Supply chains provide a network describing how resources move from a source to delivery for consumption by the end user. Supply chains also involve the components involved in production and transportation of the commodities being moved in the supply chain. There is a need for modeling links in a supply chain to estimate supply and demand and to ensure...

There are many obstacles in the way of exploring challenging environments (e.g., the lunar surface's permanently shadowed regions (PSRs)). The rocky terrain, steep inclines, and slick regolith that are typical in these places present challenges for traditional wheeled rovers. For these explorations to be effective, a vehicle needs to have low power,...

In many production systems like semiconductor manufacturing, food industry, and battery production, the amount of time a part can spend in successive buffers is limited in many production systems because of possible quality concerns. If a part's residence time exceeds these limits, it must be trashed, which results in waste and lost output. To prevent...

Material fracture failure is a critical issue for many engineering structures and components. Accurate fracture prediction is necessary to ensure the safety of these structures and components. The finite element method (FEM) is a widely used approach for material mechanical modelling; however, FEM is known to have difficulties in solving problems...

­While advancements in exoskeletons have grown by leaps and bounds in the past decade or so, the majority still provide powered or active assistance, few provide a passive solution. However, many people have difficulty rising from the ground, bed, a chair or other similar surfaces because of knee or leg muscle injuries, aging, obesity, or even simply...