OCD-FI, On-Chip Debugging and Fault Injection for validating microprocessor based dependable systems

This paper proposes a set of modifications to theon-chip debugging infrastructures present in manyactual microprocessor cores, with the objective ofsupporting the validation and verification steps offault-tolerant mechanisms through fault injectioncampaigns. A synthesisable microprocessor core forprogrammable components was used as a targetsystem an. a debugging infrastructure compliantwith the NEXUS 5001 proposed standard for onchipdebugging was implemented on this target. Toimprove the process of real-time memory faultinjection, an upgraded infrastructure designated asOn-Chip Debugging and Fault Injection (OCD-FI)was developed. The complete system was analysedin terms of area overhead and fault injectioncapabilities and performance. All elements weredesigned as synthesizable VHDL modules andevaluated in simulation

A Remote Verification Framework to Assess the Robustness of Circuits to Soft Faults

The growing number of circuits implemented in Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and the increased susceptibility, due to higher integration levels, of these devices to soft faults caused by radiation at ground level is leading the scientific and technical community to the study of new fault tolerant designs and solutions, and how they can be verified and validated. Using fault injection techniques and enhanced debug tools to inject faults in a circuit and observing its behaviour in the presence of such faults, respectively, is a proven solution for the previous verification and validation problem. This paper presents the underlying concepts for a remote verification framework to assess the robustness of circuits to soft faults. It comprises a verification platform and a set of verification services that can be used in a remote or local fashions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

An Enhanced Debugger for Real-Time Fault Injection on Microprocessor Systems

As electronic devices get smaller and more complex, dependability assurance is becoming fundamental for many mission critical computer based systems. This paper presents a case study on the possibility of using the on-chip debug infrastructures present in most current microprocessors to execute real time fault injection campaigns. The proposed methodology is based on a debugger, customized for fault injection and designed for maximum flexibility, and consists on injecting bit-flip type faults on memory elements without modifying or halting the target application. The proposed solution is easily portable and applicable to different architectures, providing a flexible and efficient mechanism for verifying and validating fault tolerant components.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Identificação de lacunas nas competências Experimentais - a necessidade de adaptar o ensino da electrônica

Cada área do conhecimento tem a sua própria linha de evolução, ora dividindo-se em novas áreas ora abandonando algumas disciplinas para dar lugar a outras com enquadramento mais recente. Como resultado disso pode-se constatar a tendência para uma determinada disciplina ter uma abordagem diferente nos vários cursos onde é le cionada. Deste modo, ensinar a disciplina de eletrônica num curso Engenharia Eletrônica é feito de um modo diferente do que é feito num curso de Engenharia Eletrotécnica de Energia. No primeiro caso a disciplina assume alguma profundidade enquanto no segundo caso os vários temas são, quando muito, aflorados de modo algo superficial. Esta est ratégia apresenta várias vantagens para o estudante, tais como o custo e tempo necessários para a introdução no mercado de trabalho. No entanto, pode-se também identificar algumas limitações desta abordagem, das quais a principal se refere ao nível relativamente baixo de competências em algumas áreas importantes, habitualmente situadas na fronteira das chamadas áreas tradicionais do conhecimento. Deste modo, em lugar de desenvolver sólidas competências acerca dos componentes de eletricidade e eletrônica, aos alunos apenas são apresentados modelos de interface, i.e., caixas pretas eletrônicas. Mais tarde, quando confrontados com problemas específicos, os recém-licenciados estarão menos aptos a apontar soluções devido à falta de características de interdisciplinaridade. O presente trabalho apresenta algumas percepções relacionadas com a falta de alguns conceitos necessários para compreender as implicações numa rede elétrica resultantes da utilização de cargas não-lineares. Aborda-se também a metodologia para caracterizar a presente situação e as alternativas para as ultrapassar.N/

Infraestrutura Laboratorial para Teste Digital Remoto em Ambientes de Ensino Distribuído

A expansão da Internet e as suas actuais vertentes de utilização têm suportado o desenvolvimento do ensino à distância através deste meio (e-learning). Os sistemas existentes nesta área permitem disponibilizar os mais diversos conteúdos a um vasto leque de utilizadores remotos, bem como facilitar a sua gestão e avaliação (formativa e sumativa). Neste contexto, foram desenvolvidos vários cursos na área de Teste e Medição para leccionação remota através do sistema WebCT*, que constitui uma das ofertas com maior aceitação a nível mundial.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Using Remote Lab for Enhancing E-Learning on FPAAs

Analog and digital electronic subjects are part of the electronic engineer degree but its taught is not easy because they are founded in opposite methodologies. The electronic design in the digital field is centered in the use of microprocessor and FPGA based circuits using high level programing/configuring languages. The counterpart analog design is traditionally based in the use of elementary com- ponents associated with macroblocks such operational am- plifiers in order to built-up the wanted mission circuit. Some few components, as the FPAA, are analogically configurable in a similar manner already used with the FPGA. However the use of this kind of components is not straightforward once is necessary acquire some concepts not taught in the traditionally analog electronic classes. The current work present an innovative remote lab to sup- port teaching of the FPAAs.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Exploiting the IEEE 1149.1 Standard for Software Reliability Evaluation in Space Applications

The IEEE 1149.1 standard (boundary-scan) was originally developed as a technology to provide in-circuit testing of digital devices. Its effectiveness lead to unanticipated successes such as its extension to support on-line monitoring and in-circuit emulation. Meanwhile, its applicability for fault-injection had already been demonstrated by academic prototypes. In this paper we describe the first commercial tool, the BSCAN4FI plug in for Xception®, that provides support for software reliability evaluation for aeronautics and space applications using the boundary-scan technology as a means for controlled fault-injection. This tool allows transparent integration testing without any modification to the original system to be deployed and was developed specifically for the SPARC V.7 TSC695f space processor. Besides extended fault models and test features only made possible through this technology, in-system non-intrusive monitoring capabilities are also made possible.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The VISIR+ Project – Preliminary results of the training actions

Experimental competences allow engineering students to consolidate knowledge and skills. Remote labs are a powerful tool to aid students in those developments. The VISIR remote lab was considered the best remote lab in the world in 2015. The VISIR+ project main goal is to spread VISIR usage in Brazil and Argentina, providing technical and didactical sup- port. This paper presents an analysis of the already prosecuted actions regarding this project and an assessment of their impact in terms of conditioning factors. The overall outcomes are highly positive since, in each Latin American Higher Education Institution, all training actions were successful, the first didactical implementations were designed and ongoing in the current semester. In some cases, instead of one foreseen implementation, there are several. The most statistically conditioning factors which affected the outcomes were the pre-experience with re- mote labs, the pre-experience with VISIR and the training actions duration. The teachers’ per- ceptions that most conditioned their enrollment in implementing VISIR in their courses were related to their consciousness of the VISIR effectiveness to teach and learn. The lack of time to practice and discuss their doubts and the fulfillment of their expectations in the training actions, also affected how comfortable in modifying their course curricula teachers were.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Spreading remote lab usage: A system — A community — A Federation

Experiments have been at the heart of scientific development and education for centuries. From the outburst of Information and Communication Technologies, virtual and remote labs have added to hands-on labs a new conception of practical experience, especially in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education. This paper aims at describing the features of a remote lab named Virtual Instruments System in Reality, embedded in a community of practice and forming the spearhead of a federation of remote labs. More particularly, it discusses the advantages and disadvantages of remote labs over virtual labs as regards to scalability constraints and development and maintenance costs. Finally, it describes an actual implementation in an international community of practice of engineering schools forming the embryo of a first world wide federation of Virtual Instruments System in Reality nodes, under the framework of a project funded by the Erasmus+ Program.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Simulação de veículos autónomos em ambientes industriais

Tese de mestr.. Engenharia Electrotécnica e de Computadores. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 199