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    PENELOPE White Paper: NOVEL AI-BASED MACHINERY CERTIFICATION METHODOLOGY
    ( 2025) Vidal, F. ; Pertusa, A.M. ; Rodriguez, A. ; Precker, C. ; Deutz, D.B. ; Bracchi, V. ; Rebe, A.M. ; Penalva, M. ; Arkouli, Z. ; Babcinschi, M. ; Neto, P.
    Over the past few decades, industrial automation has significantly reshaped manufacturing and labour through the introduction of advanced technologies. In recent years, the European manufacturing landscape has undergone a transformative shift, moving beyond efficient, automated, and data-driven production toward a more human-centric, resilient, and sustainable model—a transition known as the Industry 5.0 paradigm. Industry 5.0 defines the human worker as a pivotal element in production. This paradigm leverages technology to enhance human capabilities rather than replace them, fostering an environment where humans and machines collaborate seamlessly. This transformation is driven by the adoption of collaborative robots (cobots), exoskeletons, and AI, emphasizing cooperation over full automation. Rather than isolating workers from machinery, Industry 5.0 promotes direct human-machine interaction, where industrial equipment is designed to augment human skills, reduce physical strain, and create safer, more adaptive workspaces. While this paradigm shift offers significant benefits—enhanced worker safety, increased productivity, and improved well-being—it also introduces new challenges in industrial production. As cobots, exoskeletons, and AI-driven systems become integral to workplaces, ensuring their certification for industrial use is critical. These technologies must comply with rigorous safety standards, risk assessment protocols, and regulatory frameworks to guarantee that human workers remain protected in increasingly complex industrial environments.
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    Results and implications of objective fatigue and performance measurements in five European Air Traffic Service Providers
    (Elsevier, 2025) Marsman, L.A. ; Bos, T.J.J. ; Verhoeven, R.P.M. ; Cabon, P. ; Vrancken, P. ; Drongelen, A. van
    Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs) face numerous fatigue-related challenges due to irregular working hours and demanding workload. The objective of this study was to determine how fatigue can be objectively monitored in the ops room and how they relate to subjective ratings. To do so, objective fatigue (eye tracking) and performance (PVT) data was gathered in five ATSPs (N=20). Alongside the objective measurements, fatigue (SP), sleepiness (KSS), and workload (ISA, RSME) questionnaires were administered. Measurements took place during ten so-called fatigue hotspot shifts, which were determined using both biomathematical and expert analyses. The results show that mean fatigue and sleepiness experienced during the shifts was moderate and below critical levels for a majority of the time. A clear increase in fatigue could be seen throughout shifts, as shown by the difference between mean subjective fatigue levels before and after duties, and corresponding PVT metrics. Significant correlations were found between subjective fatigue and sleepiness ratings on the one hand, and eye tracking metrics reflecting the percentage of time the eyes were closed for more than 70 or 80 percent (PERCLOS70 and 80) on the other hand. No significant correlations were found between subjective fatigue and sleepiness ratings and any of the PVT metrics. Furthermore, no significant correlations were found between the eye tracking metrics and the subjective workload ratings. The outcomes of this study underline that different types of fatigue-related outcome measures (subjective, objective, performance based) reflect different concepts and should be seen as complementary to one another when measuring fatigue in ATCOs. As such, relying on self-reported ratings alone may not offer a comprehensive understanding of individual fatigue levels and associated performance capabilities. The feasibility of using current objective measurement techniques by ATSPs themselves is however quite low, given the time, labour and operational constraints involved. Future research could thus target technological developments such as wireless EEG, fNIRS, speech analysis, and webcam-based eye tracking to assess fatigue in a more accessible and unobtrusive way.
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    Assessing Fatigue Risk and Mitigation Strategies for Air Traffic Controllers in European Air Traffic Service Providers
    (Elsevier, 2025) Vrancken, P ; Cabon, P. ; Frantz, B. ; Somvang, V. ; Drongelen, A. van ; Marsman, L.A.
    Air Traffic Controllers face numerous fatigue-related challenges due to irregular working hours and demanding workload. In response to European regulations aimed at preventing fatigue and stress, a scientific evaluation funded by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency was undertaken across member states. The objective of this study, as one of the most comprehensive to date in Europe, is to assess fatigue risk levels and identify contributing factors within current operations. The research methodology combined various data collection methods across European Air Traffic Service Providers, including an evaluation of current scheduling practices and fatigue management alongside a field data collection in representative entities. Sleep, fatigue, and workload data of 216 volunteers were collected and validated by sleep actigraphy measurements. Statistical analysis of fatigue data on fatigue risk exposure revealed that 5.6% of analyzed duties were associated with critical levels of fatigue. The top five factors contributing to these critical levels are night shifts, challenging weather conditions, monotonous traffic situations, accumulated sleep debt, and extended working hours without breaks. Several recommendations were elaborated to improve fatigue prevention and mitigation at predictive, proactive and reactive levels, encompassing improvements to the rostering process, enhanced fatigue monitoring mechanisms, and practical interventions within organizations.
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    Review on properties, physics, and fabrication of two-dimensional material-based metal-matrix composites (2DMMCs) for heat transfer systems
    ( 2025) Lee, H. ; Lordejani, A.A. ; Goor, L. van ; Jurov, A. ; Koutsioukis, A. ; Ruan, S. ; Santhosh, N.M. ; Zarei, F. ; Barreneche, C. ; Cvelbar, U. ; Dosta, S. ; Geurts, B.J. ; Guagliano, M. ; Jafari, D. ; Nicolosi, V. ; Yin, S. ; Zavasnik, J. ; Bagherifard, S. ; Lupoi, R. ; Wits, W.W.
    In the exploration of new materials development, 2D materials have received much attention due to their outstanding properties in terms of e.g. strength, and electrical and thermal conductivities. Graphene and boron nitride, amongst other 2D materials, are renowned for their exceptional thermal conductivity. In this review, we examine the properties, physics, and fabrication techniques of 2D material-based metal-matrix composites (2DMMCs) with a specific focus on heat transfer systems. The on-going demand for better electronic cooling systems in combination with advancements in mass production techniques of 2D materials facilitates the application of 2DMMCs in heat transfer systems. However, currently, the thermal behaviour of 2DMMCs remains largely uncategorized, strengthening the timely context of this review. Next to recent research progress, material properties, production techniques and strategies for improving thermal conductivity of 2DMMCs are addressed in this work. Methods to reliably assess the thermal conductivity of 2D enhanced materials are discussed alongside the fabrication techniques for 2D-material feedstocks for 2DMMCs production. Also, current limitations in the heat transfer capabilities of 2DMMCs, alongside prospects for enhancing thermal properties through emerging technologies, such as additive manufacturing, are addressed.
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    Testing for slipperiness: Review of Flight Test Activities on Wet Runways using a Cessna Citation 550 and Dassault Falcon 2000
    ( 2024) Es, G.W.H. van ; Vries, V.J.F. de
    An overview is given of the flight test activities of the ongoing runway micro texture project conducted by Netherlands Aerospace Centre and its partners the German Aerospace Centre and Engineering Sciences Data Unit for the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. The test locations, flight test aircraft, test equipment, and flight test procedures are described. The postprocessing of the data collected during the flight test with Cessna Citation C550 and the Dassault Falcon 2000 on wet runways is discussed in some detail. Some preliminary results in terms of braking friction levels as function of ground speed are presented for several test locations. Results from testing the two test aircraft on wet runway at several airports are reviewed.