Viorel Costin Banta*, Dorian Cojocaru**
*PhD Student, Mechatronics Department, University of Craiova, Romania ** Mechatronics Department, Faculty of Automation, Computers and Electronics, University of Craiova, Romania (e-mail: bantaviorel@gmail.com, cojocaru@robotics.ucv.ro)

Abstract: The scope of the present article is to present a proposal regarding the integration methods, models and workflow used in the metrology field with the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. One of the main topics of the author's PhD research is the development methodology and the implementation of a metrology software application for the calibration of oil tanks. The developed application is integrated with an existing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system used by important Oil & Gas Company. The software application was developed in the SAP (System and Applications Products) programming environment ABAP (Advanced Business Application Programming), using the latest Web Dynpro WD technology. The development methodology includes the analysis, implementation and testing of the software application.
Keywords: metrology, workflow, enterprise resource planning, advanced business application.

Vlad Georgeanu*, Vlad Predescu*, Tudor Atasiei*, Mihai Ciprian*, tefan Cristea*, Lucian Gruionu**
* Sf. Pantelimon Bucharest Hospital, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Bucharest, Romania (e-mail: vgeorgeanu@hotmail.com) ** Faculty of Engineering and Management of Technological Systems, University of Craiova, Romania

Abstract: The main cause of the premature deterioration of the knee arthroplasty is represented by the failure in restoration of the joint biomechanics with a direct effect in affecting the stability and mobility of the neo-articulation. Walking is a daily activity, which strains both the polyethylene and the bone-prosthesis interface. The determination of some parameters that can be influenced, like the maximum straining point during walking, is extremely useful in order to increase the survival of knee arthroplasties. This maximum straining point is at 15o flexion during the stage of unipodal weight bearing and makes an overstraining in vertical plane and less in the anteroposterior and mediolateral planes. The present work uses the Finite Element Method (FEM). For modelling, image acquisition and simulation several software packages are used, such as the geometric modelling software Pro/Engineer® (Parametric Technology Corporation), Matlab (The MathWorks), and SIMI® Motion (SIMI Reality Motion Systems GmbH).
Keywords: Total knee arthroplasty, Finite element method, Walking analysis, Simulation.

Ionela Iancu*, Eugen Iancu**
*Department of Physiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 4, Petru Rares Street, RO-200349, Craiova, Romania (e-mail: ionela.iancu@umfcv.ro, http://www.umfcv.ro) **Department of Automation and Electronic, University of Craiova, 107 Decebal Street, RO-200440 Craiova, Romania (e-mail: Eugen.Iancu@automation.ucv.ro, http://www.ace.ucv.ro)

Abstract: This study show that the spectral analysis of the sounds of heart is a non-invasive method known to be useful in evaluating the state of the valves. Examples of the frequency range of heart sounds are presented with the help of conventional frequency analyses with the Fourier transform and with the Wigner-Ville distribution. The spectral analysis reveals the frequency band and may have significant clinical implication in diagnosis and in the management of the therapy.
Keywords: Heart sound, signal processing, Fourier transform, Wigner-Ville distribution, spectral analyse.

Sorin Ilie
University of Craiova, Computers and Software Engineering Department, Bvd. Decebal 107, Craiova, Romania (e-mail:ilie_sorin@software.ucv.ro)

Abstract: In this paper a survey on existing distributed approaches to Ant Colony Optimization(ACO) is presented. The comparison criteria that have been used are computational efficiency and speedup. This paper includes the agent-based approaches to ACO and general distribution frameworks that can be applied to ACO. The conclusion of this study is that the coarse grained master-slave model is the most studied. However, we found a large amount of papers sustaining that the island approach offers better solution quality. The added flexibility of the communication strategy between the islands makes this model preferred by the most current papers.
Keywords: Distributed Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Swarm Intelligence, ACO.

Emil Petre
Department of Automatic Control, Electronics and Mechatronics, University of Craiova, Craiova, Romania (e-mail: epetre@ automation.ucv.ro).

Abstract: This paper deals with adaptive and robust-adaptive control applied to a bio-dissimilation continuous process of glycerol to 1, 3-propanediol. Firstly, an indirect adaptive control structure is achieved by combining a linearizing control law with a state observer and a parameter estimator used for on-line estimation of the bioprocess unknown kinetics. Secondly, under the realistic assumption that the bioprocess kinetics are unknown and time-varying and the influent flow rates are time-varying and uncertain, but some lower and upper bounds of these uncertainties are known, a robust-adaptive control structure is designed by combining a linearizing control law with an appropriately interval observer able to estimate lower and upper bounds of the unknown states and a parameter estimator able to estimates the unknown reaction rates. The effectiveness and performance of the designed control algorithms are illustrated by numerical simulations.
Keywords: Nonlinear processes, Adaptive control, Robust-adaptive control, Glycerol fermentation bioprocess.

Dorin Popescu*, Dan Selisteanu*
* Department of Automation, Electronics and Mechatronics,University of Craiova, A.I. Cuza 13, RO-200585, Craiova, Romania (e-mail: dorinp@robotics.ucv.ro, dansel@automation.ucv.ro)

Abstract: Robotics is a multidisciplinary science and involves a variety of topics ranging from mechanics to electronics, automatic control and informatics. Therefore, training in robotics is a difficult problem. Considering the importance of practices in robotics education and training, the paper presents the real robotic systems from University of Craiova and several implemented training methods like an interactive teaching system useful in modelling and control of robotic structures, virtual systems, on-line (remote) systems. The developed systems help students to understand robotics and to compare different training methods. Also, the paper presents implemented activities to motivate the students and attract secondary school students.
Keywords: Engineering education, Robotics, On-line systems, Simulation, Virtual systems.

Daniel Strimbeanu*, Viorel Gheorghe Stoian**
*Technical High School "Nicolae Balcescu", Computers Department, 47, Nicolae Balcescu Street, 235100, Bals, Romania ( e-mail: strimbeanudaniel@ yahoo.com). ** CCMR Craiova, Decebal Street, no. 107, 200440, Craiova, Romania (e-mail:viorel.stoian@gmail.com)

Abstract: In this paper the mathematical model of a damper with smart (electro-rheological-ER) fluids used to robot joins is presented. The torque generated by the ER damper has two components: a torque due to the viscous damping and a torque due to the ER fluid. The viscous damping torque is the output of the damper with non-applied electric field. The ER torque is the torque due to an applied electric field. The magnitude of the ER torque is much larger than the viscous damping torque. Using the ER damper to robot joins from a robot system, undesirable join vibrations can be efficiently compensated.
Keywords: dynamic model, electro-rheological fluids, damping process.