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Publications

Publications by CRIIS

2025

Application of Cloud Simulation Techniques for Robotic Software Validation

Authors
Vieira, D; Oliveira, M; Arrais, R; Melo, P;

Publication
SENSORS

Abstract
Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment are known methodologies for software development that increase the overall quality of the development process. Several robotic software repositories make use of CI/CD tools as an aid to development. However, very few CI pipelines take advantage of using cloud computing to run simulations. Here, a CI pipeline is proposed that takes advantage of such features, applied to the development of ATOM, a ROS-based application capable of carrying out the calibration of generalized robotic systems. The proposed pipeline uses GitHub Actions as a CI/CD engine, AWS RoboMaker as a service for running simulations on the cloud and Rigel as a tool to both containerize ATOM and execute the tests. In addition, a static analysis and unit testing component is implemented with the use of Codacy. The creation of the pipeline was successful, and it was concluded that it constitutes a valuable tool for the development of ATOM and a blueprint for the creation of similar pipelines for other robotic systems.

2025

Integrated RFID System for Intralogistics Operations with Industrial Mobile Robots

Authors
Pacheco, FD; Rebelo, PM; Sousa, RB; Silva, MF; Mendonça, HS;

Publication
IEEE International Conference on Autonomous Robot Systems and Competitions, ICARSC 2025, Funchal, Portugal, April 2-3, 2025

Abstract
Radio-Frequency IDentification (RFID) technologies automate the identification of objects and persons, having several applications in retail, manufacturing, and intralogistics sectors. Several works explore the application of RFID systems in robotics and intralogistics, focusing on locating robots, tags, and inventory management. This paper addresses the challenge of intralogistics cargo trolleys communicating their characteristics to an autonomous mobile robot through an RFID system. The robot must know the trolley's relative pose to avoid collisions with the surroundings. As a result, the passive tag on the cargo communicates information to the robot, including the base footprint of the trolley. The proposed RFID system includes the development of a controller board to interact with the frontend integrated circuit of an external antenna onboard the industrial mobile robot. Experimental results assess the system's readability distance in two distinct environments and with two different antenna modules. All the code and documentation are available in a public repository. © 2025 IEEE.

2025

From Competition to Classroom: A Hands-on Approach to Robotics Learning

Authors
Lopes, MS; Ribeiro, JD; Moreira, AP; Rocha, CD; Martins, JG; Sarmento, JM; Carvalho, JP; Costa, PG; Sousa, RB;

Publication
IEEE International Conference on Autonomous Robot Systems and Competitions, ICARSC 2025, Funchal, Portugal, April 2-3, 2025

Abstract
Robotics education plays a crucial role in developing STEM skills. However, university-level courses often emphasize theoretical learning, which can lead to decreased student engagement and motivation. In this paper, we tackle the challenge of providing hands-on robotics experience in higher education by adapting a mobile robot originally designed for competitions to be used in laboratory classes. Our approach integrates real-world robot operation into coursework, bridging the gap between simulation and physical implementation while maintaining accessibility. The robot's software is developed using ROS, and its effectiveness is assessed through student surveys. The results indicate that the platform increases student engagement and interest in robotics topics. Furthermore, feedback from teachers is also collected and confirmed that the platform boosts students' confidence and understanding of robotics. © 2025 IEEE.

2025

Benchmarking Controllers for Low-Cost Agricultural SCARA Manipulators

Authors
Tinoco, V; Silva, MF; dos Santos, FN; Morais, R;

Publication
SENSORS

Abstract
Agriculture needs to produce more with fewer resources to satisfy the world's demands. Labor shortages, especially during harvest seasons, emphasize the need for agricultural automation. However, the high cost of commercially available robotic manipulators, ranging from EUR 3000 to EUR 500,000, is a significant barrier. This research addresses the challenges posed by low-cost manipulators, such as inaccuracy, limited sensor feedback, and dynamic uncertainties. Three control strategies for a low-cost agricultural SCARA manipulator were developed and benchmarked: a Sliding Mode Controller (SMC), a Reinforcement Learning (RL) Controller, and a novel Proportional-Integral (PI) controller with a self-tuning feedforward element (PIFF). The results show the best response time was obtained using the SMC, but with joint movement jitter. The RL controller showed sudden breaks and overshot upon reaching the setpoint. Finally, the PIFF controller showed the smoothest reference tracking but was more susceptible to changes in system dynamics.

2025

Parallel Path Planning for Multi-Robot Coordination

Authors
Ribeiro J.; Brilhante M.; Matos D.M.; Silva C.A.; Sobreira H.; Costa P.;

Publication
IEEE International Conference on Autonomous Robot Systems and Competitions Icarsc

Abstract
Multi-robot coordination aims to synchronize robots for optimized, collision-free paths in shared environments, addressing task allocation, collision avoidance, and path planning challenges. The Time Enhanced A* (TEA*) algorithm addresses multi-robot pathfinding offering a centralized and sequential approach. However, its sequential nature can lead to order-dependent variability in solutions. This study enhances TEA* through multi-threading, using thread pooling and parallelization techniques via OpenMP, and a sensitivity analysis enabling parallel exploration of robot-solving orders to improve robustness and the likelihood of finding efficient, feasible paths in complex environments. The results show that this approach improved coordination efficiency, reducing replanning needs and simulation time. Additionally, the sensitivity analysis assesses TEA*'s scalability across various graph sizes and number of robots, providing insights into how these factors influence the efficiency and performance of the algorithm.

2025

Enhancing Mobile Robot Navigation: A Graph Decomposition Submodule for TEA*

Authors
Cardoso F.; Matos D.M.; Brilhante M.; Costat P.; Sobreira H.; Silva C.;

Publication
IEEE International Conference on Autonomous Robot Systems and Competitions Icarsc

Abstract
Rising industrial complexity demands efficient mobile robots to drive automation and productivity. Effective navigation relies on perception, localization, mapping, path planning, and motion control, with path planning being key. The Time Enhanced A * (TEA *) algorithm extends A * by adding time as a dimension to resolve temporal conflicts in multi-robot coordination. However, inconsistencies in edge lengths within the graph can hinder optimal path calculation. To address this, a Graph Decomposition submodule was developed to standardize edge lengths and temporal costs. Integrated into a ROS-based fleet coordination system, this approach significantly reduces execution time and improves coordination capacity.

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