A High-Order Scheme for Image Segmentation via a modified Level-Set method

In this paper we propose a high-order accurate scheme for image segmentation based on the level-set method. In this approach, the curve evolution is described as the 0-level set of a representation function but we modify the velocity that drives the curve to the boundary of the object in order to obtain a new velocity with additional properties that are extremely useful to develop a more stable high-order approximation with a small additional cost. The approximation scheme proposed here is the first 2D version of an adaptive "filtered" scheme recently introduced and analyzed by the authors in 1D. This approach is interesting since the implementation of the filtered scheme is rather efficient and easy. The scheme combines two building blocks (a monotone scheme and a high-order scheme) via a filter function and smoothness indicators that allow to detect the regularity of the approximate solution adapting the scheme in an automatic way. Some numerical tests on synthetic and real images confirm the accuracy of the proposed method and the advantages given by the new velocity.Comment: Accepted version for publication in SIAM Journal on Imaging Sciences, 86 figure

Adaptive filtered schemes for first order Hamilton-Jacobi equations and applications

The accurate numerical solution of Hamilton-Jacobi equations is a challenging topic of growing importance in many fields of application but due to the lack of regularity of viscosity solutions the construction of high-order methods can be rather difficult. We consider a class of “filtered” schemes for first order time-dependent Hamilton-Jacobi equations. These schemes, already proposed in the literature, are based on a mixture of a high-order (possibly unstable) scheme and a monotone scheme, according to a filter function F and a coupling parameter epsilon. This construction allows to have a scheme which is high-order accurate where the solution is smooth and is monotone otherwise. This feature is crucial to prove that the scheme converges to the unique viscosity solutions. In this thesis we present an improvement of the classical filtered scheme, introducing an adaptive and automatic choice of the parameter epsilon at every iteration. To this end, we use a smoothness indicator in order to select the regions where we can compute the regularity threshold epsilon. Our smoothness indicator is based on some ideas developed for the construction of the WENO schemes, but other indicators with similar properties can be used. We present a convergence result and error estimates for the new scheme, the proofs are based on the properties of the scheme and of the indicators. All the constructions are extended to the multidimensional case, with main focus on the definition of new 2D-smoothness indicators, devised for functions with discontinuous gradient. A large number of numerical example are presented and critically discussed, confirming the reliability of the proposed smoothness indicators and the efficiency of the adaptive filtered scheme in many situations, improving previous results in the literature. Finally, we applied the constructed scheme to the problem of image segmentation via the level-set method, proposing also a simple and efficient modification of the classical model in order to improve the stability of the results. A series of numerical tests on synthetic and real images are presented and deeply commented

A new computational approach to topology optimization in solid mechanics problems

Tesi en modalitat compendi de publicacionsThis doctoral thesis addresses topology optimization problems at a single scale. Based on this purpose, a new topology optimization approach is developed in order to improve existing and widespread techniques in the research community on the topic. The proposed technique presents several characteristics that overcome some of the well-known difficulties in topological optimization while maintaining a considerable degree of simplicity. In the first place, the formulation of the topological optimization technique is presented, as well as its algorithm. The method is based on 4 fundamental features: (1) the use of a 1-0 characteristic function, as well as the precise identification of the material boundaries from a discrimination function (0-level-set function), (2) the definition of a topological derivative consistent with the ersatz method (used in the state problem), as an approximation to the exact topological derivative, (3) the inclusion of a Laplacian regularization with minimum size control of the different components, and (4) the formulation of an analytical optimality condition aiming at the optimal topology solution. The approach is applied to different topology optimization problems, well-reported in the literature and used as numerical benchmarks (in structural and thermal problems), to examine their performance. In these fields, stiffness and conductivity maximization problems are considered for validation, respectively. In addition, different topological optimization problems of major engineering interest are tackled, including the design of compliant mechanisms within the structural field and thermal cloaking devices within the thermal field. Finally, a comparison of the formulation with other existing topology optimization techniques is performed, including (1) SIMP, (2) ESO/BESO, and (3) Level-set with Hamilton-Jacobi as the updating equation. The analysis of the results provides a comparison in terms of the quality of the topology of each method, the computational cost of the optimal solutions, as well as the simplicity of implementation. The resulting study reveals the potential of the developed methodology in these specific comparison terms. In an attempt to bring the method closer to other researchers and to promote its use, an educational version of the method (written in MATLAB) has been published in an online repository, together with documentation, facilitating its dissemination and subsequent use in other applications of interest.El objetivo de esta tesis doctoral es abordar el problema de optimización topológica a una única escala. En base a este propósito, se desarrolla una nueva técnica de optimización capaz de competir con técnicas ya existentes y extendidas entre la comunidad investigadora sobre el tema. Esta técnica presenta características que superan algunas de las dificultades bien conocidas en optimización topológica manteniendo un buen grado de simplicidad. En primer lugar, se presenta la formulación de la técnica de optimización topológica, así como su algoritmia. El método se fundamenta en 4 aspectos básicos: (1) la utilización de una función característica 1-0, así como la definición precisa de las fronteras materiales a partir de una función de discriminación (isonivel 0 de la función level-set), (2) la definición de una derivada topológica coherente con el método ersatz (utilizado en la ecuación de estado), como aproximación a la derivada topológica exacta, (3) la inclusión de una regularización Laplaciana con control de tamaño mínimo de los diferentes componentes, y (4) la definición de una condición de optimalidad analítica para la determinación de la solución óptima de la topología. La metodología se aplica a diferentes problemas de optimización topológica bien detallados en la literatura y utilizados como ensayos numéricos para examinar su respuesta frente a problemas estructurales y térmicos. En estos campos, se incluyen problemas de maximización de la rigidez y de la conductividad, respectivamente. Además, se resuelven diferentes problemas de optimización topológica con gran interés ingenieril en los campos estructurales con el diseño de mecanismos y térmicos con el diseño de dispositivos de camuflaje térmicos. Finalmente, se realiza una comparación de la formulación con otras técnicas ya existentes, por ejemplo: (1) SIMP, (2) ESO/BESO, y (3) Level-set con Hamilton-Jacobi como ecuación de evolución. El análisis de los resultados permite comparar la calidad de la topología de cada método, el coste computacional de las soluciones óptimas, así como la simplicidad de implementación, demostrando el potencial de la metodología desarrollada principalmente en estos términos de comparación. Con la finalidad de acercar el método a otros investigadores y de promover su utilización, se ha publicado una versión educativa del mismo (en MATLAB) en un repositorio online, junto a documentación, permitiendo así la divulgación del mismo y la posible utilización en otras aplicaciones de interés.Postprint (published version

Communication skills: what do employers' expect? (workplace communication skills for engineering graduates)

A brilliant engineer who cannot communicate is a matter to be taken seriously. What will happen to Malaysia if we keep churning out thousands of brilliant engineers but when it comes to employability skills, they are retarded? Malaysian engineering graduates especially are handicapped when it comes to communicating in English. English language is the international language used for education, business and technology. Therefore, it is crucial that an engineer masters the art of communicating in English as well as engineering knowledge. Thus, this research is conducted to find out what communication skills that the employers in the industry deem that their employees should have? However, this research only focuses on engineering graduates and the manufacturing industry. The researcher intends to learn the importance that is given to communication skills by the industry and whether it helps an engineering graduate to be promoted and be successful in their jobs. After obtaining the results from the employers, the researcher will suggest recommendation to improve the course content of KUiTTHO's Communication Skills course to be parallel with the demands of the industry

Supervised fault tolerant control architecture for nonlinear systems

Scope: The growing complexity of physical plants and control missions inevitably leads to increasing occurrence, diversity and severity of faults. Availability, defined as the probability that a system or equipment will operate satisfactory and effectively at any point of time, becomes a factor of increasing importance. Fault Tolerant Control (FTC) is a field of research that aims to increase availability and reduce the risk of safety hazards and other undesirable consequences by specifically designing control algorithms capable of maintaining stability and/or performance despite the occurrence of faults. This report presents a novel FTC solution based on a hierarchical architecture in which an adaptive critic controller is overseen by a supervisor managing a dynamic model bank of fault solutions.Findings and Conclusions: The presented work has demonstrated that the implementation of a synergistic combination of a reconfigurable controller and a fault diagnosis and controller malfunction detection supervisor based on three distinct quality indexes generates an efficient and reliable FTC architecture. The application of adaptive critic designs as reconfigurable controllers is shown to give the hierarchical algorithm the degree of flexibility required to deal with both abrupt and incipient unknown changes in the plant dynamics due to faults. The proposed supervisor system is used to accelerate the convergence of the method by loading new initial conditions to the controller when the plant is affected by a known abrupt fault. Moreover, the developed fault diagnosis decision logic is capable of recognizing new fault scenarios and assimilating them online to the dynamic model bank, along with parameters for the corresponding controller. The introduction of the weight quality index has made possible to distinguish between faults in the plant and controller malfunctions caused by online training divergence or local minima convergence. In order to achieve application-specific key FTC specifications, a methodology for initializing and tuning twelve distinct parameters of the quality indexes was also developed. Finally, a series of key steps that form the basis for the fault development information extraction module capable of providing the probability of occurrence of future faults to the user, are also included in this report