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.

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.

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.

This reference is a compilation of work from different technology groups that give an insight into strategies used for technology optimization and technical R&D. Each of the 14 chapters presented in the book are contributed by engineering experts and focus on different aspects of smart technologies. The chapters cover a wide range of technical disciplines with a list of references for further reading. The compilation demonstrates methods that are useful to apprentices and researchers involved in the development of technologies in different fields: · Wireless networking · Signal processing · Control and machine engineering · SOC design · Materials science and nanotechnology · Biomedical engineering · Power electronics The contributions in this book provide interesting examples for product development such as custom nanomaterials, digital electronics, smart devices and antennas. The content also serves as a reference for designing special components used for complex systems like wireless communication systems, automated control systems and organic waste processing systems. The content is structured in a format suitable for both learners and advanced researchers, making this reference essential to engineers at all levels.

Nowadays, huge amounts of chemicals are commercialized, shipped, stored, and converted to ensure the commercial availability of goods of daily use. Different hazards are involved in the use of these chemicals due to their intrinsic physicochemical properties. Several accidents have occurred in the past due to these hazards in chemical and process industries with serious consequences for people, buildings, and the environment. Safety in Chemical and Process Industries: A Comprehensive Assessment provides basic knowledge on safety procedures and experimental techniques for evaluating risks related to storage, transport, and transformation of hazardous materials. The book is designed for undergraduate and graduate students of Chemical, Materials, and Environmental Engineering, Chemistry, and Environmental Science. Key features: - Provides a strong foundation on safety management and risk assessment for chemical handling and management - Tackles the management of contaminated industrial sites - Focuses on the risk assessment to set remediation goals - Includes information on Health Impact Assessments - Includes detailed references for advanced readers at PhD or postdoc levels. The book is organized in the following core topics that are part of relevant course modules: - Fundamentals of thermal explosions and calorimetric techniques (Chapters 1-3) - Homogeneous and heterogeneous explosions (Chapters 4-7). - Consequences of fires and heterogeneous explosions (Chapter 8) - Industrial hygiene and toxicology (Chapter 9) - Preventive safety measures and protective measures (Chapter 10) - Risk assessment for industrially contaminated sites (Chapter 11) - Health impact assessment within environmental impact assessment studies (Chapter 12)

Intelligent Systems for IoE Based Smart Cities provides simplified information about complexities of cyber physical systems, the Internet of Everything (IoE) and smart city infrastructure. It presents 11 edited chapters that reveal how intelligent systems and IoE are driving the evolution of smart cities, making them more efficient, interconnected, and responsive to the needs of citizens. The book content represents comprehensive exploration of the transformative potential and challenges of IoE-based smart cities, fueled by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) innovations. Key Topics: Physical layer design considerations that underpin smart city infrastructure Enabling technologies for intelligent systems within the context of smart computing environments Smart sensors and actuators, their applications, challenges, and future trends in IoE-based smart cities Applications, enabling technologies, challenges, and future trends of IoE for smart cities. The integration of Artificial Intelligence, Natural Language Processing, and smart cities for enhanced urban experiences machine learning-based intrusion detection techniques for countering attacks on the Internet of Vehicles Smartphone-based indoor positioning applications using trilateration and the role of sensors in IoT ecosystems IoT, blockchain, and cloud-based technology for secure frameworks and data analytics Blockchain and smart contracts in shaping the future of smart cities. This is a timely reference for researchers, professionals, and students interested in the convergence of IoT, intelligent systems and urban studies into smart city planning and design.