A Latency-Insensitive Design Approach to Programmable FPGA-Based Real-Time Simulators

This paper presents a methodology for the design of field-programmable gate array (FPGA)-based real-time simulators (RTSs) for power electronic circuits (PECs). The programmability of the simulator results from the use of an efficient and scalable overlay architecture (OA). The proposed OA relies on a latency-insensitive design (LID) paradigm. LID consists of connecting small processing units that automatically synchronize and exchange data when appropriate. The use of such data-driven architecture aims to ease the design process while achieving a higher computational efficiency. The benefits of the proposed approach is evaluated by assessing the performance of the proposed solver in the simulation of a two-stage AC–AC power converter. The minimum achievable time-step and FPGA resource consumption for a wide range of power converter sizes is also evaluated. The proposed overlays are parametrizable in size, they are cost-effective, they provide sub-microsecond time-steps, and they offer a high computational performance with a reported peak performance of 300 GFLOPS.

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Audio-Based Aircraft Detection System for Safe RPAS BVLOS Operations

Electronics ◽

10.3390/electronics9122076 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 2076

Author(s):

Jorge Mariscal-Harana ◽

Víctor Alarcón ◽

Fidel González ◽

Juan José Calvente ◽

Francisco Javier Pérez-Grau ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Data Augmentation ◽

Detection System ◽

Cost Effective ◽

True Positive Rate ◽

Training Dataset ◽

Computational Performance ◽

Combining Data ◽

Wide Range ◽

Aircraft Detection

For the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) market to continue its current growth rate, cost-effective ‘Detect and Avoid’ systems that enable safe beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations are critical. We propose an audio-based ‘Detect and Avoid’ system, composed of microphones and an embedded computer, which performs real-time inferences using a sound event detection (SED) deep learning model. Two state-of-the-art SED models, YAMNet and VGGish, are fine-tuned using our dataset of aircraft sounds and their performances are compared for a wide range of configurations. YAMNet, whose MobileNet architecture is designed for embedded applications, outperformed VGGish both in terms of aircraft detection and computational performance. YAMNet’s optimal configuration, with >70% true positive rate and precision, results from combining data augmentation and undersampling with the highest available inference frequency (i.e., 10 Hz). While our proposed ‘Detect and Avoid’ system already allows the detection of small aircraft from sound in real time, additional testing using multiple aircraft types is required. Finally, a larger training dataset, sensor fusion, or remote computations on cloud-based services could further improve system performance.

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Audio-Based Aircraft Detection System for Safe RPAS BVLOS Operations

10.20944/preprints202010.0343.v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jorge Mariscal-Harana ◽

Víctor Alarcón ◽

Fidel González ◽

Juan José Calvente ◽

Francisco Javier Pérez-Grau ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Data Augmentation ◽

Detection System ◽

Cost Effective ◽

True Positive Rate ◽

Training Dataset ◽

Computational Performance ◽

Combining Data ◽

Wide Range ◽

Aircraft Detection

For the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) market to continue its current growth rate, cost-effective "Detect and Avoid" systems that enable safe beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations are critical. We propose an audio-based "Detect and Avoid" system, composed of microphones and an embedded computer, which performs real-time inferences using a sound event detection (SED) deep learning model. Two state-of-the-art SED models, YAMNet and VGGish, are fine-tuned using our dataset of aircraft sounds and their performances are compared for a wide range of configurations. YAMNet, whose MobileNet architecture is designed for embedded applications, outperformed VGGish both in terms of aircraft detection and computational performance. YAMNet's optimal configuration, with > 70% true positive rate and precision, results from combining data augmentation and undersampling with the highest available inference frequency (i.e. 10 Hz). While our proposed "Detect and Avoid" system already allows the detection of small aircraft from sound in real time, additional testing using multiple aircraft types is required. Finally, a larger training dataset, sensor fusion, or remote computations on cloud-based services could further improve system performance.

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Audio-Based Aircraft Detection System for Safe RPAS BVLOS Operations

10.20944/preprints202010.0343.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jorge Mariscal-Harana ◽

Víctor Alarcón ◽

Fidel González ◽

Juan José Calvente ◽

Francisco Javier Pérez-Grau ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Data Augmentation ◽

Detection System ◽

Cost Effective ◽

True Positive Rate ◽

Computational Performance ◽

Combining Data ◽

Wide Range ◽

Positive Rate ◽

Aircraft Detection

For the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) market to continue its current growth rate, cost-effective "Detect and Avoid" systems which enable safe beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations are critical. We propose an audio-based "Detect and Avoid" system, composed of microphones and an embedded computer, which performs real-time inferences using a sound event detection (SED) deep learning model. Two state-of-the-art SED models, YAMNet and VGGish, are fine-tuned using our aircraft sounds dataset and their performances are compared for a wide range of configurations. YAMNet, whose MobileNet architecture is designed for embedded applications, outperformed VGGish both in terms of aircraft detection and computational performance. YAMNet's optimal configuration, with > 70% true positive rate and precision, results from combining data augmentation and undersampling with the highest available inference frequency (i.e. 10 Hz). While our proposed "Detect and Avoid" system already allows the detection of small aircraft from sound in real time, a larger dataset, sensor fusion, or the use of cloud-based services for remote computations could further improve its performance.

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Spectroscopy Transmittance by LED Calibration

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s19132951 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (13) ◽

pp. 2951 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Daniel Carreres-Prieto ◽

Juan T. García ◽

Fernando Cerdán-Cartagena ◽

Juan Suardiaz-Muro

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Light Emitting Diode ◽

Research Work ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Spectral Width ◽

Calibration Procedure ◽

Pollution Monitoring ◽

Light Emitting ◽

Wide Range ◽

Incandescent Lamps

Local administrations demand real-time and continuous pollution monitoring in sewer networks. Spectroscopy is a non-destructive technique that can be used to continuously monitor quality in sewers. Covering a wide range of wavelengths can be useful for improving pollution characterization in wastewater. Cost-effective and in-sewer spectrophotometers would contribute to accomplishing discharge requirements. Nevertheless, most available spectrometers are based on incandescent lamps, which makes it unfeasible to place them in a sewerage network for real-time monitoring. This research work shows an innovative calibration procedure that allows (Light-Emitting Diode) LED technology to be used as a replacement for traditional incandescent lamps in the development of spectrophotometry equipment. This involves firstly obtaining transmittance values similar to those provided by incandescent lamps, without using any optical components. Secondly, this calibration process enables an increase in the range of wavelengths available (working range) through a better use of the LED’s spectral width, resulting in a significant reduction in the number of LEDs required. Thirdly, this method allows important reductions in costs, dimensions and consumptions to be achieved, making its implementation in a wide variety of environments possible.

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LZER0: GNSS cost-effective real-time positioning applied to landslide monitoring

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-9506 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Lavinia Tunini ◽

David Zuliani ◽

Paolo Fabris ◽

Marco Severin

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Monitoring System ◽

Low Cost ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Single Frequency ◽

Landslide Monitoring ◽

Natural Risk ◽

Near Surface ◽

Landslide Event ◽

Wide Range

The Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) provide a globally extended dataset of primordial importance for a wide range of applications, such as crustal deformation, topographic measurements, or near surface processes studies. However, the high costs of GNSS receivers and the supporting software can represent a strong limitation for the applicability to landslide monitoring. Low-cost tools and techniques are strongly required to face the plausible risk of losing the equipment during a landslide event.Centro di Ricerche Sismologiche (CRS) of Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale OGS in collaboration with SoluTOP, in the last years, has developed a cost-effective GNSS device, called LZER0, both for post-processing and real-time applications. The aim is to satisfy the needs of both scientific and professional communities which require low-cost equipment to increase and improve the measurements on structures at risk, such as landslides or buildings, without losing precision.The landslide monitoring system implements single-frequency GNSS devices and open source software packages for GNSS positioning, dialoguing through Linux shell scripts. Furthermore a front-end web page has been developed to show real-time tracks. The system allows measuring real-time surface displacements with a centimetre precision and with a cost ten times minor than a standard RTK GPS operational system.This monitoring system has been tested and now applied to two landslides in NE- Italy: one near Tolmezzo municipality and one near Brugnera village. Part of the device development has been included inside the project CLARA 'CLoud plAtform and smart underground imaging for natural Risk Assessment' funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR).

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Open-Source FPGA Coprocessor for the Doppler Emulation of Moving Fluids

Micromachines ◽

10.3390/mi12121549 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (12) ◽

pp. 1549

Author(s):

Stefano Ricci

Keyword(s):

Embedded Systems ◽

Embedded System ◽

Open Source ◽

Real Time ◽

Field Programmable Gate Array ◽

Synthetic Signal ◽

Doppler System ◽

Wide Range ◽

Field Programmable ◽

Moving Fluid

Embedded systems are nowadays employed in a wide range of application, and their capability to implement calculation-intensive algorithms is growing quickly and constantly. This result is obtained by the exploitation of powerful embedded processors that are often connected to coprocessors optimized for a particular application. This work presents an open-source coprocessor dedicated to the real-time generation of a synthetic signal that mimics the echoes produced by a moving fluid when investigated by ultrasounds. The coprocessor is implemented in a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) device and integrated in an embedded system. The system can replace the complex and inaccurate flow-rigs employed in laboratorial tests of Doppler ultrasound systems and methods. This paper details the coprocessor and its standard interfaces, and shows how it can be integrated in the wider architecture of an embedded system. Experiments showed its capability to emulate a fluid flowing in a pipe when investigated by an echographic Doppler system.

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Development of cost-effective real-time PCR test: to detect a wide range of HBV DNA concentrations in the western amazon region of Brazil

Virology Journal ◽

10.1186/1743-422x-11-16 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Alcione de Oliveira dos Santos ◽

Luan Felipo Botelho Souza ◽

Lourdes Maria Borzacov ◽

Juan Miguel Villalobos-Salcedo ◽

Deusilene Souza Vieira

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Real Time Pcr ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Hbv Dna ◽

Amazon Region ◽

Wide Range ◽

Pcr Test

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Development of a sensitivity and cost-effective real time pcr: measuring a wide range of HBV DNA concentrations

10.35259/isi.sact.2013_26981 ◽

2013 ◽

Author(s):

Alcione Santos ◽

Luan Souza ◽

Lourdes Borzacov ◽

Juan Villalobos-Salcedo ◽

Deusilene Vieira

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Real Time Pcr ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Hbv Dna ◽

Wide Range

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In-house Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for detection of SARS-CoV2 with increased Sensitivity

10.21203/rs.3.rs-408343/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Manash Jyoti Kalita ◽

Kalpajit Dutta ◽

Gautam Hazarika ◽

Ridip Dutta ◽

Simanta Kalita ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiplex Pcr ◽

Real Time ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Sybr Green ◽

Rdrp Gene ◽

Green Approach ◽

Resource Limited ◽

Effective Manner ◽

Wide Range ◽

Primer Sets

Abstract Background:With the increasing COVID-19 infection worldwide, economization of the existing RT-PCR based detection assay becomes the need of the hour. Methods: An assessment of optimal PCR conditions for simultaneous amplification for E, S and RdRp gene of SARS-CoV-2 has been made using both fast traditional and multiplex real time PCR using same primer sets. All variables of practical value were studied by amplifying known target-sequences from ten-fold dilutions of archived positive samples of COVID-19. Results: The designed primers for amplification of E, S and RdRp gene of SARS-Cov-2 in single tube Multiplex PCR amplifications have shown efficient amplification of the target region in 37 minutes using thermal cyclers and 169 minutes with HRM based Real time detection using SYBR green master mix, over a wide range of template concentration, and the results were in good concordance with the commercially available detection kits. Conclusion: This fast HRM based Real time multiplex PCR with SYBR green approach offers rapid and sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 in a cost effective manner apart from the added advantage of primer pair’s compatibility for use in Traditional multiplex PCR, which offers extended applicability of the assay protocol in resource limited setting.

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Towards A Graphene Chip System For Blood Clotting Disease Diagnostics

10.23889/suthesis.59099 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Jacob J. Mitchell

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Blood Clotting ◽

Point Of Care ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Sampling Point ◽

Sensor Platform ◽

Disease Diagnostics ◽

Highly Sensitive ◽

Wide Range ◽

Semiconductor Fabrication

Point of care diagnostics (POCD) allows the rapid, accurate measurement of analytes near to a patient. This enables faster clinical decision making and can lead to earlier diagnosis and better patient monitoring and treatment. However, despite many prospective POCD devices being developed for a wide range of diseases this promised technology is yet to be translated to a clinical setting due to the lack of a cost-eﬀective biosensing platform.This thesis focuses on the development of a highly sensitive, low cost and scalable biosensor platform that combines graphene with semiconductor fabrication tech-niques to create graphene ﬁeld-eﬀect transistors biosensor. The key challenges of designing and fabricating a graphene-based biosensor are addressed. This work fo-cuses on a speciﬁc platform for blood clotting disease diagnostics, but the platform has the capability of being applied to any disease with a detectable biomarker.Multiple sensor designs were tested during this work that maximised sensor ef-ﬁciency and costs for diﬀerent applications. The multiplex design enabled diﬀerent graphene channels on the same chip to be functionalised with unique chemistry. The Inverted MOSFET design was created, which allows for back gated measurements to be performed whilst keeping the graphene channel open for functionalisation. The Shared Source and Matrix design maximises the total number of sensing channels per chip, resulting in the most cost-eﬀective fabrication approach for a graphene-based sensor (decreasing cost per channel from £9.72 to £4.11).The challenge of integrating graphene into a semiconductor fabrication process is also addressed through the development of a novel vacuum transfer method-ology that allows photoresist free transfer. The two main fabrication processes; graphene supplied on the wafer “Pre-Transfer” and graphene transferred after met-allisation “Post-Transfer” were compared in terms of graphene channel resistance and graphene end quality (defect density and photoresist). The Post-Transfer pro-cess higher quality (less damage, residue and doping, conﬁrmed by Raman spec-troscopy).Following sensor fabrication, the next stages of creating a sensor platform involve the passivation and packaging of the sensor chip. Diﬀerent approaches using dielec-tric deposition approaches are compared for passivation. Molecular Vapour Deposi-tion (MVD) deposited Al2O3 was shown to produce graphene channels with lower damage than unprocessed graphene, and also improves graphene doping bringing the Dirac point of the graphene close to 0 V. The packaging integration of microﬂuidics is investigated comparing traditional soft lithography approaches and the new 3D printed microﬂuidic approach. Speciﬁc microﬂuidic packaging for blood separation towards a blood sampling point of care sensor is examined to identify the laminar approach for lower blood cell count, as a method of pre-processing the blood sample before sensing.To test the sensitivity of the Post-Transfer MVD passivated graphene sensor de-veloped in this work, real-time IV measurements were performed to identify throm-bin protein binding in real-time on the graphene surface. The sensor was function-alised using a thrombin speciﬁc aptamer solution and real-time IV measurements were performed on the functionalised graphene sensor with a range of biologically relevant protein concentrations. The resulting sensitivity of the graphene sensor was in the 1-100 pg/ml concentration range, producing a resistance change of 0.2% per pg/ml. Speciﬁcity was conﬁrmed using a non-thrombin speciﬁc aptamer as the neg-ative control. These results indicate that the graphene sensor platform developed in this thesis has the potential as a highly sensitive POCD. The processes developed here can be used to develop graphene sensors for multiple biomarkers in the future.

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