Abstract
In the last two decades, CAD/CAM technologies have opened new conceptual and material opportunities in architecture. By combining computational design and digital fabrication technologies, architects have embraced a higher level of geometric complexity and variability in their design solutions. Such non-standard possibilities were expanded with the recent introduction of robotic technologies in the discipline, which have allowed moving beyond the fabrication of building components to reach the construction of building parts. As a result of this digital condition, traditional materials have known innovative applications in architecture. In this context, this paper presents cork, which is a natural and recyclable material. By describing its unique set of properties and features, it argues about cork's relevance for the building construction in the present times. With this underlying motivation, this paper defines the current state of the architectural research on the use of robotic fabrication with cork. It does so by describing and illustrating a set of different experiments conducted by the authors in their academic institutions. The results unveil a set of innovative applications of cork in building construction and, at the same time, contribute to show how robotic technologies can be used to rethink and update traditional and old materials in architecture.

Abstract
Although most current pointing devices rely on relative rotation increments, absolute orientation allows for a more intuitive interaction. However, this is difficult to implement in low-energy consumption devices since accurate fusion filters are computationally intensive. This work presents a comparative study of low-complexity filters and state-of-the-art orientation tracking systems, enabling to access complexity versus portability. A relevant set of different MARG units currently available on the market were studied under systematic tests and human subjective user analysis. Experimental results show that it is possible to obtain similar accuracy using low-complexity filters to the ones observed with state-of-the-art orientation tracking systems.

Abstract
This paper addresses the accuracy of space pointing devices when using absolute orientation for interaction with multimedia content. Classical accurate fusion algorithms are computationally intensive, therefore their implementation in low-energy consumption devices is a challenging task. To tackle this problem, a performance study of a relevant set of COTS MARG sensor units with low-complexity algorithms, is presented in this study. Performance evaluation tests are carried out under harsh conditions to observe the algorithms response in a non-trivial environment. The results demonstrate that the implementation of low-complexity algorithms using low-cost sensors, can provide acceptable accuracy in comparison with the more complex state-of-the-art sensors/algorithms. These results pave the way for faster adoption of absolute orientation-based pointing devices in interactive multimedia applications. © 2015 IEEE.

Abstract
The use of smart phones for teaching and learning purposes is an increasingly important issue. MIT App-Inventor 2 is presented here as a tool to develop applications for Android mobile systems, with the global aim to improve the connectivity between teachers and students. Two recently developed applications using this technology: Teach2Student and Student2Teach are reported. Teach2Student has two main functions: i) to allow teachers to post their students courses main class's issues; ii) To provide students with specific quizzes. Student2Teach the corresponding students application, is used to visualize the posts and quizzes submitted by teachers. Preliminary results concerning the use of both applications within an industrial automation and control course are presented.

Abstract
Nature and biological inspired search and optimization methods are simple and powerful tools that can be used to design classical industrial controllers. In this paper a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm based technique is deployed to design proportional integrative and derivative controllers to fulfill minimum robustness constraints. PID robustness design using maximum sensitivity and complementary sensitivity values is re-addressed and formulated within a constrained PSO. Results are presented and analyzed regarding the control objective of load disturbance rejection and compared with other techniques.

Abstract
In this paper we propose the gravitational search algorithm to design PID control structures. The controller design is performed considering the objectives of set-point tracking and disturbance rejection, minimizing the integral of the absolute error criterion. A two-degrees-of-freedom control configuration with a feedforward pre-filter inserted outside the PID feedback loop is used to improve system performance for both design criteria. The pre-filter used is a Posicast controller designed simultaneously with a PID controller. Simulation results are presented which show the proposed technique merit.