Depuis ces deux dernières décennies, une nouvelle technologie sans fil appelée Réseau de Capteur Sans Fil (RCSF) résultant d"une fusion entre les systèmes embarqués et les communications sans fil a vu le jour. Un RCSF ("WSN : Wireless Sensor Network" en Anglais) est un réseau Ad hoc composé d"un grand nombre de nœuds qui sont des micro-capteurs qui peuvent être déployés de façon aléatoire ou déterministe dans une zone d"intérêt donnée. Ces nœuds capteurs sont capables de récolter plusieurs paramètres physiques sur l"environnement qui les entoure, appelé généralement zone de captage (ou zone de surveillance). Ensuite, ils doivent si nécessaire traiter les données capturées et les transmettre à un (ou plusieurs) nœud de collecte appelé station de base, centre de traitement ("sink" en Anglais). Beaucoup de domaines d"applications tels que le contrôle et suivi environnemental, le contrôle de production dans l"industrie, la surveillance de zone, le monitoring de l"habitat, l"agriculture intelligente, etc. sont basés sur les RCSF. Toutefois, les RCSF ne sont pas parfaits. En effet, compte tenu de leur petite taille, leur faible coût et leurs déploiement dans des zones souvent hostiles ou difficiles d"accès, les nœuds capteurs présentent un certain nombre de faiblesses parmi lesquelles une durée de vie du réseau limitée, une bande passante faible, des capacités de capture et de communication réduites, etc. Afin de surmonter ces contraintes des RCSF, plusieurs problématiques de recherche sont nées ces dernières années, et les principales portent sur l"optimisation de la consommation énergétique en vue d"améliorer la durée de vie du réseau. D"autres recherches importantes menées dans le domaine de ces réseaux portent sur les stratégies de placement des nœuds, sur la couverture de zones et sur la connectivité du réseau. Cependant, la plupart des solutions proposées ces dernières années ne prennent pas en compte toutes ces problématiques dans leurs modèles de résolution ; alors que dans beaucoup d"applications des RCSF telles que la surveillance de zone critique, le monitoring de l"habitat, l"agriculture intelligente, il est nécessaire de garantir en même temps une couverture complète de la zone de surveillance, une bonne connectivité du réseau, tout en optimisant au mieux la durée de vie de celui-ci. Le but de cette thèse est donc de proposer de nouveaux mécanismes efficaces pour l"optimisation de la durée de vie dans les RCSF, tout en garantissant, à tout moment de cette durée de vie, une couverture totale de la zone de surveillance, ainsi qu"une bonne connectivité du réseau. Pour atteindre nos objectifs, nous avons étudié et fait des propositions dans deux axes qui sont le placement des nœuds et les mécanismes d"ordonnancement au niveau de la couche MAC. Pour ces derniers, nous avons mis en place un algorithme appelé DSMAC (Distributed Scheduling Medium Acces Control) qui est basé sur notre méthode de placement des nœuds. Par ailleurs, DSMAC permet de couvrir 100% de la zone de surveillance, assure une bonne connectivité du RCSF et permet également aux nœuds capteurs d"économiser jusqu"à 30% de leur énergie comparativement à d"autres protocoles MAC tels que TunableMAC. / Since the past two decades, a new technology called Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) which result in a fusion of embedded systems and wireless communications has emerged. A WSN is Ad hoc network composed of many sensors nodes communicating via wireless links and which can be deployed randomly or deterministically over a given interest region. Theses sensors can also collect data from the environment, do local processing and transmit the data to a sink node or Base Station (BS) via multipath routing. Thereby, a wide range of potential applications have been envisioned using WSN such as environmental conditions monitoring, wildlife habitat monitoring, industrial diagnostic, agricultural, improve health care, etc. Nevertheless,WSN are not perfect. Indeed, given their small size, their low cost and their deployment generally in hostile or difficult access areas, sensor nodes have some weaknesses such as: a limited energy, so a network lifetime limited, limited bandwidth, limited computations and communications capabilities, etc. To overcome these limitations, several research issues from were created in recent years, and the main issues focus on the optimization of energy consumption in order to improve the network lifetime. Other important researches focus on issues of coverage areas, placement strategies of sensor nodes and network connectivity. However, most solutions proposed in recent years to resolve these issues do not take into account all these issues that we cited above in resolutions models; while in many WSN applications such as monitoring critical region, wildlife habitat monitoring, agricultural application, a full coverage of the monitoring region and network connectivity are mandatory as well an energy-awareness network lifetime. The objective of this thesis is thus to propose new scheduling mechanisms for optimizing the network lifetime in WSN, while ensuring at any time of the network lifetime a full coverage of the monitored region and network connectivity. To achieve our goals, we have study and done proposal in two axes which are placement strategy of sensor nodes and scheduling mechanism in the MAC layer. For these, we have implemented a Distributed Scheduling Medium Access Control algorithm (DSMAC) based on our placement method. Furthermore, DSMAC enables to cover 100% of the monitored region, to ensure optimal network connectivity and also allows sensors node to save up to 30% of their energy compared to other MAC protocols such as TunableMAC.

The revolution of autonomous vehicles has led to the development of robots with abundant sensors, actuators with many degrees of freedom, high-performance computing capabilities, and high-speed communication devices. These robots use a large volume of information from sensors to solve diverse problems. However, this usually leads to a significant modeling burden as well as excessive cost and computational requirements. Furthermore, in some scenarios, sophisticated sensors may not work precisely, the real-time processing power of a robot may be inadequate, the communication among robots may be impeded by natural or adversarial conditions, or the actuation control in a robot may be insubstantial. In these cases, we have to rely on simple robots with limited sensing and actuation, minimal onboard processing, moderate communication, and insufficient memory capacity. This reality motivates us to model simple robots such as bouncing and underactuated robots making use of the dynamical system techniques. In this dissertation, we propose a four-pronged approach for solving tasks in resource-constrained scenarios: 1) Combinatorial filters for bouncing robot localization; 2) Bouncing robot navigation and coverage; 3) Stochastic multi-robot patrolling; and 4) Deployment and planning of underactuated aquatic robots. First, we present a global localization method for a bouncing robot equipped with only a clock and contact sensors. Space-efficient and finite automata-based combinatorial filters are synthesized to solve the localization task by determining the robot’s pose (position and orientation) in its environment. Second, we propose a solution for navigation and coverage tasks using single or multiple bouncing robots. The proposed solution finds a navigation plan for a single bouncing robot from the robot’s initial pose to its goal pose with limited sensing. Probabilistic paths from several policies of the robot are combined artfully so that the actual coverage distribution can become as close as possible to a target coverage distribution. A joint trajectory for multiple bouncing robots to visit all the locations of an environment is incrementally generated. Third, a scalable method is proposed to find stochastic strategies for multi-robot patrolling under an adversarial and communication-constrained environment. Then, we evaluate the vulnerability of our patrolling policies by finding the probability of capturing an adversary for a location in our proposed patrolling scenarios. Finally, a data-driven deployment and planning approach is presented for the underactuated aquatic robots called drifters that creates the generalized flow pattern of the water, develops a Markov-chain based motion model, and studies the long- term behavior of a marine environment from a flow point-of-view. In a broad summary, our dynamical system approach is a unique solution to typical robotic tasks and opens a new paradigm for the modeling of simple robotics systems

This thesis addresses universities’ image repair strategies when a student athlete is accused of sexual assault and the media’s coverage of these strategies. This is a particularly important issue due to the prevalence of campus sexual assault, as recent studies have shown that one in five women is sexually assaulted in college. Sexual assaults involving college athletes typically receive more media attention due to their high-profile nature. Athletic programs are typically sites of hegemonic masculinity, where men take action to maintain dominance over women. They may do this through misogynistic and homophobic talk or committing violence against women. Athletic departments’ image repair strategies when male athletes are accused of sexual assault also sometimes uphold hegemonic masculinity if their main goal is to maintain the team, which may generate significant revenue for the university. As such, their image repair strategies may allow male athletes to continue to partake in misogynistic practices, including committing violence against women. The media also has been accused of upholding masculine dominance by supporting rape myths or blaming the accuser in sexual assault incidents. This thesis consists of two case studies: the University of Colorado, which faced several allegations of sexual assault by football players in the early 2000’s; and Baylor University, which underwent a similar scandal starting in late 2015. It contains textual analysis of officials’ image repair strategies at both schools and the media’s responses to them. Ultimately, both Colorado and Baylor upheld hegemonic masculinity through their image repair strategies, though Colorado did so on a larger scale. In both instances, journalists were largely critical of their image repair strategies and argued that the strategies were not enough to change the structure of masculine dominance.

I investigate the impacts that information production, information asymmetry have on firms financing choices 3/4 equity financing or debt financing. I find that equity issue announcements encourage more information production than debt issue announcements, which in turn raises the probability of equity financing. In addition, the post-issue stock market performance is positively associated with information production. The results are robust after controlling for investor optimism. I also apply the Heckmans two-step procedure to jointly investigate firms financing choices and offering costs. I find that security-issuing firms choose the less-costly financing type.

This study is a textual analysis of the mainstream media coverage of the 2008 U.S. Presidential election, surveying more than 1,000 news stories featuring Clinton, Palin, Obama, Biden and McCain published between January 1, 2007 and November 11, 2008. The central findings of this study are twofold: first, mainstream news sources continue to use stereotypical and sexist news frames that describe women in ways that are at odds with the criteria we set for being a good president; and second, feminism is characterized in ways that divorce the ideas of the movement from the activism necessary to overcome existing injustices. Chapter 2 discusses how the news frames and double binds-in place for more than 100 years in media coverage and constructions of women-are still being used to describe women candidates today. These frames highlight sexist concerns about how women candidates will balance their public and private lives and deflect the multiple, competing roles women are capable of enacting. Chapter 3 analyses news articles that relate the terms "feminism" and "feminist" to comments about Clinton and Palin to determine the ways in which the movement is being defined by mainstream media. The chapter argues that this coverage offered a limited vision of feminism that ignored race, class, and issues presented in the third wave. It also divorces the feminist movement from the activist work that has and will continue to make change possible in our country by equating feminism with postfeminist ideas. Chapter 4 highlights the associations made between the male candidates and the women's movement. The coverage of the male candidates in the campaign posits a vision of women's experiences that are defined through the media by male candidates. These definitions highlight women as caregivers and separate the issues important to women from the feminist activism necessary to work toward changing the situation women in the United States face. Finally, the conclusion offers suggestions for how to intervene in the 135-year cycle that perpetuates limited and damaging views of women candidates and of the feminist movement. Through these types of interventions, feminist-minded men and women can continue to work toward more positive and fair representations of women candidates and that changes in representations of women candidates will lead to the election of the first woman president of the United States.

Success of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) largely depends on whether the deployed network can provide desired area coverage with acceptable network lifetime. In hostile or harsh environments such as enemy territories in battlefields, fire or chemical spills, it is impossible to deploy the sensor nodes in a predeter- mined regular topology to guarantee adequate coverage. Random deployment is thus more practical and feasible for large target areas. On the other hand, random deployment of sensors is highly susceptible to the occurrence of coverage holes in the target area. A potential solution for enhancing the existing coverage achieved by random deployments involves the use of mobility capable sensors that would help fill the coverage holes. This thesis seeks to address the problem of determining the current coverage achieved by the non-deterministic deployment of static sensor nodes and subsequently enhancing the coverage using mobile sensors. The main contributions of this dissertation are the design and evaluation of MAPC (Mobility Assisted Probabilistic Coverage), a distributed protocol for ensuring area coverage in hybrid wireless sensor networks. The primary contribution is a pragmatic approach to sensor coverage and maintenance that we hope would lower the technical barriers to its field deployment. Most of the assumptions made in the MAPC protocol are realistic and implementable in real-life applications e.g., practical boundary estimation, coverage calculations based on a realistic sensing model, and use of movement triggering thresholds based on real radio characteristics etc. The MAPC is a comprehensive three phase protocol. In the first phase, the static sensors calculate the area coverage using the Probabilistic Coverage Algorithm (PCA). This is a deviation from the idealistic assumption used in the binary detection model, wherein a sensor can sense accurately within a well defined (usually circular) region. Static sensors execute the PCA algorithm, in a distributed way, to identify any holes in the coverage. In the second phase, MAPC scheme moves the mobile nodes in an optimal manner to fill these uncovered locations. For different types of initial deployments, the proposed movement algorithms consume only 30-40% of the energy consumed by the basic virtual force algorithm. In addition, this thesis addresses the problem of coverage loss due to damaged and energy depleted nodes. The problem has been formulated as an Integer Linear Program and implementable heuristics are developed that perform close to optimal solutions. By replacing in-operational nodes in phase three, MAPC scheme ensures the continuous operation of the WSN. Experiments with real mote hardware were conducted to validate the boundary and coverage estimation part of the MAPC protocol. Extensive discrete event simulations (using NS2) were also performed for the complete MAPC protocol and the results demonstrate that MAPC can enhance and maintain the area coverage by efficiently moving mobile sensor nodes to strategic positions in the uncovered area.

Given the nature of modem warfare and the impact that technology has in contemporary war reporting, the primary objective of this thesis is to identify the most likely means by which the international media will cover future military operations. Initial research concentrates on the cultural and systemic ethos of the military and media professions and examines whether any differences have an adverse impact on how they operate during periods of armed conflict. A brief review of the history of war reporting is undertaken for several purposes; firstly, to discover if any differences between the professions have had a historical basis and, secondly, to ascertain whether there is any historical evidence of the media compromising military operations when covering operations during armed conflict. It was found that one of the principle reasons why the military and the meha have been traditional adversaries is that the military sees secrecy as vital for the successful conduct of its operations. The media, on the other hand, seeks complete disclosure. In what is considered to be the first of its type undertaken in Australia, a comprehensive survey was conducted to identify how each profession viewed the other. Research concentrated on the US and Australian models, examining how modern technology has made it more difficult for the dtary to control the media than in past conflicts. Research further identified that in the context of modern armed conflict, the military and the media have predominantly different and frequently competing interests. It was also found that the protection and advancement of their interests are affected by technological changes which are redefining the nature of modern warfare, and the means and capacity of the media to report it. The way the media gathers news during conflict was shown to have changed dramatically over the past ten years, particularly with its use of technology in transmitting news live from a battlefield back to a parent media organisation. The military was further seen as dramatically changing the manner in which it conducts warfare, including the introduction of initiatives aimed at neutralising the media's impact on operational security. Somewhat alarmingly, these initiatives not only minimise possible compromises of security but overall media criticism as well. Research also found that the tensions currently existing between the military and media can be resolved by both parties agreeing to a more effective way of reconciling their differences. However, it was found that any well meaning initiatives by the military and the media to work closer together during periods of conflict will be difficult to achieve if the ever-present political manipulation of news is not addressed. The thesis concludes by recommending changes to current military and media doctrine in order that future conflicts may be covered in a manner that fulfils the 'public's right to know,' while at the same time, allows the military to conduct operations without fear that security may be compromised by the subsequent media coverage.

This thesis offers an analysis of the reporting on unemployment, social welfare and the environment in the quality press in Australia, Belgium, France and the United Kingdom. The findings of this research are based on news about these issues provided in a sample of two constructed weeks in 1998. The quality papers chosen for analysis are: The Age and The Australian (Australia), De Standaard and Le Soir (Belgium), Le Figaro and Le Monde (France), The Guardian and The Times (England). This thesis starts by examining the history and the principles governing the press in the countries analysed, underlining the differences between the Anglo-Saxon and the Continental press, mainly in terms of relations between the press and the State. It questions the importance attributed to freedom of expression in a climate where the concept is still analysed in terms of freedom from government intervention, while the role played by business is generally accepted as unavoidable. This research found that quality newspapers overall present social issues as primarily economic issues, often neglecting their more social aspects. The world promoted is one which is best run by business, while the role of governments as possible managers of the environment and unemployment, and to some extent social welfare, is largely dismissed. The press analysed does this with varying degrees, depending on general attitudes held within countries and on the 'culture' of each newspaper. This research clearly shows the existence of particular newspaper 'cultures'. Each newspaper has its own priorities and news is generally framed according to those priorities. Generally speaking, the emphasis placed by journalists on certain aspects of news is in line with the 'culture' of the newspaper they are working for. The choice of sources of information used to provide news also fits within existing newspapers' 'cultures'. The dominant economic emphasis put on information is systematically endorsed by Le Figaro, The Australian, The Times and De Standaard. Only Le Monde and The Guardian, Le Soir and The Age at times offer alternative views, while endorsing the dominant economic frame. Le Monde and The Guardian, which are also the only two newspapers of the sample that are not part of a big media consortium, regularly stress the social aspect of unemployment and social welfare. These are also the only two newspapers which consider the environment as a long-term quality of life issue, reflecting that it is more than just an economic issue. Le Soir and The Age, which are the two newspapers in our sample with a more local emphasis, also defend the local environment against larger economic interests, and explore local social problems related to unemployment and poverty. In the case of The Age, this fits into a frame very common in the Australian press: that of an uncaring government. Australian papers are very critical and even cynical towards government and politicians. This cynicism is not found in the European papers. The findings of this research are based upon an analysis of the sources of information used by the newspapers, as well as upon an analysis of the frames adopted. This research has put a particular emphasis on sources of information, seen here as the promoters of news frames. General professional practices, together with the 'cultures' held by particular newspapers, account for the lack of representation of private citizens and lobby groups challenging economic interests. In turn their lack of representation can be held responsible for the small amount of information conflicting with dominant framing and dominant themes provided in the news.

<p>Thorough testing of software is necessary to assure the quality of a product before it is released. The testing process requires substantial resources in software development. Model-based software development provides new possibilities to automate parts of the testing process. By automating tests, valuable time can be saved. This thesis focuses on different ways to utilize models for automatic generation of test vectors and how test coverage analysis can be used to assure the quality of a test suite or to find "dead code" in a model. Different test-automation techniques have been investigated and applied to a model of an adaptive cruise control system (ACC) used at Scania. Source code has been generated automatically from the model, model coverage and code coverage has therefore been compared. The work with this thesis resulted in a new method to create test vectors for models based on a combinatorial test technique.</p>

<p>Radio planning is designing of network structure and elements under various design requirements. With the increasing shortage of frequencies, radio planning has become more and more complex. Hence, to maintain accuracy and optimization computerized planning tools are needed.</p><p>This thesis focuses on developing a simplified and economical solution on web for radio planning tool using WRAP- the software for spectrum management and radio planning developed by WRAP International AB, Linköping, Sweden. In order to make WRAP calculations available for remote users it had developed APIs. The web-based WRAP needs to communicate with WRAP API server, for exchanging API messages in order to perform calculation. To make the system user friendly and interactive, latest web technologies are implemented.</p><p>In this thesis, we started development process right from requirements gathering to find out required components that need to be analyzed to find suitable web-based conversion. Further, we designed and implemented a software solution. The final part is evaluation to discover if requirements are fully implemented or not as well as to gather the performance result of the new system. It is found, the performance of web based WRAP is equally fast as desktop version for smaller coverage areas whereas, for larger coverage areas, web-based WRAP is slower than desktop version</p>