Found 43 results
Open Access
Review
03 June 2026A Comprehensive Survey and Reference Architecture for AI-Powered Autonomous Drone Systems in Smart Cities
Despite a rapid rise of AI-powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) deployments in smart city environments, current surveys and frameworks lack a unified, protocol-level reference architecture that integrates multi-domain applications, edge AI perception, cognitive reasoning through Large Language Models (LLMs), and regulatory compliance within a single deployable specification. This study presents a comprehensive cross-domain review of AI-powered drone systems for traffic management, delivery, infrastructure inspection, disaster response, and environmental monitoring. The study introduces COMPASS (Cognitive Operations Model for Programmable Autonomous Smart-city Systems), a novel seven-layer technical reference architecture that describes communication protocols (MAVLink 2.0, ROS2/DDS, MQTT 5.0, and NGSI-LD), edge computing hardware recommendations for five drone payload tiers, and quantified performance requirements for safety-critical operations. The key feature of COMPASS is its LLM-based Semantic Middleware Layer, which allows for context-aware decision-making, natural human-drone interaction, and regulatory compliance verification. Comparing COMPASS to many other frameworks reveals that it is the only architecture to simultaneously provide multi-domain coverage, protocol-level specifications, hardware recommendations, LLM integration, and empirically verified benchmarks.
Open Access
Review
18 May 2026Emerging Technologies Empowering the Biosynthesis of Paclitaxel
Paclitaxel (Taxol) is a clinically important diterpenoid anticancer drug whose industrial production remains constrained by limited Taxus resources and semi-synthetic routes. Driven by the rapid advancement of genome mining and synthetic biology technologies, the past two years have witnessed substantial breakthroughs in elucidating the biosynthetic pathway of paclitaxel. The pathway constitutes an exceptionally complex biosynthetic network comprising approximately 20 enzymatic steps, predominantly catalyzed by cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases (ODDs), and acyltransferases. Nevertheless, microbial production of paclitaxel remains highly obstructed, largely due to inefficient catalytic abilities, enzyme promiscuities, and complex metabolic fluxes. This review summarizes recent progress in elucidating the evolutionary origins and catalytic mechanistic basis of the paclitaxel biosynthetic pathway, with particular emphasis on the emerging technologies and catalytic mechanism studies. Furthermore, current challenges and perspectives for constructing efficient artificial biosynthetic pathways are discussed, providing insights into the future biotechnological production of paclitaxel.
Open Access
Communication
30 April 2026Peculiarities of Radiation Synthesis of MeWO4 Ceramics
We report the results of MeWO4 ceramics synthesis by the direct exposure of metal (Mg, Ca, Zn, W) oxides mixture to a high-power flux of high-energy electrons. The oxide powder particle sizes are 1–10 microns. The synthesis occurs with high efficiency in less than 1 s without the use of any additional substances and energy sources. The purpose of this work is to establish the main processes that ensure the effective synthesis of MgWO4, CaWO4, and ZnWO4 ceramics from ZnO, CaO, MgO, and WO4 oxides, which differ significantly in their physical and chemical properties. It has been found that the dependence of synthesis efficiency on the electron beam power density and the power density threshold at which synthesis begins varies significantly for simple metal oxides and is very close for the tungstates of these metals. The most probable explanation for the observed effect is redistribution of absorbed radiation energy. WO3 powder particles have a high absorptance of the incident electron radiation. The result is a cascade multiplication of primary electrons into secondary electrons with much lower energy. Secondary electrons are efficiently absorbed by MgO, CaO, and ZnO particles, leading to their efficient decomposition and the formation of a new phase.
Open Access
Article
17 April 2026Electrical and Thermal Performance of SiC Wide-Bandgap Power Devices: Influence of Package Configuration
Wide Bandgap (WBG) semiconductors, particularly Silicon Carbide (SiC), have become pivotal in advancing high-efficiency, high-power-density systems. Cascode configurations, combining a high-voltage SiC JFET with a low-voltage Si MOSFET, enable Normally-OFF operation while leveraging SiC’s superior switching and thermal properties. However, co-packaging these devices introduces critical design challenges related to parasitic inductance, thermal management, and reliability. This study investigates the impact of bonding configuration and die-attach material selection on dynamic and thermal performance in SiC-based modules. Double Pulse Test (DPT) results reveal that direct bonding provides a better tradeoff between switching losses and dynamic operation stability, mitigating VDS overshoot, gate oscillation, and EMI risk, thereby improving switching stability under system-level stress. Conversely, indirect bonding increases inductance, amplifying oscillations and dynamic stress during turn-off events. Thermal analysis demonstrates that while system-level cooling dominates Rthja, the adoption of sintered silver (Ag) as a die-attach material achieves ~20% reduction in Rthjc, lowering junction temperatures and enhancing reliability for high-power applications. These findings underscore the importance of interconnect design and attach material optimization in achieving robust, high-efficiency operation of wide-bandgap devices.
Open Access
Article
09 April 2026Flexible Zinc-Ion Battery-Powered Wearable Devices for Vital Sign Monitoring
Wearable devices play a crucial role in real-time health monitoring by continuously tracking important physiological indicators such as heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, and body temperature. This not only helps achieve personalized health management but also enables early disease warning. However, traditional rigid power sources (such as lithium-ion batteries) are difficult to adapt to the dynamic deformations of wearable devices in use, such as bending and stretching, and also pose certain safety risks. Therefore, developing flexible energy storage systems that combine high safety, good mechanical flexibility, and high energy density has become an important research direction. Flexible zinc-ion batteries are regarded as a promising solution due to their use of non-flammable aqueous electrolytes, abundant resources, low cost, and good mechanical adaptability. This article systematically reviews the latest progress of flexible zinc-ion batteries, covering key components (electrodes, electrolytes, packaging), device structure design, integration solutions with wearable sensors, and their applications in scenarios such as electrocardiogram monitoring, body temperature tracking, and motion monitoring. The article also explores the current challenges that still exist in terms of energy density, cycle life, mechanical-electrochemical stability, and biocompatibility. Finally, the development directions of future practical applications were prospected, with a focus on innovative material design, structural optimization, intelligent system integration, and the promotion of related standardization.
Open Access
Review
31 March 2026The Future of Environmentally Powered Gliders: Emerging Prospects and Trends
To address the endurance limitations of traditional electrically driven underwater gliders, which are constrained by onboard battery energy density, harnessing marine renewable energy for propulsion or supplemental power has emerged as a critical approach to overcoming their operational endurance bottleneck. This paper systematically reviews the research progress on underwater gliders powered by environmental energy sources, such as thermal and solar. It provides an in-depth analysis of the utilization mechanisms, core technologies, and current challenges associated with each energy type, with a focused exploration of technical pathways for achieving energy synergy and enhancing system endurance through multi-energy integration and intelligent energy management. Furthermore, this study is the first to establish a comprehensive technical evaluation framework for environmentally powered gliders from three dimensions: energy coupling, system design, and mission adaptability, offering a systematic reference for subsequent research. The paper also explores the application potential of this technology in advanced scenarios, such as long-term ocean observation and dynamic environmental monitoring. Future efforts should prioritize efficient multi-energy hybridization, dynamic energy management, and mission-adaptive control to comprehensively enhance the endurance and operational reliability of gliders in complex marine environments.
Open Access
Article
30 March 2026A Fast Acting Quantized Energy Balance Criterion for Power System Instability Detection Based on WAMPAC GOOSE Pulses Induced by Small Speed Perturbations
A newly developed stability assessment tool for a power system is proposed in this paper based on estimating the kinetic energy-time variations. It aims to introduce a practical alternative to the Equal Area Criterion (EAC) method that is valid for multi-swing cases. It utilizes the Generic Object Oriented Substation Event (GOOSE) packets launched due to angle variations during swing by the Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) measuring the generator bus angle. The scheme maps the GOOSE packets to quantized energy levels. The detector IED receives the launched GOOSE from disturbed generators through the Wide Area Monitoring, Protection and Control (WAMPAC) System and evaluates the system stability accordingly. The areas under the positive energy intervals above the time axis determine the stability for the oscillatory swing. It has been proven that the area under positive energy levels is proportional to the number of GOOSE packets emitted during these intervals. For the fast monotonic swing, the quantized energy pattern shows quasi-stable intermediate energy levels between two high energy levels, where the scheme detects the transition to the second higher level as an indication of instability, with enough time in advance for corrective measures. The scheme is Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU)-independent, thus eliminating the burden and cost of synchronization requirements. The new scheme has been tested using the IEEE 39 Bus System. The results show the scheme’s capability to predict instability 87 ms prior to its occurrence, which is an adequate time for remedial action.
Open Access
Article
30 March 2026Evaluation of Power Grid Investment Effectiveness in New Power Systems Considering Decision Psychology and Sustainable Development: An Empirical Study Based on Chinese Urban Power Grid Simulation
The evaluation of investment effectiveness in power grids oriented towards new-type power systems is a critical issue for advancing grid transformation and enhancing the scientific basis of investment decision-making. To address the current challenges—such as single-dimensional evaluation, strong subjectivity in index weighting, and insufficient consideration of risks and decision-makers’ psychological factors—this paper aims to construct a hybrid evaluation framework that comprehensively reflects both objective data and subjective decision-making preferences. First, a comprehensive evaluation index system is established, encompassing four dimensions: low-carbon performance, safety, economic efficiency, and intelligence. Second, an innovative integration of the Back Propagation Neural Network (BPNN), the CRITIC method, and the Entropy Weight Method (EWM) is conducted. The combination weights are determined through game theory to scientifically quantify the importance of each index. Based on this, the Improved Cumulative Prospect Theory (ICPT) is introduced to characterize decision-makers’ psychological behavior under uncertainty. Furthermore, by combining Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), an ICPT-GRA-TOPSIS comprehensive evaluation model is constructed. An empirical study of 13 typical urban power grids in China reveals that the proposed model can effectively identify the strengths and weaknesses of investment effectiveness across different regions, categorizing them into development tiers such as “multi-objective collaborative leading type”, “key breakthrough but unbalanced type”, and “system-lagging type”. More importantly, the sensitivity analysis of decision-making psychology demonstrates that the evaluation of investment strategies is highly dependent on decision-makers’ risk attitudes and value orientations. This provides critical quantitative decision-making references for formulating differentiated, precise investment strategies for power grids, offering significant theoretical and practical value for guiding power grid enterprises in optimizing resource allocation and supporting the construction of new-type power systems.
Open Access
Review
27 March 2026Artificial Intelligence in Photovoltaic Power Systems: A Bibliometric and Thematic Analysis of Knowledge Structures, Research Evolution, and Emerging Directions Toward Sustainable Energy Systems
Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly become a core enabling technology in photovoltaic (PV) power systems, supporting improvements in forecasting accuracy, operational control, fault diagnosis, and system-level energy management. Despite the rapid growth of this field, a comprehensive understanding of its intellectual structure, thematic evolution, and emerging methodological directions remains fragmented. To address this gap, this study develops an integrated bibliometric-thematic analysis framework to systematically map the knowledge structure, research trajectories, and methodological frontiers of AI applications in PV power systems. The analysis is based on 4752 peer-reviewed journal articles indexed in Scopus (2006–2025). It combines performance analysis, co-citation analysis, keyword co-occurrence analysis, and bibliographic coupling to answer five structured research questions. The results demonstrate that PV power forecasting constitutes the central intellectual backbone of AI-based PV research, with the highest citation concentration and the strongest thematic connectivity across clusters. Thematic evolution analysis reveals a clear methodological transition from conventional machine learning models toward hybrid deep learning architectures, uncertainty-aware prediction frameworks, and physics-based AI integration. Furthermore, emerging research frontiers are characterized by generative learning models, multi-source data fusion strategies, and resilience-oriented fault diagnostics, while critical gaps persist in benchmarking standardization, uncertainty quantification, system-level integration, and large-scale industrial deployment. Unlike prior reviews that focus on isolated technical applications, this study provides the first integrated performance analysis and science-mapping synthesis that connects intellectual foundations, thematic evolution, and frontier innovations across the entire AI-based PV ecosystem. The findings offer a structured research roadmap and actionable guidance for researchers, PV plant operators, and policymakers aiming to design intelligent, scalable, and resilient PV energy systems that support the global low-carbon transition.
Open Access
Review
25 March 2026Towards an Integrated Future: Examining Water, Climate, and Gender Dynamics for Sustainable Development in Kenya
Kenya’s sustainable development is increasingly shaped by climate variability and climate change, which affect both the availability and quality of water resources. Existing research shows that these impacts are often gendered, particularly where women and girls hold primary household responsibilities for water collection and water-related care work. Literature also indicates that impacts differ substantially by location (arid versus highland versus informal urban settlements), livelihood system (pastoral versus agro-pastoral versus peri-urban), socio-economic status, and age. This study presents a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature examining how water stress, climate pressures, and gender dynamics intersect in Kenya. Three recurring themes emerge: first, climate change makes water supplies less safe, more expensive, and harder to predict. Second, social and political structures dictate who suffers most from these changes. Third, while women drive local climate adaptation and advocacy, they still lack a consistent voice in formal decision-making. The study concludes by identifying points of agreement and disagreement in current literature, while highlighting remaining evidence gaps regarding the shifting dynamics of climate, water, and gender relations in Kenya.
