6,429 research outputs found
Integrated Design and Implementation of Embedded Control Systems with Scilab
Embedded systems are playing an increasingly important role in control
engineering. Despite their popularity, embedded systems are generally subject
to resource constraints and it is therefore difficult to build complex control
systems on embedded platforms. Traditionally, the design and implementation of
control systems are often separated, which causes the development of embedded
control systems to be highly time-consuming and costly. To address these
problems, this paper presents a low-cost, reusable, reconfigurable platform
that enables integrated design and implementation of embedded control systems.
To minimize the cost, free and open source software packages such as Linux and
Scilab are used. Scilab is ported to the embedded ARM-Linux system. The drivers
for interfacing Scilab with several communication protocols including serial,
Ethernet, and Modbus are developed. Experiments are conducted to test the
developed embedded platform. The use of Scilab enables implementation of
complex control algorithms on embedded platforms. With the developed platform,
it is possible to perform all phases of the development cycle of embedded
control systems in a unified environment, thus facilitating the reduction of
development time and cost.Comment: 15 pages, 14 figures; Open Access at
http://www.mdpi.org/sensors/papers/s8095501.pd
The AXIOM software layers
AXIOM project aims at developing a heterogeneous computing board (SMP-FPGA).The Software Layers developed at the AXIOM project are explained.OmpSs provides an easy way to execute heterogeneous codes in multiple cores. People and objects will soon share the same digital network for information exchange in a world named as the age of the cyber-physical systems. The general expectation is that people and systems will interact in real-time. This poses pressure onto systems design to support increasing demands on computational power, while keeping a low power envelop. Additionally, modular scaling and easy programmability are also important to ensure these systems to become widespread. The whole set of expectations impose scientific and technological challenges that need to be properly addressed.The AXIOM project (Agile, eXtensible, fast I/O Module) will research new hardware/software architectures for cyber-physical systems to meet such expectations. The technical approach aims at solving fundamental problems to enable easy programmability of heterogeneous multi-core multi-board systems. AXIOM proposes the use of the task-based OmpSs programming model, leveraging low-level communication interfaces provided by the hardware. Modular scalability will be possible thanks to a fast interconnect embedded into each module. To this aim, an innovative ARM and FPGA-based board will be designed, with enhanced capabilities for interfacing with the physical world. Its effectiveness will be demonstrated with key scenarios such as Smart Video-Surveillance and Smart Living/Home (domotics).Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft
Modified half-bridge modular multilevel converter for HVDC systems with DC fault ride-through capability
One of the main challenges of voltage source converter based HVDC systems is DC faults. In this paper, two different modified half-bridge modular multilevel converter topologies are proposed. The proposed converters offer a fault tolerant against the most severe pole-to-pole DC faults. The converter comprises three switches or two switches and 4 diodes in each cell, which can result in less cost and losses compared to the full-bridge modular multilevel converter. Converter structure and controls are presented including the converter modulation and capacitors balancing. MATLAB/SIMULINK simulations are carried out to verify converter operation in normal and faulty conditions
Internet of Things-aided Smart Grid: Technologies, Architectures, Applications, Prototypes, and Future Research Directions
Traditional power grids are being transformed into Smart Grids (SGs) to
address the issues in existing power system due to uni-directional information
flow, energy wastage, growing energy demand, reliability and security. SGs
offer bi-directional energy flow between service providers and consumers,
involving power generation, transmission, distribution and utilization systems.
SGs employ various devices for the monitoring, analysis and control of the
grid, deployed at power plants, distribution centers and in consumers' premises
in a very large number. Hence, an SG requires connectivity, automation and the
tracking of such devices. This is achieved with the help of Internet of Things
(IoT). IoT helps SG systems to support various network functions throughout the
generation, transmission, distribution and consumption of energy by
incorporating IoT devices (such as sensors, actuators and smart meters), as
well as by providing the connectivity, automation and tracking for such
devices. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive survey on IoT-aided SG
systems, which includes the existing architectures, applications and prototypes
of IoT-aided SG systems. This survey also highlights the open issues,
challenges and future research directions for IoT-aided SG systems
Networking Heterogeneous Microcontroller based Systems through Universal Serial Bus
Networking heterogeneous embedded systems is a challenge. Every distributed embedded systems requires that the network is designed specifically considering the heterogeneity that exits among different Microcontroller based systems that are used in developing a distributed embedded system. Communication architecture, which considers the addressing of the individual systems, arbitration, synchronisation, error detection and control etc., needs to be designed considering a specific application. The issue of configuring the slaves has to be addressed. It is also important that the messages, flow of the messages across the individual ES systems must be designed. Every distributed embedded system is different and needs to be dealt with separately. This paper presents an approach that addresses various issues related to networking distributed embedded systems through use of universal serial bus communication protocol (USB). The approach has been applied to design a distributed embedded that monitors and controls temperatures within a Nuclear reactor system
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