ENSE 622: Project Abstracts, Spring Semester, 2015

[ Project 1 ]: Personal Locator Beacon Focused Satellite System Search and Rescue
[ Project 2 ]: Design of Sensor and Sollision Avoidance system for a UAV in Dynamic Environment
[ Project 3 ]: A Port Ontology for Team Decision Making
[ Project 4 ]: Smart Light Control System
[ Project 5 ]: Connected Vehicle Communication
[ Project 6 ]: Design and Incorporation of Microgrids, a Scalable Clean Power Solution
[ Project 7 ]: MBSE for Supply Chain Management (SCM) System
[ Project 8 ]: Ride Share System
[ Project 9 ]: System for Collision Avoidance: Incoming Traffic on Opposite Lane Invasion Maneuver
[ Project 10 ]: Environment Monitoring Systems and Data Center in a Smart City
[ Project 11 ]: Systems Engineering Approach to Designing Embedded Systems


PROJECT 1

Title: Personal Locator Beacon Focused Satellite System Search and Rescue
Authors: Thomas Volpe

Abstract: This project will model the COSPAS-SARSAT system focusing on Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs), and performing an analysis of alternatives for the different types of PLBs available.

Figure 1. COSPAS-SARSAT Systems Overview.

PLBs have saved tens of thousands of lives in conjunction with the COSPAS-SARSAT program. The COSPAS-SARSAT program is a joint program that provides accurate distress alert and location information for rescue personnel. The satellite search and rescue program connects with other devices other than PLBs, however the analysis of alternatives will only concentrate on PLBs. This project will use SysML diagrams to model the ontology and interactions of the COSPAS-SARSAT. Modeling the search and rescue system and the PLBs connected to the system, we will be able to analyze the efficiency of rescue missions.


Project Resources


PROJECT 2

Title: Design of Sensor and Collision Avoidance system for a UAV in Dynamic Environment
Authors: Niloofar Shadab and Amin Asemani

Abstract: Unmanned autonomous vehicles (UAV) are increasingly being utilized due to their potential of providing improved capabilities while increasing manpower efficiency. Safety certification remains a challenge in UAVs because of the gap between understanding commander/pilot intent and implementation of intent through low-level UAV behaviors. A lack of appropriate verification and validation methods prevents high-level autonomous systems from being widely fielded as brute-force testing methods are unable to discover all possible behaviors exhibited by such systems. New techniques for standardized and formalized requirements specification and mission planning of UAVs are needed that take into account discrete decision-making and can be integrated with flight simulation software in order to verify the overall system.

A system's approach design of sensor and flight simulators which can meet the safety and reliability requirements still remains as a high concern for collision detection and avoidance problem in a highly dynamic environment consisting of both static and dynamic obstacles. There is a demand for high performance sensors to be used for autonomous motion planning for UAVs.

Figure 2. Flowchart of processing in UAV operations.

The research objective of this project is to develop high-level system design of sensor with collision avoidance system for UAV using model-based system engineering tools.


Project Resources


PROJECT 3

Title: A Port Ontology for Team Decision Making
Authors: Tom Oeste and Connor Tobias

Abstract: Increasingly complicated design problems demand both increasingly large design teams and better handling of the design process as a whole. While some elementary problems can be solved by a single designer in one iteration, most design problems are too complicated to consider as a whole and thus require decomposition. Additionally, design problems require more resources than a single designer can bring to bear, necessitating the creation of design teams.

Figure 3. Schematic for team decision making.

We will explore the natural extension of the port ontology modeling process from capturing the interactions between components in a design alternative to the interpersonal interactions within a design process. As a team progresses through a design process, the team's structure shifts at distinct stages, and we seek to map out these structural shifts, identifying any interactions that occur through a port ontology. We seek to capture the changes in configuration over the course of a design process with the aim of improving design management and planning. A prototype application will be developed in Java, utilizing the Apache Jena Ontology API, to provide systems engineers with a design process improvement tool.


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PROJECT 4

Title: Smart Light Control System
Authors: Nidhi Kalamkar and Neha Jain

Abstract: With the fast moving technology and busy life, the concept of SMART products has conquered our basic lifestyle. As this concept is catching a lot of eyes and has great market value, a lot of companies are ready to vouch for these smart appliances.

Figure 4. Smart light control systems.

Our project is to design a SMART light control system that can be operated by an application on devices such as cellphone, tablets etc. The system will have additional functionality such as sound sensing, tap control, strobe and geo-fencing.


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PROJECT 5

Title: Connected Vehicle Communication
Authors: Ejike Nwude and Xuezheng Yu

Abstract: The World Health Organization estimates about 1.24 million die each year as a result of road traffic accidents. WHO further attributed road accidents as the leading cause of death in young adults [1]. A lot of these accidents occur due to human fallibility and hence a means to mitigate these accidents is may lie in the ability to develop technology where vehicles and other machines can communicate with themselves to avert impending danger. A system of connected vehicles has the potential to transform the way we travel through the creation of a safe, interoperable wireless communications network. The technology will enable cars, trucks, buses, and other vehicles to “talk” to each other and continuously share important safety, mobility, and environmental information. Connected vehicles can also use wireless communication to “talk” to traffic signals, work zones, toll booths, school zones, and other types of infrastructure.

Figure 5. Schematic for vehicle-to-vehicle communication.

This project will employ a model-based systems engineering approach to the design of such a vehicle-to-vehicle communication system.


Project Resources


PROJECT 6

Title: Design and Incorporation of Microgrids, a Scalable Clean Power Solution
Authors: Casey Gaines

Abstract: Renewable energy as a whole in our current large scale grid system is economically unfeasable due to the high cost of transmissiona and back-up power required due to the intermittancy of renawable resources. However, on localized scale these same resources become much more feasable, not just in terms of econmically but practicallity as well.

Figure 6. Microgrid.

I propose to do a project that goes into detail on the implementation and systemization of microgrids into the United States Grid Structure. The focus will be the feasability of creating microgrids of independant energy within our large power grid system.


Project Resources


PROJECT 7

Title: MBSE for Supply Chain Management (SCM) system
Authors: Jignesh Patel and Ryan Currie

Abstract: Supply Chain Management (SCM) includes all the activities that must take place to get the right product into the right consumer's hands in the right quantity and at the right time, from raw materials extraction to consumer purchase.

Figure 7. Supply chain management.

The primary objective of this project is to apply model-based systems engineering (MBSE) methodologies to a supply chain management (SCM) system. Setting up efficient supply chain networks is an important aspect of sourcing and supply chain management; however, it is really tough to derive and then put together the complex system like SCM with traditional engineering tools and techniques. Iy using MBSE as a platform, in this projet we will derive system context, use cases, and block definition diagram and system requirements for SCM system.


Project Resources


PROJECT 8

Title: Ride Share System
Authors: Edwin Cheng and Alex Ratushny

Abstract: This project will focus on creating a system level design for ride sharing. The system will target everyday commuters to aid in travel expenses, provide alternatives to public transportation or personal transportation and to increase carpooling. Large cities tend to have business areas where a large number of workers commute to during the morning rush hours and leave from in the evening rush hours. In Washington, D.C. these areas include College Park, Bethesda, Silver Spring, Arlington, and Alexandria. While some public transportation exists, in many cases commuters elect to drive instead of take public transportation due to convenience.

Figure 8. Ride share system.

A well designed ride share system can have the benefit of reducing traffic and increasing commuter convenience.


Project Resources


PROJECT 9

Title: System for Collision Avoidance: Incoming Traffic on Opposite Lane Invasion Maneuver
Authors: Charlotte Du Toit and Miguel Venegas Zambrana

Abstract: While head on collisions only account for about 2% of all roadside accidents, they account for a disproportionate 10% of all fatal crashes, or 18% of all non-interchange/junction crashes, resulting in the deaths of more than 3,000 people a year in the United States alone. These collisions typically occur when a driver crosses the centerline and travels the wrong direction in traffic, often when they are attempting to pass a vehicle on a two-lane road. About 83% of these undivided two lane crashes occur on rural roads, where vehicles perform lane invasion maneuvers at high speeds, unable to see another vehicle travelling in the opposite direction.

Figure 9.1. Problem description (failure scenario).

We propose a solution through smart vehicles and smart road systems applications. Modern cars now possess a network of sensors (GPS, sonar, cameras, and wireless Internet connections), some level of autonomy, and computational capabilities that would allow for Inter-vehicle communications, and road real time data and state. The following study will attempt to find a solution, with a model-base system engineering approach, to the problem through the use of these technologies, in order to be able to: locate positioning of additional cars on road, prevent head on collisions, provide ample warning to the drivers or vehicle autonomous system about oncoming traffic and lane invasion attempts, and have measures in place to avoid or minimize crash damage should a system error occur.

Figure 9.2. Problem description (success scenario).


Project Resources


PROJECT 10

Title: Environment Monitoring Systems and Data Center in a Smart City
Authors: Chenhao Mu and Siyu Guo

Abstract: With the increasing pace of the development of science and technology, smart city [2-4] has become the new trends of modernization. People are looking forward a more convenient and comfortable environment to live in. By using digital technologies, the city can be built better. Smart city has complicated and multiple definitions. Commonly, it refers to cities that can use information and digital technologies to enhance performance and well being and reduce costs and resource consumption, and to engage more effectively and actively with its citizens.

This project will focus on two subsystems: environmental monitoring system and data center. The environmental monitoring system primarily focuses on detecting the air quality, noise level, water quality and weather variations. So, different monitors will be set for different aspects. These sensors will be linked to data center. Data center is one of the most important subsystems in smart city. Its main function is to collect, transmit, store and analyze data. Data center is the core of the applications of high technologies, which is able to make the whole city connected.

Figure 10. Problem description (failure scenario).

This project illustrates the ontology [1] of the environmental monitoring systems and data center in a smart city including conceptual design using graphs generated from an OWL file format. Actually, we used Protege [6][7] (a free open source ontoloy editor) as the tool to edit ontology via OWL language (it is a little different from RDF). The ontology of our project was saved as an .OWL file. And then we exported the graph as DOT scripts. Finally, we used Graphviz [8][9] (a package of open-source tools for graph visualization) to make the .DOT file visualized and generate diagrams as follows.


Project Resources

  1. Liang, Vei-Chung, and Christiaan JJ Paredis. "A Port Ontology for Conceptual Design of Systems," Journal of Computing and Information Science in Engineering​ 4.3 (2004): 206-217.
  2. Open-Air Computers: Cities are turning into Vast Data Factories ,Economist, October 27, 2012
  3. Harrison, Colin, et al. "Foundations for Smarter Cities," IBM Journal of Research and Development 54.4 (2010): 1-16.
  4. Smarter Neighborhoods, Smarter Cities, Solutions for a more sustainable New York -- Today, Siemens.
  5. http://protege.stanford.edu/products.php Noy, Natalya Fridman, Ray W. Fergerson, and Mark A. Musen. "The knowledge model of Protege-2000: Combining interoperability and flexibility." K​ nowledge Engineering and Knowledge Management Methods, Models, and Tools.​ Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2000. 17-32.
  6. Knublauch, Holger, et al. "The Protégé OWL plugin: An open development environment for semantic web applications." The Semantic Web–ISWC 2004.​ Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2004. 229-243.
  7. GraphViz. See: http://www.graphviz.org
  8. Ellson, John, et al. "Graphviz—open source graph drawing tools." G​ raph Drawing.​ Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2002.


PROJECT 11

Title: Systems Engineering Approach to Designing Embedded Systems
Author: Arjuna Ariyaratne

Abstract: Advancement of semiconductor technology has transformed the designing process of embedded systems. From single-purpose embedded development systems in last decade to current multi-purpose today, highly complex systems require increasing time and cost of development. The need for development of software in addition to the hardware is increasing cost while extending the development time.

Figure 11. Flow for embedded systems design.

This project aims to introduce a systems development methodology to enable designers to produce embedded systems with high feature rate, and reduced development time and cost.


Project Resources


Last Modified: April 6, 2015
Copyright © 2015, Institute for Systems Research, University of Maryland