Abstract
This paper describes the mission control software used in the LSTS/FEUP underwater vehicles. This software follows the guidelines of the generalized vehicle architecture [1], adapts the original idea to encompass the current application requirements and constitutes a first implementation. The work is focused on the design and implementation of an application that can be easily adapted to different vehicle configurations or even to different vehicles. One of the desired goals was to enhance software reusability and to establish a development environment that allows developers with a minimal knowledge of coding details to upgrade the application. To assist this purpose, a CASE tool, which provides modern software development techniques, was used. A simulation environment was also developed whose purpose is to test the applications and to detect possible malfunctions before they occur during mission execution.

Abstract
A procedure for parameter estimation of multicomponent Polynomial Phase Signals is presented. This scheme, while restricted to high SNR's, has the advantage of being extremely simple. It is also insensitive to the equal-coefficient identifiability problem of HAF (High-order Ambiguity Function) based methods. It poses, however, some restrictions on the component amplitudes. Its performance in noise is investigated, and confirmed with several examples.

Abstract
The failure of the traditional definition of instantaneous frequency (IFt) in the multicomponent case has been often reported, We will determine the reasons for failure of this definition, That will enable us to understand and integrate all previously reported cases in a simple unified theory. As a direct consequence, we will be able to extrapolate and predict the behavior of the traditional definition for any type of multicomponent signal.

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract
The nesting (or placement) problem is an NP-hard combinatorial problem with important industrial applications, e.g. in apparel or footwear industry. This paper describes a hardware infrastructure to accelerate the processing of the underlying geometric information. The system consists of an FPGA-based reconfigurable platform enhanced by an ASIC for the processing of irregular polygons. The paper discusses the need for such a platform, establishes the main design guidelines and describes the architecture and modes of operation of both the reconfigurable infrastructure and the dedicated IC.