A Calibration Method for the Integrated Design of Finishing Robotic Workcells in the Aerospace Industry

Industrial robotics provides high flexibility and reconfigurability, cost effectiveness and user friendly programming for many applications but still lacks in accuracy. An effective workcell calibration reduces the errors in robotic manufacturing and contributes to extend the use of industrial robots to perform high quality finishing of complex parts in the aerospace industry. A novel workcell calibration method is embedded in an integrated design framework for an in-depth exploitation of CAD-based simulation and offline programming. The method is composed of two steps: a first offline calibration of the workpiece-independent elements in the workcell layout and a final automated online calibration of workpiece-dependent elements. The method is finally applied to a robotic workcell for finishing aluminum housings of helicopter gear transmissions, characterized by complex and non-repetitive shapes, and by severe dimensional and geometrical accuracy demands. Experimental results demonstrate enhanced performances of the robotic workcell and improved final quality of the housings

Monoterpene indole alkaloids from Vinca minor L. (Apocynaceae): Identification of new structural scaffold for treatment of Alzheimer's disease

One undescribed indole alkaloid together with twenty-two known compounds have been isolated from aerial parts of Vinca minor L. (Apocynaceae). The chemical structures of the isolated alkaloids were determined by a combination of MS, HRMS, 1D, and 2D NMR techniques, and by comparison with literature data. The NMR data of several alkaloids have been revised, corrected, and missing data have been supplemented. Alkaloids isolated in sufficient quantity were screened for their in vitro acetylcholinesterase (AChE; E.C. 3.1.1.7) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE; E.C. 3.1.1.8) inhibitory activity. Selected compounds were also evaluated for prolyl oligopeptidase (POP; E.C. 3.4.21.26), and glycogen synthase 3β-kinase (GSK-3β; E.C. 2.7.11.26) inhibition potential. Significant hBuChE inhibition activity has been shown by (−)-2-ethyl-3[2-(3-ethylpiperidinyl)-ethyl]-1H-indole with an IC50 value of 0.65 ± 0.16 μM. This compound was further studied by enzyme kinetics, along with in silico techniques, to reveal the mode of inhibition. This compound is also predicted to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) through passive diffusion

Localization and Immersive Guide in Indoor Mobile Environments through Wireless Sensor Networks: a Support for Emergency Situations

This paper presents a case study where wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are exploited to provide indoor localization. Different low-complexity localization techniques, based on received signal strength indicator, are investigated and experimented. To develop a localization system several aspects has to be taken into account at different levels: technology, algorithms, and specifications imposed by location-aware applications. In particular, the following issues are addressed in this work: WSN deployment planning, characterization of indoor propagation, presence of low-reliability measurements, on-field characterization of the deployed platform. The estimated position enables location-aware applications and services in contextaware platforms. Starting from typical context-aware application requirements we give an example of planning and tuning for the whole platform in addition to experimental results in terms of precision and accuracy of the localization platform

Localization and Immersive Guide in Indoor Mobile Environments through Wireless Sensor Networks: a Support for Emergency Situations

This paper presents a case study where wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are exploited to provide indoor localization. Different low-complexity localization techniques, based on received signal strength indicator, are investigated and experimented. To develop a localization system several aspects has to be taken into account at different levels: technology, algorithms, and specifications imposed by location-aware applications. In particular, the following issues are addressed: WSN deployment planning, characterization of indoor propagation, presence of low-reliability measurements, on-field characterization of the deployed platform. The estimated position enables location-aware applications and services of a context-aware platform. Starting from typical context-aware application requirements we give an example of planning and tuning for the whole platform in addition to experimental results in terms of precision and accuracy of the localization platform

A Context Aware Platform for Mobility in Immersive Environment

This article describes the architecture and functionality of a hardware/software platform for context aware services. The implementation of the platform requires several aspects to be taken into account at different levels: technology, algo- rithms and context-aware applications requiring reliable po- sition estimation. Within the Italian project on Virtual Immersive Commu- nications [1], we realized a multiuser immersive guide tak- ing into account several solutions and implementation for all levels. In fact, our immersive guide communicates toward heterogeneous wireless networks and collects information on the user position both indoor and outdoor through properly setup communication technologies, furnishes location infor- mation through robust algorithms, and enables access to context aware services through a graphical service-browser which interacts, following a client-server protocol, in a multi- user environments

A Context Aware Platform for Mobility in Immersive Environment

none5This article describes the architecture and functionality of a hardware/software platform for context aware services. The implementation of the platform requires several aspects to be taken into account at different levels: technology, algo- rithms and context-aware applications requiring reliable po- sition estimation. Within the Italian project on Virtual Immersive Commu- nications [1], we realized a multiuser immersive guide tak- ing into account several solutions and implementation for all levels. In fact, our immersive guide communicates toward heterogeneous wireless networks and collects information on the user position both indoor and outdoor through properly setup communication technologies, furnishes location infor- mation through robust algorithms, and enables access to context aware services through a graphical service-browser which interacts, following a client-server protocol, in a multi- user environments.nonePAVANI T; MARCHESI F; CONTI A; DARDARI D; ANDRISANO OPavani, T; Marchesi, F; Conti, Andrea; Dardari, D; Andrisano, O

Wolf prey selection and food availability in the multi-prey ecosystem of the Majella National Park, Abruzzo

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