The expected contribution of this project is twofold, fundamental and military. Fundamental research proposed here will further our understanding of how emotions influence cognition and how this influence changes during aging. The military-related interests of the proposed work concern how emotions influence operators’ performance when manipulating combat devices. We proposed 4 workpackages (WP). The first two includes lab experiments in Cognitive Psychology to decipher mechanisms underlying how emotion influences cognition and age-related changes in these influences. Empirical studies will test the general hypothesis that emotions influence cognitive performance via strategic variations (i.e., which strategies are used, how strategies are selected and executed). These studies will be conducted in mathematical cognition, known to trigger emotions and to be sensitive to emotional contexts. WP3 and WP4 propose operational research. WP3 will test decision making during plane piloting (at landing) et Drone piloting, in environment strongly or less strongly emotional, under varying levels of pressure. WP4 will test a training programme aimed at finessing emotional regulation skills. The training programme will be conducted in a new tech environment (i.e., serious game). This project will significantly advance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying effects of emotions on cognition, both in lab situation and outside the lab (military contexts) et will yield a specific and efficient, evidenced-based training programme, usefully deployed in military contexts.

High-altitude long-endurance (HALE) pseudo-satellites are drones powered by solar energy. Their almost unlimited endurance makes them a green satellite alternative. Most past and actual drone prototypes have experienced major aero-structural issues. Their highly flexible wings are extremely sensitive to aeroelastic instabilities, which causes their design to be a major technological challenge. The codes developed so far to simulate and predict such instabilities focus more on the calculation of the critical flutter speed than on the dynamical behavior reached after the onset of flutter, such as limit cycle oscillations (LCOs). These phenomena, due to geometric nonlinearities of the structure and dynamic stall, are notably challenging to model. In particular, no reliable analytical model for the aerodynamic behavior of flexible wings at high angle of attack in 3D is currently available to simulate LCOs. A new strategy based on data-driven approaches combining modelling and experimentation emerges as a promising alternative. In the context of safer and more robust designs of solar HALE drones, the main objective of the FlexHALE project is to develop a digital twin of highly flexible wings that will be the keystone of optimization procedures on the composite wing design. The creation of a nonlinear aeroelastic simulation tool for post-critical nonlinear analysis is the first step of the project. Results from wind tunnel experimentations on flexible composite wings under flutter conditions analyzed with medium speed cameras will be used to update, validate, and supplement the model with data-driven 3D aerodynamic force estimations. Finally, optimization algorithm will be applied for the aeroelastic tailoring of the wing box, optimizing its shape and the composite layups to influence the wing bending/twisting coupling directly involved in the flutter onset.

"The objectives of the European Common Technical Semester for Defence and Security (EuCTS_DS) project are the development, testing and designing of a new modular curriculum for an international technical semester for defence and security, at bachelor level, common at European Union, and also the development of a network of teachers with competences in the field of technical systems for defence and security. The project idea comes in the frame of European initiative for the exchange of young officers inspired by Erasmus, often referred to as ""military Erasmus"" (EMILYO, http://www.emilyo.eu/), that is an initiative undertaken by the European Union Member States aimed at developing the exchanges between armed forces of future military officers as well as their teachers and instructors during their initial education and training. All the member institutions of the project are accredited as state higher education institutions of the national Ministry of Defence from each country, integrated into their national education systems, having among their missions the objective to prepare the future engineer officers in the field of engineering sciences: Military Technical Academy ”Ferdinand I” , Bucharest, Romania (MTA Bucharest), Military University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland (WAT Warsaw) , the Faculty of Artillery, Air Defence and Communication and Information System from Shumen of ”Vasil Levski” National Military University Bulgaria (NMU Bulgaria), Hellenic Air Force Academy Attika, Athens, Greece (HAFA Athens) and Air Force Academy Salon de Provence, France (FAFA Salon de Provence). The main activities of the project are organized in 9 work packages: WP1 Project management and implementation (planning, implementation, evaluation and dissemination activities, under the coordination of MTA Bucharest, based on a general work plan and action plans agreed during meetings and phone/video conferences or e-mail communication); WP2 - Professional Network in the Field of Technical Systems for Defence and Security (developed professional networks of teachers and researchers for basic engineering, military science for engineers, mechanical and aerospace engineering, electronic and computer science engineering, resulting finally a pool of lecturer); WP3 - International Technical Semester Curriculum Development (curriculum with common subjects at EU in the field of technical systems for defence and security); WP4 - International Technical Semester Subjects Description (detailed description for each subject included in the curriculum); WP5 - Preparation of Education Materials (course support and applications prepared to be used during the learning/teaching activities in the frame of the international semester); WP6 - Interdisciplinary Scientific Project Preparation (teaching activity included in the international semester using the project based learning methodology, assuring the competencies in different engineering branches); WP7 - E-learning Platform (modern tool used to share learning materials and to support the teaching/learning activities in the international semester); WP8 - Teaching/Learning Activities for Testing the International Technical Semester (Intensive Study Programmes organized in order to test the curriculum, subject description, learning materials and e-learning platform prepared for the international semester); WP9 - Impact and Dissemination (dissemination activities organized to share the project results, including two multiplier events). The EuCTS_DS outputs are international technical semester curriculum, descriptions for each subject included in the curriculum, methodology for the interdisciplinary project, e-books with educational materials for the international technical semester curriculum, guide for the international technical semester implementation, network of teachers with competences in technical systems for defence and security, electronic platform for e-learning, DVD with the project results. The EuCTS_DS outcomes consist in developing the new competences and knowledge for the students, but also for the teachers, increasing the interest of the students and teachers in taking part in international activities, increasing the visibility and the national and international recognition of the members of the project consortium, increasing the level of the academic results of the students, authentic learning. The interdisciplinary approach of the EuCTS_DS will provide to the teachers and students a wider perspective over the field technical systems for defence and security, and will enhance their skills in the area of didactical and pedagogical methods. The EuCTS_DS will facilitate further development of partnerships in the field of teacher and student mobility between the partner universities. The nature of the lectures and the broad spectrum of teachers will provide new links and opportunities for new joint degree study programs."

In numerous domains (aeronautics, medical, military, nuclear, command-and-control), visual activity is an essential element of the expertise. Therefor, eye tracking and the study of eye movements are omnipresent in neuroscience, psychology, industrial engineering, human factors, and computer science, to study the operator’s state. In addition to the comprehension of the attentional processes, the voluntary eye movements can be used for human-system interaction. Nevertheless, due to the lack of appropriate software and hardware, the use of the gaze-based interaction in real and virtual environments is for now mostly restricted to the research domain. Nowadays, the most used eye tracking technique is video-based tracking using infrared illumination. However, the tools using this technique present a certain number of disadvantages. Notably, for the head-mounted tools, such systems obstruct the visual field et therefore are not suitable for integration in real operational environnements. An alternative technique consists of measuring the changes in electric potential near the eye. The electro-oculography (EOG) requires only a few electrodes to place on the face and does not obstruct the visual field nor unnecessary illuminates the eyes with the infrared light. This technique is convenient for the head-mounted peripherals such as audio or virtual reality headset. The projet ELOCANS addresses this lack of software and hardware for gaze-based interaction in operational environments. In numerous activities such as air traffic control or piloting an aircraft, the operators are already equipped with peripherals (typically, headsets). We are looking to optimize the efficiency of these existing peripherals and integrate the EOG. By studying the EOG integration in these control/communication peripherals to enhance the human-system interaction and making possible the psycho-physiological monitoring (based on blink rate, for instance), this projects has numerous possible applications in aeronautics (fighters, helicopters, UAV operation), naval systems, and control-command centers. We aim to propose an alternative placement for the EOG electrodes that correspond to the available surfaces of the existing peripherals, to develop corresponding signal processing algorithms, to develop the interaction techniques and physiological monitoring algorithms for these devices. During the project, two prototypes will be considered for aeronautical and military domains: 1) an audio headset that integrated the eye tracking for applications in aeronautics and C2, 2) a plug-in for virtual reality headset for applications in industry and consumer marker but also for military training and UAV remote control.