This paper presents a hybrid topology optimization method for multipatch fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing to address the process-induced material anisotropy. The ‘multipatch’ concept consists of each printing layer disintegrated into multiple patches with different zigzag-type filament deposition directions. The level set method was employed to represent and track the layer shape evolution; discrete material optimization (DMO) model was adopted to realize the material property interpolation among the patches. With this set-up, a concurrent optimization problem was formulated to simultaneously optimize the topological structure of the printing layer, the multipatch distribution, and the corresponding deposition directions. An asynchronous starting strategy is proposed to prevent the local minimum solutions caused by the concurrent optimization scheme. Several numerical examples were investigated to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, while satisfactory optimization results have been derived.

Machining allowance distribution and related parameter optimization of machining processes have been well-discussed. However, for energy saving purposes, the optimization priorities of different machining phases should be different. There are often significant incoherencies between the existing research and real applications. This paper presents an improved method to optimize machining allowance distribution and parameters comprehensively, considering energy-saving strategy and other multi-objectives of different phases. The empirical parametric models of different machining phases were established, with the allowance distribution problem properly addressed. Based on previous analysis work of algorithm performance, non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II and multi-objective evolutionary algorithm based on decomposition were chosen to obtain Pareto solutions. Algorithm performances were compared based on the efficiency of finding the Pareto fronts. Two case studies of a cylindrical turning and a face milling were carried out. Results demonstrate that the proposed method is effective in trading-off and finding precise application scopes of machining allowances and parameters used in real production. Cutting tool life and surface roughness can be greatly improved for turning. Energy consumption of rough milling can be greatly reduced to around 20% of traditional methods. The optimum algorithm of each case is also recognized. The proposed method can be easily extended to other machining scenarios and can be used as guidance of process planning for meeting various engineering demands.

As a research hotspot in the field of artificial intelligence, the application of deep reinforcement learning to the learning of the motion ability of a manipulator can help to improve the learning of the motion ability of a manipulator without a kinematic model. To suppress the overestimation bias of values in Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (DDPG) networks, the Twin Delayed Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (TD3) was proposed. This paper further suppresses the overestimation bias of values for multi-degree of freedom (DOF) manipulator learning based on deep reinforcement learning. Twin Delayed Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient with Rebirth Mechanism (RTD3) was proposed. The experimental results show that RTD3 applied to multi degree freedom manipulators is in place, with an improved learning ability by 29.15% on the basis of TD3. In this paper, a step-by-step reward function is proposed specifically for the learning and innovation of the multi degree of freedom manipulator’s motion ability. The view of continuous decision-making and process problem is used to guide the learning of the manipulator, and the learning efficiency is improved by optimizing the playback of experience. In order to measure the point-to-point position motion ability of a manipulator, a new evaluation index based on the characteristics of the continuous decision process problem, energy efficiency distance, is presented in this paper, which can evaluate the learning quality of the manipulator motion ability by a more comprehensive and fair evaluation algorithm.

As an important inertial sensor, the gyroscope is mainly used to measure angular velocity in inertial space. However, due to the influence of semiconductor thermal noise and electromagnetic interference, the output of the gyroscope has a certain random noise and drift, which affects the accuracy of the detected angular velocity signal, thus interfering with the accuracy of the stability of the whole system. In order to reduce the noise and compensate for the drift of the MEMS (Micro Electromechanical System) gyroscope during usage, this paper proposes a Kalman filtering method based on information fusion, which uses the MEMS gyroscope and line accelerometer signals to implement the filtering function under the Kalman algorithm. The experimental results show that compared with the commonly used filtering methods, this method allows significant reduction of the noise of the gyroscope signal and accurate estimation of the drift of the gyroscope signal, and thus improves the control performance of the system and the stability accuracy.

The performance of current liquid zoom systems is severely limited by their initial structure’s construction and solution. In this study, an automatic search method based on genetic algorithm (GA) was proposed for obtaining the optimal initial structure of a double liquid lens zoom optical system. This method was used to design a zoom telescopic objective with a fast response characteristic. The zoom equation of the zoom system was derived based on the Gaussian bracket method, and an initial structure evaluation function that integrated the aberration, the system length, and the smoothness of the focal power change in the liquid lenses was designed. This evaluation function was used as the fitness function in GA to automatically retrieve the optimal initial structure of the zoom system. Finally, an optical design software was used to optimize the design of the zoom system to obtain the final structure of the zoom system. Image quality analysis and tolerance analysis of the zoom system revealed that the system exhibited excellent imaging capability and could be manufactured easily. In addition, the analysis of the zoom curve revealed that the optical system exhibited a smooth continuous zooming capability.