Nicola Delmonte

DUNE (Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment) is a long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment currently under construction, whose far detectors will be the largest liquid argon time projection chambers ever built. This detector design calls for custom-built cryogenic front-end electronics to meet its performance requirements. This paper describes the charge readout electronics that will be used in the DUNE horizontal drift (HD) far detector and presents performance results using data from the ProtoDUNE-HD detector, a 770 ton liquid argon time projection chamber operated at the CERN Neutrino Platform in 2024 that served as the final prototype of the DUNE HD design.

Electromagnetic linear actuators are widely used in applications requiring fast, repeatable, and controlled mechanical excitation. This work proposes and experimentally validates a current-controlled actuation methodology for generating controlled and repeatable mechanical excitation for the automated acoustical inspection of hard cheeses. The proposed system is based on a push-type solenoid actuator driven by a closed-loop converter that generates a predefined current profile to obtain a controlled impact force on wheel cheeses. The system development was approached based on actuator simulations using the finite element method (FEM). This allows us to analyze the electromagnetic force generation process to identify the current waveform that produces an effective impact while ensuring vibration-free plunger return and avoiding bouncing at the end of its stroke. For acoustic measurements, a synchronized four-microphone acquisition system based on A2B was integrated. A preliminary experimental campaign to validate the concept and the development approach was conducted on a wheel of aged Pecorino cheese. The acquired acoustic responses showed highly repeatable impacts, with intra-class spectral variations below 1 dB under identical experimental conditions. Furthermore, the increase in damage artificially introduced on the tested cheese wheel caused measurable shifts in resonance frequencies, variations in spectral amplitudes, and the appearance of defect-related resonances. The results demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach for objective, repeatable, and non-destructive acoustic inspection of hard cheeses, providing a basis for future automated quality assessment systems.

Non-invasive Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) and Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) are emerging as promising techniques for real-time monitoring and quality assessment in food processing and agri-food applications. This study reviews recent advances in impedance-based sensing for fruit characterization and investigates the experimental implementation of multi-electrode impedance measurements for tomographic imaging. Particular attention is devoted to electrode configurations, electrode polarization effects, and equivalent circuit modeling. Experimental measurements were performed on yellow honeydew melon samples using a four-electrode configuration and a impedance analyzer Keysight E4990 (Keysight Technologies, Santa Rosa, USA) over the frequency range from 20 Hz to 1 MHz. The impedance spectra were validated through Kramers–Kronig consistency tests and interpolated using several fractional-order equivalent circuit models, including single-Cole, double-Cole, and Hayden-based models. The results show that four-electrode measurements are less sensitive to electrode-sample interface artifacts than conventional two-electrode approaches, thereby providing a more reliable estimate of the sample impedance, particularly at low frequencies. Among the tested models, the double-Cole model provided the best interpolation accuracy, while the fractional Hayden models effectively described the temporal evolution of extracellular resistance and membrane-related parameters. Preliminary EIT reconstructions further demonstrate the feasibility of non-destructive tomographic imaging for fruit monitoring. These findings support the potential of EIS and EIT as low-cost, portable, and non-invasive tools for smart food quality assessment and precision agriculture applications.

We present the measurement of π + -argon inelastic cross sections using the ProtoDUNE single-phase liquid argon time projection chamber in the incident π + kinetic energy range of 500–800 MeV in multiple exclusive channels (absorption, charge exchange, and the remaining inelastic interactions). The results of this analysis are important inputs to simulations of liquid argon neutrino experiments such as the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment and the Short Baseline Neutrino program at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. They will be employed to improve the modeling of final state interactions within neutrino event generators used by these experiments, as well as the modeling of π + -argon secondary interactions within the liquid argon. This is the first measurement of π + -argon absorption at this kinetic energy range as well as the first ever measurement of π + -argon charge exchange.

The development of robotic arms for high-precision applications requires a detailed understanding of motion discrepancies between human and robotic limbs. This paper proposes a human–robot metrology system for analyzing and differentiating dynamic motion characteristics using inertial measurement unit data. The proposed method employs batch-based temporal segmentation of time-series signals combined with statistical descriptors and dynamic time warping (DTW) to localize fine-grained motion differences, in contrast to conventional global analysis approaches. Experimental results show that the proposed framework effectively captures localized variations in acceleration and angular velocity, revealing higher vibration levels and irregular motion patterns in the robotic arm compared to human movement. Compared to conventional point-to-point metrics such as Euclidean distance, the DTW-based approach provides a more accurate assessment of motion similarity by accounting for temporal misalignment. Statistical analysis confirms significant differences between the two methods ( p < 0.001), with large effect sizes (| d | > 1.7), indicating substantial overestimation of motion discrepancy by Euclidean distance. Frequency-domain analysis further identifies increased noise components in robotic motion, while magnetic field distortions caused by structural materials significantly degrade yaw estimation accuracy. This research demonstrates that segmental metrology provides more sensitive and informative motion characterization, highlighting its potential for improving robotic arm control and calibration, particularly in environments affected by magnetic interference.

In this work, the design of a linear electric generator and an electronic power converter to be integrated into a system to produce hydrogen by exploiting sea waves’ motion is described. The results of Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations for the design of the linear induction generator are presented and discussed along with relevant considerations that will guide the future fabrication of the prototype. Additionally, a novel topological approach for the AC/DC converter, necessary to interface the linear generator with the electrolyzer, is presented. The proposed architecture is able to manage the voltages produced by the harvesting system which are characterized by random phase and amplitude that vary significantly over time. By converting every individual voltage into a unidirectional current before combining them, the proposed converter prevents internal losses due to destructive interactions and increases the overall efficiency of the harvesting process. Moreover, thanks to the specially designed feed-forward corrective action, which mathematically inverts the transfer function of the converter, it is possible to obtain a stable output voltage, even in case of large variations in the input signals.

Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation is an essential tool for rapid and cost-effective development and validation of power-electronic systems. The primary objective of this work is to validate and fine-tune a PLECS-based HIL model of a single dual active bridge (DAB) DC-DC converter, thereby laying the foundation for building more complex models (e.g., multiple converters connected in series or parallel). To this end, the converter is experimentally characterized, and the HIL model is validated across a wide range of operating conditions by varying the PWM phase-shift angle, voltage gain, switching frequency, and leakage inductance. Power transfer and efficiency are analyzed to quantify the influence of these parameters on converter performance. These experimental trends provide insight into the optimal modulation range and the dominant loss mechanisms of the DAB under single phase shift (SPS) control. A detailed comparison between HIL simulations and hardware measurements, based on transferred power and efficiency, shows close agreement across all the tested operating points. These results confirm the accuracy and robustness of the proposed HIL model, demonstrate the suitability of the PLECS platform for DAB development and control validation, and support its use as a scalable basis for more complex multi-converter studies, reducing design time and prototyping risk.

Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) simulation has become an indispensable tool for rapid and cost-effective development and validation of power electronic systems. This paper presents a detailed experimental characterization and validation of a PLECS-based HIL model for a Dual Active Bridge (DAB) DC-DC converter controlled using Single Phase Shift (SPS) modulation. An extensive experimental investigation is conducted to characterize the converter's performance across a wide range of operating conditions. The primary objective of this work is to validate and fine-tune the PLECS-based HIL model of a single DAB converter, laying the foundation for building more complex models, such as configurations with multiple converters connected in series or parallel. A DAB prototype has been characterized by varying the PWM phase shift angle between the input-output full-bridges over a range of equivalent input-output voltage levels. The power flow and efficiency were also analyzed at different voltage gains (M = 0.6, 1, and 1.4). In addition, the influence of key parameters like switching frequency and leakage inductance on the converter’s power flow and efficiency was experimentally evaluated. The experimental efficiency trends and power characteristics across the operating points provide valuable insight into the optimal modulation range and loss mechanisms of the DAB converter under SPS control. The HIL model is thoroughly tested against the experimental hardware prototype by comparing key metrics, including transferred power and system efficiency. The results demonstrate a high degree of accuracy between the HIL model and the physical system across all tested operating conditions. This work provides a validated, high-fidelity HIL model and a comprehensive dataset that confirms the effectiveness of the PLECS platform for the development and optimization of DAB converters, thereby reducing design time and mitigating risks in subsequent prototyping stages.