Showing papers by "Alberto Sangiovanni-Vincentelli published in 2012"
TL;DR: A design methodology and a few examples in controller design whereby contract- based design can be merged with platform-based design to formulate the design process as a meet-in-the-middle approach, where design requirements are implemented in a subsequent refinement process using as much as possible elements from a library of available components.
299 citations
TL;DR: A security mechanism to help prevent cyber-attacks in vehicles with architecture based on Controller Area Network, which keeps the bus utilization as low as possible and can achieve high security levels while keeping communication overheads at reasonable levels.
Abstract: We propose a security mechanism to help prevent cyber-attacks (masquerade and replay) in vehicles with architecture based on Controller Area Network (CAN). We focus on CAN as it will likely continue being used in upcoming in-vehicle architectures. The CAN protocol contains no direct support for secure communications. Retrofitting the protocol with security mechanisms poses several challenges given the very limited data rates available (e.g., 500kbps) since bus utilization may significantly increase. In this paper, we focus on a security mechanism which keeps the bus utilization as low as possible. Through our experimental results, we show that our security mechanism can achieve high security levels while keeping communication overheads (e.g., bus load and message latency) at reasonable levels.
173 citations
TL;DR: A specification methodology and design space exploration framework are proposed to raise the level of abstraction at which building control systems are designed, to reduce design effort, and to lower implementation cost.
Abstract: This article addresses the challenge of realizing the building automation and control system using a distributed network of embedded computers. A specification methodology and design space exploration framework are proposed to raise the level of abstraction at which building control systems are designed, to reduce design effort, and to lower implementation cost.
137 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a successive approximation analog-to-digital converter (ADC) architecture is presented that programs its comparator threshold at runtime to approximate the input signal via binary search.
Abstract: A successive approximation analog-to-digital converter (ADC) architecture is presented that programs its comparator threshold at runtime to approximate the input signal via binary search. While targeting medium resolutions and speed, the threshold configuring (TC) ADC achieves low power consumption and small area occupation by using a fully dynamic configurable comparator and an asynchronous controller, with no need for a highly linear feedback D/A converter. The TC-ADC embeds its own references, and relies on a minimal amount of passive components or calibration loops. A 6-bit prototype implementation in 90-nm digital CMOS technology achieves 32-dB SNDR at 50 MS/s and consumes 240 μW from 1-V analog and 0.7-V digital supplies. This results in 150 fJ/conversion-step in a core area occupation of only 0.0055 mm .
67 citations
TL;DR: A platform-based design methodology that uses analog contracts to develop reliable abstractions and design-independent interfaces is proposed and demonstrated on the design of an ultra-wide band receiver used in an Intelligent Tire system, an on-vehicle wireless sensor network for active safety applications.
Abstract: The design of complex analog interfaces would largely benefit from model-based development and compositional methods to improve the quality of its final result However, analog circuit behaviors are so tightly intertwined with their environment that: 1) abstractions needed for model-based design are often not accurate, thus making it difficult to achieve reliable system performance estimations, and 2) generic, design-independent interfaces that are needed to develop compositional techniques are very difficult to define In this paper, we propose a platform-based design methodology that uses analog contracts to develop reliable abstractions and design-independent interfaces A contract explicitly handles pairs of properties, representing the assumptions on the environment and the promises of a component under these assumptions Horizontal contracts encode composition rules that constrain how library elements should be “legally” used Vertical contracts define under which conditions an aggregation of components satisfies the requirements posed at a higher level of abstraction If both sets of contracts are satisfied, we can produce implementations by composition and refinement that are correct by construction We demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach on the design of an ultra-wide band receiver used in an Intelligent Tire system, an on-vehicle wireless sensor network for active safety applications
32 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this article, the authors proposed a security mechanism to help prevent masquerade and replay attacks in vehicles with architecture based on Controller Area Network (CAN), which can achieve high security levels while keeping communication overheads at reasonable levels.
Abstract: We propose a security mechanism to help preventcyber-attacks (masquerade and replay) in vehicleswith architecture based on Controller Area Network(CAN). We focus on CAN as it will likely continuebeing used in upcoming in-vehicle architectures. TheCAN protocol contains no direct support for securecommunications. Retrofitting the protocol with securitymechanisms poses several challenges given thevery limited data rates available ( e.g., 500kbps) sincebus utilization may significantly increase. In this paper,we focus on a security mechanism which keepsthe bus utilization as low as possible. Through ourexperimental results, we show that our security mechanismcan achieve high security levels while keepingcommunication overheads ( e.g., bus load and messagelatency) at reasonable levels.
29 citations
TL;DR: A design flow for BAC systems is proposed that enables integrating heterogeneous input models, conducts automatic design space exploration, and performs software synthesis on distributed platforms while guaranteeing correctness and reducing communication load.
Abstract: In this paper, we proposed a design flow for BAC systems that enables integrating heterogeneous input models, conducts automatic design space exploration, and performs software synthesis on distributed platforms while guaranteeing correctness and reducing communication load. We believe these capabilities can enable the building designers to better adopt model-based design methodologies, and facilitate them to improve design productivity, optimize system performance, and reduce cost.
25 citations
01 Jan 2012
22 citations
17 Oct 2012
TL;DR: In this article, a closed-loop prediction formulation of robust model predictive control of an uncertain linearized model of a building envelope and HVAC system is proposed, which exploits an uncertainty feedback parameterization of the control sequence and results in a tractable formulation of the problem.
Abstract: This paper deals with the problem of robust model predictive control of an uncertain linearized model of a building envelope and HVAC system Uncertainty of the model is due to the imperfect predictions of internal and external heat gains of the building The Open-Loop prediction formulation of the Robust Model Predictive Control (OL-RMPC) is known to be unnecessarily over-conservative in practice Therefore, we adopt a Closed-Loop prediction formulation of Robust Model Predictive Control (CL-RMPC) which exploits an uncertainty feedback parameterization of the control sequence and results in a tractable formulation of the problem To improve on the efficiency of CLRMPC we propose a new uncertainty feedback parameterization of the control input, which leads to a number of decision variables linear in time horizon as opposed to quadratic as in previous approaches To assess our approach we compare three different robust optimal control strategies: nominal MPC which does not have a priori information of the uncertainty, OL-RMPC and CL-RMPC We show results from a quantitative analysis of performance of these controllers at different prediction error values of the disturbance Simulations show that CL-RMPC provides a higher level of comfort with respect to OL-RMPC while consuming 36% less energy Moreover, CL-RMPC maintains perfect comfort level for up to 75% error in the disturbance prediction Finally, the newly proposed parameterization maintains the performance of CL-RMPC while reducing the simulation time by an average of 30%
17 citations
TL;DR: This paper proposes a generalization of the E machine, which supports a hierarchical program structure at runtime through real-time trigger mechanisms that are arranged in a tree, and a modular compiler for HTL that generates code of linear size.
30 Sep 2012
TL;DR: The methods and tools that have been developed to allow interoperability among requirements management, SysML modeling and MBD simulation and code generation are shown.
Abstract: We present an industrial model-driven engineering process for the design and development of complex distributed embedded systems. We outline the main steps in the process and the evaluation of its use in the context of a radar application. We show the methods and tools that have been developed to allow interoperability among requirements management, SysML modeling and MBD simulation and code generation.
Proceedings Article•
01 Jan 201212 Mar 2012
TL;DR: A design tool to assist the rapid prototyping and deployment of wireless sensor networks for building automation systems and proposes a mixed-integer linear program and a polynomial-time heuristic that returns close-to-optimal results in a shorter time.
Abstract: We present a design tool to assist the rapid prototyping and deployment of wireless sensor networks for building automation systems. We argue that it is possible to design networks that are more resilient to failures and have longer lifetime, if the behavior of routing algorithms is taken into account at design time. Resiliency can be increased by algorithmically adding redundancy to the network at locations where it can be maximally leveraged by routing algorithms during operation. Lifetime can be increased by placing routers where they are most needed according to the expected data traffic patterns, to improve the quality of the transmission. The network synthesis problem is formulated as an optimization problem: we propose a mixed-integer linear program to solve it exactly, and a polynomial-time heuristic that returns close-to-optimal results in a shorter time.
23 May 2012
TL;DR: A rigorous approach to systems engineering intended as a methodology for product system level design, optimization and verification that provides guarantees of performance and reliability against customer requirements while achieving cost and time-to-market objectives is needed.
Abstract: The technology drivers causing the change in delivery of complex systems are the pervasive use of electronic control units, and consequently of communication networks, and the blurring of distinctions between software, firmware, hardware and multi-physics systems. These drivers are creating the possibility for placing vastly more functionality into products, but at the same time increase interconnectivity and the risk of unwanted system interactions found late in the development process. To solve this problem we need a rigorous approach to systems engineering intended as a methodology for product system level design, optimization and verification that: • Provides guarantees of performance and reliability against customer requirements while achieving cost and time-to-market objectives; • Produces modular, extensible architectures for products incorporating mechanical components, embedded electronic systems and application software; • Exploits analytical tools and techniques to determine design choices and ensure robust system performance despite variations caused by product manufacturing, integration with other products and customer operation; and • Achieves these objectives through the coordinated execution of a prescriptive, repeatable and measurable process.