Abstract: A slot flaring apparatus is presented herein. The slot flaring apparatus includes a base and flaring tool. The base is configured to receive and secure a stator that has a plurality of core slots. The flaring tool is configured to be controllably pressed against the stator and has a plurality of flaring teeth. Moreover, each tooth of the plurality of flaring teeth is configured to insert into and form a respective slot liner which has been inserted into the corresponding core slot.

Abstract: An ergonomic hand tool for installing a fuel line clip includes a handle portion having a bottom surface and a proximal end, an intermediate portion obtusely angled from the bottom surface of the handle portion, and a clip retaining portion disposed proximate a distal end of the intermediate portion wherein the clip retaining portion includes a backstop extending in a plane parallel to the bottom surface of the handle portion to a terminal end opposite the proximal end of the handle portion. The backstop extends between two opposing downwardly extending contact surfaces configured to provide a friction fit on a portion of the clip.

Abstract: An assembly and method for minimizing an overlap of a composite member riveted to another member includes a first member having a first overlap area and a second member having a second overlap area. The overlap areas of the first and second members are in direct contact, thereby forming an overlapped region. The overlapped region may be thicker than the sum of the individual members. The second member includes an end defining a projection in the overlapped region. The rivet is disposed through the first member and at least partially through the second member in the projection, thereby interlocking the second member to the first member. The projections include a curved symmetrical body defining an apex. The rivet extends through the body such that a line extending from the center axis of the rivet is perpendicular to a tangent extending through the apex of the projection.

Abstract: A slot flaring apparatus is presented herein. The slot flaring apparatus includes a base and flaring tool. The base is configured to receive and secure a stator that has a plurality of core slots. The flaring tool is configured to be controllably pressed against the stator and has a plurality of flaring teeth. Moreover, each tooth of the plurality of flaring teeth is configured to insert into and form a respective slot liner which has been inserted into the corresponding core slot.

Abstract: An assembly and method for minimizing an overlap of a composite member riveted to another member includes a first member having a first overlap area and a second member having a second overlap area. The overlap areas of the first and second members are in direct contact, thereby forming an overlapped region. The overlapped region may be thicker than the sum of the individual members. The second member includes an end defining a projection in the overlapped region. The rivet is disposed through the first member and at least partially through the second member in the projection, thereby interlocking the second member to the first member. The projections include a curved symmetrical body defining an apex. The rivet extends through the body such that a line extending from the center axis of the rivet is perpendicular to a tangent extending through the apex of the projection.

Abstract: A system for turning over a vehicle frame defining openings and having a longitudinal center axis includes first and second robots each having an end effector. Each end effector has a pair of oppositely-positioned locator pins, at least one of which is selectively moveable toward the other. A controller is used to control the positioning of the frame via the robots and end effector by executing method instructions to cause the robots to align the locator pins of the end effectors with the openings of the frame, and to insert the aligned locator pins into the openings toward the center axis from outside of the vehicle frame. The robots lift the frame from a first conveyor, with weight of the vehicle frame born by the locator pins during the lift. The robots also rotate the frame about the center axis and lower the vehicle frame onto a second conveyor.

Abstract: A system for robot and human collaboration is provided. The system includes a robot having a programmed path for motion of the robot and a controller in communication with the robot. The controller has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions for an action to take when an unexpected contact between the robot and an object is detected. The controller is programmed to execute the instructions from the memory via the processor when the unexpected contact is detected, causing the robot to stop motion on a programmed path and to enter a push away mode. In the push away mode, the human can apply a push force having a push force direction to command the robot to move in the push force direction.

Abstract: A system for turning over a vehicle frame defining openings and having a longitudinal center axis includes first and second robots each having an end effector. Each end effector has a pair of oppositely-positioned locator pins, at least one of which is selectively moveable toward the other. A controller is used to control the positioning of the frame via the robots and end effector by executing method instructions to cause the robots to align the locator pins of the end effectors with the openings of the frame, and to insert the aligned locator pins into the openings toward the center axis from outside of the vehicle frame. The robots lift the frame from a first conveyor, with weight of the vehicle frame born by the locator pins during the lift. The robots also rotate the frame about the center axis and lower the vehicle frame onto a second conveyor.

Abstract: A reconfigurable fixture device system, including: a base member; a reconfigurable pad disposed on the base member, wherein the reconfigurable pad comprises a shape memory material configured to selectively conform to a surface contour of a workpiece; an activation device in operative communication with the shape memory material; a controller in operable communication with at least one of the reconfigurable pad, the activation device, and the base member; a plurality of sensors for sensing a parameter associated with at least one of the reconfigurable pad, the base member, the fixture device, and the workpiece, wherein the plurality of sensors is in operable communication with the controller; and an actuator in operable communication with the controller and the at least one of the reconfigurable pad, the base member, the fixture device, and the workpiece.

Abstract: A reconfigurable fixture device system, including: a base member; a reconfigurable pad disposed on the base member, wherein the reconfigurable pad comprises a shape memory material configured to selectively conform to a surface contour of a workpiece; an activation device in operative communication with the shape memory material; a controller in operable communication with at least one of the reconfigurable pad, the activation device, and the base member; a plurality of sensors for sensing a parameter associated with at least one of the reconfigurable pad, the base member, the fixture device, and the workpiece, wherein the plurality of sensors is in operable communication with the controller; and an actuator in operable communication with the controller and the at least one of the reconfigurable pad, the base member, the fixture device, and the workpiece.

Abstract: A process generally includes contacting a surface of at least one workpiece with a reconfigurable pad of a fixture device, wherein the reconfigurable pad comprises a shape memory material configured to conform to the surface of the at least one workpiece, and fixturing the contacted workpiece.

Abstract: A fixture device generally includes a base member, a reconfigurable pad disposed on the base member, wherein the reconfigurable pad comprises a shape memory material configured to selectively conform to a surface contour of a workpiece, and an activation device in operative communication with the shape memory material.

Abstract: Video monitors sequentially displaying coarse bar patterns of various spatial frequencies are spaced two feet or more from a painted surface to be inspected. Video cameras, also spaced far from the surface, view the images reflected from the paint and a computer system analyzes the images by determining the modulation transfer function (MTF) of each reflecting surface. Surface curvature is compensated for by selecting the spatial frequencies in the sequence of patterns in accordance with the effect of the curvature on a reference pattern. The area under the MTF curve correlates to the distinctness of image of the surface and the area under the low spatial frequency portion of the curve correlates to orange peel.