Software Engineering Principles Research Articles

Design and Analysis of Mechatronic Systems for Autonomous Underwater Exploration

The design and analysis of mechatronic systems for autonomous underwater exploration play a crucial role in advancing the capabilities of underwater robotic platforms. This abstract presents a comprehensive overview of the research conducted on the design and analysis of mechatronic systems for autonomous underwater exploration. The objective of this research is to enhance the performance, efficiency, and reliability of underwater robotic systems in order to enable effective and efficient exploration of the underwater environment.Mechatronic systems for autonomous underwater exploration require a multidisciplinary approach that integrates mechanical, electrical, and software engineering principles. This research focuses on the design and analysis of these integrated systems, addressing challenges such as robustness, adaptability, power management, and control mechanisms. The design and analysis of mechatronic systems for autonomous underwater exploration present a multidisciplinary research area that combines mechanical, electrical, and software engineering principles. This research aims to enhance the performance, efficiency, and reliability of underwater robotic platforms by addressing challenges related to design, analysis, control, power management, and sensor integration. The findings from this research will contribute to the advancement of autonomous underwater exploration, enabling better understanding and utilization of the underwater environment for various applications, including scientific research, environmental monitoring, and underwater infrastructure inspection.

Projektowo-zorientowane nauczanie zasad inżynierii oprogramowania

Typically, our courses include teaching lectures, tutorials/labs, and student evaluation in interim tests and final exams. For courses in which students supposed to learn practical application of software engineering principles, such a teaching model not always yields satisfactory results: Passing an exam does not guarantee that students can transfer absorbed knowledge into their programming practice, or even use it effectively in follow up courses that require students to apply that knowledge in a new context. To counter this problem, educators often include substantial programming projects into their courses. It is authors' opinion that to get better teaching outcomes, It is important to enhance the role of projects in software engineering courses in two aspects. Firstly, lecture material should be tightly integrated and synchronized with the project work. Secondly, course evaluation should be based on evaluation of the project work, with written tests and final exams playing a complementary role. In the paper, authors motivate and explain their methodology to teach a project-oriented course based on a 15-year experience of teaching such courseat the National University of Singapore and Bialystok University of Technology.

Quantifying Software Quality in Agile Development Environment

Due to required efforts and the challenges involved in understanding the quantification of software quality, researchers have chosen varying quality attributes to describe the quantification of software quality. The degree of software quality is achieved from the standards and quality attributes at each development process: the adherence of software engineering principles towards realizing a product of good quality. In agile environment, the software engineering process ensures that qualities of interest are built-in and to produce software product with an acceptable level of quality. Thus, this study is aimed at quantifying six related software quality attributes. The specific objectives include identifying the software quality attributes, the design of the algorithm for measurement metrics, and to perform relational analytics of each attribute with respect to the software quality. The methodology followed an exploratory evaluation of measurement and metrics and their role in quantifying software quality in agile development environment. The study adopted existing metrics to quantify software quality attributes. Twelve opensource software projects were tested for 6 specific quality attributes and each result is quantified and presented. Results show that software number 2 (SW2) has a maintainability value of 6 minutes, 50% availability, and 0.62 reliability values. It implies that a high value of maintainability does not translate to high reliability. These values establish the relationship between attributes and enhances developers and users’ understanding of the software quality and its attributes.

Automated Features Extraction from Software Requirements Specification (SRS) Documents as The Basis of Software Product Line (SPL) Engineering

Extractive Software Product Line Engineering (SPLE) puts features on the foremost aspect in domain analysis that needs to be extracted from the existing system's artifact. Feature in SPLE, which is closely related to system functionality, has been previously studied to be extracted from source code, models, and various text documents that exist along the software development process. Source code, with its concise and normative standard, has become the most focus target for feature extraction source on many kinds of research. However, in the software engineering principle, the Software Requirements Specification (SRS) document is the basis or main reference for system functionality conformance. Meanwhile, previous researches of feature extraction from text document are conducted on a list of functional requirement sentences that have been previously prepared, not literally SRS as a whole document. So, this research proposes direct processing on the SRS document that uses requirement boilerplates for requirement sentence statement. The proposed method uses Natural Language Processing (NLP) approach on the SRS document. Sequence Part-of-Speech (POS) tagging technique is used for automatic requirement sentence identification and extraction. The features are acquired afterward from extracted requirement sentences automatically using the word dependency parsing technique. Besides, mostly the previous researches about feature extraction were using non-public available SRS document that remains classified or not accessible, so this work uses selected SRS from publicly available SRS dataset to add reproducible research value. This research proves that requirement sentence extraction directly from the SRS document is viable with precision value from 64% to 100% and recall value from 64% to 89%. While features extraction from extracted requirement sentences has success rate from 65% to 88%.

Blender and Unreal Engine Character Design and Behavior Programming for 3D Games

A software game is a program used for entertainment and severe purposes that can be applied to many fields such as education, business, and health care. These more severe uses can apply to a variety of domains. The software game development technique is distinct from traditional software development due to the multidisciplinary nature of the game development methods, which include elements such as sound, art, control systems, artificial intelligence (AI), and human factors. The fundamental software engineering principles allow game creation to achieve maintainability, flexibility, reduced time and expense, and improved design. This study's objectives are to (1) evaluate the current level of research on the process of game development software engineering and (2) draw attention to aspects of this process that require additional investigation by researchers. In the research, we utilized a methodology that consisted of a comprehensive literature evaluation based on widely recognized digital libraries. The production phase of the game development software engineering process life cycle has been the focus of most research published on the topic. The pre-production phase has followed this. In comparison, the amount of research focused on the post-production phase is far lower than that of the pre-production and production stages. According to this research, developing video games through software engineering has many facets that require more attention from researchers; this is especially true regarding the post-production phase.

AiZynthFinder: a fast, robust and flexible open-source software for retrosynthetic planning

We present the open-source AiZynthFinder software that can be readily used in retrosynthetic planning. The algorithm is based on a Monte Carlo tree search that recursively breaks down a molecule to purchasable precursors. The tree search is guided by an artificial neural network policy that suggests possible precursors by utilizing a library of known reaction templates. The software is fast and can typically find a solution in less than 10 s and perform a complete search in less than 1 min. Moreover, the development of the code was guided by a range of software engineering principles such as automatic testing, system design and continuous integration leading to robust software with high maintainability. Finally, the software is well documented to make it suitable for beginners. The software is available at http://www.github.com/MolecularAI/aizynthfinder.

EUD-MARS: End-user development of model-driven adaptive robotics software systems

• EUD-MARS supports end-user development of model-driven adaptive robotics software. • EUD-MARS is supported by two tools. • The first tool enables software developers to prepare robot profiles. • The second tool enables end-users to program robots using visual blocks. • Three evaluation studies offered positive indications and insights for future work. Empowering end-users to program robots is becoming more significant. Introducing software engineering principles into end-user programming could improve the quality of the developed software applications. For example, model-driven development improves technology independence and adaptive systems act upon changes in their context of use. However, end-users need to apply such principles in a non-daunting manner and without incurring a steep learning curve. This paper presents EUD-MARS that aims to provide end-users with a simple approach for developing model-driven adaptive robotics software. End-users include people like hobbyists and students who are not professional programmers but are interested in programming robots. EUD-MARS supports robots like hobby drones and educational humanoids that are available for end-users. It offers a tool for software developers and another one for end-users. We evaluated EUD-MARS from three perspectives. First, we used EUD-MARS to program different types of robots and assessed its visual programming language against existing design principles. Second, we asked software developers to use EUD-MARS to configure robots and obtained their feedback on strengths and points for improvement. Third, we observed how end-users explain and develop EUD-MARS programs, and obtained their feedback mainly on understandability, ease of programming, and desirability. These evaluations yielded positive indications of EUD-MARS.

Recognizing, reporting and reducing the data curation debt of cohort studies.

Good data curation is integral to cohort studies, but it is not always done to a level necessary to ensure the longevity of the data a study holds. In this opinion paper, we introduce the concept of data curation debt—the data curation equivalent to the software engineering principle of technical debt. Using the context of UK cohort studies, we define data curation debt—describing examples and their potential impact. We highlight that accruing this debt can make it more difficult to use the data in the future. Additionally, the long-running nature of cohort studies means that interest is accrued on this debt and compounded over time—increasing the impact a debt could have on a study and its stakeholders. Primary causes of data curation debt are discussed across three categories: longevity of hardware, software and data formats; funding; and skills shortages. Based on cross-domain best practice, strategies to reduce the debt and preventive measures are proposed—with importance given to the recognition and transparent reporting of data curation debt. Describing the debt in this way, we encapsulate a multi-faceted issue in simple terms understandable by all cohort study stakeholders. Data curation debt is not only confined to the UK, but is an issue the international community must be aware of and address. This paper aims to stimulate a discussion between cohort studies and their stakeholders on how to address the issue of data curation debt. If data curation debt is left unchecked it could become impossible to use highly valued cohort study data, and ultimately represents an existential risk to studies themselves.

A 3D Gas and Water Simulator Considering Nonlinear Flow Behaviors for Abnormal High-Pressure Tight Gas Reservoirs

Fluid flow in tight gas reservoirs with abnormal high pressure presents nonlinear behaviors. A mathematical description of these behaviors is essential for establishing the flow model. In this study, a mathematical model is presented that describes the effect of threshold pressure gradient and rock deformation on gas flow parameters in a tight gas reservoir. A fully implicit 3D gas and water phase numerical model was derived using the finite difference method. Based on software engineering principles, a 3D gas and water simulator was developed, which can be used in research on nonlinear flow mechanisms and flow simulation in abnormal high-pressure gas reservoir. The simulator proved to be reliable through a comparison with a commercial simulator, and it was used successfully for prediction of gas production in the M reservoir.

Development of computational models of emotions: A software engineering perspective

Computational Models of Emotions (CMEs) are software systems designed to explain the phenomenon of emotions. The mechanisms implemented in this type of computational models are based on human emotion theories reported in the literature and designed to provide intelligent agents with affective capabilities and improve human-computer interaction. However, despite the growing interest in this type of models, the development process of CMEs does not seem to follow formal software methodologies. In this paper, we present an analysis of CMEs from a software engineering perspective. We aim to identify what elements of software engineering are used in the development process of CMEs and to demonstrate how some software engineering techniques may support and improve their development process. We discuss a series of challenges to be addressed in order to take advantage of software engineering techniques: (1) definition of guidelines to help decide which emotion theories should be implemented computationally, (2) homogenization of terms about human emotions, their components, phases, and cycles implemented in CMEs, (3) design of CMEs whose components can be reusable, (4) definition of standard criteria for comparative analysis between CMEs, (5) identification of software engineering principles, concepts, and design practices useful in the construction of CMEs, and (6) definition of standard frameworks to validate CMEs.

An Open-Source Simulator Applied to Prism Coupling Sensors Based on Kretschmann's Configuration

In this letter, we present an open-source simulator applied to design and to analyze prism coupling sensors considering surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect based on Kretschmann's configuration. The open-source simulator is called Sim-SPR and takes into account principles of software engineering. For comparison purposes and to validate our results, we considered two simulation tools already consolidated in the literature and performed an experimental setup for detecting resonant angle in a prism-based SPR sensor. The sensor design was based on optical prism (BK7 glass) as well as Au thin film. The results show that Sim-SPR provides reflectance curves that present a minimum in the resonance condition, resulting in a good agreement when compared with simulation and experimental data. Sim-SPR provides new insights and it has great promise for possible applications in the field of biosensors.

Основи програмування в контексті інженерії програмного забезпечення

The article discusses the use of a constructive approach to building a program that is systematically cultivated in software engineering and made possible by a number of fundamental results obtained in programming theory. On the first, based on the structural theorem, reasonably was refused to use the go to operator and proposed a structured programming method, which provided a real way to create understandable programs. On the second, the concept of a subroutine, although it was used only to reduce routine work in the programming process, was the first means of modular presentation of programs. Later, the block and the subroutine formed the basis of block-oriented (procedural, subroutine) languages and the procedural (subroutine) programming method. In the third, to answer questions related to the definition of boundaries, sizes, and building module, the concept of connecting parts that make up a module and connections to indicate the connection between modules; specific modularization criteria; proposed a device module based on the concept of information hiding were introduced. The module is implemented in the programming language Modula, and later Modula-2. The concept of a module based on the modular (compositional) programming method. In the Simula 67 language, the foundations of object-oriented languages were introduced. They developed through the work on the concepts of inheritance, late binding and links, and were completed by the development of object-oriented languages and object-oriented (classification) programming. Thus, a framework for reuse, systematic reuse and component software development was created. Now these works are developing in the direction of research and creation of software as system of systems, using the link between system analysis and software engineering, and developing software system engineering. In the article, for learning the basics of programming, as a tool that allows clarifying the concept of program design, classification is used. As a classification feature - the level of encapsulation, which is based on the principles of software engineering – encapsulation and multi-level presentation -, is used. Applying the principle of encapsulation at different levels of representation program structure corresponding to different degrees of software abstraction, the concept of encapsulation level was obtained. Using this concept, you can find out the types of software constructions and the corresponding methods of programming (construction) programs. Using introduced the concepts and the constructive approach to building the program, the author created the didactics of the basics of programming, which was deployment through lectures for students of the specialty “Software Engineering” (121) and a textbook of the author for students and post-graduate students of the specialty. Problems in programming 2019; 3: 45-57

Sim-SPR: an Open-Source Surface Plasmon Resonance Simulator for Academic and Industrial Purposes

In this paper, an open-source simulation tool is proposed to evaluate the SPR effect considering a multilayer structure. The open-source simulator is called Sim-SPR and it follows the principles of software engineering. Furthermore, Sim-SPR is dedicated to analyze reflectance of prism-based SPR sensors using Otto’s configuration. It is important to emphasize that there is no available open-source simulation tool specifically built in this context in the literature. The Sim-SPR accuracy, efficiency, and reliability were analyzed by comparing our obtained results considering three different scenarios with two other simulation tools available in the literature, presenting minimal relative error. The results still include a sensitivity analysis of prism-based SPR sensors focusing on resonant angle.

Software engineering principles to improve quality and performance of R software.

Today’s computational researchers are expected to be highly proficient in using software to solve a wide range of problems ranging from processing large datasets to developing personalized treatment strategies from a growing range of options. Researchers are well versed in their own field, but may lack formal training and appropriate mentorship in software engineering principles. Two major themes not covered in most university coursework nor current literature are software testing and software optimization. Through a survey of all currently available Comprehensive R Archive Network packages, we show that reproducible and replicable software tests are frequently not available and that many packages do not appear to employ software performance and optimization tools and techniques. Through use of examples from an existing R package, we demonstrate powerful testing and optimization techniques that can improve the quality of any researcher’s software.

E-Voting System: The Pathway to Free and Fair Election in Nigeria

Voting is a critical component of any election. In most developing countries, this process is usually marred with multiple irregularities such as falsification of results, identity theft, stolen of ballot boxes, multiple voting and electoral fraud among others. This research aimed at solving these multifaceted problems associated with manual-based voting processes by using agile development and components-based software engineering (CBSE) principles to evolve a usable electronic voting system that can be used to conduct national election and any other election in the country. This will enhance and guarantee the credibility of the electoral processes and show a true reflection of the wishes of the people. The system was implemented using Visual Studio .Net and Microsoft SQL Server with attendant benefits of increased level of participation by the electorate, drastic cost reduction in organising election, voter's convenience, and faster release of election results.

Software engineering principles address current problems in the systematic review ecosystem

Systematic reviewers are simultaneously unable to produce systematic reviews fast enough to keep up with the availability of new trial evidence while overproducing systematic reviews that are unlikely to change practice because they are redundant or biased. Although the transparency and completeness of trial reporting has improved with changes in policy and new technologies, systematic reviews have not yet benefited from the same level of effort. We found that new methods and tools used to automate aspects of systematic review processes have focused on improving the efficiency of individual systematic reviews rather than the efficiency of the entire ecosystem of systematic review production. We use software engineering principles to review challenges and opportunities for improving the interoperability, integrity, efficiency, and maintainability. We conclude by recommending ways to improve access to structured systematic review results. Major opportunities for improving systematic reviews will come from new tools and changes in policy focused on doing the right systematic reviews rather than just doing more of them faster.

OTree: Implementing experiments with dynamically determined data quantity

oTree (Chen et al., 2015) provides an excellent platform and device independent open-source software environment for creating experiments. In some scenarios, namely when dealing with a large or dynamic quantity of data, oTree’s design makes it hard to avoid error-prone repetitive coding. This article presents a way of realizing dynamic and flexible data collection that is easy to implement and follows the principles of good software engineering. A market scenario is used as an example and basis for an illustrative implementation which is also provided along with this article. A software package is presented that extends oTree’s capabilities of live data monitoring and data export of dynamically collected data.

Establishing a basis for new software engineering principles

Over the last years, computer applications have moved away from the single-core, local execution that they were originally intended for. Modern applications have to run distributed, in parallel, on heterogeneous environments, share distributed data etc. Not surprisingly the standard ways of programming do not hold anymore and modern software engineers struggle with the growing complexity. New software engineering need to move away from the traditional execution models and reconsider the principles from ground up - focusing on the three primary “building criteria” of modern applications, namely to process information, to adhere to quality and performance criteria, and to follow business incentives. This paper shows that these three criteria are sufficient to specify the full functional behaviour of an application and thereby implicitly its potential instantiations. Since no single algorithm is bound to the specification, transformation between instances, and thus between different execution attributes is easily possible using mathematical transformations.

Methodological Approach for Developing a KMS: A Case Study


 
 
 This article describes the construction of a Knowledge Management System (KMS) by applying fundamental concepts and principles of Software Engineering, such as process, models, methodology, technology and architectures, among others. They are applied to the field of Knowledge Management as a means of improving the process of developing applications in this domain, in an endeavor to increase its effectiveness.
 This paper’s main contribution is a methodological approach progressing from knowledge processes to a set of appropriate systems. The use of modeling techniques and technologies that may prove helpful to the Software Engineer are suggested as part of this approach, while the technological, social and organizational aspects to be considered are highlighted. This proposal was evaluated through the development of a Knowledge Management System for a Venezuelan organization – a research center.
 The evaluation proved the effectiveness of the methodological aspects proposed. These may be of use as inputs for some Learning Software Organizations dedicated to the development of this type of system.
 
 

Half a Century of Software Engineering Education: The CMU Exemplar

From the aspirational title of the 1968 NATO conference, software engineering has evolved to a well-defined engineering discipline with strong educational underpinnings. The supporting educational foundation has grown from a few courses in programming languages and data structures, evolving through structured programming, correctness formalisms, and state machine abstractions to full curricula and degree programs. With this context in mind, the authors discuss the evolution of software engineering education and pedagogy, software engineering principles, and future needs, drawing specifically on their experience at Carnegie Mellon University. Reflecting on the software development profession today, they believe that formal software engineering education is needed at least as much as it was in earlier decades. However, it must address the increasing diversity of the developer community, and it must be an education based on the enduring principles that will last a lifetime. This article is part of a theme issue on software engineering’s 50th anniversary.