SystemC cosimulation and emulation of multiprocessor SoC designs

SystemC is an open source C/C++ simulation environment that provides several class packages for specifying hardware blocks and communication channels. The design environment specifies software algorithmically as a set of functions embedded in abstract modules that communicate with one another and with hardware components via abstract communication channels. It enables transparent integration of instruction-set simulators and prototyping boards. The authors describe a simulation environment that targets heterogeneous multiprocessor systems. They are currently working to extend their methodology to more complex on-chip architectures.     

An environment for prototyping distributed applications

Designing a distributed application is an extremely complex task. Proper facilities for prototyping distributed applications can be useful in evaluating a design, and also in understanding the effect of different parameters on the performance of an application. We describe a language for prototyping distributed applications, that supports different communication primitives with specified delay, and provides primitives to aid debugging and evaluation. Our environment for executing distributed programs supports heterogeneous computation in which processes can execute on different hardware. Different source languages can be used for coding different modules of the processes. The system has a centralized control and monitoring facility which is based on the Suntools window system.     

A class of multistage conference switching networks for group communication

There is a growing demand for network support for group applications, in which messages from one or more sender(s) are delivered to a large number of receivers. Here, we propose a network architecture for supporting a fundamental type of group communication, conferencing. A conference refers to a group of members in a network who communicate with each other within the group. We consider adopting a class of multistage networks, such as a baseline, an omega, or an indirect binary cube network, composed of switch modules with fan-in and fan-out capability for a conference network which supports multiple disjoint conferences. The key issue in designing a conference network is to determine the multiplicity of routing conflicts, which is the maximum number of conflict parties competing a single interstage link when multiple disjoint conferences simultaneously present in the network. Our results show that, for a network of size n /spl times/ n, the multiplicities of routing conflicts are small constants (between 2 and 4) for an omega network or an indirect binary cube network; while it can be as large as /spl radic/n/q + 1 for a baseline network, where q is the minimum allowable conference size. Thus, our design for conference networks is based on an omega network or an indirect binary cube network. We also develop fast self-routing algorithms for setting up routing paths in the newly designed conference networks. As can be seen, such an n /spl times/ n conference network has O(logn) routing time and communication delay and O(nlogn) hardware cost. The conference networks are superior to existing designs in terms of routing complexity, communication delay and hardware cost. The conference network proposed is rearrangeably nonblocking in general, and is strictly nonblocking under some conference service policy. It can be used in applications that require efficient or real-time group communication.     

A reconfigurable platform for evaluating the performance of QoS networks

Nowadays, high performance System and Local Area Networks (SAN/LAN) have to serve heterogeneous traffic consisting of information flows with different bandwidth and latency requirements. This makes it necessary to provide Quality of Service (QoS) and optimize the design of network components.In this paper we present a hardware tool designed to analyze the performance of QoS networks, under given traffic conditions and server models. In particular, a reprogrammable multimedia traffic Generator/Monitor platform has been built. This permits prototyping the communication system of a high speed LAN/SAN on a single FPGA device. Hence, it can be used at design to produce more efficient devices. To illustrate the applicability of the platform we have used the Simple Multimedia Router (SMMR), an existing proposal to provide QoS.The modular structure of the tool and the fact that it has been implemented on an FPGA using a high level hardware programming language makes it flexible, scalable and easy to reconfigure. Besides, the architecture and implementation can be adapted to be used in more recent QoS NoC environments.     

R2P: An open source hardware and software modular approach to robot prototyping

Rapid prototyping is a key aspect for the development of innovative robotic applications. A modular, platform-based, approach is the way to obtain this result. Modular approaches are common for software development, but hardware is still crafted often re-inventing solutions every time. As a consequence, the resources that should be invested in the development of a new robot get often drained by the implementation of a physical, working prototype to test the application idea. To overcome this problem, we propose R2P (Rapid Robot Prototyping), a framework to implement real-time, high-quality architectures for robotic systems with off-the-shelf basic modules (e.g., sensors, actuators, and controllers), integrating hardware and software, which can be assembled in a plug-and-play way. R2P provides hardware modules, a protocol for real-time communication, a middleware to connect components as well as tools to support the development of software on the modules. R2P aims at dramatically reduce time and efforts required to build a prototype robot, making it possible to focus the resources on the development of new robotic applications instead of struggling on their implementation. This enables also people with experience in a specific application domain, but with little technical background, to actively participate in the development of new robotic applications. R2P is open-source both in its software and hardware to promote its diffusion among the robotics community and novel business models that will substantially reduce the costs to design a new robotic product.     

基于ZigBee网络的大坝安全监测系统的设计与实现

为了能够有效应用于无线传感器网络的大坝安全监测系统,设计了ZigBee无线传感器网络的硬件模块和服务器软件系统。分析了ZigBee无线通信的原理,给出了从大坝监控中心到底层的通讯方式,说明其结构、功能。重点阐述其在采集大坝数据后如何实现通讯,在监控中心对底层模块的控制,对其中涉及的关键技术进行了较为详细的叙述。     

应用于天然气管网安全监测的无线传感器网络节点设计与实现

利用无线传感器网络技术可对城市天然气管网安全进行在线、实时监测.结合具体应用需求和特点,设计了一种支持IEEE802.15.4和ZigBee协议的新型无线传感器网络节点.利用该节点,可以识别施工或其它外力对天然气管道的撞击破坏,检测管道附近泄漏的天然气浓度及异常温度等不安全因素.在集成微处理器和射频收发模块的"片上系统"芯片的基础上,实现了射频通信、数据采集和电源等模块的硬件电路设计,给出了节点间组网及数据传输的软件机制.实验结果表明,该节点具有功耗低、通信可靠等特点,可满足天然气管道安全监测的实际需要.     

基于无线传感器网络的土壤水分监测基站系统设计

根据土壤水分监测传感器网络应用的需求,提出一种基于无线传感器网络的土壤水分监测基站系统的设计方案,包括监测网络体系结构、硬件结构及软件功能模块分割的总体方案设计。此外,还对基站无线通信模块、数据转换模块、存储模块、人机界面和数据上传模块进行详细设计。在实验测试中,本系统运行状况良好、工作稳定,基本能满足实际应用的需要。     

基于ARM和GPRS的环境监测系统设计

提出了一种基于GPRS技术的环境监测数据通信系统,此系统主要由监测站、传输网络和监控中心等部分组成,采用GPRS无线网络和Internet网络为通道来实现监测数据的远程传输和状态监控,采用基于ARM的S3C2440A芯片为核心设计的监测站的硬件电路,达到实时监控的目的。     

基于Nios Ⅱ的双网传真机系统的研究与开发

基于Nios-Ⅱ设计和实现了支持PSTN网络、Internet网络的双网传真机系统,利用FPGA实现了传真机系统的多个电路模块,包括A/D采样控制逻辑、二值化图像处理模块、MH编码模块、MH译码模块和CIS扫描、TPH打印、电机控制模块。基于μC/OS-Ⅱ、Niche TCP/IP实现了T30协议通信、非实时网络传真通信、Tiff文件创建、Tiff文件解析模块。使用Altera Cyclone EP1C20开发板实现和验证了整机系统,经过软硬件联调,达到了系统设计指标和功能。     

Network virtualization substrate with parallelized data plane

Network virtualization provides the ability to run multiple concurrent virtual networks over a shared substrate. However, it is challenging to design such a platform to host multiple heterogenous and often highly customized virtual networks. Not only high degree of flexibility is desired for virtual networks to customize their functions, fast packet forwarding is also required. This paper presents PdP, a flexible network virtualization platform capable of achieving high speed packet forwarding. A PdP node has multiple machines to perform packet processing for virtual networks hosted in the system. To forward packets in high speed, the data plane of a virtual network in PdP can be allocated with multiple forwarding machines to process packets in parallel. Furthermore, a virtual network in PdP can be fully customized. Both the control plane and data plane of a virtual network run in virtual machines so as to be isolated from other virtual networks. We have built a proof-of-concept prototyping PdP platform using off-the-shelf commodity hardware and open source software. The performance evaluation results show that our system can closely match the best-known packet forwarding speed of software router running in commodity hardware.     

基于EPON系统的电力ONU模块设计

针对当前电力通信方式在稳定性与安全性方面的不足,设计了基于以太网无源光网络(EPON)系统的电力光网络单元(ONU)模块.采用电力ONU设备模块化的方法简化了电力通信的网络结构,采用电力ONU模块精简组合设计降低了成本.阐述了电力ONU模块的硬件设计实现方法,对主控芯片、光收发模块、数据存储模块以及外围电路进行了分析;软件部分给出了操作系统移植与应用程序设计流程.测试结果表明,电力ONU模块满足电力通信的要求.     

An artificial pancreas system in android phones: A dual app architecture

An Artificial Pancreas (AP) system centered around an Android Smartphone is proposed in this paper. This unique architecture involves two separate but interacting modular Android applications (Apps) that are designed for unique functionalities. Even though an artificial pancreas system is a safety-critical system that demands a complex architecture and careful coding process, owing to their modular nature, these apps could be designed and developed through rapid prototyping processes. The first app (App-A), which runs in the front-end, serves as the user interface and acts as a connection hub for the hardware devices, was developed on the Android studio platform. Necessary communication protocols to enable communication with the hardware devices are incorporated into this app. The second app (App-B), which runs in the back-end, is developed using Simulink’s Android support package. It contains a safety-critical model predictive control algorithm with appropriate constraints to compute the required insulin rate, augmented with a Kalman Filter for estimating the states. There is an additional safety logic as well to prevent insulin over-dosage, thereby augmenting to the cause of a safety-critical control algorithm. The contribution of this work is a modular software framework and prototyping methodology that can be used for rapid development, testing and deployment of Android based AP-systems.     

A distributed task-oriented real-time programming system

This paper presents a new conception for a distributed task-oriented real-time operating system comprising a compiler, an operating system kernel and communication packages. The system TOROS supplies the tools for a uniform programming of complex process control applications on heterogenous hardware including workstation, PC, programmable controller and microcontroller. The whole control task is split into a set of small modules. These modules are uniquely programmed by defining a state machine and using guarded commands. They are connected logically through calls to tasks provided by other modules. The specification of the modules is done in an hardware independent language. At compile time the modules are distributed to specified target computers. The system automatically translates each module into the particular code and realizes the communication between the modules either on the same computer or through the links.     

基于S-Function的xPC目标环境下I/O板卡驱动开发

提出了xPC目标环境下采用C MEX S函数实现I/O板卡驱动的开发方法;采用xPC建立实时环境,通过反射内存卡组成实时网络,来实现控制系统的快速原型化和硬件在回路仿真测试,与传统的半物理仿真相比要快捷很多;与硬件设备实时通讯的I/O板卡是实现半物理实时仿真的基础;详细介绍了S-Function的编写、PCI总线的基本概念以及xPC环境下编写驱动的关键问题,在此基础上实现了ADLINK多功能DAQ板卡在xPC环境下的驱动开发;驱动测试结果表明,AD板卡和DA板卡都能稳定工作,通讯稳定,数据误差小,该方法具有较强的移植性和参考性。     

一种智能办公环境无线网络系统的研究

目前,国内建筑中的网络主要以有线形式为主,安装麻烦、不易扩展。为了提高建筑环境控制的智能性,提供一个舒适、节能的办公环境,本文研究了智能办公环境的无线网络系统的构建问题,提出了一种基于多智能体(Agent)技术、ZigBee无线网络技术、模糊Q学习算法的无线网络系统。设计了系统的网络结构和多Agent系统模型,分析了模型中各种Agent的设计和通信方法,给出了系统的软硬件平台设计方案。最后进行了实验分析,验证了引入多Agent模糊Q学习加快了系统学习进程。另外设计了测试方案进行系统网络性能测试,测试结果表明该网络系统的丢包率较低。因此,系统具有可应用性。     

基于平台的畜禽规模养殖环境信息采集系统的设计

为对畜禽规模化养殖所带来的环境问题进行研究和控制,开发了畜禽规模化养殖环境信息采集系统;系统研制中充分运用了平台开发设计思想,在已开发信息采集平台的基础上,通过研制温湿度、粉尘浓度、光照强度、风速、氨气浓度等各种检测模块,方便地完成了畜禽规模化养殖环境信息采集系统的硬件构建;与硬件模块化结构相对应,软件设计中也采用了模块化结构设计思想,开发了相应功能的软件模块,主程序通过调用相应软件模块即可方便地实现相应信息的采集;经在多个畜禽养殖场试用表明,系统运行可靠,检测精度高,具有较强的实用性和推广价值。     

基于WebGIS的田间环境监测系统平台的设计与实现

为了实现田间环境信息的可视化查询分析与统计,本文借助于无线传感网络和GPRS通信网络硬件平台以及TopMap软件平台,开发了基于WebGIS的田间环境监测系统。该系统采用了C/S与B/S模式相结合的运行体系结构,ASP.NET为前台开发工具,SQL SERVER2005为后台数据库,TopMap World 6为WebGIS开发平台。系统实现了田间环境信息的动态交互、实时更新以及基于地图的田间环境信息空间查询、统计分析和生成报表等功能。     

Microcontroller-operated anthropomorphic manipulator with haptic feedback

This article presents the design of a cluster-distributed computing system to operate and control an anthropomorphic manipulator with haptic feedback. The system hardware consists of four major building blocks, anthropomorphic manipulator, haptic sensor glove, real-time microcontroller-based cluster distributed computing (CDC) network, and closed-loop controller. The system software architecture consists of three key operation modules, namely, the sensor glove, anthropomorphic manipulator and communication module. It is designed based on a shared file system concept which forms the foundation of the CDC protocol. The key advantages of this system are its novel structure and its comparatively low cost using microcontroller-based distributed cluster networks which allow large-scale expansion/integration.     

UML-based hardware/software co-design platform for dynamically partially reconfigurable network security systems

The dynamic partial reconfiguration technology of FPGA has made it possible to adapt system functionalities at run-time to changing environment conditions. However, this new dimension of dynamic hardware reconfigurability has rendered existing CAD tools and platforms incapable of efficiently exploring the design space. As a solution, we proposed a novel UML-based hardware/software co-design platform (UCoP) targeting at dynamically partially reconfigurable network security systems (DPRNSS). Computation-intensive network security functions, implemented as reconfigurable hardware functions, can be configured on-demand into a DPRNSS at run-time. Thus, UCoP not only supports dynamic adaptation to different environment conditions, but also increases hardware resource utilization. UCoP supports design space exploration for reconfigurable systems in three folds. Firstly, it provides reusable models of typical reconfigurable systems that can be customized according to user applications. Secondly, UCoP provides a partially reconfigurable hardware task template, using which users can focus on their hardware designs without going through the full partial reconfiguration flow. Thirdly, UCoP provides direct interactions between UML system models and real reconfigurable hardware modules, thus allowing accurate time measurements. Compared to the existing lower-bound and synthesis-based estimation methods, the accurate time measurements using UCoP at a high abstraction level can more efficiently reduce the system development efforts.