Design Of Digital Systems Research Articles

An Integrated Digital System Design Framework With On-Chip Functional Verification and Performance Evaluation

An Integrated Digital System Design Framework With On-Chip Functional Verification and Performance Evaluation

Synthesizing robust control systems for mechatronic objects with digital state controllers and observers

Currently, digital controllers with state observers are widely applied in automatic control systems for mechatronic objects, which great potential abilities are caused by structural flexibility and developed methods of synthesis. However, during design and practical implementation of the systems there is problem of robustness, associated with parametrical uncertainty of typical mechatronic objects. Most methods for synthesis of robust control systems are based on application of continuous mathematical models and do not take into account specific of digital realization of controllers with state observers. Methods of state space, modal control, digital system design, numerical optimization algorithms and simulation in MatLab environment were used. We propose a method of synthesizing robust digital modal control systems with state observers based on generating dynamic system characteristics within the areas of parametric robustness. Further, low sensitivity of the system to changes in controlled object parameters is ensured by the minimal phase character of the complex controller transfer function, while low sensitivity to changing parameters of the controller itself is ensured by excluding positive feedback in both control and adjustment circuits. Developed recommendations of choosing dynamic characteristics of state controller with observer loops within robustness areas and of forming rational state observer structure allow us to synthesize digital automatic control system with low sensitivity for variation of both control object parameters and inherent controller parameters.

Integrating Key User Characteristics in User-Centered Design of Digital Support Systems for Seniors' Physical Activity Interventions to Prevent Falls: Protocol for a Usability Study.

BackgroundThe goal of user-centered design (UCD) is to understand the users’ perspective and to use that knowledge to shape more effective solutions. The UCD approach provides insight into users’ needs and requirements and thereby improves the design of the developed services. However, involving users in the development process does not guarantee that feedback from different subgroups of users will shape the development in ways that will make the solutions more useful for the entire target user population.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to describe a protocol for systematic analysis and prioritization of feedback from user subgroups in the usability testing of a digital motivation support for fall-preventive physical activity (PA) interventions in seniors (aged 65 years and older). This protocol can help researchers and developers to systematically exploit feedback from relevant user subgroups in UCD.MethodsGender, PA level, and level of technology experience have been identified in the literature to influence users’ experience and use of digital support systems for fall-preventive PA interventions in seniors. These 3 key user characteristics were dichotomized and used to define 8 (ie, 23) possible user subgroups. The presented method enables systematic tracking of the user subgroups’ contributions in iterative development. The method comprises (1) compilation of difficulties and deficiencies in the digital applications identified in usability testing, (2) clustering of the identified difficulties and deficiencies, and (3) prioritization of deficiencies to be rectified. Tracking user subgroup representation in the user feedback ensures that the development process is prioritized according to the needs of different subgroups. Mainly qualitative data collection methods are used.ResultsA protocol was developed to ensure that feedback from users representing all possible variants of 3 selected key user characteristics (gender, PA level, and level of technology experience) is considered in the iterative usability testing of a digital support for seniors’ PA. The method was applied in iterative usability testing of two digital applications during spring/summer 2018. Results from the study on the users’ experiences and the iterative modification of the digital applications are expected to be published during 2021.ConclusionsMethods for systematic collection, analysis, and prioritization of feedback from user subgroups might be particularly important in heterogenous user groups (eg, seniors). This study can contribute to identifying and improving the understanding of potential differences between user subgroups of seniors in their use and experiences of digital support for fall-preventive PA interventions. This knowledge may be relevant for developing digital support systems that are appropriate, useful, and attractive to users and for enabling the design of digital support systems that target specific user subgroups (ie, tailoring of the support). The protocol needs to be further used and investigated in order to validate its potential value.International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)RR1-10.2196/20061

A New Systematic GDI Circuit Synthesis Using MUX Based Decomposition Algorithm and Binary Decision Diagram for Low Power ASIC Circuit Design

The advances in the new process technology characteristically come with a multitude of new design variables and hence a new set of challenges for the designers to understand the impact of circuit design. During the last decade, widespread deliberations have been specified to the usage of Gate Diffusion Input (GDI) networks in the design of digital core systems; however the logic design has been constructed using transistor-level. Till now there is no specific approach is available for synthesizing GDI circuit that incorporated the impact of signal arrangement and circuit technology. Creation of standard cell library for GDI technique becomes an utmost imperative. In this research work, a regimented synthesis algorithm have been proposed to minimize power and augment performance of the digital circuits through two approaches MUX based decomposition algorithm and Binary Decision Diagram (BDD). The primitive nodes are implemented by GDI logic and CMOS logic for level restoration circuit. This research work is targeted to design sub-micron GDI library which is suitable for the 180 ​nm and 90 ​nm 6-metal layer CMOS n-well process which is offered by MOSIS. The principal focus is to engender a comprehensive library including the core number of essential primitive cells, depicting the detailed layout and transistor-level schematic views of every cell in 180nm and 90 ​nm process, in order to use them as a completely synthesizable library. The signal connectivity models for GDI are presented using MUX and BDD approach. The synthesis of ISCAS Combinational bench mark circuit in CMOS, PTL and GDI technique is also examined in this work along with buffer inclusion procedure for GDI technique.

A novel approach for the design of low-power pipelined synchronous systems operating in double–edge of the clock

The continuous search for higher performances and low power dissipation on digital systems shows to be critical. The pipeline control is a good alternative for achieving good results, but the activity of the clock is responsible for the high consumption of 15–45% of the total circuit energy. Decreasing the clock activity leads not only to a reduction of this consumption but also to a reduction of noise and electromagnetic interference. An interesting approach to achieve this goal is the design of synchronous digital systems that operate in both edges of the clock signal (double-edge triggered – DET), allowing a reduction of 50% in the operating frequency while maintains the same data processing rate. As we know, the use of double-edge triggered flip-flops (DET-FF) leads to some main drawbacks. Then, in this paper, we propose a novel method that allows synthesizing synchronous digital systems with pipeline control. Such control operates in both edges of the clock using only standards flip-flops (single-edge triggered flip-flops-SET-FF) as components of the state memories. The method was validated for a well-known example (second order differential equation solver), and it was applied to a set of 5 well-known benchmarks, showing a mean reduction of 53% in latency time when compared to conventional methods working at the same frequency (in the case 50MHZ). We achieved an average reduction of 10% in latency time when the operating frequency of our projects was reduced to 25MHZ and compared to conventional ones at 50MHZ. The proposed method leads to a mean reduction of 45% in dynamic power consumption when compared to conventional ones. These results, although presenting a minimum area penalty, show a high potential of practical implementations focusing on low-power and high performances.

Multi-aperture digital telescopic system with super-resolution

The development results of a telescopic system that allows high-quality digital images of distant objects to be obtained in horizontal routes with a high spatial resolution, which in an extreme case tends toward the diffraction limit, are reported in this study. A three-channel multi-aperture digital telescopic system with super-resolution realizes two methods of digital image processing that can compensate the distortions introduced by a non-uniform distribution of the refractive index along the optical observation path. A comparative analysis of these methods was conducted, and their advantages and limitations are described in this paper. The results of theoretical investigations are confirmed experimentally by observing stationary and dynamic objects under the conditions of heavy atmospheric turbulence. The advantages of a three-channel multiple-aperture digital telescopic system design with a super-resolution over optical systems built based on traditional schematics are demonstrated.

Digital Tourism Security System for Nepal

Nepal is a sensitive and disaster-prone country where safety and security risk are of high concern for travelers. Digital technologies can play a vital role in addressing safety and security issues in the country. This research work proposes a Digital tourism security system design for addressing the safety and security issues in tourism industry of Nepal. The study uses Design science research methodology to identify artifacts, interactions, information flow and dependencies between them which are then mapped with existing prevalent technology to provide design solutions. Data is obtained from interview of tourist and experts as a primary source and technical documents/draft, software documentations, surveys as secondary source. Generalized information model, Use cases model, Network architecture model, Layered taxonomy model and Digital tourism technology reference model are the outcomes of the study. The work is very important as it talks specifically about implementation and integration of digital technologies in tourism security governance at federal, provincial, municipal and rural level. The research supplements as a knowledge document for design and implementation of digital tourism security system in practice. As there is very less work on digital systems in tourism security of Nepal, this work is a pioneer and first of its kind.

Research and design of the smart field digital surgery system for emergency medical rescue

Natural disasters happened frequently around the world resulted in vast injured persons. The injured needs immediate on-site treatment to either save life or decrease mortality rate. The field surgery system, constructing a complete field on-site treatment force, is the fundamental to provide immediate medical care for the injured. In this paper, a smart field digital surgery system, integration with remote consultation system, medical information system and self-support system, was constructed to satisfy the demand of fast surgical treatment for emergency medical rescue in complex regional environment. The field digital surgical treatment technology platform for the injured in emergency was established based on taking the control of the cleanliness of the surgical cabin, designing a remote consultation system, developing the medical information system, as well as designing miniaturization magnet of field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, which significantly improved the surgical treatment capability of the field digital surgery system.

Teaching the Design and Fabrication of RPD Frameworks With a Digital Workflow: A Preclinical Dental Exercise.

IntroductionThe conventional method for teaching removable partial denture (RPD) design using a pencil drawing on a solid cast has always been the basis for teaching RPD design in most dental schools at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. This does not apply to RPD fabrication technology, as more laboratories have recently adopted more efficient and versatile digital techniques to design and fabricate RPD frameworks.MethodsAt the University of Iowa College of Dentistry, we created a pilot workshop to assess the efficiency of a new approach to teaching RPD design utilizing this new digital RPD technology as a teaching tool for graduate prosthodontics residents. Three first-year prosthodontics residents were enrolled in the workshop, which involved learning the new digital workflow of designing RPD.ResultsThis new teaching approach very successfully achieved its educational goals. The residents reported that the digital RPD teaching approach enriched their knowledge and deepened their understanding of RPD design.DiscussionThe technique garnered significant interest from the students and seemed to also increase their understanding of the steps involved in RPD fabrication as well as the different components of the RPD.

Evaluating visitor experience of digital interpretation and presentation technologies at cultural heritage sites: a case study of the old town, Zuoying

Digital technologies are increasingly used in the interpretation and presentation process at cultural heritage sites, shifting the manner of heritage display from previous ways, which tended to be monolithic and static, to a more diversified, experiential, and interactive approach and enabling new connections between heritage and the public. Digital experience is gradually becoming an important component of visitors’ heritage experience. However, little attention has been paid to the influence and effects that these technologies have on the visitor experience, and a corresponding measurement framework for the heritage digital experience is still lacking. To contribute to the design, implementation, and management of digital display systems at cultural heritage sites, this research aims to evaluate visitors’ expectations, acceptance, and experience of digital interpretation and presentation technologies. A mixed methodology, combining questionnaires based on a digital experience evaluation framework and semi-structured interviews, was adopted and used in Old Zuoying City (OZC), a typical heritage site for the application of digital display technologies in Taiwan. Our study indicates that digital display technologies received high acceptance from heritage visitors and had a positive impact on some specific aspects, such as encouraging their exploration of and further learning about the site, helping them better visualize the richness of heritage, and creating new experiences of perceiving, engaging, and communicating with history. In addition, based on the survey findings, a number of recommendations for the current stage of digital display design are presented. The survey results and evaluation framework can be used as a reference for other research on heritage visitors and to improve digital interpretation and presentation design.

Design and implementation of blockchain-based digital advertising media promotion system

In recent years, the rapid development of the Internet digital advertising (IDA) market has brought many issues. Low-quality advertisements (ADs) have caused significant troubles for Internet users, and the “AD fraud” has plunged the IDA ecosystem into a crisis of trust. The blockchain’s trusted computing model provides new ideas for solving the above problems. In this paper, we designed and implemented a blockchain-based digital advertising media system (B2DAM), where the Hyperledger is used as the implementation platform. Our B2DAM system integrates distributed ledger, multi-chain, smart contracts, and consensus mechanisms to ensure decentralization and multi-party maintenance of immutable data. We implemented business logic in smart contracts and Hyperledger SDK. The experiments show the transaction throughput can reach 550 tps and the system can meet the application requirements.

Application and Research of Computer VR Technology in Digital Media System Design

This paper first analyzes the definition of computer VR technology and the transmission of information data, and then expounds how to use VR technology to establish a complete digital media design system; Finally, deeply analyzes the application of VR technology in the design of digital media system, including the detailed discussion and planning of user interaction, information dissemination mode and information reception mode. According to the current situation of digital media development in China, the computer VR technology is introduced to improve the operation process of digital media, so that the digital media design system can be improved.

Development and practical implementation of automatic tuning methods for mechatronic system digital controllers

Currently, the great potential abilities of digital state controllers widely applied in mechatronic systems may be fully realized only with the presence of automatic tuning instruments. The importance of automatic tuning in this case is related to high number of variable parameters for state controllers as well as to parametric indeterminacy of the majority mechatronic controlled objects. The application of optimization methods for automatic tuning of such controllers in real time mode is complicated by a large number of experiments, a significant influence of initial conditions on the result, and the local extremes of the fitness function due to the nonlinearity of real objects.Methods of state space, modal control, digital system design, numerical optimization algorithms and simulation in MatLab environment were used.The development, implementation and experimental research of automatic tuning methods for digital polynomial controllers are performed during the studying. The proposed approach based on application of reference model, obtained by optimizing the system according to a complex quality criterion, as well as using a priori information about a mechatronic object. The tuning method includes variation of the object unknown parameters in accordance with the accepted optimization algorithm and calculation of the controller parameters values by modal control method at each iteration.As a result of computer simulation and field experiments, the efficiency of the proposed methods for automatic tuning of digital polynomial controllers of mechatronic systems was confirmed. Using the reference model of the system and a priori information about the control object allows us to solve tuning problems with a minimum number of experiments in real time.

Comparative Analysis of Processor-FPGA Communication Performance in Low-Cost FPSoCs

Field-programmable system-on-chip (FPSoC) devices, combining high-performance processors and FPGA fabric in the same chip, are currently a leading technology in the design of complex digital systems. Since design times are longer than those of systems based on graphic processing units or standalone processors, many efforts are being devoted to develope efficient compilers from high-level languages. Even though, efficient processor-FPGA communication is still an important open issue. To contribute to this area, this article presents an extensive characterization of the processor-FPGA communication delays in Zynq-7000 devices. Although partial analyses of communication performance in these devices have been reported, this is the first work to address very important issues such as the use of DMA for data transfers or the effect of L2 cache controller settings and external RAM controller settings. As a result, data transfer rates are analyzed considering all parameters that influence them. The performance of Zynq-7000 devices is also compared to that of Cyclone V devices, hence covering the two most important current families that dominate the FPSoC market. This information is of utmost importance for designers to optimize processor-FPGA communication and, in turn, the performance of their FPSoC-based systems.

A user-friendly method for constructing realistic dental model based on two-dimensional/three-dimensional registration

PurposeThis paper aims to obtain a texture dental model with real images and improve the rendering effect of the dental model.Design/methodology/approachThe paper proposes a semiautomatic method to construct a realistic dental model with real images based on two-dimensional/three-dimensional (2D/3D) registration. First, a 3D digital dental model and three intraoral images are obtained by a 3D scanner and digital single-lens reflex camera. Second, the camera projection poses for every intraoral images are calculated by using the single-objective optimization algorithm. Third, with camera poses, the preliminary projection texture mapping is performed; besides, the seam between two textures is marked. Finally, the marked regions are fused based on the image pyramid to eliminate obvious seams.FindingsThe paper provides a method to construct a realistic dental model. The method can map three intraoral images to the dental model. The experimental results show that the textured dental model without obvious distortion, dislocation and seams is constructed with simple interactions.Originality/valueThe proposed method can be applied to the digital smile design system to improve the communication efficiency between doctors, patients and technicians.

NeuPow

In this article, we present a new, simple, accurate, and fast power estimation technique that can be used to explore the power consumption of digital system designs at an early design stage. We exploit the machine learning techniques to aid the designers in exploring the design space of possible architectural solutions, and more specifically, their dynamic power consumption, which is application-, technology-, frequency-, and data-stimuli dependent. To model the power and the behavior of digital components, we adopt the Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), while the final target technology is Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). The main characteristic of the proposed method, called NeuPow, is that it relies on propagating the signals throughout connected ANN models to predict the power consumption of a composite system. Besides a baseline version of the NeuPow methodology that works for a given predefined operating frequency, we also derive an upgraded version that is frequency-aware, where the same operating frequency is taken as additional input by the ANN models. To prove the effectiveness of the proposed methodology, we perform different assessments at different levels. Moreover, technology and scalability studies have been conducted, proving the NeuPow robustness in terms of these design parameters. Results show a very good estimation accuracy with less than 9% of relative error independently from the technology and the size/layers of the design. NeuPow is also delivering a speed-up factor of about 84× with respect to the classical power estimation flow.

Hazard analysis for identifying common cause failures of digital safety systems using a redundancy-guided systems-theoretic approach

Replacing the existing aging analog instrumentation and control (I&C) systems with modern safety control and protection, digital technology offers one of the foremost means of performance improvements and cost reductions for the existing nuclear power plants (NPPs). However, the qualification of digital I&C systems remains a challenge, especially considering the issue of software common-cause failures (CCFs), which are difficult to address. With the application and upgrades of advanced digital I&C systems, software CCFs have become a potential threat to plant safety because most redundant designs use similar digital platforms or software in the operating and application systems. With complex designs of multilayer redundancy to meet the single-failure criterion, digital I&C safety systems (e.g., engineered safety-features actuation system [ESFAS]) are of a particular concern in the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensing procedures. This paper applies a modularized approach to conduct redundancy-guided systems-theoretic hazard analysis for an advanced digital ESFAS with multilevel redundancy designs. Systematic methods and risk-informed tools are incorporated to address both hardware and software CCFs, which provide guidance to eliminate the causal factors of potential single points of failure in the design of digital safety systems in advanced plant designs.

Designing Technology, Developing Theory: Toward a Symmetrical Approach

We focus on collaborative activities that engage computer graphics designers and social scientists in systems design processes. Our conceptual symmetrical account of technology design and theory development is elaborated as a mode of mutual engagement occurring in an interdisciplinary trading zone, where neither discipline is placed at the service of the other and nor do disciplinary boundaries dissolve. To this end, we draw on analyses of mutual engagements between computer and social scientists stemming from the fields of computer-supported cooperative work, human−computer interaction, and science and technology studies (STS). We especially build on theoretical work in STS concerning information technology in health care and extend recent contributions from STS with respect to the modes of engagement and trading zones between computer and social sciences. We conceive participative digital systems design as a form of inquiry for the analysis of cooperative work settings, particularly when social science becomes part of design processes. We illustrate our conceptual approach using data from an interdisciplinary project involving computer graphics designers, sociologists, and neurosurgeons with the aim of developing patient-centered visualizations for clinical cooperation on a hospital ward.

Study on the collaborative design architecture of tractor performance prototype

The tractor performance prototype characterizes the multidisciplinary performance properties of tractor and plays an important role in the iterative upgrade process of new product performance. In order to meet the needs of collaborative development for tractor new products, the functions of distributed design and remote interconnection, and the performance verification of product system-level design, this paper analyzes the tractor collaborative development organizations and functions from the tractor performance prototype collaborative design theory. The performance prototype collaborative design process model is established with UML, and the design supporting environment characteristics are extracted. On this basis, a collaborative design architecture is constructed, and the key technologies which include the collaborative modeling and simulation, tool integration, data management and resource platform construction are proposed and analyzed. Through the preliminary study on the collaborative design architecture of tractor performance prototype, this paper aims to provide the theory and technical mode for developing the tractor digital, networked and intelligent design system.

Analyzing the Impact of Sigma-Delta Modulation on Performance Parameters of Adaptive Filters

Sigma-delta modulation (SDM), initially introduced for ADCs and DACs is now well known in an alternative domain of short word-length (SWL) algorithm based digital system design. Its applications start from simple arithmetic operations to very complex circuits, like the adaptive filters. The conventional multi-bit processing systems consume more resources in their implementation on ASICs and FPGAs, whereas, SDM based systems being processing the data in a single-bit result a compact design. This paper is an effort towards SDM based single-bit, design of adaptive filter using Wiener–Hopf equation on FPGA, along with analyzing the impact of SDM on performance parameters, like, Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR), Probability of Error (PE), and Mean Square Error (MSE). Besides, the error graph, showing the difference between the filtered signal in multi-bit and SDM based is also shown and analyzed using Matlab. As, the mobile phone operates in a continuous varying environment (for example, during the travel), and hence the statistical parameters (SNR, MSE, and PE) due to varying channel also vary accordingly in its conventional operations and architectures, but results show that instead if SDM is used, those statistical parameters remain constant, and in comparison to the multi-bit approach the SDM based system outdoes in all means of functionality as well as performance. Hence, it may be concluded that for continuous varying environments of wireless communication, especially the mobile communication systems, the SDM based approach may be adopted for reasons of good performance as well as compact system design.