Tool Integration for Automated Synthesis of Distributed Embedded Controllers

Controller design and their software implementations are usually done in isolated design spaces using respective COTS design tools. However, this separation of concerns can lead to long debugging and integration phases. This is because assumptions made about the implementation platform during the design phase—e.g., related to timing—might not hold in practice, thereby leading to unacceptable control performance. In order to address this, several control/architecture co-design techniques have been proposed in the literature. However, their adoption in practice has been hampered by the lack of design flows using commercial tools. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first article that implements such a co-design method using commercially available design tools in an automotive setting, with the aim of minimally disrupting existing design flows practiced in the industry. The goal of such co-design is to jointly determine controller and platform parameters in order to avoid any design-implementation gap , thereby minimizing implementation time testing and debugging. Our setting involves distributed implementations of control algorithms on automotive electronic control units ( ECUs ) communicating via a FlexRay bus. The co-design and the associated toolchain Co-Flex jointly determines controller and FlexRay parameters (that impact signal delays) in order to optimize specified design metrics. Co-Flex seamlessly integrates the modeling and analysis of control systems in MATLAB/Simulink with platform modeling and configuration in SIMTOOLS/SIMTARGET that is used for configuring FlexRay bus parameters. It automates the generation of multiple Pareto-optimal design options with respect to the quality of control and the resource usage, that an engineer can choose from. In this article, we outline a step-by-step software development process based on Co-Flex tools for distributed control applications. While our exposition is automotive specific, this design flow can easily be extended to other domains.

Constant stress arches and their design space

It is generally accepted that an optimal arch has a funicular (moment-less) form and least weight. However, the feature of least weight restricts the design options and raises the question of durability of such structures. This study, building on the analytical form-finding approach presented in Lewis (2016. Proc. R. Soc. A 472 , 20160019. ( doi:10.1098/rspa.2016.0019 )), proposes constant axial stress as a design criterion for smooth, two-pin arches that are moment-less under permanent (statistically prevalent) load. This approach ensures that no part of the structure becomes over-stressed under variable load (wind, snow and/or moving objects), relative to its other parts—a phenomenon observed in natural structures, such as trees, bones, shells. The theory considers a general case of an asymmetric arch, deriving the equation of its centre-line profile, horizontal reactions and varying cross-section area. The analysis of symmetric arches follows, and includes a solution for structures of least weight by supplying an equation for a volume-minimizing, span/rise ratio. The paper proposes a new concept, that of a design space controlled by two non-dimensional input parameters; their theoretical and practical limits define the existence of constant axial stress arches. It is shown that, for stand-alone arches, the design space reduces to a constraint relationship between constant stress and span/rise ratio.

Features of the educational program «Nanotechnologies and nanomaterials in energy»: machine learning

The results of the development of new educational programs in the field of nanotechnology and nanomaterials in the energy sector, which have been developed and are actively used by the National Research University “MPEI”, are presented. Modern nanomaterials and nanotechnological processes in traditional and alternative (“green”) energy require new approaches, including statistical methods for the analysis and synthesis of experimental data and design options. For this reason, without the active use of machine learning methods, it is impossible to train qualified specialists in the field of promising energy problems and their solutions. Through teaching, research, and innovation, «MPEI» exceptional community pursues its mission of service to the nation and the world.

Two Design Options for Compact Linear Accelerators for High Flux Neutron Source

We describe and compare two optimized design options of RF linear accelerators with different resonant frequencies at 162.5 MHz (f0) and 325 MHz (2∙f0). The RFQ + DTL linacs have been designed to provide 13 MeV acceleration to a proton beam for achieving a fast neutron yield of not lower than 1013 n/s via 9Be(p, n)9B reaction in pulsed-mode operation. Our design studies show that none of the two options is better than the other, but that the choice of operating frequency will mainly be determined by the accelerator length and RF cost consideration. This study can serve as a basis for the design of an initial stage of a new high brilliance Compact Accelerator-driven Neutron Source (CANS), aiming to use neutron scattering techniques for studying material properties in fundamental physics, materials science, nuclear energy, as well as for industries and societal challenges.

Building a model of the process of shooting a mobile armored target with directed fragmentation-beam shells in the form of a discrete-continuous stochastic system

This paper describes the process of shooting a mobile armored combat vehicle with directed fragmentation-beam shells as a discrete-continuous random process. Based on this approach, a stochastic model has been proposed in the form of a system of Kolmogorov-Chapman differential equations. A universal model of the process of defeating a moving armored target with directed fragmentation-beam shells has been built, which would provide preconditions for experimental studies into the effectiveness of various variants of the components of the artillery system for three-shot firing. The execution of an artillery task is considered as a set of certain procedures characterized by the average value of its duration. They are dependent on the firing phases involving a prospective automatic gun and the explosive destruction of fragmentation-beam shells while the explosive destruction of each shell case is characterized by the self-propagation of the reaction of explosive transformations based on tabular data on the target. An indicator of the functionality of various design options for fragmentation-beam shells is the probability of causing damage by «useful fragments» in the vulnerable compartments of a combat armored vehicle. Devising universal models for the process of shooting a moving armored vehicle forms preconditions for further full-time experiments in accordance with the design solutions defined as a result of modeling. It is possible to use the developed discrete-continuous stochastic model in other modeling tasks to determine the optimal value of defeat. As regards the practical application of discrete-continuous stochastic models, one can argue about the possibility of reducing the cost of performing design tasks related to weapons by 25 % and decreasing the likelihood of making mistakes at the stage of system engineering design

A METHODOLOGY TO SUPPORT EARLY STAGE OFF-THE-SHELF NAVAL VESSEL ACQUISITIONS

This paper describes a research programme to construct a Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methodology that supports acquiring organisations in the early stages of Off-the-Shelf (OTS) naval vessel acquisitions. A structured approach to design and requirements definition activities has been incorporated into the methodology to provide an easily implemented, reusable approach that supports defensible acquisition of OTS naval vessels through traceability of decisions. The methodology comprises two main parts. Firstly, a design space is developed from the capability needs using Set-Based Design principles, Model-Based Conceptual Design, and Design Patterns. A key idea is to employ Concept and Requirements Exploration to trim the design space to the region of OTS designs most likely to meet the needs. This region can be used to specify Request for Tender (RFT) requirements. Secondly, the methodology supports trades-off between the OTS design options proposed in the RFT responses using a multi-criteria decision making method. The paper includes an example implementation of the methodology for an indicative Offshore Patrol Vessel capability.

Design of Autonomous Unmanned System for Aerial Operations From Underwater Platforms

Surveillance and reconnaissance play a very important role in military and civil aspects. They are the key factors in military tactics and in the event of civilian calamities. In case of naval warfare, the submarines which are operating under deep water are required to carry out open land mass surveillance in an efficient manner without reaching to the water surface nor revealing their presence and position. This research paper proposes the conceptualized design to develop an autonomous unmanned octocopter system which is capable of being launched from an underwater platform such as submarines, with the help of a tethered launching mechanism known as octopod, to carry out surveillance, reconnaissance and payload delivery. In this paper, we present a novel method for development of UAV with special application on aerial survey from underwater platforms. A variety of design options which are investigated from various trade studies to evaluate the performance along with design configuration to satisfy the specific requirements are also presented in this paper.

Designing of ship shafts made of polymer composite materials

В работе предложены процедуры для выполнения проектировочного расчета судовых валов из полимерных композиционных материалов. Рассматривалась цилиндрическая оболочка, являющаяся основным телом промежуточного судового вала. Она сформирована из пакетов монослоев, состоящих из армирующего волокна и связующей матрицы. Определяющей нагрузкой на судовой вал принят крутящий момент. Заданы ограничения на параметры напряженно-деформированного состояния, характеризующие формы отказов для оболочки в целом и пакета монослоев. Получены аналитические зависимости, связывающие параметры проектирования с крутильной жесткостью, касательными напряжениями потери устойчивости оболочки и нормальными напряжения в волокне. При заданных характеристиках материала проектирование сведено к определению радиуса и толщины оболочки вала. Выполнена серия проектировочных расчетов, различающихся типом активных ограничений. Полученные варианты проектирования проанализированы с помощью метода конечных элементов. Произведена проверка удовлетворения всех ограничений. Предложены условия проектирования, обеспечивающие приемлемые варианты проектов валов из ПКМ. The paper proposes procedures for performing the design calculation of ship shafts made of polymer composite materials. The cylindrical shell, which is the main body of the intermediate ship shaft, was considered. It is formed from packages of monolayers consisting of a reinforcing fiber and a binding matrix. The determining load on the ship's shaft is assumed to be the torque. Restrictions are set on the parameters of the stress-strain state that characterize the failure forms for the shell as a whole and the monolayer package. Analytical dependences linking the design parameters with torsional stiffness, tangential stresses of the shell loss of stability and normal stresses in the fiber are obtained. With the specified material characteristics, the design is reduced to determining the radius and thickness of the shaft shell. A series of design calculations, differing in the type of active constraints, has been performed. The obtained design options are analyzed using the finite element method. The check of satisfaction of all restrictions is made. The design conditions that provide acceptable variants of shaft designs from PCM are proposed.