Abstract

Abstract
Robotic platforms are being developed for precision agriculture, to execute repetitive and long term tasks. Autonomous monitoring, pruning, spraying and harvesting are some of these agricultural tasks, which requires an advanced path planning system aware of maximum robot capabilities (mobile platform and arms), terrain slopes and plant/fruits position. The state of the art path planning systems have two limitations: are not optimized for large regions and the path planning is not aware of agricultural tasks requirements. This work presents two solutions to overcome these limitations. It considers the VGR2TO (Vineyard Grid Map to Topological) approach to extract from a 2D grid map a topological map, to reduce the total amount of memory needed by the path planning algorithm and to reduce path search space. Besides, introduces an extension to the chosen algorithm, the Astar algorithm, to ensure a safe path and a maximum distance from the vine trees to enable robotic operations on the tree and its fruits.

Abstract
This work describes an experimental setup that was developed in order to automate the one-dimensional consolidation and the direct shear Tests. This experimental setup assures repeatability in the data acquisition, avoiding human errors, mainly when the tests data vary with a high dynamic. The described setup is based on LabVIEW, LVDT sensors and a 16 Bit Data Acquisition Board. For the one-dimensional consolidation test it was used a Load device and a consolidometer, being the experimental setup developed according to the standard ASTM D2435 / D2435M - 11. For the direct shear Test it was used an apparatus, covered in ASTM standard D-3080 / D3080M - 11,”Standard Method for direct shear test on soils under consolidated drained conditions”. © 2019 The authors.

Abstract
Typical vehicle suspension systems are based on passive energy dissipation devices. This type of systems has proven to be a reliable and economic approach, however they are not capable of modify its behavior in accordance with the road conditions. On the other hand, active systems allow a continuous control of the suspension response although requiring sensors, actuators and controllers which represents a more complex and expensive system, usually demanding high power requirements. A middle- term vibration control approach is to use the so-called semi-active systems with the adaptability of active systems and lower energy consumption. This paper aims to evaluate the comfort ridding of a full suspension bicycle equipped with semi-active open loop control suspension system using a magneto-rheological (MR) damper. The assessment is based on the analysis of real data, collected with an instrumented bicycle prototype, obtained in experimental tests carried out on a smooth indoor pavement and on a cobblestone road.

Abstract
In this paper, a numerical simulation of a semi-active neuroemotional based control system for vibration reduction of a 3-story framed building structure under seismic excitation is presented. The Brain Emotional Learning Based Intelligent Controller (BELBIC) is used to design a closed-loop control system that determines the required control action (emotional response) based on the desired and actual system response (sensory input). In this case, the control signal is used to adjust in real time the damping force of a MagnetoRheological (MR) damper to reduce the system response. The results obtained from the numerical simulation validate the effectiveness of the brain emotional learning semi-active controller in improving the overall response of the structural system. © 2019 The authors.

Abstract
We live in a digital society that needs new better prepared professionals for the new challenges and opportunities provided by the ICT. Students must learn how to deal with all the issues that emerge in this new context. They should acquire computational thinking skills by integrating STEAM, however this needs for changes in current learning curricula and also new learning approaches. RoboSTEAM project deals with this issue by the application of a Challenge Based Learning approach that uses Robotics and Physical Devices. One of the problems found during the project is the complexity of the application of a Challenge Based Learning approach due to the special needs of each educational institution. Given this situation the present work presents provides a flexible definition of challenge and describes also samples regarding how to use them. © 2019 ACM.