Abstract
This paper presents some teaching strategies applied in a curricular unit of the 3rd year of the Integrated Master of Engineering and Industrial Management at the University of Minho The goal was to teach theoretical concepts associated to automation topics. The practical aspects as designing an automated machine or developing the corresponding Ladder Logic diagram is often well accepted by students. On the other hand, topics related to instrumentation, sensor type and functioning for example, more theoretical, are usually less attractive to students. So, different tools have been developed and tested along the past years to overcome this concern. This paper presents the last experience tested: evaluating a previously developed APP Inventor tool (developed by students) as wondering if it is a suitable way to learn automation; an automation conquest, where the competition may promote the stimulus to learn.

Abstract
This paper provides a bare-bone introduction to evolutionary and bio-inspired metaheuristic in the context of environmental greenhouse control. Besides presenting general evolutionary algorithm principles, specific details are provided regarding the genetic algorithm, particle swarm optimization and differential evolution techniques. A review of these algorithms within greenhouse control applications is presented, both for single and multiple objectives, as well as current trends.

Abstract
This paper presents a teaching/learning experiment on the use of MITAppI2 as a friendly tool in Automation courses. The goal was to assess if the up-to-date mobile applications can act as promoters in learning automation topics. The experiment took place in two Portuguese universities. The results achieved point towards a successful use of these tools in university classes. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2017.

Abstract
Nature and biologically inspired metaheuristics can be powerful tools to design PID controllers. The grey wolf optimization is one of these promising and interesting metaheuristics, recently introduced. In this study the grey wolf optimization algorithm is proposed to design PID controllers, and the results obtained compared with the ones obtained with gravitational search and particle swarm optimization algorithms. Simulation results obtained with these three bio-inspired metaheuristics applied to a set of benchmark linear plants are presented, considering the design objective of set-point tracking. The results are also compared with two non-iterative PID tuning techniques. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2017.

Abstract
This paper presents a teaching/learning experiment running in the laboratorial curricular unit Project I of the 4th year of the Integrated Master in Industrial Electronics and Computers Engineering at the University of Minho. Project specifications were defined by the three teachers involved in the experience and students were encouraged to look on different solutions for a real-word problem. In a concurrent way, students designed, developed and implemented didactic rigs to control a gantry crane system. The control was performed in open-loop, based on the Posicast feedforward technique, and in closed-loop, using a two-degrees of freedom configuration. The experiment procedure and the project outcomes of two solutions proposed by the students are presented.

Abstract
This paper presents a teaching/learning experiment running in the laboratorial curricular unit Project I of the 4'h year of the Integrated Master in Industrial Electronics and Computers Engineering at the University of Minho. Project specifications were defined by the three teachers involved in the experience and students were encouraged to look on different solutions for a real-word problem. In a concurrent way, students designed, developed and implemented didactic rigs to control a gantry crane system. The control was performed in open-loop, based on the Posicast feedforward technique, and in closed-loop, using a two-degrees of freedom configuration. The experiment procedure and the project outcomes of two solutions proposed by the students are presented. © 2017 IEEE.