Due to increasing mobility and energy conservation needs, improving bus and coach safety without adding weight is essential. Many crashes with fatal outcomes for vehicle occupants are associated with the rollover of the vehicle, revealing the structural weakness of the steel pillars between windows, which must resist high levels of bending during rollovers. This study aims to reinforce these pillars with expired carbon fiber prepreg from the aircraft industry, improving safety and reducing environmental waste. To manufacture the pillars, shot-blasted hollow S275 steel tubes with a side length of 25 mm and a thickness of 1.5 mm were used. Bidirectional GG600T woven carbon fiber, CF, and aircraft-grade recycled carbon fiber-reinforced plastic, rCFRP, prepreg M21EV/IMA/3 were used as composite reinforcements. The first composite was made from a CF weave using the rigid epoxy resin Sicomin® 8500/Sicomin® SD8601. The rCFRP composite was frayed, and a new composite was made with the same rigid epoxy resin. Both composites were joined to the steel tube using a tough structural adhesive (SikaPower® 1277). A third composite was obtained using the frayed rCFRP and the structural adhesive as a polymer matrix. All composites were treated with an APPT (atmospheric-pressure plasma torch) before being joined to the steel pillar with the structural adhesive. The comparison of the three reinforcements showed that the steel reinforced with the recycled prepreg composite manufactured with the rigid adhesive performed best, with a 50% increase in specific bending strength and only a 32% increase in weight. It also absorbed 71% more energy, which shows that this novel option for upcycling can noticeably increase the crashworthiness of structures.

In recent years, ecofriendly and renewable energy solutions have gained relevance mainly to lessen the effects of climate change. Governments and companies across the world have commitments to reduce fuel consumption and emissions as part of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Solar energy systems have great importance as a renewable energy source; however, they often have large space requirements to be effective, e.g., large areas covered by solar panels, as well as low efficiency and strong dependance on the weather. On the other hand, origami, the art of folding paper, can be a source of inspiration for new technologies and solutions for modern problems. In this paper, origami-inspired solar panels are presented as a potential solution for naval and mining operations. Prototype panels are manufactured based on the Miura-Ori pattern. Using this pattern, the photovoltaic modules can be folded by just one movement, thus reducing their footprint by up to 90%. The prototype photovoltaic modules are then tested on land and on board a vessel, where their efficiency and resistance can be tested. It is shown that naval and mining operations, where fuel consumption can be extremely high and available space is a major constraint, benefit greatly from this kind of development.

Wheelchairs are essential for people with reduced mobility. Motorization of these devices can provide an increase quality of living and independence for their users. However, the cost of electric wheelchairs makes them inaccessible to users from developing countries. To address this issue, a low-cost modular kit is proposed, designed and manufactured. The mechatronic design of the kit includes the mechanical design of the components as well as dimensioning, the selection of electronic components, as well as the incorporation of IoT technology to be able to control it using a smartphone if necessary. The resulting modular kit proves to be useful as it can be rapidly installed on a commercial wheelchair without modifying its structure. Preliminary tests of the functional prototype show the wheelchair can provide enhanced mobility to the user, a low turning radius for narrow spaces, as wells as the ability to easily climb up and down on ramps.