title: Qualified-agent virtue ethics

authors: van Zyl, Liezl

subjects: virtuous agent

abstract: Qualified-agent virtue ethics provides an account of right action in terms of the virtuous agent. It has become one of the most popular, but also most frequently criticized versions of virtue ethics. Many of the objections rest on the mistaken assumption that proponents of qualified-agent virtue ethics share the same view when it comes to fundamental questions about the meaning of the term ‘right action’ and the function of an account of right action. My aim in this paper is not to defend qualified-agent virtue ethics but to correct this misunderstanding, and this will hopefully leave us in a better position to evaluate it.

text: Qualified-agent virtue ethics Qualified-agent virtue ethics provides an account of right action in terms of the virtuous agent. It has become one of the most popular, but also most frequently criticized versions of virtue ethics. Many of the objections rest on the mistaken assumption that proponents of qualified-agent virtue ethics share the same view when it comes to fundamental questions about the meaning of the term ‘right action’ and the function of an account of right action. My aim in this paper is not to defend qualified-agent virtue ethics but to correct this misunderstanding, and this will hopefully leave us in a better position to evaluate it.

year: 2011

title: 3D-printed robotic gripper fingers with lattice structures for kiwifruit harvesting

authors: Dhanotra, Karan

abstract: With the growing demand for agricultural automation due to labour shortages and rising costs,
the robotics industry must develop effective and sustainable solutions. Soft robotics has
emerged as a transformative approach, offering flexibility and safety for handling delicate
objects. Advancements in 3D printing technology further enable innovative gripper designs
tailored for specific applications. This research focuses on developing 3D-printed soft robotic
gripper fingers for kiwifruit harvesting, aiming to overcome challenges such as fruit damage,
slippage, and inefficiencies in automated processes.
The study investigates enhancing the coefficient of friction through textured surfaces and
optimising bulk stiffness using lattice structures with varying wall thicknesses to maximise
contact area and grip stability. Using 3D printing, multiple testing samples were designed with
various textured surfaces and advanced lattice configurations, including gyroid, honeycomb,
and Schwarz primitive structures, to improve grasping performance while optimising stiffness.
Experimental results revealed that textured surfaces increased the coefficient of friction by 8–
10%, while gyroid infill patterns nearly doubled the contact surface area compared to rigid
designs, significantly improving grip stability and reducing pressure on the fruit. Rubber was
identified as the most effective material for soft gripper fingers, offering a high coefficient of
friction, flexibility, and the ability to conform to the irregular shapes of kiwifruit. Conversely,
silicone and nylon were less effective, with silicone providing inadequate friction and nylon
exhibiting rigidity that risked fruit damage. Among the tested lattice structures, gyroid patterns
demonstrated superior mechanical properties, outperforming other designs that exhibited
failure modes, such as buckling under compressive loads.
Overall, this research highlights the potential of 3D-printed soft robotic gripper fingers in
horticultural automation by integrating advanced materials, textures, and lattice structures to
improve performance. The findings provide critical insights into design principles for
developing durable, adaptable, and effective grippers for delicate agricultural applications.
While the results are promising, further research is required to address challenges such as
scalability, extensive field testing, and seamless integration with automated harvesting
systems.

text: 3D-printed robotic gripper fingers with lattice structures for kiwifruit harvesting With the growing demand for agricultural automation due to labour shortages and rising costs,
the robotics industry must develop effective and sustainable solutions. Soft robotics has
emerged as a transformative approach, offering flexibility and safety for handling delicate
objects. Advancements in 3D printing technology further enable innovative gripper designs
tailored for specific applications. This research focuses on developing 3D-printed soft robotic
gripper fingers for kiwifruit harvesting, aiming to overcome challenges such as fruit damage,
slippage, and inefficiencies in automated processes.
The study investigates enhancing the coefficient of friction through textured surfaces and
optimising bulk stiffness using lattice structures with varying wall thicknesses to maximise
contact area and grip stability. Using 3D printing, multiple testing samples were designed with
various textured surfaces and advanced lattice configurations, including gyroid, honeycomb,
and Schwarz primitive structures, to improve grasping performance while optimising stiffness.
Experimental results revealed that textured surfaces increased the coefficient of friction by 8–
10%, while gyroid infill patterns nearly doubled the contact surface area compared to rigid
designs, significantly improving grip stability and reducing pressure on the fruit. Rubber was
identified as the most effective material for soft gripper fingers, offering a high coefficient of
friction, flexibility, and the ability to conform to the irregular shapes of kiwifruit. Conversely,
silicone and nylon were less effective, with silicone providing inadequate friction and nylon
exhibiting rigidity that risked fruit damage. Among the tested lattice structures, gyroid patterns
demonstrated superior mechanical properties, outperforming other designs that exhibited
failure modes, such as buckling under compressive loads.
Overall, this research highlights the potential of 3D-printed soft robotic gripper fingers in
horticultural automation by integrating advanced materials, textures, and lattice structures to
improve performance. The findings provide critical insights into design principles for
developing durable, adaptable, and effective grippers for delicate agricultural applications.
While the results are promising, further research is required to address challenges such as
scalability, extensive field testing, and seamless integration with automated harvesting
systems.

year: 2024

title: An analysis of the rhetorical organisation of selected authentic Maori texts belonging to the text-types argument and information report

authors: Houia-Roberts, Ngaere

subjects: Te reo Māori

abstract: I report here on the findings of an analysis of the overall rhetorical structure of authentic Māori texts belonging to two different text-types – argument and information report – which were written by highly competent users of the language. I also suggest ways in which this type of analysis could underpin the development of teaching resources designed for Māori-medium educational settings.

text: An analysis of the rhetorical organisation of selected authentic Maori texts belonging to the text-types argument and information report I report here on the findings of an analysis of the overall rhetorical structure of authentic Māori texts belonging to two different text-types – argument and information report – which were written by highly competent users of the language. I also suggest ways in which this type of analysis could underpin the development of teaching resources designed for Māori-medium educational settings.

year: 2004