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L’offensive insensée de Moscou sur l’Ukraine, en février 2022, aura très fortement perturbé le secteur énergétique en Europe. Si cette nouvelle donne énergétique a sérieusement entravé les efforts des États membres pour sortir de leur dépendance au carbone conformément au Pacte vert, elle a en paradoxalement validé les objectifs. Dans cette contribution, on ne se limitera cependant pas à dresser un simple bilan des effets de la guerre en Ukraine sur les politiques énergétiques européennes. Nous évaluerons dans quelle mesure les effets combinés du Pacte vert et de la guerre en Ukraine conduisent à repenser notre rapport au temps et à l’espace. Nous assistons ainsi à une reconfiguration de la géographie européenne qui modifiera en profondeur nos cartes mentales pour les décennies à venir. Moscow’s senseless offensive on Ukraine in February 2022 will have severly disrupted Europe’s energy sector. While this new energy situation has seriously hampered Member States ’ efforts to move away from carbon dependency in line with the Green Deal, it has paradoxically strengthened its objectives. In this contribution, however, we will not simply take stock of the effects of the war in Ukraine on European energy policies. We will assess the extent to which the combined effects of the Green Deal and the war in Ukraine are leading us to rethink our relationship with time and space. We are thus witnessing a reconfiguration of European geography that will profoundly alter our mental maps for decades .

This study provides a solution for the feeder reconfiguration of autonomous microgrids (MGs). The objective is to minimise power loss, switching costs, and enhance voltage stability index, considering time-variations of loads. The daily load profiles for different seasons (spring, summer, fall, and winter) of different customers (i.e. residential, industrial, and commercial) are considered. In order to reduce the dimensions of the optimisation problem, k-means algorithm is implemented that clusters seasonal/yearly load profile into a few groups. The daily load profile is obtained based on the average of the group which has maximum members. This ensures the selection of a subset of load profiles that effectively represent the entire year's profile to reduce the complexity and execution time of the model. Subsequently, a new method is developed to break the daily load profile into intervals that guarantee less switching frequency for dynamic network reconfiguration. A controlled mutation differential evolution algorithm (CMDEA) compatible with long-term reconfiguration problem is developed with superior performance compared to conventional DEA and invasive weed optimisation algorithm. The CMDEA is employed to solve the reconfiguration problem on 33-bus and 69-bus autonomous MGs. Simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed method to reduce operational costs and computational burden in a smart grid environment.

Over the past decade, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have demonstrated increasing promise. In this context, we provide a review on swarm intelligence algorithms that play an extremely important role in multiple UAV collaborations. The study focuses on four aspects we consider relevant for the topic: collision avoidance, task assignment, path planning, and formation reconfiguration. A comprehensive investigation of selected typical algorithms that analyses their merits and demerits in the context of multi-UAV collaboration is presented. This research summarises the basic structure of swarm intelligence algorithms, which consists of several fundamental phases; and provides a comprehensive survey of swarm intelligence algorithms for the four aspects of multi-UAV collaboration. Besides, by analysing these key technologies and related applications, the research trends and challenges are highlighted. This broad review is an outline for scholars and professionals in the field of UAV swarms.

Reconfiguration is concerned with relationships among solutions to a problem instance, where the reconfiguration of one solution to another is a sequence of steps such that each step produces an intermediate feasible solution. The solution space can be represented as a reconfiguration graph, where two vertices representing solutions are adjacent if one can be formed from the other in a single step. Work in the area encompasses both structural questions (Is the reconfiguration graph connected?) and algorithmic ones (How can one find the shortest sequence of steps between two solutions?) This survey discusses techniques, results, and future directions in the area.

Photonic topological insulators provide a route for disorder-immune light transport, which holds promise for practical applications. Flexible reconfiguration of topological light pathways can enable high-density photonics routing, thus sustaining the growing demand for data capacity. By strategically interfacing non-Hermitian and topological physics, we demonstrate arbitrary, robust light steering in reconfigurable non-Hermitian junctions, in which chiral topological states can propagate at an interface of the gain and loss domains. Our non-Hermitian–controlled topological state can enable the dynamic control of robust transmission links of light inside the bulk, fully using the entire footprint of a photonic topological insulator.

RF energy harvesting is a viable substitute for collecting energy directly via RF renewable resources for portable devices in the field. In this paper, a novel bandwidth-enhanced, compact, low profile Hybrid/Compound single feed frequency, polarization, and radiation pattern reconfigurable microstrip patch antenna is presented to collage a large amount of radiofrequency energy harvesting. The Reconfiguration mechanism is realized by electronically controlling different states of Switches. PIN Diode (as RLC Equivalent circuit) is used as a switch for ON/OFF states. This antenna mainly comprises Rectangular shape patches (28 GHz and 38 GHz) with Triango-Truncated edge at the corners. Eighteen PIN Diodes are placed symmetrically throughout the antenna presenting as, S1 & S2 for frequency reconfiguration between P1_28 (resonates at 28 GHz) & P2_38 (resonates at 38 GHz), S3 to S6 & S7 to S10 connects Triango Truncated edge at the corners for polarization reconfiguration at P1_28 & P2_38 GHz, and for radiation pattern reconfiguration at P1_28 & P2_38, S11 to S14 & S15 to S18 have been used. The proposed antenna model is capable of simultaneously changing, the radiation patterns as clock and anti-clockwise directions at ± 90-degree shift in E and H planes, circularly polarized (CP) states among, Linear Polarization (LP), Right Hand Circularly Polarization (RHCP), and Left Hand Circularly Polarization (LHCP). A fully functional prototype has been designed, fabricated and its compound reconfiguration characteristics have been validated for simulated and measured results. To attain good impedance matching and optimized performance, the antenna can be reconfigured for various configurations of the remote conditions of future 5G mobile communication systems and 28/38 GHz energy harvesting applications. Radiation pattern steering characteristics at a fixed operating frequency can be used to prevent noise, increase protection and save energy by accurately steering the signal to authorized users.

This paper presents an innovative mobile solution, the Mecanum Kresling wheel (MK-Wheel). Inspired by the Mecanum wheel’s all – round movement ability but addressing its terrain adaptability and stability limitations, MK-Wheel combines multi-functional wheels with the adjustable features of the Kresling origami structure. Its reconfigurable design allows precise adjustment of the drum deflection angle (0° - 60°), enhancing terrain adaptability and stability. A complex multi – stage transmission system further ensures consistent ground contact. Kinematic analysis based on a Mecanum wheel non – holonomic model shows MK-Wheel can achieve 360° all – round movement, overcoming traditional force vector constraints. The dynamic modeling offers insights for its performance optimization.

This article presents the development of a robot capable of modifying its size through a wheel reconfiguration strategy. The reconfigurable wheel design is based on a four-bar retractable mechanism that achieves variation of the effective radius of the wheel. A reconfiguration index is introduced based on the number of retractable mechanisms that predicts the radius of configuration according to the number of mechanisms implemented in the wheel. The kinematics of the retractable mechanism is studied to determine the theoretical reconfiguration radius during the transformation process, it is also evaluated numerically with the help of the GeoGebra software, and it is validated experimentally by image analysis using the Tracker software. The transformation process of the robot is investigated through an analysis of forces that consider the wheel in contact with the obstacle, the calculation of the wheel torque and the height of the obstacle to be overcome are presented. On the other hand, the experimental validation of the robot reconfiguration process is presented through the percentage of success shown by the robot to overcome obstacles of 50, 75, 100 and 125 mm. In addition, measurements of energy consumption during the transformation process are reported. Reconfigurable wheels, capable of adapting their size, offer innovative solutions to various challenges across different applications such as robotic exploration and search and rescue missions to industrial settings. Some key issues that these wheels can address include terrain adaptability enhancing a robot’s mobility over uneven surfaces, or obstacles; enhanced robotic design; cost-effective design; space efficiency; and versatility in applications.

Purpose While the usage of digital technology can bring many operational improvements for firms, it is unclear whether it can effectively improve firm resilience to deal with supply chain disruptions caused by emergencies such as COVID-19. From a dynamic capability perspective, this study aims to investigate how digital technology usage can improve firm resilience in a rapidly changing and turbulent environment. Design/methodology/approach Based on the survey sample of 237 Chinese firms, the stepwise regression approach was used to examine the proposed research hypotheses. Findings The empirical evidence shows that digital technology usage has a U-shaped effect on firm resilience, and that effect is fully achieved by first affecting market acuity and then promoting resource reconfiguration. Moreover, the authors further found that the U-shaped association between digital technology usage and firm resilience is derived from the U-shaped association between digital technology usage and market acuity. Originality/value This study enriches the resilience literature by revealing the mechanism of digital technology usage’s effects rather than focusing on the role of specific digital technologies. This study also provides guidance for firms to develop effective digital technology usage strategies.

PurposeThe challenges faced by China's high-end equipment manufacturing (HEEM) industry are becoming clearer in the process of global supply chain (GSC) reconfiguration. The purpose of this study is to investigate how China's HEEM industry has been affected by the GSC reconfiguration, as well as its short- and long-term strategies.Design/methodology/approachThe authors adopted a multi-method approach. Interviews were conducted in Phase 1, while a three-round Delphi survey was conducted in Phase 2 to reach consensus at the industry level.FindingsThe GSC reconfiguration affected China's HEEM supply chain (SC). Its direct effects include longer lead times, higher purchasing prices and inconsistent supply and inventory levels of key imported components and materials. Its indirect effects include inconsistent product quality and cash flows. In the short term, China's HEEM enterprises have sought to employ localized substitutes, while long-term strategies include continuous technological innovation, industry upgrades and developing SC resilience.Originality/valueThis study not only encourages Chinese HEEM enterprises to undertake a comprehensive examination of their respective industries but also provides practical insights for SC scholars, policymakers and international stakeholders interested in how China's HEEM industry adapts to the GSC reconfiguration and gains global market share.