[ Project 1 ]: Laundry Automated Processing System
[ Project 2 ]: Digital Video Recorder (DVR)
[ Project 3 ]: Pilot Unit Subsystem for SAR Operations
[ Project 4 ]: Parking Lot Occupancy Tracking System
[ Project 5 ]: Global Container Security System
[ Project 6 ]: Decision Making System for Individual Financial Portfolio Investment
[ Project 7 ]: System Design of a Hydraulic Crane
[ Project 8 ]: Smart School ID System
[ Project 9 ]: UCAV Imaging Sensor

Class presentations will be on Nov. 29 and December 7. Don't worry if your project isn't complete -- just talk about your main ideas, what you are hoping to accomplish and the method. Plan for 20 minutes + 10 minutes of questions/discussion. The purpose is to share ideas and receive constructive feedback.

Title: Laundry Automated Processing System
Authors: Henry Yi, Sulaimin Baqqi, Liyan Gu

Abstract: .... Today's mom and pop dry cleaning business rely heavily on manual labor, especially the manual tagging, cataloging and searching of hundreds of customers' clothing. In a nutshell, a typical cleaner's business process consists of tagging the clothes, cleaning the clothes, cataloging and grouping the clean clothes based on the tags assigned to the clothes and to the customer, and searching for customer's clothes. Every step of the process involves manual cataloging and tracking of customers' clothes. These manual processes work well but are prone to errors and are taxing to dry cleaning staff. Computers have been introduced to the dry cleaning business to reduce errors, but there still exists a heavy reliance on manual labor in the cataloging and searching of clothes. As any manual process, human errors still exist in the process even with use of computers.

We are proposing an automated system that will:

• Eliminate manual cataloging of clothes
• Eliminate manual searching for customer’s clothes
• Eliminate such error as misplaced/miscataloged clothes
• Reporting of any missing or late clothes
• Must be safe for end users
• Have manual backup if the system fails

Class Presentation: Automated Laundry Processing System
Final Report: Automated Laundry Processing System

Title: Digital Video Recorder (DVR)
Authors: Mark Lewis and Andrew Levine

Abstract: This study focuses on the development of a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) as offered by many cable providers. Beginning with user interviews, we will develop UML descriptions of system structure and behavior. These will help develop formal requirements for the system to meet the stakeholder's requirements. Based on these requirements, we will explore design alternatives, and verification and validation for a final design. Part of the verification and validation will be a test plan for the system. We will describe the results of these steps in a class presentation and end-of-semester report.

Class Presentation: ....
Final Report: Digital Video Recorder (DVR)

Title: Pilot Unit Subsystem for Search and Rescue Operations
Authors: Gregorio Vazquez and Anita Brown

Abstract: Search and Rescue is one of the oldest missions of the National SAR (Response) System. Minimizing the loss of life, injury, property damage or loss by rendering aid to persons in distress has always been a priority for SAR Program. SAR crew response involves multi-mission stations, cutters, aircraft, and boats linked by communications networks. The SAR communication and radio direction finding equipment are in need of an upgrade, because the success rate has degraded over the years. Currently a radio exists for downed crew transmission of information for rescue. The system is limited by battery life and OTH (Over the Horizon) radio range. The radio is not integrated into an automated system that would minimize the time to rescue. Also, the present infrastructure does not support the rescue of multiple downed aircraft pilots simultaneously.

The objective of this project will be design of a system that is secure, integrated, and a dedicated search and rescue system that can be used jointly with other organizations. It must provide reliable downed-crew identification, accurate location anywhere on the globe, and timely protected rescue.

Class Presentation: Pilot Unit Subsystem for Search and Rescue Operations
Final Report: December 12. Pilot Unit Subsystem for Search and Rescue Operations

Title: Parking Lot Occupancy Tracking System
Authors: Felipe Leite and Atul Mehta

Abstract: The ability to monitor parking lot capacity in real-time has become increasingly important to drivers, security personnel, and building managers.

This project will focus on the design of a system that can provide information about available parking spaces to drivers trying to access the facility. We assume that the system will be deployed in an existing parking structure, and that it will include software, sensors and the networking components.

Final Report: Parking Lot Occupancy Tracking System

Title: Global Container Security System
Authors: Jason Smith and Sana Shaikh

Abstract: ... In the wake of the September 11th events, numerous government and private transportation organizations hurried to secure aspects of the industry that appeared vulnerable to future attack. One method in particular, intermodalism (transport of standardized containers throughout different modes of transportation) presented a great risk due mainly to the fact that the containerized commerce is often unrevealed (type and source), is transported quickly, and is completely global. Because of this increased risk, U.S. and international regulations were implemented to mitigate potential weak points. With increased complexity of today's transportation system and available security tools (electronic seals, RFID seals, etc.) there is a great need to clearly represent both the multiple user domains and multiple states that a container undergoes throughout the process. These domains and states must be considered when developing and implementing regulations and security systems.

This project aims at studying the current global container transportation security system from the following three aspects:

1. First, developing a high level model which will be used to recognize vulnerabilities and requirements of a secure system. As identifiable vulnerabilities are discovered, further drilling down may be conducted to better analyze the specifics. Standard UML visual representations will be utilized to accurately define system behavior and structure.
2. From the models developed and governmental regulatory feedback/studies a list of requirements and specifications of a secure system will be created and mapped.
3. Tools such as LTSA will be used to model the system and verify whether the specifications of the system satisfy the properties required of its behavior.

Class Presentation: Global Security System for Containerized Commerce
Final Report: Global Security System for Containerized Commerce

Title: Decision Making System for Individual Financial Portfolio Investment
Authors: Ali Pilehvar and Suman Sampath

Abstract: ... In today's financial marketplace, a well-maintained portfolio is vital to any investor's success. As an individual investor, you need to know how to determine an asset allocation which best conforms to your personal investment goals and strategies. In other words, your portfolio should meet your future needs for capital and give you peace of mind. Investors can construct portfolios aligned to their goals and investment strategies by following a systematic approach. Here we go over some essential steps for taking such an approach.

In this project we will have all of the system development steps and systematic approach to come up with an optimum portfolio through quantitative and qualitative framework. In the end, we will make use of the validation and verification methods learnt in this class so as to assist us in evaluate if the methodologies meets our requirement and specification.

Since the subject is very broad and general in nature, the topic title may change and narrow down depending upon the time left and our knowledge in investments increases.

Class Presentation: Decision Making System for Construction of Optimal Portfolios
Final Report: Decision Making System for Construction of Optimal Portfolios

Title: System Design of a Hydraulic Crane
Author: Denny Mathew

Abstract: ... This project will deal with the system design, description, and analysis of a hydraulic crane. There are five major phases of a crane operation that will be modeled: pre-start inspection, handling and attaching of a load, lifting the load, maneuvering the load, and ending lifting operations. This will be modeled using Higraph notation, instead of the traditional UML/SysML modeling language. Although the crane system is a relatively static system, with relatively uncomplicated phases of operations, I would like to explore if Higraph can be suitably used as not just a modeling tool, but also a query tool.

For the purposes of this project, the nominal operations of a crane will be contrasted with their off-nominal operations. This will be done using Higraph to model the system design of the crane, as well as its various failure modes. For each nominal use case, there will be one or more corresponding off-nominal use cases. Together, these use cases can comprise positive and negative use cases. To achieve the negative use cases, a certain amount of failure analysis will be done in the project. Once the positive and negative use cases are established, Higraph geometry will be used to establish a methodology that allows for the ability to query the overall system model. Traditionally, the use of UML and SysML does not allow one to proceed beyond drawing "pictures." For this project, I would like to extend the Higraph notation, and tailor it in such a way that each node and linkage can be queried using a software tool. Using a unique data structure for each node, various subsystems of the crane will be described using a vector type data structure. This can then be queried to find dependencies and inter-relations.

The report is organized as follows:

• Introduction of the Crane system
• Nominal Use Cases
• Off-Nominal Use Cases
• Requirements
• Requirements Verification and Validation
• Higraph Tool and Query

Class Presentation: System Design of a Hydraulic Crane
Final Report: System Design of a Hydraulic Crane

Title: Smart School ID System
Author: Neha Dua and Alpa Kothari

Abstract: A comprehensive elementary school generally deals with the following high priority security risks:

• Student accountability in normal and
• Emergency operations to restrict outsider access

We propose a Smart School system that will provide presence detection/access control, system integration, and notification services. The presence detection/access control function is comprised of a wired/wireless sensor network of readers that is installed in school buildings to detect presence of students with badges or tags.

Proposed School Operations: All school students will be supplied photo school ID cards that provide automated access to designated school entrances during school hours. The ID cards will be worn at school throughout the day and will be stored at school after school hours. As part of roll call, student IDs will be tapped into the system when each student arrives or leaves the school. This automates time and attendance reconciliation.

Our study would focus on how such a system can be set up in any elementary school. The system would be analyzed and UML definitions will be used to accurately define the system behavior and structure. Formal requirements for a particular school would then be created. Finally system requirements will be verified to ensure that the system satisfies the properties required.

Class Presentation: Smart School ID System
Final Report: Smart School ID System

Title: UCAV Imaging Sensor
Author: Ryan Foley

Abstract: The Joint Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (J-UCAV) is the United States militaries first unmanned aircraft that will enter service in 2010. The J-UCAV will be integrated into the US Navy's current aircraft carrier deck handling procedures so that there will be no new personnel on the flight deck and the plane will function as a manned fighter jet.

I will develop a dual field of view optical sensor system that will make use of the flight crew using specially designed batons that will allow the optical sensor to recognize the existing hand signals to direct the plane.

The project scope will cover the requirements layout of the design. How the sensor will interact with the J-UCAV and how will flight crew personnel interact with the plane? I will develop a UML model of the system, its operations, and a requirements specification for the system.

Final Report: UCAV Imaging Sensor

Developed in October 2006 by Mark Austin
Copyright © 2006, Institute for Systems Research, University of Maryland