Abstract

Abstract
In this paper, we present Social Network-based Education (SNE) and Learning Factory (LF) as emergent forms of education and training, including their application for the field of Quality Management. This novel learning method has some features of education 3.0 paradigm since participants have freedom to choose what, how and when to learn, as well with whom they coloborate. The actors, students and teachers, form a network, in which the network structure, communication, learning process and behavior exibit features of a social network. The training program content consists of a set of assignments (tasks) that are launched and realized in a crowdsourcing manner. The SNE and LF methodology was applied at the University of Minho in the Integrated Master on Industrial Engineering and Management course for different curricular units, including Quality Management. Within the concepts refered above, the set of assignments implemented for education and training for the field of Quality Management is also presented.

Abstract
TIEC 61499 defines an execution model for distributed industrial control applications, i.e. a single application distributed among several devices. In such an environment partial failures are likely to occur. In order to avoid probable system malfunctions and breakdowns due to partial failures, the authors have previously proposed a framework where the concept of replication may be applied to the IEC 61499 execution model. This paper focuses on describing an implementation of this replication framework on the FORTE IEC 61499 execution platform, along with the results of the first tests of the implementation. A set-up for the full validation of the approach is also described.

Abstract
Modelling wind power uncertainty is a critic aspect in the optimal management of power systems with high integration of this renewable resource. It is typically carried out by considering a limited number of representative scenarios that incorporate relevant properties such as hourly auto-correlation and diurnal forecasting profile. Considering a large amount of scenarios improves the wind power modelling, but increases the computational effort. To deal with this problem, a method to incorporate a big set of scenarios in stochastic unit commitment (UC) problem is presented in this paper. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology is evaluated by means of the analysis of a case study and the results are compared to those obtained from a stochastic programming method, concluding that the method presented in this paper offers an approximated solution in a reduced computational time.

Abstract
Nowadays, and considering flexibility, industrial robots still present some drawback that prevent them to be used in vast fields of the industry. One of their major limitations is related with their perception skills. In this area, and although the many developments verified on 3D object recognition systems in the research sphere, the number of solutions appearing in the industry level has been slow. Hence, this article tries to clarify some of the motives that difficult the technology transference (in what concerns object recognition) between both worlds. At the same time, it will be presented an industrial case scenario (inserted in an European Project) where some of the problems enumerated during the article are present.

Abstract
The idea behind the present work is the application of a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model for the reconfiguration and performance analysis of weakly-meshed distribution networks with emphasis on the variability of demand and the integration of wind power generation at specific buses. The ultimate goal is the minimization of active power losses for the corresponding optimal topology in the short-term operation considering key distribution parameters and power factor constraints. A distribution system case study with twenty wind scenarios is considered to evaluate the impact of wind integration in distribution networks. The effectiveness of a simplified linearized model for the study of active power losses and the impacts of wind generation and periodic demand variation on node voltages, branch currents and grid reconfigurations under normal operation conditions is illustrated by the case study. Issues resulting from solving a 25-bus case study are presented and discussed.