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- A prototype to enhance academic attendance using BLE beaconsPublication . Simas, Sily; Oliveira, Pedro Filipe; Matos, PauloThis project addresses the prototyping and application of an attendance control solution in an academic context, using Beacons. The introduction highlights the importance of effectively managing student attendance to ensure active participation in educational activities and provide insights into student engagement. BLE Beacons technology is compared to other RF signaling technologies, highlighting its advantages in terms of range, power consumption, cost, frequency, and data rate. BLE Beacon is chosen as the preferred technology due to its combination of adequate range, low power consumption, affordable cost, compatibility, security, and flexibility. The results section presents Estimote Beacons as devices used, highlighting their advanced features and techniques used, such as proximity and triangulation, to determine student presence. A visual summary of the project is presented in a flowchart that illustrates the operating processes of each stage. This solution promises to significantly improve the efficiency, safety, and quality of the academic environment, while simplifying the attendance recording process and providing valuable insights into student behavior.
- BLEGen — a code generator for bluetooth low energy servicesPublication . Oliveira, Pedro Filipe; Matos, PauloThe BLEGen is a retargeting generation code tool to implement Bluetooth Low Energy services. Based on a specification of the main characteristics of the BLE services, the BLEGen is able to produce all the necessary C code to implement the services for the chosen microchip. The specifications are written using a domain specific language, which was designed to allow a very compact, easy to understand, highly focused on the BLE standard concepts and fully independent of the details and constraints of the target microchip. The BLEGen was conceived based on the builder design pattern to be a retargeting tool. This means that it is able to generate code for distinct target microchips, using the correspondent BLE software stack and taking advantage of the concrete microchip architecture. The BLEGen allows the implementation of new BLE services, reducing significantly the development time and the level of expertise, since it avoids a long learning period to understand the BLE stack used by each manufacturer and the microchip architecture. At this paper, it is presented the motivation, the domain specific language defined to describe the BLE services, the architecture of the BLEGen and the solutions adopted to make it a retargeting tool.
- SmartSpaces: aware of users, preferences, behavioursandhabits, in a non-invasive approachPublication . Oliveira, Pedro Filipe; Novais, Paulo; Matos, PauloThe aim of this work is to take advantage of emerging technologies available in the market that support the so called wearable devices, and the non-invasive particularity of these to, in an autonomous way, adapt the environment to the comfort parameters of each user (e.g. thermal, acoustic, air quality, light, sun exposure). Provide comfort according to the preferences of each individual, is a challenge and an opportunity to create innovative solutions and new paradigms in the context of Intelligent Environments. Currently this challenge has as main difficulties, the people’s mobility, the disparity of habits, schedules and the individual comfort preferences. The same is aggravated when depending on physiological conditions, derived from a large number of factors (tiredness, mood, etc.), user preferences often suffer significant changes, that current systems can not measure. Figure 1, shows the development environment of this work. Explaining this figure, it can be seen the user who through its different devices (smartphone, wearable, and other compatible) communicates with the system, using technologies, like Near Field Communication (NFC), Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) or Wi-Fi Direct. Next, the system performs communication with the Cloud, to validate the information. And the system will perform the management of the different components in the environment (climatization systems, security systems, other smart systems).
- Manage ambient comfort preferences and conflicts on a smart environmentPublication . Oliveira, Pedro Filipe; Novais, Paulo; Matos, PauloManaging comfort preferences conflicts of the different users and locals on an IoT adaptive system is an actual problem, this paper proposes a protocol and hierarchical rules to develop a multi-agent system to achieve a smart environment that supports interaction between persons and physical spaces, where spaces smartly adapt to their preferences in a transparent way. And a set of security customizations to secure the actuators and users on space, that has been developed using a multi-agent system architecture with different features to achieve a solution that support the proposed objectives. This work resulted in the specification of an architecture that supports the solution found, to solve the problem. The agent system model is fully developed. At this stage the agent layer was developed, implemented, and is now in a testing phase. Now it will be tested and validated using real case studies, to gather statistical information to assess its effectiveness and performance. With this work, the specification of constraints for all preferences specifications was achieved. In this way the safety of users and actuators present in space is achieved. Also, the total development of an architecture and respective cognitive model for a Smart Home was achieved, using a multi-agent system with BDI agents, developed using Jason and ARGO. The main objective of this work was to verify the potential that this type of architecture has for the development of ubiquitous multi-agent system using low-cost hardware, such as Raspberry’s.
- Espaços inteligentes: conhecedores de utilizadores, preferências, comportamentos e hábitos numa abordagem não invasivaPublication . Oliveira, Pedro Filipe; Novais, Paulo; Matos, Paulo; Plasencia, PaulaEste projeto de doutoramento está integrado nas atividades de investigação aplicada e desenvolvimento tecnológico da Techwelf, Lda, empresa dedicada à conceção de soluções de Intelligent Environment. Como salientado em [6] existem novas perspectivas de pesquisa na área de ambientes inteligentes que devem ser exploradas. Nomeadamente os conceitos de casas inteligentes e domótica [7], atualmente em crescente expansão tanto do ponto de vista de investigação científica, como a nível de procura do mercado de melhores soluções neste campo. Pretende-se tirar partido das tecnologias emergentes que suportam os denominados dispositivos wearables [12, 13], e da particularidade não invasiva destes, para de forma autónoma adaptar o ambiente aos parâmetros de conforto de cada utilizador (térmico, acústico, qualidade do ar, luminosidade, exposição solar e outros). Isto promoverá as condições de conforto à medida de cada individuo, potenciando soluções inovadoras e novos paradigmas no âmbito dos Intelligent Environments [8, 11]. Para consolidar e sustentar o projeto proposto, foram analisados diversos artigos científicos para validar a originalidade e inovação do projeto. Pelo que se constata, atualmente a recolha de dados para análise de comportamentos em ambientes inteligentes é efetuada sobretudo recorrendo à instalação de diversos sensores dispersos pelo ambiente [1, 3]. Como se concluiu em [2], o sistema perfeito de aprendizagem para ambientes inteligentes ainda não foi encontrado, e qualquer contributo nesta área coloca-nos um passo mais próximo da verdadeira realidade de ambientes inteligentes. É ainda referida a necessidade e o desafio de estabelecer um novo paradigma eficaz para ambient intelligence, onde o foco passe a ser o utilizador e a capacidade de gerir a complexidade e riqueza da vida humana diária [2, 11]. Um problema recorrente neste campo é a gestão de conflitos de interesses [5, 9], entre diversos utilizadores para um mesmo espaço, que nesta proposta de solução pretende ser ultrapassado recorrendo a sistemas de multiagentes, assim como à recolha em tempo real de informação do utilizador (temperatura corporal, pulsação) [4]. Após a análise do estado da arte, podemos salientar o carácter de inovação científica e contributo que este projeto poderá trazer a esta área. Pois propõe-se neste projeto a conceção e desenvolvimento de soluções com vista a estabelecer um novo paradigma. Poder-se-á, recorrendo às tecnologias e dispositivos wearables emergentes no mercado (smartwatches, smartphones, fitness trackers) [5], focalizar-se o processo de recolha de dados no utilizador sempre tendo em conta que será um processo não invasivo. Isto alavancará/enriquecerá de forma substancial o processo de tomada de decisão e ultrapassará os limites físicos até aqui impostos pela necessidade dos sensores serem colocados estaticamente no espaço. Pode referir-se esta proposta como tendo um carácter de relevante inovação, tanto a nível científico, como industrial. Anteriormente a esta proposta, a empresa efetuou diversos estudos de mercado, tendose concluído que a nível nacional não existe qualquer produto nesta área que possua qualquer tipo de automatismo. A nível internacional, existem alguns produtos com algumas funcionalidades implementadas, mas que necessitam sempre da programação e configuração destas por parte do utilizador, e não possuem qualquer grau de inteligência artificial, que possibilite capacidades preditivas e melhorias na eficácia do produto na tomada de decisão. Pretende-se criar uma solução que permita tirar partido das tecnologias emergentes no mercado que suportam os denominados dispositivos wearables (smartwatches, smartphones, fitness trackers) e não invasividade destes, para proceder à recolha de dados de uma forma autónoma, transparente e sem qualquer necessidade de intervenção por parte do utilizador, para com esta informação auxiliar o processo de tomada de decisão dos sistemas de conforto na sua tarefa de adaptar o ambiente aos parâmetros de conforto de cada utilizador (térmico, acústico, qualidade do ar, luminosidade, exposição solar e outros). Esta solução passará ainda por recorrer a sistemas de multiagentes inteligentes [17, 18], efetuar uma gestão completa a nível de possíveis conflitos de interesses que possam existir entre utilizadores para um mesmo espaço. Especificamente com este projeto pretende-se atingir os seguintes objetivos: - Caracterizar os diferentes tipos de ambiente (Ambient Intelligence). - Caracterizar o conforto nas suas diferentes vertentes e dimensões. - Definir uma arquitetura base para um sistema não invasivo que tire partido das tecnologias e dispositivos emergentes de recolha de dados wearables (smartwatches, smartphones, fitness trackers) para a finalidade prevista. - Utilizar agentes inteligentes [19] para representar os vários intervenientes, contextos e dimensões do problema, que cooperem para alcançar a solução ótima. - Desenvolver soluções que permitam a ubiquidade na identificação dos utilizadores e suas preferências de conforto, de forma automática e transparente, potenciando a integração entre o espaço e utilizador. - Definir uma solução de agentes [20] que facilite a interação do utilizador com os sistemas atuais. - Aplicar o protótipo proposto numa unidade de saúde e numa instituição de ensino superior, tirando partido das parcerias já existentes por parte da empresa albergue. - Avaliar o protótipo utilizando problemas reais/simulados de gestão de conflitos entre diferentes preferências de conforto de utilizadores para um mesmo espaço.
- Simulation of user habits in a context of intelligent environmentsPublication . Oliveira, Pedro Filipe; Matos, PauloIn most of the research projects carried out, data are usually needed to simulate the behavior and efficiency of the proposed solutions, since it is necessary to use them to validate and test the research carried out at the most diverse levels. The development of this project also arises from the need to gather information on the comfort preferences (temperature, humidity, musical playlist, musical genre, etc.) of multiple users. And besides that, also have the information of how each user adapts their preferences to the place where it is. This information, in addition to being necessary on a large scale (hundreds of users), would also be necessary in a very broad timeframe, always longer than one year. As it is known that comfort preferences normally vary according to a seasonal character, namely at the level of the seasons. Getting data with this dimension and involving so many users is a difficult task and, in addition to the users collaboration, would require a high cost, regarding the equipment needed to collect this information. Thus an algorithm was created, which simulates not only the variation of preferences of the different users, but also their daily life, taking into account the different places that it frequents (home, work, places of leisure). In addition, the relationship between users is also established, introducing the concept of family as well as co-workers.With this work, and the algorithm developed, were achieved in full the objectives proposed for this project.
- Aplicação de bluetooth low energy no controlo e monitorização de dispositivos de muito baixo consumoPublication . Oliveira, Pedro Filipe; Matos, PauloThis work was performed in an industrial context, a collaboration between the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança and Techwelf Ltd, a company developing control solutions for energy management. The collaboration aimed to solve a concrete problem of one of the devices that is under development at this company, aiming to strengthen the competitive advantages of the product. The challenge was to analyze the feasibility of using Bluetooth Low Energy as wireless communication solution enabling secure monitoring and control of the device from a smartphone. But ensuring maximum energy autonomy of the device, considered as critical factor, given that communication is the main cause of energy consumption. The work carried out resulted in a technical, fully functional solution, which uses the chip nRF51822 from Nordic and an Apple iPhone. The entire system has been optimized, including the Bluetooth Low Energy GATT services, in order to maximize the autonomy of the device while ensuring the reliability and security of communication. Many of the details of the work performed and the product concerned were purposely omitted as a result of the secrecy and confidentiality agreement signed by the proposer of the dissertation.
- Adaptive system to manage everyday user comfort preferencesPublication . Oliveira, Pedro Filipe; Novais, Paulo; Matos, PauloUrban mobility brings many challenges and opportunities, particularly regarding sustainability. It is natural that we want better living conditions, we are naturally given to consuming, even when there is no need, we increasingly want to travel, socialize, enjoy and it is not easy to accept that we will most likely have to change. It is no longer a distant future, but the present that we are living. Even in the face of successful solutions, receptivity is far from being massified and in most cases it imposes compromises in terms of comfort and quality of life, sometimes even imposing new habits and ways of being. In addition, not all of us have the same perception of the situation seriousness, or the same willingness to compromise. And this can happen for numerous reasons, namely physical or health limitations, financial limitations, different beliefs/motivations, or different ways of facing problems. It is even common that the staunchest defender of certain solutions, when faced with other equally plausible solutions, is completely insensitive or even opposed. In fact, the same individual may have different needs/preferences relatively to the place where he is or the activity he is performing, that is, preferences that vary with time and place. In a broader context of mobility, in which individuals in their daily lives move and visit different places, often with the presence of more people, the situation is even more complex, the variability of preferences increases, and it is necessary to combine preferences/needs of different individuals. Emerging technologies, within the Internet of Things (IoT) scope and smart spaces [1], allow us to aspire to capable solutions in line with the urban mobility and sustainability demands and, at the same time, to promote better conditions of comfort and well-being, without imposing sacrifices or changes in habits and considering the specificities of each individual, at different time and place. These solutions whose success depends in part on the autonomy of operation, not requiring any direct and conscious participation of people, for the ability to make the best decisions given the current context and future expectations, the context being defined by the characteristics of the environment. Including the dynamics, namely those resulting from the presence/involvement of people, but also for the transparency of action, not being evasive and, if possible, fulfilling its function without people realizing the existence of the technology/solution simply the most convenient happens. There are other factors that should not be neglected, such as those related to security and privacy. In this paper, the authors propose an architecture that considers these requirements so that, in a non-evasive way, it adapts the different spaces that the user frequents (house, work, leisure, others) to their personal preferences, such as temperature, humidity, sound, environment, etc. The architecture includes the different devices needed, to identify users, as well as the communication technologies to be used to transfer the preferences of each user to the system. The architecture includes a multi-agent system that allows managing conflicts of preferences through a user’s hierarchy and that considers safety values for each preference, to safeguard the different actuators (air conditioning, fan coils, multimedia, etc.) present in space. It was developed, focusing on the definition of each user's preferences in a smartphone application, which allows the user's preferences to be transferred to the space, without the need to perform any interaction, they can also be passed through smartwatches, fitness bracelets and similar devices, which currently have different communication technologies such as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Near Field Communication (NFC) or Wifi-Direct. It also contains a local processing solution, currently supported by a Raspberry Pi, and will be present in each space where we want to adapt to different preferences. Each of these systems constantly receives each present user preferences. Based on the multi-agent system, it calculates the optimal preferences to be applied to each space at a given time. It is also responsible for sending these to the different actuators present in the space. The multi-agent system has different layers (simulation, data acquisition, user information, actuation). Briefly, there is an agent for each user present, containing their preferences, and there is an agent that represents the pace, containing eventual constraints, such as security values and others that may exist, namely in public spaces. Each of these agents aims to represent the interests of the involved parties. For example, the agent representing the space should be focused on an efficient use of equipment, minimizing energy costs, enhancing the durability of the equipment, minimizing maintenance costs. Taking advantage of the different hierarchies, an equation was devised that meets the different preferences to define the optimal solution, which will be sent to the different actuators.
- Multi-agent system to manage users and spaces in a adaptive environment systemPublication . Oliveira, Pedro Filipe; Novais, Paulo; Matos, PauloThis paper, deals with the current problem of managing user preferences and local specifications in an IoT adaptive system, namely using a multi-agent system to achieve a Smart Environment System. In a new era of interaction between persons and physical spaces, users want those spaces smartly adapt to their preferences in a transparent way. To achieve that, new approaches are needed. The Artificial Intelligence field continues with an exponential growth, especially in the applicability to different sectors. Currently, multi-agent systems have been used to solve diverse situations, particularly in the AmI field, which is characterized by the creation of ubiquitous environments, interconnecting different technologies to perform common tasks of the user’s daily life, autonomously, proactively and independently of the interaction of this. This project proposes also a solution using a multi-agent system, which includes a multi agent system architecture with different layers to achieve a solution that entails all the objectives put forward and later will be implemented and tested.
- Portal de dados estatísticos do Nordeste TransmontanoPublication . Oliveira, Pedro Filipe; Alves, PauloEste artigo apresenta um projeto que visa resolver a lacuna da centralização de informação estatística referente aos municípios da região do nordeste transmontano de Portugal. Esta informação apesar de existir nas diversas entidades, encontra-se dispersa por diversos locais, alguma dela não se encontrando em formato digital, o que dificulta o processo de consulta e pesquisa para os utilizadores. O conceito de Open Data vai de encontro à massificação do acesso à informação de forma livre e acessível ao utilizador, para que este possa utilizá-la e até mesmo republicá-la sem restrições de direitos de autor. Exemplos de utilização deste conceito são o projeto Dataviva desenvolvido no Brasil, o European Data Portal com os dados estatísticos da Europa e também o observatório da complexidade económica que possui os dados do comércio internacional. Este projeto foi desenvolvido utilizando a ferramenta open source de catalogação, edição e visualização de dados denominada DKAN.