Traditionally, the absorption properties of protective aprons used in diagnostic radiology have been specified in units of lead equivalent thickness. This is appropriate and accurate when lead is the only high-atomic-numbered component in the apron. In an attempt to manufacture light-weight protective apparel, however, some manufacturers have included other elements with k absorption edges in the energy range of interest, to provide equivalent absorption properties with less weight. With these other high-atomic-numbered elements added, the lead equivalence of the apparel becomes a function of the photon energy. This must be recognized and specified by the supplier, because lead apparel is used in environments other than diagnostic radiology, where the shielding benefits may be substantially less than expected when specifications are based on the diagnostic x-ray energy range.

This article presents a new manufacturing process of bonding anti-irradiation cover glasses to silicon solar cells with silicone adhesive. Due to the disadvantages of traditional manual operation, a new manufacturing process was designed considering the characteristics of solar cells, cover glasses, and silicone adhesive, and was complemented by an automatic system based on an industrial robot. Experiments indicated that the new approach could ensure the thickness of adhesive layer among 100-150 m and effectively restrain the creation of air bubbles. The automatic system was tested to have high efficiency and reliability and it was going to make volume-produce.

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Purpose -This paper aims to propose an automatic coating and fastening robot (ACFR) of space solar module (SSM) to solar panel substrate. Design/methodology/approach -Describes the detailed manufacturing process of space solar cell arrays (SSCA), and gives an ACFR for SSM. Designs an automatic coating and fastening mechanism and a control system. Furthermore, establishes the "zigzag", the "umbrella" and the Voronoibased "ring" path models of the coating path using syringes. Findings -The robot is effective for the bubble-free manufacture of SSCA in nonvacuum environment. The robot with three coating path models can control the thickness of adhesive layer on the back of SSM, and the fastening force to the solar panel substrate with high productivity. The experimental results have proved the validity of this robot in the SSCA's manufacture. Practical implications -The robot as a novel industrial equipment can improve the product quality and the reliability of SSCA to a certain extent. Originality/value -The robot has potential applications in the SSCA assembly. It will change the traditional handworking status in the future.

SUMMARYThis paper discusses about auto-laydown robot (ALR), which is applied to performing the laydown process of a solar module on earth. The robot consists of an adhesive dispensing mechanism, an auto-laydown mechanism, a pneumatic system and a control system. The method of gripping solar cells is described based on pneumatic technology. Meanwhile, a new method of controlling adhesive thickness and area during dispensing is proposed in this paper. The robot realizes the automatic laydown process of solar modules and can control the laydown pressure effectively. Compared with the manual method, the robot could control the dispensing volume and the adhesive area between solar modules and panel substrates, by means of experiments. The novel ALR greatly improves the laydown quality of solar modules and meets the lightweight trend of solar cells development.