A design concept for radiation hardened RADFET readout system for space applications

Instruments for measuring the absorbed dose and dose rate under radiation exposure, known as radiation dosimeters, are indispensable in space missions. They are composed of radiation sensors that generate current or voltage response when exposed to ionizing radiation, and processing electronics for computing the absorbed dose and dose rate. Among a wide range of existing radiation sensors, the Radiation Sensitive Field Effect Transistors (RADFETs) have unique advantages for absorbed dose measurement, and a proven record of successful exploitation in space missions. It has been shown that the RADFETs may be also used for the dose rate monitoring. In that regard, we propose a unique design concept that supports the simultaneous operation of a single RADFET as absorbed dose and dose rate monitor. This enables to reduce the cost of implementation, since the need for other types of radiation sensors can be minimized or eliminated. For processing the RADFET's response we propose a readout system composed of analog signal conditioner (ASC) and a self-adaptive multiprocessing system-on-chip (MPSoC). The soft error rate of MPSoC is monitored in real time with embedded sensors, allowing the autonomous switching between three operating modes (high-performance, de-stress and fault-tolerant), according to the application requirements and radiation conditions

Entwurfsmethodologie für höchst zuverlässige digitale ASIC-Designs angewandt auf Network-Centric System Middleware Switch Prozessor

The sensitivity of application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) to single event effects (SEE) can lead to failures of subsystems which are exposed to increased radiation levels in space and on the ground. The work described in this thesis presents a design methodology for a fully fault-tolerant ASIC that is immune to single event upset effects (SEU) in sequential logic, single event transient effects (SET) in combinatorial logic, and single event latchup effects (SEL). Redundant circuits combined with SEL power switches (SPS) are the basis for a design methodology which achieves this goal. Within the standard ASIC design flow enhancements were made in order to incorporate redundancy and SPS cells and, consequently, enable protection against SEU, SET, and SEL. In order to validate the resulting fault-tolerant circuits a fault-injection environment with carefully designed fault models was developed. The moments of fault occurrence and their durations are modeled according to the real effects in actual hardware. The proposed design methodology was applied to an innovative space craft area network (SCAN) central processor unit, known as middleware switch processor. The measurement results presented in this thesis prove the correct functionality of DMR and SPS circuits, as well as the high fault-tolerance of the implemented ASICs along with moderate overhead with respect to power consumption and occupied silicon area. Irradiation measurements demonstrated the correct design and successful implementation of the SPS cell.Die Empfindlichkeit von anwendungsspezifischen integrierten Schaltungen (ASICs) zu den einzelnen Ereigniseffekten (SEE), kann zu Ausfällen von Subsystemen führen, die erhöhten Strahlungspegeln im Raum und auf dem Boden ausgesetzt werden. Die Arbeit, die in dieser Thesis beschrieben wird, stellt eine Entwurfsmethodologie vor um fehlertolerante ASICs zu entwerfen, welche die immun gegen singuläre Störung Effekte (SEU) in sequentielle Logik ist, einzelne Ereignis vorübergehende Effekte (SET) in der kombinatorischen Logik und einzelnes Ereignis Latchup-Effekte (SEL). Modulare Redundanz und SEL-Schalter (SPS) sind die Basis für eine Design-Methodik, die volle fehlertolerante ASIC liefert. Der Standard ASIC-Designflow ist erweitert worden, um Redundanz mit SPS-Schalter zu enthalten und Schutz gegen SEU, SET und SEL zu ermöglichen. Um die fehlertoleranten Stromkreise zu validieren ist eine Fault-Injektion Umgebung mit Fault Modellen entwickelt worden. Die Momente des Auftretens und der Dauer der injizierten Fehler werden entsprechend den realen Effekten in die Hardware modelliert. Die Methodologie des vorgeschlagenen Entwurfs ist an einem innovativen Space Craft Area Network (SCAN) Schaltkreis angewendet worden, bekannt als Middleware Switch Prozessor. Die Messergebnisse, die in dieser These dargestellt werden, haben die korrekte Funktionalität von Redundanz- und SPS-Stromkreisen sowie die hohe Fehler-Toleranz der resultierende ASICs zusammen mit mäßigen Unkosten in Bezug auf Leistungsaufnahme und besetzten Silikonfläche nachgewiesen. Die Strahlungsmessungen haben das korrekte Design und die erfolgreiche Umsetzung der SPS-Zelle bewiesen

Advances in Computational Social Science and Social Simulation

Aquesta conferència és la celebració conjunta de la "10th Artificial Economics Conference AE", la "10th Conference of the European Social Simulation Association ESSA" i la "1st Simulating the Past to Understand Human History SPUHH".Conferència organitzada pel Laboratory for Socio­-Historical Dynamics Simulation (LSDS-­UAB) de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.Readers will find results of recent research on computational social science and social simulation economics, management, sociology,and history written by leading experts in the field. SOCIAL SIMULATION (former ESSA) conferences constitute annual events which serve as an international platform for the exchange of ideas and discussion of cutting edge research in the field of social simulations, both from the theoretical as well as applied perspective, and the 2014 edition benefits from the cross-fertilization of three different research communities into one single event. The volume consists of 122 articles, corresponding to most of the contributions to the conferences, in three different formats: short abstracts (presentation of work-in-progress research), posters (presentation of models and results), and full papers (presentation of social simulation research including results and discussion). The compilation is completed with indexing lists to help finding articles by title, author and thematic content. We are convinced that this book will serve interested readers as a useful compendium which presents in a nutshell the most recent advances at the frontiers of computational social sciences and social simulation researc

Anuário Científico – 2009 & 2010 Resumos de Artigos, Comunicações, Teses, Patentes, Livros e Monografias de Mestrado

O Conselho Técnico-Científico do Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa (ISEL), na senda da consolidação da divulgação do conhecimento e da ciência desenvolvidos pelo nosso corpo docente, propõe-se publicar mais uma edição do Anuário Científico, relativa à produção científica de 2009 e 2010. A investigação, enquanto vertente estratégica do Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa (ISEL), tem concorrido para o seu reconhecimento nacional e internacional como instituição de referência e de qualidade na área do ensino das engenharias. É também nesta vertente que o ISEL consubstancia a sua ligação à sociedade portuguesa e internacional através da transferência de tecnologia e de conhecimento, resultantes da sua atividade científica e pedagógica, contribuindo para o seu desenvolvimento e crescimento de forma sustentada. São parte integrante do Anuário Científico todos os conteúdos com afiliação ISEL resultantes de resumos de artigos publicados em livros, revistas e atas de congressos que os docentes do ISEL apresentaram em fóruns e congressos nacionais e internacionais, bem como teses e patentes. Desde 2002, ano da publicação da primeira edição, temos assistido a uma evolução crescente do número de publicações de conteúdos científicos, fruto do trabalho desenvolvido pelos docentes que se têm empenhado com afinco e perseverança. Contudo, nestes dois anos (2009 e 2010) constatou-se um decréscimo no número de publicações, principalmente em 2010. Uma das causas poderá estar diretamente relacionada com a redução do financiamento ao ensino superior uma vez que limita toda a investigação no âmbito da atividade de I&D e da produção científica. Na sequência da implementação do Processo de Bolonha em 2006, o ISEL promoveu a criação de cursos de Mestrado disponibilizando uma oferta educativa mais completa e diversificada aos seus alunos, mas também de outras instituições, dotando-os de competências inovadoras apropriadas ao mercado de trabalho que hoje se carateriza mais competitivo e dinâmico. Terminados os períodos escolar e de execução das monografias dos alunos, os resumos destas são igualmente parte integrante deste Anuário, no que concerne à conclusão dos Mestrados em 2009 e 2010.A fim de permitir uma maior acessibilidade à comunidade científica e à sociedade civil, o Anuário Científico será editado de ora avante em formato eletrónico. Excecionalmente esta edição contempla publicações referentes a dois anos – 2009 e 2010