关键词： Emerging technology   Industrial robotics   Inclusive growth   Employment   Income inequality   Labour productivity  

摘要： This paper investigates the impact of industrial robot adoption on inclusive growth based on labour market evidence from a cross-country panel dataset of 74 economies between 2004 and 2016. It finds that the adoption of industrial robots is associated with significant gains in labour productivity and total employment in developed economies, while such effects are insignificant in developing countries. Increased robot adoption is related to a significantly lower labour share of GDP in developing economies but not in developed countries. Overall, in both developed and developing economies, increased robot adoption is linked with significantly higher income in-equality, although there is no evidence of technological unemployment. Furthermore, the employment of both male and female workers is positively associated with the adoption of industrial robots in developed economies, although females benefit slightly more. In developing countries, however, only those with middle or advanced levels of education benefit from the diffusion of robots.

关键词： computational thinking   intervention   K-12 education   programming   robotics  

摘要： The present research is part of the government funded project called Young Engineer's Workshop (YEW), a 2-week-long summer camp for youngsters to stimulate their interest in coding, electronics and robotics subjects in particular and STEAM fields in general. The YEW curriculum included basic electronics, block-based programming and robotics through Scratch and Arduino, and student projects on building robotics systems. This experimental study aimed to investigate the cognitive and affective consequences of YEW on the development of middle and high school students' computational thinking (CT) competences. The research methodology was based on a one-group pretest-posttest model within a quasi-experimental design. Participants were 17 students from grades 5-6 and 15 students from grades 9-10 in a southwestern city of Turkey. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected through the YEW application form, a scale for CT, a satisfaction questionnaire, and student diaries. The results showed a significant increase on algorithmic and critical thinking factors of CT whereas no significant changes in creativity, cooperation, and problem-solving factors of CT. Students reported affective gains including high satisfaction and enjoyment of YEW activities, increased interest, and career planning in programming and robotics fields, and improved self-confidence in robotics project development. In conclusion, the study suggests that teaching programming can be an effective way to foster CT to some extent but not an adequate or complete solution. Educators need to seek more suitable teaching methods for a more comprehensive learning of CT that can be transferable to noncomputing contexts.

关键词： methodology   projects   robotics   learning   STEAM  

摘要： Technological changes pose the need to redefine educational models, incorporating programs, and methodologies, so that students acquire the scientific-technological competencies required in today's society. The objective of the research is aimed at establishing a generic method to develop STEAM projects, which are consistent with current curricula and at experimentally testing its validity by developing a STEAM project for a Primary Education class. As an example, and without loss of generality, the method proposed in this article is used to develop STEAM projects from the curriculum in the 4th, 5th, and 6th year of Primary Education in Spain. As a result, 11 areas of opportunity were detected, understood as areas that meet the necessary conditions to become the main theme of a STEAM project, and from which the "Sustainability" area was selected to develop a STEAM project. The project consists of an educational robotics kit, including a board that simulates a city and a robot programmed to travel on the board and activate the different elements that will make it a sustainable city. This first experience was carried out in a classroom with 30 students of 5th year, who showed great interest in the project and achieved a very satisfactory performance.

关键词： Artificial intelligence   Robotics   Big data   Internet of things   Fourth industrial revolution  

关键词： learning analytics   primary and secondary education   robotic sensors   educational robotics   systematic review   STE(A)M   PRISMA methodology  

摘要： Robotics technology has become increasingly common both for businesses and for private citizens. Primary and secondary schools, as a mirror of societal evolution, have increasingly integrated science, technology, engineering and math concepts into their curricula. Our research questions are: "In teaching robotics to primary and secondary school students, which pedagogical-methodological interventions result in better understanding and knowledge in the use of sensors in educational robotics?", and "In teaching robotics to primary and secondary school students, which analytical methods related to Learning Analytics processes are proposed to analyze and reflect on students' behavior in their learning of concepts and skills of sensors in educational robotics?". To answer these questions, we have carried out a systematic review of the literature in the Web of Science and Scopus databases regarding robotics sensors in primary and secondary education, and Learning Analytics processes. We applied PRISMA methodology and reviewed a total of 24 articles. The results show a consensus about the use of the Learning by Doing and Project-Based Learning methodologies, including their different variations, as the most common methodology for achieving optimal engagement, motivation and performance in students' learning. Finally, future lines of research are identified from this study.

关键词： artificial intelligence   regional anaesthesia   robotics   technology   ultrasonography  

摘要： The current fourth industrial revolution is a distinct technological era characterised by the blurring of physics, computing and biology. The driver of change is data, powered by artificial intelligence. The UK National Health Service Topol Report embraced this digital revolution and emphasised the importance of artificial intelligence to the health service. Application of artificial intelligence within regional anaesthesia, however, remains limited. An example of the use of a convoluted neural network applied to visual detection of nerves on ultrasound images is described. New technologies that may impact on regional anaesthesia include robotics and artificial sensing. Robotics in anaesthesia falls into three categories. The first, used commonly, is pharmaceutical, typified by target-controlled anaesthesia using electroencephalography within a feedback loop. Other types include mechanical robots that provide precision and dexterity better than humans, and cognitive robots that act as decision support systems. It is likely that the latter technology will expand considerably over the next decades and provide an autopilot for anaesthesia. Technical robotics will focus on the development of accurate sensors for training that incorporate visual and motion metrics. These will be incorporated into augmented reality and visual reality environments that will provide training at home or the office on life-like simulators. Real-time feedback will be offered that stimulates and rewards performance. In discussing the scope, applications, limitations and barriers to adoption of these technologies, we aimed to stimulate discussion towards a framework for the optimal application of current and emerging technologies in regional anaesthesia.

关键词： History of robotics   Navigation   Robotics   Spine surgery   Technology in spine  

摘要： Spine surgery is continuously evolving. The synergy between medical imaging and advances in computation has allowed for stereotactic neuronavigation and its integration with robotic technology to assist in spine surgery. The discovery of x-rays in 1895, the development of image intensifiers in 1940, and then advancements in computational science and integration have allowed for the development of computed tomography. In combination with the advancements of stereotaxy in the late 1980s, and manipulation of volumetric and special data for 3-dimensional reconstruction in 1998, computed tomography has revolutionized neuronavigational systems. Integrating all these technologies, robotics in spine surgery was introduced in 2004. Since then, it has become a safe modality that can reproducibly place accurate pedicle screws. Robotics may have the added benefits of improving the surgical workflow and optimizing surgeon ergonomics. Growing at a rapid rate, the second-generation spinal robotics have overcome preliminary limitations and errors. However, comparatively, robotics in spine surgery remains in its infancy. By leveraging technologic advancements in medical imaging, computation, and stereotactic navigation, robotics in spine surgery will continue to mature and expand in utility.

关键词： Parallel mechanism   Dynamics evaluation   Gravity   Placement direction  

摘要： Dynamics performance is very important for a manipulator used for high-speed machining. In this paper, the dynamic performance evaluation method of the 2UPU/SP parallel mechanism in a hybrid robot for aerospace composite machining is studied. The dynamic model is obtained by the virtual work principle, and a dynamic performance index considering gravity is proposed. Based on the given performance index, the effect of placement direction on dynamic performance of 2UPU/SP mechanism is studied, and the comparison between the dynamic performance of 2UPU/SP and the traditional Tricept mechanism is carried out. The results show that the 2UPU/SP mechanism has better dynamic performance in the vertical placement than the horizontal placement, and 2UPU/SP mechanism has better dynamic performance than Tricept mechanism. (c) 2020 Published by Elsevier B.V.

关键词： Robotics   Productivity   Machine learning   Longitudinal clustering  

摘要： The evaluation of the impact of the adoption of industrial robotics on business is increasingly relevant in the current context of digital transformation. Although many companies are eager to adopt these technologies as a means to increase productivity, some concerns have been raised about the cost impact of the transformation, and its effect on the workforce. A growing body of literature is studying these phenomena but according to our review of it, there is no longitudinal perspective over 25 years illustrating the relationship between the attitude of companies to robotics and principal business indicators. This investigation uses an innovative machine learning model comprising an automated nested longitudinal clustering performed in two stages, and it is applied over a large sample of 4,578 companies from the Business Strategy Survey conducted by the Spanish Ministry of Finance and Public Administration. The findings of this research are novel in this field not only because of the longitudinal modelling applied in two stages but also because of the understanding of how companies' characteristics and performance evolve over time depending on their degree of adoption of robotics. This knowledge is relevant for companies to understand the impact of their transformation to robotics. It also allows for the development of strategies that boost the efficiency of the companies, provides them with tools to protect them from negative financial events, and leads to an optimal sizing of their workforce.

关键词： Book reviews   Medical robotics   Robots   Physiology   Service robots  

摘要： Some quick data regarding this text, to set the stage for the review: This text consists of 12 chapters overviewing "Control theory in biomedical engineering";these comprise six chapters highlighting "Applications in physiology" and six chapters sampling "Applications in medical robotics." Forty contributors to the text are named, and these individuals hail from ten different countries. The purported audience for the text from the publishers' website consists of "Researchers and graduate students in both control engineering and biomedical engineering fields. Medical students and practitioners who want to enhance their understanding of physiological processes and medical robotics. Professionals in medical industries including those of industry of medical robotics, of artificial devices, of artificial organs, and rehabilitation devices."