High assurance interactive computing systems

If interactive computing systems development is to be considered an engineering discipline, we need methods and tools to help us reason about and predict the quality of systems, from early in the design process. This paper provides a brief overview of work we have been carrying out in the general area of evaluating and ensuring the quality of interactive computing. systems. Some of the work currently being carried out is also discussed. Discussed approaches range from the formal verification of user interface models through model checking, to the reverse engineering and model based testing of implemented interactive computing systems

Quantifying the Evolutionary Self Structuring of Embodied Cognitive Networks

We outline a possible theoretical framework for the quantitative modeling of networked embodied cognitive systems. We notice that: 1) information self structuring through sensory-motor coordination does not deterministically occur in Rn vector space, a generic multivariable space, but in SE(3), the group structure of the possible motions of a body in space; 2) it happens in a stochastic open ended environment. These observations may simplify, at the price of a certain abstraction, the modeling and the design of self organization processes based on the maximization of some informational measures, such as mutual information. Furthermore, by providing closed form or computationally lighter algorithms, it may significantly reduce the computational burden of their implementation. We propose a modeling framework which aims to give new tools for the design of networks of new artificial self organizing, embodied and intelligent agents and the reverse engineering of natural ones. At this point, it represents much a theoretical conjecture and it has still to be experimentally verified whether this model will be useful in practice.

Model and system learners, optimal process constructors and kinetic theory-based goal-oriented design: a new paradigm in materials and processes informatics

Traditionally, Simulation-Based Engineering Sciences (SBES) has relied on the use of static data inputs (model parameters, initial or boundary conditions, ... obtained from adequate experiments) to perform simulations. A new paradigm in the field of Applied Sciences and Engineering has emerged in the last decade. Dynamic Data-Driven Application Systems [9, 10, 11, 12, 22] allow the linkage of simulation tools with measurement devices for real-time control of simulations and applications, entailing the ability to dynamically incorporate additional data into an executing application, and in reverse, the ability of an application to dynamically steer the measurement process. It is in that context that traditional "digital-twins" are giving raise to a new generation of goal-oriented data-driven application systems, also known as "hybrid-twins", embracing models based on physics and models exclusively based on data adequately collected and assimilated for filling the gap between usual model predictions and measurements. Within this framework new methodologies based on model learners, machine learning and kinetic goal-oriented design are defining a new paradigm in materials, processes and systems engineering

A reverse predictive model towards design automation of microfluidic droplet generators

This work has been presented in the 10th IWBDA workshop.Droplet-based microfluidic devices in comparison to test tubes can reduce reaction volumes 10^9 times and more due to the encapsulation of reactions in micro-scale droplets [4]. This volume reduction, alongside higher accuracy, higher sensitivity and faster reaction time made droplet microfluidics a superior platform particularly in biology, biomedical, and chemical engineering. However, a high barrier of entry prevents most of life science laboratories to exploit the advantages of microfluidics. There are two main obstacles to the widespread adoption of microfluidics, high fabrication costs, and lack of design automation tools. Recently, low-cost fabrication methods have reduced the cost of fabrication significantly [7]. Still, even with a low-cost fabrication method, due to lack of automation tools, life science research groups are still reliant on a microfluidic expert to develop any new microfluidic device [3, 5]. In this work, we report a framework to develop reverse predictive models that can accurately automate the design process of microfluidic droplet generators. This model takes prescribed performance metrics of droplet generators as the input and provides the geometry of the microfluidic device and the fluid and flow settings that result in the desired performance. We hope this automation tool makes droplet-based microfluidics more accessible, by reducing the time, cost, and knowledge needed for developing a microfluidic droplet generator that meets certain performance requirement

An EUD Approach for Making MBUI Practical

Proceedings of the First International Workshop on Making model-based user interface design practical: usable and open methods and tools. Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, January.13, 2004Also published online by CEUR Workshop Proceedings (CEUR-WS.org, ISSN 1613-0073)In this paper, we present our perspective on Model-Based User Interfaces (hereafter MBUI) paradigm and provide with our experience in this area combining high-level knowledge-based data models (i.e. ontologies) and reverse engineering processes to carry through a pragmatic MBUI vision. Our approach is based on using End-User Development (hereafter EUD) techniques (i.e. Programming by Example) to enable the user to carry out editing tasks in a MBUI environment. This advocates an EUD-for-MBUI approach, where the system avoids the user from having to deal with interface specification languages.The work reported in this paper is being supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology (MCyT), project number TIC2002-194

A Proposed Method to Identify Requirements Significant to Mass Reduction

Reducing the mass of engineering products holds the potential for significant benefits by reducing material costs, environmental impact, transportation costs, and in the case of vehicles, reducing fuel consumption. While there are many approaches for reducing mass, analyzing requirements has the greatest potential since requirements definition is the earliest phase of product development, where the most design freedom exists. This thesis proposes a requirement analysis method that identifies requirements that impact significant amounts of mass. The research hypothesis is: Engineering requirements can be represented and processed in a systematic manner and linked to physical components and systems, thus enabling mass reduction in reverse engineering and product redesign. The approach proposed in this research follows. Engineering requirements are linked to mass through the creation of a standard requirement statement using pre-processing rules and syntax rules. These rules and guidelines are applicable to authoring new requirements and analyzing existing requirements documentation. The processed engineering requirements are linked to physical components and assemblies based on how the requirements affect the components. These relationships are captured in Design Structure Matrices (DSMs) and Domain Mapping Matrices (DMMs). These DMMs and DSMs are used to attain the amount of mass each requirement affects and the level of coupling of each requirement. Further, representations of the requirements, components, and associated relationships are represented using two software tools. First, a systems engineering tool is used to model the system. Second, this model is exported to a traditional spreadsheet application to perform basic mathematical and data filtering functions. Finally, the method is demonstrated on three subsystems of Family of Medium Tactical Vehicle (FMTV) truck

Programmed design of ship forms

This paper describes a new category of CAD applications devoted to the definition and parameterization of hull forms, called programmed design. Programmed design relies on two prerequisites. The first one is a product model with a variety of types large enough to face the modeling of any type of ship. The second one is a design language dedicated to create the product model. The main purpose of the language is to publish the modeling algorithms of the application in the designer knowledge domain to let the designer create parametric model scripts. The programmed design is an evolution of the parametric design but it is not just parametric design. It is a tool to create parametric design tools. It provides a methodology to extract the design knowledge by abstracting a design experience in order to store and reuse it. Programmed design is related with the organizational and architectural aspects of the CAD applications but not with the development of modeling algorithms. It is built on top and relies on existing algorithms provided by a comprehensive product model. Programmed design can be useful to develop new applications, to support the evolution of existing applications or even to integrate different types of application in a single one. A three-level software architecture is proposed to make the implementation of the programmed design easier. These levels are the conceptual level based on the design language, the mathematical level based on the geometric formulation of the product model and the visual level based on the polyhedral representation of the model as required by the graphic card. Finally, some scenarios of the use of programmed design are discussed. For instance, the development of specialized parametric hull form generators for a ship type or a family of ships or the creation of palettes of hull form components to be used as parametric design patterns. Also two new processes of reverse engineering which can considerably improve the application have been detected: the creation of the mathematical level from the visual level and the creation of the conceptual level from the mathematical level. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introductio

A comparative evaluation of dynamic visualisation tools

Despite their potential applications in software comprehension, it appears that dynamic visualisation tools are seldom used outside the research laboratory. This paper presents an empirical evaluation of five dynamic visualisation tools - AVID, Jinsight, jRMTool, Together ControlCenter diagrams and Together ControlCenter debugger. The tools were evaluated on a number of general software comprehension and specific reverse engineering tasks using the HotDraw objectoriented framework. The tasks considered typical comprehension issues, including identification of software structure and behaviour, design pattern extraction, extensibility potential, maintenance issues, functionality location, and runtime load. The results revealed that the level of abstraction employed by a tool affects its success in different tasks, and that tools were more successful in addressing specific reverse engineering tasks than general software comprehension activities. It was found that no one tool performs well in all tasks, and some tasks were beyond the capabilities of all five tools. This paper concludes with suggestions for improving the efficacy of such tools

Implementation of membrane models on a CAPE-OPEN tool to simulate a process including RO membranes

Process simulators are a useful tool for evaluating different configurations of chemical processes and developing new ones. Although these programs include many standard units like reactor or distillation towers, membrane units are not usually included. In this paper, it is shown the possibility to implement a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane unit in the free process simulator COCO, using input membrane parameters. The RO modeling is based on the coupling of the solution diffusion model with a model for concentration polarization. The model was implemented as a Matlab CAPE-OPEN unit operation. In order to show the functionality of the developed application, a rinsing process adapted from literature was implemented to test different configurations. In this way, the combined use of the COCO simulator and the model of a reverse osmosis unit proved to be a useful tool for comparing the performance of different process configurations.The Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness is kindly acknowledged (Project CTM 2010-20248).Gozálvez Zafrilla, JM.; Santafé Moros, MA.; Sanchis Sebastiá, M.; Gomis Fons, J. (2014). Implementation of membrane models on a CAPE-OPEN tool to simulate a process including RO membranes. Desalination and Water Treatment. 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2014.995718S17Sharaf Eldean, M. A., & Soliman, A. M. (2013). A new visual library for modeling and simulation of renewable energy desalination systems (REDS). Desalination and Water Treatment, 51(37-39), 6905-6920. doi:10.1080/19443994.2013.777369Choi, Y.-J., Hwang, T.-M., Oh, H., Nam, S.-H., Lee, S., Jeon, J., … Chung, Y. (2011). Development of a simulation program for the forward osmosis and reverse osmosis process. Desalination and Water Treatment, 33(1-3), 273-282. doi:10.5004/dwt.2011.2652Karabelas, A. J., Kostoglou, M., & Koutsou, C. P. (2015). Modeling of spiral wound membrane desalination modules and plants – review and research priorities. Desalination, 356, 165-186. doi:10.1016/j.desal.2014.10.002Peshev, D., & Livingston, A. G. (2013). OSN Designer, a tool for predicting organic solvent nanofiltration technology performance using Aspen One, MATLAB and CAPE OPEN. Chemical Engineering Science, 104, 975-987. doi:10.1016/j.ces.2013.10.033Testard, L., & Belaud, J.-P. (2005). A CAPE-OPEN based framework for process simulation solutions integration. European Symposium on Computer-Aided Process Engineering-15, 38th European Symposium of the Working Party on Computer Aided Process Engineering, 607-612. doi:10.1016/s1570-7946(05)80223-8Morales-Rodríguez, R., Gani, R., Déchelotte, S., Vacher, A., & Baudouin, O. (2008). Use of CAPE-OPEN standards in the interoperability between modelling tools (MoT) and process simulators (Simulis® Thermodynamics and ProSimPlus). Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 86(7), 823-833. doi:10.1016/j.cherd.2008.02.022Guria, C., Bhattacharya, P. K., & Gupta, S. K. (2005). Multi-objective optimization of reverse osmosis desalination units using different adaptations of the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA). Computers & Chemical Engineering, 29(9), 1977-1995. doi:10.1016/j.compchemeng.2005.05.002Senthilmurugan, S., Ahluwalia, A., & Gupta, S. K. (2005). Modeling of a spiral-wound module and estimation of model parameters using numerical techniques. Desalination, 173(3), 269-286. doi:10.1016/j.desal.2004.08.034Chilyumova, E., & Thöming, J. (2007). Dynamic simulation of rinsing and regeneration networks based on high pressure RO. Desalination, 207(1-3), 45-58. doi:10.1016/j.desal.2006.07.00

An extensible benchmark and tooling for comparing reverse engineering approaches

Various tools exist to reverse engineer software source code and generate design information, such as UML projections. Each has specific strengths and weaknesses, however no standardised benchmark exists that can be used to evaluate and compare their performance and effectiveness in a systematic manner. To facilitate such comparison in this paper we introduce the Reverse Engineering to Design Benchmark (RED-BM), which consists of a comprehensive set of Java-based targets for reverse engineering and a formal set of performance measures with which tools and approaches can be analysed and ranked. When used to evaluate 12 industry standard tools performance figures range from 8.82\% to 100\% demonstrating the ability of the benchmark to differentiate between tools. To aid the comparison, analysis and further use of reverse engineering XMI output we have developed a parser which can interpret the XMI output format of the most commonly used reverse engineering applications, and is used in a number of tools