For the monitoring of large landslides, total stations equipped with an Electronic Distance Meter (EDM) are widely used. To obtain the atmospheric parameters, required along the line of sight of every measure, the data collected by a weather station close to the instrument are usually adopted. Even after these corrections, the results obtained in the monitoring of areas with complex topography don’t reach the accuracies theoretically attainable by the high-end instruments. The article proposes a method for removing the errors due to the influence of microclimate on the measurements obtained by a high-end EDM, in order to get the maximum accuracy obtainable from such instruments. The method is based on an atmospheric model, set up by using the climatic data and a digital terrain model (DTM) of the landslide area. The methodology has been applied to a landslide in southern Italy. Over 38,000 distances, acquired for each monitored point, were used. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the method: the standard deviations of the distances after their correction, show a reduction, ranging from 20% to 50%, with respect to the most diffused procedures; furthermore, the obtained accuracy equals the one declared by the manufacturer of the instrument for measurements in optimal conditions.

An integrated sensor for the measurement and monitoring of position and inclination, characterized by low cost, small size and low weight, has been designed, realized and calibrated at the Geomatics Lab of the University of Calabria. The design of the prototype, devoted to the monitoring of landslides and structures, was aiming at realizing a fully automated monitoring instrument, able to send the data acquired periodically or upon request by a control center through a bidirectional transmission protocol. The sensor can be released with different accuracy and range of measurement, by choosing bubble vials with different characteristics. The instrument is provided with a computer, which can be programmed so as to independently perform the processing of the data collected by a single sensor or a by a sensor network, and to transmit, consequently, alert signals if the thresholds determined by the monitoring center are exceeded. The bidirectional transmission also allows the users to vary the set of the monitoring parameters (time of acquisition, duration of satellite acquisitions, thresholds for the observed data). In the paper, hardware and software of the sensor are described, along with the calibration, the results of laboratory tests and of the first in field acquisitions.

All machining processes involve vibrations generated by structural sources such as a machine’s moving parts or by the interaction between cutting tools and work-pieces. Relative vibrations between the work-pieces and the cutting tool are the most relevant from the point of view of the regenerative chatter phenomenon. In fact, these vibrations can lead to a chip yregeneration effect, which results in unwanted consequences, rapidly degenerating towards a very poor quality of surface finishing or, in case of severe chatter conditions, to machine-tool or work-piece damage. In the past decades, two different approaches for chatter avoidance were proposed by the scientific community, and they are commonly referred to as Out-of-Process (OuP) and in-Process (iP) solutions. The OuP solutions are off-line approaches, which allow to properly set the working parameters before machining starts. Ip solutions are on-line techniques, which allow to dynamically change the working parameters during machining by using single or multiple sensors. By monitoring the machining process, iP algorithms try to keep the machining process in stable working conditions while keeping high productivity levels. This study dealt with a novel iP chatter-detection strategy based on the Power Spectral Density (PSD) analysis and on the Wavelet Packet Decomposition (WPD) of different sensor signals. The preliminary results demonstrate the stability and feasibility of proposed indicators for chatter detection in industrial application.

Brain injuries resulting from spinal cord injuries, strokes, or cerebral palsy are among the traumas most capable of compromising the motor activities of human limbs, hence the necessity for the development of exoskeletons dedicated to the rehabilitation of these organs. This review examines the landscape of actuators essential for the design of cutting-edge upper-limb rehabilitation exoskeletal structures. Beyond merely surveying the current types of actuators available, the paper aims to provide guidelines for selecting actuators that fit optimally with the objectives of upper-limb rehabilitation. The description starts with a brief discussion on the biomechanics of the upper limbs, focusing on the kinematics of pivotal joints (wrist, elbow, shoulder). Subsequently, the existing actuators are systematically reviewed, offering detailed insights into their primary features, operational principles, strengths, weaknesses, and noteworthy applications within the realm of rehabilitation robotics. After the discussion about the actuators, the paper advances by furnishing valuable guidelines for actuators’ selection tailored for upper limb rehabilitation. These guidelines discuss crucial factors, such as the forces required and the natural Range Of Motions (ROMs) of upper limb joints. Finally, the manuscript serves as a valuable resource for researchers, engineers, and practitioners involved in the development of innovative upper-limb rehabilitation devices.