Reverse Engineering Techniques Research Articles

Concept, Design, Initial Tests and Prototype of Customized Upper Limb Prosthesis

This paper presents aspects of the concept and design of prostheses for the upper limb. The objective of this research is that of prototyping a customized prosthesis, with EMG signals that initiate the motion. The prosthesis’ fingers’ motions (as well as that of its hand and forearm parts) are driven by micro-motors, and assisted by the individualized command and control system. The software and hardware tandem concept of this mechatronic system enables complex motion (in the horizontal and vertical plane) with accurate trajectory and different set rules (gripping pressure, object temperature, acceleration towards the object). One important idea is regarding customization via reverse engineering techniques. Due to this, the dimensions and appearance (geometric characteristics) of the prosthesis would look like the human hand itself. The trajectories and motions of the fingers, thumbs, and joints have been studied by kinematic analysis with the matrix–vector method aided by Matlab. The concept and design of the mechanical parts allow for complex finger motion—rotational motion in two planes. The command and control system is embedded, and data received from the sensors are processed by a micro-controller for managing micro-motor control. Preliminary testing of the sensors and micro-motors on a small platform, Arduino, was performed. Prototyping of the mechanical components has been a challenge because of the high accuracy needed for the geometric precision of the parts. Several techniques of rapid prototyping were considered, but only DLP (digital light processing) proved to be the right one.

Adversarial Defense: DGA-Based Botnets and DNS Homographs Detection Through Integrated Deep Learning

Cybercriminals use domain generation algorithms (DGAs) to prevent their servers from being potentially blacklisted or shut down. Existing reverse engineering techniques for DGA detection is labor intensive, extremely time-consuming, prone to human errors, and have significant limitations. Hence, an automated real-time technique with a high detection rate is warranted in such applications. In this article, we present a novel technique to detect randomly generated domain names and domain name system (DNS) homograph attacks without the need for any reverse engineering or using nonexistent domain (NXDomain) inspection using deep learning. We provide an extensive evaluation of our model over four large, real-world, publicly available datasets. We further investigate the robustness of our model against three different adversarial attacks: DeepDGA, CharBot, and MaskDGA. Our evaluation demonstrates that our method is effectively able to identify DNS homograph attacks and DGAs and also is resilient to common evading cyberattacks. Promising results show that our approach provides a more effective detection rate with an accuracy of 0.99. Additionally, the performance of our model is compared against the most popular deep learning architectures. Our findings highlight the essential need for more robust detection models to counter adversarial learning.

Parameter Optimization of Hole-Slot-Type Magnetron for Controlling Resonant Frequency of Linear Accelerator 6 MeV by Reverse Engineering Technique

This paper presents the parameter optimization of a twelve-hole-slot-type magnetron based on a reverse engineering technique to improve a 6-MeV linear accelerator (LINAC) operation for fruit sterilization. The magnetron structural dimensions are measured by a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) that has tolerance on a dimension of 0.5 µm to analyze the resonant frequency with a desired operating point of the magnetron in the dominant mode. There are two methods of analysis using a proper parameter for the magnetron operation. The first method is mathematical model analysis of an equivalent resonant parallel circuit. The other is 3D-model drawing of the magnetron based on particle-in-cell (PIC) using computer simulation technology microwave studio (CST). The results are demonstrated by the position of the resonant frequency of each mode of operation, and the radius and tuner slot distance of a cavity within the structures of the magnetron cause a resonant frequency change. The suitable parameters of the voltage and magnetic field supply are desired to control a resonant frequency at 2.9982 GHz by using the Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy logic control (FLC) algorithm to control a resonant frequency at 2.9982 GHz. The results of the FLC algorithm application show that the LINAC can produce X-rays with a constant dose rate for an hour with a disturbance in the range of 38 to 42 °C temperature and 1 × 10−9 to 5 × 10−8 torr vacuum pressure.

POINTS CLOUD PRE-PROCESSING AND SAMPLING BASED ON DISTANCE ALGORITHM TECHNIQUE

Although the rapid development of reverse engineering techniques such as a modern 3D laser scanners, but can’t use this techniques immediately to generate a perfect surface model for the scanned parts, due to the huge data, the noisy data which associated to the scanning process, and the accuracy limitation of some scanning devices, so, the present paper present a points cloud pre-processing and sampling algorithms have been proposed based on distance calculations and statistical considerations to simplify the row points cloud which obtained using MATTER and FORM 3D laser scanner as a manner to obtain the required geometrical features and mathematical representation from the row points cloud of the scanned object through detection, isolating, and deleting the noised points. A MATLAB program has been constructed for executing the proposed algorithms implemented using a suggested case study with non-uniform shape. The results were proved the validity of the introduced distance algorithms for pre-processing and sampling process where the proficiency percent for pre-processing was (18.65%) with a single attempt, and the counted deviation value rang with the sampling process was (0.0002-0.3497mm).

Analysis of a forging die wear by 3D reverse scanning combined with SEM and hardness tests

The work concerns the application of non-contact measurement 3D scanning techniques in conjunction with a study of the microstructure of a forging die (made of W360 steel) for the production of an engine valve (made of NCF 3015 steel) in a hot die forging process in order to analyse the changes in the working surface of the tools and identify the destructive mechanisms. The detailed analysis presented in this paper examines the possibility of using 3D reverse engineering techniques for a direct quality control and examination of the changes in the surface layer geometry of the forging dies, based on the measurement of the geometry changes for cyclically collected forgings. The selected area of the valve forgings cyclically retrieved from the forging process was scanned with the use of an intermediate scanning method - reverse 3D scanning. On this basis, an analysis of the progressive material growth on the selected surface of the forgings was made, which also meant a loss of material on the tools. The performed analyses showed a good agreement of the geometrical properties of the surfaces (of the selected forgings representing the proceeding wear of the tool) and the geometrical defect of the working impression of the tool, based on the direct measurements during the production process. The reverse 3D scanning method developed by the authors has been repeatedly verified by them, which is confirmed by numerous studies and applications. The obtained results combined with SEM analyses and microhardness measurements enable a fast analysis of the forging tool life with respect to the quality and quantity (of material defect), which, in consequence, leads to significant economical savings.

CAD model update on as-built geometries with morphing technique: ITER winding pack

CAD and CAE model update on manufactured shapes is a key process in the industry 4.0, where design, manufacturing and maintenance are integrated elements. Digital Twin models, together with Reverse Engineering (RE) techniques, allow tracking components performances during production and verifying the compliance with design requirements during the component lifetime. The need to have RE processes with a small impact on the production is driving the development of these models towards numerical techniques with fast computing performances. In this context, morphing techniques, largely deployed in the field of CAE models update, represent a valuable alternative to conventional RE techniques, because of their reduced computational time and capability to preserve the initial topology of the model. In the work presented in this paper, Radial Basis Function morphing technique has been used for the update of ITER Winding Pack CAD model on scan data acquired from the manufactured component.

Design, modification and analysis of 3 ton electrical overhead travelling crane rope drum

With the intention to enhance the electrical overhead travelling crane drum, the shaft in the drum was modified using reverse engineering technique. The stresses on drum were analysed using finite element method and the results are compared. The research provides a new idea for improving the stability and life of the drum. The proposed shaft is provided with the gear hub and gear sleeve in the place of traditional spline shaft to improve the life and efficiency.

Reverse engineering technique for enhancing the EOT crane rope drum

EOT cranes are the widely used ones in the present day industry. In the process of maximizing the efficiency of EOT cranes, the industries are implementing different approaches. One among them is reverse engineering approach. This approach was recommended to improve the efficiency of the EOT crane drum shaft. The shape and size of the shaft were modified to meet the industry requirements. To improve the shaft loading capacity, life and efficiency, the proposed shaft is equipped with the gear hub and gear sleeve.

Satisfiability Attack-Resistant Camouflaged Two-Dimensional Heterostructure Devices.

Reverse engineering (RE) is one of the major security threats to the semiconductor industry due to the involvement of untrustworthy parties in an increasingly globalized chip manufacturing supply chain. RE efforts have already been successful in extracting device level functionalities from an integrated circuit (IC) with very limited resources. Camouflaging is an obfuscation method that can thwart such RE. Existing work on IC camouflaging primarily involves transformable interconnects and/or covert gates where variation in doping and dummy contacts hide the circuit structure or build cells that look alike but have different functionalities. Emerging solutions, such as polymorphic gates based on a giant spin Hall effect and Si nanowire field effect transistors (FETs), are also promising but add significant area overhead and are successfully decamouflaged by the satisfiability solver (SAT)-based RE techniques. Here, we harness the properties of two-dimensional (2D) transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) including MoS2, MoSe2, MoTe2, WS2, and WSe2 and their optically transparent transition-metal oxides (TMOs) to demonstrate area efficient camouflaging solutions that are resilient to SAT attack and automatic test pattern generation attacks. We show that resistors with resistance values differing by 5 orders of magnitude, diodes with variable turn-on voltages and reverse saturation currents, and FETs with adjustable conduction type, threshold voltages, and switching characteristics can be optically camouflaged to look exactly similar by engineering TMO/TMD heterostructures, allowing hardware obfuscation of both digital and analog circuits. Since this 2D heterostructure devices family is intrinsically camouflaged, NAND/NOR/AND/OR gates in the circuit can be obfuscated with significantly less area overhead, allowing 100% logic obfuscation compared to only 5% for complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)-based camouflaging. Finally, we demonstrate that the largest benchmarking circuit from ISCAS'85, comprised of more than 4000 logic gates when obfuscated with the CMOS-based technique, is successfully decamouflaged by SAT attack in <40 min; whereas, it renders to be invulnerable even in more than 10 h when camouflaged with 2D heterostructure devices, thereby corroborating our hypothesis of high resilience against RE. Our approach of connecting material properties to innovative devices to secure circuits can be considered as a one of a kind demonstration, highlighting the benefits of cross-layer optimization.

Morphometric Analysis and Three-Dimensional Computed Tomography Reconstruction of Thai Distal Femur

This study evaluates the distal femur morphology of the Thai population using a three-dimensional (3D) measurement method, measuring the distance between the triangular point of the femoral 3D model. The 3D model of 360 Thai femoral obtained from 180 volunteers (90 males, 90 females; range 20–50 years, average 32.8 years) was created using reverse engineering techniques from computed tomography imaging data. Using the 3D identified landmark method, the morphometric parameters evaluated included transepicondylar axis length (TEA), mediolateral length (ML), anteroposterior width (AP), medial anteroposterior width (MAP), lateral anteroposterior width (LAP), medial condyle width (MCW), lateral condyle width (LCW), intercondylar notch width (WIN), intercondylar notch depth (DIN), medial posterior condyle height (MPC), lateral posterior condyle height (LPC), femoral aspect ratio (ML/AP), lateral femoral aspect ratio (ML/LAP), and medial femoral aspect ratio (ML/MAP). The measured data were summarized for the analysis of an average value and standard deviation. Statistical analysis was performed using the independent samples t-test, unequal variances t-test, and linear regression. A p-value less than 0.05 (&lt;0.05) was regarded as statistically significant and indicates strong evidence of the hypothesis. Additionally, the K-means clustering analysis of Thai distal femoral to the optimum size of the prosthesis with the correlation between ML length and AP width was performed. The results found that the morphometric parameters of the Thai male distal femur were significantly different and higher than those of Thai females, except for the ratio of ML/AP and ML/MAP. Comparatively, there was a significant difference between the specific size of Thai distal femur and that of the Korean population, which was also smaller than that for Caucasians. In addition, there was a mismatch between the distal femoral component sizing of knee prosthesis and what is available and commonly used in Thailand. At least six sizes of ML and/or AP should be recommended for the reasonable design of distal femoral prosthesis for covering the anatomy of Thais. These data are useful for predicting the morphometric parameters in forensic anthropology and provide basic data for the design of knee prostheses suitable for the Thai population.

Experimental Demonstration of Gate-Level Logic Camouflaging and Run-Time Reconfigurability Using Ferroelectric FET for Hardware Security

Outsourcing of integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing and increasing sophistication of IC reverse engineering techniques have unleashed security threats such as intellectual property (IP) theft and insertion of hardware Trojans. In this article, we propose and implement a run-time reconfigurable camouflage logic technology based on ferroelectric field-effect transistor (FeFET). The technology simultaneously obfuscates design IP from zero-trust foundry and untrusted testing facility and thwarts reverse engineering and counterfeiting threat. We fabricate for the first time an eight FeFET-based circuit block and demonstrate in silico gate-level camouflaging by implementing three Boolean logic functions—NOR, NAND, and XNOR—in the same circuit topology using threshold voltage ( ${V}_{\text {T}}$ ) programming of FeFET. We perform circuit simulations using empirically calibrated models to estimate power, latency, and area overhead. Compared with recent proposal of programmable camouflage logic using hot-carrier injection (HCI), FeFET offers an overhead reduction of $2\times $ , $1.8\times $ , and $2.8\times $ in area, power, and delay, respectively.

Reverse engineering technique on the evaluation of impression accuracy in angulated implants

Reverse engineering technique on the evaluation of impression accuracy in angulated implants

Efficient Features for Function Matching in Multi-Architecture Binary Executables

Binary-binary function matching problem serves as a plinth in many reverse engineering techniques such as binary diffing, malware analysis, and code plagiarism detection. In literature, function matching is performed by first extracting function features (syntactic and semantic), and later these features are used as selection criteria to formulate an approximate 1:1 correspondence between binary functions. The accuracy of the approximation is dependent on the selection of efficient features. Although substantial research has been conducted on this topic, we have explored two major drawbacks in previous research. (i) The features are optimized only for a single architecture and their matching efficiency drops for other architectures. (ii) function matching algorithms mainly focus on the structural properties of a function, which are not inherently resilient against compiler optimizations. To resolve the architecture dependency and compiler optimizations, we benefit from the intermediate representation (IR) of function assembly and propose a set of syntactic and semantic (embedding-based) features which are efficient for multi-architectures, and sensitive to compiler-based optimizations. The proposed function matching algorithm employs one-shot encoding that is flexible to small changes and uses a KNN based approach to effectively map similar functions. We have evaluated proposed features and algorithms using various binaries, which were compiled for ×86 and ARM architectures; and the prototype implementation is compared with Diaphora (an industry-standard tool), and other baseline research. Our proposed prototype has achieved a matching accuracy of approx. 96%, which is higher than the compared tools and consistent against optimizations and multi-architecture binaries.

WITHDRAWN: Protection android app with multiDEX and SO files from reverse engineering

Reverse engineering technique gives the attacker the gamble to embed the new code with apps; there is a chance of losing confidential information or adding some adware. Some most popular tool protects from reverse Engineering like LIAPP, IJIAMI, and ALIBABA, etc. Those tools can encrypt the DEX file in APK; before loading the files dynamically, it decrypts the files; the MultiDEX files do not defend these tools. We propose an approach to protect from reverse engineering methods. Our aim to protects against static repackaging attacks and provides better efficiency in decrypts and loading apps. We introduce the Virtual Machine (VM)-based MultiDEX and share object (SO) protection approach; we used the newly stack-based native code system in this approach. It provides intense level protection under the virtual machine. It leverages multiple dynamic virtual machines protection of bytecode to minimize the overhead. The significant advantage of our approach to protecting the MutiDex files and SO files is that very few systems are available, which take care of both types of files.

A multidisciplinary approach for the rehabilitation of a patient with chondrosarcoma: prosthetically-driven digital workflow for maxillary reconstruction and implant treatment

Aim To describe a comprehensive digital therapy oriented towards the final restoration for treating an oral maxillofacial defect caused by maxillary chondrosarcoma. Summary The prosthetically-driven multidisciplinary approach was applied to achieve perfectly functional-aesthetic reconstruction for a male patient with maxillary chondrosarcoma. The complete tumor resection was ensured by the design of virtual osteotomy and surgical guide plate. A reverse engineering technique was used to reconstruct the bone defect in the maxillary aesthetic area, which offered reference for a three-dimensional printing guide plate to shape and fix the free vascularized iliac bone flap. On the solid basis of previous treatment, the implant placement was performed under the guidance of the prosthetic-driven implant plate. Vestibular extension and tissue graft were performed to increase keratinized gingiva width to improve implant-supported fixed prosthesis effect. Key learning points 1. A multidisciplinary approach including maxillofacial surgery, prosthodontic and periodontal treatment can provide better esthetic and functional results for complex rehabilitation of a patient with oral maxillofacial defect. 2. Predictability of maxillary reconstruction and implant restoration can be increased with prosthetic-driven treatment plan. 3. Applying preoperative virtual design and personalized guide plate is beneficial to achieve an ideal outline of reconstructed upper jaw. 4. Obtaining comprehensive aesthetic parameters of the expected restoration is one of the key principles of upper anterior teeth rehabilitation. 5. Digital technology provides an opportunity for consistency between the primary treatment design and the final restoration outcome.

Image-based bio-cad modeling: overview, scope, and challenges

CAD used to facilitate engineering design, modeling, simulation, analysis, and manufacturing. Recent advancement in computer graphics, medical imaging, and Image processing created new ways for CAD in the design, modeling, and development of many novels and essential biomedical and non-biomedical applications. The Biomedical use to develop implant, scaffold, prostheses, surgical guide, and other medical devices. The non-medical use in forensic, anthropology, passenger safety product design, and impact analysis. This review article gives an overview of various recent approaches for the development of virtual Bio-CAD models from high resolution medical images. It shows how to choose the appropriate path as per the application's requirement in terms of its complexity and capturing features. Key publications from the reputed peer-reviewed journals and books have been reviewed and presented a different approach to develop Bio-CAD models from non-invasive medical imaging data. Different methods used to develop the interfaces are biomedical software, STL interface, and reverse engineering discussed from various research study have been explored. Recent advances in state-of-art technology such as CAD, medical imaging, and image processing, and reverse engineering techniques made it possible to easily reconstruct the 3D CAD models, which will be useful for other downstream applications. This study concludes that the Bio-CAD model plays a dominant role in all downstream applications for the design, analysis, simulation, and manufacturing of complex biomimetic scaffold, patient-specific implants, surgical guides, prosthesis, organ bio blueprints, and other biomedical models. The outcome from the literature review strongly suggested that Bio-CAD modeling will soon be the future for all medical practitioners, biomedical engineers, and manufacturers and will use in all computer-assisted surgery and planning. This paper is beneficial to study the development of Bio-CAD models techniques and its applications in design, modeling, analysis, and manufacturing of biomedical and nonbiomedical researchers.

Bölen: software module clustering method using the combination of shuffled frog leaping and genetic algorithm

PurposeSoftware module clustering is one of the reverse engineering techniques, which is considered to be an effective technique for presenting software architecture and structural information. The objective of clustering software modules is to achieve minimum coupling among different clusters and create maximum cohesion among the modules of each cluster. Finding the best clustering is considered to be a multi-objective N-P hard optimization-problem, and for solving this problem, different meta-heuristic algorithms have been previously proposed. Achieving higher module lustering quality (MQ), obtaining higher success rate for achieving the best clustering quality and improving convergence speed are the main objectives of this study.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, a method (Bölen) is proposed for clustering software modules which combines the two algorithms of shuffled frog leaping and genetic algorithm.FindingsThe results of conducted experiments using traditional data sets confirm that the proposed method outperforms the previous methods in terms of convergence speed, module clustering quality and stability of the results.Originality/valueThe study proposes SFLA_GA algorithm for optimizing software module clustering, implementing SFLA algorithm in a discrete form by two operators of the genetic algorithm and achieving the above-mentioned purposes in this study. The aim is to achieve higher performance of the proposed algorithm in comparison with other algorithms.

Terahertz probing of sunflower leaf multilayer organization.

We analyze the multilayer structure of sunflower leaves from Terahertz data measured in the time-domain at a ps scale. Thin film reverse engineering techniques are applied to the Fourier amplitude of the reflected and transmitted signals in the frequency range f < 1.5 Terahertz (THz). Validation is first performed with success on etalon samples. The optimal structure of the leaf is found to be a 8-layer stack, in good agreement with microscopy investigations. Results may open the door to a complementary classification of leaves.

3D printing orthopedic scoliosis braces: a test comparing FDM with thermoforming

In recent years, 3D printing gained considerable attention in the orthopedic sector. This work evaluates the feasibility of producing orthopedic scoliosis braces by 3D printing, comparing performance and costs with classical thermoforming procedures. Critical parameters, such as manufacture time, mechanical properties, weight, and comfort are carefully considered. Polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified (PETG) was selected among the several filaments materials present on the market. Printed samples were analyzed with electronic microscope, tensile, and impact tests and compared with thermoformed polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) samples. Moreover, a cost analysis was carried out for the specific application. The thermoformed brace of a volunteer patient affected by scoliosis was reproduced using reverse-engineering techniques. The model was then printed as a single piece and postprocessed by an expert orthotist. Subsequently, the patient wore the brace in a pilot case to compare comfort and mechanical effectiveness. Results show that the 3D printing fabrication method is able to provide a valid alternative to the current fabrication methods, being also very competitive in terms of costs. The morphological analysis does not show critical defects in 3D printed samples, while the mechanical tests highlighted their anisotropy, with an overall brittleness of PETG samples in the direction orthogonal to the fibers. However, in terms of mechanical stresses, a back brace should never reach the polymer yield stress, otherwise the shape would be modified and the therapeutic effect could be compromised. Finally, the patient reported the perception of improved support and no significant comfort differences compared with the thermoformed brace.

Classifying Cartographic Projections Based on Dynamic Analysis of Program Code

Abstract. Analyzing a given map to identify its projection and other geometrical properties has long been an important aspect of cartographic analysis. If explicit information about the projection used in a particular map is not available, the properties of the cartographic transformation can sometimes be reconstructed from the map image. However, such a process of projection analysis requires significant manual labor and oversight.For digital maps, we usually expect the projection from geographic space to map space to have been calculated by a computer program. Such a program can be expected to contain the implementation of the mathematical rules of the projection and subsequent coordinate transformations such as translation and scaling. The program code, therefore, contains information that would allow an analyst to reliably identify map projections and other geometrical transformations applied to the input data.In the case of interactive online maps, the code generating the map is in fact delivered to the map user and could be used for cartographic analysis. The core idea of our novel method proposed for map analysis is to apply reverse engineering techniques on the code implementing the cartographic transformations in order to retrieve the properties of the applied map projection. However, automatic reasoning about computer code by way of static analysis (analyzing the source code without running it) is provably limited – for example, the code delivered to the map user may contain a whole library of different map projections, of which only a specific one may be actually used at runtime. Instead, we propose a dynamic analysis approach to observe and monitor the operations performed by the code as the program runs, and to retrieve the mathematical operations that have been used to calculate the coordinates of every graphical element on the map.The presented method produces, for every graphical element of the map, a transformation graph consisting of low-level mathematical operations. Cartographic projections can be identified as distinctive patterns in the transformation graph, and can be distinguished in a fully automatic way by matching a set of predefined patterns against a particular graph.Projections vary widely in their arithmetic structure, and therefore by the structure of the corresponding transformation graphs extracted from program code. Some projections can be computed directly using continuous equations involving trigonometric functions. Other projections involve solving nonlinear equations, which need to be solved by approximation. Composite projections use different projections depending on some threshold value. Yet other projections, such as the Robinson projection, define a table of predefined values, between which interpolation is used etc.. In each of these cases, we expect to find the operations corresponding to the mathematical structure of the projection in the transformation graph extracted by the presented method.For verifying the method, we have implemented the patterns of several well-known cartographic projections based on the literature and have used it on the transformation graphs extracted from a variety of sample programs. To ensure a diversity of implementations, we have evaluated programs using different and independent JavaScript implementations of projections, including the open source libraries D3.js, proj4js, Leaflet, OpenLayers, and informal implementations of example programs found online. For these case studies, we could successfully identify many projections based on identifying patterns in the transformation graph in a fully automated, unsupervised manner.In the future, the proposed method may be further developed for many innovative application scenarios, such as building a “cartographic search engine” or constructing novel tools for semi-automatic cartographic analysis and review.