Futuristic Projects in Energy and Automation Sectors is a review of analyses on energy transitions in power grids and the opportunities and challenges for building sustainable energy systems to improve human capabilities. 14 chapters examine renewable energy-based and automated systems, with a focus on projects that are designed with sustainability in mind. Topics covered in this review include 1) power systems, 2) renewable energy, 3) power electronics, 4) energy storage and conversion, 5) home automation, 6) control systems, 7) robotics, 8) artificial intelligence, and 9) technology to fight COVID-19. This review will be of interest to scholars, and policymakers interested in futuristic and urban and rural energy planning, sustainable and renewable energy projects, sustainable development, and environment management.

The world faces significant challenges as the population and consumption continue to grow while fossil fuels and other raw materials are depleted at ever-increasing rates. Environmental consciousness and a penchant for thinking about material cycles have caught on with consumers. Therefore, the use of environmentally compatible materials and sustainable production methods are now desired. Materials and Technologies for a Green Environment discusses the major issues surrounding the production of energy through biofuels and waste management. It comprises seven chapters that cover various fields of interest to readers involved in environmental management and sustainability planning. The topics covered include renewable energy sources, thermoelectric generators, electric vehicles, biodiesel production from poultry waste, scramjet combustion engines, and sustainable architecture for green buildings. Given its scope, this book is a valuable resource for students, researchers and engineers in environmental science, mechanical engineering, and chemical engineering and sustainability studies.

This reference distills information about emerging technologies and applications for smart city design and sustainable urban planning. Chapters present technology use-cases that have radical novelty and high scalability with a prominent impact on community living standards. These technologies prepare urban and rural dwellings for the transformation to the smart world. Applications and techniques highlighted in the book use a combination of artificial intelligence and IoT technologies in areas like transportation, energy, healthcare, education, governance, and manufacturing, to name a few. The book serves as a learning resource for smart city design and sustainable infrastructure planning. Scholars and professionals who are interested in understanding ways for transforming communities into smart communities can also benefit from the cases presented in the book.

This textbook bridges the gap between introductory and advanced numerical methods for engineering students. The book initially introduces readers to numerical methods before progressing to linear and nonlinear equations. Next, the book covers the topics of interpolation, curve fitting and approximation, integration, differentiation and differential equations. The book concludes with a chapter on advanced mathematical analysis which explains methods for finite difference, method of moments and finite elements. The book introduces readers to key concepts in engineering such as error analysis, algorithms, applied mathematics with the goal of giving an understanding of how to solve engineering problems using computational methods. Each of the featured topics is explained with sufficient detail while retaining the usual introductory nuance. This blend of beginner-friendly and applied information, along with reference listings makes the textbook useful to students of undergraduate and introductory graduate courses in mathematics and engineering.

A smart city uses technology to provide services and solve problems to improve urban policy efficiency, reduce waste, improve quality of life, and maximize social inclusion. By 2050, 66% of the world's population is expected to be urban, which is a key driver of a global trend toward the creation of smart cities. This trend creates many opportunities for urban planning committees to learn how to design, modernize, and operate smart cities intelligently and effectively. Facets of a Smart City: Computational and Experimental Techniques for Sustainable Urban Development is a collection of topics that are relevant to the design of a smart city. This book aims to complement technical journal articles that require advanced knowledge of the subject of smart cities and applications for readers. It aims to bridge knowledge gaps in sustainable urban design by providing background information via case studies to facilitate students, recent graduates and new practitioners in urban design and planning. Key Features: - This book features 9 chapters that cover 6 major domains, which include (i) information modelling, (ii) internet of things, (iii) intelligent transportation systems, (iv) water supply, (v) waste management and (vi) sustainable environment - Computational techniques are included in the book. These include artificial neural networks, stochastic models, particle swarm optimization, machine learning, and adaptive neuro-fuzzy Inference systems. - Goals of case studies presented in this book use computational techniques to offer readers examples of supervised, unsupervised and reinforcement learning strategies in the context of smart city applications - References are provided for further reading

Soft robotics is a subfield of robotics that encompasses the design and fabrication of robots with soft and compliant materials. Soft robots represent components like human prosthetics or biomimicking systems. Soft robotics relies on technically astute designs based on the correct choice of materials to enable a level of dexterity not possible with rigid components alone. The basic prime movers (actuators) and perception (sensors) require control systems capable of accommodating imprecise feedback data and often unpredictable reaction times. Mobility in such robots is more akin to entomological or marine systems than conventional guided vehicles. This reference is a guide to materials and systems used in soft robotics. If features 6 chapters contributed by robotics experts that review fundamental and applied topics that are important for understanding the requirements of soft robotics design projects and the physics of the polymers involved. Chapters are organized for easy reading and include references. The topics include: - Aspects of materials processing and engineering for the development of soft robotic devices - A review on biological gripping principles and their application to robotics - Information about self-sensing electroadhesive polymer grippers with magnetically controllable surface geometry - Theoretical and experimental investigations of magnetic hybrid materials - Modeling and dynamic analysis of a novel rotary soft robotic arm by transfer matrix method - Design and control of a portable continuum robot for pipe inspection assisted by a rigid manipulator This book is a suitable reference for scholars and engineers who are seeking knowledge about materials and design principles in soft robotics with its practical applications.

This reference presents a collection of studies which highlight new developments in improving manufacturing processes and performance. The book includes 11 chapters which cover unique topics of interest to production engineers. These topics include the production of advanced composite materials and alloys to the use of sensors to evaluate production processes, product testing and evaluation (in production and storage environments), and the development and testing of an unmanned aerial vehicle. Chapters have been contributed by several scholars, who give a unique perspective on specific aspects of manufacturing and industrial production. The book also covers recent technologies such as additive manufacturing. Each chapter presents the study in an experimental manner highlighting the theory, methods, and results, where applicable. References for further reading are also provided. This book is intended to provide researchers and engineers with new data and cases for industrial manufacturing processes which may be applied in different industrial sectors.

Additive manufacturing or 3D printing is the construction of an object using CAD models. The technology for additive manufacturing s gaining traction in recent times due to its accessibility for both personal and industrial use, as well as its usefulness in quick prototyping (either of a whole object or its components) and meeting the needs of small commercial workloads. Advances in Additive Manufacturing Processes informs readers about the breadth of 3D printing processes. Chapters cover the basic knowledge of additive techniques and their industrial applications with relevant examples. The improvements in each method and their recent technical achievements with practical experimental data are highlighted. The book presents eight types of 3D printing processes, covering a diverse range of technologies which represent the industry. The contents also cover selected topics of relevance to additive manufacturing which include the formation of defects and factors that affect the mechanical properties of the additively manufactured components. Chapters also provide recent guidelines for adapting additive manufacturing processes to increase productivity and reduce manufacturing cost. Advances in Additive Manufacturing Processes is a handy reference for scholars and professionals involved in manufacturing industries and process engineering as well as hobbyists who are interested in the current state-of-the-art in 3D printing.

Lean Management Solutions for Contemporary Manufacturing Operations: Applications in the automotive industry covers recent techniques aimed at improving manufacturing activities in automotive factories in the time of the fourth industrial revolution. The book informs the reader about some improvements in hard skills (such as technical concepts, new tools, processes, and applied designs), as well as soft skills (strategic planning and the psychology of motivating human resources in manufacturing setups). The book also presents insight for managers who are working with a niche of employees with disabilities with respect to the automotive industry. Topics in the book include: Application of Graph Theory in Workplace Design Applied Design Disability and the 4th Industrial Revolution People Development, Motivation & Results Low Cost Logistics Solutions Agile Methodologies in Manufacturing Projects This book is a concise, informative reference which updates the reader on recent strategies to maximize productivity in the auto manufacturing sector.

This book focuses on cases and studies of interest to mechanical engineers and industrial technicians. The considered applications in this volume are widely used in several industrial fields particularly in the automotive and aviation industries. Readers will understand the theory and techniques which are used in each application covered in each chapter. <p> The book contents include the following topics: <p> Numerical analysis of hydrokinetic turbines <p> Computational fluid dynamics of a CuO based nanofluid in mini-channel cross-sections <p> Orthodontic biomechanics of a NiTi arch wires <p> Reynold’s number effects on fluid flow through Savonius rotors <p> Effect of operating parameters on Zn-Mn alloys deposited from additive-free chloride bath <p> Optical properties and stability of a blue-emitting phosphor (Sr2P2O7:Eu2+) Under UV and VUV excitation <p> Numerical study of the influence of nanofluid type on thermal improvement in a three dimensional mini channel <p> Electrochemical studies and characterization of Zn-Mn coatings deposited in the presence of novel organic additives <p> Prediction of fire and smoke propagation under a range of external conditions <p> Structural design of a 10 kW H-Darrieus wind turbine <p> The presented case studies and development approaches aim to provide the readers, such as graduate students, PhD candidates and professionals with basic and applied information broadly related to mechanical engineering and technology.