An optimal checkpointing-strategy for real-time control systemsunder transient faults

Real-time computer systems are often used in harsh environments, such as aerospace, and in industry. Such systems are subject to many transient faults while in operation. Checkpointing enables a reduction in the recovery time from a transient fault by saving intermediate states of a task in a reliable storage facility, and then, on detection of a fault, restoring from a previously stored state. The interval between checkpoints affects the execution time of the task. Whereas inserting more checkpoints and reducing the interval between them reduces the reprocessing time after faults, checkpoints have associated execution costs, and inserting extra checkpoints increases the overall task execution time. Thus, a trade-off between the reprocessing time and the checkpointing overhead leads to an optimal checkpoint placement strategy that optimizes certain performance measures. Real-time control systems are characterized by a timely, and correct, execution of iterative tasks within deadlines. The reliability is the probability that a system functions according to its specification over a period of time. This paper reports on the reliability of a checkpointed real-time control system, where any errors are detected at the checkpointing time. The reliability is used as a performance measure to find the optimal checkpointing strategy. For a single-task control system, the reliability equation over a mission time is derived using the Markov model. Detecting errors at the checkpointing time makes reliability jitter with the number of checkpoints. This forces the need to apply other search algorithms to find the optimal number of checkpoints. By considering the properties of the reliability jittering, a simple algorithm is provided to find the optimal checkpoints effectively. Finally, the reliability model is extended to include multiple tasks by a task allocation algorithm     

Luminescence,charge mobility,and optical waveguiding of two-dimensional organic rubrene nanosheets: Comparison with one-dimensional nanorods

Intrinsic characteristics of organic and inorganic nanostructures depend on their physical dimensions (i.e., size and shape) and crystallinity. Here, we compared the nanoscale optical and electrical properties of organic rubrene one-dimensional (1-D) nanorods (NRs) and two-dimensional (2-D) nanosheets (NSs). From high-resolution laser confocal microscope photoluminescence (PL) measurements, the light-emission characteristics of 2-D rubrene NSs varied with the crystalline domain direction, indicating intrinsic PL anisotropy, which was distinguishable from 1-D rubrene single NRs, because of anisotropy π–π stacking molecular arrangements. We also observed the variation of charge carrier mobility depending on the measured directions (i.e., anisotropy of charge transport) in rubrene NS-based field-effect transistors. The optical waveguiding properties of rubrene nanostructures were strongly correlated to the dimensionality of materials and PL anisotropy.     

Millimeter and submillimeter wave quasi-optical oscillator withGunn diodes

The grooved-mirror-type Fabry-Perot (GFP) oscillator was used for coherent power-combining of multiple elements in the millimeter- and submillimeter-wave region. The admittance of the Gunn diode in oscillation was measured experimentally in the millimeter-wave region to design the GFP oscillator. The gain characteristics of the diode were found at the frequencies from 42 to 48 GHz from the measured results. With this Gunn diode in the GFP resonator, oscillation was observed. The experimental results indicated that for impedance matching between the diode and the resonant cavity, the groove height must be adjusted     

Automatic Transformation of Membrane‐Type Electronic Devices into Complex 3D Structures via Extrusion Shear Printing and Thermal Relaxation of Acrylonitrile–Butadiene–Styrene Frameworks

This work demonstrates a means of automatic transformation from planar electronic devices to desirable 3D forms. The method uses a spatially designed thermoplastic framework created via extrusion shear printing of acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) on a stress‐free ABS film, which can be laminated to a membrane‐type electronic device layer. Thermal annealing above the glass transition temperature allows stress relaxation in the printed polymer chains, resulting in an overall shape transformation of the framework. In addition, the significant reduction in the Young's modulus and the ability of the polymer chains to reflow in the rubbery state release the stress concentration in the electronic device layer, which can be positioned outside the neutral mechanical plane. Electrical analyses and mechanical simulations of a membrane‐type Au electrode and indium gallium zinc oxide transistor arrays before and after transformation confirm the versatility of this method for developing 3D electronic devices based on planar forms.     

Wavelength‐Dependent Photosensitivity in a Germanium‐Doped Sol–Gel Hybrid Material for Direct Photopatterning

Photosensitivity, as evident in permanent changes in refractive index and volume upon light exposure, is observed in a germanium‐doped methacrylate hybrid material (hybrimer) and found to depend on the wavelength of the UV light. Exposure to short‐wavelength UV illumination (220–260 nm) results in very high photosensitivity with changes in refractive index (Δn ≈ 0.0164) and film thickness (Δt ≈ –40 %) that are mainly a result of photopolymerization and Ge‐related densification. In contrast, the hybrimer is hardly photosensitive to light in the long UV‐wavelength range (350–390 nm). Direct photopatterning of a single circle on the hybrimer film creates a concave lens‐like topography upon illumination with UV light of short wavelength and a convex lens‐like one upon illumination with UV light of long wavelength.     

Adaptive robust impulse noise filtering

It is well known that when data is contaminated by non-Gaussian noise, conventional linear systems may perform poorly. The paper presents an adaptive robust filter (adaptive preprocessor) for canceling impulsive components when the nominal process (or background noise) is a correlated, possibly nonstationary, Gaussian process. The proposed preprocessor does not require iterative and/or batch processing or prior knowledge about the nominal Gaussian process; consequently, it can be implemented in real time and adapt to changes in the environment. Based on simulation results, the proposed adaptive preprocessor shows superior performances over presently available techniques for cleaning impulse noise. Using the proposed adaptive preprocessor to clean the impulsive components in received data samples, conventional linear systems based on the Gaussian assumption can work in an impulsive environment with little if any modification. The technique is applicable to a wide range of problems, such as detection, power spectral estimation, and jamming or clutter suppression in impulsive environments     

Anodized Aluminum Oxide/Polydimethylsiloxane Hybrid Mold for Roll‐to‐Roll Nanoimprinting

Two types (hard and soft) of the molds are widely used in nanoimprint lithography for a high throughput over a large area, and high‐resolution parallel patterning. Although hard molds have proven excellent resolutions and can be used at high temperatures, cracks often occur in the mold in addition to the requirement of high imprinting pressure. On the other hand, though soft molds can operate at lower pressures, they give poor pattern resolution. Here, a novel hybrid mold of anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) template attached to a flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) plate is introduced. Due to the flexible nature of PDMS, various polymer nanostructures are obtained on flat and curved substrates without crack formation on the AAO mold surface. Furthermore, the hybrid mold is successfully used for roll‐to‐roll imprinting for the fabrication of high density array of various shaped polymeric nanostructures over a large area.     

Reversible Conversion Reactions and Small First Cycle Irreversible Capacity Loss in Metal Sulfide‐Based Electrodes Enabled by Solid Electrolytes

Solid‐state batteries can potentially enable new classes of electrode materials which are unstable against liquid electrolytes. Here, SnS nanocrystals, synthesized by a wet chemical method, are used to fabricate a Li‐ion electrode, and the electrochemical properties of this electrode are examined in both solid and liquid electrolyte designs. The SnS‐based solid‐state cell delivers a capacity of 629 mAh g^?1 after 100 cycles and exhibits an unprecedentedly small irreversible capacity in the first cycle (8.2%), while the SnS‐based liquid cell shows a rapid capacity decay and large first cycle irreversible capacity (44.6%). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) experiments show significant solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation in the liquid cell during the first discharge while SEI formation by electrolyte reduction in the solid‐state cell appears negligible. Along with CV, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy are used to investigate the differences between the solid‐state and liquid cells. The reaction chemistry of SnS in solid‐state cells is also studied in detail by ex situ X‐ray diffraction and X‐ray absorption spectroscopy. The overarching findings are that use of a solid electrolyte suppresses materials degradation and electrolyte reduction which leads to a small first cycle irreversible capacity and stable cycling.     

3D Localization for Launch Vehicle Using Virtual TOA and AOA of Ground Stations

Wireless Personal Communications - Generally, a ground telemetry station for a launch vehicle (LV) includes a tracking function only; therefore, position measurements for LV depend on received...