The STRANDS Project:long-term autonomy in everyday environments

Thanks to the efforts of the robotics and autonomous systems community, robots are becoming ever more capable. There is also an increasing demand from end-users for autonomous service robots that can operate in real environments for extended periods. In the STRANDS project we are tackling this demand head-on by integrating state-of-the-art artificial intelligence and robotics research into mobile service robots, and deploying these systems for long-term installations in security and care environments. Over four deployments, our robots have been operational for a combined duration of 104 days autonomously performing end-user defined tasks, covering 116km in the process. In this article we describe the approach we have used to enable long-term autonomous operation in everyday environments, and how our robots are able to use their long run times to improve their own performance

Photolysis of 4-chlororesorcinol in water: competitive formation of a singlet ketene and a triplet carbene

International audienc

A methodology for the evaluation of CBN abrasive grits

A better understanding of the grinding process is essential for newly developed grit types. Mapping the effect of grain properties to the application performance is the ultimate goal of every grit manufacturer. The challenge is, however, to provide crucial information about the grit and, at the same time, distinguishes it from other possible effects such as: porosity, adhesion and bond strength. A series of grinding tests have been conducted using different grit types and bond systems and a novel testing methodology implemented. The results have shown good sensitivity with respect to the grain properties and, consequently, the potential application of this method to grinding process optimization

Approaches for in vitro culture of granulosa cells and ovarian follicles

The in vitro culture of ovarian follicles or cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) is used to study the factors that regulate follicular development and may have potential use in artificial reproductive technology (ART). Before ovulation, the follicle is formed by oocyte and cell populations known as granulosa cells (GCs). These cells build the internal and external mass of the follicular wall. Oocyte growth and proliferation of the surrounding cells depend on the gap junctions between the oocyte and the GCs. Maintenance of the optimal in vitro culture system allowing for preservation of follicle architecture and granulosa-oocyte interaction may be critical for success in vitro maturation of follicles. Recently many studies have focused on a culture of GCs, which have important functions related to steroidogenesis. Granulosa cells maintained in in vitro conditions exhibit stem cell properties making it important to consider in vitro culture (IVC) methods of the GC population