Hardware implementation of the base two logarithmic number system

Call number: LD2668 .R4 EECE 1988 H755Master of ScienceElectrical and Computer Engineerin

Runtime methods for energy-efficient, image processing using significance driven learning.

Ph. D. Thesis.Image and Video processing applications are opening up a whole range of opportunities for processing at the "edge" or IoT applications as the demand for high accuracy processing high resolution images increases. However this comes with an increase in the quantity of data to be processed and stored, thereby causing a significant increase in the computational challenges. There is a growing interest in developing hardware systems that provide energy efficient solutions to this challenge. The challenges in Image Processing are unique because the increase in resolution, not only increases the data to be processed but also the amount of information detail scavenged from the data is also greatly increased. This thesis addresses the concept of extracting the significant image information to enable processing the data intelligently within a heterogeneous system. We propose a unique way of defining image significance, based on what causes us to react when something "catches our eye", whether it be static or dynamic, whether it be in our central field of focus or our peripheral vision. This significance technique proves to be a relatively economical process in terms of energy and computational effort. We investigate opportunities for further computational and energy efficiency that are available by elective use of heterogeneous system elements. We utilise significance to adaptively select regions of interest for selective levels of processing dependent on their relative significance. We further demonstrate that exploiting the computational slack time released by this process, we can apply throttling of the processor speed to effect greater energy savings. This demonstrates a reduction in computational effort and energy efficiency a process that we term adaptive approximate computing. We demonstrate that our approach reduces energy in a range of 50 to 75%, dependent on user quality demand, for a real-time performance requirement of 10 fps for a WQXGA image, when compared with the existing approach that is agnostic of significance. We further hypothesise that by use of heterogeneous elements that savings up to 90% could be achievable in both performance and energy when compared with running OpenCV on the CPU alone

Computational Shifts in Theatrical Space

This dissertation describes a set of research projects that were conducted between 2012 and 2014 in order to answer the question how do computational ideas alter our understanding of place? Each project was produced in the context of the performing arts and included plays, dance performances and film and installation work. For each project new software and hardware systems were created as a means of exploring different types of mediated communication. These systems include a scalable depth-camera based tracking system for performance on stage, a tool for manipulation of live-streamed video incorporated into stage performance, a method of tracking biometric data of performers live during the performance and a game-engine for creating interactive environments. Collectively these experiments establish a framework for the discussion of the nature of the shifts caused by applying computational ideas to space. Finally, the results lay the foundation for further theoretical work concerning the creation of cultural artifacts that exist somewhere between the material and immaterial, the influence of computation on the nature of modeling, and the impact of ubiquitous computing on contemporary notions of performance and play

Additive Manufacturing of Ceramics. Printing Beyond the Binder

This research project focuses on the production of ceramics via Additive Manufacturing (AM) techniques, with particular focus on extrusion-based technologies. The main advantage of AM is the ability to produce cellular structures with high complexity and controlled porosity, allowing to manufacture light but efficient stretch-dominated structures. The inspiration comes from nature: bone architectures are a great example, consisting of thin, solid skins attached to highly porous, cellular cores. Very few commercially available AM systems are suited for ceramic materials, and most of them use ceramic powders as feedstock. Residual pores and cracks are very hard to avoid and result in low strength, poor reliability and loss of unique material properties such as glass optical transparency. AM technologies employing polymers are at a much more advanced stage of development. The goal has been to exploit such advances and to provide alternatives to the ceramic powder-binder approaches. Three different material families were explored: preceramic polymers, geopolymers, and glass. The same preceramic polymer, a commercial polysilsesquioxane, was employed as a non sacrificial, reactive binder to develop inks for stereolithography (SL) and direct ink writing (DIW). The first technology allowed for production of dense, crack-free SiOC micro-components with strut size down to ~200 μm and optimal surface quality. No shape limitations were experienced, but porous structures or small dense parts are the best options in order to avoid residual pores and cracks. The second approach was employed for the fabrication of complex biosilicate scaffolds for tissue engineering with a rod diameter of 350 µm and unsupported struts. The preceramic polymer had the double role of source of silica and rheology modifier. Ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) were also fabricated; the preceramic polymer developed the ceramic matrix (SiOC) upon pyrolysis in inert atmosphere, whereas reinforcement was given by chopped carbon fibers. Geopolymer components with controlled porosity were designed and produced first by negative replica of PLA sacrificial templates and then by DIW. Highly porous ceramic components with features of ~800 μm and unsupported parts with very limited sagging were produced with the latter approach. A novel extrusion-based AM approach was finally developed for the production of objects starting from molten glass. The system processed glass from the molten state to annealed components of complex, digitally designed forms. Objects possessing draft angles and tight radii were fabricated. Within the design space it was possible to print with high precision and accuracy; parts showed a strong adhesion between layers, and high transparency through the layers

Municipal Wastewater Management

Taking the papers’ collection of this Special Issue as a whole, it is clear that “Municipal Wastewater Management” is an ongoing field of research with the ability to incorporate current environmental and human health challenges. The use of municipal sewage to monitor COVID-19 virus circulation in communities and the estimation of possible outbreaks, even before clinical cases have been identified, is a fact that justifies this. In light of the Coronavirus pandemic, the interest of the impact that research on municipal wastewater management can have on improving humans’ health and protecting the environment is being rethought. In respect to this, there is an essential need for scientific publications that present varieties of case studies and discuss best practices, so as wastewater treatment plants to be seen not only as sites of pollutants removal but also as places where energy is efficiently used and environmental sustainability is being practiced, in close relation to the needs of the community. Viewed in this way, the papers’ collected in this Special Issue are looking forward to reach a broad readership that can gain awareness and understanding of their topics and be stimulated into future research and collaborations that would improve all stakeholders engagement in promoting a sustainable municipal wastewater management

Comparison of logarithmic and floating-point number systems implemented on Xilinx Virtex-II field-programmable gate arrays

The aim of this thesis is to compare the implementation of parameterisable LNS (logarithmic number system) and floating-point high dynamic range number systems on FPGA. The Virtex/Virtex-II range of FPGAs from Xilinx, which are the most popular FPGA technology, are used to implement the designs. The study focuses on using the low level primitives of the technology in an efficient way and so initially the design issues in implementing fixed-point operators are considered. The four basic operations of addition, multiplication, division and square root are considered. Carry- free adders, ripple-carry adders, parallel multipliers and digit recurrence division and square root are discussed. The floating-point operators use the word format and exceptions as described by the IEEE std-754. A dual-path adder implementation is described in detail, as are floating-point multiplier, divider and square root components. Results and comparisons with other works are given. The efficient implementation of function evaluation methods is considered next. An overview of current FPGA methods is given and a new piecewise polynomial implementation using the Taylor series is presented and compared with other designs in the literature. In the next section the LNS word format, accuracy and exceptions are described and two new LNS addition/subtraction function approximations are described. The algorithms for performing multiplication, division and powering in the LNS domain are also described and are compared with other designs in the open literature. Parameterisable conversion algorithms to convert to/from the fixed-point domain from/to the LNS and floating-point domain are described and implementation results given. In the next chapter MATLAB bit-true software models are given that have the exact functionality as the hardware models. The interfaces of the models are given and a serial communication system to perform low speed system tests is described. A comparison of the LNS and floating-point number systems in terms of area and delay is given. Different functions implemented in LNS and floating-point arithmetic are also compared and conclusions are drawn. The results show that when the LNS is implemented with a 6-bit or less characteristic it is superior to floating-point. However, for larger characteristic lengths the floating-point system is more efficient due to the delay and exponential area increase of the LNS addition operator. The LNS is beneficial for larger characteristics than 6-bits only for specialist applications that require a high portion of division, multiplication, square root, powering operations and few additions

A portable artificial kidney system using microfluidics and multi-step filtration

Natural kidney filtration is a compact, multi-step filtration process which passes wastes and exceeded fluids via microscale vessels in glomerulus and tubules. The principal renal replacement therapy (RRT), commonly called dialysis, is a single-step filtration process based on diffusion to replace kidney failure. Conventional dialysis is limited in its effectiveness (not a continuous treatment), its impact on quality of life (typically requiring patients to spend several days per week in a clinic), and its cost (large systems, requiring frequent membrane replacement). This thesis is an investigation into the feasibility of using microfluidics and membrane technology to create portable alternatives to dialysis systems. It starts with a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art in portable artificial kidneys, microfluidics, membrane science, and other related fields. An innovative, multi-step process was designed to mimic kidney filtration using two membranes; one to filter out large particles and one to remove urea and recycle water, thus mitigating the need for a dialysate system. The underlying physics (the mixing and shear stress) of the mechanisms which could enhance filtration performance at microscale was then studied. It was found that by adding microspacers into narrow-channel flows, it is possible to significantly enhance filtration. Optimized 3D-printed spacer designs (e.g., a ‘gyroid’ spacer) showed flux enhancement of up to 93% (compared to a plain channel) when using a plasma mimicking solution. The use of different blood and plasma mimicking solutions also suggested a prior step to separate large biological components (e.g., cells, proteins) is helpful to reduce cell contact and fouling in membrane filtration. The potential use of microfluidic diode valves and micropumps for pressure and flowrate regulation in the proposed small-format system was discussed. Membrane processes which mimic the filtration function of the tubules and have the potential for integration into portable systems (e.g., reverse osmosis and membrane distillation) are demonstrated to be useful potential alternatives to dialysis in toxin removal and in returning clean water to the blood stream