Seebeck Nanoantennas for Solar Energy Harvesting

In this talk a new type of devices based on thermoelectric optical antennas is presented and its applications in light sensing and energy harvesting applications is discussed. Numerical simulations will be presented showing that these type of antennas, also called Seebeck antennas, can generate low-power dc signals by using the thermoelectric properties of the metals used in their fabrication. Some theoretical values of the optical-to-electrical conversion efficiency is also presented in order to use them as solar and infrared energy harvesters

Antenna-coupled Infrared Focal Plane Array

In this dissertation a new type of infrared focal plan array (IR FPA) was investigated, consisting of antenna-coupled microbolometer fabricated using electron-beam lithography. Four different antenna designs were experimentally demonstrated at 10-micron wavelength: dipole, bowtie, square-spiral, and log-periodic. The main differences between these antenna types were their bandwidth, collection area, angular reception pattern, and polarization. To provide pixel collection areas commensurate with typical IR FPA requirements, two configurations were investigated: a two-dimensional serpentine interconnection of individual IR antennas, and a Fresnel-zone-plate (FZP) coupled to a single-element antenna. Optimum spacing conditions for the two-dimensional interconnect were developed. Increased sensitivity was demonstrated using a FZP-coupled design. In general, it was found that the configuration of the antenna substrate material was critical for optimization of sensitivity. The best results were obtained using this membranes of silicon nitride to enhance the thermal isolation of the antenna-coupled bolometers. In addition, choice of the bolometer material was also important, with the best results obtained using vanadium oxide. Using optimum choices for all parameters, normalized sensitivity (D*) values in the range of mid 108[√Hz/W] were demonstrated for antenna-coupled IR sensors, and directions for further improvements were identified. Successful integration of antenna-coupled pixels with commercial readout integrated circuits was also demonstrated

Integrating Olfaction in a Robotic Telepresence Loop

In this work we propose enhancing a typical robotic telepresence architecture by considering olfactory and wind flow information in addition to the common audio and video channels. The objective is to expand the range of applications where robotics telepresence can be applied, including those related to the detection of volatile chemical substances (e.g. land-mine detection, explosive deactivation, operations in noxious environments, etc.). Concretely, we analyze how the sense of smell can be integrated in the telepresence loop, covering the digitization of the gases and wind flow present in the remote environment, the transmission through the communication network, and their display at the user location. Experiments under different environmental conditions are presented to validate the proposed telepresence system when localizing a gas emission leak at the remote environment.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Enhancing smart environments with mobile robots

Sensor networks are becoming popular nowadays in the development of smart environments. Heavily relying on static sensor and actuators, though, such environments usually lacks of versatility regarding the provided services and interaction capabilities. Here we present a framework for smart environments where a service robot is included within the sensor network acting as a mobile sensor and/or actuator. Our framework integrates on-the-shelf technologies to ensure its adaptability to a variety of sensor technologies and robotic software. Two pilot cases are presented as evaluation of our proposal.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

An assisted navigation method for telepresence robots

Telepresence robots have emerged as a new means of interaction in remote environments. However, the use of such robots is still limited due to safety and usability issues when operating in human-like environments. This work addresses these issues by enhancing the robot navigation through a collaborative control method that assists the user to negotiate obstacles. The method has been implemented in a commercial telepresence robot and a user study has been conducted in order to test the suitability of our approach.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Application of botanicals in poultry production to improve microbiological quality

Foodborne illness and outbreaks associated with poultry products are commonly caused by Campylobacter jejuni or Salmonella enterica. These pathogens colonize the bird intestines during rearing, and if processing, handling or cooking is not done properly, contamination and human illness can occur. Probiotics, prebiotics and botanicals are being evaluated as novel feed additives to reduce pathogen colonization and serve as growth promoter additives in poultry production. Some botanicals are of industrial interest because they are natural antimicrobials or possess beneficial effects on human health. In this research, the application of a botanical (yerba mate) and a probiotic were evaluated as feed additives for broiler chickens to reduce Salmonella colonization. First, the antimicrobial activity of yerba mate extract was evaluated in vitro against Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) and lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Then, in vivo evaluations were conducted. Day-of-hatch chicks were treated with of the following 1) no treatment (control); 2) ground yerba mate in feed; 3) probiotic treatment (Lactobacillus acidophilus and Pediococcus; 9:1 administered once on day-of-hatch by gavage) or 4) both yerba mate and probiotic treatments. At day 3, all chicks were challenged with SE and at day 10, all birds were euthanized and cecal contents enumerated for Salmonella. For the in vitro evaluation, antimicrobial activity was observed against Salmonella, while the same treatment enhanced growth of LAB. For in vivo evaluations, the probiotic treatment significantly reduced Salmonella colonization in the horizontal transmission experiment while none of the yerba mate treatments significantly reduced SE colonization. Yerba mate decreased chicken body weight and decreased the performance of the probiotic treatment when used in combination. It is important to evaluate the use of novel probiotics, prebiotics or botanicals for poultry production. Bird health, growth promoter effects or antinutritional factors of botanicals should be considered before designing diets