Applicative System Level Test introduction to Increase Confidence on Screening Quality

The steady march of Moore's Law in semiconductors has enabled the creation of ever more complex systems with electronics playing a central role. As a result, thorough testing of individual components is no longer adequate to ensure overall system performance, quality, and reliability. The rising importance of system-level test (SLT) to supplement traditional component structural test has gained wide recognition recently. To understand this trend, we examine where traditional testing falls short and where SLT fills the gap. In many cases, system failures are the result of complex component interactions leading to abnormal scenarios not attributable to simple and single root causes. Rather than being confined by traditional gate-level fault models, it might be more appropriate to develop a system-level fault model derived as an emergent property of complex systems. New definitions of fault coverage and how to automate high-coverage test generation are obvious challenges in the system domain. Recent developments in design verification which faces similar challenges in dealing with system complexity may offer possible solutions for SLT to draw on. The aim is to stimulate new ideas and directions for future research in system-based testing as upcoming 5G/IoT/AI-based applications penetrate deeper and pervasively into our daily lives.

Today’s challenges in Architecture and Engineering arise from ever more complex networks of boundary conditions, which often address contradicting environmental, social and economic aspects. Within this context, finding a single best solution for a construction type or planning method to solve these challenges, is often not possible. In pursuit of efficient solutions for both digital modelling and actual construction, we are discovering new hybrids as forerunners of our creative profession. In this context, we are also discovering new fields of application for textile architecture for both products and planning techniques beyond their classic application for membrane structures. The current paper on ‘new hybrids’ will address this potential and show new fields of application, where knowledge from textile architecture is the starting point for developing new design and construction methods, using traditional building materials. The current paper reviews some recent developments of design and construction principals in textile architecture and gives an outlook, towards how these can be transferred, onto the development of a new filament-based timber material.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes/silicone conductive nanocomposites are of great significance because of their unique electrical and mechanical properties and are expected to open up a new field of applications as smart functional materials. Especially their noticeable piezoresistive behaviors can be utilized to produce flexible tactile sensors with large sizes but low costs. To enhance the sensitivity of the piezoresistive property, a foaming procedure was introduced to the conductive polymeric composites. A series of novel multi-walled carbon nanotubes/silicone conductive foamed nanocomposites were fabricated with different types of foaming agents to obtain a diverse porous structure. The porous structures of the foams, the distribution and orientation state of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes in the silicone matrix were both observed using a laser microscope and SEM with or without a compressive load. The influences of the porous structure and porosity on the foam were studied. It was found that a different porosity and different voids structure affected the density, elastic modulus, resistivity as well as piezoresistive property significantly. A piezoresistive model for the conductive fillers reinforced elastomeric composites was developed, the calculated results of resistive variations were used to compare to the measured values. Although the overall trends of the resistance changes matched, notable separations were found between the theoretical values and the measured values, which are thought to be caused by the viscoelasticity of the silicone matrix.

A new W-band transceiver circuit design is introduced for wireless high speed data transmission applications that relies entirely on commercially available 77 GHz automotive radar MMIC (monolithic millimeterwave integrated circuits) and thinfilm ceramics. The advantage of this approach is twofold. Firstly, already well established technology can be utilized for a new field of applications. Secondly, the resulting higher production volume due to deeper market penetration lowers the MMIC cost and therefore benefits likewise the automotive as well as the telecommunications market. A study of geographically correlated link-ranges shows that 779 m-2.4 km can be achieved depending on the required link availability. A super heterodyne transceiver design using a quasi PSK modulation is proposed. Measured results of two passive system components are presented exemplarily.

This paper presents investigations on the load‐bearing behaviour of sandwich panels under bending load and axial load. The sandwich panels investigated here have the special feature that they consist of two face sheets, a polyurethane core and two integrated reinforcement profiles. These integrated profiles allow the stiffness of the panels to be significantly increased, resulting in a delayed wrinkling failure and thus opening up new fields of application. Experimental results from bending tests are presented. From these results, analytical approaches are then described that can be used to predict the load‐bearing behaviour under axial loading. In addition, the test setup is described, which will be used in the future for the experimental investigation of the panels under axially loading.

Internet of Things (IoT) is experiencing a huge hype these days, thanks to the increasing capabilities of embedded devices that enable their adoption in new fields of application (e.g. Wireless Sensor Networks, Connected Cars, Health Care, etc.). On the one hand, this is leading to an increasing adoption of multi-tenancy solutions for Cloud and Fog Computing, to analyze and store the data produced. On the other hand, power consumption has become a major concern for almost every digital system, from the smallest embedded circuits to the biggest computer clusters, with all the shades in between. Fine-grain control mechanisms are then needed to cap power consumption at each level of the stack, still guaranteeing Service Level Agreements (SLA) to the hosted applications. In this work, we propose DockerCap, a software-level power capping orchestrator for Docker containers that follows an Observe-Decide-Act loop structure: this allows to quickly react to changes that impact on the power consumption by managing resources of each container at run-time, to ensure the desired power cap. We show how we are able to obtain results comparable with the state of the art power capping solution provided by Intel RAPL, still being able to tune the performances of the containers and even guarantee SLA constraints.

Teleoperation effectiveness was almost stagnant during several decades since the discovery of the master-slave structure by Goertz in the 50s; in spite of some technical improvements and computer developments [1]. Recent advances on virtual reality (VR) techniques can be considered as the additional ingredient to the total telerobotic renewal, and novel architectures could be developed. Its efficiency is reaching now a considerable level of achievements. It allows a clear improvement in traditional applications such as nuclear or space activities and it also opens many new fields of application, where teleoperation represents a major percentage of robotic development. Build on previous state-of-the-art reports [2, 3, 4], this chapter reviews up-to-date achievements applying virtual reality techniques to teleoperation: we recall some relevant achievements of VR in solving difficult teleoperation problems such as time delay, operator assistance and sharing robot autonomy by combining different supervision strategies or allowing new human-centred teleoperation schemes. The chapter also discusses new robotic applications that have currently appeared which require additional research efforts and call additional investigations on virtual reality techniques. Among them we can find micro- and nano-teleoperation eventually of livings such us cells and DNA molecules, teleoperation of humanoids and animaloids, teleoperation of unmanned air or terrestrial vehicles, hi-fidelity telepresence, multi-operator multirobots teleoperation, etc. These are exemplified along with their specific challenges.

With the evolving of rapid manufacturing methods, new fields of application become feasible. Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), an additive process, allows the production of medical devices made out of PA 2200, a biocompatible plastic powder. Due to the fast production cycle, medical robots or devices can be highly customised. However, those new production methods force the engineer to design robots and mechanisms adapted for this process. In particular the use of compliant structures is necessary if small mechanisms are to be created. Creating laparoscopic grippers out of flexible hinges revealed that there are properties unknown for the particular material used. Lasersintered PA 2200 parts seem to have a flexural modulus, which varies with their thickness and build orientation during the production process. This paper investigates those phenomenons with three-point loading tests. A dependency could be found and has been characterised for five orientations allowing the engineer to estimate the flexural modulus of lasersintered PA 2200 parts according to their thickness.

This paper gives an overview of wind-induced galloping phenomena, describing its manifold features and the many advances that have taken place in this field. Starting from a quasi-steady model of aeroelastic forces exerted by the wind on a rigid cylinder with three degree-of-freedom, two translations and a rotation in the plane of the model cross section, the fluid–structure interaction forces are described in simple terms, yet suitable with complexity of mechanical systems, both in the linear and in the nonlinear field, thus allowing investigation of a wide range of structural typologies and their dynamic behavior. The paper is driven by some key concerns. A great effort is made in underlying strengths and weaknesses of the classic quasi-steady theory as well as of the simplistic assumptions that are introduced in order to investigate such complex phenomena through simple engineering models. A second aspect, which is crucial to the authors’ approach, is to take into account and harmonize the engineering, physical and mathematical perspectives in an interdisciplinary way—something which does not happen often. The authors underline that the quasi-steady approach is an irreplaceable tool, tough approximate and simple, for performing engineering analyses; at the same time, the study of this phenomenon gives origin to numerous problems that make the application of high-level mathematical solutions particularly attractive. Finally, the paper discusses a wide range of features of the galloping theory and its practical use which deserve further attention and refinements, pointing to the great potential represented by new fields of application and advanced analysis tools.

Medical implants are all ideal example of the growing application of microsystems and a convincing proof for their high future potential. The use of implants in human bodies has high demands on safety and biocompatibility on the system. The downsizing of well known systems such as pacemakers, comes to an extent where rigid housings are not possible any more. In addition the systems have become more and more flexible in order to enter new fields of applications. Therefore the assembly and packaging of implantable micro-systems plays a mayor role in the useability of new implants. As an example for the integration of a microsystem in a medical implant, a micro bloodpump with a micro pressure sensor was developed. For the first time MID (moulded interconnected device) technology was applied in a medical device. MID technology plays the key role in the multifunctional use of the components: it functions as sensor mount, electric conductor and pump housing. In addition to that the whole system should be biocompatible even if partial damage to the coating occurs.

The present review describes the various roles of cyclodextrins (CDs) in vaccines against viruses and in antiviral therapeutics. The first section describes the most commonly studied application of cyclodextrins—solubilisation and stabilisation of antiviral drugs; some examples also refer to their beneficial taste-masking activity. The second part of the review describes the role of cyclodextrins in antiviral vaccine development and stabilisation, where they are employed as adjuvants and cryopreserving agents. In addition, cyclodextrin-based polymers as delivery systems for mRNA are currently under development. Lastly, the use of cyclodextrins as pharmaceutical active ingredients for the treatment of viral infections is explored. This new field of application is still taking its first steps. Nevertheless, promising results from the use of cyclodextrins as agents to treat other pathologies are encouraging. We present potential applications of the results reported in the literature and highlight the products that are already available on the market.

Computational materials science, as an intersection of theoretical physics, condensed matter physics and material science, its main tasks, in general, are firstly, research and calculate the physical and chemical properties for known materials. This would help us to better understand the microscopic mechanism of some material properties and open up new fields of applications. Secondly, computational design of new materials, that would help us to explore and design new materials to meet some proposed requirements. As we known, new material design and development is the basis of high-tech material and its device applications. The research history of computational materials science can actually be traced back to the mid 20s of last century. Immediately after the birth of quantum mechanics theory, many excellent theoretical works were applied to the study of physical properties of solid materials. In the early years of the computational materials science, it is mainly to adopt semi-empirical method. This is because the object being studied is a many-particle system which contains very large amounts of atoms and electrons. One cannot find the rigorous analytical solutions, but the empirical values of the measurable parameters are available, Therefore, in semi-empirical method, the number of experience parameters is at least as much as that of material types, hence, most studies are pointed only to the computing research category of physical properties. Until the mid 60s of last century, Hohenberg-Kohn (Hohenberg & Kohn. 1964) and Kohn-Sham (Kohn & Sham 1965) proposed the Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Local Density Approximation (LDA), to get rid of the semiempirical method restriction, and hence causing the birth of so-called ab initio or the first principles method that do not depend on experimental parameters. This method has now become a core technology of the computational material science, computational chemistry and computational condensed matter physics and is widely used. What is a First Principles for the physical world, no one seems to be specified clarify its meaning. Many physicists believe that the most precise description of atoms and smaller than the atomic system is the theory of quantum electrodynamics (QED). Therefore, QED is a theory called first principles of the micro world. In the field of condensed matter physics and materials science, within the framework of the density functional theory, if one do not consider the high-energy radiation correction, one needs only the electromagnetic theory, Schrodinger equation and/or Dirac equation and a few of parameters unrelated to specific

Thanks to the 50 nm of lateral resolution of the NanoSIMS50, new fields of application have been opened to Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry. The NanoSIMS50 imaging capabilities are however often hampered by the fact that, due to a high impact energy (16 keV) and normal incidence of the primary ion beam, the steady state is only reached after sputtering several nanometers (10–20 nm) of the sample. As a consequence, the secondary ion emission is very low during the sputtering of these first nanometers. This phenomenon, which is most pronounced for organic and biologic samples, induces artifacts of measurement. In a previous study, we have shown that negative secondary ion yields can be enhanced in Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) by coupling the primary ion bombardment with a simultaneous neutral cesium deposition. As this method cannot be used directly on the NanoSIMS50, we propose here to perform SIMS analysis after a prior deposition of Cs 0 in a standalone UHV system. With this new method of analysis, organic thin films and proteins have been 3D monitored. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The constantly increasing diversity of types of robot and sensors opens new fields of applications. This affects the demand for tools facilitating their programming. This article focuses on the programming tools for development of high-level robotic controllers. It briefly discusses the evolution of methods of robot programming, starting from specialized languages, specialized libraries of functions for general purpose programming languages, ending up on robot programming frameworks. In particular, it presents a number of popular programming frameworks, enabling the creation of complex robot controllers.

Product piracy has become a serious threat for automation and mechanical engineering in recent years. Therefore effective protection measures are desperately needed. Especially the software has to be protected since it determines the machine's functionality and without software the machine (and the imitations) cannot work. Thereby it has to be prevented that software can be copied from one machine to another and that it can be manipulated in order to activate additional machine functionalities. Moreover the unauthorized replacement of software-equipped machine components must be prohibited. This can be achieved by applying Trusted Computing and TPMs to this new field of application.