ModHel'X, un outil expérimental pour la modélisation multi-paradigmes

National audienceLa modélisation multi-paradigmes vise à permettre la modélisation d’un système en utilisant pour chacune de ses sous-parties le formalisme (ou paradigme) de modélisation le plus adapté. Nous nous intéressons plus spécifiquement à la modélisation du comportement de systèmes : dans ce cadre, il est nécessaire de pouvoir combiner la sémantique des différents formalismes utilisés dans un modèle de sorte à déterminer le comportement global du système modélisé. Nous avons conç̧u un outil appelé ModHel’X qui permet a) de décrire les formalismes de modélisation utilisés grâce au concept de modèle de calcul, b) de décrire l’adaptation sémantique à la frontière entre deux formalismes, c) de construire des modèles faisant appel à plusieurs de ces formalismes et d) de simuler le comportement de tels modèles

Heterogeneous Model Composition in ModHel'X: the Power Window Case Study

This paper describes an heterogeneous model of a power window which is available on the ReMoDD repository. This model uses timed finite state machines for modeling the controller of the power window, synchronous data flows for modeling the mechanical part of the window, and discrete events for modeling the communications between the components on the car's bus. An important aspect of this model is the specification of the semantic adaptation between the heterogeneous parts of the model. This semantic adaptation is made for data, control, and time. The semantic adaptation of control and time relies on the TESL library which is an implementation of the model of time used in the ModHel'X platform. The model can be run using a simulation scenario with a graphical display of the outputs. The semantic adaptation can be disabled in order to show how it affects the behavior of the model. The demo can also be run with a graphical interface and a user in the loop

Digital Ethics Canvas: A Guide For Ethical Risk Assessment And Mitigation In The Digital Domain

Ethical concerns in the digital domain are growing with the extremely fast evolution of technology and the increasing scale at which software is deployed, potentially affecting our societies globally. It is crucial that engineers evaluate more systematically the impacts their solutions can have on individuals, groups, societies and the environment. Ethical risk analysis is one of the approaches that can help reduce “ethical debt”, the unpaid cost generated by ethically problematic technical solutions. However, previous research has identified that novices struggle with the identification of risks and their mitigation. Our contribution is a visual tool, the Digital Ethics Canvas, specifically designed to help engineers scan digital solutions for a range of ethical risks with six “lenses”: beneficence, non-maleficence, privacy, fairness, sustainability and empowerment. In this paper, we present the literature background behind the design of this tool. We also report on preliminary evaluations of the canvas with novices (N=26) and experts (N=16) showing that the tool is perceived as practical and useful, with positive utility judgements from participants

Building Heterogeneous Models at Runtime to Detect Faults in Ambient-Intelligent Environments

International audienceThis paper introduces an approach for fault detection in ambient-intelligent environments. It proposes to compute predictions for sensor values, to be compared with actual values. As ambient environments are highly dynamic, one cannot pre-determine a prediction method. Therefore, our approach relies on (a) the modeling of sensors, actuators and physical effects that link them, and (b) the automatic construction at run-time of a heterogeneous prediction model. The prediction model can then be executed on a heterogeneous modeling platform such as ModHel'X, which yields predicted sensor values

Une sémantique multi-paradigme pour simuler des modèles SysML avec SystemC-AMS

National audienceDans le contexte de la modélisation de systèmes, SysML apparait comme un langage pivot de spécification et de documentation. Ses diagrammes permettent la définition de la structure et du comportement de systèmes. La flexibilité de SysML a pour incon-vénient qu'il n'existe pas de méthode standard pour définir leur sémantique. Ce problème est flagrant dans la conception de systèmes hétérogènes, où différentes sémantiques opéra-tionnelles peuvent être utilisées. Cet article présente une manière de donner une sémantique opérationnelle aux éléments de SysML sous la forme de transformations vers le langage SystemC-AMS, permettant ainsi la simulation de modèles SysML

A game-based approach to develop engineering students’ awareness about artificial intelligence ethical challenges

The past few decades have seen important efforts to introduce more ethics into engineering education programs around the world, while adapting to the evolution of ethical concerns, notably in relation to digital technology and artificial intelligence. Even if pedagogical approaches based on the use of case studies or code of ethics remain among the most popular, other less well known techniques such as gamebased approaches have also been identified as effective. The goal of this workshop is to offer participants an opportunity to explore how games can be used as learning experiences to develop students’ ethical knowledge and skills. Participants will first get to play an online game which focuses on ethical issues in the domain of artificial intelligence, before reflecting on their experience and discussing the potential of game-based approaches for engineering ethics education

Ready to face the world?Lessons learnt from applying a Multi-Professional Shared Learning Test tofirst year Engineering and Science students at the Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, Switzerland.

This paper presents the results of a project aimed to measure changes in attitudes and perception of science, engineering and architecture first year students about working in a professionally diverse environment. At the beginning of the Global Issues course of the autumn semester in 2014 all 1, 800 students were asked to complete two psychometric tests: The Readiness for Inter-professional Learning Scale (RIPLS) aims at measuring attitudes towards inter-professional learning (McFayden, AK, et al, 2005); and the Engineering and Science Issues Test (ESIT) aiming to measure moral reasoning in engineering by responding to professional ethical dilemmas. Students were asked to repeat the task 13 weeks later after having followed lectures and completed the requested interdisciplinary group work (Holzer, A., Vonèche-Cardia, I., et al, 2016). A superficial analysis of the RIPLS scores shows an overall decreased positive attitude towards interdisciplinary work. A more detailed analysis suggest a paradox: While students agree that team work skills will make them better professionals they disagree on the benefit of practicing such skills before qualification. The paper will focus in discussing the reasons for such paradox looking into the timing of the testing (too early), students' disciplinary identity, and other potential reasons such as conflicts in schedules and difficulties in communication. Our results are taken as a clear sign of the need to keep in mind the ‘hidden curriculum’ in scientific and engineering education when tailoring the learning activities supporting interdisciplinary courses (Tormey, R, Le Duc, I, et al, 2015)