Abstract

Abstract
METIS is one of the first three scientific instruments on the ELT, expected to see first light in 2025. METIS will provide diffraction limited imaging, coronagraphy, and low resolution slit spectroscopy over the 3 - 19 mu m range. Furthermore, METIS will provide a unique combination of high resolution (R similar to 100,000) integral field spectroscopy and coronagraphy from 2.9 - 5.3 mu m. The latter can be reconfigured to obtain a wider instantaneous wavelength coverage in exchange for integral field coverage. While METIS is a multi-purpose instrument for a wide range of infrared astronomy, its greatest strengths will be in the studies of exoplanets and proto-planetary disks. After two years into the preliminary design phase, the design of METIS has reached an advanced stage. This paper provides an update on the areas which have most advanced in the recent past: the main science drivers, the optical and opto-mechanical design, adaptive optics and the coronagraphy concept. We also describe the calibration of the instrument, give an overview of its observation modes, and present the schedule toward first light.

Abstract
In this work, a relative humidity (RH) sensor based on a structure with multimode interference is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The multimode sensor is fabricated by fusion splicing a coreless fiber section to a single mode fiber. A hydrophilic agarose gel is coated on the coreless fiber, using the dip coating technique. By changing the surrounding RH, the refractive index of the coated agarose gel will change, causing a wavelength shift of the peak in the reflection spectra. For RH variations in the range between 60.0%RH and 98.5%RH, the sensor presents a maximum sensitivity of 44.2 pm/%RH, and taking in consideration the interrogation system, a resolution of 0.5%RH is acquired. This sensor has a great potential in real time RH monitoring and can be of interest for applications where a control of high levels of relative humidity is required.

Abstract
The use of Robotics as a teaching tool to foster knowledge in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics - STEM for high school students is growing. Within this context, the need for solutions that decreases the overall cost of hardware is mandatory. In this work, a 25 euros Android-based mobile robot that allows connecting a smartphone to different robot "bodies" (each composed by different hardware: Arduino, LEGO, etc.) is proposed, targeting mainly high school students. The mobile platform was built using 3D printed parts and uses an Arduino board to control the servos used for the locomotion. To communicate with the Android application, a Bluetooth module is also used. The Android application takes advantage of the smartphone camera and has some pre-implemented image processing modules, allowing actions such as coloured line following, colour proximity detection and coloured object tracking. Another import feature present in the Android application is its coding capability, thanks to an embedded code interpreter. This feature was implemented using BeanShell, a lightweight script interpreter for Java. It allows writing scripts in Java programming language, which are then executed by the robot. This interpreter also provides a way for the user to write a set of instructions that defines the behaviour of the robot, primarily by checking the current status of the sensors and the smartphone camera, and manipulating the velocity of the motors. All of the necessary components (3D source CAD + STLs) of the mobile platform presented here are available online, enabling the recreation of a replica of the robot body. A detailed list of electronic components and its connections are also provided, as well as the Arduino source code along with the installation file needed for the Android application. All the necessary information can be accessed at: https://github.com/ee09115/squirlrob. The high school students are then challenged to solve classical robotics tasks like line following, obstacle avoidance, and using the virtual sensors to create new challenges. By providing this set of tools (Android app, source code, 3D CAD models, documentation), a promotion of knowledge is expected, thus developing enthusiast students in robotics multidisciplinary fields, such as mechanical designing, electronics designing, mathematics, coding, etc. (in short, all the relevant STEM areas). Finally, a general analysis of the usability, interoperability and feature extension capacity is made, always taking into consideration the educational purposes of this work.

Abstract
This article is about seeking a good feasible solution in a reasonable amount of computation time to the three-dimensional Multiple Bin Size Bin Packing Problem (MBSBPP). The MBSBPP studied considers additional constraints encountered in real world air transportation situations, such as cargo stability and the particular shape of containers. This MBSBPP has already been formulated as a Mixed Integer linear Programming problem, but as yet only poor results have been achieved for even fairly small problem sizes. The goal of the work this paper describes is to develop heuristics that are able to quickly provide good initial feasible solutions for the MBSBPP. Three methodologies are considered, which are based on the decomposition of the original problem into easier subproblems: the matheuristics Relax-and-Fix, Insert-and-Fix and Fractional Relax-and-Fix. They have been parametrised on real data sets and then compared to each other. In particular, two of these techniques show promising results in reasonable computational times.

Abstract
Energy management is a key tool that will enable consumers to optimize their energy use according to different objectives. Allow users to insert their energy use preferences combined with the effective configuration and control of existing devices (loads and micro generation) is the basis, in this paper, to design adaptable energy optimization algorithms that are capable of outputting feasible, understandable and useful actions, automated and/or manual, for the activation of the existing portfolio of flexible devices. This paper presents an advanced energy management system as an innovative platform that intends to accomplish real energy optimization schemes to support demand response, promote the energy efficiency and contribute towards renewable integration.