Interconnected Systems

ITC/USA 2013 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Ninth Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 21-24, 2013 / Bally's Hotel & Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV / The University Rover Challenge is a competition to build a scaled down version of a next-generation Mars rover. This paper describes the comprehensive systems engineering based approached used by the Missouri S&T Mars Rover Design Team. This student run, interdisciplinary team of approximately 50 students followed a comprehensive systems-engineering based approach to the conceptualization, design, implementation, test and evaluation of the project. This has allowed students to leverage their discipline specific expertise, while simultaneously facilitating the cross-disciplinary communication which is essential to the successful completion of the project. The team's performance in the competition will provide metrics to analyze the efficacy of this organization and approach.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Mass customization, small lot sizes, reduced cost, high variability of product types and changing product portfolio are characteristics of modern manufacturing systems during life cycle. A direct consequence of these characteristics is a more complex system and supply chain. Product lifecycle management (PLM) and model based system engineering (MBSE) are tools which have been proposed and implemented to address different aspects of this complexity and resulting challenges. Our previous work has successfully implemented a MBSE model into a PLM platform. More specifically, Pattern based system engineering (S* pattern) models of systems are integrated with TEAMCENTER to link and interface system level with component level, and streamline the lifecycle across disciplines. The benefit of the implementation is two folded. On one side it helps system engineers using system engineering models enable a shift from learning how to model to implementing the model, which leads to more effective systems definition, design, integration and testing. On the other side the PLM platform provides a reliable database to store legacy data for future use also track changes during the entire process, including one of the most important tools that a systems engineer needs which is an automatic report generation tool. In the current work, we have configured a PLM platform (TEAMCENTER) to support automatic generation of reports and requirements tables using a generic Oil Filter system lifecycle. There are three tables that have been configured for automatic generation which are Feature definitions table, Detail Requirements table and Stakeholder Feature Attributes table. These tables where specifically chosen as they describe all the requirements of the system and cover all physical behaviours the oil filter system shall exhibit during its physical interactions with external systems. The requirement tables represent core content for a typical systems engineering report. With the help of the automatic report generation tool, it is possible to prepare the entire report within one single system, the PLM system, to ensure a single reliable data source for an organization. Automatic generation of these contents can save the systems engineers time, avoid duplicated work and human errors in report preparation, train future generation of workforce in the lifecycle all the while encouraging standardized documents in an organization.

A team of developers from Epsilon AB has developed a lightweight remote controlledquadcopter named Crazyflie. The team wants to allow a pilot to navigate thequadcopter using video from an on-board camera as the only guidance. The masterthesis evaluates the feasibility of mounting a camera module on the quadcopter andstreaming images from the camera to a computer, using the existing quadcopterradio link. Using theoretical calculations and measurements, a set of requirementsthat must be fulfilled for such a system are identified. Using the requirementsas a basis, various camera products are investigated and the findings presented.A design to fulfill the requirements, using the found products, is proposed. Theproposed design is then implemented and evaluated. It is found that the Crazyflie system has the resources necessary to transferan image stream with the quality required for navigation. Furthermore, theimplementation is found to provide the required functionality. From the evaluationseveral key factors of the design that can be changed to further improve theperformance of an implementation are identified. Ideas for future work andimprovements are proposed and possible alternative approaches are presented.

Thesis (Ph. D.)(Industrial Engineering)--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Includes summary. Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

The Executable Model Approach offers an effective way to integrate performance modeling into the entire development cycle of computer networks. An executable performance model is created early in the development cycle and continues to be refined in parallel with network software. The model has special system requirements that make it a fast, inexpensive, and accurate predictor of network behavior. This predictive capability enhances Capacity Management tasks for both the design and operation of networks. The Executable Model Approach is a set of strategies that use an executable performance model to increase the correctness and efficiency of networks. The model can be used as a testbed to confirm hypotheses about network behavior and to speed up the process of troubleshooting performance faults. The model also represents an independently developed encoding of network algorithms and can be used in the fashion of N-Version programming to increase the reliability of network software. Finally, the model is instrumented with finer detail than the operational network and can be used to enhance the understanding of network behavior. Executable models have different properties than models traditionally used to design networks. Executable models are optimized for fast turn-around time and their functionality is limited to modeling a specific operational context, whereas design models have flexible functionality that allows them to explore a wide range of hypothetical networks. The mechanisms needed to create and run executable performance models were not available until the recent advances in expert systems, supercomputers, and hybrid-modeling. The feasibility of creating executable models is demonstrated by the development of an automated tool for troubleshooting performance faults. Also, the potential benefit of using executable models is analyzed in terms of increased software reliability and troubleshooting speed. The Executable Model Approach is effective because it exploits the characteristics of both computer networks and executable models. Computer networks are large, complex, and expensive systems. Methods are needed to analyze their behavior in a general and global way. Executable models automatically generate a representation of network behavior from network stimulus. They are easy to use and combine with other tools.

Master of Science / This thesis presents an in-depth investigation into the thermal design and optimization of Planar magnetics. With system engineering approach, starting from a two stage DC/DC converter, and further extended to other types of resonant converters with planar core. The study aims to address the thermal challenges associated with these converters, including heat generation, temperature limitations, and cooling solutions, to improve their performance and reliability.

<p>Today, several tourist attractions use handheld devices that act as tour guides to give the customers an improved experience and better knowledge of the attraction. A graphical user interface on the devices provides the users with information through sound, pictures and video. In order to improve the information delivered to the users, some of these guides are location-aware. However, location-aware tour guides are expensive to develop. They have to be developed tailored for each attraction, which is a time consuming job.</p><p>By having a framework for the development of location-aware tour guides, the tour guides will be both easier and less expensive to develop. In addition, it will be easy to make changes to the guides if necessary.</p><p>This project resulted in the development of a prototype for a framework for location-aware tour guides. The framework consists of three main tools; a Creator Tool, a Statistical Tool and a Runtime System. The Creator Tool is used to create and configure new tour guides. The Statistical Tool is used by the staff of the attraction. It generates statistics based on information stored in a log. The Runtime System is the system that provides the mobile devices information, adjusted to their location during a guided tour. To demonstrate the use of the framework, we have developed two client applications, one for PDAs and the other for cellphones. Both applications are electronically location-aware tour guides made for the Nidaros Cathedral.</p><p>The cellphone application is an innovative application that may result in a tremendous evolvement in the development of cellphone applications. It shows great potentials in the area of location-aware cellphone applications with high accuracy, and can be used not only in tour attractions, but also in several other fields. Thus, the project has gained a great deal of publicity, both from newspapers and television.</p>

Today, several tourist attractions use handheld devices that act as tour guides to give the customers an improved experience and better knowledge of the attraction. A graphical user interface on the devices provides the users with information through sound, pictures and video. In order to improve the information delivered to the users, some of these guides are location-aware. However, location-aware tour guides are expensive to develop. They have to be developed tailored for each attraction, which is a time consuming job. By having a framework for the development of location-aware tour guides, the tour guides will be both easier and less expensive to develop. In addition, it will be easy to make changes to the guides if necessary. This project resulted in the development of a prototype for a framework for location-aware tour guides. The framework consists of three main tools; a Creator Tool, a Statistical Tool and a Runtime System. The Creator Tool is used to create and configure new tour guides. The Statistical Tool is used by the staff of the attraction. It generates statistics based on information stored in a log. The Runtime System is the system that provides the mobile devices information, adjusted to their location during a guided tour. To demonstrate the use of the framework, we have developed two client applications, one for PDAs and the other for cellphones. Both applications are electronically location-aware tour guides made for the Nidaros Cathedral. The cellphone application is an innovative application that may result in a tremendous evolvement in the development of cellphone applications. It shows great potentials in the area of location-aware cellphone applications with high accuracy, and can be used not only in tour attractions, but also in several other fields. Thus, the project has gained a great deal of publicity, both from newspapers and television.

In this report the eight steps in systems engineering process have been followed in order to develop a student bicycle. To successfully make a student bicycle needs and preferences had to be retrieved from the students. This has been done with an online survey. The chosen concept, the Z-frame bicycle includes a unique frame, side kickstand, separate luggage carrier, integrated front light, back light mounted on the luggage carrier, an integrated chain lock, steer lock and a visible serial code on the frame. From a reliability allocation table it is estimated that the first failure that needs maintenance will occur after 226,2 hours of usage. The price of the bicycle is estimated on €189,54 (about 1600 SEK), which is within the requirements. Simulating forces on the frames in SolidWorks showed that the frames are capable of handling the weight and forces that the student produces on the bicycle. Finally the steps that need to be fulfilled to make a working prototype are displayed in a Gantt-chart. The resulted conceptual student bicycle is a good representation of what a student needs and prefers in a bicycle.