A Case Study on the Adoption of Measurable Agile Software Development Process

Agile methodologies for software development meet the challenges of the current highly dynamic and competitive business environment. The aim of this case study is to improve existing software development process in a project for the public administration, following the basic principles of agile methodologies. Appropriate metrics for continuous evaluation of the process are introduces to help evaluating and improving the methodology. The main objectives of the new methodology are to improve communication with customers, to improve communication among different distributed teams and inside the teams, and to continuously evaluate the way software is developed through selection and usage of software metrics. The paper presents the results of methodology adoption in two subsequent iterations of a real project

Personal Extreme Programming – An Agile Process for Autonomous Developers

Despite the tendency of growing the size and complexity of the developed software, significant part of it is still developed by autonomous developers. The current research study proposes a modification of PSP which aims at lightening the software development process and making it easier to follow, while keeping the PSP basic principles. The new methodology is extended with proven efficient development practices from the Extreme Programming in order to support better project planning and product quality control. The paper presents the results of methodology adoption and compares it to ad-hock development

Integrated photonic-based coronagraphic systems for future space telescopes

The detection and characterization of Earth-like exoplanets around Sun-like stars is a primary science motivation for the Habitable Worlds Observatory. However, the current best technology is not yet advanced enough to reach the 10^-10 contrasts at close angular separations and at the same time remain insensitive to low-order aberrations, as would be required to achieve high-contrast imaging of exo-Earths. Photonic technologies could fill this gap, potentially doubling exo-Earth yield. We review current work on photonic coronagraphs and investigate the potential of hybridized designs which combine both classical coronagraph designs and photonic technologies into a single optical system. We present two possible systems. First, a hybrid solution which splits the field of view spatially such that the photonics handle light within the inner working angle and a conventional coronagraph that suppresses starlight outside it. Second, a hybrid solution where the conventional coronagraph and photonics operate in series, complementing each other and thereby loosening requirements on each subsystem. As photonic technologies continue to advance, a hybrid or fully photonic coronagraph holds great potential for future exoplanet imaging from space.Comment: Conference Proceedings of SPIE: Techniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets XI, vol. 12680 (2023

Visible extreme adaptive optics on extremely large telescopes: Towards detecting oxygen in Proxima Centauri b and analogs

Looking to the future of exo-Earth imaging from the ground, core technology developments are required in visible extreme adaptive optics (ExAO) to enable the observation of atmospheric features such as oxygen on rocky planets in visible light. UNDERGROUND (Ultra-fast AO techNology Determination for Exoplanet imageRs from the GROUND), a collaboration built in Feb. 2023 at the Optimal Exoplanet Imagers Lorentz Workshop, aims to (1) motivate oxygen detection in Proxima Centauri b and analogs as an informative science case for high-contrast imaging and direct spectroscopy, (2) overview the state of the field with respect to visible exoplanet imagers, and (3) set the instrumental requirements to achieve this goal and identify what key technologies require further development.Comment: SPIE Proceeding: 2023 / 12680-6

A Survey on Industrial Software Engineering

Abstract. In this paper, we present on-going work on data collected by a questionnaire surveying process practices, preferences, and methods in industrial software engineering

Visible extreme adaptive optics on extremely large telescopes: towards detecting oxygen in Proxima Centauri b and analogs

International audienceLooking to the future of exo-Earth imaging from the ground, core technology developments are required in visible Extreme Adaptive Optics (ExAO) to enable the observation of atmospheric features such as oxygen on rocky planets in visible light. UNDERGROUND (Ultra-fast AO techNology Determination for Exoplanet imageRs from the GROUND), a collaboration built in Feb. 2023 at the Optimal Exoplanet Imagers Lorentz Workshop, aims to (1) motivate oxygen detection in Proxima Centauri b and analogs as an informative science case for high-contrast imaging and direct spectroscopy, (2) overview the state of the field with respect to visible exoplanet imagers, and (3) set the instrumental requirements to achieve this goal and identify what key technologies require further development

Chasing rainbows and ocean glints: Inner working angle constraints for the Habitable Worlds Observatory

International audienceNASA is engaged in planning for a Habitable Worlds Observatory (HabWorlds ), a coronagraphic space mission to detect rocky planets in habitable zones and establish their habitability. Surface liquid water is central to the definition of planetary habitability. Photometric and polarimetric phase curves of starlight reflected by an exoplanet can reveal ocean glint, rainbows, and other phenomena caused by scattering by clouds or atmospheric gas. Direct imaging missions are optimized for planets near quadrature, but HabWorlds ' coronagraph may obscure the phase angles where such optical features are strongest. The range of accessible phase angles for a given exoplanet will depend on the planet's orbital inclination and/or the coronagraph's inner working angle (IWA). We use a recently created catalog relevant to HabWorlds of 164 stars to estimate the number of exo-Earths that could be searched for ocean glint, rainbows, and polarization effects due to Rayleigh scattering. We find that the polarimetric Rayleigh scattering peak is accessible in most of the exo-Earth planetary systems. The rainbow due to water clouds at phase angles of ~20○ - 60○ would be accessible with HabWorlds for a planet with an Earth equivalent instellation in ~46 systems, while the ocean glint signature at phase angles of ~130○ - 170○ would be accessible in ~16 systems, assuming an IWA = 62 mas (3λ/D). Improving the IWA = 41 mas (2λ/D) increases accessibility to rainbows and glints by factors of approximately 2 and 3, respectively. By observing these scattering features, HabWorlds could detect a surface ocean and water cycle, key indicators of habitability