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Anthropo-Mechanical Cradles: A Multidisciplinary Review
Domestic cradles are beds that are movable but non-mobile for babies up to five months of age. The “anthropo-mechanical” cradle simulates the physiological movement of the human body. The article reviews scientific literature discussing the impacts of swinging on infants, provides classifications of all currently used cradles due to how the child moves, and briefly describes modern technologies within cradle automation. This made it possible to calculate and propose safe motion parameters within mechatronic cradles. The main conclusions of the article are as follows: (1) the scientific literature reports the beneficial effects of harmonic movement on a child, (2) motion analyses substantiating the classifications of all cradles into six types (tilting, yawing, hammock, Sarong, swing, and surging cradle; the classification criterion included the nature of the cradle movement in relation to the planes and anatomical axes of the child’s body), (3) modern technologies allowing for the use of movement with thoughtful parameters, thus, safer for a child, (4) movement within the parameters similar to the motion and speed passively performed by the child in the womb while a mother is walking was considered beneficial and safe, and (5) the use of advanced technology allows for the possibility to devise and create an automatic mechatronic cradle with a child-safe motion. Future innovative anthropo-mechanical cradles that follow physiological human motion parameters can be used safely, with a vertical amplitude ranging from −13 to + 15 mm and a frequency of up to 2 Hz.
Typizacja a ergonomia mebli kuchennych w zakresie użytkowania przez osoby o specjalnych potrzebach
Integration of Multi-Criteria Decision-Making and Dimensional Entropy Minimization in Furniture Design
Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) in furniture design is challenged by increasing product complexity and component proliferation. This study introduces a novel framework that integrates entropy reduction—achieved through dimensional standardization and modularity—as a core factor in the MCDA methodologies. The framework addresses both individual furniture evaluation and product family optimization through systematic complexity reduction. The research employed a two-phase methodology. First, a comparative analysis evaluated two furniture variants (laminated particleboard versus oak wood) using the Weighted Sum Model (WSM) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). The divergent rankings produced by these methods revealed inherent evaluation ambiguities stemming from their distinct mathematical foundations, highlighting the need for additional decision criteria. Building on these findings, the study further examined ten furniture variants, identifying the potential to transform their individual components into universal components, applicable across various furniture variants (or configurations) in a furniture line. The proposed dimensional modifications enhance modularity and interoperability within product lines, simplifying design processes, production, warehousing logistics, product servicing, and liquidation at end of lifetime. The integration of entropy reduction as a quantifiable criterion within MCDA represents a significant methodological advancement. By prioritizing dimensional standardization and modularity, the framework reduces component variety while maintaining design flexibility. This approach offers furniture manufacturers a systematic method for balancing product diversity with operational efficiency, addressing a critical gap in current design evaluation practices.
Dissemination of algorithms for decision-making aiding in the design of furniture and other products made of lignocellulosic materials in the scientific literature
Dissemination of algorithms for decision-making aiding in the design of furniture and other products made of lignocellulosic materials in the scientific literature. The issue of the proper selection of dimensions of the designed products can be supported with the use of mathematical algorithms built into CAD systems. There are many such algorithms, they have their specificity and areas of application. The article lists a dozen or so of the most popular algorithms of this type, and then checks their prevalence in the scientific literature on furniture design. The result is a point the method (group of methods) that best takes into account the specific features of lignocellulosic materials. The main conclusion is that the most popular algorithms are: the ε-constraint method, genetic algorithms and artificial immune systems. The most popular is the ε-constraint method.
The Brinell Method for Determining Hardness of Wood Flooring Materials
We hypothesize that the ability to recovery the depth of the indentation increases with increasing the hardness of the flooring material. The research was carried out for ten lignocellulosic flooring materials: merbau, oak, maple, red oak, laminated HDF (high-density fiberboard), innovative plywood, beech, pine, peasantry, iroko. The hardness was examined using the Brinell method, and additionally, the elastic indentation of the indenter was measured during the hardness test. On this basis, the permanent (plastic) and temporary (elastic) component of total deformation was determined. Different ability to recovery was found. The harder materials were the higher percentage of elastic indentation in total indentation depth. Moreover, it was found that the measurement of the indentation diameter in wood materials is characterized by high uncertainty and measurements based on the depth of the indentation are more unambiguous and of greater practical importance, especially when testing hard lignocellulosic flooring materials.
Optimizing dimensions in furniture design: A literature review
Wooden furniture design necessitates the integration of both technological requirements and aesthetic considerations. To guide designers in achieving this balance, this article explores how established design principles, such as proportions and preferred numerical sequences, can inform decision-making for both technological and aesthetic aspects. The goal is to demonstrate how these principles can be integrated with modern CAD tools. In reviewing the scientific literature, this study compiled and compared mathematical and non-mathematical models that support dimensional decision-making. These models included ancient canons (Egyptian, Greek, and Roman) alongside those of Leonardo da Vinci, Palladio, Dürer, Le Corbusier, Zeising, McCallum, and Brock. Additionally, the article examines numeral systems used in modern technology, such as Renard’s series and convenient numbers. It is proposed that designers should experiment with geometric design templates to achieve balanced proportions. All geometric design principles contribute to aesthetics, creativity and effectiveness in design. The literature identifies two groups of dimensional design templates: organic, inspired by the human body or the Fibonacci sequence, and inorganic, based on numerical order. It’s impossible to pinpoint a single “optimal algorithm” to support dimensional decisions in design. Specific geometric design principles serve as valuable tools, not the ultimate answer.