Showing papers on "System integration published in 2018"

Space-Air-Ground Integrated Network: A Survey

Abstract: Space-air-ground integrated network (SAGIN), as an integration of satellite systems, aerial networks, and terrestrial communications, has been becoming an emerging architecture and attracted intensive research interest during the past years. Besides bringing significant benefits for various practical services and applications, SAGIN is also facing many unprecedented challenges due to its specific characteristics, such as heterogeneity, self-organization, and time-variability. Compared to traditional ground or satellite networks, SAGIN is affected by the limited and unbalanced network resources in all three network segments, so that it is difficult to obtain the best performances for traffic delivery. Therefore, the system integration, protocol optimization, resource management, and allocation in SAGIN is of great significance. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to present the state-of-the-art of the SAGIN since existing survey papers focused on either only one single network segment in space or air, or the integration of space-ground, neglecting the integration of all the three network segments. In light of this, we present in this paper a comprehensive review of recent research works concerning SAGIN from network design and resource allocation to performance analysis and optimization. After discussing several existing network architectures, we also point out some technology challenges and future directions.

Model-based systems engineering: Motivation, current status, and research opportunities

Abstract: As systems continue to grow in scale and complexity, the Systems Engineering community has turned to Model‐Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) to manage complexity, maintain consistency, and assure traceability during system development. It is different from “engineering with models,” which has been a common practice in the engineering profession for decades. MBSE is a holistic, systems engineering approach centered on the evolving system model, which serves as the “sole source of truth” about the system. It comprises system specification, design, validation, and configuration management. Even though MBSE is beginning to see a fair amount of use in multiple industries, specific advances are needed on multiple fronts to realize its full benefits. This paper discusses the motivation for MBSE, and its current state of maturity. It presents systems modeling methodologies and the role of ontologies and metamodels in MBSE. It presents model‐based verification and validation (V&V) as an example of MBSE use. An illustrative example of the use of MBSE for design synthesis is presented to demonstrate an important MBSE capability. The paper concludes with a discussion of challenges to widescale adoption and offers promising research directions to fully realize the potential benefits of MBSE.

Survey of Communication Protocols for Internet-of-Things and Related Challenges of Fog and Cloud Computing Integration

Abstract: The fast increment in the number of IoT (Internet of Things) devices is accelerating the research on new solutions to make cloud services scalable. In this context, the novel concept of fog computing as well as the combined fog-to-cloud computing paradigm is becoming essential to decentralize the cloud, while bringing the services closer to the end-system. This paper surveys on the application layer communication protocols to fulfil the IoT communication requirements, and their potential for implementation in fog- and cloud-based IoT systems. To this end, the paper first presents a comparative analysis of the main characteristics of IoT communication protocols, including request-reply and publish-subscribe protocols. After that, the paper surveys the protocols that are widely adopted and implemented in each segment of the system (IoT, fog, cloud), and thus opens up the discussion on their interoperability and wider system integration. Finally, the paper reviews the main performance issues, including latency, energy consumption and network throughput. The survey is expected to be useful to system architects and protocol designers when choosing the communication protocols in an integrated IoT-to-fog-to-cloud system architecture.

Advances in Vision-Based Lane Detection: Algorithms, Integration, Assessment, and Perspectives on ACP-Based Parallel Vision

Abstract: Lane detection is a fundamental aspect of most current advanced driver assistance systems U+0028 ADASs U+0029. A large number of existing results focus on the study of vision-based lane detection methods due to the extensive knowledge background and the low-cost of camera devices. In this paper, previous vision-based lane detection studies are reviewed in terms of three aspects, which are lane detection algorithms, integration, and evaluation methods. Next, considering the inevitable limitations that exist in the camera-based lane detection system, the system integration methodologies for constructing more robust detection systems are reviewed and analyzed. The integration methods are further divided into three levels, namely, algorithm, system, and sensor. Algorithm level combines different lane detection algorithms while system level integrates other object detection systems to comprehensively detect lane positions. Sensor level uses multi-modal sensors to build a robust lane recognition system. In view of the complexity of evaluating the detection system, and the lack of common evaluation procedure and uniform metrics in past studies, the existing evaluation methods and metrics are analyzed and classified to propose a better evaluation of the lane detection system. Next, a comparison of representative studies is performed. Finally, a discussion on the limitations of current lane detection systems and the future developing trends toward an Artificial Society, Computational experiment-based parallel lane detection framework is proposed.

Towards Multi-layer Interoperability of Heterogeneous IoT Platforms: The INTER-IoT Approach

Abstract: Open interoperability delivers on the promise of enabling vendors and developers to interact and interoperate, without interfering with anyone’s ability to compete by delivering a superior product and experience. In the absence of global IoT standards, the INTER-IoT voluntary approach will support and make it easy for any IoT stakeholder to design open IoT devices, smart objects, services, and complex systems and get them to be operative and interconnected quickly, thus creating new IoT interoperable ecosystems by using a bottom-up approach. In particular, INTER-IoT is based on hardware/software tools (INTER-Layer) granting multi-layer interoperability among IoT system layers (i.e. device, networking, middleware, application service, data and semantics), on frameworks for open IoT application and system programming and deployment (INTER-FW), and on a full-fledged CASE tool-supported engineering methodology for IoT systems integration (INTER-Meth). The INTER-IoT approach is notably exemplified through two use cases: INTER-LogP, involving interoperability of port logistics ecosystems, and INTER-Health, encompassing integration between e-Health at home and in mobility infrastructures.

Real-Time Smart Parking Systems Integration in Distributed ITS for Smart Cities

Abstract: Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) have evolved as a key research topic in recent years, revolutionizing the overall traffic and travel experience by providing a set of advanced services and applications. These data-driven services contribute to mitigate major problems arising from the ever growing need of transport in our daily lives. Despite the progress, there is still need for an enhanced and distributed solution that can exploit the data from the available systems and provide an appropriate and real-time reaction on transportation systems. Therefore, in this paper, we present a new architecture where the intelligence is distributed and the decisions are decentralized. The proposed architecture is scalable since the incremental addition of new peripheral subsystems is supported by the introduction of gateways which requires no reengineering of the communication infrastructure. The proposed architecture is deployed to tackle the problem of traffic management inefficiency in urban areas, where traffic load is substantially increased, by vehicles moving around unnecessarily, to find a free parking space. This can be significantly reduced through the availability and diffusion of local information regarding vacant parking slots to drivers in a given area. Two types of parking systems, magnetic and vision sensor based, have been introduced, deployed, and tested in different scenarios. The effectiveness of the proposed architecture, together with the proposed algorithms, is assessed in field trials.

Cyber-physical microservices: An IoT-based framework for manufacturing systems

Abstract: Recent advances in ICT enable the evolution of the manufacturing industry to meet the new requirements of the society. Cyber-physical systems, Internet-of-Things (IoT), and Cloud computing, play a key role in the fourth industrial revolution known as Industry 4.0. The microservice architecture has evolved as an alternative to SOA and promises to address many of the challenges in software development. In this paper, we adopt the concept of microservice and describe a framework for manufacturing systems that has the cyber-physical microservice as the key construct. The manufacturing plant processes are defined as compositions of primitive cyber-physical microservices adopting either the orchestration or the choreography pattern. IoT technologies are used for system integration and model-driven engineering is utilized to semi-automate the development process for the industrial engineer, who is not familiar with microservices and IoT. Two case studies demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach.

Vision 2040: A Roadmap for Integrated, Multiscale Modeling and Simulation of Materials and Systems

Abstract: Over the last few decades, advances in high-performance computing, new materials characterization methods, and, more recently, an emphasis on integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) and additive manufacturing have been a catalyst for multiscale modeling and simulation-based design of materials and structures in the aerospace industry. While these advances have driven significant progress in the development of aerospace components and systems, that progress has been limited by persistent technology and infrastructure challenges that must be overcome to realize the full potential of integrated materials and systems design and simulation modeling throughout the supply chain. As a result, NASA's Transformational Tools and Technology (TTT) Project sponsored a study (performed by a diverse team led by Pratt & Whitney) to define the potential 25-year future state required for integrated multiscale modeling of materials and systems (e.g., load-bearing structures) to accelerate the pace and reduce the expense of innovation in future aerospace and aeronautical systems. This report describes the findings of this 2040 Vision study (e.g., the 2040 vision state; the required interdependent core technical work areas, Key Element (KE); identified gaps and actions to close those gaps; and major recommendations) which constitutes a community consensus document as it is a result of over 450 professionals input obtain via: 1) four society workshops (AIAA, NAFEMS, and two TMS), 2) community-wide survey, and 3) the establishment of 9 expert panels (one per KE) consisting on average of 10 non-team members from academia, government and industry to review, update content, and prioritize gaps and actions. The study envisions the development of a cyber-physical-social ecosystem comprised of experimentally verified and validated computational models, tools, and techniques, along with the associated digital tapestry, that impacts the entire supply chain to enable cost-effective, rapid, and revolutionary design of fit-for-purpose materials, components, and systems. Although the vision focused on aeronautics and space applications, it is believed that other engineering communities (e.g., automotive, biomedical, etc.) can benefit as well from the proposed framework with only minor modifications. Finally, it is TTT's hope and desire that this vision provides the strategic guidance to both public and private research and development decision makers to make the proposed 2040 vision state a reality and thereby provide a significant advancement in the United States global competitiveness.

ElectronixTutor: an intelligent tutoring system with multiple learning resources for electronics.

Abstract: The Office of Naval Research (ONR) organized a STEM Challenge initiative to explore how intelligent tutoring systems (ITSs) can be developed in a reasonable amount of time to help students learn STEM topics. This competitive initiative sponsored four teams that separately developed systems that covered topics in mathematics, electronics, and dynamical systems. After the teams shared their progress at the conclusion of an 18-month period, the ONR decided to fund a joint applied project in the Navy that integrated those systems on the subject matter of electronic circuits. The University of Memphis took the lead in integrating these systems in an intelligent tutoring system called ElectronixTutor. This article describes the architecture of ElectronixTutor, the learning resources that feed into it, and the empirical findings that support the effectiveness of its constituent ITS learning resources. A fully integrated ElectronixTutor was developed that included several intelligent learning resources (AutoTutor, Dragoon, LearnForm, ASSISTments, BEETLE-II) as well as texts and videos. The architecture includes a student model that has (a) a common set of knowledge components on electronic circuits to which individual learning resources contribute and (b) a record of student performance on the knowledge components as well as a set of cognitive and non-cognitive attributes. There is a recommender system that uses the student model to guide the student on a small set of sensible next steps in their training. The individual components of ElectronixTutor have shown learning gains in previous decades of research. The ElectronixTutor system successfully combines multiple empirically based components into one system to teach a STEM topic (electronics) to students. A prototype of this intelligent tutoring system has been developed and is currently being tested. ElectronixTutor is unique in its assembling a group of well-tested intelligent tutoring systems into a single integrated learning environment.

First Experiences with the New Senhance® Telerobotic System in Visceral Surgery.

Abstract: Until recently, robotic-assisted surgery has exclusively been connected to the name DaVinci®. In 2016, a second robotic system, the Senhance®, became available. To introduce the new robotic system into clinical routine, detailed team training and an integration program were useful. Within the first 6 months, 116 cases were performed with this system. The integration program intended to start with simple and well-standardized clinical cases. We chose inguinal hernia repair using the TAPP (transabdominal preperitoneal) technique as the starting procedure. Subsequently, we added upper gastrointestinal surgery and cholecystectomies, and colorectal procedures have since also been included. Initial experience with the Senhance system as the first installation in Germany shows that it is suitable for surgery in general and for visceral surgery in particular. The application is safe due to the unproblematically quick changeover to normal laparoscopy and easy to integrate due to the very short system integration times (docking times). Since it is a laparoscopic-based system, following an integration program will enable experienced laparoscopic surgeons to very quickly manage more complex procedures. Due to lower costs, introducing robotic surgery starting with simple and standardized procedures is more feasible. After the establishment of this second robotic system, future studies will have to specifically look at differences in surgical results and basic conditions of different robotic-assisted systems. This paper documents the decision-making process of a hospital towards the integration of a robotic system and the selection criteria used while also demonstrating the planning and execution process during the introduction of the system into clinical routine.

IoT Architectural Framework: Connection and Integration Framework for IoT Systems

Abstract: The proliferation of the Internet of Things (IoT) has since seen a growing interest in architectural design and adaptive frameworks to promote the connection between heterogeneous IoT devices and IoT systems. The most widely favoured software architecture in IoT is the Service Oriented Architecture (SOA), which aims to provide a loosely coupled systems to leverage the use and reuse of IoT services at the middle-ware layer, to minimise system integration problems. However, despite the flexibility offered by SOA, the challenges of integrating, scaling and ensuring resilience in IoT systems persist. One of the key causes of poor integration in IoT systems is the lack of an intelligent, connection-aware framework to support interaction in IoT systems. This paper reviews existing architectural frameworks for integrating IoT devices and identifies the key areas that require further research improvements. The paper concludes by proposing a possible solution based on microservice. The proposed IoT integration framework benefits from an intelligent API layer that employs an external service assembler, service auditor, service monitor and service router component to coordinate service publishing, subscription, decoupling and service combination within the architecture.

A General Cognitive Architecture for Agent-Based Modeling in Artificial Societies

Abstract: Artificial Society is an analytical foundation of various complex eco- and social systems. Such system is usually implemented via multiagent approach. However, there is no consensus on how to model the agent’s decision-making process, since different application scenarios concentrate on different facets. This, to some extent, hinders model reuse and system integration. This paper proposes a general cognitive architecture that attempts to adapt all the aspects of agent’s decision-making in artificial societies, so that different programs and software can be reorganized and integrated conveniently. To illustrate its implementation, two simulations—emergent evacuation and population evolution—are conducted. These tests clearly show that the proposed architecture is able to support different agent-based models. Problems that might be encountered, as well as possible strategies, are also proposed in the end.

Cyber-Physical Microservices: An IoT-based Framework for Manufacturing Systems

Abstract: Recent advances in ICT enable the evolution of the manufacturing industry to meet the new requirements of the society. Cyber-physical systems, Internet-of-Things (IoT), and Cloud computing, play a key role in the fourth industrial revolution known as Industry 4.0. The microservice architecture has evolved as an alternative to SOA and promises to address many of the challenges in software development. In this paper, we adopt the concept of microservice and describe a framework for manufacturing systems that has the cyber-physical microservice as the key construct. The manufacturing plant processes are defined as compositions of primitive cyber-physical microservices adopting either the orchestration or the choreography pattern. IoT technologies are used for system integration and model-driven engineering is utilized to semi-automate the development process for the industrial engineer, who is not familiar with microservices and IoT. Two case studies demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach.

Learning Mode and Strategic Concept for the 4th Industrial Revolution

Abstract: Compared to information technology (IT) revolutions, which are characterized by disruptive innovations, the innovations required for the 4th Industrial Revolution will be characterized by the cumulativeness of the innovations. Therefore, we will need new modes of technological learning and new strategic concepts. The IT revolution can be divided into two parts: system integration and component supplying. Notice that all IT giants such as Apple and Google emerged only after Intel emerged as the dominant microprocessor unit (MPU) supplier. Therefore, we can ascertain that Intel emerged as a dominant MPU supplier by accommodating the different specifications made by Japanese customers in different industrial sectors. Thus, we will come to the concept of learning-by-accommodation as the dominant learning mode of IT module supplying, while the aforementioned IT giants implemented the mode of learning-by integration. The 4th Industrial Revolution will be characterized by technological evolutions rather than by disruptive innovations. They can be also decomposed into module supplying and the system integration. As to the mode of learning in the modules, we will find that the mode of learning will be prevalent in the same manner as IT module supplying, but in a more pre-emptive way. As for the feedback loops of the system integration, we will divide them into edge computing and the overall system solution. As for the edge solution, it is possible for latecomers to make a leapfrogging. In this context, we will make an analysis on the Chinese development of the “capacitor trolley bus” and come to a totally different mode of learning in the edge solution. We will name this mode “learning-by-porting”, using the terminology derived from the analysis of the design rules of a modular structure. By assuming that an overall feedback loop consists of a hierarchical structured collection of edge solutions, we can conclude that the overall solution is developed by multiple applications of the learning-by-porting of edge solutions. Additionally, the total system is a hierarchical structure, thus, a strategy toward the realization of the 4th industrial revolution will be a multilayered porting strategy.

Development of the Readiness and Success Model for Assessing the Information System Integration

Abstract: This study reports how to combine a technology readiness model within an information system (IS) success model in the context for assessing the readiness and success factors of an IS integration. As it is indicated by many IS studies, that most of the IS models are developed by adopting, combining, and adapting the previous ones. The researcher developed the model based on the input-process-output logic and the processional and causal model of the IS success models. The developed model was structured within nine variables and 44 indicators. The influence paths among the variables were presented by 23 links. In respect of the research implementation, the author has also broken down the model into its assessment instrument level. However, the model development study may have limited to the used assumption set and understanding of the researcher, it may contribute theoretically, in terms of a new model proposition. Besides that, the development transparency and the proposed model and its data collection instrument may be the practical consideration points for the further studies.

A software-defined framework for the integrated management of smart manufacturing systems

Abstract: This paper introduces software-defined control (SDC) as a framework that enables integrated and programmatic management of smart manufacturing systems. SDC consolidates information from the production and enterprise levels in a central controller that monitors performance and detects changing conditions. The integrated view of the system provided by the central controller supports the development of applications, which supply the central controller with new information and reconfiguration recommendations. SDC is designed to be scalable and compatible with current automation technologies. A simulation shows that the incorporation of plant-floor information in management decisions, as supported by SDC, has the potential to improve profitability.

Self-Improving System Integration - Status and Challenges after Five Years of SISSY

Abstract: The self-improving system integration (SISSY) initiative has emerged in recent years in response to a systems engineering trend towards the organisation of open, interconnected systems integrating a large set of heterogeneous and autonomous subsystems. Based on the idea to equip subsystems with capabilities to assess and maintain their own integration status within the overall system composition, a variety of concepts, techniques, and contributions have been proposed and fruitfully discussed at the particular events of the underlying workshop series. In this article, we summarise and categorise these research efforts and derive a roadmap towards full-scale SISSY systems.

An Integrated Market for Electricity and Natural Gas Systems with Stochastic Power Producers.

Abstract: In energy systems with high shares of weather-driven renewable power sources, gas-fired power plants can serve as a back-up technology to ensure security of supply and provide short-term flexibility. Therefore, a tighter coordination between electricity and natural gas networks is foreseen. In this work, we examine different levels of coordination in terms of system integration and time coupling of trading floors. We propose an integrated operational model for electricity and natural gas systems under uncertain power supply by applying two-stage stochastic programming. This formulation co-optimizes day-ahead and real-time dispatch of both energy systems and aims at minimizing the total expected cost. Additionally, two deterministic models, one of an integrated energy system and one that treats the two systems independently, are presented. We utilize a formulation that considers the linepack of the natural gas system, while it results in a tractable mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model. Our analysis demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed model in accommodating high shares of renewables and the importance of proper natural gas system modeling in short-term operations to reveal valuable flexibility of the natural gas system. Moreover, we identify the coordination parameters between the two markets and show their impact on the system's operation and dispatch.

Design of Intelligent Warehouse Management System

Abstract: With the continuous development and application of information technology in the logistics industry, mobile applications, bar code, wireless communication, system integration and other technologies are widely used in warehouse management. Focusing on warehousing process management has become a new trend of informatization and lean management of material warehouse management. In this paper, the management of distributed storage cloud model is discussed, and a variety of automation, intelligence and information technology are utilized to effectively integrate the resources effectively. The author studies the resource scheduling optimization problem in the system, proposes an effective scheduling method, and initially realizes the intelligent warehouse management system based on cloud model, which provides users with a good package management service.

Systems Engineering and Its Application to Industrial Product Development

Abstract: PREFACE : Mastering the complexity of innovative systems currently looks a challenging goal of design and product development as well as embedding a suitable degree of smartness in devices, machines and equipment to make them able of adapting their operation to variable conditions or effects of a harsh environment. This goal is achieved through a continuous monitoring of the system in service, an effec-tive control of its behavior and a wide connectivity towards many other systems. Only an effective system design and manufacture, able to cover all the required actions, can assure this kind of assessment overall the life cycle since a very ear-ly concept of the product to a full disposal and service. Complexity makes hard managing the product development, because of the number of functions, subsystems, components and related interfaces usually in-volved, like in motor vehicles, robots, railways systems, aircrafts and spacecrafts as well as in large industrial manufacturing systems or very innovative microsys-tems and bioinspired devices. A crucial issue in this activity is performing a bright and complete elicitation of requirements, which need to be fully and suit-ably allocated to the system components, through a clear traceability, especially in systems produced as a result of material processing and assembling of parts. Moreover, the product must fit the requirements associated to some customer needs, innovation targets, and technical standards and be compatible with the manufacturer's capabilities. As it looks clear from the current state-of-art, since several years the Systems Engineering assures a suitable answer to the needs above mentioned. It provides a methodology to drive the product lifecycle assessment that is implemented through a well defined process, being based on some specific and graphical lan-guages and even formalized in several tools enabling the required analyses, tak-ing advantage of the capabilities of some dedicated commercial software. Those contents lead to create a platform, consisting of a sort of tools chain, which might be used and shared among different industrial and professional partners to digitalize both the information and even the whole industrial product develop-ment, as far as the current strategy referred to as "Industry 4.0 / The Factory of the Future" brightly suggests and supports. The so-called Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) is then successfully proposing an effective and modern al-ternative to the document-based approach, using data models as a main element of the design process. Some technical standards already drive the user in imple-menting the Systems Engineering, thus leading to develop a systematic approach the design aimed at satisfying the customer needs. Suitable capabilities in the manufactured system are assured by the so-called architectural frameworks, which support the system development and integration. The Model Based Systems Engineering allows proceeding with a modeling activity which investigates requirements, behavior and architecture through a combined operational, functional and logical analysis, being linked and interop-erated with a mathematical and physical modeling, which is typically more known and widely used within the industrial engineering. A full integration of all the activities of the Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) is currently going on, to include the system architecture definition and its Application Lifecycle Man-agement (ALM) as well as the Product Data Management (PDM), i.e. the design activity together with the tasks of production, testing, homologation and service. A recognized standard certification to qualify the Systems Engineer is even available as the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) pro-vides. The scenario above described is strongly integrated with the increasing devel-opment of both the network and the cyber-physical systems, for a fully distribut-ed connectivity, to be exploited in advanced smart systems and devices as well as in intelligent manufacturing, according to the most recent strategies of innova-tion as the "Industry 4.0" initiative and the "Lean manufacturing" idea. Simulta-neously, the system smartness and connectivity together increase the demand of data transmission and elaboration, thus linking this topic to the technology of big data management, whilst they benefit of the progress in information technology, through a secure cloud based on the network. The context just described motivates the fast diffusion of the Model Based Systems Engineering as a tool for innovating all the production processes. The increasing demand of specialized software and of educational activities as well as the number of workshops and conferences focused on this topic confirm this trend. However, it might be remarked that several contributions to the literature about the Systems Engineering widely grew up during the last years, thus making the Reader sometimes confused, especially when approaching this topic at first. The Systems Engineering topics are so many that it looks rather difficult mas-tering its skills, without a preliminary classification of contents. Technical do-mains involved are mainly those of engineering and computer science, although many other ones play the role of a daily user of this methodology. According to the most recent development of the Systems Engineering, whose typical applica-tion fields were the software and electronic systems even for space missions, the current focus consists of several industrial systems, being gradually innovated by introducing the tailored solutions of mechatronics. It is worthy noticing that a significant advancement was introduced between the very early implementation of the Systems Engineering and its recent evolution, since several new applica-tions are focused on the production of systems, which need to be manufactured through a material processing. Usually, they exhibit some attributes related both to their physical nature and to the functions performed, thus requiring to model both their functional and physical behaviors together. This need is changing the scenario of the typical applications of the Systems Engineering as software de-sign. This handbook expressively avoids to cover all the typical contents of the spe-cialized literature of the Model Based Systems Engineering, whilst is aimed at making easier a first approach to this topic and sharing a preliminary experience performed by the authors within some industrial domains, by proceeding in the modeling activity in a real industrial environment. The main goal is drawing a sort of simple and hopefully clear roadmap in modeling and developing the in-dustrial and material systems and in implementing the Systems Engineering, par-ticularly in the design activity. Therefore, the target audience of this handbook includes professional engineers, scientists and students dealing with the Applica-tion Lifecycle Management and the system architecture assessment, more than the Product Data Management or the whole Product Lifecycle Management. The approach followed is that of introducing some examples of implementa-tion of the Systems Engineering, by proceeding step by step from the screening of needs and the elicitation of requirements till a synthesis of the system design. Each action will be referred to the literature, related to the implementation of the Systems Modeling Language or SysML and to the use of some tools available on market, thus highlighting benefits, drawbacks and current limitations of some dedicated software or even of some proposed methodologies. Several comments will be provided to describe the troubles shared among some users of the Sys-tems Engineering as they were detected in daily practice by the authors. They wish that this handbook could briefly and gradually provide the Reader with a preliminary guideline to approach professionally the Model Based Systems En-gineering, by understanding its main contents and applying it to the industrial environment. As a desired result, this work might be considered as an integration of some textbooks of Machine Design, and it is aimed at completing the education within Engineering Design or at simply providing a friendly introduction to the Systems Engineering

The Distributed Co-simulation Protocol for the integration of real-time systems and simulation environments

Abstract: Virtual system development gets more and more important in many industrial domains. It is considered to reduce development times, lower computing costs, and shorten time-to-market. Co-simulation is a particularly promising approach for modular and interoperable development. In practice the integration and coupling of heterogeneous systems still require enormous efforts. The configuration and operation of distributed hardware-in-the-loop systems and simulations contribute to efficiency of testing. Currently no standardized interface or protocol specification is available, which allows the interaction of real-time and non-real-time systems of different vendors. This paper for the first time presents the Distributed Co-simulation Protocol (DCP) which is subject to proposal as a standard for real-time and non-real-time system integration and simulation. The DCP consists of a data model, a finite state machine, and a communication protocol including a set of protocol data units. It is designed as a tool independent standard. It was developed in context of the ACOSAR project and is subject to standardization as a Modelica Association Project (MAP). It enables the definition, configuration and execution of a wide range of different simulations and test scenarios. It supports a master-slave architecture for simulation setup and control. The specification defines the design of a slave only, the design of a master is not in scope of the specification. To highlight the industrial applicability of the DCP, three examples from the automotive domain are shown.

Taxonomy of Factors Causing Integration Failure during Global Software Development

Abstract: Controlling integration failure is one of the major challenges in global software development (GSD) that remains hidden during the development phase and surfaces during the system integration. The integration failures occur as a result of incompatibilities and integration complexities that subsequently lead to delays, extra cost, affect the overall quality, and can even throw the entire GSD project into chaos. A very good understanding of integration failures may help to overcome the integration challenges. The objective of this paper is to explore comprehensively the integration failure factors. This paper thoroughly reviews the available literature. Moreover, the authors have conducted an industrial survey to more closely explore the integration failure factors. This paper largely contributes by devising a detailed taxonomy of 40 integration failure factors. The classification allows to better understand the relationships between the various factors and helps in creating a holistic solution to deal with integration problems in the context of GSD.

How Renewable Energy is Reshaping Europe’s Electricity Market Design

Abstract: We present a systematic review of the challenges to the regulation of electricity markets that are posed by the integration of variable renewable energy sources. System integration is the key to developing the required flexibility, because flexibility options exist at all system levels and within the competitive as well as in the regulated (network) domains. The fluctuating nature of variable renewable energy changes the dynamics of investment decisions. We develop a framework for analysing relations between aspects of the regulation of the power sector that need to be coordinated in order to achieve (or at least improve) economic efficiency. We base the framework on the technical functionalities of the electricity infrastructure, which we group along three dimensions: system level (from retail/distribution to transmission/wholesale), geographic scope (the connection between electricity systems) and time scales (from real-time operations and balancing markets to the investment time scale). The framework helps identify regulatory challenges—potential inefficiencies due to a lack of coordination—and to place them into context. The picture that emerges from this approach is that the institutional fragmentation of the European electricity sector will become increasingly burdensome as the development variable renewable energy requires ever closer coordination between countries, between the different levels of the electricity system and between markets that serve different time scales. Interactions between elements of market design and regulation such as congestion management, renewable energy policy and system adequacy policy affect each other and are an additional reason for a system integration approach to regulation.

Supporting Facility Management Processes through End-Users’ Integration and Coordinated BIM-GIS Technologies

Abstract: The integration of facility management and building information modelling (BIM) is an innovative and critical undertaking process to support facility maintenance and management. Even though recent research has proposed various methods and performed an increasing number of case studies, there are still issues of communication processes to be addressed. This paper presents a theoretical framework for digital systems integration of virtual models and smart technologies. Based on the comprehensive analysis of existing technologies for indoor localization, a new workflow is defined and designed, and it is utilized in a practical case study to test the model performance. In the new workflow, a facility management supporting platform is proposed and characterized, featuring indoor positioning systems to allow end users to send geo-referenced reports to central virtual models. In addition, system requirements, information technology (IT) architecture and application procedures are presented. Results show that the integration of end users in the maintenance processes through smart and easy tools can overcome the existing limits of barcode systems and building management systems for failure localization. The proposed framework offers several advantages. First, it allows the identification of every element of an asset including wide physical building elements (walls, floors, etc.) without requiring a prior mapping. Second, the entire cycle of maintenance activities is managed through a unique integrated system including the territorial dimension. Third, data are collected in a standard structure for future uses. Furthermore, the integration of the process in a centralized BIM-GIS (geographical information system) information management system admit a scalable representation of the information supporting facility management processes in terms of assets and supply chain management and monitoring from a spatial perspective.

Design space construction: a framework to support collaborative, parametric decision making

Abstract: This paper describes a framework of concepts and processes that support teams to construct and explore design spaces maximizing social, environmental, and economic value The framework guides teams through processes of problem formulation, alternative generation, impact analysis, and value assessment The paper describes an extensible supporting computational infrastructure based on a system integration approach and structured in four layers: parametric user interface, analysis engines, software interfaces, and data visualization The paper describes implemented functionality in terms of goal and preference-setting, parametric modeling, energy, daylight, view, first cost, lifecycle cost and lifecycle carbon, and demonstrates application through a test case The paper concludes with evidence about the power and flexibility of the DSC framework with the results of a professional case study, and a survey of professional and student architects who have been trained in constructing and exploring parametric, performance-based design spaces