Software Architecture Research Articles

Distributed Differential Dynamic Programming Architectures for Large-Scale Multiagent Control

Distributed Differential Dynamic Programming Architectures for Large-Scale Multiagent Control

Another efficiency of learning systems during the COVID-19 pandemic in architectural graduate study program: A reflection

Another efficiency of learning systems during the COVID-19 pandemic in architectural graduate study program: A reflection

A Comprehensive Study of the Transition from Monolithic to Micro services-Based Software Architectures

Purpose: This study examines the transition from monolithic to microservices architectures, analyzing this transformative shift's underlying motives, advantages, and obstacles.
 Methodology: This study incorporates literature reviews, empirical case studies, and interviews with professionals in the field to offer a deep comprehension of the topic utilizing a comprehensive methodology.
 Findings: The key findings of this study underscore a wide range of incentives behind the adoption of microservices, encompassing scalability and fault tolerance. Additionally, the study identifies the problems associated with implementing microservices and adapting organizational structures to accommodate this architectural approach.
 Unique contribution to theory, policy and practice: The research makes a distinct contribution to both theoretical understanding and practical application by presenting a refined conceptual framework and providing actionable insights for organizations undergoing this architectural transition. From a policy perspective, it promotes the implementation of regulatory frameworks that are adaptable and conducive to fostering innovation. This piece presents microservices as a crucial paradigm that contributes to improving scalability, flexibility, and resilience in software systems.

An Inclusive Design Criteria: Traditional Market Design for Social Equality

Nowadays, the traditional market‘s existence is decreasing. Traditional markets are decreasing because of the old-school either design or system. Those, traditional market should adapt over time, beside that interaction becomes a foundation for daily activities and market activities. This interaction links with the social value, which link to equality understandings. Equality's definition relates to activities and interactions in the traditional market.. Indonesian traditional market, in Solo, be an example of diversity in social interaction. Diversity in social interaction links to the architectural approach. Inclusive design in architecture is a form that effectively approaches diversity in social interaction. A Bottom-up method in architecture programming is an appropriate approach that can be used to specify every step used in architecture that can be linked with social equality with interactions as the focus. This article analyzes inclusive design principles and precedents, then can be used as a reference to design somewhere that can be functioned inclusively.

Circulation of home-emotions: The critique of architecture through reality TV

This paper reveals how a popular UK reality TV programme Your Home Made Perfect mobilises emotions to challenge conceptualisations of architecture while simultaneously reinforcing regressive ideas of race, class and sexuality. Drawing on our thematic analysis of fourteen episodes of Your Home, the paper shows how architectural entertainment is uniquely positioned through the use of VR technology, to generate and mobilise client emotions, towards critique. This includes the critique of architectural drawings and the power imbalances of architect-client relationships. We trace how ‘happy’ emotions are tied to being able to read architectural visualisations through virtual reality (VR) rather than the ‘sad’ emotion enforced by traditional architectural forms of communication; how positive emotions fostered through care-in-action attach to the architecture and home. By foregrounding clients' emotional responses to the redesign of their homes by architects, the paper reveals architectural entertainment programmes as popular and powerful forms of architectural critique that nonetheless simultaneously reinforce exclusionary social logics that limits owner-occupation for the white middle class. In so doing, this paper contributes to unpacking both the emotional value of architecture and how this complex form of taste-making occurs within popular culture, that is, conveying to people the place of architecture within society.

Comprehensive Analysis of Energy Storage System for Electric Vehicles

There are many different applications for batteries, such as various new energy vehicles, such as electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), etc. At the same time, an appropriate battery management system (BMS) is necessary to guarantee the battery's secure and dependable operation. When monitoring, managing, and maximizing energy storage systems, the battery module's performance is crucial. Equally crucial is the capability to detach the control module in abnormal circumstances. Initially, the power battery and BMS components of electric vehicles are covered in detail in this essay. The types and traits of various power batteries are initially described in this article. Besides, three state of charge (SOC) technologies—Ampere-hour (Ah), open circuit voltage (OCV) based, and model-based—are presented and reviewed, along with the role, composition, and key functions of BMS. Secondly, the hardware architecture and software architecture of BMS are explained in detail. Next, this paper analyzes and evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of different BMS architectures. Finally, this paper looks forward to the future development of BMS and predicts the main development directions of BMS in the future.

Hybrid simulation framework with mixed displacement and force control for fully compatible displacements

AbstractA novel framework for hybrid simulation of the seismic response of structures is presented that employs a mixed displacement and force control strategy. A key feature of this framework is a controller‐based displacement‐to‐force transformation that enables compatible displacements between the numerical and experimental model for force‐controlled degrees of freedom. The framework can be applied within conventional displacement‐based time‐integration algorithms allowing for implementation across a variety of software and hardware architectures; it is demonstrated here using OpenSees software with detailed nonlinear numerical models. This study includes numerical verification of the proposed force control strategy and actual implementation in a hybrid simulation of special moment frames with full‐scale beam‐column subassemblies. In the hybrid tests, the experimental column axial load is applied in force control due to the large stiffness and when combined with lateral seismic loads, results in column local buckling with significant axial shortening. The hybrid simulation results verify that the proposed mixed displacement and force control strategy effectively enforces displacement compatibility and force equilibrium between the numerical and experimental structures at the boundary degrees of freedom.

Jellyfish: A modular code for wave function‐based electron dynamics simulations and visualizations on traditional and quantum compute architectures

AbstractUltrafast electron dynamics have made rapid progress in the last few years. With Jellyfish, we now introduce a program suite that enables to perform the entire workflow of an electron‐dynamics simulation. The modular program architecture offers a flexible combination of different propagators, Hamiltonians, basis sets, and more. Jellyfish can be operated by a graphical user interface, which makes it easy to get started for nonspecialist users and gives experienced users a clear overview of the entire functionality. The temporal evolution of a wave function can currently be executed in the time‐dependent configuration interaction method (TDCI) formalism, however, a plugin system facilitates the expansion to other methods and tools without requiring in‐depth knowledge of the program. Currently developed plugins allow to include results from conventional electronic structure calculations as well as the usage and extension of quantum‐compute algorithms for electron dynamics. We present the capabilities of Jellyfish on three examples to showcase the simulation and analysis of light‐driven correlated electron dynamics. The implemented visualization of various densities enables an efficient and detailed analysis for the long‐standing quest of the electron–hole pair formation.This article is categorized under: Theoretical and Physical Chemistry > Spectroscopy Software > Simulation Methods

A Conceptual Framework for Logistics Management and Project Planning in the Clinical Trials Industry

Background: Logistics management in the clinical trials industry is a very challenging undertaking because it involves multiple stakeholders, complex processes, diverse software applications, intensive white-collar jobs, and onerous quality standards. Current business practices are inefficient and difficult to automate technologies. Methods: This paper reviews the theories and concepts of clinical trials logistics management. The inefficiencies in current logistics management industry are then addressed by building a conceptual framework based on contemporary software tools and architectures, such as web portals, software agents, business process management system, project cards, and resource cards, all interacting with specialized software applications such as accounting, inventory, and label design software. The framework supports data analysis at multiple levels of decision making. To this end, a project planning tool for facilitating and optimizing the operational planning in this industry is designed and presented. Results: The planning tool also contributes to the literature by contrasting several different resource scenarios such as the shared pool, dedicated resources for each project, and the creation of several work groups with dedicated resources. These are Pareto trade-offs. Conclusions: A framework employing a business process management is proposed for clinical trials logistics management. Different managerial scenarios with shared, dedicated, and work group resources are investigated using a case study.

The Application of Extended Reality Technology in Architectural Design Education: A Review

With the emergence of Architecture 4.0 and the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic, extended reality (XR) technology has been increasingly applied in architectural education. This study aims to systematically organize and analyze the applications and outcomes of XR technology in construction education over the past five years, provide a theoretical framework for its future widespread use, and highlight its drawbacks as well as future research directions. The paper employs content analysis to summarize and analyze the findings. The report reveals that more institutions are integrating XR technology into their architectural education programs and that it has a significant impact on teacher effectiveness, student motivation, reflection and improvement, and teacher–student communication. The study suggests that XR technology will increasingly replace conventional teaching techniques in classrooms.

Design and Development of swarm AGV’s alliance for Search and Rescue operations

Rapid response is essential for saving lives in search and rescue operations since the amount of time is critical. In this project, a swarm of autonomous ground vehicles (AGVs) equipped with ROS-based software architecture will be designed and built for rapid search and rescue missions. The swarm of AGVs will function autonomously to navigate through challenging areas and be outfitted with a variety of sensors, including cameras, and LIDAR. The proposed system will be capable of performing 2D mapping, live video surveillance, autonomous navigation, victim/object detection, and two-way audio communication. The goal of the project is to reduce the risk to human life in dangerous areas by providing a quick and efficient response system for search and rescue operations. A centralized management system with a de-centralized module will be created as part of the project to keep an eye on and manage the AGV horde. However, there will be a functionality to take control of a specific robot in the swarm network when needed. In difficult areas where it might not be safe for humans to operate, the suggested method will enable quick and efficient search and rescue operations.

Research on the Application of Layered Architecture in Computer Software Development

The objective of this study is to examine the application of layered technologies in computer software development. As software scale and complexity continue to increase, the adoption of appropriate software architecture becomes crucial. Layered architecture, a commonly employed software design pattern, enables effective organization and management of software systems, enhancing their maintainability, scalability, and reusability. This paper explores the fundamental principles and advantages of layered architecture and presents its specific applications in computer software development, such as client-server architecture, MVC architecture, and microservices architecture. Through analysis and comparison of relevant case studies, the suitability and effectiveness of layered technologies in different contexts are evaluated. Lastly, the study concludes with an overview of the application prospects of layered technologies and suggests future research directions.

Smart Shrimp Farming Using Internet of Things (IoT) and Fuzzy Logic

In the case of ponds with Litopenaeus Vannamei shrimp, water quality parameters play a significant role in shrimp growth. Leveraging technology enhances water quality to optimize growth and survivability in the shrimp farming industry. The research aimed to empower local farmers with smart shrimp farming technologies, including Information Technology (IT), such as the Internet of Things (IoT), and Fuzzy Logic. The research also involved a comparison between Litopenaeus Vannamei shrimp in two different aquariums: one serving as a control group and the other implementing IoT and Fuzzy Logic for a period of 30 days. The initial Litopenaeus Vannamei shrimp stocking was 135 shrimps for control aquariums and 132 for experimental aquariums. Then, the research used Arduino ESP 8266, Raspberry Pi 3, and SciKit-Fuzzy library to record and process the data. Through the application of IoT and Fuzzy Logic, the research successfully increases survivability by 6%, specific growth rate by 28%, and length by 8% in 30 days compared to conventional methods. The results highlight the potential use of technology in Litopenaeus Vannamei shrimp farming. The proposed system’s hardware and software architecture can be easily scaled to accommodate the needs of Litopenaeus Vannamei shrimp farmers with multiple ponds, offering flexibility and adaptability.

Analyzing the Spread of Misinformation on Social Networks: A Process and Software Architecture for Detection and Analysis

The rapid dissemination of misinformation on social networks, particularly during public health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, has become a significant concern. This study investigates the spread of misinformation on social network data using social network analysis (SNA) metrics, and more generally by using well known network science metrics. Moreover, we propose a process design that utilizes social network data from Twitter, to analyze the involvement of non-trusted accounts in spreading misinformation supported by a proof-of-concept prototype. The proposed prototype includes modules for data collection, data preprocessing, network creation, centrality calculation, community detection, and misinformation spreading analysis. We conducted an experimental study on a COVID-19-related Twitter dataset using the modules. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach and process steps, and provides valuable insight into the application of network science metrics on social network data for analysing various influence-parameters in misinformation spreading.

NEP+: A Human-Centered Framework for Inclusive Human-Machine Interaction Development.

This article presents the Network Empower and Prototyping Platform (NEP+), a flexible framework purposefully crafted to simplify the process of interactive application development, catering to both technical and non-technical users. The name "NEP+" encapsulates the platform's dual mission: to empower the network-related capabilities of ZeroMQ and to provide software tools and interfaces for prototyping and integration. NEP+ accomplishes this through a comprehensive quality model and an integrated software ecosystem encompassing middleware, user-friendly graphical interfaces, a command-line tool, and an accessible end-user programming interface. This article primarily focuses on presenting the proposed quality model and software architecture, illustrating how they can empower developers to craft cross-platform, accessible, and user-friendly interfaces for various applications, with a particular emphasis on robotics and the Internet of Things (IoT). Additionally, we provide practical insights into the applicability of NEP+ by briefly presenting real-world user cases where human-centered projects have successfully utilized NEP+ to develop robotics systems. To further emphasize the suitability of NEP+ tools and interfaces for developer use, we conduct a pilot study that delves into usability and workload assessment. The outcomes of this study highlight the user-friendly features of NEP+ tools, along with their ease of adoption and cross-platform capabilities. The novelty of NEP+ fundamentally lies in its holistic approach, acting as a bridge across diverse user groups, fostering inclusivity, and promoting collaboration.

Precarity, the future of architectural research in a time of much uncertainty

Editoral framing of the special issue of ENQ on PRECARITY: PhD conference on architectural research at the limits of technology, project-making, and history/theory held on APRIL 22-23, 2022 and organized and sponsored by the PhD Program in Architecture at UPENN, Weitzman School of Design

Scalability analysis of a two level domain decomposition approach in space and time solving data assimilation models

SummaryWe are concerned with the mapping on high performance hybrid architectures of a parallel software implementing a two level overlapping domain decomposition, that is, along space and time directions, of the four dimensional variational data assimilation model. The reference architecture belongs to the SCoPE (Sistema Cooperativo Per Elaborazioni scientifiche multidisciplinari) data center, located at University of Naples Federico II. We consider the initial boundary problem of the shallow water equation and analyse both strong and weak scaling. Keeping the efficiency always greater than and about in most cases, we experimentally find that the isoefficiency function grows a little more than linearly with respect to the number of processes. Results, obtained by using the parallel computing toolbox of MATLABR2013a, are in agreement with the algorithm's performance prevision based on the scale up factor, confirming the appropriate mapping of the algorithm on the hybrid architecture.

Methodologies of the Validation of Software Architectures

Software architecture validation is the process of assessing whether a software architecture meets its intended requirements and goals. It is an important step in the software development process, as it can help to identify and address potential problems early on before they become more costly and difficult to fix. There are a variety of different methodologies that can be used to validate software architecture. Some of the most common methodologies include Architectural evaluation methods, Architecture tests and reviews, and Model-based validation. This paper will provide an overview of the different methodologies that can be used to validate software architecture. Apart from that, it also analyzes and summarizes the strengths and weaknesses of each method so that it can guide determining the most appropriate methodology for a particular case.

Towards deep learning methods to improve photovoltaic prediction and building decarbonization in benchmarking study

High energy demand, energy transition, energy consumption control are challenges for the future, especially for Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV). There is a great potential to harvest large amounts of photovoltaic (PV) energy on horizontal and vertical surfaces. However, this high potential is often hindered by the slow deployment of these panels, the complex integration into existing buildings, and the possible complex interactions between different factors, such as visualization and active projection of buildings in the decarbonization process. Building Information Modeling (BIM) offers complete and real generative building data that is used in our deep learning methods. Indeed, there is currently no framework for design linking photogrammetry, BIM and PV for BIPV. In this work, we propose artificial learning models, such as Deep Learning, to predict PV energy production for BIPV decarbonization. We determined the optimal prediction of PV production by testing and evaluating different models on a building case study. We compared the PV power generation prediction results with 3D simulation software for solar architecture.

ECS-Grid: Data-Oriented Real-Time Simulation Platform for Cyber-Physical Power Systems

ECS-Grid is the first data-oriented real-time electromagnetic transient simulation platform for cyber-physical power systems (CPPS). Traditional simulation tools are constrained by object-oriented programming (OOP) architecture, which is now a significant obstruction to creating a comprehensive cyber-physical simulation. Therefore, the proposed ECS-Grid platform follows a new data-oriented paradigm based on an Entity-Component-System (ECS) framework, which delivers higher flexibility, extensibility, scalability, and performance to support cyber-physical system research. ECS-Grid proposes a layer of virtual intelligent electronic devices (vIEDs) to model IEDs in CPPSs. The vIEDs directly talk to physical components and communicate asynchronously with cyber services via the proposed high-performance JSON-like binary protocol. Tests with the islanding and the man-in-the-middle cyber attack scenarios on a 711-node AC-DC microgrid cluster based on a modified CIGRE 15-Bus system are performed and give accurate results. A faster-than-real-time performance is achieved on the 10th Gen Intel <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">®</sup> Core <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">TM</sup> i7 computer, and real-time performance is achieved on distributed embedded NVIDIA <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">®</sup> Jetson platform. The ECS-Grid design and test results demonstrate the potential of the ECS data-oriented paradigm and may inspire the renovation of industrial simulation software.