Jose M. Giron-Sierra

Gallery

I like research with an experimental side

Process optimization and control

Developments and Results: optimization of beer production

Genetic algorithms were employed for multi-objective optimization of the process

Laboratory beer fermentation (80lit)
PC controlled pilot plant

Fermentation model after 300 experiments
Our method allows for a shorter fermentation time, more productivity

Aerospace

Developments and Results: Smartfuel
(aircraft distributed smart fuel management)

Better aircraft fuel management, used for engines and for good weight distribution (transfers between tanks),
can be obtained by a network of smart components, like pumps, valves, etc.

Smartfuel Laboratory Simulators:


airplane with 7 fuel tanks	airplane laboratory simulator (notice inclined wings)

helicopter with 4 fuel tanks	helicopter laboratory simulator

Real Flight Test. Marsella

Maritime

Developments and Results: ship stabilization by moving appendages

Application to fast ferries, for smoother ship motion and seasickness avoidance

The specific target: a large Fast Ferry (>40 knots speed).
Our research employed a scaled version of this ship
in the Cehipar Towing Tank Facility

A sketch of where appendages
are added to the ship


T-foil	Fin	Flaps and Waterjets


Autonomous 2.5m long experimental ship for seakeeping research Tests in Cehipar Towing Tank Facility	Good seakeeping improvement

Developments and Results: waves and ship motion prediction

Ship motion prediction system.
Advice system for autonomous landing on ship

Height of incoming waves can be measured with radar
Wave deforms as they move towards the ship
We should predict encountered waves


Wavelet analysis of incoming waves	Wavelets are propagated , and then used to predict encountered waves

Comparison of predicted and encountered waves
Scaled experiments in CEHIPAR towing tank

Developments and Results: air-sea-subsea cooperation


Automatized air-sea-subsea robotized cooperation	Digital Interoperable Communication (air-surface-underwater)


Real testing in Oporto harbor (Leixoes)	Lawn-mow mine searching path autonomously implemented by our boat

During port exploration: our boat and two submersibles all in coordination (no mutual collision)	Our unmanned boat returning home (no radio-control)

Ocean and Inland Waters

Developments and Results: oil-spill recovery with unmanned boom towing


Typical scenario for oil-spill prevention or recovery. Two ships towing a boom. Crew familiar with towing is needed. Coordination is also required	Clean seas: get rid from debris and spills

We developed four generations of autonomous boats for scaled boom towing studies
(all boats have a box with our in-house developed navigation control system)


Small (1m) zodiacs	Patrol boat (1'2m) with waterjets	Simple (1'3m) catamaran	Unmanned zodiac (the same used in Oporto)

Scenario 1: Automatic oil-spill recovery

Fully autonomous oil-spill recovery operation.
Boats only need to know where the oil-spill is.
Scaled experiments in a large pond (see YouTube)


Initial deployment before experiments. There is no radio-control, only data monitoring	Boats start to converge after spill trapping. (the oil-spill is imaginary)

Scenario 2: Automatic deployment of protection boom around ship


Fuel transfers and other operations could have leaks. Preventive booms are deployed around ships	Our idea is to devise an automatic boom deployment around ships, using autonomous boat


Computer simulation of boom shape evolution during adequate deployment around a ship (red trace corresponds to real experiment)	Scaled experimental testing of boom deployment using our autonomous patrol boat

Developments and Results: bio-contamination monitoring

Eutrophication and climate factors are motivating the proliferation of cyanobacteria and other
harmful bio-contaminations in inland and ocean waters.

In cooperation with biologists and professionals of water, we are developing and intelligent monitoring system
based on autonomous instrumented boats.

Details of the problem with cyanobacteria (also called micro-algae or blue-green algae):

Cyanobacteria population becomes
large as autumn aproaches

They can form extensive blooms on the surface;sometimes delivering dangerous toxins

When water stratifies, they move up and down (about 12m depth) several times in the day

Scenarios where we currently work:

Guajaraz (Toledo)
dam, medium size and deep (29m max)

Santillana (Madrid) dam, large but mostly shallow

Lake with protected species, near Madrid, deep (19m max)

Confluence of Targus and Tietar rivers, large cyanobacteria blooms. Deep, calm

Equipment and people for the research

The simple catamaran equipped for
Targus and Tietar
(here is surrounded by cianobacteria)

A new, larger autonomous catamaran, with a winch for submerging an underwater probe. It has large distance digital communication

Multiparameter probes, including laser fluorimetry for cyanocianine detection/measurement

Part of the research teams, a day in Guajaraz dam

Vehicles

Developments and Results: Ground robots


in-house made robot cart	robot formations	robot teams competition


New multi-potential navigation method	The method can be used for robot group navigation


New simulation environment	New grouping methods, experimental confirmation

Logistics

Fuel distribution

The whole network, from ships to gas stations

Fast optimisation for what-if studies and market reactions
Interactive geography-based tool

Gas distribution

Pipeline control for optimal distribution

Interactive geography-based tool

Gas flow modeling

Pharma distribution

	Modeling, simulation and analysis of a pharma diary distribution plant for 700 pharmacies
	Simulation and analysis of a new pharma distribution platform, before it was built (the platform feeds many distribution plants)

3D animated simulation
of a complete plant

Complex logistic systems

A research network joining efforts of several teams

Large variety of topics concerning Logistics in Madrid

The specific target: a large Fast Ferry (>40 knots speed). Our research employed a scaled version of this ship in the Cehipar Towing Tank Facility

Autonomous 2.5m long experimental ship for seakeeping research Tests in Cehipar Towing Tank Facility

Ship motion prediction system. Advice system for autonomous landing on ship

Wavelet analysis of incoming waves

Automatized air-sea-subsea robotized cooperation

Real testing in Oporto harbor (Leixoes)

During port exploration: our boat and two submersibles all in coordination (no mutual collision)

Typical scenario for oil-spill prevention or recovery. Two ships towing a boom. Crew familiar with towing is needed. Coordination is also required

Initial deployment before experiments. There is no radio-control, only data monitoring

Fuel transfers and other operations could have leaks. Preventive booms are deployed around ships

Computer simulation of boom shape evolution during adequate deployment around a ship (red trace corresponds to real experiment)

Scaled experimental testing of boom deployment using our autonomous patrol boat

The specific target: a large Fast Ferry (>40 knots speed).
Our research employed a scaled version of this ship
in the Cehipar Towing Tank Facility

Autonomous 2.5m long experimental ship
for seakeeping research
Tests in Cehipar Towing Tank Facility

Ship motion prediction system.
Advice system for autonomous landing on ship

During port exploration: our boat and two submersibles
all in coordination (no mutual collision)

Typical scenario for oil-spill prevention or recovery. Two ships towing a boom.
Crew familiar with towing is needed. Coordination is also required

Initial deployment before experiments.
There is no radio-control, only data monitoring

Fuel transfers and other operations could have leaks.
Preventive booms are deployed around ships

Computer simulation of boom shape evolution
during adequate deployment around a ship
(red trace corresponds to real experiment)

Scaled experimental testing of boom deployment
using our autonomous patrol boat