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The purpose of this paper is to present a CAD‐based human‐robot interface that allows non‐expert users to teach a robot in a manner similar to that used by human beings to teach each other.

Intuitive robot programming is achieved by using CAD drawings to generate robot programs off‐line. Sensory feedback allows minimization of the effects of uncertainty, providing information to adjust the robot paths during robot operation.

It was found that it is possible to generate a robot program from a common CAD drawing and run it without any major concerns about calibration or CAD model accuracy.

A limitation of the proposed system has to do with the fact that it was designed to be used for particular technological applications.

Since most manufacturing companies have CAD packages in their facilities today, CAD‐based robot programming may be a good option to program robots without the need for skilled robot programmers.

The paper proposes a new CAD‐based robot programming system. Robot programs are directly generated from a CAD drawing “running” on a commonly available 3D CAD package (Autodesk Inventor) and not from a commercial, computer aided robotics (CAR) software, making it a simple CAD integrated solution. This is a low‐cost and low‐setup time system where no advanced robot programming skills are required to operate it. In summary, robot programs are generated with a high‐level of abstraction from the robot language.

The purpose of this paper is to achieve reliable estimation of yaw angles by fusing data from low-cost inertial and magnetic sensing.

In this paper, yaw angle is estimated by fusing inertial and magnetic sensing from a digital compass and a gyroscope, respectively. A Kalman filter estimates the error produced by the gyroscope.

Drift effect produced by the gyroscope is significantly reduced and, at the same time, the system has the ability to react quickly to orientation changes. The system combines the best of each sensor, the stability of the magnetic sensor and the fast response of the inertial sensor.

The system does not present a stable behavior in the presence of large vibrations. Considerable calibration efforts are needed.

Today, most of human–robot interaction technologies need to have the ability to estimate orientation, especially yaw angle, from small-sized and low-cost sensors.

Existing methods for inertial and magnetic sensor fusion are combined to achieve reliable estimation of yaw angle. Experimental tests in a human–robot interaction scenario show the performance of the system.

The purpose of this study is to present a comprehensive review of the fundamental concepts and terminologies pertaining to different types of aluminium metal matrix composites, their joining techniques and challenges, friction stir welding (FSW) process, post-welding characterizations and basic control theory of FSW, followed by the discussions on the research reports in these areas.

Joining of aluminium metal matrix composites (Al-MMC) poses many challenges. These materials have their demanding applications in versatile domains, and hence it is essential to understand their weldability and material characteristics. FSW is a feasible choice for joining of Al-MMC over the fusion welding because of the formation of narrow heat affected zone and minimizing the formation of intermetallic compounds at weld interface. The goal in FSW is to generate enough thermal energy by friction between the workpiece and rotating tool. Heat energy is generated by mechanical interaction because of the difference in velocity between the workpiece and rotating tool. In the present work, a detailed survey is done on the above topics and an organised conceptual context is presented. A complete discussion on significance of FSW process parameters, control schemes, parameter optimization and weld quality monitoring are presented, along with the analysis on relation between the interdependent parameters.

Results from the study present the research gaps in the FSW studies for joining of the aluminium-based metal matrix composites, and they highlight further scope of studies pertaining to this domain.

It is observed that the survey done on FSW of Al-MMCs and their control theory give an insight into the fundamental concepts pertaining to this research area to enhance interdisciplinary technology exploration.

The West African Republic of Guinea-Bissau has been unstable since gaining its independence in 1974. The 2014 presidential and parliamentary elections are being closely analyzed to study how the United Nations and the Guinean people have reacted to the outcomes of these elections. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Sociological methodologies and a comparative approach have been used in this paper to understand why the elections in 2014 were so important in this country.

The author finds that stability is possible in Guinea-Bissau after years of political uncertainties.

Particular focus has been paid to studying the responses of specific aspects of society, including the youth population, the political elite, the main political party, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde, the opposition parties and the army and whether these different groups will be able to cooperate after electing a sustainable and relatively wide-ranging government.

The Algarve is a region located in the South of Portugal and is mostly known for its sun and sea product. In order to strengthen the Algarve’s competitiveness, the Allgarve program was launched in 2007. We intend to analyze the importance of events as a differentiation factor of tourist destinations. Questions like loyalty, satisfaction, and perception about the event’s program are the main subjects analyzed. This study uses data from a questionnaire applied to 224 individuals who attended “street artist events” and pop music concerts in the 2011 edition of the Allgarve program. Two main techniques were applied: OVERALS and k-means. Despite its flaws, positive conclusions were reached, and after its five editions, the program was finally able to be linked to the region’s image, distinguishing it in a wide range of cultural events and entertainment.

The purpose of this work is the physicochemical characterization of a traditional Portuguese meat sausage, “Chouriça de carne de Melgaço”, including its lipid profile, taking into account the effects of autochthonous pig breed (Bísaro) and processing scale in its final composition.

Sausages from three manufacturers' scales (homemade, traditional, and industrial) and two breed origins (Bísaro and non Bísaro) were analysed for pH, moisture, fat, protein, ash, NaCl, hydroxyproline and fatty acid composition. A total of 11 samples from each type of manufacture and breed were randomly selected after the complete drying‐ripening process, in a total of 55 samples.

Physicochemical analysis of meat sausages showed a medium protein content (28‐33 per cent) correlated to manufacture type (p<0.05), and a high fat level (29‐41 per cent) related with manufacture type and breed. Homemade manufacture was characterized by lower moisture and higher salt contents, reinforcing consumer's safety and economical assurance. The industrial processed sausages presented significantly higher moisture content and higher PUFA contents than expected, indicating the use in the feeding of the pigs feedstuffs rich in oilseed components and an increased susceptibility to oxidation. Comparing with similar products from foreign origins, this sausage is characterized by similar salt contents and similar or lower fat contents, highly monounsaturated, with positive nutritional outcomes.

The improvement and control of Chouriça de carne de Melgaço manufacturing and breed origin is clearly needed. PGI should be implemented to guarantee genuineness of this product. The preservation of traditional procedures must guarantee the high quality of the product, its safety and consumer's acceptability.

This research aims to focus on the idea management system (IMS) with the main purpose of identifying and describing the factors that promote success in managing ideas, grounded on the analysis of case studies.

The method used consists of a case study and semi-structured interviews with those directly responsible for the management of ideas from four companies, which are presented in this paper.

The main findings, critical for the success of an IMS, are as follow: the involvement of top management, evidence of results, establishment of goals and objectives, dissemination of good results, willingness to share and develop ideas, complete transparency in the management of ideas, maintenance of dynamic and proactive attitudes and mainly recognition. All have been described.

This work presents a preliminary framework for further research toward the study of CSFs inherent to IMSs that is still bound by the limited number of case studies presented. Further research should be undertaken to broaden and consolidate the presented CFSs and their pertinence.

This study, although limited to four case studies, presents conclusive results that support managers of suggestion systems/IMSs in improving or deploying such systems. The main factors were identified and described. They can contribute to the effectiveness of employee suggestion system. It can be reasoned from this investigation that the contributions from employees toward the success of a company leads to excellence in business.

The purpose of this paper is to ascertain the extent to which knowledge management (KM), customer satisfaction (CS) and organizational image (OI) discriminate quality-certified municipalities from non-certified ones (ISO 9001).

An empirical study was carried out involving 81 Portuguese municipalities (40 certified, 41 non-certified), paired in a random sampling procedure. The Knowledge Management Questionnaire (n=1,372 municipality employees), the Customer Satisfaction Questionnaire and the Organizational Image Questionnaire (n=3,096 residents) were applied. Multiple discriminant analysis was performed.

The results indicate that certified and non-certified municipalities are distinct based on a function that considers KM (competitive orientation and formal KM practices), CS (intangible and tangible factors) and OI (favorable image).

The findings need further validation in other countries. However, the results highlight the importance of quality certification for both employees and residents.

The results encourage local public administration organizations to introduce and maintain quality certification.

This research is the only one, to the authors’ knowledge, that simultaneously explores organizational processes of KM, CS and OI in local public administration. The sampling procedure and the information from diverse data sources are unique contributions. The conclusions may aid practitioners and scholars in understanding these organizational phenomena in the context of quality-certified and quality non-certified municipalities.

This research seeks to provide methodological bases for the identification, documentation and critical reflection of good practices of architectural design in built heritage. These are applied explicitly to the School of Porto architects, which express a high sense of pedagogy and community practice in this field. The methodological approach defines the selection criteria for a georeferenced inventory and the procedures for in-depth analysis of adaptive reuse strategies.

The works included in the inventory were selected according to geographical, chronological, typological, qualitative and quantitative criteria. The cases chosen for in-depth analysis have been studied along four thematic axes to dissect all the intervention processes (previous state, design/construction and final state). This approach is supported by a cross-analysis of different sources (oral, written, graphic) and using drawing as a fundamental research tool.

The research has collected and disseminated up to 150 works by 44 architects, providing a comprehensive portrait of heritage intervention by the School of Porto over the past decades. The selection of 22 buildings for in-depth documentation reveals a particular sensibility toward the cultural values through a case-by-case approach based in deep knowledge of the preexisting context and the introduction of contemporary additions in continuity and harmonious relation with the environmental and sociocultural context.

This work provides a novel methodology suitable for further extension and adaptation to other case studies, as a first contribution to a more comprehensive “Atlas of Architectural Design in Built Heritage” with European case studies. The research aims to introduce new and deeper perspectives on reference works that may constitute pedagogy for the future practice of architects within contextual, inclusive and sustainable approaches.