The Euler-Type Universal Numerical Integrator (E-TUNI) is a discrete numerical structure that couples a first-order Euler-type numerical integrator with some feed-forward neural network architecture. Thus, E-TUNI can be used to model non-linear dynamic systems when the real-world plant’s analytical model is unknown. From the discrete solution provided by E-TUNI, the integration process can be either forward or backward. Thus, in this article, we intend to use E-TUNI in a backward integration framework to model autonomous non-linear dynamic systems. Three case studies, including the dynamics of the non-linear inverted pendulum, were developed to verify the computational and numerical validation of the proposed model.

Este artigo apresenta o progresso de uma pesquisa de Doutorado que propõe um modelo de maturidade ágil voltado à qualidade de software. A metodologia envolve revisão teórica, construção do modelo, entrevistas, questionários e estudos de caso. Espera-se obter um modelo validado, aplicável em diversos contextos, além de ferramentas para apoiar gestores na melhoria da maturidade ágil e da qualidade do software. Um vídeo complementar está disponível em: https://www.youtube.com/live/PHFQuwuAmps.

The use of complex electronic devices in aerospace missions presents new challenges for safety and certification. The development of projects has led to a new generation of problems that require a superior method of specifying and representing these systems. When developing a digital aerospace module using VHDL, three main concerns must be considered: clearly stating the requirements, meeting performance requirements, and complying with regulations. This research aims to offer a process that lowers the abstraction level to conform to the VHDL. The ASP provides methods to discover and document information collected throughout the specification process. The focus group found that the ASP is an effective tool for the specification process and generates good documentation for certification purposes. This research presents a specification process with fewer tasks and is supported by templates that may help less experienced people ensure the execution of specifications on complex electronic hardware.

Este estudo analisa a correspondência entre os Resultados Esperados do Processo de Engenharia de Requisitos do Guia Geral de Software do MPS.Br e as normas internacionais RTCA DO-178C, IEC 62279 e IEC 62304. A pesquisa revela que, embora todas as normas abordem a rastreabilidade de requisitos (REQ 4), nenhuma trata explicitamente do comprometimento da equipe técnica (REQ 3) ou da revisão integrada de planos e produtos (REQ 5) exigidos pelo MPS.Br.

Speech Emotion Recognition (SER) is a multidisciplinary field that involves the development of computational models to automatically detect and analyze emotional states conveyed through speech signals. Utilizing techniques from signal processing, machine learning, and natural language processing, SER systems extract relevant features from audio data and classify emotions into distinct categories such as happiness, sadness, anger, and more. This work aims to leverage the latest SER techniques to build a robust model that can detect aggressive behavior in dialogues solely based on audio input signals.

During the first semester of 2023, at the Aeronautics Institute of Technology (ITA, Brazil), an Interdisciplinary Problem-Based Learning (IPBL) Case Study was conducted. This case study involved 14 undergraduate and graduate students, distributed across 3 disciplines of Electronic and Computer Engineering graduate course at ITA. The project aimed to conceptualize, model, and develop a portion of a distributed database system. During this period, it was possible to develop a prototype for audio collection using the following technologies: Database System, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Blockchain and Kubernetes. The final system was based on a similar project developed for the Brazilian Ministry of Education. This project aims to automatically analyze the reading fluency of elementary school children. The project described in this article focuses on creating a computational infrastructure for real-time audio collection. The audio, collected through the locally developed interface, should be stored on a server for subsequent automatic analysis using a Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence model. The project was completed in 16 weeks, during an academic semester, and the SCRUM Framework was applied for project management. The primary contribution of this work was the joint utilization of the Agile Method (with SCRUM) and other mentioned technologies to test, manage, and develop the case study, resulting in a Literacy Fluency Analysis system, including a functional software prototype for audio acquisition.

Todos os Dispositivos Médicos precisam atender às regulamentações para garantir a segurança do usuário e do paciente. Isso inclui o software embutido nestes produtos. No Brasil, foi recentemente nacionalizada a ABNT NBR 62304:2023, que se preocupa com o ciclo de vida de software para os dispositivos médicos. Em contrapartida, o Brasil possui um programa de Melhoria do Processo de Software Brasileiro, o MPS.Br de Software, que também estipula Resultados Esperados que refletem uma boa qualidade no desenvolvimento. Também em 2023, o MPS.Br de Software foi atualizado. Assim, o problema de pesquisa abordado neste trabalho envolve “Como que o MPS.Br, por meio dos 4 processos de projeto de desenvolvimento de software é capaz de satisfazer as cláusulas da ABNT NBR 62304:2023?”. A solução proposta envolve a construção de um mapeamento focado inicialmente na atividade “Análise de Requisitos de Software” a ABNT NBR 62304:2023 para os Resultados Esperados do processo de Engenharia de Requisitos do MPS.Br de Software. Assim, os procedimentos metodológicos envolveram cinco etapas descritas neste trabalho envolvendo um grupo focal de especialistas neste domínio de software para dispositivos médicos. Promovendo um mapeamento das cláusulas envolvidas da ABNT NBR 62304:2023 para os Resultados Esperados do processo de Engenharia de Requisitos do MPS.Br de Software.

This paper presents comprehensive verification scenarios for databases in safety-critical systems, addressing the unique challenges of stringent regulatory environments. By proposing four distinct verification scenarios, this work ensures that databases used in these systems meet rigorous standards of completeness, correctness, and traceability, as required by RTCA DO-178C. The scenarios include testing databases with application software, using qualifiable data processing and error detection tools, and employing independent data processing tools. The proposed approach enhances the robustness and reliability of databases, contributing significantly to the safety and integrity of critical systems where data quality is paramount.

Purpose: There can be some ambiguity when describing requirements using natural language. One of the critical parts of the requirement syntax is using verbs to express the action of the requirement. Therefore, it is essential to explore how verbs can be used in requirements to convey their intended meaning accurately. Problem: This study aims to investigate the action entity of ISO/IEC/IEEE-29148:2018 requirement syntax and establish a connection between the verbs used to express requirements. Methods: Using Spacy, a natural language processing library, to analyze 955 aerospace requirements from 2017-2022. Verbs are extracted and compared to the ISO/IEC/IEEE-29148:2018 action part of the requirement syntax. Results: The verbs used in a requirement express the desired action. In the requirements studied, it was observed that a particular verb was used more frequently than others. However, it is essential not to overuse a single verb to avoid confusion and ensure a better understanding of the requirement. Choosing the correct verb to describe the requirement can avoid misunderstandings in interpretation. Conclusion: This research aims to provide insight into the usage of verbs in requirements. However, additional research is necessary to determine how the verb functions with other grammatical elements within the requirements.

Wildfires pose a significant threat to ecosystems, human lives, and infrastructure worldwide. Traditional wildfire detection and risk assessment methods often suffer from limitations such as delayed detection and low confidence in certain regions. In this paper, we propose a novel computational system based on machine learning for wildfire risk assessment using data collected by drones. The system can integrate various sensors to capture spatiotemporal data on environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and vegetation. By leveraging high-resolution data collected through autonomous drone missions, our system enhances wildfire risk estimation and enables proactive mission planning. Although the system is mainly designed to address wildfire monitoring using drone-collected data, it can be easily adapted to other environmental monitoring applications and other sources of data. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach through a comprehensive evaluation and validation process in both simulated and real-world environments. Our work contributes to advancing wildfire monitoring capabilities, improving early detection, and mitigating the impact of wildfires on communities and the environment.

Este artigo apresenta uma proposta de framework para desenvolvimento de software aeronáutico, baseado em requisitos obtidos a partir de um Mapeamento Sistemático da Literatura e seus resultados. Esse trabalho apresenta uma pesquisa de mestrado em andamento, onde esse framework apresenta compliance com a RTCA DO-178C, incorporando os valores e princípios do Manifesto Ágil e uma extensão do Scrum.

Operating an airplane involves many complex tasks, but Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs) have significantly helped reduce pilot workload and improve performance. EUROCAE published the ED-273 standard in 2021 to guide EFB development, raising concerns among manufacturers about meeting new requirements. RTCA DO-178C, a well-established software standard, offers guidance for developing embedded systems. This paper proposes using existing RTCA DO-178C processes to comply with ED-273 for EFBs. Key contributions include mapping the two standards, developing a compliant approach, and evaluating it with expert input.

Developing safety-critical systems usually takes place in a regulated environment. Some examples include systems that control aircraft, nuclear reactors, and medical devices. Regulatory agencies require these products to meet stringent certification requirements, including embedded software and databases. An error in software development can cause loss of life or other catastrophic consequences. Therefore, safety-critical software requires a robust development process, verification, configuration management, and quality assurance. The correctness and completeness of such software need to be demonstrated with high assurance. Consequently, this concern extends to databases as well. Our work proposes to create a requirements specification and verification process for databases in safety-critical systems that satisfies various regulatory standards and ensures data completeness and correctness. The main contributions of this work are: (i) compatibility to regulatory needs in RTCA DO-178C and RTCA DO-200B; (ii) organized construction of databases guided by requirements; and (iii) mitigation of errors introduced in database construction from specification to integration with application software.

Operating an airplane is not an easy task. The pilots must check for weight and balance, communicate with towers, flight crew and passengers, fly the airplane, navigate from origin to destination, sometimes deal with system failures, and perform many procedures. Electronic Flight Bags (EFB) are applications pilots use inside the airplane cabin to make operating an airplane easier. This type of software application has been growing in the last twenty years. Most of these applications developed for tablets help pilots considerably operate airplanes by reducing workloads, optimizing airplane performance, and removing paper manuals from airplanes. In 2021, EUROCAE published the standard ED-273 for developing EFBs and introduced some requirements related to software development assurance, among other relevant points. The EUROCAE ED-273, as expected, made EFB manufacturers concerned about how to follow the new requirements. On the other hand, a 30-year-old software standard, the RTCA DO-178C, establishes considerations for developers, installers, and users when designing embedded equipment using software. Several aircraft manufacturers have well-established RTCA DO-178C software processes. We believe it would be very beneficial for organizations with an RTCA DO-178C compliant process to take advantage of it as a means of compliance for the new ED-273. Our work proposes to create an EFB development approach compliant with ED-273 guidelines but using the original RTCA DO-178C processes defined by the aircraft manufacturer. A mapping between the two standards was performed. The development approach was thoroughly assessed by a panel of highly experienced experts in aeronautical software. The main contributions of this paper are (i) the mapping between EUROCAE ED-273 and RTCA DO-178C, (ii) the development approach, and (iii) the evaluation processes defined and executed with the participation of 5 experts in RTCA DO-178C or EFB software development.

Safety-critical Software development is, normally, regulated by norms and standards, which orients a life cycle based on requirements specification, traceability, extensive verification, configuration management, assurance, and respective evidence. Agile software development, strongly based on Agile Manifesto and its values and principles, is characterized by producing and delivering products in accordance with customer expectations and agreed deadlines and costs, based on feedback and welcome changes. Many methods have been created to provide a way to apply this philosophy, such as the widely used Scrum. This method focuses on managing software projects and respective scope through sprints, specific roles and responsibilities, ceremonies as planning, review and retrospective meetings, with the philosophy of self-organized teams, incremental product delivery and continuous improvements. Scrum, as is, does not address the aspects of the process and activities to develop a software application, let alone in the context of software in regulated environments. The research problem focuses on adapting the Scrum framework to support compliance with RTCA DO-178C guideline, providing an adequate method to be used in safety-critical software development for the aeronautical context. This adapted framework concentrates initiative of some proposals found in the literature review, with adjusts to accommodate the different approaches. It also provides traceability to the objectives of the guideline and key performance indicators to monitor the success of this strategy.

Nos últimos anos, tem aumentado a utilização da inteligência artificial (IA), requerendo também o uso intensivo de dados. Este cenário exigirá, além das habilidades digitais atuais, a consciência para entender que os dados nunca são apenas brutos, portanto, não devemos assumir que, por conta própria, os tipos certos de IA serão desenvolvidos e implementados. Este resumo apresenta características-chave para auxiliar na melhor forma de desenvolver esta plataforma de tecnologia tão presente nos dias atuais.

Este resumo estendido apresenta uma síntese de um Survey realizado com 25 respondentes integrantes de times de qualidade e desenvolvimento de software da indústria. Os resultados deste resumo estendido fazem parte de uma pesquisa de mestrado em andamento, que envolve a necessidade de se investigar como se pode estabelecer um modelo de comunicação em projetos de desenvolvimento de software que possa ser operacionalizado em uma empresa. Como resultados deste artigo, foram relatados os 11 (onze) pontos de melhoria obtidos através da aplicação do Survey.

Safety-critical software puts human lives at risk or can cause significant financial losses in case of failures. Environments regulated by security standards impose requirements on critical software development organizations that aim to guide them in the development process. The MPS.br Reference Model for Software (MR-MPS-SW) aims to increase the quality of the software process of a wide range of Brazilian companies, small and medium-sized, from varied niches, being, therefore, a generalist model of high applicability and low application domain specificity. This work proposes the ME-MPS, an Extension Model to the MR-MPS-SW that adds Processes and Expected Results to guide entities interested in studying, adapting, or applying the national model in critical software projects. This work also reports the application in a proof of concept adaptation of one of the objectives of the RTCA DO-178C standard, used in software certification in the aviation domain.

Pilots have to follow procedures, perform checklists, receive and register some pieces of information, and perform many calculations. To facilitate some of these tasks, Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs) are developed to be used by pilots inside the cabin. Software Quality Assurance (SQA) is a vital discipline in software development, ensuring that software meets quality requirements through various activities such as testing, reviews, and adherence to established standards. This paper presents the current status of research that will propose a new software development model for legacy EFBs.

During the calendar year of 2021, at the Aeronautics Institute of Technology (ITA, Brazil), an Interdisciplinary Problem-Based Learning Case Study was performed. It was divided into two Projects: FAL-BD (33 grad and undergrad students – dealing with databases aspects) and FAL-RT (13 grad and undergrad students – dealing with real-time issues and the development of a hardware prototype), respectively for the first and second semesters of the Academic year of 2021. This Case Study comprised 46 students from seven Computer Science disciplines: three from the first and four from the second semester. In each Project/Semester, it was attempted to conceptualize, model and develop a part of a database distributed system (first semester) and to apply Real-Time to it (second semester). In the second semester, it was also developed a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) prototype to collect audios. In order to achieve this goal, the following Technologies were employed: Data Systems, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Machine Learning and Real-Time Embedded Systems. The final system was based on a similar project, being developed by the Brazilian Ministry of Education. This Project intends to automatically analyze the reading fluency of Elementary School children. The two projects described in this paper deal with the creation of a database and the evaluation of its Real-Time aspects. The audios, collected via the locally developed PDA (may be offline mode), must be stored in a server, for later automatic analysis, using Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. Each of the two Projects was completed in 12 weeks, during its Academic semester. It applied the SCRUM framework for the two projects management. This paper’s major contribution was the use of the Agile Method (with SCRUM) for testing, managing and developing the Case Study, which resulted in a Literacy in Fluency Analysis system, including a working hardware prototype for audio collection.