Abstract
This paper presents the architecture of a climbing robot with wheeled locomotion and adhesion through permanent magnets. This machine is intended to be used in the inspection of ferromagnetic structures, in order to, for instance, detect weaknesses due to corrosion, particularly in aerogenerators towers, fuel tanks, ship hulls, etc. The vehicle is designed to have a semi-autonomous behavior, allowing a remote inspection process controlled by a technician, this way reducing the risks associated with the human inspection of tall structures and ATEX places. The particular characteristic of this robot is its dynamic adjustment system of the permanent magnets in order to assure the machine adhesion to the surfaces, even when crossing irregular and curved surfaces. ©2010 IEEE.

Abstract
This chapter illustrates how the concepts and algorithms described earlier in this book can be used to build practical database replication systems. This is achieved first by addressing architectural challenges on how required functionality is provided by generally available software componentes and then how different components can be efficiently integrated. A second set of practical challenges arises from experience on how performance assumptions map to actual environments and real workloads. The result is a generic architecture for replicated database management systems, focusing on the interfaces between key components, and then on how different algorithmic and practical optimization options map to real world gains. This shows how consistent database replication is achievable in the current state of the art.

Abstract
This paper addresses the design and implementation of feedback controllers for the direction of autonomous robotic sailboats. In order to design such a controller, it is important to determine a model for the sailboat dynamics during turns. However, there are many uncontrollable factors that may affect the direction of the sailboat, which make it difficult to obtain an accurate model and require a lot of sensors to feed a proper controller. Instead, we assume a rather simple model relating the most important variables and concentrate on data that can easily be available with simple low-cost sensors, compensating the lack of accuracy of the model with the robustness of the controller. We describe our approach to extract the parameters of such a dynamic model using data obtained in field experiments and we show how to use this model to tune a PI controller. As a case study, we use the FASt vehicle, a 2.5 m long robotic sailing boat capable of fully autonomous navigation through a set of predefined marks. Experimental results show the performance of the designed controller. © 2010 IEEE.

Abstract
In 2009, a unique Portuguese electoral cycle comprised european, local, and national elections. During the three month non-stop campaign period, more than a hundred experienced bloggers, supporters of the three main political parties, created three non party-sponsored blogs. These blogs were the focal point of the political blogosphere during that period and ceased their activities at the end of the electoral campaign, thus providing a unique opportunity to better understand the political blogosphere. Web mining techniques were used to obtain data concerning the visits to those blogs (from Sitemeter) and the blog's content itself (posts, comments, and links). Data suggests that blog readers don't look for different points of view, blog commentators usually limit themselves to one blog, bloggers do not comment on other blogs other than their own, and relatively few links exist between all three blogs. These results undermine the idea that the political blogosphere can enhance the deliberative character of the public sphere.

Abstract
Strategic planning and multi-agent coordination are major research topics in the domain of RoboCup. Research was, in the first years, directed towards development of low level skills and positional co-ordination. The competitive level has in between risen to new standards, which makes the development of high-level co-operation necessary. The importance of the concept of Setplay, i.e., small multi-robot plans to deal with particular situations, to structure a robotic soccer team behaviour, has been acknowledged by many researchers, but no general framework for the development and execution of generic Setplays has been introduced in the context of RoboCup. This paper presents such a framework for high-level Setplay definition and execution in the 2D simulation league, though applicable to any RoboCup co-operative league and similar domains. The framework is built upon a standard, flexible and league-independent language, which defines Setplays that are interpreted and executed at run-time, using inter-robot communication. A major step in the development of the Setplay framework is its usage and testing in the scope of the FCPortugal team, which participates in the RoboCup 2D-simulation league, where it won several titles. After this successful implementation, described in this paper, the framework will be used in the mid-size league, and possibly in other new environments. Recent developments have made it possible to use Setplays in play-on situations, which had not been possible before. Also, a graphical tool for Setplay definition has been developed, and used in the context of this team. ©2010 IEEE.

Abstract
New types of finite energy Airy beams are proposed. We consider two different types of beams, namely, beams that are obtained as blocked and exponentially attenuated versions of Airy functions Ai and Bi, and beams of finite width but having the Airy functions typical phase. All of them show very interesting properties, such as parabolic trajectories for longer propagation distances, profile evolution exhibiting less diffraction, or better definiteness of the main peak, when compared with other finite energy Airy beams studied before. (C) 2010 Optical Society of America