performance and multifunctional green devices, it will be necessary to establish the technologies for device integration and the manufacturing process. An example would be the process of growing crystals that are larger in diameter and higher in quality. The substrate materials applied in such technologies, including SiC, GaN, and diamond, are known as ultra-hard-to-process materials: their extreme mechanical and chemical stability makes the general manufacturing process much more difficult. A breakthrough is needed to solve this problem. Many challenges must be overcome systematically to produce a high-performance green device, as the device to which such crystalline materials are applied will reduce power consumption and carbon dioxide emissions extremely effectively.

This special issue focuses on manufacturing processes, including the planarization processing of every kind of hard-to-process crystal substrate, involved in producing green devices, sensors, etc. And the paper on the various applications of the device are published in this issue. This issue is expected to contribute to the establishment of a process for manufacturing green devices, which is an essential industrial strategy, as well as to future intensive studies in this field.

Sensors, which are transducer-type devices, are indispensable to today’s advanced information society. A huge number of sensors are used not only in everyday devices but also in advanced industrial systems. They are used in Internet of things (IoT) services to gather external information, intelligent robots to recognize the world around them and control their movements, and all advanced vehicle technologies to operate safely and automatically. Sensors detect light, motion, force, fluid flow, electric/magnetic fields, and other physical, chemical, and biological aspects of the external environment.

To improve the performances of these sensors, such as their sensitivity, sensing resolution, and power consumption, extensive R&D is conducted in industry and academia. Recent technological progress in MEMS technology has allowed sensors to be manufactured on scales that are increasingly microscopic. More recently, the extreme downsizing of structures to nanometer scale has led to innovative sensing devices called NEMS.

This special issue addresses the latest research advances in nanosensing and microsensing science and engineering. It covers a wide range of topics, including novel sensing devices and technologies; small structures fabrication technologies for sensors; MEMS/NEMS sensing devices; physical, chemical, optical and biological sensing devices; and nanoscale science and engineering for sensors.

All papers were refereed through careful peer reviews. We would like to express our sincere thanks to the authors for their submissions and to the reviewers for their invaluable efforts. Lastly, we hope this special issue provides valuable and useful information to our interested readers and researchers.

The eighth Best Paper Award 2017 ceremony was held at Kanda Office of Fuji Technology Press Ltd., Tokyo, September 29, 2017, attended by the winners and IJAT Editorial Committee members. The Best Paper was severely selected from among 108 papers published in Vol.10, 2016. The Best Paper Award winner was given a certificate with a nearly US$1,000 honorarium.

We congratulate the winner and sincerely wish for their future success.

The Best Paper Award 2017

Fundamental Study on Novel On-Machine Measurement Method of a Cutting Tool Edge Profile with a Fluorescent Confocal Microscopy

by Kenji Maruno, Masaki Michihata, Yasuhiro Mizutani, and Yasuhiro Takaya

Int. J. of Automation Technology Vol.10 No.1, pp. 106-113, January, 2016 (doi: 10.20965/ijat.2016.p0106)

Interdisciplinary research that integrates medical science, biotechnology, materials science, mechanical engineering, and manufacturing has seen rapid progress in recent years. Not only fundamental research into biological functions but also the development of clinical approaches to treating patients are being actively carried out by experts in different fields. For example, artificial materials, such as those used in orthopedic surgery and dental implants, are being used more widely in medical treatments. In the area of minimally invasive surgery using X-rays, CT, and MRI, medical devices possessing radiolucent and nonmagnetic properties are playing a major role. Medical auxiliary equipment, such as wheelchairs, prosthetic feet, and other objects used to supplement medical treatment, is also critical. To assure that such advances continue into the future, material development and manufacturing processes should eventually satisfy the requirements of medical and biological applications, which are being debated by experts in different fields.

The applicable materials should have excellent specific strength and rigidity, high biocompatibility, and good formability. The various needs for material characteristics and functions make interdisciplinary research essential. Mechanical engineering and manufacturing technologies should be further developed to solve problems involved in the establishment of basic principles by integrating the knowledge of materials science, medical science, biology, chemistry, and other fields.

This special issue addresses the latest research advances into the biomedical applications of different manufacturing technologies. This covers a wide area, including biotechnologies, biomanufacturing, biodevices, and biomedical technologies. We hope that learning more about these advances will enable the readers to share in the authors’ experience and knowledge of technologies and development.

All papers were refereed through careful peer reviews. We would like express our sincere appreciation to the authors for their submissions and to the reviewers for their invaluable efforts, which have ensured the success of this special issue.

The machining of deformable parts is both an old and new problem. Because the standard procedures for machining operations implicitly assume a rigid workpiece and ideal chip removal, workpiece deformation has been considered a disturbance in machining operations. Due to the increasing need for lightweight and compact products, deformable parts, such as thin-structured parts and soft materials, are now widely utilized. For the effective and accurate production of deformable parts, die-less direct machining of deformable parts is a promising approach because of its applicability to various materials and shapes. This technical trend has increased the attentions given to the machining of deformable parts.

This special issue addresses advanced research done on the machining of deformable parts. This covers investigations into non-metallic parts machining, the estimation of fixed-parts deformation, and deformation analyses for thin-structured parts.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the authors and reviewers, whose invaluable efforts have made the publication of this special issue possible. We hope that this special issue will trigger further research on the machining of deformable parts, leading to advances.

Measurement technology in the field of production engineering has long played an essential role in improving the yield and reliability of manufactured products, and it will continue to increase in importance to the manufacture of advanced products. The development of intelligent and innovative measurement technologies will not only be essential but also indispensable to the creation of high value-added products as next-generation advanced products, manufactured based on leading-edge production technologies and science. The importance of measurement technologies indispensable to the digitization of things has been increasing particularly dramatically in the industrial revolution of production based on the innovative advancement of big data management and the cloud computing environment.

This special issue addresses the latest research advances into measurement for production engineering. This covers a wide area, including dimensional measurement, surface metrology, uncertainty, traceability, calibration, in-process and on-line metrology, machine tool metrology, optical metrology, micro and nano metrology, and applied sensor technology. We hope that learning more about these advances will enable the readers to share in the authors’ experiences and knowledge of technologies and development.

All papers were refereed through careful peer reviews. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the authors for their submissions and to the reviewers for their invaluable efforts, ensuring the success of this special issue.

Green production for a sustainable world has increased in importance as society has increased in its awareness of global warming, energy security, pollution, and the metals shortage. Lean production is a concept considered in successful manufacturing enterprises. Green and lean are often achieved together, such when both waste and energy consumption are reduced. On the other hand, the two are sometimes thought to be at odds, such as when the frequent transportation and small lot size often used in lean production consumes more energy usage than does conventional production. The integration of green and lean is familiar to those who study sustainability. The three bottom lines of sustainability are ecological, economic, and social sustainability. The ecological and economic dimensions have been discussed in the field of production systems. Proactive scenario simulation is required for the evaluation of sustainability as well as for the discussion of integrated criteria of sustainability.

This special issue covers both green and lean topics in the production field. It considers the challenges that need to be addressed so that researchers and practitioners may engage in scientific and practical discussions of these topics. Six contributions from academic institutes and six contributions from manufacturing companies have been accepted. This special issue is expected to encourage both academics and practitioners to discuss future collaboration. Most contributions deal with integrated green and lean issues. Some academic papers evaluate sustainability. Case studies as technical papers or development reports have been provided by industrial contributors. Methodologies range from survey to life cycle assessment to simulation to implementation. The applications range from machine development for green production to national technical policy for sustainable manufacturing.

All papers were refereed through careful peer reviews. We would like to express my sincere appreciation to the authors for their submissions and to the reviewers for their invaluable efforts, as together they made possible the publication of this special issue.

Robotics has reached a top technological level in recent years, a level at which it can be successfully used not only in structured spaces (for less complex applications) but also increasingly in unstructured spaces. Robotics technology is now used effectively in hospitals for rehabilitation and assistive devices, in the home for domestic applications, in the space for autonomous robots and automated vehicles, in amusement parks for entertainment attractions, and on the ground for military applications. In industrial applications, robotics has enlarged its scope with high-speed robots, cooperative robots, and smart robotic devices for production set-ups. These new applications have created new challenges in robotics. New materials have been developed to make frames lighter and smarter, new actuators and sensors have been made in compliance with specific applications and for more advanced performance, new flexible gripper devices have been produced with superior control systems, and new interfaces have been developed that are integrated with the devices and easier to use. This special issue features 18 research articles related to the latest research results and practical case studies in robotics technology. Subjects include robots for rehabilitation, robots as assistive devices, robots for agriculture, robots for exploration, robots for automation and industrial applications, service robots, new actuators, new sensors, new gripping devices, new control strategies, and robotic systems. We deeply appreciate the careful efforts of all the authors and thank the reviewers for their incisive efforts. Without these contributions, this special issue could not have been printed. We hope that this special issue will trigger further research on robotics technology. Finally a special memory of Cesare Rossi, one of the authors, that died suddenly after the preparation of the manuscript.

Machine tools using numerical control (NC) devices are typical mechatronics products, and introducing them is a powerful way to automate plant production. NC machine tools in workshops meet the requirements of high accuracy and efficiency in the machining of a variety of parts and mold dies. Turning centers and machining centers are typical examples of such machine tools. Various cutting processes have been integrated in them to cope with the increase in machine parts that not only have complicated geometries but also must be made with high accuracy, in small quantities, and in a short machining time. In addition, turning and machining centers have been given multitasking capabilities, and the number of control axes has been increased so that complex products may be manufactured efficiently. Given that the strong attention and interest in multiaxis control and multitasking machine tools are rapidly increasing, it is fitting that the current state of the art of these tools and their practical and applicable technologies be presented. This special issue features 16 research articles – one review and 15 papers – related to the latest research results and practical case studies in multiaxis control and multitasking machining. Their subjects cover various advances in machine control, motion accuracy evaluation, machining error analysis, chatter vibration monitoring or suppression, trouble-free tool path generation, process planning, and new applications of the machine tools. We thank the authors for their contributions to this special issue, and we are sure that both non-specialists and specialists alike will find the information the authors provide both interesting and informative. Moreover, we deeply appreciate the reviewers for their incisive efforts. Without these contributions, this special issue could not have been realized. We truly hope that this special issue will trigger further research on multiaxis control and multitasking machining.

Industry 4.0, a new industry initiative in Germany, is impacting strongly both on industry and on society. Many newspapers and technical magazines are publishing the state of the art articles on topics such as smart manufacturing based on IoT (Internet of Things), CPPS (Cyber Physical Production System), and cloud-based systems. Other parts of the world have started initiatives such as the IIC (Industrial Internet Consortium) in the US and the IVI (Industrial Value Chain Initiative) in Japan. Smart manufacturing is the key concept underlying these new initiatives. This special issue addresses the most advanced research on smart manufacturing. Subjects cover cyber-physical product-service systems, machinery production lines, manufacturing system simulation, lot-size energy-consumption dependence per production throughput unit, additive manufacturing processes, sensor network technology, production management technology, supply chain management technology, and smart manufacturing reviews. We thank the authors for their careful work and the reviewers for their incisive efforts without which this special issue would not have been possible. We hope that this special issue will trigger further research on smart manufacturing and its advances.

Laser machining is widely applied in manufacturing processes thanks to the laser oscillator’s improved stability and to the emergence of new laser types. Laser machining has gone from microscale applications, such as semiconductor dicing to large-scale applications such as automobile-body welding, and laser power now ranges from several watts to several kilowatts. Machining tasks using lasers have expanded from conventional drilling, cutting, and welding to additive manufacturing, the internal machining of transparent materials, and surface texturing. Understanding these processes comprehensively requires that we study individual elements such as oscillators, focal optics, scanners and stages, and numerical control.

This special issue features 13 research articles – one review and 12 papers – related to the most recent advances in laser machining. Their subjects cover the various machining processes of drilling, deposition, welding, photo curing, texturing, and annealing on the latest laser machines and in the newest applications.

We deeply appreciate the careful work of all the authors and thank the reviewers for their incisive efforts. Without these contributions, this special issue could not have been created. We also hope that this special issue will trigger further research on laser machining advances.

As the third special issue on Design and Manufacturing for Environmental Sustainability for IJAT, this issue focuses on design and manufacturing theories and methodologies for achieving environmental sustainability and the topic of the special issue seems to be becoming established in this journal.

This special issue contains six articles consisting of a wide variety of rather novel topics emerging in the domain of design and manufacturing for environmental sustainability. The first three deal with design problem in the broader sense: designing of system of systems taking distributed energy generation systems, upgradable design problems, and selection problem of end-of-life products recovery options integrated from the view of environmental load and cost. The last three papers deal with manufacturing problems in the broader sense – motion extraction problems for disassembly automation, machine tool energy efficiency, and optimization problems related to machine tool operating conditions for increasing environmental sustainability. Some papers, revised and extended at the editor’s request, were presented originally at EcoDesign 2015, the ninth international symposium on environmentally conscious design and inverse manufacturing, held in Tokyo, Japan, 2015.

The editor thanks the authors and reviewers for their comprehensive efforts in making this special issue possible and hopes these articles will encourage further research on design and manufacturing for environmental sustainability.

Actuators are defined as transducers that convert electrical energy to mechanical movement. Similar to sensors and control systems, actuators are essential devices in various industrial applications, such as robotics, precise positioning systems, and automobiles. The performance required of each actuator depends on its practical application, and the actuators may determine the total performance of the systems. Various types of actuators have been proposed, not only for high efficiency, torque, and power output but also for flexibility, miniaturization, and drivability under extreme conditions. In the case of fluid-based actuators, the control of the working gas or liquid becomes an indispensable technology. The creation of a device with a simple structure yet multiple degrees of freedom would be quite worthy of research. Such an actuator would lead to future applications, which would in turn enable humanlike movements in robots, ultra-precise positioning systems under extreme high (or low) temperature conditions, or MEMS devices that operate in the human body. This special issue, entitled Innovative Actuators, is a collection of seventeen papers related to these considerations. In addition to electromagnetic motors, various types of actuators, such as piezoelectric, electrostatic, and pneumatic motors. Although the primary focus is on new driving principles, the fabrication process for micro devices and the control system are also involved. These proposals are attractive and sure to stimulate further innovative research. I hope you enjoy this special issue, but beyond that I hope that the papers in it contribute to your future research and innovative breakthroughs. On a final note, I wish to express my appreciation to the authors, reviewers, publisher (Mr. S. Wakai), and two editors (Assoc. Prof. T. Kanda and Assoc. Prof. K. Takemura) for their devoted work on this special issue, Innovative Actuators. Takeshi Morita June 23, 2016

There is a growing need for carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP/CFRTP/GFRP) inthe aircraft, aerospace, and automotive industries due to their high strength-to-weightratio, high rigidity, and other features. Using these outstanding composites as machinecomponents requires machining with the desired configuration, accuracy, and surfaceintegrity. However, due to the composite structure of high-strength carbon fiber and theadhesive plastics, CFRP is difficult to machine without causing spalling or delamination,fluffing, fiber pullout, thermal degradation of the matrix resin, or other kinds of surfaceor subsurface damage. Rapid tool wear is also a serious problem that varies with thefiber orientation of the CFRP. In order to avoid these problems, various innovative or careful approaches have beentaken in drilling, trimming by milling, sawing, and grinding CFRP. Non-traditional machiningtechniques, including the use of abrasive waterjets, have been employed. Inthese techniques, the machining process, tool geometry, cooling system, and other machiningparameters are optimized. In addition, the influence of surface integrity on thetensile and/or fatigue strength or on other mechanical properties of CFRP has also drawninterest. In addition, regarded as a “machining process” in a broad sense, the press formingof continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) sheets is a promising techniqueused in the manufacture of structural components. In CFRTP forming, the effects thatfiber layout naturally have on the deformation mechanisms must be understood, andtemperature, pressure, speed, and stroke control should be optimized. This special issue consists of twelve recent, high-quality research articles related to themachining of CFRP composite materials. These articles include one review and eleventechnical papers on the topics of drilling, end milling, abrasive waterjet machining, andforming. The editors would like to express our deep appreciation to all the authors fortheir invaluable submissions and to the anonymous reviewers for their earnest efforts.Without these, this special issue could not have been published. We hope that furtherresearch on the machining of CFRP composites will make advances inspired by thisspecial issue.

Shape dominantly determines function. The performance of engineering products heavily depends on their shapes. Since CAD technology has advanced enough, we can create digital models of complex shapes. To manufacture products, the goal of digital engineering is not just to generate and visualize the shapes, but also to perform other value adding activities, i.e., scientific analysis, rapid prototyping, finished parts making and simulation. Sometimes the nature of the shape (self-similarity), the origin of the shape (shapes found in living organisms), the appearances of the shape (aesthetic value), and the nature of the underlying materials (softness, porosity) challenge the modeling building processes. At the same time, the constraints of other systems (e.g., CAE, CAM, Additive Manufacturing Systems [e.g., 3D Printer] and Virtual Reality Systems) dictate what must be done while creating the digital models so that the models do not make any problems in the downstream. In this special issue fifteen technical papers propose solutions and strategies to various problems related to digital engineering. Some of them deal with CAD and its philosophical background. Others describe methods to register and reconstruct complex shapes from point clouds in the macroscopic and microscopic spaces. Simulation to identify mechanical and electrical properties are discussed in several papers. The shape of grain texture is very complicated and two papers challenge how to generate it on products’ surfaces. Additive manufacturing is very promising and two papers propose new fabrication methods for complex shapes based on it. The editors deeply appreciate all the authors and anonymous reviewers for their excellent work to make this special issue very unique. We hope that further researches on digital engineering for complex shapes initiated by this special issue will advance our society as well as digital engineering in the future.