Abstract
During the last two decades the research and development of legged robots has grown steadily. Legged systems present major advantages when compared with "traditional" vehicles, because they allow locomotion in terrain inaccessible to vehicles with wheels and tracks. However, the robustness of legged robots, and specially its energy consumption, among other aspects, still lag being mechanisms that use wheels and tracks. Therefore, in the present state of development, there are several aspects that need to be improved and optimized. One of these aspects relates to the optimum parameters that these machines should adopt in order to minimize the energy consumption. Due to the large number of parameters involved in this optimization process, one way to achieve meaningful results is using evolutionary strategies. Genetic Algorithms are a way to "imitate nature" replicating the process that nature designed for the generation and evolution of species. This paper presents a genetic algorithm, running over a simulation application of legged robots, which allows the optimization of several parameters of a quadruped robot model.

Abstract
Fractional Calculus (FC) goes back to the beginning of the theory of differential calculus. Nevertheless, the application of FC just emerged in the last two decades. It has been recognized the advantageous use of this mathematical tool in the modelling and control of many dynamical systems. Having these ideas in mind, this paper discusses a FC perspective in the study of the dynamics and control of several systems. The paper investigates the use of FC in the fields of controller tuning, legged robots, electrical systems and digital circuit synthesis.

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This paper presents the mechanical construction of a climbing robot with wheeled locomotion and adhesion through permanent magnets. This machine is intended to be used in the inspection of different types of ferromagnetic structures, in order to, for instance, detect weaknesses due to corrosion, particularly in fuel tanks, ship hulls, etc. The vehicle will have a semi-autonomous behaviour, allowing a remote inspection process controlled by a technician, this way reducing the risks associated with the inspection of tall structures and ATEX places. The distinguishing 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.

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