Training Competences in Industrial Risk Prevention with Lego® Serious Play®: A Case Study

This paper proposes the use of the Lego® Serious Play® (LSP) methodology as a facilitating tool for the introduction of competences for Industrial Risk Prevention by engineering students from the industrial branch (electrical, electronic, mechanical and technological engineering), presenting the results obtained in the Universities of Cadiz and Seville in the academic years 2017–2019. Current Spanish legislation does not reserve any special legal attribution, nor does it require specific competence in occupational risk prevention for the regulated profession of a technical industrial engineer (Order CIN 351:2009), and only does so in a generic way for that of an industrial engineer (Order CIN 311:2009). However, these universities consider the training in occupational health and safety for these future graduates as an essential objective in order to develop them for their careers in the industry. The approach is based on a series of challenges proposed (risk assessments, safety inspections, accident investigations and fire protection measures, among others), thanks to the use of “gamification” dynamics with Lego® Serious Play®. In order to carry the training out, a set of specific variables (industrial sector, legal and regulatory framework, business organization and production system), and transversal ones (leadership, teamwork, critical thinking and communication), are incorporated. Through group models, it is possible to identify dangerous situations, establish causes, share and discuss alternative proposals and analyze the economic, environmental and organizational impact of the technical solutions studied, as well as take the appropriate decisions, in a creative, stimulating, inclusive and innovative context. In this way, the theoretical knowledge which is acquired is applied to improve safety and health at work and foster the prevention of occupational risks, promoting the commitment, effort, motivation and proactive participation of the student teams.Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities / European Social Fund: Ramón y Cajal contract (RYC-2017-22222

Formulación que comprende micropartículas de silicio como pigmento absorbente de la radiación UV-visible y reflectante de la radiación IR

La presente invención se refiere a una formulación caracterizada porque comprende micropartículas de silicio con un tamaño comprendido entre 0,1 μm y 50 μm de diámetro, así como a su uso como pigmento absorbente de la radiación UV-visible y reflectante de la radiación IR.Peer reviewedConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, ONA Investigación S.L.A1 Solicitud de patente con informe sobre el estado de la técnic

Diseño de un aforador modular de estrechamiento largo en un canal de desagüe para recirculación del agua en un campo de arroz

El arroz es regado por inundación manteniendo una altura de agua constante y alcanzando unos requerimientos de agua elevados. A la salida de la parcela hay un canal de desagüe cuyo control permitirá establecer prácticas para reducir el gran consumo de agua. Se ha diseñado un aforador de estrechamiento largo para cubrir el intervalo completo de caudales a aforar. Puesto que el canal de desagüe tiene una sección trapecial, la garganta del aforador será también trapecial para disminuir las pérdidas de carga. Un nuevo procedimiento se ha desarrollado en una hoja de cálculo Excel que permite diseñar directamente las dimensiones de la sección estrechada, talud de las paredes y anchura de la base, eligiendo previamente el límite modular, la altura del umbral y la longitud del estrechamiento más en concordancia con las características del canal. Los resultados demuestran la precisión y viabilidad del procedimiento

Solidaritat intergeneracional i responsabilitat social en envelliment actiu: cançons per a activar la memòria i el cos

Las personas generosas y empáticas, haciendo uso de su responsabilidad ciudadana, se agrupan y unen sus esfuerzos en busca de una mayor justicia social. Este principio, unido a la formación entre iguales para un envejecimiento activo, llevó a desarrollar en la UA en el marco del Proyecto Europeo PEER TO PEER SUPPORT FOSTERING ACTIVE AGEING, la iniciativa de voluntariado basada en la solidaridad intergeneracional y cuyo eje de acción ha sido la música llevada a centros de mayores, residencias de ancianos, geriátricos y centros municipales

Toward Reliable Compact Modeling of Multilevel 1T-1R RRAM Devices for Neuromorphic Systems

The authors would like to thank the financial support by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) with Project-ID SFB1461 and by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany under grant numbers 16ES1002, 16FMD01K, 16FMD02 and 16FMD03. The authors also gratefully acknowledge the support of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and the FEDER program through project TEC2017-84321-C4-3-R and project A.TIC.117.UGR18 funded by the government of Andalusia (Spain) and the FEDER program. The publication of this article was funded by the Open Access Fund of the Leibniz Association.The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.In this work, three different RRAM compact models implemented in Verilog-A are analyzed and evaluated in order to reproduce the multilevel approach based on the switching capability of experimental devices. These models are integrated in 1T-1R cells to control their analog behavior by means of the compliance current imposed by the NMOS select transistor. Four different resistance levels are simulated and assessed with experimental verification to account for their multilevel capability. Further, an Artificial Neural Network study is carried out to evaluate in a real scenario the viability of the multilevel approach under study.German Research Foundation (DFG) SFB1461Federal Ministry of Education & Research (BMBF) 16ES1002 16FMD01K 16FMD02 16FMD03Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and UniversitiesEuropean Commission TEC2017-84321-C4-3-Rgovernment of Andalusia (Spain) A.TIC.117.UGR18Leibniz Associatio

Optimization of Multi-Level Operation in RRAM Arrays for In-Memory Computing

Accomplishing multi-level programming in resistive random access memory (RRAM) arrays with truly discrete and linearly spaced conductive levels is crucial in order to implement synaptic weights in hardware-based neuromorphic systems. In this paper, we implemented this feature on 4-kbit 1T1R RRAM arrays by tuning the programming parameters of the multi-level incremental step pulse with verify algorithm (M-ISPVA). The optimized set of parameters was assessed by comparing its results with a non-optimized one. The optimized set of parameters proved to be an effective way to define non-overlapped conductive levels due to the strong reduction of the device-to-device variability as well as of the cycle-to-cycle variability, assessed by inter-levels switching tests and during 1k reset-set cycles. In order to evaluate this improvement in real scenarios, the experimental characteristics of the RRAM devices were captured by means of a behavioral model, which was used to simulate two different neuromorphic systems: an 8×8 vector-matrixmultiplication (VMM) accelerator and a 4-layer feedforward neural network for MNIST database recognition. The results clearly showed that the optimization of the programming parameters improved both the precision of VMM results as well as the recognition accuracy of the neural network in about 6% compared with the use of non-optimized parameters.German Research Foundation (DFG) - FOR2093Government of Andalusia (Spain) and the FEDER program in the frame of the project A.TIC.117.UGR18Open Access Fund of the Leibniz Associatio

Optimization of Multi-Level Operation in RRAM Arrays for In-Memory Computing

Accomplishing multi-level programming in resistive random access memory (RRAM) arrays with truly discrete and linearly spaced conductive levels is crucial in order to implement synaptic weights in hardware-based neuromorphic systems. In this paper, we implemented this feature on 4-kbit 1T1R RRAM arrays by tuning the programming parameters of the multi-level incremental step pulse with verify algorithm (M-ISPVA). The optimized set of parameters was assessed by comparing its results with a non-optimized one. The optimized set of parameters proved to be an effective way to define non-overlapped conductive levels due to the strong reduction of the device-to-device variability as well as of the cycle-to-cycle variability, assessed by inter-levels switching tests and during 1 k reset-set cycles. In order to evaluate this improvement in real scenarios, the experimental characteristics of the RRAM devices were captured by means of a behavioral model, which was used to simulate two different neuromorphic systems: an 8 × 8 vector-matrix-multiplication (VMM) accelerator and a 4-layer feedforward neural network for MNIST database recognition. The results clearly showed that the optimization of the programming parameters improved both the precision of VMM results as well as the recognition accuracy of the neural network in about 6% compared with the use of non-optimized parameters

Robust active damping in LCL-filter based medium-voltage parallel grid-inverters for wind turbines

LCL-filter based grid-tie inverters require damping for current-loop stability. There are only software modifications in active damping, whereas resistors are added in passive damping. Although passive damping incurs in additional losses, it is widely used because of its simplicity. This article considers the active damping in medium-voltage parallel inverters for wind turbines. Due to cost reasons, only minimal software changes are allowed and no extra sensors can be used. The procedure must be robust against line-inductance variations in weak grids. Double-update mode is needed so the resonance frequency is under the Nyquist limit. The bandwidth reduction when using active damping is also required to be known beforehand. Moreover, the design procedure should be simple without requiring numerous trial-and-error iterations. In spite of the abundant literature, the options are limited under these circumstances. Filter-based solutions are appropriate and a new procedure for tuning the notch-filter is proposed. However, this procedure requires that the resistance of the inductors is known and a novel filter-based solution is proposed that uses lag-filters. The lag-filters displace the phase angle at the resonance frequency so that the Nyquist stability criterion is fulfilled. Simulations and experiments with a 100 kVA prototype validate the analysis

Development of a Telemetry and Yield-Mapping System of Olive Harvester

Sensors, communication systems and geo-reference units are required to achieve an optimized management of agricultural inputs with respect to the economic and environmental aspects of olive groves. In this study, three commercial olive harvesters were tracked during two harvesting seasons in Spain and Chile using remote and autonomous equipment that was developed to determine their time efficiency and effective based on canopy shaking for fruit detachment. These harvesters work in intensive/high-density (HD) and super-high-density (SHD) olive orchards. A GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) and GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) device was installed to track these harvesters. The GNSS receiver did not affect the driver’s work schedule. Time elements methodology was adapted to the remote data acquisition system. The effective field capacity and field efficiency were investigated. In addition, the field shape, row length, angle between headland alley and row, and row alley width were measured to determinate the optimum orchard design parameters value. The SHD olive harvester showed significant lower effective field capacity values when alley width was less than 4 m. In addition, a yield monitor was developed and installed on a traditional olive harvester to obtain a yield map from the harvested area. The hedge straddle harvester stood out for its highly effective field capacity; nevertheless, a higher field efficiency was provided by a non-integral lateral canopy shaker. All of the measured orchard parameters have influenced machinery yields, whether effective field capacity or field efficiency. A saving of 40% in effective field capacity was achieved with a reduction from 4 m or higher to 3.5 m in alley width for SHD olive harvester. A yield map was plotted using data that were acquired by a yield monitor, reflecting the yield gradient in spite of the larger differences between tree yield