articles+ search results

Computer aided design, interactive software, man-machine interaction, software prototyping, modeling, Electronic computers. Computer science, and QA75.5-76.95

Computer aided design (CAD) systems, or more generally interactive software, are today being developed for various application areas like VLSI-design, mechanical structure design, avionics design, cartographic design, architectual design, office automation, publishing, etc. Such tools are becoming more and more important in order to be productive and to be able to design quality products. One important part of CAD-software development is the man-machine interface (MMI) design.

Man-machine systems, human factors, underseas systems, prototyping, system analysis, guidance systems, Electronic computers. Computer science, and QA75.5-76.95

Important man-machine interface (MMI) issues concerning a submarine command and weapon control system (CWCS) such as crew organization, automation level and decision support are discussed in this paper. Generic submarine CWCS functions and operating conditions are outlined. Detailed, dynamic and real-time prototypes were used to support the MMI design. The prototypes are described and experience with detailed prototyping is discussed. Some of the main interaction principles are summarized and a restricted example of the resulting design is given. Our design experience and current work have been used to outline future perspectives of MMI design in naval CWCSs. The need for both formal and experimental approaches is emphasized.

evolutionary prototyping, Information technology, T58.5-58.64, Electronic computers. Computer science, and QA75.5-76.95

The failure of many Information Systems (IS) designed for use by managers may be due to the fact that traditional IS methodologies were used in their development. In this paper we describe an organisation's efforts, over a period of four years, to develop an IS for use by senior management and show how traditional methodologies have impeded the involvement of the intended users of the system from the development process resulting in poor specification of user requirements and inflexible systems. From this experience we verify the superiority of an evolutionary prototyping methodology for the development of these types of systems.

realidade virtual, simulação, manufatura virtual, prototipação virtual, virtual reality, simulation, virtual manufacturing, virtual prototyping, Industrial engineering. Management engineering, and T55.4-60.8

A realidade virtual é um ambiente gerado pelo computador em que o usuário tem disponibilidade de controles tridimensionais de maneira altamente interativa, podendo manipular e explorar dados em tempo real. A realidade virtual pode ser aplicada em diversos setores da indústria, desde o planejamento de fábricas, simulação da produção, auxílio na divulgação de produtos, treinamento de funcionários, validação de protótipos. Este artigo visa mostrar a flexibilidade da utilização da realidade virtual dentro das indústrias e dos centros de pesquisas, focando principalmente as áreas relacionadas a manufatura, desenvolvimento de produto e treinamento.Virtual reality is a computer-generated environment with highly interactive three-dimensional controls which allow the user to manipulate and examine data in real time. Virtual reality can be applied in a number of industry sectors, including factory planning, product simulation, product popularization, employee training and prototype validation. This article aims to show the flexibility of virtual reality in industry and in research centers, focussing mainly on areas related to manufacturing, product development and training.

Chemistry and QD1-999

This review presents some recent developments in the field of electroanalytical sensors. We first explain the working principle of electrochemistry at the interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES), illustrated by the example of copper transferring through a water/1,2-dichloroethane interface when the ionophore 1,4,7,10-tetrathiacyclododecane is present in the organic phase. The obtained results show that assisted ion-transfer reactions take place with both CUI and CUII, but that the interfacial process is complicated by the fact that CUI disproportionates in water and that CUII can be reduced in the organic phase.Based on the same experimental methodology, a new type of amperometric detector for non-redox ions has been developed using a composite polymer membrane supporting a gelified organic phase that can incorporate an ionophore such as valinomycin. We report here the use of a (o-nitrophenyloctylether)-(poy(vinyl chloride) (NPOE-PVC) gel micro-interface as a detector for cations and anions in ion-exchange chromatography. The main advantage of this approach is that selectivity and sensitivity can be tailored by the choice of the ionophore and by the polarisation potential.This ion detector has also been incorporated in a miniaturised total-analysis system (?-TAS) fabricated in a polymer sheet by UV-laser photoablation. This microfabrication technique is used for the prototyping of a disposable capillary-electrophoresis microsystem comprising on-chip injector, separation column and electrochemical detector. This system is further used with built-in carbon-ink electrodes for the detection of electroactive species. These microsystems are now under development for immuno-sensor applications.

Chemistry and QD1-999

The H. Weidmann AG has set up a unique injection-moulding tool for replication of optical and nonoptical microstructures down to a sub-?m scale. Our approach simplifies the initial tooling and, thus, substantially lowers the cost threshold for feasibility studies and testing of injection-moulded microstructures. Two case studies, with micro-pipettes and a micro-spectrometer, respectively, show the usefulness of this new process technology. The service for polymer-sample prototyping is available on a commercial basis at reasonable costs and turn-around times.

prototyping, serial productions, Economic growth, development, planning, HD72-88, Economics as a science, and HB71-74

The paper deals with the problem of the prototyping of repetitive production. The problem results from the customer demand and competition on modern markets. The approach proposed in this paper consists in defining sufficient conditions to filter all solutions and providing a set of admissible solutions for both the customer and the producer. The methodology is the basis for creating a computer program called the “System of Order Validation”. An example illustrating this approach is presented.

Data modelling, Software engineering, Prototyping, Object-Orientation, Database systems, Veri modelleme, Yazılım mühendisliği, Prototip, Nesne-yönelim, Veri tabanı sistemleri, Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General), and TA1-2040

İlişkisel veri tabanları bilgiişlem uygulamalarında standart olmaya başlamasına rağmen, karmaşık veri modellemesinin gereklerini yerine getirmek için nesne yönelimli sistemler geliştirilmektedir. Bu makalede, hızlı program geliştirmek için kullanılabilecek, nesne-tabanlı bir sistem, xPROT tanıtılmaktadır. Sistem bazı önceden tanımlanmış metod ve Menu, Report, View, Table gibi sınıfları içermektedir. xPROT'da veri şeması olduğu kadar, veri işleme de aynı komut bazlı dil ile ifade edilmektedir. Sistemin ifade yeterliliği, kolaylığı ve esnekliği, veri modelleme gücü açısından incelenmektedir.

Veri modelleme, Yazılım mühendisliği, Prototip, Nesne-yönelim, Veri tabanı sistemleri, Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General), and TA1-2040

Even relational database management systems have now become the standard for data processing applications; object oriented database systems are being developed to meet the complex data modeling requirements. In this paper an object-based system, xPROT, is introduced which could be used for rapid program development. System includes some pre-defined methods and classes as Menu, Report, View, Table. In xPROT the schema as well as the data manipulation is expressed by the same command-based language. Expressiveness, easiness and flexibility in terms of data modeling power is investigated.

no keywords, Transportation and communications, HE1-9990, Science, Transportation engineering, and TA1001-1280

In the paper the problems of collective designing of modern industrial systems in the "Lean Production" concept are considered. The definition of compact manufacturing system (CMS) is given, and the original principles of industrial compactness maintenance have resulted. On the basis of these principles the author offers the technique of designing CMS, formalized up to an integrated algorithm. The result of industrial and operating cycle semiotic modeling was fixed in a basis of the author's version of simultaneous designing, which is realized at the CAD Centre at Vitebsk state technological university. Both the configuration of the Centre computer network and a model of the design data are discussed. At the end of the paper the examples projected and created CMS are resulted: the compact shop of the machine-building enterprise; the CMS of Reverse Engineering; the CMS of the Rapid Prototyping on the basis of automated laser cutting; the manufacture preparation CMS (Rapid Prototyping & Tooling); the CAD Centre.

Nursing and RT1-120

A prototyping approach was used to determine the essential system requirements of a computerised patient record information system for a typical township primary health care clinic. A pilot clinic was identified and the existing manual system and business processes in this clinic was studied intensively before the first prototype was implemented. Interviews with users, incidental observations and analysis of actual data entered were used as primary techniques to refine the prototype system iteratively until a system with an acceptable data set and adequate functionalities were in place. Several non-functional and user-related requirements were also discovered during the prototyping period.

rapid prototyping process, multi-DSP-FPGA architecture, CAD environment, image processing applications, Telecommunication, TK5101-6720, Electronics, and TK7800-8360

We present AVSynDEx (concatenation of AVS SynDEx), a rapid prototyping process aiming to the implementation of digital signal processing applications on mixed architectures (multi-DSP FPGA). This process is based on the use of widely available and efficient CAD tools established along the design process so that most of the implementation tasks become automatic. These tools and architectures are judiciously selected and integrated during the implementation process to help a signal processing specialist without relevant hardware experience. We have automated the translation between the different levels of the process to increase and secure it. One main advantage is that only a signal processing designer is needed, all the other specialized manual tasks being transparent in this prototyping methodology, hereby reducing the implementation time.

Testing Criteria, Testing Tool Prototyping, Prolog, Transformational Paradigm, Pascal, Electronic computers. Computer science, and QA75.5-76.95

Structured testing criteria are usually used to assess the adequacy of test case sets, defining coverage measures. Control and data flow based criteria employ information about the program graph as well as definition and usage of variables to establish the testing requirements. In this paper, we present an approach to prototype supporting tools for control and data flow based criteria. In the proposed approach, we use TXL — a language based in the transformational paradigm — to analyze and instrument the program under test. The instrumentation aims at making it possible to process the data by a Prolog program which allows the tester to assess the test case set adequacy. A simple example is used to illustrate the main ideas of our approach.

Microfabrication, Microreactors, Process intensification, Unit operation modules, Chemistry, and QD1-999

Microreaction technology is a powerful tool for the evaluation of new reaction pathways, process intensification in chemical engineering and combinatorial material development. Because of the small characteristic dimensions of microreaction devices, mass and heat transfer processes are enhanced and, in addition, initial and boundary conditions can be precisely adjusted for optimizing yield and selectivity. A number of microfabrication methods exist to cover prototyping and manufacturing of a few items as well as cost-effective mass production of modular and integrated microdevices for unit operations, reactions and control. Detailed analyses of methods like LIGA technology, wet and dry micro-etching, mechanical micromachining and laser processing show that a wide variety of materials is applicable to meet most requirements of chemical processes.

Windmills, simulator, real time system, digital signal processor, AC servomotor, Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering, TK1-9971, Electronic computers. Computer science, and QA75.5-76.95

This paper is a contribution to the development of a real time wind turbine simulator. The simulator is designed to generate wind power on its shaft, and provide the static and dynamic characteristics of a given turbine. The general structure of the simulator is composed of two subsystems: a “soft simulator” which realizes the real time simulation of the wind turbine, on the basis of the mathematical model, an electromechanical tracking system which receives the reference signal from the softsimulator, and provides a measurable output variable transmitted as response variable to the soft-simulator. The work concerns a wind turbine simulator using a tracking system realized on the basis on a frequency controlled AC servo-motor. This servo-motor is mechanically coupled with a pendulum machine, which realises the shaft torque of the electrical generator. The experimental system is built around the DS1103 PPC Controlled Board (dSPACE), which offers a rapid control prototyping, by Matlab-Simulink software tools. Experimental results from the real time WTS are presented.

rapid prototyping, FPGA, hardware emulation, low power, design flow, Telecommunication, TK5101-6720, Electronics, and TK7800-8360

This paper describes the design of a large-scale emulation engine and an application example from the field of low-power wireless devices. The primary goal of the emulator is to support design space exploration of real-time algorithms. The emulator is customized for dataflow dominant architectures, especially focusing on telecommunication-related applications. Due to its novel routing architecture and application-specific nature, the emulator is capable of real-time execution of a class of algorithms in its application space. Moreover, the dataflow structure facilitates the development of a highly abstracted design flow for the emulator. Simulations and practical measurements on commercial development boards are used to verify that real-time emulation of a low-power TDMA receiver is feasible at a clock speed of 25 MHz.

FPGA, DSP, rapid prototyping, design methodology, CAD tools, integration, Telecommunication, TK5101-6720, Electronics, and TK7800-8360

We introduce the Logic Foundry, a system for the rapid creation and integration of FPGA-based digital signal processing systems. Recognizing that some of the greatest challenges in creating FPGA-based systems occur in the integration of the various components, we have proposed a system that targets the following four areas of integration: design flow integration, component integration, platform integration, and software integration. Using the Logic Foundry, a system can be easily specified, and then automatically constructed and integrated with system level software.

placement, mapping, FIR filter, PCLS, bit serial, JBits, Telecommunication, TK5101-6720, Electronics, and TK7800-8360

Area-efficient peak-constrained least-squares (PCLS) bit-serial finite impulse response (FIR) filter implementations can be rapidly prototyped in field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) with the methodology presented in this paper. Faster generation of the FPGA configuration bitstream is possible with a new application-specific mapping and placement method that uses JBits to avoid conventional general-purpose mapping and placement tools. JBits is a set of Java classes that provide an interface into the Xilinx Virtex FPGA configuration bitstream, allowing the user to generate new configuration bitstreams. PCLS coefficient generation allows passband-to-stopband energy ratio (PSR) performance to be traded for a reduction in the filter's hardware cost without altering the minimum stopband attenuation. Fixed-point coefficients that meet the frequency response and hardware cost specifications can be generated with the PCLS method. It is not possible to meet these specifications solely by the quantization of floating-point coefficients generated in other methods.

Information technology, T58.5-58.64, Electronic computers. Computer science, and QA75.5-76.95

DCT, low-power, FPGA, binDCT., Telecommunication, TK5101-6720, Electronics, and TK7800-8360

A method for the rapid design of field programmable gate array (FPGA)-based discrete cosine transform (DCT) approximations is presented that can be used to control the coding gain, mean square error (MSE), quantization noise, hardware cost, and power consumption by optimizing the coefficient values and datapath wordlengths. Previous DCT design methods can only control the quality of the DCT approximation and estimates of the hardware cost by optimizing the coefficient values. It is shown that it is possible to rapidly prototype FPGA-based DCT approximations with near optimal coding gains that satisfy the MSE, hardware cost, quantization noise, and power consumption specifications.

rapid prototyping, COTS, model year, beamformer, EDA tools, heterogeneous platform, FPGA., Telecommunication, TK5101-6720, Electronics, and TK7800-8360

New methodologies, engineering processes, and support environments are beginning to emerge for embedded signal processing systems. The main objectives are to enable defence industry to field state-of-the-art products in less time and with lower costs, including retrofits and upgrades, based predominately on commercial off the shelf (COTS) components and the model-year concept. One of the cornerstones of the new methodologies is the concept of rapid prototyping. This is the ability to rapidly and seamlessly move from functional design to the architectural design to the implementation, through automatic code generation tools, onto real-time COTS test beds. In this paper, we try to quantify the term “rapid†and provide results, the metrics, from two independent benchmarks, a radar and sonar beamforming application subset. The metrics show that the rapid prototyping process may be sixteen times faster than a conventional process.

design partitioning, rapid prototyping, embedded systems., Telecommunication, TK5101-6720, Electronics, and TK7800-8360

This paper introduces a rapid prototyping methodology which overcomes important barriers in the design and implementation of digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms and systems on embedded hardware platforms, such as cellular phones. This paper describes rapid prototyping in terms of a simulation/prototype bridge and in terms of appropriate language design. The simulation/prototype bridge combines the strengths of simulation and of prototyping, allowing the designer to develop and evaluate next-generation communications systems, partly in simulation on a host computer and partly as a prototype on embedded hardware. Appropriate language design allows designers to express a communications system as a block diagram, in which each block represents an algorithm specified by a set of equations. Software tools developed for this paper implement both concepts, and have been successfully used in the development of a next-generation code division multiple access (CDMA) cellular wireless communications system.

3D surface, stereolithography format, interpolating subdivision, advancing front technique, Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General), and TA1-2040

In the present paper, an algorithm for the discretization of parametric 3D surfaces has been extended to the family of discrete surfaces represented by stereolithography (STL) grids. The STL file format, developed for the rapid prototyping industry, is an attractive alternative to surface representation in solid modeling. Initially, a boundary representation is constructed from the STL file using feature recognition. Then a smooth surface is recovered over the original STL grid using an interpolating subdivision procedure. Finally, the reconstructed surface is subjected to the triangulation accomplished using the advancing front technique operating directly on the surface. The capability of the proposed methodology is illustrated on an example.

knowledge management, medical education, Special aspects of education, LC8-6691, and Medicine

Abstract Background The last decade has witnessed a rapid expansion of biomedical knowledge. Despite this, fashions in medical education over the same period have shifted away from factual (didactic) teaching and towards contextual, or problem-based, learning (PBL). This paradigm shift has been justified by studies showing that PBL improves reasoning and communication while being associated with few if any detectable knowledge deficits. Discussion Analysis of the literature indicates that the recent rapid rise of PBL has closely paralleled the timing of the information explosion. The growing dominance of PBL could thus worsen the problems of information management in medical education via several mechanisms: first, by creating the impression that a defined spectrum of core factual knowledge suffices for clinical competence despite ongoing knowledge expansion (quality cost); second, by dissuading teachers from refining the educational utility of didactic modalities (improvement cost); and third, by reducing faculty time for developing reusable resources to impart factual knowledge more efficiently (opportunity cost). Summary These costs of PBL imply a need for strengthening the knowledge base of 21st-century medical graduates. New initiatives towards this end could include the development of more integrated cognitive techniques for facilitating the comprehension of complex data; the design of differentiated medical curricula for producing graduates with defined high-priority skill sets; and the encouragement of more cost-effective faculty teaching activities focused on the prototyping and testing of innovative commercializable educational tools.

processor, FPGA, Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering, and TK1-9971

In technical literature and especially in domestic, predominant way to examine performance of 802.11a-based systems are experiments in simulations. In this paper, we present FPGA based 802.11a prototype, which gave us a possibility to gain closer insight into the problems of OFDM system implementation. A specific design of base band modem physical layer is discussed, along with the presentation of the FPGA prototyping platform on which it was developed. Prototype is implemented on the latest generation of FPGA chips, using state-of-the-art tools for DSP development. Custom made development environment, and design flow optimized for rapid prototyping of software defined radios, are also presented in the paper.

Physics and QC1-999

Substructures coupling is still an important tool in several applications of modal analysis, especially structural modification and structures assembling. The subject is particularly relevant in virtual prototyping of complex systems and responds to actual industrial needs. This paper analyzes the possibility of assembling together different substructures' models. The important role of rotational DoFs is highlighted, underlying the difficulty of assembling theoretical and experimental models, for which, usually, the rotational DoFs are not available. Expansion techniques can be used to provide this information as well as appropriate modelling of joints. With this information FRF models, modal models and FE models can be appropriately combined together and solutions for several cases of practical interest are presented. The analyzed procedures are tested on purpose-built benchmarks, showing limits and capabilities of each of them.

Electronics, TK7800-8360, Electronic computers. Computer science, and QA75.5-76.95

Cyberbotics Ltd. develops Webots ™ , a mobile robotics simulation software that provides you with a rapid prototyping environment for modelling, programming and simulating mobile robots. The provided robot libraries enable you to transfer your control programs to several commercially available real mobile robots. Webots ™ lets you define and modify a complete mobile robotics setup, even several different robots sharing the same environment. For each object, you can define a number of properties, such as shape, color, texture, mass, friction, etc. You can equip each robot with a large number of available sensors and actuators. You can program these robots using your favorite development environment, simulate them and optionally transfer the resulting programs onto your real robots. Webots ™ has been developed in collaboration with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, thoroughly tested, well documented and continuously maintained for over 7 years. It is now the main commercial product available from Cyberbotics Ltd.

Schema, Schematic Processing, Sex Schema, Psychology, and BF1-990

Determination and classification of certain behaviors for women are heavily influenced by pre-established educational and social values of educated men. Such erroneous beliefs like fear, jealousy, etc. result in sexual prototyping and establish cliche imaginations. Thus cognitive structures form different schemata. The improvement and modification of schemata are possible with knowledge increment. The aim of this research is to study the impact of men's level of academic qualification on altering the structure of sex discrimination schemata. To achieve this aim 200 men holding degrees higher or lower than high school diploma were chosen and identified on the basis of social class random sampling method, and their responses to the ten questions with indispensable validity and reliability were collected. The findings of this study show that knowledge increment in men is influencing in improvement and modification of schemata, and men with higher academic qualifications have a better attitude toward women behavioral attributes.

rapid prototyping, selected laser sintering, laser scanning, part accuracy, Technology, Manufactures, and TS1-2301

The effects of different factors, including the precision of the selected laser sintering (SLS) equipment, sintering temperature, sintered thickness of individual layer and laser scanning route, on the SLS part accuracy have been analyzed and studied. Some measures are suggested in order to improve the part accuracy made by SLS.

neurocirurgia, crânio, cirurgia plástica, metilmetacrilato, neurosurgery, skull-plastic surgery, methylmethacrylate, Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry, and RC321-571

A prototipagem, método de reconstrução de segmentos do corpo humano através de programas de computação, tem sido usada na neurocirurgia para reproduzir o crânio de pacientes permitindo a programação de atos cirúrgicos e a produção de próteses para reconstruir falhas ósseas no crânio. Apresentamos dois casos de cranioplastia realizadas com o uso de próteses de acrílico construídas por prototipagem. Após 10 meses de acompanhamento, os pacientes não apresentaram sinais de infecção e apresentam bom resultado estético. As vantagens apontadas na literatura para este método (redução do tempo cirúrgico, facilidade técnica e bom resultado estético) foram observadas.The prototyping is a method for reconstruction of human body segments by computer software. It has been used in neurosurgery for cranial reproduction in patients allowing the programming of surgical procedures and the production of prosthesis to reconstruct bone failures in the skull. We present two cases of cranioplasty performed with the use of acrylic prosthesis constructed by prototyping. After 10 months of follow-up, they donot present signs of infection and show good aesthetic result. The advantages pointed at the literature for this method (reduction of surgical time, easy technical handle, and good aesthetic result) were confirmed.

Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics, R858-859.7, Biology (General), and QH301-705.5

Abstract Background The protein structure prediction problem is one of the most challenging problems in biological sciences. Many approaches have been proposed using database information and/or simplified protein models. The protein structure prediction problem can be cast in the form of an optimization problem. Notwithstanding its importance, the problem has very seldom been tackled by Constraint Logic Programming, a declarative programming paradigm suitable for solving combinatorial optimization problems. Results Constraint Logic Programming techniques have been applied to the protein structure prediction problem on the face-centered cube lattice model. Molecular dynamics techniques, endowed with the notion of constraint, have been also exploited. Even using a very simplified model, Constraint Logic Programming on the face-centered cube lattice model allowed us to obtain acceptable results for a few small proteins. As a test implementation their (known) secondary structure and the presence of disulfide bridges are used as constraints. Simplified structures obtained in this way have been converted to all atom models with plausible structure. Results have been compared with a similar approach using a well-established technique as molecular dynamics. Conclusions The results obtained on small proteins show that Constraint Logic Programming techniques can be employed for studying protein simplified models, which can be converted into realistic all atom models. The advantage of Constraint Logic Programming over other, much more explored, methodologies, resides in the rapid software prototyping, in the easy way of encoding heuristics, and in exploiting all the advances made in this research area, e.g. in constraint propagation and its use for pruning the huge search space.

vacuum differential pressure casting, selective laser sintering, precision casting, rapid prototyping technology, Technology, Manufactures, and TS1-2301

Based on Vacuum Differential Pressure Casting (VDPC) precision forming technology and the Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) Rapid Prototyping (RP) technology, a rapid manufacturing method called Rapid Precision Casting (RPC) process from computer three-dimensional solid models to metallic parts was investigated. The experimental results showed that the main advantage of RPC was not only its ability to cast higher internal quality and more accurate complex thin-walled aluminum alloy parts, but also the greatly-reduced lead time cycle from Selective Laser Sintering(SLS) plastic prototyping to metallic parts. The key forming technology of RPC for complex thin-walled metallic parts has been developed for new casting production and Rapid Tooling (RT), and it is possible to rapidly manufacture high-quality and accurate metallic parts by means of RP in foundry industry.

Electronics, TK7800-8360, Electronic computers. Computer science, and QA75.5-76.95

This work addresses the design of an active multi-link micro-catheter actuated by Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) micro actuators. This may be a response to one medical major demand on such devices, which will be useful for surgical explorations and interventions. In this paper, we focus on a training and design simulator dedicated to such catheters. This simulator is based on an original simulation platform (OpenMASK). The catheter is a robotic system, which is evaluated by a dynamical simulation addressing a navigation task in its environment. The design of the prototype and its mechanical model are presented. We develop an interaction model for contact. This model uses a real medical database for which distance cartography is proposed. Then we focus on an autonomous control model based on a multi-agent approach and including the behaviour description of the SMA actuators. Results of mechanical simulations including interaction with the ducts are presented. Furthermore, the interest of such a simulator is presented by applying virtual prototyping techniques for the design optimization. This optimization process is achieved by using genetic algorithms at different stages with respect to the specified task.

Prototipagem rápida, modelagem por fusão e deposição, ferramental rápido, Rapid prototyping, fused deposition modeling, rapid tooling, Chemical technology, and TP1-1185

Os processos de prototipagem rápida (Rapid Prototyping - RP) e ferramental rápido (Rapid Tooling - RT) surgiram para reduzir os tempos de desenvolvimento de produtos na fase de projeto diminuindo a necessidade de retrabalhos e, conseqüentemente, antecipando a entrada de novos produtos no mercado. Neste trabalho foi utilizada uma das tecnologias de prototipagem rápida, denominada Modelagem por Fusão e Deposição (FDM), na construção de moldes em ABS com o objetivo de investigar sua aplicação na moldagem por injeção de termoplásticos. Amostras das peças injetadas foram submetidas a ensaios de difração de raios X, dureza Shore D e tração. Os resultados mostraram a viabilidade de fabricar pequenos lotes de peças em PEBD e PP com propriedades mecânicas bastante similares às encontradas em peças moldadas em moldes metálicos.Rapid Prototyping and Rapid Tooling are aimed at reducing the development time of products in the design phase by minimizing re-workings and, consequently, reducing the time to launch new products. In this work one of the technologies of rapid prototyping, called Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), was used in the construction of ABS molds with the objective of investigating its application in the injection molding of thermoplastics. Specimens of the molded parts were characterized with X-ray diffraction, Shore D hardness and tensile tests. The results demonstrated the viability to manufacture small batches of LDPE and PP parts with mechanical properties similar to those molded parts in metallic molds.

uninhabited aerial vehicle, computational fluid dynamics, solid modeling, rapid prototyping, Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General), and TA1-2040

Advanced computer-aided technologies played a crucial role in the design of an unconventional Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle (UAV), developed at the Turin Technical University and the University of Rome “La Sapienza”. The engine unit of the vehicle is made of a complex system of three two stroke piston engines coupled with two counter-rotating three-bladed rotors, controlled by rotary PWM servos. The focus of the present paper lies on the enabling technologies exploited in the framework of activities aimed at designing a suitable and reliable engine system, capable of performing the complex tasks required for operating the proposed rotorcraft. The synergic use of advanced computational tools for estimating the aerodynamic performance of the vehicle, solid modeling for mechanical components design, and rapid prototyping techniques for control system logic synthesis and implementation will be presented.

Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) and TA1-2040

Automotive radar and lidar sensors represent key components for next generation driver assistance functions (Jones, 2001). Today, their use is limited to comfort applications in premium segment vehicles although an evolution process towards more safety-oriented functions is taking place. Radar sensors available on the market today suffer from low angular resolution and poor target detection in medium ranges (30 to 60m) over azimuth angles larger than ±30°. In contrast, Lidar sensors show large sensitivity towards environmental influences (e.g. snow, fog, dirt). Both sensor technologies today have a rather high cost level, forbidding their wide-spread usage on mass markets. A common approach to overcome individual sensor drawbacks is the employment of data fusion techniques (Bar-Shalom, 2001). Raw data fusion requires a common, standardized data interface to easily integrate a variety of asynchronous sensor data into a fusion network. Moreover, next generation sensors should be able to dynamically adopt to new situations and should have the ability to work in cooperative sensor environments. As vehicular function development today is being shifted more and more towards virtual prototyping, mathematical sensor models should be available. These models should take into account the sensor's functional principle as well as all typical measurement errors generated by the sensor.

Biotechnology, TP248.13-248.65, Biology (General), and QH301-705.5

The layout problem is of importance to ergonomists, vehicle/cockpit packaging engineers, designers of manufacturing assembly lines, designers concerned with the placement of levers, knobs, controls, etc. in the reachable workspace of a human, and also to users of digital human modeling code, where digital prototyping has become a valuable tool. This paper proposes a hybrid optimization method (gradient-based optimization and simulated annealing) to obtain the layout design. We implemented the proposed algorithm for a project at Oral-B Laboratories, where a manufacturing cell involves an operator who handles three objects, some with the left hand, others with the right hand.

parallel programming, image processing, algorithmic skeleton, nesting, 3D face tracking, Telecommunication, TK5101-6720, Electronics, and TK7800-8360

SKiPPER is a SKeleton-based Parallel Programming EnviRonment being developed since 1996 and running at LASMEA Laboratory, the Blaise-Pascal University, France. The main goal of the project was to demonstrate the applicability of skeleton-based parallel programming techniques to the fast prototyping of reactive vision applications. This paper deals with the special features embedded in the latest version of the project: algorithmic skeleton nesting capabilities and a fully dynamic operating model. Throughout the case study of a complete and realistic image processing application, in which we have pointed out the requirement for skeleton nesting, we are presenting the operating model of this feature. The work described here is one of the few reported experiments showing the application of skeleton nesting facilities for the parallelisation of a realistic application, especially in the area of image processing. The image processing application we have chosen is a 3D face-tracking algorithm from appearance.

RBF neural network, smart antenna, prototyping, FPGA, Telecommunication, TK5101-6720, Electronics, and TK7800-8360

This paper describes prototyping of a neuroadaptive smart antenna beamforming algorithm using hardware-software implemented RBF neural network and FPGA system-on-programmable-chip (SoPC) approach. The aim is to implement the adaptive beamforming unit in a combination of hardware and software by estimating its performance against the fixed real-time constraint based on IMT-2000 family of 3G cellular communication standards.

perception SoC, ultrasonic, focusing, beamforming, DSP, FPGA circuit techniques, Telecommunication, TK5101-6720, Electronics, and TK7800-8360

We are concerned with the design, implementation, and validation of a perception SoC based on an ultrasonic array of sensors. The proposed SoC is dedicated to ultrasonic echography applications. A rapid prototyping platform is used to implement and validate the new architecture of the digital signal processing (DSP) core. The proposed DSP core efficiently integrates all of the necessary ultrasonic B-mode processing modules. It includes digital beamforming, quadrature demodulation of RF signals, digital filtering, and envelope detection of the received signals. This system handles 128 scan lines and 6400 samples per scan line with a angle of view span. The design uses a minimum size lookup memory to store the initial scan information. Rapid prototyping using an ARM/FPGA combination is used to validate the operation of the described system. This system offers significant advantages of portability and a rapid time to market.

single system description, virtual prototyping, system on chip, automatic verification, Telecommunication, TK5101-6720, Electronics, and TK7800-8360

Complexity demand of modern communication systems, particularly in the wireless domain, grows at an astounding rate, a rate so high that the available complexity and even worse the design productivity required to convert algorithms into silicon are left far behind. This effect is commonly referred to as the design productivity crisis or simply the design gap. Since the design gap is predicted to widen every year, it is of utmost importance to look closer at the design flow of such communication systems in order to find improvements. While various ideas for speeding up designs have been proposed, very few have found their path into existing EDA products. This paper presents requirements for such tools and shows how an open design environment offers a solution to integrate existing EDA tools, allowing for a consistent design flow, considerably speeding up design times.

Information technology, T58.5-58.64, Electronic computers. Computer science, and QA75.5-76.95

Nuclear and particle physics. Atomic energy. Radioactivity and QC770-798

Three 6-cell 805 MHz superconducting cavity prototypes for acceleration in the velocity range of about 0.4 to 0.53 times the speed of light have been fabricated and tested. The quality factors (Q_{0}) were between 7×10^{9} and 1.4×10^{10} at the design field (accelerating gradient of 8–10 MV/m). The maximum gradients reached were between 11 and 16 MV/m; in each case, the Q_{0} values were ≥3×10^{9} at the maximum gradient. The design, fabrication, surface preparation, and rf testing of the 6-cell cavities are reported in this paper.

Competency assessment, Training needs assessment, Automation, Web-based system, Commerce, HF1-6182, Business, and HF5001-6182

A valid organization-wide needs assessment is a necessary precursor to successful competency development. This paper summarizes a framework for an effective needs assessment for competency-based development, and introduces an efficient web-based tool to manage the process. The web-based competency assessment system integrates survey design and on-line data collection with gap analysis techniques. A prototyping evaluation is conducted to assess the acceptability of the proposed framework. The evaluation of a prototype system by a group of Taiwan's experienced human resource managers showed a general acceptance and readiness in adopting efficiency-enhancing technologies to develop organizational competencies.

Telecommunication, TK5101-6720, Electronics, and TK7800-8360

This paper presents prototyping of a recurrent type neural network (RNN) convolutional decoder using system-level design specification and design flow that enables easy mapping to the target FPGA architecture. Implementation and the performance measurement results have shown that an RNN decoder for hard-decision decoding coupled with a simple hard-limiting neuron activation function results in a very low complexity, which easily fits into standard Altera FPGA. Moreover, the design methodology allowed modeling of complete testbed for prototyping RNN decoders in simulation and real-time environment (same FPGA), thus enabling evaluation of BER performance characteristics of the decoder for various conditions of communication channel in real time.

Telecommunication, TK5101-6720, Electronics, and TK7800-8360

The extremely dynamic and competitive nature of the wireless communication systems market demands ever shorter times to market for new products. Virtual prototyping has emerged as one of the most promising techniques to offer the required time savings and resulting increases in design efficiency. A fully automated environment for development of virtual prototypes is presented here, offering maximal efficiency gains, and supporting both design and verification flows, from the algorithmic model to the virtual prototype. The environment employs automated verification pattern refinement to achieve increased reuse in the design process, as well as increased quality by reducing human coding errors.

Telecommunication, TK5101-6720, Electronics, and TK7800-8360

To assess the performance of forthcoming 4th generation wireless local area networks, the algorithmic functionality is usually modelled using a high-level mathematical software package, for instance, Matlab. In order to validate the modelling assumptions against the real physical world, the high-level functional model needs to be translated into a prototype. A systematic system design methodology proves very valuable, since it avoids, or, at least reduces, numerous design iterations. In this paper, we propose a novel Matlab-to-hardware design flow, which allows to map the algorithmic functionality onto the target prototyping platform in a systematic and reproducible way. The proposed design flow is partly manual and partly tool assisted. It is shown that the proposed design flow allows to use the same testbench throughout the whole design flow and avoids time-consuming and error-prone intermediate translation steps.

Telecommunication, TK5101-6720, Electronics, and TK7800-8360

Future generations of mobile phones, including advanced video and digital communication layers, represent a great challenge in terms of real-time embedded systems. Programmable multicomponent architectures can provide suitable target solutions combining flexibility and computation power. The aim of our work is to develop a fast and automatic prototyping methodology dedicated to signal processing application implementation on parallel heterogeneous architectures, two major features required by future systems. This paper presents the whole methodology based on the SynDEx CAD tool that directly generates a distributed implementation onto various platforms from a high-level application description, taking real-time aspects into account. It illustrates the methodology in the context of real-time distributed executives for multilayer applications based on an MPEG-4 video codec and a UMTS telecommunication link.

Telecommunication, TK5101-6720, Electronics, and TK7800-8360

Transmit maximum ratio combining (MRC) allows to extend the range of wireless local area networks (WLANs) by exploiting spatial diversity and array gains. These gains, however, depend on the availability of the channel state information (CSI). In this perspective, an open-loop approach in time-division-duplex (TDD) systems relies on channel reciprocity between up- and downlink to acquire the CSI. Although the propagation channel can be assumed to be reciprocal, the radio-frequency (RF) transceivers may exhibit amplitude and phase mismatches between the up- and downlink. In this contribution, we present a statistical analysis to assess the impact of these mismatches on the performance of transmit-MRC. Furthermore, we propose a novel mixed-signal calibration scheme to mitigate these mismatches, which allows to reduce the implementation loss to as little as a few tenths of a dB. Finally, we also demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed calibration scheme in a real-time wireless MIMO-OFDM prototyping platform.

rapid prototyping, lost wax process (investment casting), waxes, ABS, Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General), and TA1-2040

Rapid prototyping is a manufacturing process which is different to traditional methods as material is not removed or formed but added to obtain the designed pieces. It is not lust used for manufacturing finished products but in manufacturing tooling for speeding up other manufacturing processes. This paper introduces rapid prototyping as a support technique for the lost wax process (investment casting). It gives a brief description of the different techniques implemented to date and materials used for making articles as part of the lost wax process.

Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics, R858-859.7, Biology (General), and QH301-705.5

Abstract Background Matlab, a powerful and productive language that allows for rapid prototyping, modeling and simulation, is widely used in computational biology. Modeling and simulation of large biological systems often require more computational resources then are available on a single computer. Existing distributed computing environments like the Distributed Computing Toolbox, MatlabMPI, Matlab*G and others allow for the remote (and possibly parallel) execution of Matlab commands with varying support for features like an easy-to-use application programming interface, load-balanced utilization of resources, extensibility over the wide area network, and minimal system administration skill requirements. However, all of these environments require some level of access to participating machines to manually distribute the user-defined libraries that the remote call may invoke. Results mGrid augments the usual process distribution seen in other similar distributed systems by adding facilities for user code distribution. mGrid's client-side interface is an easy-to-use native Matlab toolbox that transparently executes user-defined code on remote machines (i.e. the user is unaware that the code is executing somewhere else). Run-time variables are automatically packed and distributed with the user-defined code and automated load-balancing of remote resources enables smooth concurrent execution. mGrid is an open source environment. Apart from the programming language itself, all other components are also open source, freely available tools: light-weight PHP scripts and the Apache web server. Conclusion Transparent, load-balanced distribution of user-defined Matlab toolboxes and rapid prototyping of many simple parallel applications can now be done with a single easy-to-use Matlab command. Because mGrid utilizes only Matlab, light-weight PHP scripts and the Apache web server, installation and configuration are very simple. Moreover, the web-based infrastructure of mGrid allows for it to be easily extensible over the Internet.

Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics, R858-859.7, Biology (General), and QH301-705.5

Abstract Background Successful realization of a "systems biology" approach to analyzing cells is a grand challenge for our understanding of life. However, current modeling approaches to cell simulation are labor-intensive, manual affairs, and therefore constitute a major bottleneck in the evolution of computational cell biology. Results We developed the Genome-based Modeling (GEM) System for the purpose of automatically prototyping simulation models of cell-wide metabolic pathways from genome sequences and other public biological information. Models generated by the GEM System include an entire Escherichia coli metabolism model comprising 968 reactions of 1195 metabolites, achieving 100% coverage when compared with the KEGG database, 92.38% with the EcoCyc database, and 95.06% with iJR904 genome-scale model. Conclusion The GEM System prototypes qualitative models to reduce the labor-intensive tasks required for systems biology research. Models of over 90 bacterial genomes are available at our web site.

Bibliography. Library science. Information resources

A review of Druin, Allison. “What Children Can Teach Us: Developing Digital Libraries for Children with Children.” The Library Quarterly 75.1 (January 2005): 20-41. Objective – Through use of an interdisciplinary research team that included children, the study aimed to demonstrate that including children in the design of a digital library for children would result in some new approaches that would improve the site’s usability for the target user group. Design – Case study. Setting – The research was conducted at University of Maryland over a four-year period and involved an interdisciplinary research team of adult researchers from information studies, computer science, education, art, and psychology as well as seven children aged 7-11. Subjects – Seven children participated in the design team over two years; 153 children were observed and interviewed in the design phase; and the resulting new approaches were validated post-launch by analysis of International Children’s Digital Library (ICDL) (http://www.icdlbooks.org) users and usage patterns from November 2002-November 2003 (over 90,000 unique users and 19,000 optional questionnaire respondents). Method – The study included seven children in the design team for a digital library of international children’s books, which resulted in new approaches to collection development, cataloguing, and the search interface. In the design phase, research methods involving the seven children included brainstorming techniques, “cooperative inquiry”, low-tech prototyping; and lab use studies. The team also undertook observation and interviews of 153 children engaged in searching and selecting books from public library catalogues. In validating the new approaches that resulted from the design research, the team employed web log analysis, a voluntary online survey, and working with children in local schools to understand their use of ICDL. Main results – The inclusion of children’s viewpoints in the design stage of the ICDL had an impact in three areas: collection development, metadata, and interface design. For collection development, the research showed that kids were interested in books about children from other cultures and other times in history; in animals, both real and make-believe; in books that are sensitive to other cultures; and in books that are in good condition. For metadata, the research showed that children do not distinguish ‘fiction’ and ‘non-fiction’; look for ‘scary stuff’ or ‘gross stuff’; are often seeking books that make them feel a certain way; care about the look of book covers and may recall books by jacket colours; and use free vocabulary like ‘princesses’ and ‘jokes’. For interface design, the children’s involvement led to more search options (utilizing the new categories of metadata that were created), and customization options such as ability to choose different forms and colour palettes for book readers (e.g. the comic book reader, the spiral book reader). Web log and survey data, as well as lab tests, showed that the innovations resulting from the children’s design input were used. Of the over 90,000 unique users who visited the site in its first year, “genre” and “color” were statistically the fourth and fifth most popular search categories. In lab tests, girls used “color” twice as often as boys, and older boys preferred “genre” while younger children did not pay attention to that category. Conclusions – A first conclusion is that children’s input is vital to creating an online library that meets children’s information needs, tendencies and preferences. Also, seven design principles emerged: 1. Children’s input is invaluable and they should be involved in the design of their libraries. 2. Digital collections for children should consider works both contemporary and historical, and in different languages and representative of different cultures. 3. A variety of search interfaces are needed and it is particularly important to express categories with visual icons. 4. Additional metadata can be needed to reflect children’s views of relevant search criteria. 5. Interfaces should be customizable, such as providing various formats of reader that could themselves be customized in colour. 6. Tools should be suitable for use from the home and for collaborative use, such as use by a parent with a child. 7. Innovation requiring high bandwidth must be balanced with a low bandwidth version to assure broadest possible use. Lastly, the researchers concluded that more research is merited to assess the broader impact of digital libraries on children as searchers and readers.

CA investment casting, rapid prototyping, solidification simulation, complex components, Technology, Manufactures, and TS1-2301

An integrative computer aided investment casting (CAIC) technology for making complicated superalloy castings was described. Key processes of CAIC were discussed including the choice of SLS (Selectively Laser Sintering) materials, sintering parameters, solidification simulation and gating and risering system optimization. Using CAIC process, many large-sized quality superalloy castings with complicated shape and thin wall have been produced successfully and economically in Central Iron & steel Research Institute (CISRI).

three dimensional printing, implant, rapid prototyping, natural polymer, medical, Technology, Technology (General), T1-995, Science, Science (General), and Q1-390

A preliminary study employing a mixture of natural polymers for three dimensional printing (3DP) technology was carried out to determine the influence of mixture composition and post-processing technique on their physical and mechanical properties. Series of blended natural polymers including cassava starch, maltodextrin, cellulose fiber and gelatin with different amount were formulated. It was observed that the percentage of individual component influenced the properties and characteristics of prepared samples including part stability, dimension accuracy and flexural properties. Starch aided part stability and the fineness of the mixture. Maltodextrin and gelatin increased flexural strength whereas cellulose fiber helped in both part stability and strength. Infiltration by light-cured resin could further enhance flexural modulus and flexural strength of samples to be close to generally used acrylate resin. Preliminary in vitro toxicity test of infiltrated sample showed that the cells which were in contact with samples were healthy. No inhibition zone was observed.

Education

This paper reports the results of an empirical study that investigated the instructional design process of three teams involved in the development of an e-learning unit. The teams declared they were using the same fast-prototyping design and development model, and were composed of the same roles (although with a different number of SMEs). Results indicate that the design and development model actually informs the activities of the group, but that it is interpreted and adapted by the team for the specific project. Thus, the actual practice model of each team can be regarded as an emergent feature. This analysis delivers insights concerning issues about team communication, shared understanding, individual perspectives and the implementation of prescriptive instructional design models.

Requirements, Educational Software, Visual Deficiency, Electronic computers. Computer science, and QA75.5-76.95

This paper presents an account of the experience observed when obtaining a set of requirements for the development of educational software for people with impaired vision. Numerous techniques of requirements engineering, specifically review and prototyping techniques, were applied to elicit, analyze, and validate 51 requirements for educational software for the vision impaired. Requirements were documented and subdivided in functional requirements (FR) and non-functional requirements (NFR). To improve the understanding of these requirements, they were represented via Use Cases at UML. The results were the elicitation, analysis and negotiation, modeling, and validation of 40 functional requirements, and 11 non-functional requirements, as well as the diagram of the resultant of use cases.

Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics and R858-859.7

Abstract Background Although regulatory compliance in academic research is enforced by law to ensure high quality and safety to participants, its implementation is frequently hindered by cost and logistical barriers. In order to decrease these barriers, we have developed a Web-based application, Duke Surgery Research Central (DSRC), to monitor and streamline the regulatory research process. Results The main objective of DSRC is to streamline regulatory research processes. The application was built using a combination of paper prototyping for system requirements and Java as the primary language for the application, in conjunction with the Model-View-Controller design model. The researcher interface was designed for simplicity so that it could be used by individuals with different computer literacy levels. Analogously, the administrator interface was designed with functionality as its primary goal. DSRC facilitates the exchange of regulatory documents between researchers and research administrators, allowing for tasks to be tracked and documents to be stored in a Web environment accessible from an Intranet. Usability was evaluated using formal usability tests and field observations. Formal usability results demonstrated that DSRC presented good speed, was easy to learn and use, had a functionality that was easily understandable, and a navigation that was intuitive. Additional features implemented upon request by initial users included: extensive variable categorization (in contrast with data capture using free text), searching capabilities to improve how research administrators could search an extensive number of researcher names, warning messages before critical tasks were performed (such as deleting a task), and confirmatory e-mails for critical tasks (such as completing a regulatory task). Conclusion The current version of DSRC was shown to have excellent overall usability properties in handling research regulatory issues. It is hoped that its release as an open-source application will promote improved and streamlined regulatory processes for individual academic centers as well as larger research networks.

rapid prototyping, rapid tooling, stereolitography, Coproinmold, Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General), and TA1-2040

Making pieces directly from a CAD model is considered an important method for reduction of production time and manufacturing costs of new products. Rapid prototyping techniques are a way of producing conceptual models in a quick and simple fashion. Rapid tooling is the method of producing tools of general use, aimed specifically at obtaining small and medium series of pieces. This article studies the optimization of Coproinmold technology for obtaining molds for plastic injection.

Rapid tooling (RT), indirect tooling, direct tooling, Coproinmold, selective laser sintering (SLS), Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General), and TA1-2040

Rapid tooling (RT) is the technology that implements rapid prototyping (RP) techniques in the fabrication of tools and molds, especially for injection of plastics. Recently, RT has gained importance to the point that it is already considered to be a viable alternative to the methods of conventional machining. Two important techniques of RT are compared in this paper. This comparison is based on experimental data on the surface texture, dimensional quality, life cycle, costs and time of development of the tooling.

Theory and practice of education and LB5-3640

Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics, R858-859.7, Biology (General), and QH301-705.5

Abstract Background Recent years have seen the emergence of genome annotation methods based on the phylo-grammar, a probabilistic model combining continuous-time Markov chains and stochastic grammars. Previously, phylo-grammars have required considerable effort to implement, limiting their adoption by computational biologists. Results We have developed an open source software tool, xrate, for working with reversible, irreversible or parametric substitution models combined with stochastic context-free grammars. xrate efficiently estimates maximum-likelihood parameters and phylogenetic trees using a novel "phylo-EM" algorithm that we describe. The grammar is specified in an external configuration file, allowing users to design new grammars, estimate rate parameters from training data and annotate multiple sequence alignments without the need to recompile code from source. We have used xrate to measure codon substitution rates and predict protein and RNA secondary structures. Conclusion Our results demonstrate that xrate estimates biologically meaningful rates and makes predictions whose accuracy is comparable to that of more specialized tools.

DTC, virtual prototyping, VHDL-AMS, multi-domain simulation, switching strategy optimisation, digital control systems., Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering, and TK1-9971

In recent years, many studies was developed to find out different solutions for the induction motor control having the features of precise and quick torque response and reduction of the complexity of field oriented algorithms. The Direct Torque Control (DTC) method is the most recent control technique used to achieve these requirements. Designing power electronic systems is based on accurate knowledge of the designers. The procedure allowing adjustment performances in order to respect requirements follows a “try and test” scheme. The design is done step by step, sizing each part but without computer assistance. In this paper, we show how a high level language can be used to model a system including many domains like digital and analogue electronics, power electronics, electrical motor, control, etc. Each domain must be described at the good level of abstraction taking into account the wanted level of results. When the system and its simulation are available, it is possible to drive many studies in a virtual way: comparison of control algorithms, technological choices, etc. At this level, it is possible to talk about Virtual Prototyping of a complex system. We show in this paper how this approach can be applied to the DTC Control of an asynchronous motor in order to optimize the control algorithm and the embedded hardware.

object orientation, Petri net, XML, Agriculture, Biology (General), and QH301-705.5

Petri nets provide executive facilities for simulation of causality, non-determinism and parallelism in discreet systems. Since they are a mathematical model in substance, they offer theory, which can be successfully used to verification of models. Executability of Petri nets predestinates them for simulation and fast prototyping. Object Petri nets represent rather complicated class, based on hierarchical and high-level Petri nets. However their complexity is balanced by their ability to identify significant characteristics of system model and to visualize it in a graphic representation.Tools currently applied to modeling, simulation and verification of various Petri net variants use language PNML (Petri Net Markup Language) as an interchange format. However PNML is not capable of expression of object Petri net. This paper introduces prototype of XML-based language for modeling of parallel object-oriented systems described by object Petri net. This language, based on PNML, was named OPNML (Object Petri Net Markup Language).

execution profiling, real-time control, rapid prototyping, Electronic computers. Computer science, and QA75.5-76.95

The most popular configuration of the controlled laboratory test-rigs is the personalcomputer (PC) equipped with the I/O board. The dedicated software components allowsto conduct a wide range of user-defined tasks. The typical configuration functionality canbe customized by PC hardware components and their programmable reconfiguration. Thenext step in the automatic control system design is the embedded solution. Usually, thedesign process of the embedded control system is supported by the high-level software. Thededicated programming tools support multitasking property of the microcontroller by selectionof different sampling frequencies of algorithm blocks. In this case the multi-layer andmultitasking control strategy can be realized on the chip. The proposed solutions implementrapid prototyping approach. The available toolkits and device drivers integrate system-leveldesign environment and the real-time application software, transferring the functionality ofMATLAB/Simulink programs to PCs or microcontrolers application environment.

Telecommunication, TK5101-6720, Electronics, and TK7800-8360

Recently, there has been increased interest in moving the RF electronics in basestations from the bottom of the tower to the top, yielding improved power efficiencies and reductions in infrastructural costs. Tower-top systems have faced resistance in the past due to such issues as increased weight, size, and poor potential reliability. However, modern advances in reducing the size and complexity of RF subsystems have made the tower-top model more viable. Tower-top relocation, however, faces many significant engineering challenges. Two such challenges are the calibration of the tower-top array and ensuring adequate reliability. We present a tower-top smart antenna calibration scheme designed for high-reliability tower-top operation. Our calibration scheme is based upon an array of coupled reference elements which sense the array's output. We outline the theoretical limits of the accuracy of this calibration, using simple feedback-based calibration algorithms, and present their predicted performance based on initial prototyping of a precision coupler circuit for a array. As the basis for future study a more sophisticated algorithm for array calibration is also presented whose performance improves with array size.

Decision Support Systems, Unified Process, UML, Prototyping, DSS Tools, Computer engineering. Computer hardware, TK7885-7895, and Bibliography. Library science. Information resources

The structure of today's decision support environment become very complex due to new generation of Business Intelligence applications and technologies like Data Warehouse, OLAP (On Line Analytical Processing) and Data Mining. In this respect DSS development process are not simple and needs an adequate methodology or framework able to manage different tools and platforms to achieve manager's requirements. The DSS development process must be view like a unified and iterative set of activities and operations. The new techniques based on Unified Process (UP) methodology and UML (Unified Modeling Language) it seems to be appropriate for DSS development using prototyping and RAD (Rapid Application Development) techniques. In this paper we present a conceptual framework for development and integrate Decision Support Systems using Unified Process Methodology and UML.

Java, CDK, PubChem, cheminformatics, Statistics, and HA1-4737

The flexibility and scope of the R programming environment has made it a popular choice for statistical modeling and scientific prototyping in a number of fields. In the field of chemistry, R provides several tools for a variety of problems related to statistical modeling of chemical information. However, one aspect common to these tools is that they do not have direct access to the information that is available from chemical structures, such as contained in molecular descriptors.We describe the rcdk package that provides the R user with access to the CDK, a Java framework for cheminformatics. As a result, it is possible to read in a variety of molecular formats, calculate molecular descriptors and evaluate fingerprints. In addition, we describe the rpubchem that will allow access to the data in PubChem, a public repository of molecular structures and associated assay data for approximately 8 million compounds. Currently, the package allows access to structural information as well as some simple molecular properties from PubChem. In addition the package allows access to bio-assay data from the PubChem FTP servers.

liquid-phase sintering, glass, alumina, functionally graded materials, activated grain boundaries, Chemical technology, and TP1-1185

The sintering mechanism of glass-alumina functionally graded materials (G-A FGMs) at 710°C prepared by a novel rapid prototyping manufacturing (RP&M) technology was studied. An integrated kinetics equation was established for the initial 20 minutes. Linear shrinkage is due to the integrated working of both viscous flow of the glass particles and gravitation of the effective activated alumina grain boundaries towards the equilibrium state. The driving force for gravitation of the activated alumina grain boundaries originates from the coactions of passive flow of the alumina particles during viscous flow of the glass particles and the compressive stress formed during cooling. In the middle 10 minutes, the sintering process follows the solution-precipitation mechanism. Confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and the line scanning Energy Dispersive Spectrum (EDS), a layer of Si-Al eutectic of about 1.04μm on the alumina surface is formed. Then the alkali and alkali earth ions in the glass phase diffuse through this layer and precipitate on the surface. Additionally, the dissolved Al ions can easily transport through the eutectic layer and precipitate in the glass matrix due to the effect of Si in the glass matrix.

teaching object-oriented modelling, computer aided modelling, CASE, automated consistency control in modelling processes, prototyping and concretizing models, model driven development, Special aspects of education, and LC8-6691

This paper describes a didactical Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE)-tool that was developed for use within the context of a course in object-oriented domain modelling. In particular, the tool was designed to address several inconveniences that challenge the realisation of the course objectives: the number of students enrolled does not allow for individual feedback (a); students have little opportunity to build a concrete information system, therefore they fail to predict the consequences of the different choices when building a conceptual model (b); students lack examples and practice on how to convert a conceptual model into a concrete information system (c); at the beginning of the course students have very different levels of prior knowledge leading to major differences in motivation and learning outcomes (d). The tool was evaluated positively by the students and was shown to have a positive impact on the student's capabilities to construct object-oriented models. It is argued that even better learning results can be realised by capitalizing on the opportunities for social interaction in an educational context.

Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics, R858-859.7, Biology (General), and QH301-705.5

Abstract Background A fundamental goal of the U.S. National Institute of Health (NIH) "Roadmap" is to strengthen Translational Research, defined as the movement of discoveries in basic research to application at the clinical level. A significant barrier to translational research is the lack of uniformly structured data across related biomedical domains. The Semantic Web is an extension of the current Web that enables navigation and meaningful use of digital resources by automatic processes. It is based on common formats that support aggregation and integration of data drawn from diverse sources. A variety of technologies have been built on this foundation that, together, support identifying, representing, and reasoning across a wide range of biomedical data. The Semantic Web Health Care and Life Sciences Interest Group (HCLSIG), set up within the framework of the World Wide Web Consortium, was launched to explore the application of these technologies in a variety of areas. Subgroups focus on making biomedical data available in RDF, working with biomedical ontologies, prototyping clinical decision support systems, working on drug safety and efficacy communication, and supporting disease researchers navigating and annotating the large amount of potentially relevant literature. Results We present a scenario that shows the value of the information environment the Semantic Web can support for aiding neuroscience researchers. We then report on several projects by members of the HCLSIG, in the process illustrating the range of Semantic Web technologies that have applications in areas of biomedicine. Conclusion Semantic Web technologies present both promise and challenges. Current tools and standards are already adequate to implement components of the bench-to-bedside vision. On the other hand, these technologies are young. Gaps in standards and implementations still exist and adoption is limited by typical problems with early technology, such as the need for a critical mass of practitioners and installed base, and growing pains as the technology is scaled up. Still, the potential of interoperable knowledge sources for biomedicine, at the scale of the World Wide Web, merits continued work.

Architecture and NA1-9428

This paper tests design procedures for the development of complex, organic architectural forms. It illustrates a postgraduate student design process, implementing a development sequence based on the intelligent manipulation of architectural envelopes using a variety of existing modeling tools and emerging digital techniques. These stages of development respond to imposed spatial and environmental constraints. The tests began with full-scale modeling of small segments. The major constraints at this stage were spatial requirements and the physical characteristics of materials. The forms derived from the bending properties of prestressed green timber and the dimensions of shingle cladding. This was followed by digital 3D modeling using common commercial applications. At this stage initial models were derived from a traditional space requirement brief. The envelopes for these activities were then manipulated to respond to the spatial limitations imposed by surrounding buildings. This digital modeling process metaphorically “pushed the limits” as vertices of the envelope model were stretched and shifted to achieve a perceived “fit” between the two sets of spatial dimensions. The spatially manipulated geometry was then imported into Ecotect, an environmental analysis package. As an example, the envelope’s morphology and cladding material options on the acoustic qualities of the surrounding space were tested. The improved geometry was then imported into a Virtual Reality room, in which the spatial experience was simulated in presentations to the design team and potential occupants. This room utilized six projectors to create an immersive experience to users wearing stereoscopic goggles, and moving in a space surrounded by three large screens, creating a CAVE-like presentation space. Finally there was an attempt to complete the circle by returning from the simulated world to the physical worlds, by creating full-scale models from the digital geometry. This included low-cost techniques such as the generation of paper facets, and the use of more expensive rapid prototyping technology.

CT scan of the jaw, scan prosthesis, drill guides, stereolithography, computer-aided design, and Medicine

Background: Implants in dentistry are, besides fixed, removable and maxillofacial prosthodontics, one of the reliable possibility to make functional and aesthetic rehabilitation of the edentulism. Surgical and prosthodontic implant complications are often an inattentive consequence of wrong diagnosis, planning, and placement. In this article we present a technique using a highly advanced software program along with a rapid prototyping technology named stereolithography. A planning software for implant placement needs basically the high quality computed tomographic scan of one or both jaws for making accurate preoperative diagnostics and 3D preoperative plan. Later individual drill guide is designed and generated based on both the CT images and the preoperative planning. The patient specific drill guide transfers the virtual planning to the patient’s mouth at time of surgery.Conclusions: The advantages of computer guided implantology are the better prepared surgery with visualisation of critical anatomic structures, assessment of available bone and data about bone quality, increased confidence for the surgeon, deceased operative time, less frequent use of bone grafts, higher quality of collaboration between specialists and prosthetic lab and better communication with patients. Radiographic examination of the operation field for computer guided planning for implant placement is due to high costs justified as the most important information source on the areas to be implanted.

cirurgia da coluna, prototipagem rápida, estereolitografia, spine surgery, rapid prototyping, stereolithography, Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry, and RC321-571

Many techniques have been proposed for surgical training as a learning process for young surgeons or for the simulation of complex procedures. Stereolithograpfy, a rapid prototyping technique, has been presented recently as an option for these purposes. We describe the case of a 12 years old boy, diagnosed with Ewing´s sarcoma in the cervical spine. After a surgical simulation accomplished in the prototype, built by stereolithography, the patient was submitted to a C4 corpectomy and to a C4 and C3 laminectomy with anterior and posterior fixation, a non intercurrence procedure. This technique is an innovative and complementary tool in diagnosis and therapy. As a result, it is easier for the surgeon to understand the complexity of the case and plan the approach before any surgical procedure.Lesões tumorais da coluna podem representar um grande desafio para equipe cirúrgica. A estereolitografia é uma técnica de construção de peças anatômicas a partir de desenhos gráficos ou exames radiológicos. Apresentamos um paciente de 12 anos, com quadro de cervicobraquialgia à direita com diagnóstico de sarcoma de Ewing. Ao exame neurológico, o paciente apresentava-se com paresia em MSD grau IV e leve hipoestesia em dermátomos de C6 à T1 à direita. RM evidenciou edema intra e extra-ósseo com compressão medular e instabilidade cervical. Realizada simulação cirúrgica no protótipo construído por estereolitografia. Foi submetido a corpectomia de C4 e a laminectomia C4 e C3, com fixação anterior e posterior, procedimento sem intercorrências. A estereolitografia é ferramenta inovadora no auxílio diagnóstico e terapêutico. Seu uso permite ao cirurgião entender fisicamente o sítio da lesão, estudar a via de acesso e perceber a real complexidade do caso antes do procedimento cirúrgico.

Moldagem por injeção de PA6.6, moldes de estereolitografia, recobrimento metálico, PA6.6 injection molding, stereolithography molds, electroless metallic coating, Chemical technology, and TP1-1185

A fabricação de moldes por técnicas de prototipagem rápida, como a estereolitografia (SL), é considerada uma importante tecnologia no auxílio ao desenvolvimento de produtos de plástico moldados por injeção. Embora esta tecnologia se mostre vantajosa, a vida útil dos moldes pode ser bastante reduzida em decorrência, por exemplo, de forte adesão entre o polímero injetado e o material do molde SL. Neste trabalho é investigado o uso da técnica de recobrimento metálico com Ni-P por deposição electroless sobre moldes de injeção, fabricados por SL com a resina DSM SOMOS 7110®. Foram comparados resultados de moldagem de PA6.6 em moldes fabricados com e sem recobrimento metálico evidenciando a possibilidade de utilizar a técnica de metalização como alternativa para a moldagem deste material em moldes SL, uma vez que a vida útil foi superior.Manufacturing of moulds by rapid prototyping processes, such as stereolithography (SL), is considered an important technology to aid the development of injection moulding plastic products. Although this technology shows significant advantages, the lifetime of moulds may be drastically be reduced due to strong adhesion between the injected polymer and the material of the SL mould. This work investigates the use of Ni-P metal coating obtained by electroless deposition on SL moulds manufactured with the resin DSM SOMOS 7110. Specimens of PA6.6 have been injected into SL moulds manufactured with and without metal coating. The results showed that the electroless metal coating process can be an appropriate alternative to allow moulding of small series of PA6.6 parts in SL moulds.

computer simulation, virtual prototyping, computer modeling, fuzzy modeling, analytical modeling, simulation, Electronic computers. Computer science, and QA75.5-76.95

parallel computation, message passing interface, casting analysis, SMP, performance improvement, Technology, Manufactures, and TS1-2301

Up to now, so much casting analysis software has been continuing to develop the new access way to real casting processes. Those include the melt flow analysis, heat transfer analysis for solidification calculation, mechanical property predictions and microstructure predictions. These trials were successful to obtain the ideal results comparing with real situations, so that CAE technologies became inevitable to design or develop new casting processes. But for manufacturing fields, CAE technologies are not so frequently being used because of their difficulties in using the software or insufficient computing performances. To introduce CAE technologies to manufacturing field, the high performance analysis is essential to shorten the gap between product designing time and prototyping time. The software code optimization can be helpful, but it is not enough, because the codes developed by software experts are already optimized enough. As an alternative proposal for high performance computations, the parallel computation technologies are eagerly being applied to CAE technologies to make the analysis time shorter. In this research, SMP (Shared Memory Processing) and MPI (Message Passing Interface) (1) methods for parallelization were applied to commercial software "Z-Cast" to calculate the casting processes. In the code parallelizing processes, the network stabilization, core optimization were also carried out under Microsoft Windows platform and their performances and results were compared with those of normal linear analysis codes.

Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and RC925-935

Abstract Background Conventional knee and hip implant systems have been in use for many years with good success. However, the custom design of implant components based on patient-specific anatomy has been attempted to overcome existing shortcomings of current designs. The longevity of cementless implant components is highly dependent on the initial fit between the bone surface and the implant. The bone-implant interface design has historically been limited by the surgical tools and cutting guides available; and the cost of fabricating custom-designed implant components has been prohibitive. Methods This paper describes an approach where the custom design is based on a Computed Tomography scan of the patient's joint. The proposed design will customize both the articulating surface and the bone-implant interface to address the most common problems found with conventional knee-implant components. Finite Element Analysis is used to evaluate and compare the proposed design of a custom femoral component with a conventional design. Results The proposed design shows a more even stress distribution on the bone-implant interface surface, which will reduce the uneven bone remodeling that can lead to premature loosening. Conclusion The proposed custom femoral component design has the following advantages compared with a conventional femoral component. (i) Since the articulating surface closely mimics the shape of the distal femur, there is no need for resurfacing of the patella or gait change. (ii) Owing to the resulting stress distribution, bone remodeling is even and the risk of premature loosening might be reduced. (iii) Because the bone-implant interface can accommodate anatomical abnormalities at the distal femur, the need for surgical interventions and fitting of filler components is reduced. (iv) Given that the bone-implant interface is customized, about 40% less bone must be removed. The primary disadvantages are the time and cost required for the design and the possible need for a surgical robot to perform the bone resection. Some of these disadvantages may be eliminated by the use of rapid prototyping technologies, especially the use of Electron Beam Melting technology for quick and economical fabrication of custom implant components.

Implante Dentário Endoósseo, Mandíbula, Função Imediata, Dental Implantation, Endosseous, Mandible, Immediate Loading, Surgery, and RD1-811

PURPOSE: To evaluate the rehabilitation of edentulous mandibles with osseous integrated implants in immediate loading, using models in reverse planning. METHODS: A prospective study was performed on 14 patients with a total of 56 implants placed. It was proposed a technique for the rehabilitation of edentulous mandible with osseous integrated implants of immediate loading, using anatomical replicas derived from computerized tomography scan linked to the rapid prototyping technique of stereolithography in reverse planning, elaborating the definitive fixed prosthesis, with rigid union of the implants on the same day. The patients' mandible models were divided in two groups. In the first one, there were patients with edentulous mandible models and with models elaborated after exodontics procedures (Group 1). In the second (Group 2), patients with dentulous mandible models, which allow an evaluation of difficulty in the surgery. RESULTS: The proposed technique using anatomical models for the personalization of mandibles in immediate loading had 100% of less difficulty in the adaptation of the surgery guide while the dentulous models had 83,3% of more difficulty. CONCLUSION: The proposed technique using the mandible models in the rehabilitation of mandibles is feasible.OBJETIVO: Avaliar a reabilitação de mandíbulas edêntulas com implantes osseointegrados, em função imediata, utilizando biomodelos no planejamento inverso. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo prospectivo em 14 pacientes com um total de 56 implantes colocados, em que foi proposta uma técnica de reabilitação de mandíbulas edêntulas com implantes osseointegrados, em função imediata, utilizando biomodelos, confeccionados a partir dos dados da tomografia computadorizada, no planejamento inverso, confeccionando a prótese fixa final, com união rígida dos implantes, no mesmo dia. Os biomodelos dos pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos. Um deles composto pelos pacientes com biomodelos edêntulos e aqueles confeccionados após exodontia (grupo 1). O outro (grupo 2) composto pelos pacientes com biomodelos dentados, sendo avaliada a dificuldade do procedimento, quanto a cirurgia. RESULTADOS: A técnica proposta do uso da prototipagem biomédica na função imediata nas mandíbulas com biomodelos edêntulos teve 100,0 % de menor dificuldade na adaptação da guia cirúrgica, enquanto os biomodelos dentados apresentaram 83,3 % de maior dificuldade. CONCLUSÃO: O biomodelo no planejamento inverso de reabilitações orais teve 100,0 % de menor dificuldade em comparação com os protótipos dentados 83,3 % de maior dificuldade.

Telecommunication, TK5101-6720, Electronics, and TK7800-8360

Recently, there has been increased interest in moving the RF electronics in basestations from the bottom of the tower to the top, yielding improved power efficiencies and reductions in infrastructural costs. Tower-top systems have faced resistance in the past due to such issues as increased weight, size, and poor potential reliability. However, modern advances in reducing the size and complexity of RF subsystems have made the tower-top model more viable. Tower-top relocation, however, faces many significant engineering challenges. Two such challenges are the calibration of the tower-top array and ensuring adequate reliability. We present a tower-top smart antenna calibration scheme designed for high-reliability tower-top operation. Our calibration scheme is based upon an array of coupled reference elements which sense the array's output. We outline the theoretical limits of the accuracy of this calibration, using simple feedback-based calibration algorithms, and present their predicted performance based on initial prototyping of a precision coupler circuit for a 2×2 array. As the basis for future study a more sophisticated algorithm for array calibration is also presented whose performance improves with array size.

bone, osteoporosis, rat, mechanical property, rapid prototyping technology, Science, Mechanical engineering and machinery, and TJ1-1570

We developed a new estimation system using rapid prototyping technology that focuses on the relationship between the architecture and mechanical properties of trabecular bone. The system uses three-dimensional acrylic resin models of trabecular bone constructed from micro-CT data to predict the mechanical properties of trabecular bone. We used this method to clarify the relationship between loading orientation and bone fragility in the vertebral trabecular bone of ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Twenty 6-week-old female Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups (OVX and normal groups). Five rats from each group were killed at 3 and 6 weeks following operations and the L4 vertebra was removed. Bone specimens from both groups were scanned using a micro-CT system. Subsequently, resin models of the bone were fabricated at 60× magnification from the micro-CT data sets using laser stereolithography. The resin models were subjected to compressive testing in three orthogonal orientations corresponding to the craniocaudal, mediolateral, and anteroposterior anatomic axes. The results showed that the elastic modulus and ultimate stress were lower in the models of OVX rats than in the normal rats, the mechanical properties of trabecular bone structure from OVX rats deteriorated with increasing time postoperatively, and the elastic moduli in the mediolateral and anteroposterior axes were especially reduced relative to the decrease in the craniocaudal axis in the OVX rats.

virtual, digital, hybrid, physical, 3D scanning, prototyping, Drawing. Design. Illustration, and NC1-1940

Abstract As digital design technologies become ever more widespread, CAD-CAM, virtual and rapid prototyping techniques are increasingly being exploited by creative practitioners working in areas outside the industrial design and engineering contexts in which these technologies are currently predominantly employed. This review paper aims to critically examine work by artists, craft practitioners, and designer-makers who creatively engage with these new and rapidly emerging technologies and, by doing so, extend their own practice and push at the boundaries of art and design disciplines. Historic precedents for new 3D technologies in the fine and applied arts are identified, and writing by Heidegger, Baudrillard, and Virilio informs the critical review of work by art and design practitioners in sculpture, metalwork, jewellery, and ceramics. The discussion reflects on relationships between art and technology and physical and virtual making, and concludes by pointing to the possibility of new “hybrid” forms of practice which bridge the gap between physical and virtual design worlds. The paper closes by suggesting that the notion of “truth to materials” in the arts and crafts might now be extended to one of “truth to virtual materials”, as practitioners creatively negotiate relationships between digital cause and physical effect.

3D scanning, digital, hybrid, physical, prototyping, virtual, Drawing. Design. Illustration, and NC1-1940

As digital design technologies become ever more widespread, CAD-CAM, virtual and rapid prototyping techniques are increasingly being exploited by creative practitioners working in areas outside the industrial design and engineering contexts in which these technologies are currently predominantly employed. This review paper aims to critically examine work by artists, craft practitioners, and designer-makers who creatively engage with these new and rapidly emerging technologies and, by doing so, extend their own practice and push at the boundaries of art and design disciplines. Historic precedents for new 3D technologies in the fine and applied arts are identified, and writing by Heidegger, Baudrillard, and Virilio informs the critical review of work by art and design practitioners in sculpture, metalwork, jewellery, and ceramics. The discussion reflects on relationships between art and technology and physical and virtual making, and concludes by pointing to the possibility of new “hybrid” forms of practice which bridge the gap between physical and virtual design worlds. The paper closes by suggesting that the notion of “truth to materials” in the arts and crafts might now be extended to one of “truth to virtual materials”, as practitioners creatively negotiate relationships between digital cause and physical effect.

Java, CMOS, Parallelizing Compiler, Pervasive Computing, Processor, H/S Co-Design, Hardware Cryptography, Information technology, T58.5-58.64, Communication. Mass media, and P87-96

The development of single chip VLSI processors is the key technology of ever growing pervasive computing to answer overall demands for usability, mobility, speed, security, etc. We have so far developed a hardware cryptography-embedded multimedia mobile processor architecture, HCgorilla. Since HCgorilla integrates a wide range of techniques from architectures to applications and languages, one-sided design approach is not always useful. HCgorilla needs more complicated strategy, that is, hardware/software (H/S) codesign. Thus, we exploit the software support of HCgorilla composed of a Java interface and parallelizing compilers. They are assumed to be installed in servers in order to reduce the load and increase the performance of HCgorilla-embedded clients. Since compilers are the essence of software's responsibility, we focus in this article on our recent results about the design, specifications, and prototyping of parallelizing compilers for HCgorilla. The parallelizing compilers are composed of a multicore compiler and a LIW compiler. They are specified to abstract parallelism from executable serial codes or the Java interface output and output the codes executable in parallel by HCgorilla. The prototyping compilers are written in Java. The evaluation by using an arithmetic test program shows the reasonability of the prototyping compilers compared with hand compilers.

Biotechnology, TP248.13-248.65, Biology (General), and QH301-705.5

The application of finite-element modelling in medical applications has been evolving as a field of high importance in recent times. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has been in existence for over 6 decades. The generic artificial knee implants used in the TKA have a restricted range of motion of around 90 degrees. A new design allowing a flexion extension range of over 120 degrees was designed and is used for analysis. Loading conditions of 10 times the body weight are considered. The finite-element analyses of the designs were carried out based on standard biomaterials used in orthopaedic implants. The results of the analyses were used in identifying areas of extreme stress within the design and the spots prone to higher deformation. On the basis of these results slight modification of the designs was carried out. The results are also verified whether the body is within the linear deformation levels. The results obtained were very satisfactory and based on these results the models have been recommended for prototyping.

Telecommunication, TK5101-6720, Electronics, and TK7800-8360

Predistortion (PD) lineariser for microwave power amplifiers (PAs) is an important topic of research. With larger and larger bandwidth as it appears today in modern WiMax standards as well as in multichannel base stations for 3GPP standards, the relatively simple nonlinear effect of a PA becomes a complex memory-including function, severely distorting the output signal. In this contribution, two digital PD algorithms are investigated for the linearisation of microwave PAs in mobile communications. The first one is an efficient and low-complexity algorithm based on a memoryless model, called the simplicial canonical piecewise linear (SCPWL) function that describes the static nonlinear characteristic of the PA. The second algorithm is more general, approximating the pre-inverse filter of a nonlinear PA iteratively using a Volterra model. The first simpler algorithm is suitable for compensation of amplitude compression and amplitude-to-phase conversion, for example, in mobile units with relatively small bandwidths. The second algorithm can be used to linearise PAs operating with larger bandwidths, thus exhibiting memory effects, for example, in multichannel base stations. A measurement testbed which includes a transmitter-receiver chain with a microwave PA is built for testing and prototyping of the proposed PD algorithms. In the testing phase, the PD algorithms are implemented using MATLAB (floating-point representation) and tested in record-and-playback mode. The iterative PD algorithm is then implemented on a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) using fixed-point representation. The FPGA implementation allows the pre-inverse filter to be tested in a real-time mode. Measurement results show excellent linearisation capabilities of both the proposed algorithms in terms of adjacent channel power suppression. It is also shown that the fixed-point FPGA implementation of the iterative algorithm performs as well as the floating-point implementation.

Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics, R858-859.7, Public aspects of medicine, and RA1-1270

Background For most individuals, long-term maintenance of weight loss requires long-term, supportive intervention. Internet-based weight loss maintenance programs offer considerable potential for meeting this need. Careful design processes are required to maximize adherence and minimize attrition. ObjectiveThis paper describes the development, implementation and use of a Web-based intervention program designed to help those who have recently lost weight sustain their weight loss over 1 year. MethodsThe weight loss maintenance website was developed over a 1-year period by an interdisciplinary team of public health researchers, behavior change intervention experts, applications developers, and interface designers. Key interactive features of the final site include social support, self-monitoring, written guidelines for diet and physical activity, links to appropriate websites, supportive tools for behavior change, check-in accountability, tailored reinforcement messages, and problem solving and relapse prevention training. The weight loss maintenance program included a reminder system (automated email and telephone messages) that prompted participants to return to the website if they missed their check-in date. If there was no log-in response to the email and telephone automated prompts, a staff member called the participant. We tracked the proportion of participants with at least one log-in per month, and analyzed log-ins as a result of automated prompts. ResultsThe mean age of the 348 participants enrolled in an ongoing randomized trial and assigned to use the website was 56 years; 63% were female, and 38% were African American. While weight loss data will not be available until mid-2008, website use remained high during the first year with over 80% of the participants still using the website during month 12. During the first 52 weeks, participants averaged 35 weeks with at least one log-in. Email and telephone prompts appear to be very effective at helping participants sustain ongoing website use. ConclusionsDeveloping interactive websites is expensive, complex, and time consuming. We found that extensive paper prototyping well in advance of programming and a versatile product manager who could work with project staff at all levels of detail were essential to keeping the development process efficient. Trial Registrationclinicaltrials.gov NCT00054925

rapid prototyping, computer assisted design, maxilla, scull, reconstructive surgery, Dentistry, and RK1-715

The use of contemporary technologies of Computer Assisted Design (CAD), combined with latest rapid prototyping, tooling and manufacturing, with traditional CT scanning techniques and high medical skills are used as instruments for better diagnostic visualization, simulation of procedures and treatment of patients with craniofacial deformities. They also improve the overall performances of medical and nursing staff thus influencing the quality of medical service. Patients with congenital defects, orthognathic deformities, deformities after malignancy treatment or after craniofacial traumatic injuries of different severities are of particular interests due to both aesthetic and functional alterations. The paper presents two clinical cases - a patient with scull bone defect after brain hemorrhage and brain edema as well as a patient with hemifacial microsomia treated by surgery followed by implantation of titanium angular implant prepared by means of computer tomography scans, Computer Aided Design and Rapid Manufacturing technologies.

rapid prototyping, wind tunnel testing, aerodynamic characteristics, surface roughness, fused deposition method, layer thickness, Science (General), Q1-390, and Technology

Nowadays, rapid prototyping (RP) methods are widely used to produce wind tunnel testing models. Layer thickness is an important parameter that affects aerodynamic characteristics of wind tunnel models. This paper describes the effects of Layer thickness, using rapid prototyping, on aerodynamic coefficients to construct wind tunnel testing models. Three models were evaluated. These models were fabricated from ABSi by fused deposition method (FDM). The layer thickness was 0.178 mm, 0.254 mm and 0.33 mm. The surface roughness for each model was 25 μm, 63 μm and 160 μm (RZ) determined by PERTHOMETER2. A wing-body-tail configuration was chosen for the actual study. Testing covered the Mach no. range of Mach 0.3 to Mach 1.2 at an angle-of-attack range of -4° to +16° at zero sideslip. Coefficients of normal force, axial force, pitching moment, and lift over drag are shown at each of these mach numbers. Results from this study show that layer thickness does have effect on the aerodynamic characteristics; in general the difference between the data extracted from three models is less than 6 percent. The layer thickness does have more effect on the aerodynamic characteristics when mach number is decreased and has the most effect on the aerodynamic characteristics of axial force and its derivative coefficients.

Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics, R858-859.7, Biology (General), and QH301-705.5

Abstract Background Mass spectrometry is an essential analytical technique for high-throughput analysis in proteomics and metabolomics. The development of new separation techniques, precise mass analyzers and experimental protocols is a very active field of research. This leads to more complex experimental setups yielding ever increasing amounts of data. Consequently, analysis of the data is currently often the bottleneck for experimental studies. Although software tools for many data analysis tasks are available today, they are often hard to combine with each other or not flexible enough to allow for rapid prototyping of a new analysis workflow. Results We present OpenMS, a software framework for rapid application development in mass spectrometry. OpenMS has been designed to be portable, easy-to-use and robust while offering a rich functionality ranging from basic data structures to sophisticated algorithms for data analysis. This has already been demonstrated in several studies. Conclusion OpenMS is available under the Lesser GNU Public License (LGPL) from the project website at http://www.openms.de.

Blackfin, uCLinux, Capacitance liquid fill level, Spatial filtering, Flow measurement, Technology (General), and T1-995

This paper presents a multi-purpose and easy to handle rapid prototyping platform that has been designed for capacitive measurement systems. The core of the prototype platform is a Digital Signal Processor board that allows for the entire data acquisition, data (pre-) processing and storage, and communication with any host computer. The platform is running on uCLinux operating system and features the possibility of a fast design and evaluation of capacitive sensor developments. To show the practical benefit of the prototyping platform, three exemplary applications are presented. For all applications, the platform is just plugged to the electrode structure of the sensor front-end without the need for analogue signal pre-conditioning.

Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) and TA1-2040

In this paper we explore different hardware accelerators for cryptography based on elliptic curves. Furthermore, we present a hierarchical multiprocessor system-on-chip (MPSoC) platform that can be used for fast integration and evaluation of novel hardware accelerators. In respect of two application scenarios the hardware accelerators are coupled at different hierarchy levels of the MPSoC platform. The whole system is implemented in a state of the art 65 nm standard cell technology. Moreover, an FPGA-based rapid prototyping system for fast system verification is presented. Finally, a metric to analyze the resource efficiency by means of chip area, execution time and energy consumption is introduced.

Architecture, biohazard defense system, CMOS integrated circuits, device prototyping, hardware, medical nanorobotics, nanobioelectronics, nanobiosensor, proteomics., Chemical technology, and TP1-1185

This work presents a new approach with details on the integrated platform and hardware architecture for nanorobots application in epidemic control, which should enable real time in vivo prognosis of biohazard infection. The recent developments in the field of nanoelectronics, with transducers progressively shrinking down to smaller sizes through nanotechnology and carbon nanotubes, are expected to result in innovative biomedical instrumentation possibilities, with new therapies and efficient diagnosis methodologies. The use of integrated systems, smart biosensors, and programmable nanodevices are advancing nanoelectronics, enabling the progressive research and development of molecular machines. It should provide high precision pervasive biomedical monitoring with real time data transmission. The use of nanobioelectronics as embedded systems is the natural pathway towards manufacturing methodology to achieve nanorobot applications out of laboratories sooner as possible. To demonstrate the practical application of medical nanorobotics, a 3D simulation based on clinical data addresses how to integrate communication with nanorobots using RFID, mobile phones, and satellites, applied to long distance ubiquitous surveillance and health monitoring for troops in conflict zones. Therefore, the current model can also be used to prevent and save a population against the case of some targeted epidemic disease.

technical graphics, design product, virtual prototyping., Architectural engineering. Structural engineering of buildings, TH845-895, Engineering design, and TA174

The paper presents aspects concerning the using of modern technical graphics elements in the virtual prototyping. The virtual prototyping is a process which uses a virtual prototype in place of physical prototype for the testing and the evaluation of specific features of designed product. The virtual prototype is created by computer such as it could assign the specific features as close as possible to the real conditions which permit its function simulation in the conditions for which is designed. The virtual prototyping permits the replacing of classical design process, although, and the elaboration of graphicalm documentation, which represent an important work volume – with CAD/CAM systems in the increased efficiency conditions.

tool path generation, multi-axis robot, freeform surface sculpturing, cad/cam software, hotwire cutting, Engineering machinery, tools, and implements, TA213-215, Mechanical engineering and machinery, and TJ1-1570

In this paper, a surface sculpturing system based on 8-axis robot is proposed, the CAD/CAM software and tool path generation algorithm for this sculpturing system are presented. The 8-axis robot is composed of a 6-axis manipulator and a 2-axis worktable, it carves block of polystyrene foams by heated cutting tools. Multi-DOF (Degree of Freedom) robot benefits from the faster fashion than traditional RP (Rapid Prototyping) methods and more flexibility than CNC machining. With its flexibility driven from an 8-axis configuration, as well as efficient custom-developed software for rough cutting and finish cutting, this surface sculpturing system can carve sculptured surface accurately and efficiently.

Desempenho térmico, molde compósito, moldagem por injeção de polipropileno, Thermal behavior, composite mold, polypropylene injection molding, Chemical technology, and TP1-1185

O surgimento das tecnologias de prototipagem rápida (RP) e de ferramental rápido (RT) tem despertado interesse da indústria de moldes de injeção. O vazamento de termofixos com cargas metálicas possibilita a construção de moldes usando materiais compósitos, os quais apresentam maior resistência que os utilizados por outras técnicas RT. Neste trabalho foi estudado o comportamento térmico de moldes fabricados em epóxi/alumínio durante a injeção de polipropileno através de avaliações da estrutura e de propriedades mecânicas utilizando difração de raio X e ensaios de dureza e de tração. Os corpos-de-prova injetados no molde em compósito epóxi/alumínio apresentaram pequenas diferenças no grau de cristalinidade das superfícies analisadas e propriedades mecânicas semelhantes aos corpos-de-prova injetados em molde de aço. O estudo mostrou um razoável desempenho térmico do molde compósito durante a injeção de polipropileno evidenciando a viabilidade de utilização destes moldes na produção de pequenas séries de protótipos e de produtos neste termoplástico.rapid prototyping (RP) and rapid tooling (RT) technologies are gaining increasing importance in the injection molding industry. Casting of resin/metal composites allows the construction of molds with greater resistance than those manufactured by other RT techniques such as Stereolithography. In this work, the thermal behavior of molds manufactured in epoxy/aluminum during the injection molding of polypropylene specimens was investigated. Structural and mechanical characterization of the molded specimens included X ray analysis, hardness and tensile testing. The samples presented small differences in the degree of crystallinity and similar mechanical properties in comparison with samples injected into steel molds. This study showed a reasonable thermal performance of the epoxy/aluminum mold during the injection molding of polypropylene, thus demonstrating the viability of using these molds to produce a few number of prototypes or products with this thermoplastic.

Architecture and NA1-9428

The paper describes research being carried out in relation to prefabricated high density affordablehousing under a grant from the Partnership for the Advancement of Technology in Housing(PATH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the USA. The objective is to demonstratehow a new paradigm for the conceptualization and construction of buildings can be conceivedof as an entirely factory based process that creates advantages for construction through industrialsystems technology transfer. Our approach is intended to transform design methodologythrough demonstrating how alternative construction concepts, using entirely pre-manufacturedvolumetric units, can be adopted. This involves digital modeling that facilitates parametric variationsfor creating customized prefabricated products from design conceptualization through tofinal product delivery. The paper discusses key areas under investigation in relation to a manufacturingparadigm used in the automotive industry that integrates virtual prototyping and industrialmanufacturing systems. Our research explores a type of monocoque volumetric unit prefabricatedin steel, which will be pre-finished as part of a modular factory-built approach usingindustrialized methodologies that will facilitate customized manufacture of a high quality energyefficient product for affordable housing.The paper addresses the automotive industry methods of manufacture that have served increasedautomobile performance and economics through mass production for over a century. In starkcontrast, the building industry and in particular the housing industry is still a century behind. It issuggested that a move away from tradition will require an industry wide initiative, just like HenryFord led the way with mass production. By embracing the increasing sophistication and capabilitythat digital technology offers, it is shown how digital tools are implemented towards masscustomization in house design using virtual modeling in the context of a prefabricated manufacturingapproach. This includes industrialized modular sub-assembly design, where the informationon parts, assemblies and modules can be transferred to digital and robotic technology, asseen in the automotive industry, as well as achieving enhanced production efficiency through a‘supply chain’ process, which is condensed. The paper discusses how these models for manufacturecan be transferred into the housing market in order to revolutionize the cost and qualitybase of construction. Our research objective is to disseminate knowledge on this process, andshowing how through integrated transfer of automotive technologies we can implement an industrializedfabrication process for mass housing, not previously known in the building industry.