The Digital Foundation Platform -- A Multi-layered SOA Architecture for Intelligent Connected Vehicle Operating System

Legacy AD/ADAS development from OEMs centers around developing functions on ECUs using services provided by AUTOSAR Classic Platform (CP) to meet automotive-grade and mass-production requirements. The AUTOSAR CP couples hardware and software components statically and encounters challenges to provide sufficient capacities for the processing of high-level intelligent driving functions, whereas the new platform, AUTOSAR Adaptive Platform (AP) is designed to support dynamically communication and provide richer services and function abstractions for those resource-intensive (memory, CPU) applications. Yet for both platforms, application development and the supporting system software are still closely coupled together, and this makes application development and the enhancement less scalable and flexible, resulting in longer development cycles and slower time-to-market. This paper presents a multi-layered, service-oriented intelligent driving operating system foundation (we named it as Digital Foundation Platform) that provides abstractions for easier adoption of heterogeneous computing hardware. It features a multi-layer SOA software architecture with each layer providing adaptive service API at north-bound for application developers. The proposed Digital Foundation Platform (DFP) has significant advantages of decoupling hardware, operating system core, middle-ware, functional software and application software development. It provides SOA at multiple layers and enables application developers from OEMs, to customize and develop new applications or enhance existing applications with new features, either in autonomous domain or intelligent cockpit domain, with great agility, and less code through re-usability, and thus reduce the time-to-market.Comment: WCX SAE World Congress Experience 202

Developing Ubiquitous Sensor Network Platform Using Internet of Things: Application in Precision Agriculture

The application of Information Technologies into Precision Agriculture methods has clear benefits. Precision Agriculture optimises production efficiency, increases quality, minimises environmental impact and reduces the use of resources (energy, water); however, there are different barriers that have delayed its wide development. Some of these main barriers are expensive equipment, the difficulty to operate and maintain and the standard for sensor networks are still under development. Nowadays, new technological development in embedded devices (hardware and communication protocols), the evolution of Internet technologies (Internet of Things) and ubiquitous computing (Ubiquitous Sensor Networks) allow developing less expensive systems, easier to control, install and maintain, using standard protocols with low-power consumption. This work develops and test a low-cost sensor/actuator network platform, based in Internet of Things, integrating machine-to-machine and human-machine-interface protocols. Edge computing uses this multi-protocol approach to develop control processes on Precision Agriculture scenarios. A greenhouse with hydroponic crop production was developed and tested using Ubiquitous Sensor Network monitoring and edge control on Internet of Things paradigm. The experimental results showed that the Internet technologies and Smart Object Communication Patterns can be combined to encourage development of Precision Agriculture. They demonstrated added benefits (cost, energy, smart developing, acceptance by agricultural specialists) when a project is launched.This research was supported by Industrial Computers and Computer Networks program (I2RC) (2015/2016) funded by the University of Alicante

Considering the Smartphone Learner: developing innovation to investigate the opportunities for students and their interest

Ownership of mobile smartphones amongst the general consumer, professionals and students is growing exponentially. The potential for smartphones in education builds upon experience described in the extensive literature on mobile learning from the previous decade which suggests that the ubiquity, multi-functionality and connectivity of mobile devices offers a new and potentially powerful networked learning environment. This paper reports on a collaborative study conducted by an undergraduate student with the support of two members of academic staff. The research sought to establish the extent to which students are autonomously harnessing smartphone technology to support their learning and the nature of this use. Initial findings were explored through student interviews. The study found that students who own smartphones are largely unaware of their potential to support learning and, in general, do not install smartphone applications for that purpose. They are, however, interested in and open to the potential as they become familiar with the possibilities for a range of purposes. The paper proposes that more consideration needs to be given to smartphones as platforms to support formal, informal and autonomous learner engagement. The study also reflects on its collaborative methodology and the challenges associated with academic innovation

The long egress of GJ~436b's giant exosphere

The M dwarf GJ 436 hosts a transiting warm Neptune known to experience atmospheric escape. Previous observations revealed the presence of a giant hydrogen exosphere transiting the star for more than 5 h, and absorbing up to 56% of the flux in the blue wing of the stellar Lyman-{\alpha} line of neutral hydrogen (H i Ly{\alpha}). The unexpected size of this comet-like exosphere prevented observing the full transit of its tail. In this Letter, we present new Ly{\alpha} observations of GJ 436 obtained with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) instrument onboard the Hubble Space Telescope. The stability of the Ly{\alpha} line over six years allowed us to combine these new observations with archival data sets, substantially expanding the coverage of the exospheric transit. Hydrogen atoms in the tail of the exospheric cloud keep occulting the star for 10-25 h after the transit of the planet, remarkably confirming a previous prediction based on 3D numerical simulations with the EVaporating Exoplanet code (EVE). This result strengthens the interpretation that the exosphere of GJ 436b is shaped by both radiative braking and charge exchanges with the stellar wind. We further report flux decreases of 15 +/- 2% and 47 +/- 10% in the red wing of the Ly{\alpha} line and in the line of ionised silicon (Si iii). Despite some temporal variability possibly linked with stellar activity, these two signals occur during the exospheric transit and could be of planetary origin. Follow-up observations will be required to assess the possibility that the redshifted Ly{\alpha} and Si iii absorption signatures arise from interactions between the exospheric flow and the magnetic field of the star.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, published in A&

Smart-device Potential for Student Learning.

Smartphones/devices have become the ubiquitous tool of choice for professionals to support their productivity and are increasingly becoming more common on university campuses. Many of the advantages of these devices have the potential to support student learning engagement and provide new opportunities for learning. This paper reports on an academic study conducted over the last two years by two final year students, supported by two academic learning technology researchers, examining the level of student smartphone/device ownership on campus and the extent students are harnessed the use of these devices to support their learning. The research shows that student smartphone/device ownership is increasing; however, how students are using the devices to support their learning appears to narrowing as the year progresses and consequently the students are missing out on the learning opportunities these devices can provide. The paper finally presents an analysis of smartphone/device apps that have the potential to support student learning