Abstract: Project Description

Abstract: In the coming decade, microfluidic biochips, or labs-­‐on-­‐a-­‐chip (LoCs), will automate and miniaturize repetitive laboratory experiments that are today performed by humans in domains such as enzymatic, proteomic, and DNA analysis, drug discovery, biomolecular recognition, molecular imaging, toxicity monitoring, and clinical diagnostics.

Abstract: The American Society of Civil Engineers’ recent report on US infrastructure estimates that a $2.2 trillion investment would be needed to bring them up to par. An estimated 30% of the nation’s 10,000 steel railroad bridges and 600,000 highway bridges are either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete or both. Currently, most bridge inspections are visual only, which has been shown to be ineffective in identifying problems. Acoustic Emission (AE) testing is a comprehensive and effective way of detecting structural damage.

Abstract: The objective of this research is to create tools to manage uncertainty in the design and certification process of safety-critical aviation systems. The research focuses on three innovative ideas to support this objective. First, probabilistic techniques will be introduced to specify system-level requirements and bound the performance of dynamical components. These will reduce the design costs associated with complex aviation systems consisting of tightly integrated components produced by many independent engineering organizations.

Abstract: A robust system is one that only modestly deviates from the nominal correct behavior upon the occurrence of small disturbances. Although it is accepted that engineered systems should be robust, it is less clear how to define robustness for Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) that involve physical components as well as cyber components. In this poster, we sketch a theory of robustness for CPS.

Abstract: The electric power grid is a critical national infrastructure that is increasing vulnerable to malicious physical and cyber attacks. To alleviate the likelihood such attacks, national security policy severely restricts the disclosure of sensitive information such as grid topology and operational parameters. In addition, there is also a critical need to foster cooperation among the growing number of participants in  a microgrid‐enabled electric marketplace.

Abstract: The chemical industry is a vital sector of the US economy. Optimal operation and management of abnormal situations are major challenges in the process industries since, for example, abnormal situations account for at least $10 billion in annual lost revenue in the US alone. This realization has motivated significant research in the area of process control to ensure safe and efficient process operation.

Abstract: Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) requires tight coordination between computational systems and the physical devices that deliver the prescribed treatment plan, making it a perfect example of cyber-physical system. The current approach to addressing tumor motion in radiation therapy is to treat it as a problem and not as a therapeutic opportunity. Existing treatment planning methods attempt to create dose distributions that are at best dosimetrically equivalent to the static case.

Abstract: The project is a collaborative effort between the University of Pennsylvania and Washington University, St. Louis. The project has started in September 2013. The project is concerned with ensuring operational safety of complex cyber-physical systems such as automobiles, aircraft, and medical devices. Modern development techniques for such systems rely on independent implementation of safety features in software and subsequent integration of these features within system platform architectures.

Abstract: This project is conceiving and constructing a wireless network of embedded devices, for monitoring the behavior of animals in the wild, that will be deployed and tested in a biologically-­‐relevant application.