A Hardware Time Manager Implementation for the Xenomai Real-Time Kernel of Embedded Linux

Nowadays, the use of embedded operating systems in different embedded projects is subject to a tremendous growth. Embedded Linux is becoming one of those most popular EOSs due to its modularity, efficiency, reliability, and cost. One way to make it hard real-time is to include a real-time kernel like Xenomai. One of the key characteristics of a Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) is its ability to meet execution time deadlines deterministically. So, the more precise and flexible the time management can be, the better it can handle efficiently the determinism for different embedded applications. RTOS time precision is characterized by a specific periodic interrupt service controlled by a software time manager. The smaller the period of the interrupt, the better the precision of the RTOS, the more it overloads the CPU, and though reduces the overall efficiency of the RTOS. In this paper, we propose to drastically reduce these overheads by migrating the time management service of Xenomai into a configurable hardware component to relieve the CPU. The hardware component is implemented in a Field Programmable Gate Array coupled to the CPU. This work was achieved in a Master degree project where students could apprehend many fields of embedded systems: RTOS programming, hardware design, performance evaluation, etc.Comment: Embed With Linux (EWiLi) workshop, Lorient : France (2012

The development and technology transfer of software engineering technology at NASA. Johnson Space Center

The United State's big space projects of the next decades, such as Space Station and the Human Exploration Initiative, will need the development of many millions of lines of mission critical software. NASA-Johnson (JSC) is identifying and developing some of the Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE) technology that NASA will need to build these future software systems. The goal is to improve the quality and the productivity of large software development projects. New trends are outlined in CASE technology and how the Software Technology Branch (STB) at JSC is endeavoring to provide some of these CASE solutions for NASA is described. Key software technology components include knowledge-based systems, software reusability, user interface technology, reengineering environments, management systems for the software development process, software cost models, repository technology, and open, integrated CASE environment frameworks. The paper presents the status and long-term expectations for CASE products. The STB's Reengineering Application Project (REAP), Advanced Software Development Workstation (ASDW) project, and software development cost model (COSTMODL) project are then discussed. Some of the general difficulties of technology transfer are introduced, and a process developed by STB for CASE technology insertion is described

Civil aircraft advanced avionics architectures - an insight into saras avionics, present and future perspective

Traditionally, the avionics architectures being implemented are of federated nature, which means that each avionics function has its own independent, dedicated fault-tolerant computing resources. Federated architecture has great advantage of inherent fault containment and at the same time envelops a potential risk of massive use of resources resulting in increase in weight, looming, cost and maintenance as well. With the drastic advancement in the computer and software technologies, the aviation industry is gradually moving towards the use of Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) for civil transport aircraft, potentially leading to multiple avionics functions housed in each hardware platform. Integrated Modular Avionics is the most important concept of avionics architecture for next generation aircrafts. SARAS avionics suite is purely federated with almost glass cockpit architecture complying to FAR25. The Avionics activities from the inception to execution are governed by the regulations and procedures under the review of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Every phase of avionics activity has got its own technically involvement to make the system perfect. In addition the flight data handling, monitoring and analysis is again a thrust area in the civil aviation industry leading to safety and reliability of the machine and the personnel involved. NAL has been in this area for more than two decades and continues to excel in these technologies

Industry-driven innovative system development for the construction industry: The DIVERCITY project

Collaborative working has become possible using the innovative integrated systems in construction as many activities are performed globally with stakeholders situated in various locations. The Integrated VR based information systems can bind the fragmentation and provide communication and collaboration between the distributed stakeholders n various locations. The development of these technologies is vital for the uptake of these systems by the construction industry. This paper starts by emphasising the importance of construction IT research and reviews some future research directions in this area. In particular, the paper explores how virtual prototyping can improve the productivity and effectiveness of construction projects, and presents DIVERCITY, which is th as a case study of the research in virtual prototyping. Besides, the paper explores the requirements engineering of the DIVERCITY project. DIVERCITY has large and evolving requirements, which considered the perspectives of multiple stakeholders, such as clients, architects and contractors. However, practitioners are often unsure of the detail of how virtual environments would support the construction process, and how to overcome some barriers to the introduction of new technologies. This complicates the requirements engineering process

Real-time human action recognition on an embedded, reconfigurable video processing architecture

Copyright @ 2008 Springer-Verlag.In recent years, automatic human motion recognition has been widely researched within the computer vision and image processing communities. Here we propose a real-time embedded vision solution for human motion recognition implemented on a ubiquitous device. There are three main contributions in this paper. Firstly, we have developed a fast human motion recognition system with simple motion features and a linear Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier. The method has been tested on a large, public human action dataset and achieved competitive performance for the temporal template (eg. “motion history image”) class of approaches. Secondly, we have developed a reconfigurable, FPGA based video processing architecture. One advantage of this architecture is that the system processing performance can be reconfiured for a particular application, with the addition of new or replicated processing cores. Finally, we have successfully implemented a human motion recognition system on this reconfigurable architecture. With a small number of human actions (hand gestures), this stand-alone system is performing reliably, with an 80% average recognition rate using limited training data. This type of system has applications in security systems, man-machine communications and intelligent environments.DTI and Broadcom Ltd

FPGA implementation of real-time human motion recognition on a reconfigurable video processing architecture

In recent years, automatic human motion recognition has been widely researched within the computer vision and image processing communities. Here we propose a real-time embedded vision solution for human motion recognition implemented on a ubiquitous device. There are three main contributions in this paper. Firstly, we have developed a fast human motion recognition system with simple motion features and a linear Support Vector Machine(SVM) classifier. The method has been tested on a large, public human action dataset and achieved competitive performance for the temporal template (eg. ``motion history image") class of approaches. Secondly, we have developed a reconfigurable, FPGA based video processing architecture. One advantage of this architecture is that the system processing performance can be reconfigured for a particular application, with the addition of new or replicated processing cores. Finally, we have successfully implemented a human motion recognition system on this reconfigurable architecture. With a small number of human actions (hand gestures), this stand-alone system is performing reliably, with an 80% average recognition rate using limited training data. This type of system has applications in security systems, man-machine communications and intelligent environments

On the Design of Functionally Integrated Aero-engine Structures: Modeling and Evaluation Methods for Architecture and Complexity

The drive for airplanes with radically reduced fuel consumption and emissions motivates engine manufacturers to explore innovative engine designs. The novelty of such engines results in changed operating conditions, such as newly introduced constraints, increased loads or rearranged interfaces. To be competitive, component developers and manufacturers must understand and predict the consequences of such changes on their sub-systems. Presently, such assessments are based on detailed geometrical models (CAD or finite element) and consume significant amounts of time. The preparation of such models is resource intensive unless parametrization is employed. Even with parametrization, alternative geometrical layouts for designs are difficult to achieve. In contrast to geometrical model-based estimations, a component architecture representation and evaluation scheme can quickly identify the functional implications for a system-level change and likely consequences on the component. The schemes can, in turn, point to the type and location of needed evaluations with detailed geometry. This will benefit the development of new engine designs and facilitate improvements upon existing designs. The availability of architecture representation schemes for functionally integrated (all functions being satisfied by one monolithic structure) aero-engine structural components is limited. The research in this thesis focuses on supporting the design of aero-engine structural components by representing their architecture as well as by developing means for the quantitative evaluation and comparison of different component designs. The research has been conducted in collaboration with GKN Aerospace Sweden AB, and the components are aero-engine structures developed and manufactured at GKN. Architectural information is generated and described based on concepts from set theory, graph theory and enhanced function–means trees. In addition, the complexities of the components are evaluated using a new complexity metric. Specifically, the developed modeling and evaluation methods facilitate the following activities: \ub7\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0 identification and representation of function–means information for the component\ub7\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0 representation and evaluation of component architecture\ub7\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0 product complexity evaluation\ub7\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0 early selection of load path architecture\ub7\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0 impact assessment for the component’s functioning in the systemBy means of the methods developed in this thesis, the design rationale for a component is made explicit, and the storing, communicating and retrieving of information about the component in the future is enabled. Through their application to real-life engine structures, the usability of the methods in identifying early load carrying configurations and selecting a manufacturing segmenting option is demonstrated. Together, the methods provide development engineers the ability to compare alternative architectures. Further research could focus on exploring the system (engine) effects of changes in component architecture and improvements to the complexity metric by incorporating manufacturing information

Multi-Dimensional Model Based Engineering for Performance Critical Computer Systems Using the AADL

International audienceThe Architecture Analysis & Design Language, (AADL), Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), AS5506, was developed to support quantitative analysis of the runtime architecture of the embedded software system in computer systems with multiple critical operational properties, such as responsiveness, safety-criticality, security, and reliability by allowing a model of the system to be annotated with information relevant to each of these quality concerns and AADL to be extended with analysis-specific properties. It supports modelling of the embedded software runtime architecture, the computer system hardware, and the interface to the physical environment of embedded computer systems and system of systems. It was designed to support a full Model Based Engineering lifecycle including system specification, analysis, system tuning, integration, and upgrade by supporting modelling and analysis at multiple levels of fidelity. A system can be automatically integrated from AADL models when fully specified and when source code is provided for the software components

A platform to support object database research

Databases play a key role in an increasingly diverse range of applications and settings. New requirements are continually emerging and may differ substantially from one domain to another, sometimes even to the point of conflict. To address these challenges, database systems are evolving to cater for new application domains. Yet little attention has been given to the process of researching and developing database concepts in response to new requirements. We present a platform designed to support database research in terms of experimentation with different aspects of database systems ranging from the data model to the distribution architecture. Our platform is based on the notion of metamodel extension modules, inspired by proposals for adaptive and configurable database management systems. However, rather than building a tailored system from existing components, we focus on the process of designing new components. To qualitatively evaluate our platform, we present a series of case studies where our approach was used successfully to experiment with concepts designed to support a variety of novel application domains