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This study aimed to investigate the key technical and psychological factors that impact the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) professionals' trust in collaborative robots (cobots) powered by artificial intelligence (AI). This study seeks to address the critical knowledge gaps surrounding the establishment and reinforcement of trust among AEC professionals in their collaboration with AI-powered cobots. In the context of the construction industry, where the complexities of tasks often necessitate human–robot teamwork, understanding the technical and psychological factors influencing trust is paramount. Such trust dynamics play a pivotal role in determining the effectiveness of human–robot collaboration on construction sites. This research employed a nationwide survey of 600 AEC industry practitioners to shed light on these influential factors, providing valuable insights to calibrate trust levels and facilitate the seamless integration of AI-powered cobots into the AEC industry. Additionally, it aimed to gather insights into opportunities for promoting the adoption, cultivation, and training of a skilled workforce to effectively leverage this technology. A structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis revealed that safety and reliability are significant factors for the adoption of AI-powered cobots in construction. Fear of being replaced resulting from the use of cobots can have a substantial effect on the mental health of the affected workers. A lower error rate in jobs involving cobots, safety measurements, and security of data collected by cobots from jobsites significantly impact reliability, and the transparency of cobots' inner workings can benefit accuracy, robustness, security, privacy, and communication and result in higher levels of automation, all of which demonstrated as contributors to trust. The study's findings provide critical insights into the perceptions and experiences of AEC professionals toward adoption of cobots in construction and help project teams determine the adoption approach that aligns with the company's goals workers' welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many buildings built before energy performance regulations are actually in a situation of thermal discomfort and energy inefficiency. The creation of intelligent environments is moving towards new opportunities, based on real-time monitoring and on the development of sensors and technologies. Furthermore, building automation and electronic systems standards enable interoperability and interconnection between control devices and systems. The application of soft computing has significantly improved the energy efficiency; however, it requires prior assessment to design the automation functions. Temperature, humidity, air quality and energy consumption are the most commonly measured parameters, but their relationships with other operational variables such as occupancy or some building states remain as a research challenge. This article presents a methodology to develop the automation of a large existing public building. This methodology consists of two stages: 1. Assessment and diagnosis to set appropriate functions, using EN ISO 52120-1 and EN 50090 for open communication networks, and EN ISO 52120-1 to assign the technical building management. 2. System control deployment of low-cost and low-consumption input and output devices. It has been proven that it is possible to effectively automate an obsolete building with a low-cost, open-source system that can be easily applied to other buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological therapeutics are increasingly being formulated to high protein concentrations to decrease drug substance storage space and increase the flexibility of administration to patients. With the higher protein concentration targets comes added challenges to the downstream purification manufacturing process. Tangential flow filtration (TFF) operations are typically performed to reach target protein concentration. TFF operations for a given drug substance may include an Ultrafiltration and Diafiltration (UFDF) step, or a UFDF step followed by a single pass tangential flow filtration (SPTFF) step. Whether a TFF step achieves a target protein concentration is determined by at‐line protein concentration measurements performed at the completion of a process step. If the measured protein concentration is outside the specified range, the unit operation may need to be restarted, reprocessing may need to be performed, or a batch may need to be terminated. Out of specification protein concentration measurements may be a result of the TFF operation or sample measurement. Increased viscosities associated with high concentration TFF operations pose added challenges to the TFF process and sample measurement. Implementation of an inline process analytical technology (PAT) to monitor real‐time protein concentration during TFF operations has the potential to improve the accuracy of the operations in achieving target protein concentrations. This will result in improved process consistency and efficiency, increased operator confidence and decreased likelihood of batch failures. This paper studies the performance of a K‐Patents PR‐23 refractometer (Vaisala) as a PAT to monitor and control the UFDF and SPTFF unit operations of a commercial scale monoclonal antibody purification process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term "Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing" (APM) has become an ubiquitous buzzword with deep potential policy implications. There is a real danger that APM will be seen as a general panacea for solving economic woes and drug shortages, devoiding it from specific meaning, and depriving the technical community of focus much needed for its development and implementation. This paper first discusses several semantic definitions of APM that have been proposed in the field. A functional definition of APM is then presented as: A system that is designed using predictive models, where automation minimizes human intervention while enabling closed loop process control and real time quality assurance, where performance has been optimized to maximize desired process goals, where flexible amounts of product with equivalent attributes can be manufactured, and where equivalent processes can be implemented at multiple locations to manufacture products with equivalent critical quality attributes. The proposed definition is presented to motivate discussion and elicit contributions from other stakeholders, and to contribute to the development of a consensus framework for design, development, implementation, and evaluation of APM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digital twin (DT) concept has a key role in the future of the smart manufacturing industry. This review paper aims to investigate the development of the digital twin concept, its maturity and its vital role in the fourth industrial revolution. Having identified its potential functionalities for the digitalisation of the manufacturing industry, the digital twin concept, its origin and perspectives from both the academic and industrial sectors are presented. The identified research gaps, trends and technical limitations hampering the implementation of digital twins are also discussed. In particular, this review attempts to address the research question on how the digital twin concept can support the realisation of an integrated, flexible and collaborative manufacturing environment which is one of the goals projected by the fourth industrial revolution. To address this, a conceptual framework supporting an integrated product-process digital twin for application in digitised manufacturing is proposed. The application and benefits of the proposed framework are presented in three case studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many buildings built before energy performance regulations are actually in a situation of thermal discomfort and energy inefficiency. The creation of intelligent environments is moving towards new opportunities, based on real-time monitoring and on the development of sensors and technologies. Furthermore, building automation and electronic systems standards enable interoperability and interconnection between control devices and systems. The application of soft computing has significantly improved the energy efficiency; however, it requires prior assessment to design the automation functions. Temperature, humidity, air quality and energy consumption are the most commonly measured parameters, but their relationships with other operational variables such as occupancy or some building states remain as a research challenge. This article presents a methodology to develop the automation of a large existing public building. This methodology consists of two stages: 1. Assessment and diagnosis to set appropriate functions, using EN ISO 52120-1 and EN 50090 for open communication networks, and EN ISO 52120-1 to assign the technical building management. 2. System control deployment of low-cost and low-consumption input and output devices. It has been proven that it is possible to effectively automate an obsolete building with a low-cost, open-source system that can be easily applied to other buildings.

The scarcity of the planet's water resources is a concern of several international entities and governments. Smart solutions for water quality monitoring are gaining prominence with advances in communication technology. This work's primary goal is to develop a new online system to monitor and manage water resources, called Internet of Water Things (IoWT). The proposed system's objective would be to control and manage raw water resources. Thus, it has developed a platform based on the server-less architecture and Internet of Things Architectural Reference Model, in which it is applied in a simulation environment, considering several electronic devices to validate its performance. For this research, there is a system for capturing raw water from tubular wells. Each well has a level sensor, a temperature sensor and a rain gauge. The data is collected every minute by an electronic device and sent every hour to the IoWT system. From data analysis, the amount of memory allocated to functions minimally interferes with efficiency. The IoWT system, applied in a real case, consists of connecting a device installed in a water well to the platform, where the data is transmitted through a 3G network and then processed. Thus, the proposed approach has great potential to be considered a complementary tool in monitoring raw water and assisting in decision-making for the management of water resources.

In this article, multiple reinforcement learning (RL) methods such as value‐based, policy‐based, and actor‐critic algorithms are investigated for typical control tasks found in the chemical industries. Through a critical assessment of these novel techniques, their main advantages are highlighted, but also the challenges that still need to be resolved are discussed. Two batch control tasks are used as benchmarks, namely, production maximization, and setpoint control. Using these testing environments, a direct comparison of different RL approaches is presented, which could guide the algorithm selection in future RL applications for batch process control. Furthermore, the results obtained with a traditional control method, model predictive control (MPC), are shown to provide a baseline for comparison with RL algorithms. The results show that RL has significant applicability in various control tasks and has comparable control performance to traditional methods but with a lower online computational cost. A batch bioreactor simulation and a simulation of an industrial polyol process are used for illustration purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In manual material handling operations associated with manufacturing, often a two-person team lifts a container. The labor intensive task of lifting a container could be improved by replacing the two-person team with a human-machine team. It is hypothesized that a human-machine team could behave similarly to a two-person team when lifting a container. To test this hypothesis, the presented research experimentally investigated the application of force and position control to a machine that was working collaboratively with a human to lift a constructed container. A basic experimental approach to lifting and control was undertaken at a benchtop scale to evaluate the results for proof-of-concept and further development. For the experimental setup presented, the results show that a combined force and position control architecture delivered better lifting performance as compared to standalone force or position control. It was concluded that the combined force and position control strategy created better team behavior for the machine as it worked collaboratively with the human to lift a constructed container. The advantage of the control approach presented is its simplicity and its ability to be retrofitted to existing equipment. The novelty of the control approach lies within the way the force and position errors from independent controllers are combined into a single command signal with no priority given to either force or position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture in the Tropical region, which includes Panama and other countries in the Caribbean and Latin America, has been developed using traditional tools with very little technology that has been designed and imported from countries with different environmental conditions. Some studies have suggested that the misuse of these tools may cause a negative impact on food production systems. Therefore, it is important to study, develop, and implement technological solutions that are appropriate for the conditions of specific regions and that help mitigating problems related to climate change and the production of food. One important solution is the implementation of technologies that interact with each other through the use of communication networks in Agriculture, known as “Smart Farming”. Many developed countries have promoted Research and Development (R&D) in Smart Farming, providing great benefits to their food production sector. The objective of this work is to document and provide an overview of the current situation of the Agriculture in Panama and the opportunities and challenges in the study, development, and implementation of Smart Farming as a technological solution in the agricultural sector in this country, in order to achieve an intelligent agriculture that allows a modern and sustainable food production. Finally, this paper provides some recommendations for the successful implementation of Smart Farming in Panama.

Cyberattacks on control systems in the chemical process industries cause concern regarding how they can impact finances, safety, and production levels of companies. A key practical challenge for cyberattack detection and handling using process information is that process behavior evolves over time. Conceivably, changes in process dynamics might cause some detection strategies to flag a change in the dynamics as an attack due to the new data appearing abnormal compared to data from before the dynamics changed. In this work, we utilize several case studies to probe the question of what might be the impacts, benefits, and limitations of cyberattack detection and handling policies when the process dynamics change over time. The goal of this work is to characterize, through simulation studies, characteristics, which might be desirable and undesirable in cyberattack detection and handling procedures when process evolution is inevitable. We demonstrate challenges with cyberattack detection when process dynamics change and subsequently, discuss two concepts for handling attacks—one which utilizes a two‐tier detection strategy in which model reidentification is triggered when it is not clear whether an attack or a change in the process dynamics has occurred, and one in which control signals are injected at intervals by the actuators. We utilize simulations to elucidate characteristics of these strategies and demonstrate that verifiability of attack‐handling methods is key to their implementation (i.e., ad hoc tuning has potential to leave vulnerabilities which an attacker might locate and exploit). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indoor vertical farming (IVF) has expanded exponentially over the last couple of years and is expected to have a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.9% from 2022 to 2029. IVF has enormous potential to ensure food security for the increased world population and other socio-economic benefits than traditional agricultural systems. However, the high energy demand, capital costs, and limitation in crop variety to be grown are major challenges to achieving the triple pillars (planter, people, and profit) of sustainability. The scholarly article comprehensively analyzes the current technologies, methodologies, and challenges in indoor thermal environment control (temperature, humidity, lighting, air circulation) and their integration with sustainability objectives. Space conditioning is achieved using heating, ventilation, air conditioning, dehumidification (HVACD), artificial lighting, and air circulation, which are energy-intensive due to the sealed envelope of IVF. Previous studies indicate energy consumption for lighting and space conditioning is the primary barrier to achieving sustainability. Minimal research activities have been reported for investigating the pathway to reduce the energy costs for lighting and HVACD systems for IVF. Integrating the air-side economizer and localized air supply for indoor climate control could save a significant amount of energy. The shifting electric demand and dynamic control also have enormous potential to reduce energy costs for lighting and HVACD. Integrating the transient model for heat gain/loss from plants and lighting heat gain is essential for precise energy simulation, which is critical for designing and sizing the right HVACD equipment and completing energy analysis. The research also shows that integrating green energy sources for HVACD and lighting reduces the environmental impacts on a large scale. Therefore, future research should focus on integrating renewable energy (geothermal, solar, wind, hydro) for HVACD, energy-efficient lighting technologies, and digital twin platforms for precision controls to reduce the energy and labor costs for thermal environmental controls in IVF. • A critical analysis is presented on efficient thermal environment controls for sustainable indoor vertical farming. • Appropriate energy-efficient and green energy-based solutions are still lacking in vertical farming operations. • Precision modeling tools need to develop for efficient thermal environment controls and equipment design. • Digital twins-based decision support platforms have potential for minimizing energy and labor costs. • Future research directions are presented for net-zero indoor food production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Friction stir welding is a solid-state process that is gaining preference for the joining of metals with low melting points. Despite the clear advantages of friction stir welding over traditional fusion welding, voids within the weld seam arise when improper conditions are present. The work presented in this article examines the development of an automated process monitoring system for friction stir welding. The system indirectly monitors the welding torque through the supplied current to the spindle motor. To measure the current, a clamp-on current meter was used. Our results have shown that using a simple and inexpensive clamp-on current meter provides good insight into the welding torque. Examination focused on the frequency spectrum of the current. A Fourier transform decomposed the signal into various frequencies present. The results consistently showed that when no void was present, there was a component of the current's frequency at 14 Hz. However, when the tool encountered a void, the frequency spectrum changed. The component at 14 Hz went away while content in the range of 1-4 Hz increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Friction stir welding (FSW) has emerged as an attractive process for fabricating aerospace vehicles. Current FSW state-of-the-art uses large machines that are not portable. However, there is a growing need for fabrication and repair operations associated with in-space manufacturing. This need stems from a desire for prolonged missions and travel beyond low-earth orbit. To address this need, research and development is presented regarding two enabling technologies. The first is a self-adjusting and aligning (SAA) FSW tool that drastically reduces the axial force that has historically been quite large. The SAA-FSW tool is a bobbin style tool that floats freely, without any external actuators, along its vertical axis to adjust and align with the workpiece's position and orientation. Successful butt welding of 1/8 in. (3.175 mm) thick aluminum 1100 was achieved in conjunction with a drastic reduction and near elimination of the axial process force. Along with the SAA-FSW, an innovative in-process monitor technique is presented in which a magnetoelastic force rate-of-change sensor is employed. The sensor consists of a magnetized FSW tool that is used to induce a voltage in a coil surrounding the tool when changes to the process forces occur. The sensor was able to detect 1/16 in. (1.5875 mm) diameter voids. It is concluded that these technologies could be applied toward the development of a portable FSW machine for use in space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Learning by doing is essential in engineering education, along with topics such as systems automation and control and energy efficiency. This article presents work including all of these different topics. A micro-cogeneration facility located at the University of Vigo is studied. The experimental plant is automated after detecting the most important variables and actuations. A system responsible for the control, supervision, and monitoring of the system was developed using the programming software LabVIEW. All of these processes are explained in depth here. Finally, a complete practice experience is proposed for the next course of the Master of Thermal Engineering programme taught at the University of Vigo. Different tasks are included: the study of the operating principle of a micro-cogeneration system, the analysis of measurement devices and actuators for the automation of an experimental facility, LabVIEW programming, and interaction with the integrated system. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology will be evaluated through a five-point Likert-type scale survey. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 24:723-735, 2016; View this article online at ; DOI [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the course of the research, the authors diagnosed the necessity to constantly search for solutions increasing the efficiency of converting primary energy into useful energy, in particular in heat sources equipped with systems powered by gaseous fuel. This is especially important in the EU countries, where on average approx. 46 % of heat is produced by means of natural gas. This problem is particularly important in the context of the growing requirements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the guidelines related to the decarbonization plan for all European Union countries. Therefore, the authors conducted operational tests of the existing heat sources based on low-temperature gas boilers, the purpose of which was to identify and analyze the possibility of their optimization, with particular emphasis on increasing the efficiency of primary energy conversion and reducing emissions of such pollutants as greenhouse gases. The work uses a method of practical optimization, which makes use of measurement data in order to identify the parameters of gas boilers which are susceptible to improvement, and then improves these parameters. The several-year-long research was carried out with various configurations of energy sources in various technological systems, while the final analysis covered operating data from two gas boiler houses collected over 200 full days, in which measurements were carried out continuously to ensure high quality of measurement data. The article presents an assessment of the efficiency of gas boiler houses conducted by means of a fuel input coefficient (FIF) developed by the authors. The influence of selected factors on the efficiency of heat generation processes was also analyzed, including: external temperature, the amount of domestic hot water consumption, and above all, methods of controlling heat source devices. The effects were assessed using the FIF. It has been shown that the method of comparing the operation of heat sources based on the fuel input coefficient (FIF) is an effective diagnostic tool to verify the correctness of boiler room operation, and that appropriate settings in boiler operation can significantly affect the energy efficiency of sources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. • The Fuel Input Factor is an effective assessment tool of boiler room optimization. • Monitoring of FIF gives an opportunity to improve the efficiency of heat sources. • The FIF allows the evaluation of heat sources without knowledge of gas parameters. • Optimization of the boiler burner run time improves efficiency of heat sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the agricultural practices in Spain, 13% of the entire territory has been declared as vulnerable to nitrate-polluted water. In order to mitigate the environmental impact caused by nitrogen, a hybrid system of artificial wetlands has been engineered thanks to the European project known as LIFE REAGRITECH. The prototype has been thought as a compact, modular, and portable system, automated and operated in a remote manner. Monitoring of the system will result in valuable knowledge for public management, farmers, researchers, and universities, and it will provide useful information intended to improve the decision-making process as a way of preserving water resources and environment. Project REAGRITECH offers significant future perspectives in the field of agriculture in Europe and in Colombia as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sparger type as well as the frother dosage have a fundamental role on the bubble size control with influences on the kinetic flotation and metallurgical performance (recovery and grade). This work shows online evaluation studies of the the bubble size distribution generated by a porous tube sparger and a micro-venturi coupled in an automatized mini pilot flotation column. The effects of the frother (DF250 - propylene glycol methyl ether) dosage and the air flow rate on the bubble size and holdup were evaluated. The mean bubble diameter was strongly influenced by the frother dosage for both spargers; nevertheless, the micro-venturi was more efficient than the porous tube, because it was able to disperse the air more finely and with smaller dosages of frother. The smaller mean diameters obtained, according to the applied experimental conditions, were of 1.25 mm (154.8 mg/L of DF250) for the porous tube and 0.45 mm (44.2 mg/L of DF250) for the micro-venturi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Software applications are becoming increasingly important in automation and control systems. This has forced control system vendors and integrators to pursue new, more effective software development practices. One of the promising research paths has been the utilization of Unified Modeling Language and model-driven development. However, integration of simulations to the existing model-driven development approaches still has not been sufficiently described in the literature. This is surprising as advanced mathematical simulation tools are already in use in the domain to facilitate control algorithm development. In this paper, this issue is addressed by extending a tool-supported model-driven development process with object-oriented, component-based simulation capabilities. To demonstrate the proposed technique, a control system model for a crane system is developed and the technique then used to create a Modelica simulation of the controlled crane. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article illustrates a control and automation alternative in the early warning monitoring of explosive atmospheres by the ZigBee protocol. The purpose is to design a smart wireless sensor network to gather information quickly and reliably, on concentrations of gases produced by a threat from explosive atmospheres in underground mines. Remotely it can be determined the limits of alert levels according to data supplied by the network, sending a visual message represented by traffic lights in strategic locations within the mine. It is also described the components of early warning systems, the structure of the ZigBee wireless network and the composition of explosive atmospheres in Coward triangles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This work presents the development of a flexible energy management strategy (EMS) for a renewable hydrogen production unit through water electrolysis with solar power. The electricity flow of the unit is controlled by a smart microgrid and the overall unattended operation is achieved by a supervisory control system. The proposed approach formalizes the knowledge regarding the system operation using a finite-state machine (FSM) which is subsequently combined with a propositional-based logic to describe the transitions among various process states. The operating rules for the integrated system are derived by taking into account both the operating constraints and the interaction effects among the individual subsystems in a systematic way. Optimal control system parameter values are obtained so that a system performance criterion incorporating efficient and economic operation is satisfied. The resulted EMS has been deployed to the industrial automation system that monitors and controls a small-scale experimental solar hydrogen production unit. The overall performance of the proposed EMS in the experimental unit has been evaluated over short-term and long-term operating periods resulting in smooth and efficient hydrogen production. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Communications is becoming increasingly important to the operation of protection and control schemes. Although offering many benefits, using standards-based communications, particularly IEC 61850, in the course of the research and development of novel schemes can be complex. This paper describes an open-source platform which enables the rapid prototyping of communications-enhanced schemes. The platform automatically generates the data model and communications code required for an intelligent electronic device to implement a publisher-subscriber generic object-oriented substation event and sampled-value messaging. The generated code is tailored to a particular system configuration description (SCD) file, and is therefore extremely efficient at runtime. It is shown here how a model-centric tool, such as the open-source Eclipse Modeling Framework, can be used to manage the complexity of the IEC 61850 standard, by providing a framework for validating SCD files and by automating parts of the code generation process. The flexibility and convenience of the platform are demonstrated through a prototype of a real-time, fast-acting load-shedding scheme for a low-voltage microgrid network. The platform is the first open-source implementation of IEC 61850 which is suitable for real-time applications, such as protection, and is therefore readily available for research and education. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Global food processing and packaging business has reached to multi trillion dollars as the consumers have started using processed food more than the staples. This paper reviews aspects of systems, standards and interfaces for the modern food industry. It presents processing and packaging principles, methods, techniques, standards, interfaces, and state-of-the-art technology. The primary purpose of this paper is to update the information in this domain so that not only the novice practitioner will gain much out of this review but the system integrators, researchers, and the stakeholders as well. In addition, the paper covers recent advances in smart packaging materials, the examples of nanotechnology in packaging, material handling systems, application of robotics, non-destructive inspection methods, packaging execution systems (PES), distributed control and automation systems, traceability, and finally OMAC (Open Modular Architecture Controls) guidelines on software standards and interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advent of modern communication and control strategies, existing industrial enterprises are now being transformed as per Industrial Revolution (IR) 4.0 standards to maximize production rates and monetary gains. To cope with the pace of the modern technological revolution, the Government of Saudi Arabia has launched "Vision 2030". This research article presents the full automation process of an existing production line at the College of Engineering, King Saud University, as per "Vision 2030" guidelines. Initially, a production line was designed to produce flavored yogurt bottles from a user-defined flavor and plain yogurt mixture. The research project was completed in two phases. During phase I, smart sensing, control, and automation equipment were used to minimize human intervention, the so-called semi-automated mode of operation. A bottle-feeding mechanism and robotic arms were later integrated to eliminate human intervention during the second phase. Moreover, during phase II, Node-RED, Telegram Bots, and a Raspberry Pi 4 controller were used to achieve IoT-based monitoring and control as per Industry 4.0 requirements. A comparative performance analysis was conducted between semi-automated and fully automated modes of operation to demonstrate the benefits of the fully automated operational mode. The performance of the fully automated system was found to be superior in comparison with the semi-automated system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prospect and potentiality of interfacing minds with machines has long captured human imagination. Recent advances in biomedical engineering, computer science, and neuroscience are making brain–computer interfaces a reality, paving the way to restoring and potentially augmenting human physical and mental capabilities. Applications of brain–computer interfaces are being explored in applications as diverse as security, lie detection, alertness monitoring, gaming, education, art, and human cognition augmentation. The present tutorial aims to survey the principal features and challenges of brain–computer interfaces (such as reliable acquisition of brain signals, filtering and processing of the acquired brainwaves, ethical and legal issues related to brain–computer interface (BCI), data privacy, and performance assessment) with special emphasis to biomedical engineering and automation engineering applications. The content of this paper is aimed at students, researchers, and practitioners to glimpse the multifaceted world of brain–computer interfacing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is one of the scarcest resources in the world, and it is becoming rarer fast, year after year. Chemical engineers are particularly suited to addressing the challenges of saving water and producing more fresh water. Proper education is then critical to prepare them for the upcoming decades. All student laboratories need distilled water, which is typically produced using commercial distillation units, which consume up to 70 L of fresh water per liter of distillated water. This work reports the design, construction, optimization, and operation of a water distillation unit that produces 10 liters per hour at 4 µS∙cm−1 and wastes no fresh water. Developed by a committed team made up of students, lab technicians, and instructors, this unit saves ca. 550 m3 of fresh water annually while spending less electrical power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]