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Publications

2016

Industry 4.0 as Enabler for Effective Manufacturing Virtual Enterprises

Authors
Ferreira, F; Faria, J; Azevedo, A; Marques, AL;

Publication
COLLABORATION IN A HYPERCONNECTED WORLD

Abstract
Today, the variety of complex products, low volume and decreasing life cycles require a combination of multiple skills that, often, do not exist in a single organization. This raises the need to extend the traditional organization towards the extended virtual enterprise. During the last decade several research projects developed concepts, methods and tools to support the design and operation of the virtual enterprises. However, the impact in industry remains low mainly due to the lack of vertical and horizontal integration, both at business and technical level. Industry 4.0 may be the missing enabler for effective virtual enterprises, once it integrates both business entities and technical entities into a single concept - the Industry 4.0 component - thus enabling enhanced interoperability. This paper presents innovative Industry 4.0 approaches, concepts, methods and tools applied to real manufacturing environments, showing how they enable the creation of cyber-physical production systems leading to a flexible, efficient and seamlessly virtual enterprise.

2016

Wind Power Forecasting Error Distributions and Probabilistic Load Dispatch

Authors
Lujano Rojas, JM; Osorio, GJ; Matias, JCO; Catalao, JPS;

Publication
2016 IEEE POWER AND ENERGY SOCIETY GENERAL MEETING (PESGM)

Abstract
Among renewable power sources, wind energy is the most promising technology; however, the inter-temporal uncertainty of this source makes impossible its massive integration. Forecasting of wind generation is a key factor for the economical operation of the power system. Thus, the error related to this process is typically modeled by means of a determined probability distribution to be later incorporated to the unit scheduling and load dispatch optimization procedures. In this paper, wind power forecasting error has been modeled by using Weibull and Levy alpha-stable probability distributions and incorporated to the economic dispatch problem in order to probabilistically describe power production and generating cost. The proposed methodology is illustrated by analyzing a case study composed by 13 conventional generators; the obtained results are compared with Monte Carlo Simulation approach for evaluating and testing the capabilities of the proposed model, observing reasonable accuracy on the estimated results.

2016

Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills Performance: 2D Versus 3D Vision and Classic Instrument Versus New Hand-Held Robotic Device for Laparoscopy

Authors
Leite, M; Carvalho, AF; Costa, P; Pereira, R; Moreira, A; Rodrigues, N; Laureano, S; Correia Pinto, J; Vilaca, JL; Leao, P;

Publication
SURGICAL INNOVATION

Abstract
Introduction and Objectives. Laparoscopic surgery has undeniable advantages, such as reduced postoperative pain, smaller incisions, and faster recovery. However, to improve surgeons' performance, ergonomic adaptations of the laparoscopic instruments and introduction of robotic technology are needed. The aim of this study was to ascertain the influence of a new hand-held robotic device for laparoscopy (HHRDL) and 3D vision on laparoscopic skills performance of 2 different groups, naive and expert. Materials and Methods. Each participant performed 3 laparoscopic tasksPeg transfer, Wire chaser, Knotin 4 different ways. With random sequencing we assigned the execution order of the tasks based on the first type of visualization and laparoscopic instrument. Time to complete each laparoscopic task was recorded and analyzed with one-way analysis of variance. Results. Eleven experts and 15 naive participants were included. Three-dimensional video helps the naive group to get better performance in Peg transfer, Wire chaser 2 hands, and Knot; the new device improved the execution of all laparoscopic tasks (P < .05). For expert group, the 3D video system benefited them in Peg transfer and Wire chaser 1 hand, and the robotic device in Peg transfer, Wire chaser 1 hand, and Wire chaser 2 hands (P < .05). Conclusion. The HHRDL helps the execution of difficult laparoscopic tasks, such as Knot, in the naive group. Three-dimensional vision makes the laparoscopic performance of the participants without laparoscopic experience easier, unlike those with experience in laparoscopic procedures.

2016

A repeated strategy for dumping

Authors
Martins, J; Banik, N; Pinto, AA;

Publication
Springer Proceedings in Mathematics and Statistics

Abstract
In this work, we study the phenomena of dumping in a duopoly market through an infinitely repeated game. We consider two firms of different countries competing in the same country. When both firms are cooperating, if the foreign firm deviates from cooperation this can be interpreted as dumping and a period of punishment can be imposed to the foreign firm. After this, firms can play continuously the deviation-punishment game or compete à la Cournot. Previously, we observe that the repeated strategy of deviation-punishment is not adopted in the case of symmetric demand equations. Here, we observe that this strategy of repeated dumping can appear as the best repeated strategy when the demand equations are non-symmetric. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2016.

2016

ProcessPAIR: A Tool for Automated Performance Analysis and Improvement Recommendation in Software Development

Authors
Raza, M; Faria, JP;

Publication
2016 31ST IEEE/ACM INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AUTOMATED SOFTWARE ENGINEERING (ASE)

Abstract
High-maturity software development processes can generate significant amounts of data that can be periodically analyzed to identify performance problems, determine their root causes and devise improvement actions. However, conducting that analysis manually is challenging because of the potentially large amount of data to analyze and the effort and expertise required. In this paper, we present ProcessPAIR, a novel tool designed to help developers analyze their performance data with less effort, by automatically identifying and ranking performance problems and potential root causes, so that subsequent manual analysis for the identification of deeper causes and improvement actions can be properly focused. The analysis is based on performance models defined manually by process experts and calibrated automatically from the performance data of many developers. We also show how ProcessPAIR was successfully applied for the Personal Software Process (PSP). A video about ProcessPAIR is available in https://youtu.be/dEk3fhhkduo.

2016

Requirements for the use of virtual worlds in corporate training : perspectives from the post-mortem of a corporate e-learning provider approach of Second Life and OpenSimulator

Authors
Morgado, Leonel; Paredes, Hugo; Fonseca, Benjamim; Martins, Paulo; Antunes, Ricardo; Moreira, Lúcia; Carvalho, Fausto de; Peixinho, Filipe; Santos, Arnaldo;

Publication
iLRN 2016: Immersive Learning Research Network Conference. Workshop, Short Paper and Poster Proceedings from the Second Immersive Learning Research Network Conference

Abstract
Between 2009 and 2011, a joint academia-industry effort took place to integrate Second Life and OpenSimulator platforms into a corporate elearning provider’s learning management platform. The process involved managers and lead developers at the provider and an academic engineering research team. We performed content analysis on the documents produced in this process, seeking data on the corporate perspective of requirements for virtual world platforms to be usable in everyday practice. In this paper, we present the requirements found in the documents, and detail how they emerged and evolved throughout the process.

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