Adnan Shaout

Many-Objective Software Remodularization Using NSGA-III

Software systems nowadays are complex and difficult to maintain due to continuous changes and bad design choices. To handle the complexity of systems, software products are, in general, decomposed in terms of packages/modules containing classes that are dependent. However, it is challenging to automatically remodularize systems to improve their maintainability. The majority of existing remodularization work mainly satisfy one objective which is improving the structure of packages by optimizing coupling and cohesion. In addition, most of existing studies are limited to only few operation types such as move class and split packages. Many other objectives, such as the design semantics, reducing the number of changes and maximizing the consistency with development change history, are important to improve the quality of the software by remodularizing it. In this article, we propose a novel many-objective search-based approach using NSGA-III. The process aims at finding the optimal remodularization solutions that improve the structure of packages, minimize the number of changes, preserve semantics coherence, and reuse the history of changes. We evaluate the efficiency of our approach using four different open-source systems and one automotive industry project, provided by our industrial partner, through a quantitative and qualitative study conducted with software engineers.

Fuzzy logic modeling for performance appraisal systems: A framework for empirical evaluation

Abstract This paper presents a proposed application of the fuzzy set theory to a personnel performance evaluation system. Two fuzzy personnel performance models will be represented and their variables fuzzified. An application to the performance evaluation in a higher educational setting will be proposed.

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems - Past, present and future

Every year, automobile manufactures spend millions in funding development of cutting edge technologies to keep drivers safe and accident free while operating their vehicles. These technologies are known in the industry as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and each one is controlled by complex real-time embedded systems. This paper will present the state of the art for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and will give detailed overviews of past, present and future designs of each variant. Each overview will focus on the design of the actual real-time embedded system involved.

Software Design for Six Sigma: A Roadmap for Excellence

This proposal constitutes an algorithm of designapplying the design for six sigma thinking, tools, and philosophy to software design. The algorithm will also include conceptual design frameworks, mathematical derivation for Six Sigma capability upfront to enable design teams to disregard concepts that are not capable upfront, learning the software development cycle and saving development costs. The uniqueness of this book liesin bringing all those methodologies under the umbrella of design andprovide detailed description about how these methods, QFD, DOE, the robust method, FMEA, Design for X, Axiomatic Design, TRIZ can be utilized to help quality improvement in software development, what kinds of different roles those methods play in various stages of design and how to combine those methods to form a comprehensive strategy, a design algorithm, to tackle any quality issues in the design stage.

The development of fuzzy logic based controller for semi-active suspension system

The purpose of any suspension system is to improve the ride quality and road handling. This is achieved by controlling the relative position and motion between vehicle body and wheels in order to reduce the effect of road profile variation. This paper introduces the concepts of fuzzy logic and its application toward the development of semi-active suspension system. The body-suspension-wheel system is modeled as a two degree-of-freedom model. The fuzzy logic based model is being developed based on two inputs. Suspension Velocity (SV) and Body Velocity (BV). The Control Signal (U), which is a function of the inputs, is determined from the rule base. The result shows major improvement over passive suspension and minor improvement over Skyhook method.

Fuzzy decision making for load balancing in a distributed system

This is the first attempt in formulating the load balancing problem with fuzzy sets. It should not be considered a general model. This model should be studied in detail theoretically, and with simulation for various topologies, and number of nodes. A fuzzy decision model for the control and management of large decentralized systems is more appropriate than the conventional probabilistic models.<<ETX>>

An ideal API for RTOS modeling at the system abstraction level

In system level design, specification languages, especially system level design languages (SLDL), are used to build high level models to allow fast design space exploration, and to assist designers in exploring alternatives early in the design process. Current SLDL languages lack built-in support for modeling RTOS at the system level, and specific RTOS implementation can not be used directly in models at the system level. In this paper, we define and provide the primitives for an ideal API for a generic RTOS model to be used on top of existing SLDL. The model is based on the key features provided by a typical RTOS, and is generic such that it can be used with any SLDL. Using the API defined in this paper, we describe the refinement of the RTOS model so that the model can be integrated into the system level co-design process.

Fuzzy logic based modification system for the learning rate in backpropagation

Abstract This paper proposes a fuzzy logic modification system to the standard backpropagation algorithm, with respect to the learning rate parameter. Instead of relying on the proper choice of the fixed learning rate parameter, for which no explicit mathematical model exists, a fuzzy system controller is used to dynamically adjust the learning rate based upon a set of problem domain heuristics. The objective is to speed up training time while also providing a more stable convergence. Character recognition application is used to demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed system.

Models of Computation for Heterogeneous Embedded Systems

The use of heterogeneous architectures in embedded systems together with the increasing complexities of hardware and software, the increased pressure to deliver full-featured products with reduced time-to-market, and the fact that more embedded systems are using dedicated hardware components (ASIC) and software running on processors is more and more increasing the complexity of designing embedded systems. This ongoing increase in complexities can be overcome with the proper usage of high-level system design techniques such as System Level Design tools and methodologies. In System Level Design, specification languages are used to build high level models of the entire system, to allow fast design space exploration. Models of Computations (MoC) are used as the underlying formal representation of a system. This article specifically investigates the specification and modeling of the computation process used in the co-design approach and its activities. Popular models of computations are presented and compared. Various specification languages for designing embedded are described and compared.

A nonlinear optimal four wheels steering controller

Four wheel steering nonlinear controller is developed to utilize the responsiveness and relaxed stability of the rear wheel steering in conjunction with front wheel steering using fuzzy logic robust controller based on Sugeno fuzzy model. Results have shown improvements in vehicle handling in the presence of noise, steering linkage play, and variation in vehicle parameters.