Model-Based Design Space Exploration for FPGA-based Image Processing Applications Employing Parameterizable Approximations

The increasing demand for low power consumption and high computational performance is outpacing available technological improvements in embedded systems. Approximate computing is a novel design paradigm trying to bridge this gap by leveraging the inherent error resilience of certain applications and trading in quality to achieve reductions in resource usage. Numerous approximation methods have emerged in this research field. While these methods are commonly demonstrated in isolation, their combination can increase the achieved benefits in complex systems. However, the propagation of errors throughout the system necessitates a global optimization of parameters, leading to an exponentially growing design space. Additionally, the parameterization of approximated components must consider potential cross-dependencies between them. This work proposes a systematic approach to integrate and optimally configure parameterizable approximate components in FPGA-based applications, focusing on low-level but high-bandwidth image processing pipelines. The design space is explored by a multi-objective genetic algorithm which takes parameter dependencies between different components into account. During the exploration, appropriate models are used to estimate the quality-resource trade-off for probed solutions without the need for time-consuming synthesis. We demonstrate and evaluate the effectiveness of our approach on two image processing applications that employ multiple approximations. The experimental results show that the proposed methods are able to produce a wide range of Pareto-optimal solutions, offering various choices regarding the desired quality-resource trade-off.     

Design optimization of semiconductor piezoresistors with Schottky diode contacts

A modeling theory is developed to predict the performance of piezoresistors which incorporate Schottky diode electrical contacts. This new theory allows the design of high performance gauges which can be fabricated using Non-Lithographically-Based Microfabrication (NLBM) techniques. These semiconductor piezoresistors can be designed in customizable sizes and fabricated in parallel in order to integrate position sensing into MEMS flexural positioners. Customizable sensing for nanopositioning platforms will enable advances in a range of nano-scale fabrication and metrology applications. A semiconductor piezoresistor with Schottky diode contacts was fabricated and attached to a titanium flexure. This device is shown to match predicted electrical performance within about 8% and to show a gauge factor of 116, within 2% of the predicted value. Optimized performance limits for Schottky diode semiconductor piezoresistors are identified to be about 127 dB full noise dynamic range for a quarter bridge over a 10 kHz sensor bandwidth on a 600 μm width titanium flexure, making them ideal for sensing on meso-/micro-scale flexural positioners. Methods are suggested for achieving the performance limits indicated above and the impact of these methods on the sensor dynamic range are studied.     

教学型智能制造生产线的设计

以智能制造主要技术元素为切入点,设计了教学型智能制造生产线。介绍了企业资源计划系统、制造执行系统、立体仓储单元、工业机器人、数控加工设备、激光打标设备、视觉检测设备、自动装配设备、物料传输设备等教学型智能制造生产线的组成结构,分析了工作流程。这一教学型智能制造生产线具有良好的柔性,可以根据客户需求增减工作单元、调整零件类型、定制商标等,具有较高的实用价值。     

一种新型自动化蓝莓采摘机的设计

针对小浆果种植领域中蓝莓收获难的问题,基于计算机软件和可编程序控制器,设计了一种新型自动化蓝莓采摘机。介绍了这一蓝莓采摘机的结构与工作原理,分析了控制方案,制作了样机,并进行了采摘试验。应用这一新型自动化蓝莓采摘机,可以满足蓝莓收获效率高、破损率低等要求。     

重要厂用水系统设计水温对冷链换热器热工设计的影响分析

核电厂重要厂用水系统设计水温（TSEC）是影响冷链换热器热工设计的重要参数，随着TSEC的增大，冷链换热器的热工设计工况趋于恶劣，导致换热面积和设备尺寸逐渐增大。本文以冷链换热器的典型热工设计工况为设计输入，针对不同的TSEC，采用热混合设计方法，得到了对应TSEC下的冷链换热器板片方案。分析了冷链换热器总通道数量、流道占比、总传热系数随TSEC的变化情况，发现对于特定的热工设计工况，冷链换热器只能在一定的TSEC范围内实现压降和换热裕量的完全匹配，且存在一个临界温度，当TSEC高于该温度后，板片数量会迅速增大，应尽量避免TSEC高于该临界温度。      

环境设计专业学习空间设计探析--以教室改造的参与式设计为例

学习空间的设计必须基于教育理念、学习模式、技术设施与精神氛围等因素展开,以更开放、灵活及多样化的有趣形态来吸引使用者。对于已掌握基本设计方法并具有一定设计思维的环境设计专业学生而言,设计与自身学习行为关联的学习空间,能体现"参与式设计"的特殊意义:即一方面以有着直观体验感受的熟悉空间作为训练案例来有效地整合设计能力;另一方面则通过用户与设计者身份的叠加,从使用者体验一维到对空间发展的专业预设考虑一维共同实现学习空间设计理念的更新。     

践行社会责任开展线上公益主题海报设计教育实践——苏州大学师生抗击疫情公益海报创作纪实

从践行社会责任的设计教育工作人才培养目标出发,在疫情期间,组织学生,深入了解社会生活的工艺诉求,通过线上线下的教学模式,指导学生创作抗击疫情公益海报。这种融入网络远程教学与实践教育的活动,不仅提升了学生的社会责任感,激活了假期课堂模式,而且提升了学生设计实践能力,实现了“立德树人”的人才培养目标。     

Exploring design trade-offs for achieving social inclusion in multi-tiered design problems

ABSTRACT

The digital age of the future is ‘not out there to be discovered’, but it needs to be ‘designed’. The design challenge has to address questions about how we want to live, work, and learn (as individuals and as communities) and what we value and appreciate, e.g.: reflecting on quality of life and creating inclusive societies. An overriding design trade-off for the digital age is whether new developments will increase the digital divide or will create more inclusive societies. Sustaining inclusive societies means allowing people of all ages and all abilities to exploit information technologies for personally meaningful activities. Meta-design fosters the design of socio-technical environments that end-user developers can modify and evolve at use time to improve their quality of life and favour their inclusion in the society. This paper describes three case studies in the domain of assistive technologies in which end users themselves cannot act as end-user developers, but someone else (e.g.: a caregiver or a clinician) must accept this role requiring multi-tiered architectures. The design trade-offs and requirements for meta-design identified in the context of the case studies and other researchers’ projects are described to inform the development of future socio-technical environments focused on social inclusion.