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NeuraLoop: A System for Bidirectional High-Bandwidth Interfacing Using Myoelectric Signals and Electrotactile Feedback
No full textPublisher Copyright: © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.Myoelectric control has been traditionally used in clinical applications, but from recently, there has been an increasing interest in applying this approach for more general human-machine interfacing. Here, we present NeuraLoop, a compact system for the simultaneous recording of electrical muscle activity (EMG) and delivery of electrotactile stimulation. The system uses a matrix electrode with 32 stimulation and 32 recording pads, thereby allowing high- resolution EMG recording for gesture recognition and spatially distributed stimulation for high-fidelity haptic feedback. We demonstrated the system by using NeuraLoop to detect and classify micro-gestures, which are quick, small, and transient movements, often used to interact with consumer devices. The preliminary results are encouraging although there is room for improvement. Future work will increase gesture classification performance and add haptic feedback, opening opportunities for many relevant applications of bidirectional human-machine interfacing using gesture recognition and electrotactile haptics.Peer reviewe
Neuromuscular Interfacing for Advancing Kinesthetic and Teleoperated Programming by Demonstration of Collaborative Robots
No full textPublisher Copyright: © 2024 IEEE.This study addresses the challenges of Programming by Demonstration (PbD) in the context of collaborative robots, focusing on the need to provide additional degrees of programming without hindering the user's ability to demonstrate trajectories. PbD enables an intuitive programming of robots through demonstrations, allowing non-expert users to teach robot skills without coding. The two main PbD modalities, observational and kinesthetic, have limitations when it comes to programming the diverse functionalities offered by modern collaborative robots. To overcome these limitations, the study proposes the use of a wearable human-robot interface based on surface Electromyography (sEMG) to measure the forearm's muscle co-contraction level, enabling additional programming inputs through hand stiffening level modulations without interfering with voluntary movements. Vibrotactile feedback enhances the operator's understanding of the additional programming inputs during PbD tasks. The proposed approach is demonstrated through experiments involving a collaborative robot performing an industrial wiring task. The results showcase the effectiveness and intuitiveness of the interface, allowing simultaneous programming of robot compliance and gripper grasping. The framework, applicable to both teleoperation and kinesthetic teaching, demonstrated effectively in an industrial wiring task with a 100% success rate over the group of subjects. Furthermore, the presence of vibortactile feedback showed an average decrease of programming errors of 33%, and statistical analyses confirmed the subjects' ability to correctly modulate co-contraction levels. This innovative framework augments programming by demonstration by integrating neuromuscular interfacing and introducing structured programming logics, providing an intuitive human-robot interaction for programming both gripper and compliance in teleoperation and kinesthetic teaching.Peer reviewe
Antimicrobial Activity of Lignin-Based Alkyd Coatings Containing Soft Hop Resins and Thymol
Get PDFPublisher Copyright: © 2025 by the authors.The growing concern over the transmission of pathogens, particularly in high-risk environments such as healthcare facilities and public spaces, necessitates the development of effective and sustainable antimicrobial solutions. Traditional coatings often rely on metals, which despite their efficacy, pose significant environmental and economic challenges. This study explores the potential of bio-based alkyd resins, supplemented with natural antimicrobial bioadditives, as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional antibacterial and antiviral coatings. Specifically, alkyd formulations incorporating thymol and soft resins extracted from hops were evaluated for antimicrobial and antiviral efficacy, following ISO standards (ISO 22196:2007 and ISO 21702:2019, respectively). The coating formulations showed significant activity against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus), and Influenza A (H3N2) virus, proving their potential for mitigating pathogen spread. These bio-based coatings not only reduce reliance on harmful chemicals but also align with circular economy principles by repurposing industrial by-products. This innovative approach represents a significant step toward greener antimicrobial technologies, with broad applications in healthcare, public infrastructure, and beyond, especially considering the rising zoonotic disease outbreaks.Peer reviewe
Eclipse Qrisp QAOA: Description and Preliminary Comparison with Qiskit Counterparts
No full textPublisher Copyright: © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.This paper focuses on the presentation and evaluation of the high-level quantum programming language EclipseQrisp. The presented framework, used for developing and compiling quantum algorithms, is measured in terms of efficiency for its implementation of the Quantum Approximation Optimization Algorithm (QAOA) Module. We measure this efficiency and compare it against two alternative QAOA algorithm implementations using IBM’s Qiskit toolkit. The evaluation process has been carried out over a benchmark composed of 15 instances of the well-known Maximum Cut Problem. Through this preliminary experimentation, EclipseQrisp demonstrated promising results, outperforming both versions of its counterparts in terms of results quality and circuit complexity.Peer reviewe
Image-based analysis of electrochromic materials: Gamma correction with a LEGO luminance checker
Get PDFPublisher Copyright: © 2025 Elsevier LtdThis study explores the use of smartphone RGB cameras for reflectance measurements in electrochromic systems, using tungsten trioxide (WO₃) electrodes. The work highlights the challenges and inaccuracies introduced by gamma correction. While gamma correction enhances image aesthetics, it introduces significant non-linearities in RGB data, complicating scientific analyses. We propose an innovative calibration method using LEGO® pieces as a reliable luminance reference, allowing for accurate gamma correction. Our methodology ensures consistent and precise measurements across varying lighting conditions, bridging the gap between traditional spectrophotometry and accessible image-based analysis. By comparing results from RGB cameras with UV-Vis spectroscopy, we demonstrate that corrected RGB data can reliably replicate spectrophotometric data in terms of contrast ratio and response time, making this approach viable for low-cost, portable diagnostics, as well as for diverse scientific applications. This work demonstrates the potential of RGB cameras in scientific research and proposes image analysis protocols for their use in electrochromic studies.Peer reviewe
Robot localization aided by quantum algorithms
Get PDFPublisher Copyright: © 2025Localization is a critical aspect of mobile robotics, enabling robots to navigate their environment efficiently and avoid obstacles. Current probabilistic localization methods, such as the Adaptive Monte Carlo localization (AMCL) algorithm, are computationally intensive and may struggle with large maps or high resolution sensor data. This paper explores the application of quantum computing in robotics, focusing on the use of Grover's search algorithm to improve the efficiency of localization in mobile robots. We propose a novel approach to utilize Grover's algorithm in a 2D map, enabling faster and more efficient localization. Despite the limitations of current physical quantum computers, our experimental results demonstrate a significant speedup over classical methods, highlighting the potential of quantum computing to improve robotic localization. This work bridges the gap between quantum computing and robotics, providing a practical solution for robotic localization and paving the way for future research in quantum robotics.Peer reviewe
AI Based Solutions for Manufacturing Mass Customization
Get PDFPublisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2025.This paper analyses how to solve the challenges in the implementation of Mass Customization in manufacturing using Artificial Intelligence agents/services/tools. Considering that humans alone cannot cope with mass customization due to the huge amount of information, it is required AI based solutions that help humans to take decisions. We consider that those AI based solutions must communicate with other AI based solutions in order to obtain a holistic improvement (this is the Multi Agent System concept). More in detail, this paper addresses how to solve the challenges identified when AI based agents use external data coming from outside the company, so a Data Space to guaranteeing a secure data transaction and data ownership and sovereignty is required. This paper presents the solutions implemented in several projects to address the challenges created by the requirements on a-the implementation and scalability of AI based solutions in Manufacturing, b-for the implementation of multi-Agent AI-based systems and for c-implementing Data Spaces.Peer reviewe
Impact performance comparison of carbon fiber reinforced polyamide 6 and fast-curing epoxy composites manufactured by resin transfer molding
No full textPublisher Copyright: © 2024 Society of Plastics Engineers.In the present paper, we manufactured carbon fiber-reinforced polyamide-6 composite (CF-PA6) by resin transfer molding and compared their impact performance with an equivalent automotive grade epoxy-matrix composite (CF-Epoxy). Such comparison is pertinent as the new thermoplastic composite will compete with the traditional thermosetting composite, so impact characterization carried out at the same conditions is necessary for evaluating the possibilities of the new material. The energy dissipation capacity of the CF-PA6 was 27% higher, the maximum impact-peak load was 5% smaller, and the damage threshold was similar for both composites. Regarding residual post-impact properties of samples damaged by a 25 J impact energy, CF-PA6 retained 62% of its stiffness, 84% of its strength and 67% of its energy dissipation capacity. In contrast, CF-Epoxy retained 46%, 44% and 40% respectively. Highlights: Comparison of impact behavior between CF-PA6 (RTM) and CF-Epoxy (RTM). The damage thresholds of both composites were similar (~2.5 J). The penetration and perforation thresholds of CF-PA6 were 48% and 27% higher. Post-impact residual property: CF-PA6 retained 60% of its stiffness.Peer reviewe
Semi-Supervised Approach for Automatic Counting of Whiteflies with Small Annotated Dataset
No full textPublisher Copyright: ©2013 IEEE.Insect counting is key action for pests’ control in agriculture. Automatic insect counting would allow a fast and accurate characterization of the infestation degree which would lead to a better choice of insecticide dose and, consequently, more effective treatments. Recently, an approach that automatically counts the insects in the wild has been proposed [1]. That method is based on density map estimation with deep learning and has proven to offer very good results. Deep learning techniques, however, still present one big drawback: they rely on lots of annotated data. In the case of insect counting by density map estimation, the annotation process is a very tedious and time-consuming task and it entails an important bottleneck in the development of the model. In this paper, a new semi-supervised method is proposed for automatic counting of whiteflies with a small annotated dataset. Semi-supervised learning is based on leveraging not annotated data during training. Our semi-supervised method is based on the design and implementation of a pseudo-annotation algorithm that requires few annotated data. The pseudo-annotations obtained from this algorithm might be noisy but they help during the training of the whitefly counting model allowing to reduce the manual annotations needed and, therefore, reducing the effort and time needed to get a usable deep learning based solution for the task. Our new semi-supervised approach using only 48 manually annotated images achieves similar results as the fully supervised approach trained with 474 manually annotated images.Peer reviewe
Energy performance of photovoltaic-assisted two-stage heat pump systems in existing multi-family buildings: Three case studies from Europe
Get PDFPublisher Copyright: © 2025 The AuthorsPhotovoltaic-assisted two-stage heat pump systems—integrating both centralized and decentralized heat pumps—represent a promising solution for decarbonizing existing multi-family buildings. This study aims to conduct the first empirical investigation into the energy performance of these systems based on three case studies from Europe. By establishing comparable energy performance metrics, the necessary field data was collected and preprocessed for an annual assessment. The overall seasonal performance factors of the heat pump systems are similar, averaging around 2.0 across all three case studies. Between 63.5 % and 76.3 % of the primary energy used for heating and cooling comes from renewable energy sources. Compared to previous heating supply systems, greenhouse gas emissions from the heat pump systems are reduced by 65.4 %–84.3 %, fulfilling the European Union's target of a 60 % reduction by 2030. Between 60.9 % and 86.4 % of the emission savings are attributed to the installation of the two-stage heat pump systems, while 13.6 %–39.1 % of the savings result from photovoltaic electricity self-consumption. The findings demonstrate the technical feasibility of retrofitting photovoltaic-assisted two-stage heat pump systems in existing multi-family buildings across various climate and energy demand conditions, highlighting their potential to significantly contribute to sustainable building practices.Peer reviewe