Abstract
Quadruped robots have gained significant attention in the robotics world due to their capability to traverse unstructured terrains, making them advantageous in search and rescue and surveillance operations. However, their utility is substantially restricted in situations where object manipulation is necessary. A potential solution is to integrate a robotic arm, although this can be challenging since the arm's addition may unbalance the whole system, affecting the quadruped locomotion. To address this issue, the robotic arm must be adapted to the quadruped robot, which is not viable with commercially available products. This paper details the design and development of a robotic arm that has been specifically built to integrate with a quadruped robot to use in a variety of agricultural and industrial applications. The design of the arm, including its physical model and kinematic configuration, is presented. To assess the effectiveness of the prototype, a simulation was conducted with a motion-planning algorithm based on the arm's inverse kinematics. The simulation results confirm the system's stability and the functionality of the robotic arm's movement.

Abstract
Quadruped robots are gaining attention in the research community because of their superior mobility and versatility in a wide range of applications. However, they are restricted to procedures that do not need precise object interaction. With the addition of a robotic arm, they can overcome these drawbacks and be used in a new set of tasks. Combining a legged robot's dextrous movement with a robotic arm's maneuverability allows the emergence of a highly flexible system, but with the disadvantage of higher complexity of motion planning and control methods. This paper gives an overview of the existing quadruped systems capable of manipulation, with a particular interest in systems with high movement flexibility. The main topics discussed are the motion planning approaches and the selected kinematic configuration. This review concludes that the most followed research path is to add a robotic arm on the quadrupedal base and that the motion planning approach used depends on the desired application. For simple tasks, the arm can be seen as an independent system, which is simpler to implement. For more complex jobs the coupling effects between the arm and quadruped robot must be considered.

Abstract
Diabetes, a chronic condition affecting millions of people, requires ongoing medical care and treatment, which can place a significant financial burden on society, directly and indirectly. In this paper we propose a vision-robotics system for the automatic assessment of the diabetic foot, one the exams used for the disease management. We present and discuss various computer vision techniques that can support the core operation of the system. U-Net and Segnet, two popular convolutional network architectures for image segmentation are applied in the current case. Hardcoded and machine learning pipelines are explained and compared using different metrics and scenarios. The obtained results show the advantages of the machine learning approach but also point to the importance of hard coded rules, especially when well know areas, such as the human foot, are the systems' target. Overall, the system achieved very good results, paving the way to a fully automated clinical system.

Abstract
Logistics chains are being increasingly developed due to several factors, among which the exponential growth of e-commerce. Crossdocking is a logistics strategy used by several companies from varied economic sectors, applied in warehouses and distribution centres. In this context, it is the objective of the CrossLog - Automatic Mixed-Palletizing for Crossdocking Logistics Centers Project, to investigate and study an automated and collaborative crossdocking system, capable of moving and managing the flow of products within the warehouse in the fastest and safest way. In its scope, this paper describes the concept and architecture envisioned for the crossdocking system developed in the scope of the CrossLog Project. One of its main distinguishing characteristics is the use of Autonomous Mobile Robots for performing much of the operations traditionally performed by human operators in today's logistics centres.

Abstract
Quality control inspection systems are crucial and a key factor in maintaining and ensuring the integrity of any product. The quality inspection task is a repetitive task, when performed by operators only, it can be slow and susceptible to failures due to the lack of attention and fatigue. This work focuses on the inspection of parts made of high-pressure diecast aluminum for components of the automotive industry. In the present case study, last year, 18240 parts needed to be reinspected, requiring approximately 96 hours, a time that could be spent on other tasks. This article performs a comparison of four deep learning models: Faster R-CNN, RetinaNet, YOLOv7, and YOLOv7-tiny, to find out which one is more suited to perform the quality inspection task of detecting metal filings on casting aluminum parts. As for this use-case the prototype must be highly intolerant to False Negatives, that is, the part being defective and passing undetected, Faster R-CNN was considered the bestperforming model based on a Recall value of 96.00%.

Abstract