Abstract
This paper describes the collaborative learning environment, aligned with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, provided by the European Project Semester (EPS). EPS is a one semester capstone project programme offered by eighteen European engineering schools as part of their student exchange programme portfolio. In this international programme, students are organized in teams, grouping individuals from diverse academic backgrounds and nationalities. The teams, after choosing a project proposal, become fully responsible for the conduction of their projects. By default, project proposals refer to open multidisciplinary real problems. The purpose of the project is to expose students to problems of a greater dimension and complexity than those faced throughout the degree programme as well as to put them in contact with the so-called real world, in opposition to the academic world. EPS provides an integrated framework for undertaking capstone projects, which is focused on multicultural and multidisciplinary teamwork, communication, problem-solving, creativity, leadership, entrepreneurship, ethical reasoning and global contextual analysis. Specifically, the design and development of sustainable systems for growing food allow students not only to reach the described objectives, but to foster sustainable development practices. As a result, we recommend the adoption of this category of projects within EPS for the benefit of engineering students and of the society as a whole.

Abstract
Legged robots are being the target of several studies and research. The idea is to develop machines that present characteristics approximate to the ones observed in biological living creatures. However this objective is still relatively far away and the development of prototypes for these studies is expensive and time consuming, which leads to the creation of models that allow the realization of the intended studies in software. These models should include the main characteristics of biological creatures relevant for locomotion studies. Given this, the presented work describes the development of a quadruped robot model in MATLAB/Simmechanics (TM). This model is intended to be used in the development of gaits for legged robots based on Central Pattern Generators. With this purpose in mind, the model was developed in a way to accept different gaits by direct introduction of the angular positions of the knee and hip joints. Various parameters of the robot are also easily changed through a configuration file that accompanies the model. This paper presents the model of a robot with flexible body, its legs and its hip and knee joints. The model of a feet-ground interaction was also modelled using a theoretic model described in the literature.

Abstract
This paper presents an overview of the development of SetSun, an outdoor intelligent shader, by a team of five Erasmus students within the framework of the European Project Semester at Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, in the spring of 2018. The major goal of this project-based learning experience was to design a new type of parasol, granting a novel wellness and luxury experience, by combining the functionalities of smart electronics with that of a traditional parasol, while providing the participants with a meaningful learning experience for their future professional life. The Team conducted multiple studies, including scientific, technical, sustainability, marketing, ethics and deontological analyses, and discussions to derive the requirements, design the structure, specify the list of materials and components and develop a functional system. Following these studies, the Team assembled, debugged and tested the SetSun prototype successfully.

Abstract

Abstract
This paper summarises the joint efforts of a multinational group of six undergraduate students cooperating within the European Project Semester (EPS) conducted at the Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto (ISEP). The EPS@ISEP initiative, made available as a part of the Erasmus+ international students exchange programme, employs the principles of problem-based learning, facing students with—albeit downscaled—real-life scenarios and tasks they may encounter in their future professional practice. Participation in the project initiative outclasses most of the traditional courses through a wide spawn of its learning outcomes. Participants acquire not only hard skills necessary for an appropriate execution of the project, but also broaden their understanding of the approached problem through detailed scientific, management, marketing, sustainability, and ethics analysis—all in the atmosphere of multicultural and interdisciplinary collaboration. The team under consideration, based on personal preferences and predispositions, chose the topic of vertical farming and, in particular, to design a domestic indoor gardening solution, appropriate for space efficient incubation of plants. The paper portrays the process, from research, analysis, formulation of the idea to the design, development and testing of a minimum viable proof of concept prototype of the “Vereatable” solution. © 2019, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Abstract
This paper reports the collaborative learning experience of a team of five Erasmus students who participated in EPS@ISEP—the European Project Semester (EPS) at Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto (ISEP)—during the spring of 2018. EPS@ISEP is a project-based learning capstone programme for third and fourth year engineering, product design and business students, focussing on teamwork and multidisciplinary problem solving as well as on the development of sustainable and ethical practices. In this context, the Team developed a drifting intelligent buoy to monitor the water quality of urban water spaces. Motivated by the desire to build an intelligent buoy for urban water bodies, the Team conducted several scientific, technical, sustainability, marketing, ethical and deontological analyses. Based on the findings, it has derived the requirements, designed the structure and functional system, selected the list of components and providers and assembled a proof of concept prototype. The result is Aquality, an intelligent drifting buoy prototype, designed for private sustainable pools. Aquality monitors the quality of the pool water by measuring its temperature and turbidity, while interfacing with the user through a mobile application. Considering the EPS@ISEP learning experience, the Team valued the knowledge and skills acquired, and, particularly, the collaborative learning and working component of the project, i.e., working together towards one goal while maintaining high motivation and cohesion. © 2019, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.