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Product service system (PSS) is an effective approach to achieve win–win situation between service providers and consumers, and the design of PSS is the first step of its application. However, on the one hand, PSS is relatively an abstract concept, and what exactly should be considered when designing a PSS still require further exploration; on the other hand, the fast development of information and web technologies bring both opportunities and challenges for PSS design. For example, how to efficiently design the smart & connected products that support remote monitoring and control of service operation, how to build the dynamic service activity flow model that can be intuitively and visually read by human engineers and also can be conveniently deployed on computers, and how to realise edge–cloud collaboration between service providers and consumers. In this regard, a service requirement-oriented four-step generic PSS design method is established, including service mode selection and structured service order generation → smart & connected service product configuration → dynamic event-state knowledge graph-based service activity flow and service resource network configuration → industrial internet-based edge–cloud collaborative service delivering. Finally, a real design case of carbon block grinding and polishing PSS is used for verification. ABBREVIATIONS: AS: assembly service; C: controlling targets or objectives; I: input; M: enabling methods or mechanisms; MRO: maintenance, repair, and operation; MS: maintenance service; O: output; OEE: overall equipment effectiveness; PSS: product service system; PV: processing volume; RxEy-Sz: the relation from Event y to the State z of Service activity x; RxSz-Ey: the relation from the State z of Service activity x to Event y; StateAiCurrent: the current state of Service activity i; StateAiFuturek: the kth possible future state of Service activity i; StateAiHistoryj: the jth historical state of service activity i; StateEy: the state of Event y; Tq: the qth time point in the time line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent technological advances in Automated Driving Systems (ADS) have fueled interest in the use and impact of vehicle fleetsinvolved in driverless passenger transport services. This research identifies key safety risks associated Level 4 ADS-equipped vehicleoperation for fleets employed for Mobility as a Service (MaaS) applications. The study goes beyond assessing the functional safety ofthe ADS-equipped vehicles to explore the role of fleet operators in ensuring the operational safety of the vehicle fleets through remote driving assistance functions. This work identifies key responsibilities of the fleet operators in implementing risk reductionmeasures related to organizational management of change, training remote supervisors, ensuring suitable working conditions, enforcing vehicle connectivity and dispatching requirements, and coordinating incident mitigation procedures, training, tools, and work conditions. The study employs a hazard identification methodology that combines traditional and innovative methods to analyze risks involving human, software, and hardware systems. The study identified twenty hazard scenarios arising from system failures, human errors, and unsafe interactions during different operational phases. These are ranked based on their impact on safety and resource intensity, enabling fleet operators to make better decisions regarding resource allocation. By implementing these actions, fleet operators can prevent and mitigate safety hazards in the operation of ADS-equipped fleets though remote monitoring and driving assistance functions. The hazards and risk mitigation activities identified in this report may also improve the operational safety of passenger vehicles equipped with ADS technology as they become more widely deployed in future large-scale commercialoperations.

Remote control engineering in industry usually requires cameras to assist target identification and detection, but the cameras working in nuclear environments face the threat of radiation-induced degradation. Both γ- and X-rays in nuclear environments will cause ionizing radiation damage, but the difference in degradation of camera’s performance induced by ionizing radiation damage with equivalent total ionizing dose (TID) of these two rays is unclear, which is crucial for the evaluation of camera performance in a nuclear radiation environment. In order to figure out the degradation of CMOS cameras by ionization radiation damage under different rays, this study conducted irradiation experiments on CMOS image sensors under X-ray with 10 keV and 60Co-γ ray with 1.25 MeV, respectively, and then tested and calculated the resolution of camera based on this CMOS image sensor. After comparing and analyzing the results, it was found that the dark current and full well capacity of the CIS, as well as the resolution of the camera, were more severely degraded after X-ray irradiation. Further analysis found that the interface dose enhancement effect of X-ray, as well as the generation of high-density oxide trapped charges in the gate oxide, aggravated the degradation of full well capacity on the CIS after X-ray irradiation, resulting in more severe degradation in the resolution of the CMOS camera. This study provides theoretical basis for the safety and reliability evaluation of cameras in strong nuclear radiation environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teleoperation of manipulators has allowed extending the human skills to several areas, where the commands generated by a human operator on the leader robot are followed by a remote robot. For this purpose, position-position tracking requires a mapping given the mismatch between robot workspaces. This paper compares a pair of functions for mapping the haptic device commands to handle a remote robot, considering non-identical workspaces and a classic P+d control scheme. As part of the theoretical analysis, a Lyapunov-Krasovskii-based stability analysis is developed in steps, allowing us for determining the boundedness of velocities and coordination errors. Subsequently, the performance of the teleoperation system is compared using two mapping functions. To achieve a fair comparison of results, a test protocol is developed, where different levels of haptic device damping, time delays, and workspace scales are used to evaluate the time to complete the task and the average coordination errors. Based on the results, the mapping function influences the calculation of force feedback, stability of the system, and performance metrics. During a pick-and-place task, a reduction in coordination error is observed when the linear function is chosen, while the time to complete the task is lower when a non-linear function is considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The broad spread of cooperative robots into many application domains has resulted in a demand for intuitive and effective solutions for teleoperated control. A relevant role in teleoperation has been assumed by impedance controllers, that allow the increase of stability and accuracy during interaction. This paper aims to test a teleoperation method based on an impedance controller, namely tele-impedance control, that is usable in unstructured environments since it relies only on wearable sensors. The proposed solution maps the joint stiffness and position of the human user, computed through six EMG and two M-IMU sensors, into the remote system to be teleoperated. We developed a 2-DoFs virtual task involving virtual physical interactions to compare the performance of our solution with the one of a traditional position-based controller. The study has been conducted on five healthy participants, who experienced both controllers in two different sessions. The tele-impedance approach has proved to be less physically demanding and more intuitive than the position-based one. Experimental data also allow us to investigate the strategy employed by the volunteers in the case of remote interactions, while using the two controllers. Of note, even though with the position controller the variation of subject impedance has no effect on the virtual arm, participants still tend to regulate both impedance and position of their own arm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing input saturation, external disturbances, and uncertain system parameters, this paper investigates the position tracking control problem for bilateral teleoperation systems with a time delay communication channel. Based on a composite energy function, we propose an adaptive iterative learning control (AILC) method to achieve the objective of position tracking under the alignment condition. This extends the existing research on the control of nonlinear teleoperation systems with time delay. The saturation constraint property of the Softsign function ensures that no state of the system exceeds its constraints. The controller learns to simultaneously deal with the uncertainty of system parameters online, reject external disturbances, and eliminate positional errors along the time and iteration axes. All signals in the system for any constant time delay are proved to be bounded. Ultimately, the performance of the proposed controller is further verified through numerical simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, research has been conducted on mixed reality (MR), which provides immersive visualization and interaction experiences, and on mapping human motions directly onto a robot in a mixed reality (MR) space to achieve a high level of immersion. However, even though the robot is mapped onto the MR space, their surrounding environment is often not mapped sufficiently; this makes it difficult to comfortably perform tasks that require precise manipulation of the objects that are difficult to see from the human perspective. Therefore, we propose a system that allows users to operate a robot in real space by mapping the task environment around the robot on the MR space and performing operations within the MR space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the global context, advancements in technology and science have rendered virtual, augmented, and mixed-reality technologies capable of transforming clinical care and medical environments by offering enhanced features and improved healthcare services. This paper aims to present a mixed reality-based system to control a robotic wheelchair for people with limited mobility. The test group comprised 11 healthy subjects (six male, five female, mean age 35.2 ± 11.7 years). A novel platform that integrates a smart wheelchair and an eye-tracking-enabled head-mounted display was proposed to reduce the cognitive requirements needed for wheelchair movement and control. The approach's effectiveness was demonstrated by evaluating our system in realistic scenarios. The demonstration of the proposed AR head-mounted display user interface for controlling a smart wheelchair and the results provided in this paper could highlight the potential of the HoloLens 2-based innovative solutions and bring focus to emerging research topics, such as remote control, cognitive rehabilitation, the implementation of patient autonomy with severe disabilities, and telemedicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the growth in utilizing desktop sharing and remote control applications in recent years for many purposes like online education and remote working, quality assessment (QA) of screen images has become a hot topic. It could be used to enhance the user's quality experience. Currently, most screen image QA methods require a reference image, and the existing blind/no-reference methods do not consider both the image's content and chrominance degradations. This paper proposes a novel blind quality assessment method for screen content images (SCIs) through block-based content representation, which extracts content- and chromatic-based features on local, semi-global, and global scales. Our proposed edge histogram descriptor- and statistical moment-based (EHDSM) method divides the image into 16 blocks and then describes each block using its local edge and semi-global chrominance features. It also takes the global chrominance features into account to investigate how the image's color information is changed in the presence of chrominance distortions. Local features are extracted using edge histogram descriptor, while the semi-global and global features are measured by computing the statistical moments. Next, the quality assessment is achieved by training a support vector regression (SVR) model. Extensive experiments on three commonly used SCI datasets have verified the superiority of our proposed EHDSM method compared with the state-of-the-art blind screen content image quality assessment methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bilateral synchronization control for Network Teleoperation Robot System (NTRS) in discrete domain is discussed in this paper, where time delay, data loss and disorder, and quantization error coexist. Firstly, it is assumed that time delay and data loss are asymmetric and randomly vary in the master–slave channel and slave–master channel according to different Markov jump change rules. By introducing the virtual variables, a clever normalization method is proposed for time delay or data loss. It not only uniforms time delay and data loss into a same framework, but also effectively handles the problem of data disorder. And then, a logarithmic quantizer is designed to dispose quantization error. Meanwhile, utilize the sector bound method to describe the quantization error and transform the quantization feedback control problem into a robust control problem, so the familiar robust control methods can be adopted to solve quantization problem. In addition, human and environmental forces are treated as external disturbances and processed using neural network techniques. Subsequently, stochastic stability and synchronization control property are guaranteed by the designed analogous PD controller that consists of proportion, derivative, and uncertainty estimation items. Finally, validity of the proposed method is certified by some simulation examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a novel resource-efficient control structure for remote path-following control of autonomous vehicles based on a comprehensive combination of Kalman filtering, non-uniform dual-rate sampling, periodic event-triggered communication, and prediction-based and packet-based control techniques. An essential component of the control solution is a non-uniform dual-rate extended Kalman filter (NUDREKF), which includes an h-step ahead prediction stage. The prediction error of the NUDREKF is ensured to be exponentially mean-square bounded. The algorithmic implementation of the filter is straightforward and triggered by periodic event conditions. The main goal of the approach is to achieve efficient usage of resources in a wireless networked control system (WNCS), while maintaining satisfactory path-following behavior for the vehicle (a holonomic Mecanum-wheeled robot). The proposal is additionally capable of coping with typical drawbacks of WNCS such as time-varying delays, and packet dropouts and disorder. A Simscape Multibody simulation application reveals reductions of up to 93% in resource usage compared to a nominal time-triggered control solution. The simulation results are experimentally validated in the holonomic Mecanum-wheeled robotic platform. • A novel, comprehensive periodic event-triggered networked control solution is proposed. • High reduction of resource usage (of up to 93%) can be reached while maintaining acceptable control performance. • A non-uniform dual-rate extended Kalman filter (NUDREKF) is essential in the control structure. • Some conditions are provided such that the prediction error of the NUDREKF is exponentially mean square bounded. • Real path-following control tests for a holonomic Mecanum-wheeled robot validate the control solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rolling Stock (1002-7602) is the property of Rolling Stock Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The extreme radiation environment in nuclear power plant leads to leakage of nuclear pipe equipment. It is important to repair the pipe equipment timely for nuclear safety. Manual repair on field incurs a health risk to worker. The use of robot for remote repair shows an excellent prospect. Therefore, the multirobot system (MRS) was developed and designed for field remote repair of nuclear reprocessing pipe equipment. The sensor modules and composite control strategy were developed for remote repair in the radiation environment. The remote repair of nuclear pipe equipment including both overall and partial repair has been achieved. The remote repair of the MRS is successfully performed on a full‐size stainless steel pipe model. The experimental results show that the MRS performed 63 processes with an overall time of 12,798 s, while the manual repair requires multiple people to spend many days to complete the repair. Moreover, the MRS achieves great repair quality and appearance. The MRS achieves excellent performance in remote repair of nuclear pipe equipment under extreme radiation conditions, demonstrating its capability for effective and safe operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetogenetics was developed to remotely control genetically targeted neurons. A variant of magnetogenetics uses magnetic fields to activate transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) channels when coupled with ferritin. Stimulation with static or RF magnetic fields of neurons expressing these channels induces Ca2+ transients and modulates behavior. However, the validity of ferritin-based magnetogenetics has been questioned due to controversies surrounding the underlying mechanisms and deficits in reproducibility. Here, we validated the magnetogenetic approach Ferritin-iron Redistribution to Ion Channels (FeRIC) using electrophysiological (Ephys) and imaging techniques. Previously, interference from RF stimulation rendered patch-clamp recordings inaccessible for magnetogenetics. We solved this limitation for FeRIC, and we studied the bioelectrical properties of neurons expressing TRPV4 (nonselective cation channel) and transmembrane member 16A (TMEM16A; chloride-permeable channel) coupled to ferritin (FeRIC channels) under RF stimulation. We used cultured neurons obtained from the rat hippocampus of either sex. We show that RF decreases the membrane resistance (Rm) and depolarizes the membrane potential in neurons expressing TRPV4FeRIC. RF does not directly trigger action potential firing but increases the neuronal basal spiking frequency. In neurons expressing TMEM16AFeRIC, RF decreases the Rm, hyperpolarizes the membrane potential, and decreases the spiking frequency. Additionally, we corroborated the previously described biochemical mechanism responsible for RF-induced activation of ferritincoupled ion channels. We solved an enduring problem for ferritin-based magnetogenetics, obtaining direct Ephys evidence of RF-induced activation of ferritin-coupled ion channels. We found that RF does not yield instantaneous changes in neuronal membrane potentials. Instead, RF produces responses that are long-lasting and moderate, but effective in controlling the bioelectrical properties of neurons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing Canine–Human communication during training is an important research. We aim to strengthen the communication between canines and humans during the training of canine remote control using robotic technology. Training using rewards is a widely known technique to boost canine ability. So far, this method has consisted of giving rewards from humans, thus creating a strong connection between humans and canines; however, this method can also cause canines to become overly fixated on the people who feed them. Fixation prevents canines from performing behaviors away from people. For that reason, this study explores the possibility of using robotic technology to reduce canine fixation on their trainer. This paper evaluates dog behavior during training with reduced human intervention using a backpack-like device, which provides food as a reward. This method of training is assessed in two dogs by comparing the training time, number of feedings, and number of times the dog looks at nearby humans, as compared to the traditional method. The suit-mounted feeder was used to train the two dogs to follow a spot-light, achieving a success rate of 96.4% in feeding during training. There was no significant difference in training time or number of feedings required for training with this method compared to traditional human-rewarded training methods. On the other hand, it was suggested that the device could reduce the number of times the dogs looked at their trainer by up to 84.7%. Changes in gait caused by the suit and feeder were also evaluated based on the percentage of the swing phase of gait. The results indicate that the presence or absence of the feeder device does not affect the dog's gait. Continued canine training without fixation on the feeder or the trainer could allow the working dogs to demonstrate its abilities in remote areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheeled lifting robots have found widespread applications in various industrial and logistical environments. However, traditional robots are far from adequate in terms of visual perception capabilities. Additionally, their remote control methods suffer from inefficiencies, which tend to bring safety concerns. To address these issues, this work proposes an autonomous multi-sensor-enabled wheeled lifting robot system, i.e., AMSeWL-R, to facilitate remote autonomous operations. Specifically, AMSeWL-R integrates real-time simultaneous localization and mapping with object detection on a wheeled lifting robot. Additionally, a novel mobile-ROS interaction method is proposed to achieve real-time communication and control between a mobile device and a ROS host. Furthermore, a lightweight object detection algorithm based on YOLOv8, i.e., YOLOv8-R, is proposed to achieve faster detection. Experimental results validate the effectiveness of the AMSeWL-R system for accurately detecting objects and mapping its surroundings. Furthermore, TensorRT acceleration is employed during practical testing on a Jetson Nano to achieve real-time detection using the proposed YOLOv8-R, demonstrating its efficacy in real-world scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photo‐triggered shape morphing structures can be found in myriads of areas. Utilizing light as a switch can effectively control and regulate the precise deformation of structures. However, the integration of photo‐switching functions in shape‐morphing structures with complex geometries remains a challenge. Here, photoswitchable digital light processing based 4D printing high‐resolution and highly complex geometries, based on UV curable WO2.9 nanoparticle doped shape memory polymer nanocomposites is reported, which are highly deformable (stretchability up to ≈1000% at rubbery state) and fatigue resistant (repeatedly loaded >1200 times at ambient temperature). The presence of just trace WO2.9 nanoparticles (<0.20 wt.‰) contributes to the controlled photothermal property of nanocomposite via selective absorption of light, which enables reversibly photoswitchable (>50 times), spatial and remote control of 4D printing shape morphing structures. These findings offer a promising approach to expanding the applications of photo‐triggered shape‐morphing structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuromodulation was utilized here to investigate the distinct involvement of two recognized cortical hubs for semantic integration (the left anterior temporal lobe, lATL) and inhibitory control (the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, rDLPFC) in creative problem-solving. Participants were presented with a list of category-exemplar words, selectively recalled some of them, and then solved a set of RAT problems. Selective retrieval was introduced to trigger inhibitory control over competitors. Critically, some RAT problems could be solved with words from the previous phases of the experiment, including words that might be less accessible due to inhibition. Other problems, however, could only be solved with unpresented words. Experiment 1 showed that anodal tDCS over the lATL had a negative effect on the production of correct responses to baseline RAT problems, but not on those that required inhibited solutions. Experiment 2 produced the reverse pattern with cathodal tDCS over the rDLPFC. Resting-state EEG recordings were obtained before and after delivering tDCS, which also revealed specific tDCS-induced changes in frequency bands depending on the site of stimulation. Overall, these findings provide support for the involvement of semantic and control processes in creative problem solving that are linked to different brain networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A symmetric anion mediated dynamic kinetic asymmetric Knoevenagel reaction was established as a general and efficient method for accessing both N−C and N−N atropisomers. The resulting highly enantio‐pure pyridine‐2,6(1H,3H)‐diones exhibit diverse structures and functional groups. The key to excellent regio‐ and remote enantiocontrol could be owed to the hydrogen bond between the enolate anion and triflamide block of the organocatalyst. This connected the enolate anion and iminium cation by a chiral backbone. The mechanism investigation via control experiments, correlation analysis, and density functional theory calculations further revealed how the stereochemical information was transferred from the catalyst into the axially chiral pyridine‐2,6(1H,3H)‐diones. The synthetic applications also demonstrated the reaction's potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anticipation for advancements in remote robot control technology has been growing. NTT and Sony Group Corporation have collaborated to develop and demonstrate a new remote robot control technology that includes the sensation of touch, such as the feeling of pressure and weight, using lowlatency transport and precision bilateral control technologies. This technology provides detailed feedback to operators located remotely, making it feel as though they are physically interacting with objects from afar. This article discusses the potential applications of this technology in various fields, including healthcare and manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing notion of the shared entangled state-assisted remote preparation of unitary operator (equivalently the existing notion of quantum remote control) using local operation and classical communication is generalized to a scenario where under the control of a supervisor two users can jointly implement arbitrary unitaries (one unknown unitary operation by each or equivalently a single unitary decomposed into two unitaries of the same dimension and given to two users) on an unknown quantum state available with a geographically separated user. It is explicitly shown that the task can be performed using a four-qubit hyperentangled state, which is entangled simultaneously in both spatial and polarization degrees of freedom of photons. The proposed protocol which can be viewed as primitive for distributed photonic quantum computing is further generalized to the case that drops the restrictions on the number of controllers and the number of parties performing unitaries and allows both the numbers to be arbitrary. It is also shown that all the existing variants of quantum remote control schemes can be obtained as special cases of the present scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electroencephalography (EEG) experiments, two researchers typically collaborate in the lab. This study addresses the challenge a single researcher faces in managing the TMS experiment's timing while operating the TMS coil. It introduces the Arduino Trigger Generator (ArTGen) to remotely control the timing of TMS experiments using a footswitch pedal. Moreover, a bespoke printed circuit board (PCB) is designed to interface the eegoMylab amplifier with off‐the‐shelf EEG caps. The ArTGen facilitates accurate timing of the TMS stimulator's inter‐pulse intervals (IPIs) through a footswitch pedal, enhancing researchers' control over TMS‐EEG experiments. The PCB interface provides a cost‐effective tool to extend the functionality of the eegoMylab amplifier. The integration of our PCB interface has been validated in a custom TMS‐EEG setup by analyzing TMS‐evoked potentials (TEPs), global mean field power (GMFP), butterfly plots, and event‐related spectral potentials (ERSPs). The PCB reliably preserved EEG signal integrity, ensuring accurate data acquisition. Thorough channel‐wise consistency checks across components confirmed data accuracy. ArTGen's portability and footswitch feature streamline experimental control, aiding TMS‐EEG research and clinical applications. Moreover, our PCB resolves compatibility between the eegoMylab amplifier and the Waveguard EEG cap by extending the amplifier to connect to off‐the‐shelf EEG caps. The ArTGen serves as a robust remote control tool for TMS stimulators, while our PCB interface presents a solution for integrating a customized TMS‐EEG setup. This study addresses the gap in existing TMS‐EEG research by introducing innovative technological enhancements that not only augment experimental flexibility but also streamline procedural workflows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, remotely controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to perform coverage search missions has become increasingly popular due to the advantages of the UAV, such as small size, high maneuverability, and low cost. However, due to the distance limitations of the remote control and endurance of a UAV, a single UAV cannot effectively perform a search mission in various and complex regions. Thus, using a group of UAVs to deal with coverage search missions has become a research hotspot in the last decade. In this paper, a differential evolution (DE)-based multi-UAV cooperative coverage algorithm is proposed to deal with the coverage tasks in different regions. In the proposed algorithm, named DECSMU, the entire coverage process is divided into many coverage stages. Before each coverage stage, every UAV automatically plans its flight path based on DE. To obtain a promising flight trajectory for a UAV, a dynamic reward function is designed to evaluate the quality of the planned path in terms of the coverage rate and the energy consumption of the UAV. In each coverage stage, an information interaction between different UAVs is carried out through a communication network, and a distributed model predictive control is used to realize the collaborative coverage of multiple UAVs. The experimental results show that the strategy can achieve high coverage and a low energy consumption index under the constraints of collision avoidance. The favorable performance in DECSMU on different regions also demonstrate that it has outstanding stability and generality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This manuscript addresses the critical challenges in achieving high-accuracy remote control of electromechanical systems, given their inherent nonlinearities and dynamic complexities. Traditional diagnostics often suffer from data inaccuracies and limitations in analytical techniques. The focus is on enhancing the dynamic model accuracy for remote induction motor control in both closed- and open-loop speed control systems, which is essential for real-time process monitoring. The proposed solution includes real-time measurements of input and output physical quantities to mitigate inaccuracies in traditional diagnostic methods. The manuscript discusses theoretical aspects of nonlinear torque formation in induction drives and introduces a dynamic model employing vector control and speed control schemes alongside standard frequency control methods. These approaches optimize frequency converter settings to enhance system performance under varying nonlinear conditions. Additionally, the manuscript explores methods to analyze dynamic, systematic errors arising from frequency converter inertial properties, thereby improving electromechanical equipment condition diagnostics. By addressing these challenges, the manuscript significantly advances the field, offering a promising future with enhanced dynamic model accuracy, real-time monitoring techniques, and advanced control methods to optimize system reliability and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the quantisation synchronisation control problem of bilateral teleoperation systems with communication delays is investigated. The inaccurate modelling problem including the system uncertainties and the unknown disturbances are compensated by using the radial basis function networks (RBFN). By introducing the hysteretic quantiser, the control signals are quantised to a set of discrete values to ease the accuracy requirement for actual physical systems and the requirement for communication rate. The position synchronisation of joint variables between the master and slave manipulators is achieved by using the designed control signals and adaptive parameters. Simulation results verify that the synchronisation tracking errors gradually converge to a small neighbourhood around zero. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teleoperation under human guidance has become an effective solution to extend human's reach in various environments. However, the teleoperation system still faces challenges of insufficient sense of both visual and haptic feedback from remote environments, which results in the inadequate guidance for the operator. In this paper, a visual/haptic integrated perception and reconstruction system (VHI-PRS) is developed to provide the operator with 3D visual information and effective haptic guidance. Specifically, a visual-based telepresence augmentation method is proposed to provide the operator with virtual-reality combined visual telepresence, where the real point cloud model is directly superimposed on virtual manipulator to avoid the time-consuming process of mesh model rendering. With the utilization of visual information, a haptic-based telepresence augmentation method is proposed to provide the operator with comprehensive force feedback, including the virtual guiding force, virtual repulsive force and real-time interactive force, which greatly helps reduce the workload of operator. Finally, a user study on grab-place task is carried out to verify the effectiveness of proposed system. • The visual-based telepresence augmentation is provided to offer the real-time additional depth information. • The visual information assisted fusion haptic force is provided including the virtual guiding force, virtual repulsive force and real-time interactive force. • A Visual/haptic integrated perception and reconstruction system is proposed for the immersive telepresence, with the consideration of heterogeneous characteristics and precise control. • A user study with a grab-place task that commonly appeared in industry is implemented to verify the effectiveness of proposed system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The remote control ship is considered to be the most likely implementation of maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS) in the near-term future. With collaborative control from onboard controllers and operators ashore, ships may operate in three navigation control modes (NCMs), manual, autonomous, and remote control, based on different levels of control authority. The scientific selection of the appropriate NCM for MASS under multiple driving modes is crucial for ensuring ship navigation safety and holds significant importance for operators and regulatory authorities overseeing maritime traffic within specific areas. To aid in selecting the proper NCM, this study introduces a risk-based comparison method for determining optimal control modes in specific scenarios. Firstly, safety control paths and processes for MASS under different NCMs are constructed and analyzed using system-theoretic process analysis (STPA). By analyzing unsafe system control actions, key Risk Influencing Factors (RIFs) and their interrelationships are identified. Secondly, a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) process risk assessment model is developed to infer risk performance (hidden state) through measuring RIF states. Cloud modeling with expert judgments is utilized to parameterize the HMM while addressing inherent uncertainty. Lastly, the applicability of the proposed framework was verified through simulation case studies. Typical navigation scenarios of conventional ships in coastal waters were chosen, and real-time data collected by relevant sensors during navigation were used as simulation inputs. Results suggest that in the same scenario, process risks differ among the analyzed NCMs. Traffic complexity, traffic density, and current become the primary factors influencing navigation risks, and it is necessary to select the appropriate NCM based on their real-time changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the problems of large error and redundancy in the multi-node data acquisition of multi-greenhouse photo growth environmental information, a three-level fusion algorithm based on adaptive weighting, an LMBP network, and an improved D-S theory is proposed. The box-and-line graph method recognizes the original data and then replaces it based on the mean value method; the air temperature, humidity, and light intensity measurements are unbiased estimations of the true value to be estimated, so the first level of fusion chooses the adaptive weighted average algorithm to find the optimal weights of each sensor under the condition of minimizing the total mean-square error and obtains the optimal estimation of the weights of the homogeneous sensors of a greenhouse. The Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm was chosen for the second level of fusion to optimize the weight modification of the BP neural network, i.e., the LMBP network, and the three environmental factors corresponding to "suitable", "uncertain" and "unsuitable" potato growth environments were trained for the three environmental factors in the reproductive periods. The output of the hidden layer was converted into probability by the Softmax function. The third level is based on the global fusion of evidence theory (also known as D-S theory), and the network output is used as evidence to obtain a consistent description of the multi-greenhouse potato cultivation environment and the overall scheduling of farming activities, which better solves the problem of the difficulty in obtaining basic probability assignments in the evidence theory; in the case of a conflict between the evidence, the BPA of the conflicting evidence is reallocated, i.e., the D-S theory is improved. Example validation shows that the total mean square error of the adaptive weighted fusion value is smaller than the variance of each sensor estimation, and sensors with lower variance are assigned lower weights, which makes the fusion result not have a large deviation due to the failure of individual sensors; when the fusion result of a greenhouse feature level is "unsuitable", the fusion result of each data level is considered comprehensively, and the remote control agency makes a decision, which makes full use of the complementary nature of multi-sensor information resources and solves the problem of fusion of multi-source environmental information and the problem of combining conflicting environmental evaluation factors. Compared with the traditional D-S theory, the improved D-S theory reduces the probability of the "uncertainty" index in the fusion result again. The three-level fusion algorithm in this paper does not sacrifice data accuracy and greatly reduces the noise and redundancy of the original data, laying a foundation for big data analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an adaptive global terminal sliding‐mode control is developed for a nonlinear bilateral teleoperation system with time‐varying delays, external disturbances, and uncertainties. By selecting a time‐varying sliding‐mode manifold, a finite‐time sliding‐mode control algorithm is proposed to guarantee the suppression of the reaching phase associated with the conventional sliding‐mode control. This implies that the robustness is guaranteed throughout to entire response of the system. Meanwhile, the chattering phenomenon and the energy consumption are significantly reduced. Furthermore, in order to enhance the tracking performance in practical situations, adaptive tuning laws are developed to estimate the unknown upper bounds of the lumped uncertainties. Hence, the proposed approach has several merits, namely, fast response, accurate synchronization, and strong robustness with respect to large uncertainties and disturbances. The stability of the system in closed‐loop and the boundedness on the internal dynamics are proved by Lyapunov stability theory. Illustrative simulations were conducted to show the effectiveness of the proposed controller. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Misr Journal of Agricultural Engineering is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: As robot teleoperation increasingly becomes integral in executing tasks in distant, hazardous, or inaccessible environments, operational delays remain a significant obstacle. These delays, inherent in signal transmission and processing, adversely affect operator performance, particularly in tasks requiring precision and timeliness. While current research has made strides in mitigating these delays through advanced control strategies and trainingmethods, a crucial gap persists in understanding the neurofunctional impacts of these delays and the efficacy of countermeasures from a cognitive perspective. Methods: This study addresses the gap by leveraging functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) to examine the neurofunctional implications of simulated haptic feedback on cognitive activity and motor coordination under delayed conditions. In a human-subject experiment (N = 41), sensory feedback was manipulated to observe its influences on various brain regions of interest (ROIs) during teleoperation tasks. The fNIRS data provided a detailed assessment of cerebral activity, particularly in ROIs implicated in time perception and the execution of precise movements. Results: Our results reveal that the anchoring condition, which provided immediate simulated haptic feedback with a delayed visual cue, significantly optimized neural functions related to time perception and motor coordination. This condition also improved motor performance compared to the asynchronous condition, where visual and haptic feedback were misaligned. Discussion: These findings provide empirical evidence about the neurofunctional basis of the enhanced motor performance with simulated synthetic force feedback in the presence of teleoperation delays. The study highlights the potential for immediate haptic feedback to mitigate the adverse effects of operational delays, thereby improving the efficacy of teleoperation in critical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The colloidosome, as a kind of Pickering microcapsule, offers a highly functionalizable approach for encapsulation, but current studies mainly focus on shells that lack real‐time modulated permeability. Herein, a scalable spray drying method was employed to fabricate temperature/near‐infrared (NIR)/magnetic multi‐stimuli responsive colloidosomes with adjustable permeability, facilitating intelligent transmembrane transport of molecules. The colloidosomes assembled with SiO2/polydopamine/poly (N‐isopropyl acrylamide) nanoparticles can be heated from 25°C to 50°C within 5 min upon NIR exposure. The permeability of shells regulated by temperature and NIR allows for real‐time remote control. Yeast cells, as an example, are encapsulated within colloidosomes. The decomposition rate of H2O2 varies with temperature (25–45°C) and NIR intensity (0.5–1 W cm−2), which can attain a more than sixfold increase in the rate constant of pseudo‐first‐order kinetic model. Furthermore, the strategy was expanded by encapsulating doxorubicin/UiO‐66 particles, highlighting its great potential in realms of multi‐stimuli responsive colloidosomes applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are quickly advancing and show promise to be a transformative mode of transportation. However, the prevailing consensus suggests that AVs will not be capable of addressing every traffic situation, necessitating remote human intervention in certain edge case scenarios. To facilitate the development of future teleoperation solutions, it is imperative to establish a clear and comprehensive set of intervention scenarios. To achieve this, we undertook a thorough investigation employing in-depth semi-structured interviews with 14 experts specializing in AV teleoperation. Employing thematic analysis to organize and classify the collected data, our study offers a comprehensive compilation of use cases that may require remote human assistance. By doing so, our findings provide a solid groundwork for the design and implementation of future teleoperation user interfaces. These interfaces may play a crucial role in enabling effective and efficient collaboration between humans and AVs in situations where remote intervention becomes necessary. Ultimately, our research contributes to the advancement of AV technology by identifying critical areas where human involvement can augment the capabilities of autonomous systems, thereby ensuring safer and more reliable transportation solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) form in polar regions, typically between 15 and 25 km above mean sea level, when the local temperature is sufficiently low. PSCs play an important role in the ozone chemistry and the dehydration and denitrification of the stratosphere. Lidars with a depolarization channel may be used to detect and classify different classes of PSCs. The main PSC classes are water ice, nitric acid trihydrate (NAT), and supercooled ternary solutions (STSs), the latter being liquid droplets consisting of water, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid. PSCs have been observed at the lidar observatory at Concordia Station from 2014 onward. The harsh environmental conditions at Concordia during winter render successful lidar operation difficult. To facilitate the operation of the observatory, several measures have been put in place to achieve an almost complete remote control of the system. PSC occurrence is strongly correlated with local temperatures and is affected by dynamics, as the PSC coverage during the observation season shows. PSC observations in 2021 are shown as an example of the capability and functionality of the lidar observatory. A comparison of the observations with the satellite-borne CALIOP (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization) lidar has been made to demonstrate the quality of the data and their representativeness for the Antarctic Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With remarkable advancements in the development of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs), the integration of teleoperation has become crucial for improving safety and operational efficiency. However, teleoperation faces substantial challenges, with network latency being a critical factor influencing its performance. This survey paper explores the impact of network latency along with state-of-the-art mitigation/compensation approaches. It examines cascading effects on teleoperation communication links (i.e., uplink and downlink) and how delays in data transmission affect the real-time perception and decision-making of operators. By elucidating the challenges and available mitigation strategies, the paper offers valuable insights for researchers, engineers, and practitioners working towards the seamless integration of teleoperation in the evolving landscape of CAVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bar-type steel is commonly used in engineering facilities, which is made from the raw material of steel wire with high-speed rolling. A hot steel-bar stack (HSBS) accident is a serious accident wherein a hot steel bar flies out from a bar stack fixed on a trolley during manufacturing. If not prevented on time, it can damage production equipment and cause fire and personal injury. At present, the monitoring and identification of HSBS accidents during the rolling manufacturing process are still limited to manual observation. We lack advanced monitoring and identification methods. Finding an effective, accurate, and rapid identification method as well as a treatment method for detecting an HSBS accident in the rolling manufacturing process is an urgent issue. To solve this problem, we propose a novel three-in-one image recognition (TIOIR) method based on the bagging and boosting ensemble learning schemes. The TIOIR method integrates the maximum distance positioning, corner detection positioning, and ablation methods to better identify different features of HSBS images. Furthermore, we designed and built a fault diagnosis system of HSBS accident detection, which includes temperature and visual sensors, visual detection devices, and a remote control and computing unit embedded with our proposed TIOIR scheme. Through the operation of the fault diagnosis system, we carried out an actual identification experiment of HSBS accident detection in the rolling field, and the obtained realtime recognition rate was as high as 97%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teleoperation allows workers to safely control powerful construction machines; however, its primary reliance on visual feedback limits the operator's efficiency in situations with stiff contact or poor visibility, hindering its use for assembly of pre-fabricated building components. Reliable, economical, and easy-to-implement haptic feedback could fill this perception gap and facilitate the broader use of robots in construction and other application areas. Thus, we adapted widely available commercial audio equipment to create AiroTouch, a naturalistic haptic feedback system that measures the vibration experienced by each robot tool and enables the operator to feel a scaled version of this vibration in real time. Accurate haptic transmission was achieved by optimizing the positions of the system's off-the-shelf accelerometers and voice-coil actuators. A study was conducted to evaluate how adding this naturalistic type of vibrotactile feedback affects the operator during telerobotic assembly. Thirty participants used a bimanual dexterous teleoperation system (Intuitive da Vinci Si) to build a small rigid structure under three randomly ordered haptic feedback conditions: no vibrations, one-axis vibrations, and summed three-axis vibrations. The results show that users took advantage of both tested versions of the naturalistic haptic feedback after gaining some experience with the task, causing significantly lower vibrations and forces in the second trial. Subjective responses indicate that haptic feedback increased the realism of the interaction and reduced the perceived task duration, task difficulty, and fatigue. As hypothesized, higher haptic feedback gains were chosen by users with larger hands and for the smaller sensed vibrations in the one-axis condition. These results elucidate important details for effective implementation of naturalistic vibrotactile feedback and demonstrate that our accessible audio-based approach could enhance user performance and experience during telerobotic assembly in construction and other application domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methods and means of remote control of the ecological state of the atmosphere are constantly improving. Lidar sensing allows obtaining up-to-date information about natural and technogenic sources of atmospheric pollution. There is a wide range of problems in ecological control, where the deployment of an inexpensive mobile lidar network is required. For this purpose, it is suggested to use Q-switch and MOPA fiber lasers in lidars. Q-switch fiber lasers have a simpler design and are more practical to use. However, pulses from Q-switch lasers have long full-pulse durations. In the present work, a lidar signal inversion method (LSIM) is proposed for solving this problem. Verification and outdoor experimentation of the LSIM was carried out with the reference signal method (RSM). The advantage of the proposed RSM is the minimum number of controllable parameters necessary for LSIM verification and approbation. As a result, the accuracy of the obtained results increased. Thus, the possibility of application of the Q-switch fiber lasers for lidar sensing is shown both theoretically and experimentally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A floating greenhouse for growing oyster mushrooms can be operated remotely via a mobile phone. This innovative system can enhance mushroom production and quality while saving time. By using the Android OS operating system on a mobile phone (Internet Mobile Device with Android OS, MGT Model: T10), users can adjust the humidity and temperature within the greenhouse. This approach is particularly beneficial for older adults. Create a smart floating greenhouse that can be controlled remotely to cultivate oyster mushrooms. It would help to enhance the quality of the mushrooms, reduce the time required for cultivation, and increase the yield per planting area. We carefully examined the specifications and proceeded to create a greenhouse that could float. In addition, we have developed a unit that could control temperature and humidity, a solar cell unit, and a rack for growing mushrooms. Our greenhouses were operated remotely. To determine the best conditions for growing plants in a floating greenhouse, we conducted a test to measure temperature and humidity. We then compared our findings to those of a traditional greenhouse test and determined the optimal parameters for floating greenhouse growth. These parameters include growth time, temperature, humidity, and weight. A mushroom nursery that can be controlled remotely and floats on water consists of four main components: a structure to regulate temperature and humidity, solar cells, and mushroom racks. Research shows that mushrooms grown under this automated control system grow better than those grown through traditional methods. The harvest period is shorter, and the yield is higher than the typical yield of 1.81–1.22. When considering the construction and use of remote-controlled floating mushroom nurseries, the daily weight of mushrooms accounted for 20.22%. The company's investment return rates were found to be 3.47 years, or 580.21 h per year, which is higher than the yield of traditional methods. This mobile phone remote control system, created by Arduino, is tailor-made for cutting-edge floating greenhouses that grow grey oyster mushrooms. It can be operated with ease via mobile devices and is especially user-friendly for elderly individuals. This system enables farmers to produce a high volume of quality breeds. Furthermore, those with fish ponds can utilize the system to increase their profits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on enhancing office security through a smart door system, designed to protect sensitive documents and critical data. Emphasizing exclusive access for authorized personnel, the system integrates advanced biometric authentication, predominantly facial recognition. The project's aim is to optimize face recognition using convolutional neural network (CNN) techniques, identifying the best preprocessing methods and hyperparameter settings. A significant aspect of the research involves developing a smart door system with remote authentication and control capabilities via internet connectivity. Employing transfer learning with MobileNet V2, the study presents a compact model tailored for the Raspberry Pi platform. The model utilizes a dataset with five facial recognition classes and an additional class for unknown faces, ensuring a diverse representation. The trained model achieved a high accuracy (0.9729) and low loss (0.09). System evaluation revealed an overall accuracy of 0.96, perfect recall (1.00), and a precision of 0.897. These results demonstrate the system's efficacy in secure access control, making it a viable solution for contemporary office environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmers' preferences toward practice‐ and results‐based agri‐environmental schemes (AES) are analysed using a labelled choice experiment. The analysis focuses on schemes involving an innovative satellite‐based monitoring system, with different environmental objectives. Olive groves in southern Spain are used as a case study. Results show no statistically significant differences in farmers' willingness to accept (WTA) payment for participating in practice‐ versus results‐based AES when the scheme targets carbon sequestration. By contrast, farmers require a significantly higher WTA payment for results‐based AES when targeting biodiversity (using bird species as an indicator), mostly due to the uncertainties related to its provision and monitoring. WTA significantly increases with provision level and remote sensing monitoring, regardless of the type of scheme. Significant preference heterogeneity is observed, partly explained by farmers' attitudes toward risk and their beliefs about environmental service provision and monitoring capacity. The results suggest useful policy implications, including the potential of making use of joint provision of environmental services in the design of results‐based AES and accompanying them with uncertainty mitigating measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "A Title Divergence in the Tomb Robber Papyri: Possible Evidence for Removal from Office as a Punishment" examines the title divergence of the tomb robber Amenemheb in the tomb robber papyri. The author analyzes the Amherst 6 + Léopold II papyrus and concludes that Amenemheb lost his titles due to removal from office and was subsequently sentenced to death. The investigation provides insights into the judiciary and punishments in ancient Egypt. Various individuals and their functions are listed, including the High Priest of Amunrasonther. The papyrus also contains information about thieves who were captured in a pyramid. It is suspected that it is the same person, although different titles are used. It is also discussed why the fourth column of the papyrus is dated earlier than the previous ones. The text deals with the title of an employee of the Temple of Amenope. It is argued that the various evidence refers to the same person. The name Amenemheb is mentioned several times in the tomb robber papyri, with indications that it is the same person. The order of the columns in the papyrus is also mentioned, indicating that the dates are correct. It is argued that it is unlikely that the ancient scribe made mistakes. The text is about the interrogation of thieves who broke into a pyramid. The thieves were presented to the overseer of Thebes and vizier Chaemwaset, the royal attendant Nesamun, and the pharaoh's scribe. They showed the officials the pyramid they had broken into. The interrogation and conviction of the thieves were written down and sent to the pharaoh. The different titles of the individuals involved are also discussed, with an "rwḏ. w" having a higher status than an "ꜥ ḥ. wtj". The text deals with the meaning of the title "rwḏw" in ancient Egyptian texts. It is stated that the title refers to officials who worked for an administration and managed or controlled remote goods on behalf of the owner. It is also noted that the title had a higher social rank than the title "ꜥ ḥ. wtj". Various interpretations are discussed as to why Amenemheb's title is given differently in the tomb robber papyri. It is suspected that this is due to the production process of the papyrus and that the title was changed afterwards to conceal Amenemheb's true office. The exact timing of Amenemheb's removal from office cannot be determined precisely, but it is between the 19th day after the interrogation and verification by the on-site inspection and the writing down of the text on the 22nd day. In the text, Amenemheb is addressed as a former rwḏ. w to clearly identify him. It is suspected that Amenemheb was already demoted before the interrogation, as he may have been an ꜥ ḥ. wtj for some time. Removal from office as a punishment was known in ancient Egypt but is rarely discussed in literature. It is suspected that the perpetrators were executed and that the loss of office was an additional punishment. The Handbook of Oriental Studies only mentions the punishment method of removal from office briefly. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of China Mechanical Engineering is the property of Editorial Board of China Mechanical Engineering and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In a delayed master-slave teleoperation system, if the slave robot interacts with a delicate and sensitive environment, it is essential to control the slaveenvironment interactions. Variable impedance control has been proposed as a useful method for this aim in the literature. However, changing the impedance parameters based on the system requirements imposes a complex process in the controller design. To address this issue, we propose a variable impedance control strategy for the slave side, where the impedance variables are changed using fuzzy logic. This is carried out based on the environment destruction threshold—defined based on the contact force and the velocity of the slave robot—and system stability range. The proposed method is simulated in MATLAB’s Simulink considering telesurgery conditions and soft tissue environment under an unknown and varying time delay. Simulation results show that the proposed method maintains the velocity of the slave robot and the environment force in the desired interval and performs better in keeping the environment safe compared to the constant-coefficient impedance control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote work, by its very nature, is characterised by the performance of the duties of the employment relationship, in whole or in part, at a place chosen by the employee, at a time agreed upon with the employer. Despite the fact that the employee performs his/her work outside the employer's place of business, he/she remains under the employer's control. The issues under consideration here are the scope of this control and the manner in which it is carried out. In my deliberations, I focus on control performed with the use of algorithmic technologies, in particular artificial intelligence, for which a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council Laying Down Harmonised Provisions on Artificial Intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Act) was adopted on 23 June 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Agriculture is globally essential yet faces numerous challenges due to the rapid growth of human population and declining pollinator populations, highlighting the need for innovative solutions. Aim: This aimed to design and to develop a remotecontrolled drone-based spray pollination system for greenhouse bitter gourd cultivation. Design: The drone was developed through Research and Development (R&D) design, including prototype designing, functionality testing, and adaptability and acceptability evaluation. Results: This study successfully designed a drone-based spray pollination system, achieving a 92% success rate in fertilizing female bitter gourd flowers. The data collection involved the participation of six respondents who completed the evaluation questionnaire. The evaluation ratings indicated a high acceptability level, with an overall mean rating of 3.91 and a standard deviation of 0.29, as well as a high adaptability level, with an overall mean rating of 4.00 and a standard deviation of 0.13, respectively. These findings showcase the prototype's potential for advancement in agricultural robotics. Conclusion: The drone-based spray pollination system, using a pollen concentration water suspension, was concluded to have high levels in all the following aspects: functionality, adaptability, and acceptability. This highlights that the drone is reliable and effective. Implication: The prototype's potential extends to addressing environmental challenges and advancing agricultural productivity and sustainability through drone-based pollination technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Master–slave teleoperation systems with haptic feedback enable human operators to interact with objects or perform tasks in remote environments. This paper presents a sliding-mode control scheme tailored for bilateral teleoperation systems operating in the presence of unknown uncertainties and time-varying delays. To address unknown but bounded uncertainties, adaptive laws are derived alongside controller design. Additionally, a linear matrix inequality is solved to determine the allowable bound of delays. Stability of the closed-loop system is ensured through Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional analysis. Two-degree-of-freedom mechanisms are self-built as haptic devices. Free-motion and force-perception scenarios are examined, with experimental results validating and comparing performances. The proposed adaptive-sliding-control method increases the position performance from 58.48% to 82.55% and the force performance from 83.48% to 99.77%. The proposed control scheme demonstrates enhanced position tracking and force perception in bilateral teleoperation systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]