scholarly journals Simulation-Based Hardware Verification with a Graph-Based Specification

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Zhao Lv ◽  
Shuming Chen ◽  
Yaohua Wang
Keyword(s):  
Pattern Generation ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Hardware Verification ◽  
Verification Method ◽  
Functional Coverage ◽  
Coverage Criterion ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
Functional Correctness ◽  
Test Vectors ◽  
Verification Techniques

Simulation-based verification continues to be the primary technique for hardware verification due to its scalability and ease of use; however, it lacks exhaustiveness. Although formal verification techniques can exhaustively prove functional correctness, they are limited in terms of the scale of their design due to the state-explosion problem. Alternatively, semiformal approaches can involve a compromise between scalability, exhaustiveness, and resource costs. Therefore, we propose an event-driven flow graph-based specification, which can describe the cycle-accurate functional behaviors without the exploration of whole state space. To efficiently generate input sequences according to the proposed specification, we introduce a functional automatic test pattern generation (ATPG) approach, which involves the proposed intelligent redundancy-reduction strategy to solve problems of random test vectors. We also proposed functional coverage criterion based on the formal specification to support a more reliable measure of verification. We implement a verification platform based on the proposed semiformal approach and compare the proposed semiformal approach with the constrained randomized test (CRT) approach. The experiment results show that the proposed semiformal verification method ensures a more exhaustive and effective exploration of the functional correctness of designs under verification (DUVs).

An Application of a Digital Twin to Robotic System Design for an Unstructured Environment

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Q. Marshall ◽  
Cameron Redovian
Keyword(s):  
Life Stage ◽  
Robotic System ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Design Decision ◽  
Feed System ◽  
Design Decisions ◽  
Digital Twin ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
Unstructured Environment ◽  
Mobile Base

Abstract An experimentable digital twin is created to aid in a design decision (beginning of life stage) for a robotic system. This product is meant to automate a material-feed system. The robot comprises a six-axis manipulator mounted on a mobile base. Due to variability in the dimensions of the material-feed system and positioning error of the mobile base, the material-placement routine is considered to take place in an unstructured environment. Working therein requires exteroceptive sensors, in this instance taking the form of computer vision. Data from this subsystem are used to match the geometry of the digital twin to the physical environment. This close correspondence between physical and virtual embodiments allows for significant design decisions to be reached from simulated experiments. In this case, two motion-planning approaches are compared and it is determined that the costs associated with implementing the dynamic one in the lab for testing are merited by its ease of use and reliability, since simulation-based control employs all current information.

Genetic-Algorithm-based Test Pattern Generation for Crosstalk Faults between On-Chip Aggressor and Victim

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (03) ◽  
pp. 1640018
Author(s):  
Kishore Duganapalli ◽  
Ajoy K. Palit ◽  
Walter Anheier
Keyword(s):  
Supply Voltage ◽  
Fitness Function ◽  
Vlsi Design ◽  
Pattern Generation ◽  
Test Automation ◽  
Process Technology ◽  
Noise Margin ◽  
Aspect Ratios ◽  
On Chip ◽  
Test Vectors

With the shrinking feature size and increasing aspect ratios of interconnects in DSM chips, the coupling noise between adjacent interconnects has become a major signal integrity (SI) issue, giving rise to crosstalk failures. In older technologies, SI issues have been ignored because of high noise immunity of the CMOS circuits and the process technology. However, as CMOS technologies lower down the supply voltage as well as the threshold voltage of a transistor, digital designs are more and more susceptible to noise because of the reduction of noise margin. The genetic algorithms (GAs) have been applied earlier in different engineering disciplines as potentially good optimization tools and for various applications in VLSI design, layout, EDIF digital system testing and also for test automation, particularly for stuck-at-faults and crosstalk-induced delay faults. In this paper, an elitist GA has been developed that can be used as an ATPG tool for generating the test patterns for crosstalk-induced faults between on-chip aggressor and victim and as well as for stuck-at-faults. It has been observed that the elitist GA, when the fitness function is properly defined, has immense potential in extracting the suitable test vectors quickly from randomly generated initial patterns.

scholarly journals Three Spatial Verification Techniques: Cluster Analysis, Variogram, and Optical Flow

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 1457-1471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caren Marzban ◽  
Scott Sandgathe ◽  
Hilary Lyons ◽  
Nicholas Lederer
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Optical Flow ◽  
Covariance Structure ◽  
Object Oriented ◽  
False Alarms ◽  
Verification Method ◽  
Field Displacement ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Verification Techniques ◽  
Spatial Verification

Abstract Three spatial verification techniques are applied to three datasets. The datasets consist of a mixture of real and artificial forecasts, and corresponding observations, designed to aid in better understanding the effects of global (i.e., across the entire field) displacement and intensity errors. The three verification techniques, each based on well-known statistical methods, have little in common and, so, present different facets of forecast quality. It is shown that a verification method based on cluster analysis can identify “objects” in a forecast and an observation field, thereby allowing for object-oriented verification in the sense that it considers displacement, missed forecasts, and false alarms. A second method compares the observed and forecast fields, not in terms of the objects within them, but in terms of the covariance structure of the fields, as summarized by their variogram. The last method addresses the agreement between the two fields by inferring the function that maps one to the other. The map—generally called optical flow—provides a (visual) summary of the “difference” between the two fields. A further summary measure of that map is found to yield useful information on the distortion error in the forecasts.

scholarly journals An untested approach to facilitating visually enhanced mental simulation online with multiple learners: A mini guide

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Burcu Doğan ◽  
Natalie Pattison ◽  
Guillaume Alinier
Keyword(s):  
Online Education ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Mental Simulation ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Educational Activity ◽  
Educational Effectiveness ◽  
Visual Elements ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
Web Camera ◽  
Simulation Session

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the world in every aspect. Many universities and education centres adapted their teaching to online education. Virtual simulation has been endorsed by stakeholders not only for teaching healthcare students and workers, but also to be counted as practice hours for students. We propose an approach to facilitate simulation-based education (SBE) online in an interactive manner for multiple participants. Methods: Visually enhanced mental simulation (VEMS) is a low fidelity yet very immersive and engaging educational activity used for participants to practise non-technical skills such as decision-making and communication while others observe. Unlike ordinary mental simulation, participants can engage in VEMS as in a full-scale scenario-based simulation session, while being observed by peers. It is supported with visual elements such as a patient poster and laminated equipment cards for participants to illustrate the actions performed. Actions and patient parameters are also recorded with the timing by a facilitator on a white board. The scenario is followed by a debriefing involving all participants and observers. Recommendations: VEMS can be adapted to the online environment and be facilitated through platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Skype, Zoom, GoToMeeting, or Cisco WebEx easily using a shared screen with Microsoft PowerPoint and their associated chat function or the facilitator's web camera facing a noticeboard. A patient pictogram and transparent background equipment images can be used in PowerPoint to illustrate the actions verbalised by the participants. The facilitator can speak as the patient and illustrate and write down everything in PowerPoint as the participants engage in the scenario, so all the other session attendees can observe. Everyone can then attend the scenario debriefing online. Conclusion: Online VEMS offers an opportunity for participants to practise non-technical and communication skills. It is a low fidelity and low-cost approach to facilitating SBE that still needs to be tested with actual learners for ease of use, acceptability, and educational effectiveness.

ATPG for Timing Errors in Globally Asynchronous Locally Synchronous Systems

2003 ◽  
Vol 12 (03) ◽  
pp. 305-332
Author(s):  
Srikanth Arekapudi ◽  
Fei Xin ◽  
Jinzheng Peng ◽  
Ian G. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Pattern Generation ◽  
Timing Errors ◽  
Globally Asynchronous Locally Synchronous ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Synchronous Systems ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
Multiple Processes ◽  
Verification Problem ◽  
Short Time ◽  
Gals Systems

Globally Asynchronous, Locally Synchronous (GALS) systems are now commonplace in many cost-critical and life-critical applications, thus motivating the need for a systematic approach to verify functionality. The complexity of the verification problem for large heterogeneous GALS systems necessitates the development of simulation-based validation approaches to uniformly validate hardware, software, and their interaction. GALS systems are comprised of several processes which may be mapped to different hardware and software components and communicate through asynchronous interfaces. Communication between these processes must be verified to ensure that the system is working correctly. Previous work focuses on checking the correctness of individual processes rather than communication between multiple processes. Timing errors may cause a signal to have an incorrect value for a short time period. Timing errors can cause a problem in GALS systems if the value of a signal with a timing error is used while is has an incorrect value. This paper presents an automatic test pattern generation (ATPG) tool to generate tests for timing-induced functional errors.

scholarly journals Ring Counter Based ATPG for Low Transition Test Pattern Generation

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
V. M. Thoulath Begam ◽  
S. Baulkani
Keyword(s):  
Power Dissipation ◽  
Peak Power ◽  
Test Pattern ◽  
Average Power ◽  
Pattern Generation ◽  
External Circuit ◽  
Dynamic Power ◽  
Ring Counter ◽  
Random Fashion ◽  
Test Vectors

In test mode test patterns are applied in random fashion to the circuit under circuit. This increases switching transition between the consecutive test patterns and thereby increases dynamic power dissipation. The proposed ring counter based ATPG reduces vertical switching transitions by inserting test vectors only between the less correlative test patterns. This paper presents the RC-ATPG with an external circuit. The external circuit consists of XOR gates, full adders, and multiplexers. First the total number of transitions between the consecutive test patterns is determined. If it is more, then the external circuit generates and inserts test vectors in between the two test patterns. Test vector insertion increases the correlation between the test patterns and reduces dynamic power dissipation. The results prove that the test patterns generated by the proposed ATPG have fewer transitions than the conventional ATPG. Experimental results based on ISCAS’85 and ISCAS’89 benchmark circuits show 38.5% reduction in the average power and 50% reduction in the peak power attained during testing with a small size decoding logic.

scholarly journals Development of a Simulation-Based Interprofessional Teamwork Assessment Tool

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 168-176
Author(s):  
Zia Bismilla ◽  
Tehnaz Boyle ◽  
Karen Mangold ◽  
Wendy Van Ittersum ◽  
Marjorie Lee White ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Delphi Method ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Validity Evidence ◽  
Interprofessional Teamwork ◽  
Point Rating Scale ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
Competency Based ◽  
Trainee Competence

ABSTRACT Background  The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Milestone projects required each specialty to identify essential skills and develop means of assessment with supporting validity evidence for trainees. Several specialties rate trainees on a milestone subcompetency related to working in interprofessional teams. A tool to assess trainee competence in any role on an interprofessional team in a variety of scenarios would be valuable and suitable for simulation-based assessment. Objective  We developed a tool for simulation settings that assesses interprofessional teamwork in trainees. Methods  In 2015, existing tools that assess teamwork or interprofessionalism using direct observation were systematically reviewed for appropriateness, generalizability, adaptability, ease of use, and resources required. Items from these tools were included in a Delphi method with multidisciplinary pediatrics experts using an iterative process from June 2016 to January 2017 to develop an assessment tool. Results  Thirty-one unique tools were identified. A 2-stage review narrowed this list to 5 tools, and 81 items were extracted. Twenty-two pediatrics experts participated in 4 rounds of Delphi surveys, with response rates ranging from 82% to 100%. Sixteen items reached consensus for inclusion in the final tool. A global 4-point rating scale from novice to proficient was developed. Conclusions  A novel tool to assess interprofessional teamwork for individual trainees in a simulated setting was developed using a systematic review and Delphi methodology. This is the first step to establish the validity evidence necessary to use this tool for competency-based assessment.

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