Cookies Policy
The website need some cookies and similar means to function. If you permit us, we will use those means to collect data on your visits for aggregated statistics to improve our service. Find out More
Accept Reject
  • Menu
Publications

2016

Air and Underwater Survey of water enclosed spaces for VAMOS! Project

Authors
Almeida, J; Ferreira, A; Matias, B; Dias, A; Martins, A; Silva, F; Oliveira, J; Sousa, P; Moreira, M; Miranda, T; Almeida, C; Silva, E;

Publication
OCEANS 2016 MTS/IEEE MONTEREY

Abstract
This paper addresses a three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of a flooded open pit mine with an autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The ROAZ USV and the Otus UAV were used to provide the underwater bathymetric map and aerial 3D reconstruction based from image data. This work was performed wihtin the context of the European researcj project VAMOS with the objective of developing robotic tools for efficient underwater mining

2016

Autonomous systems to support social activity of elderly people A prospective approach to a system design

Authors
Reis, A; Paredes, H; Barroso, I; Monteiro, MJ; Rodrigues, V; Khanal, SR; Barroso, J;

Publication
PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2016 1ST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION IN SPORTS, HEALTH AND WELLBEING (TISHW 2016)

Abstract
The reduction in physical and social activity in elderly people degrades the aging process, causing or increasing suffering to the individual and to his family and friends. Most times, the individual well-being is related to the strength of the social bonds with the family and friends group, so it is important to keep this bonds in the various stages of life, especially in the later life, when the individual has health limitations and is living in a community centre. This paper proposes an exploratory approach, regarding the use of information technologies systems, as autonomous systems, to assist in supporting and encouraging elderly people to preserve and develop their social activities and the relationships with their family and friends social group. During the course of the aging process, some aging people have their social activity degraded due to health limitations and institutionalization in elderly care centers, in which they are admitted as residents. We propose the design of a software system, capable of running in autonomous devices, such as, robots and other consumer appliances, enabling them to recognize and interact with the users, according to their state of mind and the specific current moment context. The interactions should be simple and focused on keeping the users informed about the current life events of their family and friends, and create the opportunities for the users to interact with the participants of those events by creating interaction proposals. The systems would monitor the user's family and friends group, regarding their information and actions on the social media. The system's interactions with the user would be based on that knowledge and on the knowledge of the user's current context. An adaptive user interface would present and manage the user interactions, acting as a mediator between the user and his family and friends group.

2016

Energy storage management for grid operation purposes

Authors
Santos, RJ; Andre, R; Bessa, R; Gouveia, C; Araujo, A; Guerra, F; Damásio, J; Bravo, G; Sumaili, J;

Publication
IET Conference Publications

Abstract
The Horizon 2020 Storage ENabled SustaInable energy for BuiLdings and communitiEs (SENSIBLE) project is currently looking at the integration of small-scale storage technologies in buildings and distribution networks. In the demonstration site of the SENSIBLE project, EDP has already installed an experimental storage system supplying a university campus in MV. It was mainly designed to increase service quality to the university by providing backup power in the event of MV grid failure, but it can also control voltage profile and conduct peakshaving. In parallel, small-scale storage is being also installed at the LV level by SENSIBLE. For these new grid assets, the SENSIBLE project is implementing a use case for centralized control approach that guarantees a coordinated operation of MV and LV storage. Furthermore, adding a MV switchgear, the resulting system will be able to isolate from the main grid thus effectively working as a microgrid with MV and LV Storage, PV generation and residential/commercial loads. This paper presents an overview of the technologies and software that will enable new grid support functions from small-scale storage.

2016

LSA Portraiture Robot

Authors
Rodrigues, B; Cruz, E; Dias, A; Silva, MF;

Publication
ROBOT 2015: SECOND IBERIAN ROBOTICS CONFERENCE: ADVANCES IN ROBOTICS, VOL 2

Abstract
This paper describes the development of an application that allows an ABB robot arm to automatically perform the portrait of people. The Portraiture Robot performs the picture of a human face on paper. The developed system consists of 4 steps: (i) image acquisition through a webcam, (ii) image processing to retrieve the contours and features of the person's face, (iii) vectorization of the coordinates in the image plane, and (iv) conversion of the coordinates to the RAPID programming language. To get only the person's face, is performed a background subtraction and to obtain only the necessary information from the image are used filtering techniques to remove the features and contours of the person's face. To convert these points into x, y coordinates, the contours are vectorised and sent to a file, saved according to a defined protocol, and allowing to create a program for the robot. The developed application allows processing of all blocks listed above in real-time and in a robust manner, having the ability to adapt to any environment and allowing continued use. The work was validated through the participation in the 2014 Portuguese Robotics Open, and in an ISEP exhibition that occurred in Maia, always with good results.

2016

Temporary user-centred networks for transport systems

Authors
Nunes, AA; Dias, TG; Zegras, C; Falcao e Cunha, JFE;

Publication
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH PART C-EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

Abstract
The concept of Temporary User-Centred Networks (TUNs) for transport systems is introduced. Affinity in these networks is defined as the time-specific degree of equivalence between travel patterns of users in the system. TUNs reveal latent social structures typically invisible to their users, enabling circumstantial collaboration opportunities amongst them. To make TUNs explicit we quantify affinity as a combination of two measures: journey similarity and journey substitutability. In the urban public transport domain, TUNs enable the diffusion of knowledge across the system in real-time. This can assist passengers adjusting travel decisions to their preferences and objectives according to service status. An enriched Automated Fare Collection (AFC) system dataset is used to demonstrate the market potential of TUNs in the urban public transport domain.

2016

Technology Roadmaping in Research Institutes through Technology Readiness Level Assessment

Authors
João Claro; Cristina Machado Guimarães; Cláudia Nisa;

Publication

Abstract

  • 2452
  • 4362