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Presentation

Robotics in Industry and Intelligent Systems

At CRIIS, we work closely with Companies, other Institutes and Universities, following the motto from Research and Development to Innovation, Design, Prototyping and Implementation.

At our Centre, we address the following main research areas: Navigation and Localisation of Mobile Robots, Intelligent Sensors and Control of Dynamical Systems, 2D/3D Industrial Vision and Advanced Sensing, Mobile Manipulators, Special Structures and Architectures for Robots, Human Robot Interfacing and Augmented Reality, Future Industrial Robotics and Collaborative Robots, Vertical Integration, IoT, and Industry 4.0.

Latest News
Robotics

Semear Digital: how INESC TEC can help make agriculture more profitable

The Semear Digital programme was established in Brazil but made its way to Portugal to support small and medium-sized farmers, equipping them with tools to improve profitability. INESC TEC, Embrapa, Associação Mobilizar com Valores (MCV) and Casa Escola Agrícola Campo Verde (CEACV) are the four institutions that participated in the seminar "Semear Digital no Contexto do Agro Luso-Brasileiro", which took place in September (Póvoa de Varzim).

04th October 2024

INESC TEC researcher wins competition at a Robotics Summer School in Switzerland

Maria Lopes, researcher at INESC TEC, won the competition that ended the Robotics Summer School organised by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), in Zurich. The ETH Robotics Summer School 2024 included - in addition to a series of sessions that aimed to teach participants fundamental concepts of robotics - a competition won by the team of the INESC TEC researcher.

15th July 2024

Robotics

Europe plans to monitor and preserve insect populations – with INESC TEC’s support

A low-cost technology that integrates image-based Artificial Intelligence (AI) to detect insects and identify potential threats to their existence. MOXOH was developed by INESC TEC and presented at a working meeting of InsectAI COST, an action promoted by the European COST programme that aims to accelerate the development of image-based and AI-assisted solutions to support the monitoring and preservation of insects.

12th July 2024

INESC TEC presents a system for manoeuvring autonomous robots and hosts a presentation of industrial solutions

IiLab hosted a workshop on the latest developments within the scope of the PRR’s Produtech R3 Agenda. INESC TEC presented a system to manoeuvre robots remotely and accurately.

17th June 2024

Robotics

INESC TEC robots travelled through the North and Centre regions of the country to present the research carried out in robotics to industry representatives and students

In two months, four events and several quilometres travelled by INESC TEC researchers, with different robots developed by the institution. The goal? To show both industry and students the latest innovations in research carried out by INESC TEC in the field of robotics.

22nd April 2024

168

Featured Projects

RLSENSEDEMO

Montagem de piloto para demonstração de sistema de sensorização de ripagem no contexto de produção florestal da empresa NAVIGATOR

2024-2024

AICare4U

AI-based Robotic Solution Addressing Compensatory Patterns for Upper Limb Rehabilitation

2024-2026

RENEE

FLEXIBLE REMANUFACTURING USING AI AND ADVANCED ROBOTICS FOR CIRCULAR VALUE CHAINS IN EU INDUSTRY

2024-2027

AdvisoryAR

Advisory on AR Technology

2023-2023

BeamAutoLogSim

Evaluation of automated logistic scenarios for a structural steel production line using Simulation

2023-2024

Works_TechAgrob

Proposta de prestação de serviços para Organização Conjunta Workshop Robótica para a Viticultura

2023-2023

PEER

THE HYPER EXPERT COLLABORATIVE AI ASSISTANT

2023-2027

ARTURO

Proposta de Prestação de Serviços para Estudo da Adequabilidade de uma Solução Inovadora de Realidade Aumentada para Suporte ao Operador Durante Processo de Montagem de Estruturas Metálicas

2023-2024

PFAI4_4eD

Programa de Formação Avançada Industria 4 - 4a edição

2023-2023

Estaleiro40

Consultoria avançada para digitalização dos processos de receção e gestão do estaleiro da Amorim Florestal

2023-2024

DIH4TAKING2

DIHs for boosTing AI picK&place enabling flexIble operatioNs in manufacturinG

2023-2023

WATSON

A holistic framework with Anticounterfeit and Intelligence-based technologies that will assist food chain stakeholders in rapidly identifying and preventing the spread of fraudulent practices

2023-2026

BOWI_ARRobot

Improved automation system sales and deployment using augmented reality

2023-2023

MomaFlex

Development of Intelligent Middleware to enable collaborative robots to make real-time decisions in manufacturing plants

2023-2024

InsectERA

A ERA da indústria dos insetos

2023-2025

AI4ENGINE

AI for wEaviNG kpIs moNitoring and prEdiction

2023-2023

NGS

Agenda Mobilizadora das Baterias

2023-2025

BLOCKCHAINPT

BLOCKCHAIN.PT - AGENDA “DESCENTRALIZAR PORTUGAL COM BLOCKCHAIN”

2023-2025

Lever_AdDP

Monitorização de 3 infraestruturas com recurso a imagens SAR

2022-2023

tExtended

Knowledge Based Framework for Extended Textile Circulation

2022-2026

Vine&Wine_PT

Vine and Wine Portugal - Driving Sustainable Growth Through Smart Innovation

2022-2025

GreenAuto

GreenAuto: Green innovation for the Automotive Industry

2022-2025

Vision2Control

Controlo Qualidade Rolamentos por Visão

2022-2023

TF_Competition

iiLab Learning Factory Network

2022-2022

AgendaTransform

Agenda para a transformação digital do setor florestal para uma economia resiliente e hipocarbónica

2022-2025

PhenoBot-LA8.1

PhenoBot Fotónica Inteligente para Fenotipagem de Culturas Agro-Alimentares - LA 8.1 Agricultura de Precisão

2022-2025

PhenoBot-LA8.3

PhenoBot Fotónica Inteligente para Fenotipagem de Culturas Agro-Alimentares - LA 8.3 Tecnologia

2022-2025

PhenoBot-LA8.4

PhenoBot Fotónica Inteligente para Fenotipagem de Culturas Agro-Alimentares - LA 8.4 Dados

2022-2025

PhenoBot-LA8.5

PhenoBot - Fotónica Inteligente para Fenotipagem de Culturas Agro-Alimentares - LA 8.5 Conhecimento

2022-2025

Wine4Cast-LA8.3

Previsão espácio-temporal da produtividade vitivinícola para usabilidade multi-ator: integração de sensores ótico-fotónicos remotos, inteligência artificial e cenários climáticos

2022-2025

Wine4Cast-LA8.4

Previsão espácio-temporal da produtividade vitivinícola para usabilidade multi-ator: integração de sensores ótico-fotónicos remotos, inteligência artificial e cenários climáticos

2022-2025

Wine4Cast-LA8.5

Previsão espácio-temporal da produtividade vitivinícola para usabilidade multi-ator: integração de sensores ótico-fotónicos remotos, inteligência artificial e cenários climáticos

2022-2025

GIATEX

Gestão Inteligente da Água na ITV

2022-2025

Wine4Cast-LA8.1

Previsão espácio-temporal da produtividade vitivinícola para usabilidade multi-ator: integração de sensores ótico-fotónicos remotos, inteligência artificial e cenários climáticos

2022-2025

FARO

Desenvolvimento, Industrialização e Licenciamento de uma Nova Solução para o Ensinamento por Demonstração de Robôs Industriais

2022-2023

Produtech_R3

Agenda Mobilizadora da Fileira das Tecnologias de Produção para a Reindustrialização

2022-2025

SFT-EDIH

Smart Sustainable Farms, Foods & Trade - European Digital Innovation Hub

2022-2025

OptiLog7Fluxos

Otimização do sistema logístico da área Litografia para 7 fluxos de produção

2022-2023

BE@T

Bioeconomia para Fileira Têxtil e Vestuário

2022-2025

BioShoes4All

Projeto Integrado BioShoes4All

2022-2025

TEXPACT

Pacto de Inovação para a Digitalização do Têxtil e Vestuário

2022-2025

Fundicao4

Workshop Industria 4.0 para o Setor da Fundição

2022-2022

Waste2BioComp

Converting organic waste into sustainable bio-based components

2022-2025

PFAI4_3ed

Programa de Formação Avançada Industria 4 - 3a edição

2022-2022

FORM_I40

Formação Indústria 4.0

2022-2022

AI4RWeld

AI for Robotic Welding Parametrization and Inspection

2022-2023

OmicBots

High-Throughput Integrative Omic-Robots Platform for a Next Generation Physiology-based Precision Viticulture

2022-2025

IMMC

Industrial Mobile Manipulator Challenge

2022-2022

Hi_reV

Recuperação do Setor de Componentes Automóveis

2022-2025

HfPT

Health from Portugal

2021-2025

InOlive

Sistema de monitorização inteligente para prevenção de pragas e doenças no olival

2021-2023

SMARTDRYING

Sistema Inteligente para Secagem de Lamas de ETAR em Estufa

2021-2023

Zypho 4.0

Desenvolvimento de soluçôes inteligentes de recuperação, armazenamento e gestão de energia térmica em edificios de serviços

2021-2023

OptiLog

Otimização do sistema logístico da área Litografia

2021-2022

AR4Steel

Sistema de Realidade Aumentada Projetada para a Industria da Construção Metálica

2021-2022

SPIN

Solução de Pulverização de Precisão Inteligente

2021-2023

SCORPION

Cost effective robots for smart precision spraying

2021-2023

MirrorLabs2

Creating similar learning environment for students all over Europe for human-robot coproduction

2021-2021

REDVILE

AR/VR for Training and Learning

2021-2022

iFishCan

Intelligent waste & loss monitoring test bed for the Fish Can industry

2021-2022

SMARTCUT

Diagnóstico e Manutenção Remota e Simuladores para Formação de operação e manutenção de Máquinas Florestais

2020-2023

MARI4_YARD

User-centric solutions for a flexible and modular manufacturing in small and medium-sized shipyards

2020-2024

RDH4COVID

Solução Robótica Autónoma com Reboque para a Desinfeção de Superfícies Para

2020-2023

AI_REGIO

Regions and DIHs alliance for AI-driven digital transformation of European Manufacturing SMEs

2020-2023

BetterFactory

Grow your manufacturing business’ — ‘Better Factory'

2020-2024

NOVATERRA

INTEGRATED NOVEL STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING THE USE AND IMPACT OF PESTICIDES, TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE MEDITERRANEAN VINEYARDS AND OLIVE GROVES

2020-2025

PFAI4.0

Programa de Formação Avançada Industria 4.0

2020-2021

iiLab

Ampliação da Infraestrutura Tecnológica do INESC TEC para a Transformação Digital da Indústria

2020-2023

Trilogy

Robotics, Welding and Knowledge, for the future of robotic welding

2020-2021

MetalCut40

Desenvolvimento de sistemas periféricos funcionais a integrar numa célula robotizada para corte por plasma

2020-2022

VINCI7D

Impressão funcional robotizada em peças com geometrias complexas

2020-2024

INCAFO

Identificação de Castas através da folha

2020-2023

SIAP

Sistema de Inteligência Artificial para Deteção e Alerta de Riscos sobre o Património

2020-2022

XWeld

Planning, Accuracy and 3D sensing for full automation robotic welding

2020-2021

PRODUTECH4SC

PRODUTECH sustentável & circular - soluções inovadoras, sustentáveis e circulares com impacto na fileira das tecnologias de produção

2020-2023

Replant

Implantação de estratégias colaborativas para a gestão integrada da floresta e do fogo

2020-2023

SMARTFARM40

Soluções inteligentes para uma agricultura sustentável, preditiva e autónoma

2020-2023

PAC

Portugal AutoCluster for the Future

2020-2023

SMARTAGEING

Sistema de Apoio à Decisão para o Envelhecimento de Vinho do Porto Branco

2020-2023

Continental FoF

Fábrica do Futuro da Continental Advanced Antenna

2020-2023

RADAR

RADAR - Robô Autónomo para Desinfeção em Ambiente hospitalar

2020-2020

PNEUMA

PNEUMA - Sistema de ventilação com recurso a um balão auto-insuflável

2020-2020

Agrobit

Mowing Robot

2020-2021

PRySM

PRecision Sprayer Ground Robot

2020-2022

SAFECoating

Safety Enhanced Collaborative Robotic Coating Cell

2020-2021

ROBOCARE

Plataformas Robóticas para Culturas Protegidas de Precisão Inteligentes

2020-2024

CPPS101

Cyber-physical production systems

2020-2020

MirrorLabs

Creating similar learning environment for students all over Europe for human-robot coproduction

2020-2020

CrossLOG

AUTOMATIC MIXED-PALLETIZING FOR CROSS-DOCKING LOGISTICS CENTERS

2019-2023

SMARTPVD

Novas soluções inteligentes para aplicação e utilização de revestimentos em PVD

2019-2022

STEEL40

STEEL40 - Proposta de Prestação de Serviços Consultoria Especializada em Tecnologia Industrial

2019-2019

DEMETER

Building an Interoperable, Data-Driven, Innovative and Sustainable European Agri-Food Sector

2019-2023

T4CDTKC

Training 4 Cotec, Digital Transformation Knowledge Challenge - Elaboração de Programa de Formação “CONHECER E COMPREENDER O DESAFIO DAS TECNOLOGIAS DE TRANSFORMAÇÃO DIGITAL”

2019-2021

PIVOTBOT

Pivot robotizado para realização de operações agrícolas

2019-2021

Jales

TRABALHOS DE INTERFEROMETRIA SAR NA ÁREA MINEIRA DE JALES

2019-2019

AgRoBoFood

Business-Oriented Support to the European Robotics and Agri-food Sector, towards a network of Digital Innovation Hubs in Robotics

2019-2024

Rosin

Active managed Buildings with Energy performaNce Contracting

2019-2020

Smart-Fertilizers

Espalhadores e Cisternas inteligentes

2019-2023

SAFE

Sistema de Monitorização e Alerta Florestal

2019-2022

ROBOTICA2019

ROBOTICA2019

2019-2019

PBA

Unified Framework for Mobile Robots

2018-2019

HORSE

Collaborative Robotics for Industrial Coating Cells

2018-2020

Refinacao4.0

Serviços de consultoria especializada para desenvolvimento e operacionalização de provas de conceito

2018-2019

MetBots

Metabolomic robots with self-learning artificial intelligence for precision agriculture

2018-2021

SAFER

Safery verification for robotic software

2018-2021

GOTECFOR

Tecnologia para a mobilização e aproveitamento de Biomassa Florestal na agroindústria

2018-2020

COBOTIS

Human-robot interaction for collaborative robotics

2018-2022

COATING4.0

ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF AN INNOVATIVE REMOTE PROCESS MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING SOLUTION (4.0)

2018-2019

FED

Ferradura, programação intuitiva para aplicações de soldadura robotizada

2018-2019

DIVA

Boosting innovative DIgitech Value chains for Agrofood, forestry and environment

2018-2021

FDControlo

Importância dos hospedeiros alternativos (plantas, insetos, vitis abandonada) na dispersão da doença da flavescência dourada (FD) da vinhda e das populações de scapholdeus titanus nas sub-regiões vitivinículas do Cávado e do Lima

2018-2022

DroneTool

Service to develop a prototype of a drone end-effector for leaf harvesting

2017-2019

Fasten

Flexible and Autonomous Manufacturing Systems for Custom-Designed Products

2017-2021

FAMEST

Footwear, Advanced Materials, Equipment's and Software Technologies

2017-2021

PRODUTECH_SIF

Soluções para a Indústria de Futuro

2017-2022

Water4Ever

Optimizing water use in agriculture to preserve soil and water resources

2017-2020

RIDDIG

Fábrica Digital

2017-2019

SistemaDPA

Sistema DPA para Espalhador de Estrume (sem ISOBUS) e Análise Química (NIR sensor) para Cisterna em Ambiente ISOBUS.

2017-2018

MANUFACTUR4.0

Desenvolvimento e implementação de tecnologias inteligentes e inovadoras nos setores industriais naval e metalomecânico

2017-2020

AGRINUPES

Integrated monitoring and control of water, nutrients and plant protection products towards a sustainable agricultural sector

2017-2020

Palcus

Sistema de Controlo de Máquinas Cénicas

2017-2017

ROMOVI

ROMOVI: Robô Modular e cooperativo para Vinhas de encosta

2017-2019

ScalABLE4.0

Scalable automation for flexible production systems

2017-2020

BIOTECFOR

Bionegócios e Tecnologia para a valorização eficiente dos recursos florestais endógenos no Norte de Portugal e Galiza

2017-2020

UnVirtual

Serviço de engenharia e desenvolvimento de robôs para jogo Unvirtual

2017-2018

DM4Manufacturing

Aligning Manufacturing Decision Making with Advanced Manufacturing Technologies

2016-2021

SmartFarming

Ferramenta avançada para operacionalização da agricultura de precisão

2016-2018

AdaptPack

Desenvolvimento de sistemas robóticos de paletização adaptativos e modulares de elevada flexibilidade

2016-2019

ATM

Advanced tools management

2016-2018

Inspectum

Sistema de Visão Artificial para Inspeção de Marcações Típicas em Pneus

2016-2017

TRiHo

RDH - Robot de Distribuição Hospitalar

2016-2019

PrecisionCork

PRECISIONcork - Medida e Controlo em Linha de Parâmetros Chave de Processo e de Qualidade de Produto

2016-2018

ColRobot

Collaborative Robotics for Assembly and Kitting in Smart Manufacturing

2016-2019

TEXTILPRINT

Desenvolvimento e programação de um novo sensor de resina, programação de cabeças de impressão, apoio ao desenvolvimento de software de monitorização e diagnóstico remoto a instalar nas máquinas de impressão textil

2016-2018

CoopWeld

Robótica colaborativa para soldadura de componentes em construção metálica

2015-2017

MarineEye

MarinEye - A prototype for multitrophic oceanic monitoring

2015-2017

BLUECOM+

Connecting Humans and Systems at Remote Ocean Areas using Cost-effective Broadband Communications

2015-2017

ENDURE

Enabling Long-Term Deployments of Underwater Robotic Platforms in Remote Oceanic Locations

2015-2017

iMAN

iMAN - Intelligence for advanced Manufacturing systems

2015-2019

Submarino_Whale

Elaboração do projeto técnico de um dispositivo de controlo pneumático para equilíbrio hidrostático de um submersível

2015-2015

VAMOS

Viable Alternative Mine Operating System

2015-2019

AutoClassII

Automatic Classification and Quality Control for Car Tires

2015-2018

FOCUS

Advances in FOrestry Control and aUtomation Systems in Europe

2014-2016

CLARISSA

The European Robotics Initiative for Strengthening the Competitiveness of SMEs in Manufacturing by integrating aspects of cognitive systems

2014-2016

SUNNY

Smart UNmanned aerial vehicle sensor Network for detection of border crossing and illegal entrY

2014-2018

SCAN

Aquaculture Calibration System

2014-2015

TURTLE

Autonomous Support System for SubSea Operations

2014-2015

STAMINA

Sustainable and reliable robotics for part handling in manufacturing automation

2013-2017

CARLoS

CooperAtive Robot for Large Spaces manufacturing

2013-2015

OCHERA

Optimal Control: Health, Energy and Robotics Applications

2013-2015

ROBARQ

Robotic Technologies for Non-Standard Design and Construction in Architecture

2013-2015

RoboNoise

Acoustic data acquisition using a glider

2013-2013

SmartManufacturing

Smart Manufacturing and Logistics

2013-2015

Cooperation

Cooperation and Perception for Augmented Autonomy

2013-2015

ICARUS-CRIIS

Integrated Components for Assisted Rescue and Unmanned Search operations

2012-2015

SUB.2-CRIIS

Propelled underwater vehicle carrying energy, electronic and computing systems on board, capable of operating autonomously without being connected to the operator

2012-2015

AutoClass

Automatic Classification and Quality Control for Car Tyres

2012-2014

COGNAT

Underwater Glider Navigation for Acoustic Tomography

2011-2013

PRODUTECH_PTI

Innovative processes and technologies for the manufacturing industry

2011-2014

PACRI

High-level programming for industrial robotic cells: capturing human body motion

2011-2014

Lajeado

Intelligent System for georeferenced monitoring of reservoirs with autonomous vehicles

2010-2014

SIIARI

System to increase the use of Artificial Intelligence in Industrial Robotics

2010-2012

SIIARI-ROB

System to increase the use of Artificial Intelligence in Industrial Robotics

2010-2012

TRIMARES

Underwater vehicle to monitor dams in Brazil

2010-2011

INSTEAD

Intelligent Systems to detect failures in multidimensional processes

2010-2013

CRO

Perception-Driven Coordinated Multi-Robot Motion Control

2010-2012

RobVigil

Collaborative and intelligent surveillance robot for the security area

2010-2012

WWECO

Environmental Assessment and Modeling of Wastewater Discharges using Autonomous Underwater Vehicles Bio-optical Observations

2009-2011

Team
003

Laboratories

Laboratory of Industrial Robotics and Automation

Laboratory of Mobile Robotics and Internal Logistics

TRIBE - Laboratory of Robotics and IoT for Smart Precision Agriculture and Forestry

Publications

CRIIS Publications

View all Publications

2024

Inspection of Part Placement Within Containers Using Point Cloud Overlap Analysis for an Automotive Production Line

Authors
Costa C.M.; Dias J.; Nascimento R.; Rocha C.; Veiga G.; Sousa A.; Thomas U.; Rocha L.;

Publication
Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering

Abstract
Reliable operation of production lines without unscheduled disruptions is of paramount importance for ensuring the proper operation of automated working cells involving robotic systems. This article addresses the issue of preventing disruptions to an automotive production line that can arise from incorrect placement of aluminum car parts by a human operator in a feeding container with 4 indexing pins for each part. The detection of the misplaced parts is critical for avoiding collisions between the containers and a high pressure washing machine and also to avoid collisions between the parts and a robotic arm that is feeding parts to a air leakage inspection machine. The proposed inspection system relies on a 3D sensor for scanning the parts inside a container and then estimates the 6 DoF pose of the container followed by an analysis of the overlap percentage between each part reference point cloud and the 3D sensor data. When the overlap percentage is below a given threshold, the part is considered as misplaced and the operator is alerted to fix the part placement in the container. The deployment of the inspection system on an automotive production line for 22 weeks has shown promising results by avoiding 18 hours of disruptions, since it detected 407 containers having misplaced parts in 4524 inspections, from which 12 were false negatives, while no false positives were reported, which allowed the elimination of disruptions to the production line at the cost of manual reinspection of 0.27% of false negative containers by the operator.

2024

An Educational Kit for Simulated Robot Learning in ROS 2

Authors
Almeida, F; Leao, G; Sousa, A;

Publication
ROBOT 2023: SIXTH IBERIAN ROBOTICS CONFERENCE, VOL 2

Abstract
Robot Learning is one of the most important areas in Robotics and its relevance has only been increasing. The Robot Operating System (ROS) has been one of the most used architectures in Robotics but learning it is not a simple task. Additionally, ROS 1 is reaching its end-of-life and a lot of users are yet to make the transition to ROS 2. Reinforcement Learning (RL) and Robotics are rarely taught together, creating greater demand for tools to teach all these components. This paper aims to develop a learning kit that can be used to teach Robot Learning to students with different levels of expertise in Robotics. This kit works with the Flatland simulator using open-source free software, namely the OpenAI Gym and Stable-Baselines3 packages, and contains tutorials that introduce the user to the simulation environment as well as how to use RL to train the robot to perform different tasks. User tests were conducted to better understand how the kit performs, showing very positive feedback, with most participants agreeing that the kit provided a productive learning experience.

2024

Mission Supervisor for Food Factories Robots

Authors
Moreira, T; Santos, FN; Santos, L; Sarmento, J; Terra, F; Sousa, A;

Publication
ROBOT 2023: SIXTH IBERIAN ROBOTICS CONFERENCE, VOL 2

Abstract
Climate change, limited natural resources, and the increase in the world's population impose society to produce food more sustainably, with lower energy and water consumption. The use of robots in agriculture is one of the most promising solutions to change the paradigm of agricultural practices. Agricultural robots should be seen as a way to make jobs easier and lighter, and also a way for people who do not have agricultural skills to produce their food. The PixelCropRobot is a low-cost, open-source robot that can perform the processes of monitoring and watering plants in small gardens. This work proposes a mission supervisor for PixelCropRobot, and general agricultural robots, and presents a prototype of user interface to this mission supervision. The communication between the mission supervisor and the other components of the system is done using ROS2 and MQTT, and mission file standardized. The mission supervisor receives a prescription map, with information about the respective mission, and decomposes them into simple tasks. An A* algorithm then defines the priority of each mission that depends on factors like water requirements, and distance travelled. This concept of mission supervisor was deployed into the PixelCropRobot and was validated in real conditions, showing a enormous potential to be extended to other agricultural robots.

2024

Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning for Side-by-Side Navigation of Autonomous Wheelchairs

Authors
Fonseca, T; Leao, G; Ferreira, LL; Sousa, A; Severino, R; Reis, LP;

Publication
2024 IEEE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AUTONOMOUS ROBOT SYSTEMS AND COMPETITIONS, ICARSC

Abstract
This paper explores the use of Robotics and decentralized Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning (MARL) for side-by-side navigation in Intelligent Wheelchairs (IW). Evolving from a previous work approach using traditional single-agent methodologies, it adopts a Multi-Agent Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (MADDPG) algorithm to provide control input and enable a pair of IW to be deployed as decentralized computing agents in real-world environments, discarding the need to rely on communication between each other. In this study, the Flatland 2D simulator, in conjunction with the Robot Operating System (ROS), is used as a realistic environment to train and test the navigation algorithm. An overhaul of the reward function is introduced, which now provides individual rewards for each agent and revised reward incentives. Additionally, the logic for identifying side-by-side navigation was improved, to encourage dynamic alignment control. The preliminary results outline a promising research direction, with the IWs learning to navigate in various realistic hallways testing scenarios. The outcome also suggests that while the MADDPG approach holds potential over single-agent techniques for the decentralized IW robotics application, further investigation are needed for real-world deployment.

2024

An educational board game to promote the engagement of electric engineering students in ethical building of a sustainable and fair future

Authors
Monteiro, F; Sousa, A;

Publication
Journal of Environmental Education

Abstract
Faced with the current unsustainability and recognizing the importance of engineering (and technology) in the Capitalocene, it is important to develop educational approaches that facilitate the awareness and training of engineering students to the sustainable future’s construction. The main objective of the study is the evaluation of the educational approach developed (educational board game). It was used an action-research methodology and a quasi-experimental method. These results show that the developed game can be an important contribution in the engineers training to change the role of engineering to an ethical and responsible construction of a sustainable and fair future. © 2024 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Facts & Figures

24Senior Researchers

2016

39Researchers

2016

19Proceedings in indexed conferences

2020