2025
Authors
Martins, JG; Nutonen, K; Costa, P; Kuts, V; Otto, T; Sousa, A; Petry, MR;
Publication
2025 IEEE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AUTONOMOUS ROBOT SYSTEMS AND COMPETITIONS, ICARSC
Abstract
Digital twins enable real-time modeling, simulation, and monitoring of complex systems, driving advancements in automation, robotics, and industrial applications. This study presents a large-scale digital twin-testing facility for evaluating mobile robots and pilot robotic systems in a research laboratory environment. The platform integrates high-fidelity physical and environmental models, providing a controlled yet dynamic setting for analyzing robotic behavior. A key feature of the system is its comprehensive data collection framework, capturing critical parameters such as position, orientation, and velocity, which can be leveraged for machine learning, performance optimization, and decision-making. The facility also supports the simulation of discrete operational systems, using predictive modeling to bridge informational gaps when real-time data updates are unavailable. The digital twin was validated through a matrix manufacturing system simulation, with an Augmented Reality (AR) interface on the HoloLens 2 to overlay digital information onto mobile platform controllers, enhancing situational awareness. The main contributions include a digital twin framework for deploying data-driven robotic systems and three key AR/VR integration optimization methods. Demonstrated in a laboratory setting, the system is a versatile tool for research and industrial applications, fostering insights into robotic automation and digital twin scalability while reducing costs and risks associated with real-world testing.
2025
Authors
Santos, CS; Amorim-Lopes, M;
Publication
BMC MEDICAL RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Abstract
Background This scoping review systematically maps externally validated machine learning (ML)-based models in cancer patient care, quantifying their performance, and clinical utility, and examining relationships between models, cancer types, and clinical decisions. By synthesizing evidence, this study identifies, strengths, limitations, and areas requiring further research. Methods The review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute's methodology, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines, and the Population, Concept, and Context mnemonic. Searches were conducted across Embase, IEEE Xplore, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (January 2014-September 2022), targeting English-language quantitative studies in Q1 journals (SciMago Journal and Country Ranking > 1) that used ML to evaluate clinical outcomes for human cancer patients with commonly available data. Eligible models required external validation, clinical utility assessment, and performance metric reporting. Studies involving genetics, synthetic patients, plants, or animals were excluded. Results were presented in tabular, graphical, and descriptive form. Results From 4023 deduplicated abstracts and 636 full-text reviews, 56 studies (2018-2022) met the inclusion criteria, covering diverse cancer types and applications. Convolutional neural networks were most prevalent, demonstrating high performance, followed by gradient- and decision tree-based algorithms. Other algorithms, though underrepresented, showed promise. Lung and digestive system cancers were most frequently studied, focusing on diagnosis and outcome predictions. Most studies were retrospective and multi-institutional, primarily using image-based data, followed by text-based and hybrid approaches. Clinical utility assessments involved 499 clinicians and 12 tools, indicating improved clinician performance with AI assistance and superior performance to standard clinical systems. Discussion Interest in ML-based clinical decision-making has grown in recent years alongside increased multi-institutional collaboration. However, small sample sizes likely impacted data quality and generalizability. Persistent challenges include limited international validation across ethnicities, inconsistent data sharing, disparities in validation metrics, and insufficient calibration reporting, hindering model comparison reliability.
2025
Authors
Gameiro, T; Pereira, T; Moghadaspoura, H; Di Giorgio, F; Viegas, C; Ferreira, N; Ferreira, J; Soares, S; Valente, A;
Publication
ALGORITHMS
Abstract
The autonomous navigation of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) in unstructured environments, such as agricultural or forestry settings, has been the subject of extensive research by various investigators. The navigation capability of a UGV in unstructured environments requires considering numerous factors, including the quality of data reception that allows reliable interpretation of what the UGV perceives in a given environment, as well as the use these data to control the UGV's navigation. This article aims to study different PID control algorithms to enable autonomous navigation on a robotic platform. The robotic platform consists of a forestry tractor, used for forest cleaning tasks, which was converted into a UGV through the integration of sensors. Using sensor data, the UGV's position and orientation are obtained and utilized for navigation by inputting these data into a PID control algorithm. The correct choice of PID control algorithm involved the study, analysis, and implementation of different controllers, leading to the conclusion that the Vector Field control algorithm demonstrated better performance compared to the others studied and implemented in this paper.
2025
Authors
Schell, L; Schlemmer, E;
Publication
2025 11th International Conference of the Immersive Learning Research Network (iLRN) Proceedings - Selected Academic Contributions
Abstract
2025
Authors
Maia, DVDA; Vilela, JP; Curado, M;
Publication
2025 IEEE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS AND NETWORKING CONFERENCE, WCNC
Abstract
The increasing number of connected and autonomous vehicles generates an even greater demand for efficient content delivery in vehicular networks. Estimating the popularity of content is an important task to proactively cache and distribute content throughout the networks to add value to users' experiences and reduce network congestion. This paper presents a novel approach for predicting popular content on vehicular networks based on a Federated Learning-Adversarial Autoencoder model and anonymised data. Unlike prior works that relied on users' raw features, our model protects user privacy through data anonymisation. This allows us to learn from the hidden patterns of content popularity and deliver popular content without compromising user privacy. Experiments showed that our approach exceeded traditional collaborative filtering and deep learning methods in terms of accuracy and robustness, even with sparse data.
2025
Authors
Silva, S; Marques, B; Mendes, D; Rodrigues, R;
Publication
EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION FOR COMPUTER GRAPHICS 46TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE, EUROGRAPHICS 2025, EDUCATION PAPERS
Abstract
Nowadays, eXtended Reality (XR) has matured to the point where it seamlessly integrates various input and output modalities, enhancing the way users interact with digital environments. From traditional controllers and hand tracking to voice commands, eye tracking, and even biometric sensors, XR systems now offer more natural interactions. Similarly, output modalities have expanded beyond visual displays to include haptic feedback, spatial audio, and others, enriching the overall user experience. In this vein, as the field of XR becomes increasingly multimodal, the education process must also evolve to reflect these advancements. There is a growing need to incorporate additional modalities into the curriculum, helping students understand their relevance and practical applications. By exposing students to a diverse range of interaction techniques, they can better assess which modalities are most suitable for different contexts, enabling them to design more effective and human-centered solutions. This work describes an Advanced Human-Machine Interaction (HMI) course aimed at Doctoral Students in Computer Science. The primary objective is to provide students with the necessary knowledge in HMI by enabling them to articulate the fundamental concepts of the field, recognize and analyze the role of human factors, identify modern interaction methods and technologies, apply HCD principles to interactive system design and development, and implement appropriate methods for assessing interaction experiences across advanced HMI topics. In this vein, the course structure, the range of topics covered, assessment strategies, as well as the hardware and infrastructure employed are presented. Additionally, it highlights mini-projects, including flexibility for students to integrate their projects, fostering personalized and project-driven learning. The discussion reflects on the challenges inherent in keeping pace with this rapidly evolving field and emphasizes the importance of adapting to emerging trends. Finally, the paper outlines future directions and potential enhancements for the course.
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