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The study compares the performance parameters of an Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) equipped with optical navigation, focusing on two solutions: one utilizing reflective optocouplers and the other employing a camera. These components, commonly used in AGV optical navigation systems, differ in factors such as cost and the sophistication of control methods. The primary objective of the research was to evaluate the performance criteria of the analyzed optical navigation methods, with particular attention paid to electricity consumption, power profiles during specific transit tasks, and total transit time. The analysis also investigated two potential installation locations for the reflective optocouplers and the camera on the vehicle. The results indicate that the camera-based optical navigation method is more efficient. Specifically, the average energy consumption was approximately 26% lower when using the camera compared to the reflective optocouplers. Furthermore, the study revealed that the location of the camera had minimal influence on the vehicle’s energy consumption, whereas the location of the reflective optocouplers significantly affected energy usage.

The lowland hay meadows conservation status is increasingly at risk due to improper management and climate change, threatening plant communities, including Arrhenatherion alliance. As a result, species enrichment is required. However, natural plant self-establishment remains challenging due to the high variability in germination, largely caused by climate factors. Thus, a germination test is suggested before directly sowing local seeds in the field. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate how germination characteristics of five local species are affected by the interplay between species and weather factors, specifically mean temperature and total rainfall during seed filling and ripening. During warm, dry periods, the seed mass of Campanula patula L. and Centaurea jacea L. was higher (0.04 g and 1.87 g, respectively), whereas in wet periods, the seed mass of Achillea millefolium L. (0.10 g), Plantago lanceolata L. (1.24 g), and Tragopogon pratensis L. (7.41 g) was higher. The germination capacity was significantly affected by species-specific factors. Seeds of A. millefolium and T. pratensis during wetter years showed higher germination rates than other species, which exhibited the opposite trend. Additionally, a wetter collection period shortened t50 (time required for 50% germination) in all species except A. millefolium and T. pratensis, while C. patula remained unaffected in both years. A positive correlation was observed between seed mass, germination capacity, and speed, while a negative correlation with t50. Hence, an increase in seed mass leads to a reduced t50 duration. According to our findings, seed mass may serve as a reliable predictor of plant establishment in the field.

In many technological processes, liquids or mixtures of mutually insoluble liquids, suspensions, emulsions, etc., are used as working media. The transformation of the energy supplied to such media and the related effects can be usefully realised not only for the implementation of technological processes but also for their intensification. In this context, an important task in increasing the efficiency of the use of the supplied energy is the analysis of the processes that take place in liquids or their mixtures at the level of thermodynamic saturation. In this work, it is shown that the creation of thermodynamic conditions for local energy transformation in a disperse system significantly increases the intensity of heat and mass transfer processes, and in some technologies, e.g., homogenisation, dispersion can be increased by 2–3 times in comparison with traditional methods at the same energy consumption.

By 2050, Europe will become the first climate-neutral continent according to the vision of the European Union (EU). To tackle this challenge, the EU has scheduled the accomplishment of the 17 goals of the United Nations’s 2030 Agenda, with Goal 7 addressing the energy sector. The role of public policies is fundamental in this case; however, it is insufficient in some areas, e.g., when adopting green energy technologies. The purpose of this article is to identify the economic factors that are necessary to achieve Goal 7 of Agenda 2030. To realize the aim of this study and identify economic factors that are significant for implementing the targets of Goal 7 of the 2030 Agenda, two statistical methods were used: the Pearson linear correlation coefficient and linear regression modeling with a scatter plot to present the relationships. The results of this study confirm that in the EU, the possibility of achieving Goal 7 is dependent on the three economic determinants analyzed, i.e., GDP per capita, unemployment rate, and gross domestic spending on research and development. The analysis revealed that the impact of single economic factors on the realization of all SDG 7 targets is small because no economic factor correlates with even half of SDG 7 indicators.

The role of experimental data and the use of IoT-based monitoring systems are gaining broader significance in research on bees across several aspects: bees as global pollinators, as biosensors, and as examples of swarm intelligence. This increases the demands on monitoring systems to obtain homogeneous, continuous, and standardized experimental data, which can be used for machine learning, enabling models to be trained on new online data. However, the continuous operation of monitoring systems introduces new risks, particularly the cumulative impact of electromagnetic radiation on bees and their behavior. This highlights the need to balance IoT energy consumption, functionality, and continuous monitoring. We present a novel IoT-based bee monitoring system architecture that has been operating continuously for several years, using solar energy only. The negative impact of IoT electromagnetic fields is minimized, while ensuring homogeneous and continuous data collection. We obtained experimental data on the adverse phenomenon of honey robbing, which involves elements of swarm intelligence. We demonstrate how this phenomenon can be predicted and illustrate the interactions between bee colonies and the influence of solar radiation. The use of criteria for detecting honey robbing will help to reduce the spread of diseases and positively contribute to the sustainable development of precision beekeeping.

The production technology for stretch film is highly energy-intensive. Electrical energy is used not only to power individual components of the technological line but also to change the physical state of the raw material (granules) from solid to liquid, which is poured onto the first calender roller. The calender roller must be cooled to solidify the liquid raw material, and the low-temperature heat generated in this process has been treated so far as waste heat and dispersed into the atmosphere. A low-temperature process heat recovery line has been developed, enabling its transformation into high-temperature heat. High-temperature process heat can be utilized in the technological process for the preliminary preparation of raw material when recycled material (regranulate) with highly variable parameters is added to the base material (granules) with strict specifications. The regranulate content can be as high as 80%. The waste heat recovery system is based on two compressor heat pumps powered by eco-friendly refrigerants. This innovative solution facilitates a circular economy, reduces the carbon footprint, and aligns with the European Green Deal.

Despite the widespread popularity of charcoal-based grilling fuels, extensive studies have highlighted various pollutants linked to their production and combustion, posing potential risks to human health and the environment. Since the presence of impurities has been identified as a factor contributing to elevated emissions of harmful gases and particulate matter, a comprehensive quality assessment of grilling fuels is imperative to effectively manage and minimise potential risks to customer health and safety. While identifying many impurities in solid biomass fuels is possible through microscopic analysis, identifying fossil coal contaminants in charcoal briquettes can be challenging. The biggest difficulty arises when coal-derived inertinite and man-made charcoal need to be distinguished as both exhibit numerous visual similarities in microscopic images. Therefore, the goal of this study was to examine the optical morphology of inertinite and charcoal with the aim of differentiating them when they co-occur in charcoal briquettes. The results show that employing high differential interference (DIC) and fluorescence filters, coupled with reflected white light in microscopic analysis, can enhance the observations allowing for easier detection of impurities of inertinite in charcoal-based grilling fuels. Among the most notable distinctions are the high degree of cellular structure preservation and the presence of small pores and protrusions in man-made charcoal; these characteristics are typically absent in the inertinite fragments.

This study aimed to identify the key factors influencing the development of energy cooperatives in Poland and assess their impact within the framework of the PESTEL analysis criteria. The research was conducted through a literature review and expert opinions gathered during the National Forum of Energy Cooperatives (2023-2024). A PESTEL analysis combined with a weighted scoring method using the EFE (External Factor Evaluation) matrix was applied to evaluate the driving forces and barriers affecting the growth of energy cooperatives. The average score obtained in the EFE matrix (2.95) suggests that the analyzed factors significantly influence the development of energy cooperatives in Poland. Legal and economic factors play the most substantial roles, highlighting the necessity for legislative changes and financial support for energy cooperatives and renewable energy initiatives. Additionally, modernizing energy infrastructure is crucial for fully harnessing the potential of renewable energy sources (RES). The relatively low importance of social and environmental factors underscores the need for enhanced education and public engagement in environmental protection.