A Management approach for interdisciplinary Research networks in a knowledge-based Society - Case study of the cluster of Excellence ""Integrative Production technology for high-wage countries
Due to globalisation, innovations in low-wage countries take place in increasingly faster cycles for several years. By this means, the pressure on high-wage countries rises in order to keep up their knowledge advantage within diverse branches. Because of the fact that new knowledge is established more and more among interfaces of various disciplines, different demands arise with regard to an adequate institutional framework. Thus, the nationwide initiation of so-called Clusters of Excellence in Germany can be classified as a measure which has the target to support innovation activities within knowledge intensive networks. However, highly complex and heterogeneous research networks are in need of an appropriate management approach which supports the cross linking of various disciplines and increases the scientific output, but a corresponding approach is not established yet. Therefore, the so-called Cross Sectional Processes in the Cluster of Excellence `Integrative Production Technology for High-Wage Countries' at RWTH Aachen University, Germany, aim at creating management approaches to fit the needs of huge, heterogeneous, highly complex and dynamic research clusters. Moreover, the aim of the investigations is to design, implement and evaluate a management approach transferable to similar clusters and networks in future in order to foster interdisciplinary innovation activities in networks.
Scientific Cooperation Engineering in the Cluster of Excellence Integrative Production Technology for High-Wage Countries at RWTH Aachen University
Interdisciplinary scientific cooperation plays a decisive role for the generation of new knowledge. The augmenting dynamic and complexity of scientific forms of cooperation require new approaches for interlinking people and knowledge from different disciplines to enable people for succeeding in interdisciplinary cooperation. Concerning the case of the cluster of excellence Integrative Production Technology for High-Wage Countries at RWTH Aachen University this challenge is addressed by cross sectional processes (CSP). CSP are supporting networking processes and strategic cluster development by means of learning and knowledge management. Through cross-sectional activities, a new method for knowledge and organizational development was identified – scientific cooperation engineering. It aspires to support the transfer of highly complex, dynamic and interdisciplinary research cooperation into sustainable and robust structures. The design of scientific cooperation engineering will be outlined in this position paper.
Kinematic Modelling and Simulation of a 2R Robot Using SolidWorks and Verification by MATLAB / Simulink Regular Paper
The  simulation  of  robot  systems  is  becoming very popular, especially with  the  lowering of  the cost of computers,  and  it  can  be  used  for  layout  evaluation, feasibility studies, presentations with animation and off‐ line programming. The  trajectory  planning  of  redundant manipulators  is  a very  active  area  since  many  tasks  require  special characteristics  to  be  satisfied.  The  importance  of redundant manipulators has  increased over  the  last  two decades  because  of  the  possibility  of  avoiding singularities  as  well  as  obstacles  within  the  course  of motion.  The  angle  that  the  last  link  of  a  2  DOF manipulator makes with the x‐axis is required in order to find the solution for the inverse kinematics problem. This angle  could  be  optimized  with  respect  to  a  given specified  key  factor  (time,  velocity,  torques)  while  the end‐effector  performs  a  chosen  trajectory  (i.e., avoiding an obstacle) in the task space. Modeling  and  simulation  of  robots  could  be  achieved using  either  of  the  following  models:  the  geometrical model (positions, postures), the kinematic model and the dynamic model. To  do  so,  the  modelization  of  a  2‐R  robot  type  is implemented. Our main  tasks  are  comparing  two  robot postures with the same trajectory (path) and for the same length  of  time,  and  establishing  a  computing  code  to obtain the kinematic and dynamic parameters. SolidWorks  and MATLAB/Simulink  softwares  are  used to check the theory and the robot motion simulation. This  could  be  easily  generalized  to  a  3‐R  robot  and possibly therefore to any serial robot (Scara, Puma, etc.). The verification of the obtained results by both softwares allows  us  to  qualitatively  evaluate  and  underline  the validityof  the  chosen  model  and  obtain  the  right conclusions. The results of  the simulations are discussed and an agreement between the two softwares is certainly obtained.