Abstract
A great variety of human gesture recognition methods exist in the literature, yet there is still a lack of solutions to encompass some of the challenges imposed by real life scenarios. In this document, a gesture recognition for robotic search and rescue missions in the high seas is presented. Themethod aims to identify shipwrecked people by recognizing the hand waving gesture sign. We introduce a novelmotion descriptor, through which high recognition accuracy can be achieved even for low resolution images. The method can be simultaneously applied to rigid object characterization, hence object and gesture recognition can be performed simultaneously. The descriptor has a simple implementation and is invariant to scale and gesture speed. Tests, preformed on a maritime dataset of thermal images, proved the descriptor ability to reach a meaningful representation for very low resolution objects. Recognition rates with 96.3% of accuracy were achieved.

Abstract
The capability of relatively high-speed short-range communications of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) in underwater scenarios, for example, for communication between vehicles or when the AUV is approaching a docking station for downloading of data gathered during a survey mission, is becoming a relevant application in the context of sea exploration and mining. In this paper the analysis of the J-pole antenna and two of its configurations namely Super J-pole and Collinear J-pole antennas are presented, aimed at improving the propagation distance and data rates when such antennas are installed on AUV for onward usage in underwater communications. The performance of these three antennas is assessed through simulation in fresh and sea water, operating in the High Frequency (HF) band. These antennas are compared in terms of bandwidth and directivity which are important elements in the transmission and reception of electromagnetic signals. The results obtained show that these antennas will be desirable both for improved data rates and propagation distance in fresh and sea water. The antennas were designed with FEKO electromagnetic simulation software.

Abstract
Declarative programming has been hailed as a promising approach to parallel programming since it makes it easier to reason about programs while hiding the implementation details of parallelism from the programmer. However, its advantage is also its disadvantage as it leaves the programmer with no straightforward way to optimize programs for performance. In this paper, we introduce Coordinated Linear Meld (CLM), a concurrent forward-chaining linear logic programming language, with a declarative way to coordinate the execution of parallel programs allowing the programmer to specify arbitrary scheduling and data partitioning policies. Our approach allows the programmer to write graph-based declarative programs and then optionally to use coordination to fine-tune parallel performance. In this paper we specify the set of coordination facts, discuss their implementation in a parallel virtual machine, and show-through example-how they can be used to optimize parallel execution. We compare the performance of CLM programs against the original uncoordinated Linear Meld and several other frameworks.

Abstract
This work aimed developing a multimodal interaction platform of robotic devices in a simulated environment. It was developed and implemented a system that allow a user to interact with an Intelligent Wheelchair (IW) allowing to test the robot driving control through an adaptive multimodal interface. Furthermore, it was implemented and tested a robot representing a ramp for Paralympic sport "Boccia". This Intelligent Robotic Ramp (IRR) will allow practitioners with various physical and psychological disorders, to practice this sport in a more autonomous way. This IRR will have greater emphasis on the BC3 category, where its practitioners have a very high level of dependency, having the need to resort to his coach and a launch pad (ramp) in order to play the game.

Abstract
The need for maintenance is based on the wear of components of machinery. If this need can be defined reliably beforehand so that no unpredicted failures take place then the maintenance actions can be carried out economically with minimum disturbance to production. There are two basic challenges in solving the above. First understanding the development of wear and failures, and second managing the measurement and diagnosis of such parameters that can reveal the development of wear. In principle the development of wear and failures can be predicted through monitoring time, load or wear as such. Monitoring time is not very efficient, as there are only limited numbers of components that suffer from aging which as such is result of chemical wear i.e. changes in the material. In most cases the loading of components influences their wear. In principle the loading can be stable or varying in nature. Of these two cases the varying load case is much more challenging than the stable one. The monitoring of wear can be done either directly e.g. optical methods or indirectly e.g. vibration. Monitoring actual wear is naturally the most reliable approach, but it often means that additional investments are needed. The paper discusses the above issues and what are the requirements that follow from these for optimising maintenance based of the use of Cyber Physical Systems.

Abstract
There is an increasing recognition that the competitive advantage of firms depends on their ability to create, transfer, utilize, develop and protect the Organizational knowledge assets. Therefore, the projects context should be wisely used for properly foster the learning collection through the lessons learned gathered during project life cycle. However, organizations do not seem to learn from their mistakes, rarely exploring the reasons for their projects’ success or failure, and very rarely applying those lessons learned to the business management. In fact, there is little or no point in learning unless management adapts its behavior accordingly. Usually top management does not give sufficient resources for activities such as reflecting and learning. This research is focused on assessing the organizational environment in order to properly explore the factors and dependencies amongst the social demographic variables. The questions addressed intent to highlight the key determinants that might foresee a proper learning and knowledge management environment. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016.