Carlos III University of Madrid

The vast development of smart communication devices for the Internet of Things (IoT) is incurring an ever-increasing demand of wireless data services and energy sources. It is expected to witness a growth of connected IoT devices in the next few years, reaching up to tens of billions. Currently, these devices rely on batteries for its operation, but the battery recycling is a delicate matter that has a negative environmental impact due to their chemical components. Thus, it is reasonable to think that future communication systems must comply with energy-efficiency standards by minimizing the use of batteries, and then reduce its carbon footprint. The main objective of RISA-VLC is to enable battery-free IoT devices by engineering, thanks to reflective intelligent surfaces (RIS), the propagation channel of the Visible Light Communication (VLC) technology. To this end, I will retrofit the pervasive deployment of indoor LEDs to provide a robust communication link and an enhanced light power received at IoT devices. In the outgoing phase at University of Virginia I will characterize RIS to perform the additional channel path, which I will also model. Then, I will study its effect in the communication and lighting performance. In the return phase at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid I will research novel signal-processing and communication techniques to exploit the manageable channel proposed during the outgoing phase. Besides, I will establish guidelines for creating battery-free VLC-enabled IoT devices. The training activities proposed are fundamental for the achievement of RISA-VLC and my personal career goals. RISA-VLC guarantees a three-way transfer of knowledge since it combines my past experience in theoretical VLC techniques and VLC prototyping, with supervisors' expertise on optimization of systems, VLC reflection exploitation and advanced signal processing and communication techniques.

Our physical body is the interface between ourselves and the world around us. The way we perceive our body, its appearance, configuration and motor abilities shapes our behaviour, emotion and social functioning. New sensor-based and bodily sensory feedback devices, such as those brought by immersive virtual reality, allow creating Body Transformation Experiences (BTE). These perceptual illusions, like being in a child’s body, lead to experience changes in one’s own body. Beyond fun experiences, the new field of BTE engineering brings a significant leap for wellbeing and health applications, as well as for the embodiment of robotic devices and virtual avatars, and smart clothing. However, the neuroscience of core sensory-driven changes in Mental Body Representations (MBR) currently represents piecemeal experiments in very controlled settings that restrict body movement. This hinders the transfer of the basic principles discovered to real-world complex environments and practical problems. Through systematic and iterative research, BODYinTRANSIT will establish a theoretical ‘BTE design framework’ for individualized sensorial manipulation of MBR with long-lasting effects in everyday use contexts. The framework will stand on four scientific pillars to induce, measure, support, personalize and preserve body transformations: 1) neuroscience of multisensory body perception, 2) data modelling of the links between MBR, behaviour, emotion and social functioning, 3) wearable-based embodied multisensory interaction design, and 4) field studies in real-life and on-the-move contexts with physically inactive users, somatic practitioners and users with body image concerns. Tangible outcomes will include design principles, data formats, models, measures and paradigms enabling and guiding BTE engineering innovations. BODYinTRANSIT envisions personalized BTE technologies able to measure MBR and adapt bodily sensory feedback to modify it – individually, online and while on-the-move.

CONEX-Plus is a training and mobility program that aims to accelerate the career development of a cohort of Experienced Researchers at UC3M in Spain. CONEX-Plus will offer 30 fellowships of 36 months each, for incoming mobility to UC3M. Building on the excellence of UC3M, the program will develop the next generation of research leaders in the strategic research areas that are identified in the Research and Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialisation (RIS3) strategy of the Madrid Autonomous Region, underpinned by Social Sciences and Humanities. The principles of the Charter and Code are applied throughout the program. Applicants will submit proposals on research topics freely chosen by them. There will be two calls where fellows will be selected following an open, transparent, merit-based, impartial and equitable selection procedure, based on international peer review and interviews. Training is received through the implementation of an individual interdisciplinary research project under guidance of a supervisor. Secondments are compulsory and will be supported by 12 non-academic and 2 academic entities. All fellows will participate in the CONEX-Plus training program, with dedicated modules on relevant transferable skills and Industry Training Blocks. The career development of all fellows will be supported by the use of a Career Development Plan and through regular supervision meetings. The interdisciplinary research program will provide fellows with excellent scientific and relevant transferable skills to communicate across and between research disciplines. Fellows will also learn how to work in and between different sectors. Both are requisites for achieving most future relevant scientific and industrial results. CONEX-Plus equips researchers with skills and expertise in research areas that are of strategic importance to UC3M, the Madrid region and Europe who will contribute to address future challenges for the benefit of European citizens and society.