The Evolvable Advanced Multi-Mission Operations System (AMMOS): Making Systems Interoperable

Virtually all software systems of significant size and longevity eventually undergo changes to their basic architectural structure. Such changes may be prompted by new feature requests, new quality attribute requirements, changing technology, or other reasons. Whatever the cause, software architecture evolution is commonplace in real-world software projects. However, research in this area has suffered from problems of validation; previous work has tended to make heavy use of toy examples and hypothetical scenarios and has not been well supported by real-world examples. To help address this problem, this paper presents a case study of an ongoing effort at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to rearchitect the Advanced Multimission Operations System used to operate NASA's deep-space and astrophysics missions. Based on examination of project documents and interviews with project personnel, I describe the goals and approach of this evolution effort, then demonstrate how approaches and formal methods from previous research in architecture evolution may be applied to this evolution while using languages and tools already in place at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) are amongst the most common user interfaces, enabling interactions with applications through mouse movements and key presses. Tools for automated testing of programs through their GUI exist, however they usually rely on operating system or framework specific knowledge to interact with an application. Due to frequent operating system updates, which can remove required information, and a large variety of different GUI frameworks using unique underlying data structures, such tools rapidly become obsolete, Consequently, for an automated GUI test generation tool, supporting many frameworks and operating systems is impractical. We propose a technique for improving GUI testing by automatically identifying GUI widgets in screen shots using machine learning techniques. As training data, we generate randomized GUIs to automatically extract widget information. The resulting model provides guidance to GUI testing tools in environments not currently supported by deriving GUI widget information from screen shots only. In our experiments, we found that identifying GUI widgets in screen shots and using this information to guide random testing achieved a significantly higher branch coverage in 18 of 20 applications, with an average increase of 42.5% when compared to conventional random testing.

This paper explores the how's and why's of the Spitzer Mission Operations System's (MOS) success, efficiency, and affordability in comparison to other observatory-class missions. MOS exploits today's flight, ground, and operations capabilities, embraces automation, and balances both risk and cost. With operational efficiency as the primary goal, MOS maintains a strong control process by translating lessons learned into efficiency improvements, thereby enabling the MOS processes, teams, and procedures to rapidly evolve from concept (through thorough validation) into in-flight implementation. Operational teaming, planning, and execution are designed to enable re-use. Mission changes, unforeseen events, and continuous improvement have often times forced us to learn to fly anew. Collaborative spacecraft operations and remote science and instrument teams have become well integrated, and worked together to improve and optimize each human, machine, and software-system element.

The Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission, launched in September 2011, successfully completed its Primary Science Mission in June 2012 and Extended Mission in December 2012. Competitively selected under a NASA Announcement of Opportunity in December 2007, GRAIL is a Discovery Program mission subject to a mandatory project cost cap. The purpose of the mission is to precisely map the gravitational field of the Moon to reveal its internal structure from crust to core, determine its thermal evolution, and extend this knowledge to other planets. The mission used twin spacecraft flying in tandem to provide the gravity map. The GRAIL Flight System, consisting of the spacecraft and payload, was developed based on significant heritage from previous missions such as an experimental U.S. Air Force satellite, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) mission, and the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission. The Mission Operations System (MOS) was based on high-heritage multimission operations developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Lockheed Martin. Both the Flight System and MOS were adapted to meet the unique challenges posed by the GRAIL mission design. This paper summarizes the implementation challenges and accomplishments of getting GRAIL ready for launch. It also discusses the in-flight challenges and experiences of operating two spacecraft, and mission results.

An operating system (OS) is a piece of software that, after being first loaded by a boot programme, governs all other application programs in a computer.The application programs request services from the operating system using a specific application programme interface (API).A user interface, such as a graphical user interface (UI) or command-line interface (CLI), allows users to interact with the operating system directly as well (GUI).An operating system is extremely useful for computer applications and software development.Without an operating system, each application would have to develop its own user interface (UI) and all the required code to control the computer's low-level tasks, such as managing disc storage, network connections, and other tasks.This would greatly increase the size of every application and make software development challenging, especially in light of the wide range of underlying hardware options.

Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) is commonly used in the hospital environment as the tool to manage radiological images which has standardized on the DICOM format. PACS usually consists of dedicated high performance server computers to provide functionalities of acquisition, storage, retrieval, editing (metadata), distribution and presentation. As the personal computers become more powerful, average desktop workstations can process large amount of data with performance comparable to the high cost dedicated systems. Recent desktop operating systems (OS) such as Microsoft Windows Vista have built-in indexing and search capability integrated with the graphic user interface (GUI) to allow fast retrieval and customized presentation for digital media and documents. Integrating DICOM image management into desktop OS GUI can reduce the cost of software acquisition, maintenance, and user training. We developed DicomProp as a Windows plug-in to provide an easy to use alternative for managing DICOM images on desktop computers.

Modern infrastructure systems, ranging from transportation to water and sewer systems, are becoming increasingly dependent on software. The role it plays in these systems is primarily to integrate and manage elements that support system operations. In other words, software has transformed what were previously considered to be largely static systems to active, dynamic systems. In general, infrastructure system software is characterized by an emphasis on the following core functions: (1) sensor management; (2) data analysis; (3) data management; and (4) equipment control interfaces. As the nature of infrastructure systems changes, the tools available to support their design and management must change as well. The construction engineering community has developed sound techniques and resources to support the estimation of costs for physical construction of infrastructure systems. However, such tools are not readily available to support the cost estimation of the software component of infrastructure system development and construction. In this research effort, a widely used software engineering cost-estimation technique, the construction cost model (COCOMO), was examined to determine if it is effective for infrastructure system application. This examination included a sample application of COCOMO to an infrastructure system software project and a critical analysis of the technique itself. The examination revealed that COCOMO is extremely sensitive to small variations in an estimator’s judgment, and that the foundation of the COCOMO model is poorly suited for infrastructure system application. As a result, it is recommended that a research and development program be initiated to create specific tools to support the cost estimation of infrastructure system software development.

: This paper examines the need for a UAV Swarm Risk Assessment Tool and how it can assist the Navys decision makers in assessing risk of UAV swarm threats in littoral environments, near potentially hostile countries, based on the latest intelligence. Human-centered design principles help determine the needs of experienced battle commanders. These needs form the basis of requirements and functional analysis. The system design concept consists of several parts: discrete-event simulation of UAV swarm attacks using Extend Sim, statistical analysis of the simulation data using Minitab, and a graphical user interface (GUI) that evolved as a web-app prototype written in MATLAB. Data from the simulation is analyzed and used to generate equations that calculate the effect of critical factors: physical environment, number of UAVs, distance from land, and the ships defensive weapons. The GUI uses these equations to provide users with the capability to vary those critical factors and analyze different courses of action and risk. The physical GUI web-app can be used as-is, tailored or expanded. The paper concludes with an analysis of the actual GUI prototype built for UAV swarm risk assessment and how it meets user needs.

Comparison Analysis of Android GUI Testing Frameworks by Using an Experimental Study

Online learning has become an option to be implemented in various schools because the development of IT technology and the COVID-19 pandemic have made online learning more popular to implement. Mobile LMS is the most dominant used in online learning. This study aims to produce a Mobile LMS framework developed from previous research based on the advantages and disadvantages. The review method used narrative review by identifying and summarizing previously published articles, avoid duplication of research, and look for new fields of study that have not been studied. The literatures are focused on three things such as (1) Mobile LMS theory, concept and approach, (2) Mobile LMS design and framework, and (3) Mobile LMS implementation. From articles researching about Mobile LMS published in reputable journals, there are 17 purposive selected papers. Based on the literature review, the Mobile LMS framework has not been integrated into devices and operating systems. Therefore, the author developed a Mobile LMS framework design based on Multiplatform, which is integrated by device and operating system based on references that have been used by previous researchers. This new Mobile LMS framework can be a reference for teachers and future researchers.

The voyager interstellar mission

The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) is a joint collaboration between NASA and India's national space agency, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). This Earth-orbiting radar mission, which will be launched from Sriharikota (India) in December 2021 in a near-polar, sun-synchronous orbit, is designed to systematically and globally study solid Earth, ice masses, and ecosystems. Following NISAR's launch, the first 90 days will be dedicated to performing `in-orbit checkout', or the `commissioning' period, during which there will be a step-by-step buildup in capability to full observatory operations. Activities performed during commissioning will be aimed at demonstrating the full functionality of the radar instruments (L-band and S-band), the reflector antenna, spacecraft and flight systems, characterizing and confirming their nominal performance within specifications. All ground systems and infrastructure, including Ground Data Systems (GDS), Science Data Systems (SDS) and Mission Operations Systems (MOS), as well as the compatibility of all system interfaces, will be tested and validated. Calibration strategies for monitoring instrument stability will be tested during initial instrument calibrations. The scheduling of these initial instrument calibration activities takes into account factors like the satellite orbit and attitude after launch, requirements on specific instrument configurations for operation, required ground targets and the corresponding number and frequency of overflight times during a satellite repeat cycle (12 days). A timeline for NISAR instrument checkout that takes into account these factors and constraints is presented in this paper.

Now-a-days graphical interface is very important for any operating system, even the embedded ones. Adopting existing solutions will be much easier than developing your own. Moreover, a lot of software may be reused in this case. This article is devoted to X Window System adaptation for Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX) compliant real-time operating system Baget. Many encountered problems come from the tight connection between X and Linux, therefore it is expected to encounter these issues during usage of X on non-Linux systems. Discussed problems include, but not limited to the absence of dlopen, irregular file paths, specific device drivers. Instructions and recommendations to solve these issues are given. A comparison between XFree86 and Xorg implementations of X is discussed. Although synthetic tests show Xorg performance superiority, XFree86 consumes fewer system resources and is easier to port.

The Education Operating Systems (EOS) Project is a free, customized Operating System with essential features for undergraduate students of Coimbra College of Education. Based on Linux Ubuntu OS, the EOS Project has pre-installed the necessary software needed throughout the course, new Graphical User Interface and has developed USB and Live-CD distributions to simplify the installation process. Extensive formal documentation and video tutorials were developed to improve the user's experience.

Simulation of electron spin resonance spectroscopy in diverse environments: An integrated approach