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Distributed Architecture for Unmanned Vehicle Services
Publication . Ramos, João; Ribeiro, Roberto; Safadinho, David; Barroso, João; Rabadão, Carlos; Pereira, António
The demand for online services is increasing. Services that would require a long time to understand, use and master are becoming as transparent as possible to the users, that tend to focus only on the final goals. Combined with the advantages of the unmanned vehicles (UV), from the unmanned factor to the reduced size and costs, we found an opportunity to bring to users a wide variety of services supported by UV, through the Internet of Unmanned Vehicles (IoUV). Current solutions were analyzed and we discussed scalability and genericity as the principal concerns. Then, we proposed a solution that combines several services and UVs, available from anywhere at any time, from a cloud platform. The solution considers a cloud distributed architecture, composed by users, services, vehicles and a platform, interconnected through the Internet. Each vehicle provides to the platform an abstract and generic interface for the essential commands. Therefore, this modular design makes easier the creation of new services and the reuse of the different vehicles. To confirm the feasibility of the solution we implemented a prototype considering a cloud-hosted platform and the integration of custom-built small-sized cars, a custom-built quadcopter, and a commercial Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft. To validate the prototype and the vehicles’ remote control, we created several services accessible via a web browser and controlled through a computer keyboard. We tested the solution in a local network, remote networks and mobile networks (i.e., 3G and Long-Term Evolution (LTE)) and proved the benefits of decentralizing the communications into multiple point-to-point links for the remote control. Consequently, the solution can provide scalable UV-based services, with low technical effort, for anyone at anytime and anywhere.
Friction stir welding and explosive welding of aluminum/copper: process analysis
Publication . Carvalho, G. H. S. F. L.; Galvão, I.; Mendes, R.; Leal, R. M.; Loureiro, A.
The 6082 aluminum alloy was welded to copper-DHP by friction stir welding and explosive welding. The effect of each welding process on the microstructural evolution, the intermetallic phases distribution, and the mechanical behavior of both types of welds was analyzed and compared. The microstructural changes proved to be much more expressive in friction stir welding due to the larger area under plastic deformation, the stirring and mixing of the alloys, the longer time under high temperature, and the longer interaction times between the base materials during welding. As explosive welding process is much faster, it avoids extensive microstructural changes and significant interaction of the materials, reducing the intermetallic volumes and their distribution along the interface. The friction stir welds presented Cu-rich intermetallics while the explosive welds presented Al-rich intermetallics. For alloys that can easily form brittle intermetallic phases, excessive interaction during the welding process leads to a very poor mechanical behavior of the joints.
Web AR Solution for UAV Pilot Training and Usability Testing
Publication . Ribeiro, Roberto; Ramos, João; Safadinho, David; Reis, Arsénio; Rabadão, Carlos; Barroso, João; Pereira, António
Data and services are available anywhere at any time thanks to the Internet and mobile devices. Nowadays, there are new ways of representing data through trendy technologies such as augmented reality (AR), which extends our perception of reality through the addition of a virtual layer on top of real-time images. The great potential of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for carrying out routine and professional tasks has encouraged their use in the creation of several services, such as package delivery or industrial maintenance. Unfortunately, drone piloting is difficult to learn and requires specific training. Since regular training is performed with virtual simulations, we decided to propose a multiplatform cloud-hosted solution based in Web AR for drone training and usability testing. This solution defines a configurable trajectory through virtual elements represented over barcode markers placed on a real environment. The main goal is to provide an inclusive and accessible training solution which could be used by anyone who wants to learn how to pilot or test research related to UAV control. For this paper, we reviewed drones, AR, and human–drone interaction (HDI) to propose an architecture and implement a prototype, which was built using a Raspberry Pi 3, a camera, and barcode markers. The validation was conducted using several test scenarios. The results show that a real-time AR experience for drone pilot training and usability testing is achievable through web technologies. Some of the advantages of this approach, compared to traditional methods, are its high availability by using the web and other ubiquitous devices; the minimization of technophobia related to crashes; and the development of cost-effective alternatives to train pilots and make the testing phase easier for drone researchers and developers through trendy technologies.
Molecular Dissection of Escherichia coli CpdB: Roles of the N Domain in Catalysis and Phosphate Inhibition, and of the C Domain in Substrate Specificity and Adenosine Inhibition
Publication . López-Villamizar, Iralis; Cabezas, Alicia; Pinto, Rosa María; Canales, José; Ribeiro, João Meireles; Rodrigues, Joaquim Rui; Costas, María Jesús; Cameselle, José Carlos
CpdB is a 3′-nucleotidase/2′ 3′-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, active also with rea-sonable efficiency on cyclic dinucleotides like c-di-AMP (3′,5′-cyclic diadenosine monophosphate) and c-di-GMP (3′,5′-cyclic diadenosine monophosphate). These are regulators of bacterial physi-ology, but are also pathogen-associated molecular patterns recognized by STING to induce IFN-β response in infected hosts. The cpdB gene of Gram-negative and its homologs of gram-positive bacteria are virulence factors. Their protein products are extracytoplasmic enzymes (either periplas-mic or cell–wall anchored) and can hydrolyze extracellular cyclic dinucleotides, thus reducing the innate immune responses of infected hosts. This makes CpdB(-like) enzymes potential targets for novel therapeutic strategies in infectious diseases, bringing about the necessity to gain insight into the molecular bases of their catalytic behavior. We have dissected the two-domain structure of Escherichia coli CpdB to study the role of its N-terminal and C-terminal domains (CpdB_Ndom and CpdB_Cdom). The specificity, kinetics and inhibitor sensitivity of point mutants of CpdB, and truncated proteins CpdB_Ndom and CpdB_Cdom were investigated. CpdB_Ndom contains the catalytic site, is inhibited by phosphate but not by adenosine, while CpdB_Cdom is inactive but contains a substrate-binding site that determines substrate specificity and adenosine inhibition of CpdB. Among CpdB substrates, 3′-AMP, cyclic dinucleotides and linear dinucleotides are strongly dependent on the CpdB_Cdom binding site for activity, as the isolated CpdB_Ndom showed much-diminished activity on them. In contrast, 2′,3′-cyclic mononucleotides and bis-4-nitrophenylphosphate were actively hydrolyzed by CpdB_Ndom, indicating that they are rather independent of the CpdB_Cdom binding site.
Implementation of a mobile app (TeenPower) to prevent overweight and obesity: Preliminary results regarding lifestyle and usability
Publication . Dias, Sara Simões; Frontini, Roberta; Sousa, Pedro
The world is facing an enormous challenge: the vital need to prevent noncommunicable diseases such as overweight and obesity. Prevention programs must be not only valid and effective, but also attractive to young people. In fact, if the tool or program used is not attractive, the adherence to the treatment may not occur. The TeenPower project intended to create a platform for promoting healthy behaviors and fight overweight/obesity. This paper presents the preliminary results of the program regarding adolescents’ lifestyle and the usability tests. Adolescents from three different schools in the center of Portugal were recruited. Results showed that adolescents presented moderate healthy lifestyles, with the Interpersonal Relationships subscale showing higher values. Boys presented higher values in the subscale of Interpersonal Relationships compared to girls (p<0.001) and there are statistical differences between schools relating to the Stress Management subscale (p=0.014). Most users made a positive assessment in terms of perception of utility, perception of ease and attitude towards the TeenPower app. Nonetheless only 33.2% of the adolescents invited activated their profile at the TeenPower app. This final assessment was important to gather information and feedback to improve future prevention programs, which should focus on motivating these adolescents and their parents to use this type of apps. In a future research it will be also important to understand the reasons for teenager’s refusal to join this kind of programs.