We monitored the evolution in time of pinhole-free structures based on FTO/TiO/CHNHPbICl layers, with and without spiro-OMeTAD and counter electrodes (Ag, Mo/Ag, and Au), aged at 24 °C in a dark nitrogen atmosphere. In the absence of electrodes, no degradation occurs. While devices with Au show only a 10% drop in power conversion efficiency, remaining stable after a further overheating at 70 °C, >90% is lost when using Ag, with the process being slower for Mo/Ag. We demonstrate that iodine is dislocated by the electric field between the electrodes, and this is an intrinsic cause for electromigration of I from the perovskite until it reaches the anode. The iodine exhaustion in the perovskite layer is produced when using Ag electrodes, and AgI is formed. We hypothesize that in the presence of Au the iodine migration is limited due to the buildup of I negative space charge accumulated at the perovskite-OMeTAD interface.

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This concept paper presents Mobile Agricultural Robots (MARs) for the development of precision agriculture and implicitly the smart farms through knowledge, reason, technology, interaction, learning and validation. Finding new strategies and control algorithms for MARs has led to the design of an Autonomous Robotic Platform Weed Control (ARoPWeC). The paradigm of this concept is based on the integration of intelligent agricultural subsystems into mobile robotic platforms. For maintenance activities in case of hoeing crops (corn, potatoes, vegetables, vineyards), ARoPWeC benefits from the automatic guidance subsystem and spectral analysis subsystem for differentiation and classification of the weeds. The elimination of weeds and pests is done through the Drop-on-Demand spray subsystem with multi-objective control, and for increasing efficiency through the Deep Learning subsystem.

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Biomechanical systems for human upper limb have been studied and developed for more than 60 years, due to requirements of improving life quality for people who cannot partially, or totally, use their hand. This paper presents aspects related to preliminary research (kinematic model of thumb, 3D mechanic model, hard-software platform) of a bionic hand that will be done and is intended to be of high sensitivity, good accuracy, low weight, friendly user interface, with efficient command and control system.

Techniques for the detection and recognition of objects have experienced continuous development over recent years, as their application and benefits are so very obvious. Whether they are involved in driving a car, environment surveillance and security, or assistive living for people with different disabilities, not to mention advanced robotic surgery, these techniques are almost indispensable. This article presents the research results of a distance assessment using object detection and recognition techniques. The first is a new technique based on low-cost photo cameras and special sign detection. The second is a classic approach based on a LIDAR sensor and an HQ photo camera. Its novelty, in this case, consists of the concept and prototype of the hardware subsystem for high-precision distance measurement, as well as fast and accurate object recognition. The experimentally obtained results are used for the motion control strategy (directional inverse kinematics) of the robotic arm (virtual prototype) component in special assistive devices designed for visually impaired persons. The advantages of the original technical solution, experimentally validated by a prototype system with modern equipment, are the precision and the short time required for the identification and recognition of objects at relatively short distances. The research results obtained, in both the real and virtual experiments, stand as a basis for the further development of the visually impaired mechatronic system prototype using additional ultrasonic sensors, stereoscopic or multiple cameras, and the implementation of machine-learning models for safety-critical tasks.

This paper presents research results on a prosthesis for human hand, focused on the need to be light weight and user friendly, with relatively low costs and enabling people have almost normal life. The idea to have a customized hand prosthesis, whose dimensios and aspect look as much as possible to that of the real hand pointed to the reverse engineering technique. The authors’ concept of prosthesis for hand is that of three phalanges finger and, mainly, two rotational motions for each of the fingers. Considering the 3D model of the hand prosthesis, with phalanges lengths and joints, there has been done kinematic analysis so that trajectories of fingers were determined and plotted. For the research presentd by this paper, are evidenced the 3D models and stages of rapid prototyping fused deposition models (FDM) of the index finger phalanges. Motion control has been modelled using fuzzy logic. The studied motion is that of getting closer to an object in order to take / grip it. Further development of the research will be focused on: all mechanical components detailed design; complete desgin of the command and control system for the mechatronic parts; prototyping; test and validation of the prosthesis prototype.

The article focused on the advanced intelligent control of the stability of anthropomorphic walking robots (AWRs), in order to validate a new and useful method of moving in the virtual environment, which determines a substantial increase in their stability. The obtained results lead to Versatile Intelligent Portable Robot Platform VIPRO, developed to improve the walking anthropomorphic robots' performances, provide unlimited power for design, test, experiment the real time control methods by integrating the Intelligent Control Interfaces (ICIs) in robot modeling and simulation for all types of humanoid robots, rescue robots, firefighting robots.