Remote Operation Research Articles

Navigating the Challenges of 3D Printing Personalized Medicine in Space Explorations: A Comprehensive Review.

Space exploration has undergone a paradigm shift in recent years, with a growing emphasis on long-duration missions and human habitation on other celestial bodies. Private aerospace businesses are at the forefront of advancing the next iteration of spacecraft, encompassing a wide range of applications such as deep space exploration (e.g., SpaceX) and cost-effective satellite deployments (e.g., Rocketlab). One of the critical challenges associated with prolonged space missions is the provision of personalized medical care. 3D printing technology has emerged as a potential solution, enabling the on-demand production of personalized medical devices and medications. However, the unique conditions of space pose substantial challenges to the successful implementation of 3D printing for personalized medicine. Tremendous scope for research exists in terms of resource utilization and waste management in space ecosystem, robotic and artificial intelligence (AI) enabled tool utilization, remote operability, interplanetary travel, space education and training tools, digital twins, space tourism and in many other aspects of 3D printing for personalized medicine in space explorations.

Industrial metaverse – company perspectives

The utilisation of the industrial metaverse is a topical discussion in the research community as well as within industrial companies. This study aimed to identify industry expectations towards the industrial metaverse. A questionnaire was sent to 18 companies to collect their views on potential industrial metaverse use cases and possible challenges that may occur. The companies identified use cases under eight thematic groups: remote operation and maintenance, sales and marketing, training, guidance and support, knowledge sharing and collaboration, novel services and business opportunities, and flexible utilization and workforce availability. Companies pointed out that challenges in using the metaverse may originate from technology acceptance, technology maturity, data governance, regulations and standards, cyber security and safety and cost. These findings provide company perspective on the industrial metaverse discussion and can be used when researching the topic and developing metaverse solutions further.

High-performance magnetic metal microrobot prepared by a two-photon polymerization and sintering method.

Magnetically-actuated microrobots (MARs) exhibit great potential in biomedicine owing to their precise navigation, wireless actuation and remote operation in confined space. However, most previously explored MARs unfold the drawback of hypodynamic magnetic torque due to low magnetic content, leading to their limited applications in controlled locomotion in fast-flowing fluid and massive cargo carrying to the target position. Here, we report a high-performance pure-nickel magnetically-actuated microrobot (Ni-MAR), prepared by a femtosecond laser polymerization followed by sintering method. Our Ni-MAR possesses a high magnetic content (∼90 wt%), thus resulting in enhanced magnetic torque under low-strength rotating magnetic fields, which enables the microrobot to exhibit high-speed swimming and superior cargo carrying. The maximum velocity of our Ni-MAR, 12.5 body lengths per second, outperforms the velocity of traditional helical MARs. The high-speed Ni-MAR is capable of maintaining controlled locomotion in fast-flowing fluid. Moreover, the Ni-MAR with massive cargo carrying capability can push a 200-times heavier microcube with translation and rotation motion. A single cell and multiple cells can be transported facilely by a single Ni-MAR to the target position. This work provides a scheme for fabricating high-performance magnetic microrobots, which holds great promise for targeted therapy and drug delivery in vivo.

Remote Handling Control System and Operations of Vacuum-Compatible In-Vessel Inspection System

Remote Handling Control System and Operations of Vacuum-Compatible In-Vessel Inspection System

A semi-quantitative risk assessment of remote handling operations on the SPES Front-End based on HAZOP-LOPA

A semi-quantitative risk assessment of remote handling operations on the SPES Front-End based on HAZOP-LOPA

Smart railways: the design and construction of an autonomous inspection and maintenance vehicle

The Railway Inspection and Maintenance Vehicle (RIMV) is a state-of-the-art autonomous ground robot for the railway environment. The robot has specialised hardware tailored for specific functionalities, ensuring optimal performance in its designated tasks. It incorporates a GPS, IMU, and encoder for robust localisation, and it integrates a LiDAR system and a depth camera for collision avoidance. Prioritising safety, the RIMV features an IP camera for real-time environmental monitoring and is equipped with emergency stop mechanisms. An Ubuntu Linux machine manages the robot’s data processing, complemented by a 5G Wi-Fi router for remote monitoring and operation when necessary. ROS2 is the primary platform for robot operations, standing out for its open-source solution and enhanced cybersecurity features. We validated the RIMV in a heritage railway setting with an ultrasonic inspection kit to detect rail-track defects. Beyond this specific application, the RIMV is versatile and designed to serve as a platform for other autonomous inspection and maintenance tasks within the railway sector. Its adaptability highlights its potential to enhance efficiency and safety in railway maintenance, offering invaluable assistance to human operators across varied scenarios.

APPLICATION OF AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM TO INCREASE THE INFORMATION CONTENT OF REMOTE CONTROL OF THE OPERATION OF ON-BOARD SYSTEMS OF AIRCRAFT

This paper explores the application of artificial intelligence (AI) systems to augment the information content and efficacy of remote-control operations for on-board systems in aircraft. With the aviation industry rapidly advancing towards automation and digitalization, there is a growing need for intelligent solutions that optimize remote control processes. This study investigates various AI techniques such as machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing to analyze vast amounts of data generated by on-board systems. By leveraging AI, this research aims to enhance the efficiency, reliability, and safety of remote-control operations in aircraft. Additionally, the paper discusses challenges, potential benefits, and ethical considerations associated with implementing AI in aviation. Through a comprehensive examination of AI applications, this research contributes to advancing the integration of intelligent technologies in aircraft operations, paving the way for more autonomous and adaptive air transportation systems.

A CNN Plastic Detection Model for Embedded Platform of ROV

Plastic pollution has a negative influence on biodiversity especially in aquatic ecosystems, and it has been labelled as one of the greatest dangers to biota. This paper proposes a Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) based plastic detection model for the embedded platform to identify different shapes of underwater plastics such as bags, bottles, containers, cups, nets, pipes, ropes, snack wrappers and tarps. The model is optimized for Raspberry Pi using OpenVINO framework, with the intention to produce a cost-effective edge system for a Remote Operating Vehicle (ROV) system. The development of the model utilizes a pre-trained object detection model from YOLOv5 and the TrashCan 1.0 dataset, for training and testing. The final model exhibits a good performance, achieving more than 85% accuracy in the overall prediction, which highlights the model’s accuracy and reliability in detecting and classifying underwater plastic shapes. Results from this work highlight the potential of the deep learning (DL) real-time embedded processing at the edge rather by a separate computer on land, using a cost-effective embedded platform.

A Real-time, Remotely Operated Vehicle, using a Raspberry Pi and a Virtual Reality Headset

A Real-time, Remotely Operated Vehicle, using a Raspberry Pi and a Virtual Reality Headset

Biomimetic laser-induced graphene fern leaf and enzymatic biosensor for pesticide spray collection and monitoring.

Monitoring of pesticide concentration distribution across farm fields is crucial to ensure precise and efficient application while preventing overuse or untreated areas. Inspired by nature's wettability patterns, we developed a biomimetic fern leaf pesticide collection patch using laser-induced graphene (LIG) alongside an external electrochemical LIG biosensor. This "collect-and-sense" system allows for rapid pesticide spray monitoring in the farm field. The LIG is synthesized and patterned on polyimide through a high-throughput gantry-based CO2 laser process, making it amenable to scalable manufacturing. The resulting LIG-based leaf exhibits a remarkable water collection capacity, harvesting spray mist/fog at a rate approximately 11 times greater than a natural ostrich fern leaf when the collection is normalized to surface area. The developed three-electrode LIG pesticide biosensor, featuring a working electrode functionalized with electrodeposited platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) and the enzyme glycine oxidase, displayed a linear range of 10-260 μM, a detection limit of 1.15 μM, and a sensitivity of 5.64 nA μM-1 for the widely used herbicide glyphosate. Also, a portable potentiostat with a user-friendly interface was developed for remote operation, achieving an accuracy of up to 97%, when compared to a standard commercial benchtop potentiostat. The LIG "collect-and-sense" system can consistently collect and monitor glyphosate spray after 24-48 hours of spraying, a time that corresponds to the restricted-entry interval required to enter most farm fields after pesticide spraying. Hence, this innovative "collect-and-sense" system not only advances precision agriculture by enabling monitoring and mapping of pesticide distribution but also holds the potential to significantly reduce environmental impact, enhance crop management practices, and contribute to the sustainable and efficient use of agrochemicals in modern agriculture.

FEM MODEL OF AN UNDERWATER VEHICLE THRUSTER PROPELLER

Propulsion research has been done within the context of the project for the design and optimisation of the Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). CFD and FEM simulations that took the undersea vehicle's properties into consideration supported the whole project. Optimising the semi-open duct for horizontal propellers—a quantifiable system that offered controllability and propulsion in a horizontal plane—was one of the goals. It was required to examine the construction of propellers with nozzles and contra-rotating propellers, as well as the numerical approach of propeller design, in order to build a model for this work. Theoretical solutions were presented to it, one of which included operating the examined propeller close to an underwater vehicle. Additionally, first qualitative studies of a streamlined system with a semi-open duct and contra-rotating propellers were performed. Making a choice on the ROVs duct shape was made possible by the findings acquired. An actual propeller model was created using the SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) fast prototyping technique. This meant that the propeller's FEM model, which was based on the load determined by the CFD model, had to be verified. The features of the investigated ROV, the theoretical foundation for propeller design for the situations under analysis, and the outcomes of CFD and FEM simulations are all included in this paper.

A Robotic Teleoperation System Enhanced by Augmented Reality for Natural Human–Robot Interaction

Telekinesis, as commonly portrayed in science fiction literature and cinema, is a super power wherein users control and manipulate objects absent in physical interaction. In real world, enhancing human–robot interaction needs the synthesis of human intuitive processes with robotic arm. This paper introduces a robotic teleoperation system achieving the essence of telekinetic operations, combining the profound capabilities of augmented reality (AR) with the robotic arm operations. Utilizing AR, the proposed methodology offers operators with a visual feedback, facilitating a level of control surpassing the capacities of natural interfaces. By using AR-driven visual recognition, this system achieves operations in a virtual environment, subsequently actualized in the real world through the robotic arm. Through multiple experiments, we found that the system has a small margin of error in telekinesis operations, meeting the needs of remote operation. Furthermore, our system can operate on objects in the real world. These experiments underscore the capability of the remote control system to assist humans in accomplishing a wider range of tasks through the integration of AR and robotic arms, providing a natural human–robot interaction approach.

ROV6D: 6D Pose Estimation Benchmark Dataset for Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles

ROV6D: 6D Pose Estimation Benchmark Dataset for Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles

Smart Approach for Fire Detection Systems in Kigali

The functional buildings and other sensitive places in Rwanda are highly affected by sudden fire outbreaks caused by reckless human actions and unexpected incidents resulting in highly valuable property damage and human lives losses. To tackle this problem, security and safety measures against unexpected fire outbreaks in real-time with the help of modern technologies are required. In this study, the real-time smart fire outbreak detector and extinguisher system were designed for monitoring and controlling the sudden fire outbreak inside a building using Internet of Things (IoT) technology. In this system, the smart sensor node was designed based on an ESP-8266 module with Gas, temperature, and flame sensors for fire outbreak detection as well as an automatic fire outbreak location finder with an extinguisher system. It also employs a smartphone with a customized mobile app (Blynk Application) that provides the interface between the user and the system through a platform. As a result, around 655 ppm of smoke was detected which is the indicator for abnormal conditions together with all other values greater than 400 ppm. The developed Blynk App successfully linked the building and remote operator for notification about the fire condition on smartphones for decision making.

Autonomous Ship’s Remote Operation Situation Occurrence Probability Estimation Model based on Navigation Areas

Autonomous Ship’s Remote Operation Situation Occurrence Probability Estimation Model based on Navigation Areas

Integrated and intelligent remote operation centres (I2ROCs): Assessing the human–machine requirements for 21st century mining operations

The futuristic view of smart mines is the attainment of automated self-governed mines without human intervention throughout the value chain. However, reality entails a hybrid environment where humans and machines must effectively work together, with a bias towards machines highly aiding human capabilities. The minerals industry will require systems, processes and strategies to navigate this hybrid environment and transitional period. In this work, we focus on the role that integrated remote operation centres (IROCs) will play in ensuring that mining companies continue to get value from technological advancements during the transformation period. A review of IROC implementations by leading mining companies revealed that most functions in IROCs are powered by low-level artificial intelligence, in which most capabilities are goal-oriented. In this situation, automated machines and processes are programmed to accomplish specific tasks without a two-way intelligent interaction with humans. An integrated and intelligent remote operation centre can provide additional benefits. We refer to such a facility as I2ROC. I2ROCs offer opportunities beyond the traditional command-and-control capabilities by providing analytical insights and the interaction between people and machines, which contributes to better decision-making, ultimately improving performance measurability. In this paper, several enablers of I2ROCs are identified, as well as drivers that will accelerate I2ROCs' attainment. The human element is critical in achieving the 21st Century mining model. As such, this paper takes a two-dimensional approach focusing on the role of humans and technology in the future mining model. Key factors are explored, such as the required skillset and how these skills can be enhanced. Specifically, we present essential elements defining I2ROCs and the critical requirements for a digitalised workforce fit for operation within I2ROCs. Our findings provide a comprehensive framework for multiple stakeholders to collaboratively pursue I2ROCs through effective education, training, and governance, fostering a more sustainable and resilient future.

Research on Edge-Computing-Based High Concurrency and Availability “Cloud, Edge, and End Collaboration” Substation Operation Support System and Applications

With the continuous promotion of digital transformation in the field of power transformation, the diversification of application scenarios, and the scale of pilot construction, the real-time, concurrency, and security requirements for data fusion and application support of the power monitoring system, management information system, and other business platforms are getting higher and higher, and this paper puts forward a high concurrency and availability “cloud-side-end collaboration” based on edge computing. This paper proposes a high concurrency and availability “cloud, edge and end collaboration” architecture based on edge computing for substation operation support systems. First, this paper summarizes the development status of domestic substation operation support systems and analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of various technical architectures. Then, a “cloud-side-end cooperative” substation operation support system architecture with “high real-time, high concurrency, high security and high stability” is proposed, which focuses on remote inspection, remote operation, and remote safety control of substation businesses from the perspective of engineering applications. It realizes transparent monitoring of equipment operation, unified management of operation data, and integration of production command and decision-making; solves the problems of dispersed coexistence of multiple systems for dispatching, monitoring, analysis, management, and other businesses, switching between multiple systems, and insufficient real-time and stability of the system; and controls the risks of the grid, reduces the potential safety hazards, and solves the contradiction between the continuous growth of the grid equipment and the shortage of production personnel. The results of engineering application examples show that the proposed architecture compared with the existing system architecture has greater advantages and can meet the requirements of large-scale access to the substation, with feasible popularization and application.

АНАЛІЗ ПРОСУВАННЯ ТЕХНОЛОГІЇ 5G У СВІТІ ТА ОЧІКУВАННЯ ДЛЯ УКРАЇНИ

The article analyzes the promotion, advantages and assessment of the achievements of 5G technology in the world, the available results of the implementation of 5G in various sectors of the economy despite the problems with its rapid development. The growing needs for speed and bandwidth of data transmission, increasing the number of connected devices without loss of communication quality, reducing delays and increasing reliability in conducting remote operations in real time, the development of innovations such as the Internet of Things (IoT), augmented reality ( AR) and virtual reality (VR), autonomous vehicles and the industrial sector, in particular on industrial automation and "smart" factories, the use of high-performance sensors and real-time robotics. The advantages of 5G technology, characterized by high data transfer speed, low support (latency), large network capacity, and improved mobility, are given. Episodes of the use of 5G in the military field in real time are described, to instantly store and reproduce large volumes of video and graphics, smart cities that use 5G to support a large number of sensors and sensors in the city, to implement a variety of services, energy management, public transport monitoring. Considered, the relevance of using the 5G mobile network in Ukraine remains high. The necessary steps in Ukraine from the development of standards, the allocation of frequencies, the creation of infrastructure and the acquisition of the necessary number of devices that support 5G are considered. A forecast of expected results such as infrastructure expansion is provided; access to a wide range of frequencies, including low and high bands; the ability to resist cyber attacks from a wide range of sources; energy efficient; compatible with existing infrastructure and other communication protocols. It was concluded that the introduction of the 5G network as soon as possible will provide an impetus for Ukraine from a technical and economic point of view.

Bridging the Gap: Enhancing Maritime Vessel Cyber Resilience through Security Operation Centers.

Increasingly disruptive cyber-attacks in the maritime domain have led to more efforts being focused on enhancing cyber resilience. From a regulatory perspective, there is a requirement that maritime stakeholders implement measures that would enable the timely detection of cyber events, leading to the adoption of Maritime Security Operation Centers (M-SOCs). At the same time, Remote Operation Centers (ROCs) are also being discussed to enable increased adoption of highly automated and autonomous technologies, which could further impact the attack surface of vessels. The main objective of this research was therefore to better understand both enabling factors and challenges impacting the effectiveness of M-SOC operations. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine M-SOC experts. Informed by grounded theory, incident management emerged as the core category. By focusing on the factors that make M-SOC operations a unique undertaking, the main contribution of this study is that it highlights how maritime connectivity challenges and domain knowledge impact the M-SOC incident management process. Additionally, we have related the findings to a future where M-SOC and ROC operations could be converged.

One way to improve the quality of a medical manipulator for sterile boxes

Today, the advanced robot-surgeons and medical manipulators are managed by operators. Among the best recognized systems are: Da Vinci, Robodoc, SMR Surgical Versius. Further development of medical robotic surgery field requires new solutions in the engineering and software spheres. The main issues and directions are remote surgical operations online as well as automation of processes in sterile boxes. To overcome such limitations, the system must be of minimal size, but it should not lose its accuracy and power. A large number of solutions are aimed at a specific characteristic: Robodoc (accuracy and automation), Da Vinci (flexibility and remote control), SMR Surgical Versius (modularity and miniaturization). If the system has high accuracy, small dimensions and the possibility of automation, it will significantly accelerate the development of robotic surgery.
 This task can be solved by removing all electronic components from the segments of the manipulator. Such a solution is already available in the robot surgeon Da Vinci, but a cable mechanism is used there at the base of the segments, which does not allow automating the process because of a low accuracy. The solution that will ensure sufficient accuracy and allow automating the processes is using a bevel gear inside the segments. In this way, it is possible to reduce significantly the size and to increase the accuracy (enlarging the number and type of motors), as well as to make the system as modular as possible, which in its turn will simplify the repair and maintenance.
 A manipulator prototype was developed and printed on the NodeMcu hardware platform. The main functionality corresponds to the task. The dimensions of the prototype are 324x324x620 mm, but at the same time, like Da Vinci's robotic surgeon, 7 degrees of freedom remained. Nema17 motors have been used, the accuracy has increased significantly and reaches more than 0.01mm Automation research is still ongoing, but the vibration rate has been significantly reduced because all the motors are placed separately. Technical solutions will allow automating work in sterile boxes, ensuring maximum reliability.