Digital cockpits and decision support systems : design of technics and tools to extract and process data from heterogeneous databases

Tableau d'honneur de la Faculté des études supérieures et postdoctorales, 2006-200

Digital Twins: Review and Challenges

[EN] With the arises of Industry 4.0, numerous concepts have emerged; one of the main concepts is the digital twin (DT). DT is being widely used nowadays, however, as there are several uses in the existing literature; the understanding of the concept and its functioning can be diffuse. The main goal of this paper is to provide a review of the existing literature to clarify the concept, operation, and main characteristics of DT, to introduce the most current operating, communication, and usage trends related to this technology, and to present the performance of the synergy between DT and multi-agent system (MAS) technologies through a computer science approach.This work was partly supported by the Spanish Government (RTI2018-095390-B-C31)Juárez-Juárez, MG.; Botti, V.; Giret Boggino, AS. (2021). Digital Twins: Review and Challenges. Journal of Computing and Information Science in Engineering. 21(3):1-23. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.405024412321

Scheduling of a Cyber-Physical System Simulation

The work carried out in this Ph.D. thesis is part of a broader effort to automate industrial simulation systems. In the aeronautics industry, and more especially within Airbus, the historical application of simulation is pilot training. There are also more recent uses in the design of systems, as well as in the integration of these systems. These latter applications require a very high degree of representativeness, where historically the most important factor has been the pilot’s feeling. Systems are now divided into several subsystems that are designed, implemented and validated independently, in order to maintain their control despite the increase in their complexity, and the reduction in time-to-market. Airbus already has expertise in the simulation of these subsystems, as well as their integration into a simulation. This expertise is empirical; simulation specialists use the previous integrations schedulings and adapt it to a new integration. This is a process that can sometimes be time-consuming and can introduce errors. The current trends in the industry are towards flexible production methods, integration of logistics tools for tracking, use of simulation tools in production, as well as resources optimization. Products are increasingly iterations of older, improved products, and tests and simulations are increasingly integrated into their life cycles. Working empirically in an industry that requires flexibility is a constraint, and nowadays it is essential to facilitate the modification of simulations. The problem is, therefore, to set up methods and tools allowing a priori to generate representative simulation schedules. In order to solve this problem, we have developed a method to describe the elements of a simulation, as well as how this simulation can be executed, and functions to generate schedules. Subsequently, we implemented a tool to automate the scheduling search, based on heuristics. Finally, we tested and verified our method and tools in academic and industrial case studies

Marea 2. Design and Optimization of a Distributed Communications Middleware

In recent years, the rapid growth of distributed embedded systems have been vigorously pushing middleware systems and technologies in different areas like: telecommunications, health care, automotive, defense, avionics, etc. The aim of this master thesis is to develop a new optimized version of the middleware MAREA 1, a software specifically designed to fulfill Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) communications and their application to the design of complex distributed UAS avionics. This document presents the software architecture of MAREA 2 and discusses design decisions, as well as some of the techniques employed to develop the middleware. MAREA 2 provides a more modular, flexible and reusable architecture and implements some new functionalities and features proposed in Service Oriented Architecture for Embedded (Avionics) Applications (López J., 2009). Another of the main contributions of this master thesis is the performance evaluation and opti mization of the middleware through the analysis of some key performance parameters. The present document provides a comparison between the new and previous version of the middleware both in terms of design and performanc

Development of an online collaborative working environment for design and manufacturing

This research is to develop a novel collaborative working environment (CWE) for manufacturing and design using advanced Web/Internet technologies such as Web Service, Grid Service and other related software tools/packages. To achieve the above, the following research modules are developed by the author: A service oriented framework for computer aid design, which acts as an online collaboration system, has been developed with the utilisation of the latest technology, Web Service. The concept of Service-Oriented Architecture has been implemented in the framework. Users from anywhere in the world can join the design process from their PCs, no matter what operation system they are using. The service-oriented system has the capability of going through firewalls and can afford multi-users due to the characteristics of Web service. Also the loose-coupling structure makes the system very easy to be updated. Another module for the CWE is to solve the software sharing problem when the platform is used among several geographically dispersed users or organisations. A software package bank system has been developed, which utilised the ideology of service oriented approach and successfully solved traditional problems in this field. Based on the outcomes mentioned above, the research finally developed a more powerful infrastructure using Grid service, which is a further development of Grid computing and Web service. The Grid service is considered to be the most important future solvent for Internet

Automating System-Level Data-Interchange Software Through a System Interface Description Language

RÉSUMÉ Les plates-formes d'aujourd'hui, telles que les simulateurs de missions (FMS), présentent un niveau sans précédent d'intégration de systèmes matériels et logiciels. Dans ce contexte, les intégrateurs de systèmes sont confrontés à une hétérogénéité d'interfaces système qui doivent être alignées et reliées ensemble afin de fournir les capacités prévues d'une plate-forme. Le seul aspect des échanges de données système est problématique allant de données désalignées jusqu'à des environnements multi-architecturaux utilisant différents types de protocoles de communication. Les intégrateurs sont également confrontés à des défis similaires lors de l'interaction de multiples plates-formes ensemble à travers des environnements de simulation distribuée où chaque plate-forme peut être considérée comme un système avec sa propre interface distincte. D'autre part, permettre la réutilisation de système à travers diverses plates-formes en support aux gammes de produits est un défi pour les fournisseurs de systèmes, car ils doivent adapter leurs interfaces système à des plates-formes hétérogènes faisant donc face aux mêmes difficultés que les intégrateurs. En outre, l'introduction de modifications aux interfaces système afin de répondre aux besoins tardifs d'affaires, ou à des contraintes de performance imprévues, par exemple, est d'autant plus ardue que leurs impacts sont difficiles à prévoir et que leurs effets sont souvent décelés tard dans le processus d'intégration. En conséquence, cette thèse aborde la nécessité de simplifier l'intégration et l'interopérabilité système afin de réduire leurs coûts associés et d'accroître leur efficacité ainsi que leur efficience. Elle est destinée à apporter de nouvelles avancées dans les domaines de l'intégration système et de l'interopérabilité système. Notamment, en établissant une taxonomie commune, et en augmentant la compréhension des interfaces système, des divers aspects impactant les échanges de données système, des considérations des environnements multi-architecturaux, ainsi que des facteurs permettant la gouvernance d'interface ainsi que de la réutilisation système. À cette fin, deux objectifs de recherche ont été formulés. Le premier objectif vise à définir un langage utilisé pour décrire les interfaces système et les divers aspects entourant leurs échanges de données. Par conséquent, trois aspects principaux sont étudiés relatifs aux interfaces système: les éléments de langage pertinents utilisés pour les décrire, la modélisation des interfaces système avec ce langage, et la capture des considérations multi-architecturales. Le second objectif vise à définir une méthode pour automatiser le logiciel responsable des échanges de données système comme moyen pour simplifier les tâches impliquées dans l'intégration et l'interopérabilité système. Par conséquent, les compilateurs de modèles et les techniques de génération de code sont étudiés. La démonstration de ces objectifs apporte de nouvelles avancées dans l'état de l'art de l'intégration système et de l'interopérabilité système. Notamment, ceci culmine en un nouveau langage de description d'interface système, SIDL, utilisé pour capturer les interfaces système et les divers aspects entourant leurs échanges de données, ainsi qu'en une nouvelle méthode pour automatiser le logiciel d'échange de données au niveau système à partir des interfaces systèmes capturées dans ce langage. L'avènement de SIDL contribue également une nouvelle taxonomie fournissant une perspective complète sur l'interopérabilité système ainsi qu'en un langage commun qui peut être partagé entre les parties prenantes, tels que les intégrateurs, les fournisseurs et les experts système. Étant agnostique aux architectures, SIDL fournit un seul point de vue architectural supervisant toutes les interfaces système et capture les considérations multi-architecturales ce qui n'a jamais été réalisé avant ce travail. D'autant plus, un générateur de code SIDL est introduit présentant la nouveauté de générer le logiciel d'échange de données à partir d'un bassin plus riche d'information, notamment à partir des relations système de haut niveau allant jusqu'au bas niveau couvrant les détails protocolaires et d'encodage. En raison des considérations multi-architecturales qui sont capturées nativement dans SIDL, ceci permet au générateur de code d'être agnostique aux architectures le rendant réutilisable dans d'autres contextes. Cette thèse ouvre également la voie à de futures recherches bâtissant sur ses contributions. Elle propose même une vision pour le développement d'applications logicielles avec comme objectif final de repousser encore plus loin les limites de la simplification et de l'automatisation des tâches liées à l'intégration et à l'interopérabilité système.----------ABSTRACT Today’s platforms, such as full mission simulators (FMSs), exhibit an unprecedented level of hardware and software system integration. In this context, system integrators face heterogeneous system interfaces which need to be aligned and interconnected together in order to deliver a platform's intended capabilities. The sole aspect of the data systems exchange is problematic ranging from data misalignment up to multi-architecture environments over varying kinds of communication protocols. Similar challenges are also faced by integrators when interoperating multiple platforms together through distributed simulation environments where each platform can be seen as a system with its own distinct interface. On the other hand, enabling system reuse across multiple platforms for product line support is challenging for system suppliers, as they need to adapt system interfaces to heterogeneous platforms therefore facing similar challenges as integrators. Furthermore, the introduction of system interface changes in order to respond to late business needs, or unforeseen performance constraints for instance, is even more arduous as impacts are challenging to predict and their effect are often found late into the integration process. Consequently, this thesis tackles the need to simplify system integration and interoperability in order to reduce their associated costs and increase their effectiveness along with their efficiency. It is meant to bring new advances in the fields of system integration and system interoperability. Notably, by establishing a common taxonomy, and by increasing the understanding of system interfaces, the various aspects impacting system data exchanges, multi-architecture environment considerations, and the factors enabling interface governance as well as system reuse. To this end, two research objectives have been formulated. The first objective aims at defining a language used to describe system interfaces and the various aspects surrounding their data exchanges. Therefore, three key aspects are studied relating to system interfaces: the relevant language elements used to describe them, modeling system interfaces with the language, and capturing multi-architecture considerations. The second objective aims at defining a method to automate the software responsible for system data exchanges as a way of simplifying the tasks involved in system integration and interoperability. Therefore, model compilers and code generation techniques are studied. The demonstration of these objectives brings new advances in the state of the art of system integration and system interoperability. Notably, this culminates in a novel system interface description language, SIDL, used to capture system interfaces and the various aspects surrounding their data exchanges, as well as a new method for automating the system-level data-interchange software from system interfaces captured in this language. The advent of SIDL also contributes a new taxonomy providing a comprehensive perspective over system interoperability as well as a common language which can be shared amongst stakeholders, such as integrators, suppliers, and system experts. Being architecture-agnostic, SIDL provides a single architectural viewpoint overseeing all system interfaces and capturing multi-architecture considerations which was never achieved prior to this work. Furthermore, a SIDL code generator is introduced which has the novelty of generating the data-interchange software from a richer pool of information, notably from the high-level system relationships down to the low-level protocol and encoding details. Because multi-architecture considerations are captured natively in SIDL, this enables the code generator to be architecture-agnostic making it reusable in other contexts. This thesis also paves the way for future research building upon its contributions. It even proposes a vision for software application development with the end goal being to push further the boundaries of simplifying and automating the tasks involved in system integration and interoperability

Hub-and-spoke Interoperability: an out of the skies approach for large-scale data interoperability

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Doutor em Engenharia Electrotécnica e de ComputadoresData Interoperability is a key challenge in large-scale heterogeneous environments. In here, interoperability via standards is not feasible or even possible; then, the classic approach, Point-to-Point (P2P) Interoperability, presents here two key problems: the trouble of non-modifiable systems that inhibit full possible interoperability and the excessive quantity of interoperability resources needed for establishing interoperability. A new approach is required for sustaining interoperability in those environments! Laterally thinking, commercial air transportation environments exhibit similar properties and problems to Data Interoperability environments and therefore face comparable difficulties. Outstanding approaches such as scissor-hub operations and the hub-andspoke paradigm have managed to address those challenges in commercial air transportation environments. Which, looking from data interoperability perspective, raises the idea of Mediated Interoperability and Interoperability Compositions. From there, a novel approach for data interoperability is proposed, the Hub-and-Spoke(H&S) Interoperability, as the hypothesis for addressing data interoperability in largescale environments. The H&S Interoperability approach fully solves the interoperability coverage problem and significantly reduces the number of resources needed for realising interoperability, thus outperforming P2P Interoperability. At the end, it is provided a technological realisation of the H&S approach, as the Plug’n’Interoperate solution, built upon plug-and-play principles applied to data interoperability

Trusted Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing; Trusted Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing

The successful deployment of AI solutions in manufacturing environments hinges on their security, safety and reliability which becomes more challenging in settings where multiple AI systems (e.g., industrial robots, robotic cells, Deep Neural Networks (DNNs)) interact as atomic systems and with humans. To guarantee the safe and reliable operation of AI systems in the shopfloor, there is a need to address many challenges in the scope of complex, heterogeneous, dynamic and unpredictable environments. Specifically, data reliability, human machine interaction, security, transparency and explainability challenges need to be addressed at the same time. Recent advances in AI research (e.g., in deep neural networks security and explainable AI (XAI) systems), coupled with novel research outcomes in the formal specification and verification of AI systems provide a sound basis for safe and reliable AI deployments in production lines. Moreover, the legal and regulatory dimension of safe and reliable AI solutions in production lines must be considered as well. To address some of the above listed challenges, fifteen European Organizations collaborate in the scope of the STAR project, a research initiative funded by the European Commission in the scope of its H2020 program (Grant Agreement Number: 956573). STAR researches, develops, and validates novel technologies that enable AI systems to acquire knowledge in order to take timely and safe decisions in dynamic and unpredictable environments. Moreover, the project researches and delivers approaches that enable AI systems to confront sophisticated adversaries and to remain robust against security attacks. This book is co-authored by the STAR consortium members and provides a review of technologies, techniques and systems for trusted, ethical, and secure AI in manufacturing. The different chapters of the book cover systems and technologies for industrial data reliability, responsible and transparent artificial intelligence systems, human centered manufacturing systems such as human-centred digital twins, cyber-defence in AI systems, simulated reality systems, human robot collaboration systems, as well as automated mobile robots for manufacturing environments. A variety of cutting-edge AI technologies are employed by these systems including deep neural networks, reinforcement learning systems, and explainable artificial intelligence systems. Furthermore, relevant standards and applicable regulations are discussed. Beyond reviewing state of the art standards and technologies, the book illustrates how the STAR research goes beyond the state of the art, towards enabling and showcasing human-centred technologies in production lines. Emphasis is put on dynamic human in the loop scenarios, where ethical, transparent, and trusted AI systems co-exist with human workers. The book is made available as an open access publication, which could make it broadly and freely available to the AI and smart manufacturing communities