Abstract
Mobile robotic applications are increasing in several areas not only in industries but also service robots. The Industry 4.0 promoted even more the digitalization of factories that opened space for smart-factories implementation. Robotic competitions are a key to improve research and to motivate learning. This paper addresses a new competition proposal, the Robot@Factory Lite, in the scope of the Portuguese Robotics Open. Beyond the competition, a reference robot with all its components is proposed and a simulation environment is also provided. To minimize the gap between the simulation and the real implementation, an Hardware-in-the-loop technique is proposed that allows to control the simulation with a real Arduino board. Results show the same code, and hardware, can control both simulation model and real robot.

Abstract
Mobile robot applications are increasing its usability in industries and services (examples: vacuum cleaning, painting and farming robots, among others). Some of the applications require that the robot moves in an environment between two positions while others require that the robot scans all the positions (Coverage Path Planning). Optimizing the traveled distance or the time to scan the path, should be done in order to reduce the costs. This paper addresses an optimization approach of the coverage path planning using Q-Learning algorithm. Comparison with other methods allows to validate the methodology.

Abstract
The ionizing radiation is used in the nuclear medicine field during the execution of diagnosis exams. The administration of nuclear radio pharmaceutical components to the patient contaminates the environment. The main contribution of this work is to propose a path planning method for scanning the nuclear contaminated environment with a mobile robot optimizing the traveled distance. The Genetic Algorithm methodology is proposed and compared with other approaches and the final solution is validated in simulated and real environment in order to achieve a closer approximation to reality. © 2018, Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature.

Abstract
The coordination problem in multi-AGV systems can be approached as an optimization problem and aims to make possible the execution of several tasks simultaneously, avoiding collision and deadlock situations and reducing the average execution time. Time Enhanced A* (TEA*) is one of the path planning algorithms developed for this purpose. This paper focus on the implementation of the TEA* for real industrial applications. In that context, a new approach was developed to complement the TEA* with the capacity to approximate the planning of the future positions for differential robots with its real behaviour.

Abstract
Throughout this paper, the model, its parameter estimation and a controller for a solution using a DC motor with a gearbox worm, coupled to a non-rigid joint, will be presented. First, the modeling of a non-linear system based on a DC Motor with Worm Gearbox coupled to a non-rigid joint is presented. The full system was modeled based on the modeling of two sub-systems that compose it—a non-rigid joint configuration and the DC motor with the worm gearbox configuration. Despite the subsystems are interdependent, its modelling can be performed independently trough a carefully chosen set of experiments. Modeling accurately the system is crucial in order to simulate and know the expected performance. The estimation process and the proposed experimental setup are presented. This setup collects data from an absolute encoder, a load cell, voltage and current sensors. The data obtained from these sensors is presented and used to obtaining some physical parameters from both systems. Finally, through an optimization process, the remaining parameters are estimated, thus obtaining a realistic model of the complete system. Finally, the controller setup is presented and the results obtained are also presented. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Abstract
Ultrasonic sensors offers attractive features at an affordable cost. The main problem faced by the use of these devices is that the data obtained are not so easy to interpret, restricting their efficiency. This paper describes a binaural sensor system that is able to determine the coordinates of an object or a target in a two-dimensional space, focusing on mathematical and signal processing techniques to provide accurate measurements and increase the system reliability. The proposed work consists only of low cost components, which aims to demonstrate that improvement is possible. Experimental tests, performed in different scenarios, reported good accuracy and repeatability of the measurements.