Encyclopedia of software components

Intelligent browsing through a collection of reusable software components is facilitated with a computer having a video monitor and a user input interface such as a keyboard or a mouse for transmitting user selections, by presenting a picture of encyclopedia volumes with respective visible labels referring to types of software, in accordance with a metaphor in which each volume includes a page having a list of general topics under the software type of the volume and pages having lists of software components for each one of the generic topics, altering the picture to open one of the volumes in response to an initial user selection specifying the one volume to display on the monitor a picture of the page thereof having the list of general topics and altering the picture to display the page thereof having a list of software components under one of the general topics in response to a next user selection specifying the one general topic, and then presenting a picture of a set of different informative plates depicting different types of information about one of the software components in response to a further user selection specifying the one component

TRANSFORMATION INDUCED PLASTICITY IN A HIGH ENTROPY ALLOY, REUSING POWDER IN LASER POWDER BED FUSION OF INCONEL 718, AND GEOMETRIC FACTOR IN FRACTURE TOUGHNESS OF NANO-LAYERED COMPOSITES

This research explores the effects of processing history and compressive strain on a microstructurally flexible high entropy alloy (HEA), Fe42Mn28Co10Cr15Si5 (in at%) – named DP-5Si-HEA. The material was characterized by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and neutron diffraction. The as-rolled material had metastable gamma austenite (γ), stable sigma (σ), and stable epsilon martensite (ε) phases at room temperature. Friction stirrer processing (FSP) at different tool speeds changed the microstructure by decreasing the grain size and varying the phase fractions because of the low stacking fault energy of the chosen HEA. The HEA exhibited peak ultimate tensile strength of ~1850 MPa because of refined microstructure, transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) because of γ→ε phase transformation, and transformation-induced Hall-Petch-type barrier effect. Furthermore, an investigation on the effect of reusing powder on compressive, tensile, and creep properties of Inconel 718 (IN 718) fabricated by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) was carried out. To achieve that, room, and high temperature (6000C, 6500C,7000C, 7500C) tensile tests, room temperature compression tests, and high temperature (5500C, 6500C, 7000C) tensile creep tests for samples prepared by both virgin as well as a reused powder in LPBF were performed. The study showed the reused powder had higher strength at room and high-temperature tensile tests except for 6500C. The virgin powder lasted longer at 550C and 650C creep tests, but the reused powder lasted longer at 700C. It was concluded in this study that the parts made by virgin powder samples should be used for temperatures at creep conditions until 650C for real-life applications. Moreover, finite element analyses were carried out on micro single edge notched bend (MSENB) specimens to obtain fracture toughness of Cu/TiN and Al/TiN nanocomposites within the realm of Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics. The shape function or geometric factor was first calculated by considering the effects of the geometry, the cono-spherical indenter stress field, and the phase interface shielding/anti-shielding on the crack tip driving force. It was found that adding either Al or Cu nanolayers to TiN nanolayers did not weaken or significantly improve fracture toughness relative to the single TiN thin film. Based on the results, some recommendations were also made for future experiments

Technological and Organizational Designs for Realizing Economies of Substitution

Today's industrial landscape is characterized by rapid change and systemic technologies. Rapid change results in ever shorter product life cycles that demand continual innovation from firms. The systemic nature of technologies makes it difficult, if not impossible, for any one firm to manufacture all components of a technological system. We propose that these challenges be met by designing technological systems that have the potential to yield economies of substitution. Additionally, we propose that these economies be realized by adopting the network mode of governance. We examine the network mode at three levels-intrafirm, interfirm, and institutional-to illuminate the inherent tension between cooperation and competition at each level, and to explore the implications of this tension for industrial dynamics.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

Robotics Software Engineering: A Perspective from the Service Robotics Domain

Robots that support humans by performing useful tasks (a.k.a., service robots) are booming worldwide. In contrast to industrial robots, the development of service robots comes with severe software engineering challenges, since they require high levels of robustness and autonomy to operate in highly heterogeneous environments. As a domain with critical safety implications, service robotics faces a need for sound software development practices. In this paper, we present the first large-scale empirical study to assess the state of the art and practice of robotics software engineering. We conducted 18 semi-structured interviews with industrial practitioners working in 15 companies from 9 different countries and a survey with 156 respondents (from 26 countries) from the robotics domain. Our results provide a comprehensive picture of (i) the practices applied by robotics industrial and academic practitioners, including processes, paradigms, languages, tools, frameworks, and reuse practices, (ii) the distinguishing characteristics of robotics software engineering, and (iii) recurrent challenges usually faced, together with adopted solutions. The paper concludes by discussing observations, derived hypotheses, and proposed actions for researchers and practitioners.Comment: 11 pages + 1 page for references, 3 figures, 3 tables, in proceedings of ESEC/FSE 202