title: Morality and the criminal law: an examination of some recent attempts to define theoretical limits to the proper scope of the criminal law

authors: Macdonald, Douglas Alan

abstract: The aim of this essay is to show that any attempt to define theoretical limits to the proper scope of the criminal law must fail. In Chapter 1 an attempt is made to refute the Wolfenden Committee's contention that society must recognise 'a realm of private morality and immorality which is … not the law's business.' In so far as his arguments also pursue this aim Lord Devlin' s thesis is defended but no attempt is made to defend all that he said. Briefly, the argument advanced asserts that, if it is accepted that any society has the right to take whatever steps it considers necessary to ensure its continued survival then no jurisdictional barrier, such as that proposed by the Wolfenden Committee can be erected, owing to the public nature of all conduct. In other words, if by ' private morality and immorality ' is meant ' private behaviour in matters of morals' then there is no sphere of morality which can be distinguished on the ground that it has no public effect. The argument that there can be no theoretical limits placed on the proper scope of the law does not commit one to holding that all immoral conduct ought to be prohibited by law but rather that any immoral conduct may justifiably be prohibited.

text: Morality and the criminal law: an examination of some recent attempts to define theoretical limits to the proper scope of the criminal law The aim of this essay is to show that any attempt to define theoretical limits to the proper scope of the criminal law must fail. In Chapter 1 an attempt is made to refute the Wolfenden Committee's contention that society must recognise 'a realm of private morality and immorality which is … not the law's business.' In so far as his arguments also pursue this aim Lord Devlin' s thesis is defended but no attempt is made to defend all that he said. Briefly, the argument advanced asserts that, if it is accepted that any society has the right to take whatever steps it considers necessary to ensure its continued survival then no jurisdictional barrier, such as that proposed by the Wolfenden Committee can be erected, owing to the public nature of all conduct. In other words, if by ' private morality and immorality ' is meant ' private behaviour in matters of morals' then there is no sphere of morality which can be distinguished on the ground that it has no public effect. The argument that there can be no theoretical limits placed on the proper scope of the law does not commit one to holding that all immoral conduct ought to be prohibited by law but rather that any immoral conduct may justifiably be prohibited.

year: 1972

title: The Barracuda: An investigation of a novel cane pruning technology for avoiding wires in structured vineyard environments

authors: Harvey, Scott

subjects: Robotic

abstract: The viticulture industry, among many others, is trying to improve their product quality whilst facing labour supply challenges and increasing labour costs. The Maaratech research group has been developing human assist technology and an autonomous, prototype grape vine pruning machine to alleviate these issues. The machine is an arched “straddle” platform, containing a camera array, PC, UR5 manipulator, and end-effector. The canes of the grapevine are wrapped around guide wires, making it very difficult for cuts to be made – whether by human or robot. This thesis presents the process of developing and testing a novel technology called the Barracuda, to enable cuts to be made where the wire interferes with a cut. The wire also puts high accuracy requirements on the vision system and manipulator movements if a secondary mechanism was used to separate the wire and cane. The Barracuda was developed as an end effector to alleviate these issues by allowing passive wire separation from the cane. It works by exploiting the diameter difference between the smaller wire, and larger canes. The wire falls into slots, evading the blade, while the cane is cut.

Two Barracuda configurations were tested by making cuts on canes wrapped around the guide wire. Config 1 was a single row of teeth, with larger recesses, flat teeth and a blade-guiding chamfer. Config 2 used two rows of teeth either side of smaller recesses and included rounded teeth tips. The components are CNC machined or laser cut. Results showed for both configurations, the 0° position was most effective. The 0° position is where the wire was below the cane, relative to the handpiece. In this position, Config 1 was effective 40.7% of the time, and config 2, 94.5% of the time. Damage to the wire was caused 8.9% of the time for config 1, and config 2 just 2.6% of the time. Both blades received the same rate of blade damage, however the damage was visibly more significant on config 1. From these results, config 2 was the preferred design, but integrating a chamfer from config 1 should reduce blade damage further.

It also benefits human assist goals. By allowing cuts on the wire, pruners are able to make cuts quickly and easily with Barracuda-modified secateurs or loppers, removing the need to separate the cane from the wire. The design works around the environment, increases the number of points available for decision making, and allows some inaccuracy in the rest of the robotic system by offering passive wire avoidance with the teeth. The performance of the Barracuda in cut situations involving a wire proved it valuable for integration with current manual pruning methods, and as a cornerstone for robotic pruning development, providing further opportunities for the greater system.

text: The Barracuda: An investigation of a novel cane pruning technology for avoiding wires in structured vineyard environments The viticulture industry, among many others, is trying to improve their product quality whilst facing labour supply challenges and increasing labour costs. The Maaratech research group has been developing human assist technology and an autonomous, prototype grape vine pruning machine to alleviate these issues. The machine is an arched “straddle” platform, containing a camera array, PC, UR5 manipulator, and end-effector. The canes of the grapevine are wrapped around guide wires, making it very difficult for cuts to be made – whether by human or robot. This thesis presents the process of developing and testing a novel technology called the Barracuda, to enable cuts to be made where the wire interferes with a cut. The wire also puts high accuracy requirements on the vision system and manipulator movements if a secondary mechanism was used to separate the wire and cane. The Barracuda was developed as an end effector to alleviate these issues by allowing passive wire separation from the cane. It works by exploiting the diameter difference between the smaller wire, and larger canes. The wire falls into slots, evading the blade, while the cane is cut.

Two Barracuda configurations were tested by making cuts on canes wrapped around the guide wire. Config 1 was a single row of teeth, with larger recesses, flat teeth and a blade-guiding chamfer. Config 2 used two rows of teeth either side of smaller recesses and included rounded teeth tips. The components are CNC machined or laser cut. Results showed for both configurations, the 0° position was most effective. The 0° position is where the wire was below the cane, relative to the handpiece. In this position, Config 1 was effective 40.7% of the time, and config 2, 94.5% of the time. Damage to the wire was caused 8.9% of the time for config 1, and config 2 just 2.6% of the time. Both blades received the same rate of blade damage, however the damage was visibly more significant on config 1. From these results, config 2 was the preferred design, but integrating a chamfer from config 1 should reduce blade damage further.

It also benefits human assist goals. By allowing cuts on the wire, pruners are able to make cuts quickly and easily with Barracuda-modified secateurs or loppers, removing the need to separate the cane from the wire. The design works around the environment, increases the number of points available for decision making, and allows some inaccuracy in the rest of the robotic system by offering passive wire avoidance with the teeth. The performance of the Barracuda in cut situations involving a wire proved it valuable for integration with current manual pruning methods, and as a cornerstone for robotic pruning development, providing further opportunities for the greater system.

year: 2022

title: The processes involved in formulating a marae-based Māori language regeneration plan for Whakamārama marae: Outline, analysis and evaluation

authors: Lewis, Roger

subjects: New Zealand

abstract: We provide here a criterion referenced evaluation of the processes involved in the creation of a Māori language regeneration strategy for Whakamārama marae. Working voluntarily and often under difficult circumstances, core group members demonstrated that they possessed the essential characteristics of commitment, motivation and determination. In addition, they demonstrated the willingness and ability to use existing skills and knowledge effectively and to develop further skills and knowledge as the project proceeded. Perhaps most important, they developed a caring and effective working culture. However, the weaknesses of the project included a lack of preparation and planning prior to the commencement of the project which led to delays in producing outcomes and some loss of momentum. This also led, indirectly, to the views of two or three members of the core group being overrepresented in the language planning goals. We believe that the information and analysis provided here are likely to be of interest to any language community involved in micro-level language regeneration activities of a similar type.

text: The processes involved in formulating a marae-based Māori language regeneration plan for Whakamārama marae: Outline, analysis and evaluation We provide here a criterion referenced evaluation of the processes involved in the creation of a Māori language regeneration strategy for Whakamārama marae. Working voluntarily and often under difficult circumstances, core group members demonstrated that they possessed the essential characteristics of commitment, motivation and determination. In addition, they demonstrated the willingness and ability to use existing skills and knowledge effectively and to develop further skills and knowledge as the project proceeded. Perhaps most important, they developed a caring and effective working culture. However, the weaknesses of the project included a lack of preparation and planning prior to the commencement of the project which led to delays in producing outcomes and some loss of momentum. This also led, indirectly, to the views of two or three members of the core group being overrepresented in the language planning goals. We believe that the information and analysis provided here are likely to be of interest to any language community involved in micro-level language regeneration activities of a similar type.

year: 2008