SML-Sys: a functional framework with multiple models of computation for modeling heterogeneous system

System-on-Chip and other complex distributed hardware/software systems contain heterogeneous components. High-level modeling of such systems require frameworks that provide designers with the ability to express concepts of models of computation (MoC)s as modeling constructs. Many system-level modeling frameworks and corresponding modeling notations such as Ptolemy II and SystemC-H facilitate multi-MoC modeling but are based on imperative programming languages (C++, Java, etc). In such frameworks, the computation and communication aspects between the components of models get intertwined thereby hindering its amenability to formal analysis. In this work, we illustrate function-based semantic definitions of MoCs, which are formulated in a functional framework called SML-Sys. We illustrate through a number of examples how to create system models using this functional programming paradigm.     

Hybrid Capsules via Self‐Assembly of Thermoresponsive and Interfacially Active Bionanoparticle–Polymer Conjugates

New bionanoparticles have been prepared from horse spleen ferritin by grafting thermoresponsive poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAAm) and photo‐crosslinkable 2‐(dimethyl maleinimido)‐N‐ethyl‐acrylamide (DMIAAm) from the protein surface. The 72 addressable amino groups on the exterior of HSF were modified with N‐hydroxysuccinimide‐activated 2‐bromo‐isobutyrate to form a macro‐initiator for atom transfer radical polymerization, which was performed in water/DMF solutions at low temperature. The modification of the HSF and the presence of the polymer shell were confirmed by size exclusion chromatography (SEC), sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel‐electrophoresis, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning force microscopy. The thermoresponsive behavior of the ferritin‐PNIPAAm conjugates was investigated in solution by UV–vis spectroscopy showing a phase transition in the form of a cloud point around 32 °C. Further, dynamic light scattering revealed an increasing hydrodynamic radius around this transition, indicating aggregation of the particles at elevated temperatures which was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. Initial experiments show that the particles are highly surface active, much more than the individual components alone, which was demonstrated by pendant‐drop interfacial tension measurements. This leads to the fact that they form stable Pickering emulsions, i.e., emulsion droplets decorated with polymer‐modified bionanoparticles which can be cross‐linked successively. This allows the formation of capsules with thermoresponsiveness for controlled release purposes, e.g., in drug delivery.     

QoS management through service level agreements: a short overview

The Internet protocol (IP) was created as a connectionless network layer protocol that takes no attempt to distinguish between various application types. Hence, the integration of a wide range of telecommunication services over the Internet is the main reason behind the need for the provision of quality of service (QoS) guarantees to end users. In such multiservice networks, resources are managed based on service level agreements (SLA), acknowledging different types of traffic in terms of bandwidth requirements, delay and other QoS parameters. An SLA is the documented result of a negotiation between a customer and a service provider that defines service characteristics, responsibilities and priorities of every party. An SLA may include statements about tariffing and billing, service delivery, and compensations. This paper provides a short overview of some aspects of quality of service, and identifies main issues and problems of defining and managing an SLA, based on its current standardization stage.     

3D-Printed Broadband Dielectric Tube Terahertz Waveguide with Anti-Reflection Structure

We demonstrate broadband, low loss, and close-to-zero dispersion guidance of terahertz (THz) radiation in a dielectric tube with an anti-reflection structure (AR-tube waveguide) in the frequency range from 0.2 to 1.0 THz. The anti-reflection structure (ARS) consists of close-packed cones in a hexagonal lattice arranged on the outer surface of the tube cladding. The feature size of the ARS is in the order of the wavelength between 0.2 and 1.0 THz. The waveguides are fabricated with the versatile and cost efficient 3D-printing method. Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) measurements as well as 3D finite-difference time-domain simulations (FDTD) are performed to extensively characterize the AR-tube waveguides. Spectrograms, attenuation spectra, effective phase refractive indices, and the group-velocity dispersion parameters β ₂ of the AR-tube waveguides are presented. Both the experimental and numerical results confirm the extended bandwidth and smaller group-velocity dispersion of the AR-tube waveguide compared to a low loss plain dielectric tube THz waveguide. The AR-tube waveguide prototypes show an attenuation spectrum close to the theoretical limit given by the infinite cladding tube waveguide.     

MIMO systems with full and reduced hardware complexity

MIMO (multiple-input-multiple-output) systems propose enormous gains in the capacity of wireless systems without requiring more spectral resources. This paper first gives an overview of the use of MIMO for diversity and spatial multiplexing, and the use of channel state information in MIMO systems. It then explores the use of antenna selection as a means for the reduction of the hardware complexity. It is shown that the performance in a spatial-multiplexing application is almost as good as that of full-complexity systems as long as the number of RF chains is at least as large as the number of data streams.     

Nichtlineare Trajektorienfolgeregelung für einen Laborhelikopter

This contribution is devoted to the nonlinear tracking control problem of the laboratory experiment helicopter 3DOF distributed by Quanser. The laboratory experiment belongs to the class of mechanical systems with three degrees-of-freedom and two control inputs. It is well known that the systematic design of nonlinear controllers for underactuated mechanical systems is a challenge compared to fully actuated systems. On certain simplifying assumptions, which very well apply to the operating range of practical interest, we can show that the mathematical model is configuration flat. Thereby, a mechanical system is said to be configuration flat if it is differential flat and the flat outputs solely depend on the generalized coordinates of the mechanical system. The controller design is based on a formulation of the mechanical system on a Riemannian manifold where the kinetic energy serves as a natural Riemannian metric. In a first step a nonlinear tracking controller including an integral part in the linear error system is designed by means of a quasi-static state feedback. In a second step the design of the tracking controller is based on the theory of exact linearization utilizing the so-called dynamic extension algorithm. The experimental results of both controllers are compared and discussed in detail. In particular, the quasi-static state feedback controller shows an excellent tracking behavior. The performance as being obtained by the nonlinear controlled cannot be achieved by conventional linear control strategies.     

Ein Beitrag zur nichtlinearen Fahrdynamik-regelung: die differentielle Flachheit des Einspurmodells

This contribution is primarily concerned with the system analysis of the bicycle dynamics, revealing the differential flatness property as a main result. A physically relevant representative for the flat output is introduced, with its components given as the lateral and the longitudinal velocity of a distinguished point located on the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. This flatness property is shown for the front-, rear- and all-wheel driven vehicle, without referring to particular representatives of the functions modelling the lateral tire forces. Following the flatness based control theory, a novel approach to nonlinear vehicle dynamics control is discussed.