Bridging the Abstraction Gap for the Design of Embedded Reactive Systems Using Esterel: A Case Study

Author(s):  
Martin Zauner ◽  
Michael Kramer ◽  
Peter Balog

New design methodologies at higher abstraction levels are necessary to deal with the increasing complexity of modern embedded systems. As a consequence, new design paradigms must supersede traditional design methods to bridge the abstraction gap which often exists between specification and implementation. This paper examines several examples which evaluate the applicability of Esterel, a language with well-defined semantics for specification and verification of reactive control systems. Implementation size, performance and design effort were selected as measures to assess the benefits of this design approach in comparison to a traditional one.

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 581-590
Author(s):  
Alexis JP Jacoby ◽  
Kristel Van Ael

AbstractThe field of design practice and design education is reaching out to address problems that cannot be solved by introducing a single product or service. Complex societal problems such as gender inequality cannot be solved using a traditional problem-solving oriented design approach. The specific characteristics of these problems require new ways of dealing with the dynamics, scale and complexity of the problem.Systemic design is a design approach integrating systems thinking in combination with more traditional design methodologies, addressing complex and systemic problems. This paper reports a systemic design approach in an educational context for the case of academic gender inequality. We show the way the problem was addressed and how design students were invited to take a systemic perspective, provide integrated interventions and take first steps in providing instruments for implementation. We conclude with the learnings from this case study, both on the process and the results.


Author(s):  
Haoyuan Ying ◽  
Klaus Hofmann ◽  
Thomas Hollstein

Due to the growing demand on high performance and low power in embedded systems, many core architectures are proposed the most suitable solutions. While the design concentration of many core embedded systems is switching from computation-centric to communication-centric, Network-on-Chip (NoC) is one of the best interconnect techniques for such architectures because of the scalability and high communication bandwidth. Formalized and optimized system-level design methods for NoC-based many core embedded systems are desired to improve the system performance and to reduce the power consumption. In order to understand the design optimization methods in depth, a case study of optimizing many core embedded systems based on 3-Dimensional (3D) NoC with irregular vertical link distribution topology through task mapping, core placement, routing, and topology generation is demonstrated in this chapter. Results of cycle-accurate simulation experiments prove the validity and efficiency of the design methods. Specific to the case study configuration, in maximum 60% vertical links can be saved while maintaining the system efficiency in comparison to full vertical link connection 3D NoCs by applying the design optimization methods.


Author(s):  
Stephanie L. Goerges ◽  
Qi D. Van Eikema Hommes

Identifying the factors that could lead to the loss of quality is difficult for large complex product systems. Traditional design methods such as Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), and Robust Design have been proven effective at identifying component failures, but are less effective for causes of quality loss that involve interactions between components, software flaws, or external noises. This research applied System Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA) to a case study at Cummins, Inc. The case study was a technology change to a subsystem in a new product development project. The intent of this case was to determine if STPA, developed for safety engineering and hazard analysis, would be effective in identifying causes of quality losses. The results of the case study were compared to the traditional design methods. STPA allowed design teams to identify more causal factors for quality losses than FMEA or FTA, especially those involving component interactions, software flaws, and external noises. STPA was also found to be complementary to Robust Design methods.


1996 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claude Sammut

AbstractThis paper reviews a number of applications of machine learning to industrial control problems. We take the point of view of trying to automatically build rule-based reactive systems for tasks that, if performed by humans, would require a high degree of skill, yet are generally performed without thinking. Such skills are said to be sub-cognitive. While this might seem restrictive, most human skill is executed subconsciously and only becomes conscious when an unfamiliar circumstance is encountered. This kind of skill lends itself well to representation by a reactive system, that is, one that does not create a detailed model of the world, but rather, attempts to match percepts with actions in a very direct manner.


Author(s):  
Christiane Gresse Von Wangenheim ◽  
Nathalia Cruz Alves ◽  
Pedro Eurico Rodrigues ◽  
Jean Carlo Hauck

In order to be well-educated citizens in the 21st century, children need to learn computing in school. However, implementing computing education in schools faces several practical problems, such as lack of computing teachers and time in an already overloaded curriculum. A solution can be a multidisciplinary approach, integrating computing education within other subjects in the curriculum. The present study proposes an instructional unit for computing education in social studies classes, with students learning basic computing concepts by programming history related games using Scratch. The instructional unit is developed following an instructional design approach and is applied and evaluated through a case study in four classes (5th and 7th grade) with a total of 105 students at a school in (omitted for submission). Results provide a first indication that the instructional unit enables the learning of basic computing concepts (specifically programming) in an efficient, effective and entertaining way increasing also the interest and motivation of students to learn computing.


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