Antonio Martí Campoy

On the Design of a Bioacoustic Sensor for the Early Detection of the Red Palm Weevil

During the last two decades Red Palm Weevil (RPW, Rynchophorus Ferrugineus) has become one of the most dangerous threats to palm trees in many parts of the World. Its early detection is difficult, since palm trees do not show visual evidence of infection until it is too late for them to recover. For this reason the development of efficient early detection mechanisms is a critical element of RPW pest management systems. One of the early detection mechanisms proposed in the literature is based on acoustic monitoring, as the activity of RPW larvae inside the palm trunk is audible for human operators under acceptable environmental noise levels (rural areas, night periods, etc.). In this work we propose the design of an autonomous bioacoustic sensor that can be installed in every palm tree under study and is able to analyze the captured audio signal during large periods of time. The results of the audio analysis would be reported wirelessly to a control station, to be subsequently processed and conveniently stored. That control station is to be accessible via the Internet. It is programmed to send warning messages when predefined alarm thresholds are reached, thereby allowing supervisors to check on-line the status and evolution of the palm tree orchards. We have developed a bioacoustic sensor prototype and performed an extensive set of experiments to measure its detection capability, achieving average detection rates over 90%.During the last two decades Red Palm Weevil (RPW, Rynchophorus Ferrugineus) has become one of the most dangerous threats to palm trees in many parts of the World. Its early detection is difficult, since palm trees do not show visual evidence of infection until it is too late for them to recover. For this reason the development of efficient early detection mechanisms is a critical element of RPW pest management systems. One of the early detection mechanisms proposed in the literature is based on acoustic monitoring, as the activity of RPW larvae inside the palm trunk is audible for human operators under acceptable environmental noise levels (rural areas, night periods, etc.). In this work we propose the design of an autonomous bioacoustic sensor that can be installed in every palm tree under study and is able to analyze the captured audio signal during large periods of time. The results of the audio analysis would be reported wirelessly to a control station, to be subsequently processed and conveniently stored. That control station is to be accessible via the Internet. It is programmed to send warning messages when predefined alarm thresholds are reached, thereby allowing supervisors to check on-line the status and evolution of the palm tree orchards. We have developed a bioacoustic sensor prototype and performed an extensive set of experiments to measure its detection capability, achieving average detection rates over 90%.

Using Dynamic, Full Cache Locking and Genetic Algorithms for Cache Size Minimization in Multitasking, Preemptive, Real-Time Systems

Cache locking have shown during the last years their usefulness easing the schedulability analysis of multitasking, preemptive, real-time systems. Cache locking provides a high degree of predictability while system performance is maintained at a similar level to that provided by regular, highly unpredictable, non-locked cache. Cache locking may also be useful to reduce hardware costs by means of reducing the size of the cache memory needed to make a real-time system schedulable. This work shows how full, dynamic cache locking may help to reduce the size of the cache memory versus a regular cache. This reduction is possible thanks to a genetic algorithm that selects the set of instructions that have to be locked in cache to provide the maximum cache size minimization while keeping the system schedulable.

Experiencia de evaluación por pares usando retornables en el Grado de Ingeniería Informática (UPV)

This work present the results of a peer assessment experiment performed with a learning tool named “returnable” in the subjects “Algebra” and “Computer Fundamentals” from the Computer Engineering degree that is conducted at Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV). A returnable is a set of exercises that are similar to those that can be found in a conventional exam and that are carried out after the corresponding topic has been taught. The main benefit of the tool comes from its usage in a peer assessment context since the feedback to the students is delivered earlier. Moreover, it allows the development of the high-level skills that are necessary to analyze and evaluate other student returnables. The main goal of the experiment is to validate the marks that the students obtain from their peers. The validation will increase the usefulness of the returnable tool as a feedback mechanism and for the overall course evaluation.

Tuning genetic algorithms for real time systems using a grid

The use of locking caches has been recently proposed to ease the analysis of the performance and predictability of a cache when used in a real-time system. One promising method to adequately select the cache contents is the use of a genetic algorithm. However, this method requires the tuning of analysis parameters and this step requires a huge computational cost that can be reduced only if a massively parallel computing infrastructure is used. The work presented here analyses the specific requirements of the genetic algorithm tuning and the facilities provided by commercial grid software. Although the grid eases the resource management and job execution it lacks some communication link with submitted jobs, which is solved by the use of a specialized program called the Experiment Manager. This experiment manager supplements the grid and offers a completely automated environment for algorithm tuning to the researcher.