Abstract

Abstract
Presently we are witnessing an increasing adoption of industrial robots, with predictions for their further dissemination in distinct sectors. Some studies show that there is a lack of people able to plan the introduction of these equipments in manufacturing environments and to operate them after its inception, leading to the need to train undergraduates in the operation and programming of industrial robots. Due to the Portuguese economic situation, there is a lack of funding for the Higher Education Institutions, leading to the need of finding innovative ways to teach these subjects. Bearing these ideas in mind, ISEP began teaching a course on Industrial Robotics based in the achievement of the practical training using ABB RobotStudio (from ABB Robotics) robot simulation software for off-line programming. This paper describes the main results of such experience and the evaluation of the course made by the students who have attended this course. The results of surveys conducted to the students after the end of the course show the excellent acceptance that this course format has achieved among them, the good results that have been achieved in terms of their knowledge acquisition, and has allowed the author to get students feedback in order to introduce improvements in the course.

Abstract
In this paper, the impacts of type, size and placement of renewable energy resources (RERs) on the offering strategy of Plug-in Electric Vehicle (PEV) parking lots is investigated. To this end, a stochastic programming model is proposed to optimize the behavior of a PEV parking lot in energy and reserve markets, considering the interaction with RESs. On this basis, the PEV parking lot is modeled in a distribution system consisting of wind and photovoltaic power producers. Moreover, the stochastic model consists of uncertainty characteristics of PEV owners' behavior, wind and photovoltaic power generation. Several numerical studies are analyzed to indicate how the factors of the RESs affect the optimal offering strategy of the parking lots.

Abstract
Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have been widely considered as a promising solution to support different types of applications on industrial environments. Many of these applications impose strict dependability requirements, since a system failure may result in economic losses, or damage for human life or to the environment. The absence of an effective approach enabling the dependability evaluation of WSNs prevents system designers to forecast these type of scenarios or to optimize decisions regarding the criticality of the devices, network topology, levels of redundancy and network robustness that minimize the occurrence of faults. To bridge the gap between research achievements and industrial development, we present in this paper a framework to support the dependability evaluation of WSNs based on the automated generation of analytical dependability models from high level AADL (Architecture Analysis and Description Language) architecture models. The main objective of this framework is to relieve the end user from a deep knowledge of dependability modeling techniques and evaluation methods, focusing on their knowledge of the behavior and structure of the system.

Abstract

Abstract
It is presented an optical fiber sensing system projected to operate in the demanding conditions associated with coal waste piles in combustion. Distributed temperature measurement and spot gas sensing are requirements for such a system. A field prototype has been installed and is continuously gathering data, which will input a geological model of the coal waste piles in combustion aiming to understand their dynamics and evolution. Results are presented on distributed temperature and ammonia measurement, being noticed any significant methane emission in the short time period considered. Carbon dioxide is also a targeted gas for measurement, with validated results available soon. The assessment of this technology as an effective and reliable tool to address the problem of monitoring coal waste piles in combustion opens the possibility of its widespread application in view of the worldwide presence of coal related fires.