Annual Report 2009–2010
Boston University College of Engineering D i v i s i o n o f S y s t ems E n g i n eer i n g
Students in the Intelligent Mechatronics Laboratory interacting with one of its robots, THREEPIO.
Boston University College of Engineering Division of Systems Engineering 15 Saint Mary’s Street, Room 118 Brookline, MA 02446 617-353-2842 se@bu.edu www.bu.edu/se
Boston University Division of Systems Engineering Annual Report 2009–2010 © 2010, Boston University Design and production: Tess Mattern Photography: Boston University Photo Services Content: Elizabeth Flagg, Cheryl Stewart, SE staff, and SE faculty This report provides a description of the instructional and research activities of the Division of Systems Engineering at Boston University during the 2009–2010 academic year. Instructional activities are reported from the Fall 2009 through Summer 2010 semesters while scholarly activities and budget information are reported from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010. Boston University’s policies provide for equal opportunity and affirmative action in employment and admission to all programs of the University. For more information or to download this report as a PDF, please visit our website at www.bu.edu/se
Contents 3
Highlights
3 4 4 5
Message from the Head Faculty Honors and Awards Highlights 2009–2010 Grants
7
Faculty and Staff
7 11 14 14 15
Participating Faculty Affiliated Faculty Division Administration CISE Affiliated Staff Division Committees
17
Graduate Programs
17 18 18 19 19 19 20 21 21
Graduate Recruitment and Enrollment Enrollment History PhD Student Progress Graduate Teaching Fellows, Dean’s Fellows and Research Assistants Graduate Student Awards Graduate Degrees Awarded PhD Dissertations History of PhD Degrees Awarded Course and Program Development
22
Graduate Courses
23
Research
24 27 37 52 53 56 59
Research Highlights External Research Funding Faculty Publications Student Publications and Activities Research Laboratories The Center for Information and Systems Engineering (CISE) Events
61
Visiting Committee
2 | Highlights
Annual Report 2009–2010
Highlights Message from the Head The 2009-10 academic year was the second since the Division of Systems Engineering (SE) was officially established in July 2008, following many years of a steadily growing interdisciplinary SE graduate program. The Division offers PhD as well as MS and MEng degrees for students interested in the theory, methods, and tools for modeling, design, analysis, and optimization of human-made and physical systems within a broad array of applications. Its research activities continue to be in close collaboration with the Center for Information and Systems Engineering (CISE). The SE Division started the year with 13 participating faculty members from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Department of Mechanical Engineering, along with 15 affiliated faculty members from the College of Engineering, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the School of Management. The participating members support our graduate curriculum with concentrations in Computational and Systems Biology, Control Systems, Network Systems, Financial Engineering Systems, and Operations Research. During the 2009-10 academic year, student enrollment included 26 PhD students and 6 MS students. There were 3 MS and 1 PhD degrees awarded. In the Fall of 2009, 6 new PhD students and 2 MS students joined the Division with all admitted PhD students supported by Dean’s or Graduate Teaching Fellowships. Our continuing students were funded from research grants received by participating and affiliated faculty with a total sponsor commitment of approximately $40.6M. Division faculty were also awarded a number of new grants totaling approximately $12M. These are significant figures in view of the fact that the research conducted by the majority of SE faculty does not involve capital-intensive laboratories. In its first year of operation, the Division saw applications for admission to the SE graduate program more than double. In our second year, we received 133 applications to our program. For the Fall 2010 semester, we expect 8 new PhD students, all supported by Fellowships, along with 6 MS and 7 MEng students.
As is evident from this report, the scholarly output of the Systems Engineering faculty continues to be impressive with some of the Division’s members enjoying a number of honors, awards, and distinctions within their professional communities. In addition, a number of our students received honors and awards related to their research accomplishments. This past year was also the first opportunity we had to hold the inaugural meeting of the Division’s Committee of Visitors, comprised of international authorities from academic institutions and from leading industrial organizations. The report includes information on the members of the Committee along with a summary of its main findings, which I believe were most gratifying for everyone involved in the creation and administration of the Division. I look forward to a new year as Head of the Division and want to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues, our students, and our dedicated staff who are contributing to its mission and continuing growth. I also hope that the report provides an informative look at our academic and research accomplishments over the past year and the reasons why we view the future with optimism and excitement.
Christos G. Cassandras Division Head
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
4 | Highlights
Faculty Honors and Awards Ashraf Al Daoud (PhD ENG-ECE 2010), MURAT ALANYALI, and DAVID STAROBINSKI received the best paper award for “Revenue maximization from secondary spectrum access in wireless cellular networks,” 8th International symposium on modeling and optimization in mobile, ad-hoc, and wireless networks (WiOpt 2010). AZER BESTAVROS was named the 2010 United Methodist Scholar Teacher Award in recognition of his “outstanding dedication and contributions to the learning arts and to the institution” at Boston University. He also was selected as Distinguished Speaker of the IEEE Computer Society for 2010. AZER BESTAVROS and ABRAHAM MATTA received the Best-Paper Award at the 9th IEEE Med-Hoc-Net Workshop in Juan-Les-Pins, France, June 2010, for their paper “Preferential Field Coverage Through Detour-Based Mobility Coordination” co-authored with their PhD student Hany Morcos. JOHN BAILLIEUL became a Fellow of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) in July 2009. He also gave the Booz Allen Hamilton Distinguished Colloquium in Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of Maryland on April 16, 2010. The title of the talk was “Decision Making in Search Surveillance and Reconnaissance.”
Highlights 2009-2010 Doctoral Students
26
PhD Degrees Awarded
1
Masters Students
3
MS Degrees Awarded
3
BS/MS Students
1
Refereed Publications
166
Invited Lectures
75
Annual Report 2009–2010
CHRISTOS CASSANDRAS was the Keynote speaker at the 18th IEEE Mediterranean Conference on Control and Automation. He was also the 2010 IEEE Control Systems Society Vice-President for Publications Activities.
JAMES COLLINS won the 2010 LagrangeCRT Foundation Prize. The prize, given by the Institute for Scientific Interchange Foundation (ISI) in Turin, Italy, honors “outstanding contributions relevant to the progress of complexity science.”
MARK CROVELLA and AZER BESTAVROS received the ACM Sigmetrics Inaugural Test of Time Award for research results “whose impact is still felt 10-15 years after its initial publication” for their landmark 1996 paper on the evidence and possible causes of Internet Traffic Self-Similarity. DAVID STAROBINSKI was awarded the 2010 ECE Department Award for Teaching Excellence.
Highlights | 5
Grants The lifetime award funding level of new, continuing and supplemental grants awarded to Division of Systems Engineering (SE) faculty is approximately $40.6M. Research grants are funded in affiliation with the Center for Information and Systems Engineering.
This year, SE faculty received lifetime awards for new grants in the approximate amount of $12.1M. SE faculty received lifetime awards for continuing grants in the approximate amount of $28.5M.
Students discuss UAV design with Professor John Baillieul and Professor Hua Wang in the Intellegent Mechatronics Laboratory.
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
6 | Faculty and Staff
Annual Report 2009–2010
Faculty and Staff | 7
Faculty and Staff Participating Faculty SEAN ANDERSSON
CALIN BELTA
Assistant Professor, ME
Assistant Professor, ME
Robotics, control theory, scanning probe microscopy, symbolic-based control
Bioinformatics verification and control of dynamical systems, hybrid systems, symbolic control, robot motion planning and control, gene and metabolic networks
• PhD, University of Maryland 2003 • Associate Editor, Conference Editorial Board, IEEE Control Systems Society and Robotics and Automation Society
• PhD, University of Pennsylvania, 2003 • 997 Fulbright Study Award • 2005 NSF CAREER Award
• 2009 NSF CAREER Award
• 2008 AFOSR Young Investigator Award
JOHN BAILLIEUL
• Associate Editor, SIAM Journal on Control and Optimization
Professor, ME/ECE Robotics, control of mechanical systems, mathematical system theory, information-based control theory • PhD, Harvard University 1975 • Fellow of IEEE, Inaugural Fellow of SIAM 2009 • IEEE Third Milleninium Medal, 2000 • Past President, IEEE Control Systems Society • Past Editor-in-Chief, IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control • Inaugural Distinguished Lecturer Series Award, College of Engineering, Boston University, 2008
MICHAEL CARAMANIS Professor, ME Mathematical programming, control and stochastic systems • PhD, Harvard University 1976 • 2004 BU College of Engineering Service Award • Editor, IIE Transactions in Design and Manufacturing, 1997-2000 • Member, IIE Transactions in Design and Manufacturing Editorial Board
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
8 | Faculty and Staff
Participating Faculty (continued) CHRISTOS CASSANDRAS
DAVID CASTAÑÓN
Professor, ECE; Division Head
Professor, ECE; Co-Director, CISE
Discrete event and hybrid systems, stochastic optimization, simulation, manufacturing systems, communication and sensor networks, and command-control systems.
Stochastic control; estimation optimization; image understanding and parallel computation
• PhD, Harvard University, 1982 • Fellow of IEEE, Fellow of IFAC
• Associate Director, CenSSIS; CoDirector, BU CISE
• Editor-in-Chief, IEEE Transactions on Autonomic Control (1998-2009)
• Past President, IEEE Control Systems Society (CSS)
• IEEE Control Systems Society Vice President for Publication Activities, 2010
• IEEE Control Systems Society Distinguished Member Award
• IEEE Control Systems Society Board of Governors
• 2007 ECE Teaching Award
• PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1976
• Air Force Advisory Board member
• 1991 Lilly Fellow
• Associate Editor, Computational Optimization and Applications
• IEEE Control Systems Society Distinguished Member Award
• Past Associate Editor, IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control
• 1999 Harold Chestnut Prize
• ECE Department Chair, 2007-2008
• IEEE Distinguished Lecturer, 20012004 • Department Editor, Journal of Discrete Event Dynamic Systems • Associate Editor, Intl. Journal of Intelligent Computing and Cybernetics and Intl. Journal of BioSciences and Technology • Past Associate Editor, Automatica and IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control • Past Editor, Technical Notes and Correspondence, IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control • Honorary Professor, Huazhong University of Science and Technology and Wuhan University of Science and Technology
Annual Report 2009–2010
Faculty and Staff | 9
IOANNIS PASCHALIDIS
VENKATESH SALIGRAMA
Professor, ECE; Co-Director, CISE
Associate Professor, ECE
Design, performance analysis, and control of communication and sensor networks, supply chains, and distribution systems, computational biology, queueing theory and stochastic systems, optimization and decision theory
Systems theory, information and control, statistical signal processing
• PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1996
• PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1997 • 1997 Outstanding Achievement Award from United Technologies • 2005 NSF CAREER Award • 2002 ONR Young Investigator Award
• Senior Member, IEEE
• 2003 Presidential Early Career Award
• National Science Foundation CAREER Award, 2000
DAVID STAROBINSKI
• Second Prize, 1997 George E. Nicholson paper comp • Associate Editor, Operations Research Letters • Associate Editor, SIAM Journal on Control and Optimization • Past Associate Editor, Automatica, and IEEE Trans. Autom. Control
Associate Professor, ECE Wireless networks; QOS and traffic engineering; network economics; cyber security • PhD, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Israel, 1999 • 2010 ECE Faculty Teaching Award
• Invited Participant, 2002 U.S. Frontiers of Engineering Symposium, National Academy of Engineering
• 2004 Department of Energy Early Career Award
• Plenary Speaker, 1998 and 2002 LIDS Student Conference, Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems, MIT
• Associate Editor, IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking
• 2002 NSF CAREER Award
• Senior Member, IEEE
• Elected Full Member of Sigma Xi, 1996 JAMES PERKINS Associate Professor, ME Real-time scheduling and control of manufacturing systems, supply chain management, resource pricing and congestion control in communications networks • PhD, University of Illinois, UrbanaChampaign, 1993 • 2002-2004 Department of Manufacturing Engineering Excellence in Teaching Award
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
10 | Faculty and Staff
Participating Faculty (continued)
Affiliated Faculty
PIROOZ VAKILI
MURAT ALANYALI
Associate Professor, ME; Associate Division Head
Associate Professor, ECE
Monte Carlo simulation and optimization, Control and management of manufacturing and communication systems, Product development management, Computational finance, Computational biology • PhD, Harvard University 1989 • Associate Editor, Automatica
Communication networks, performance analysis and optimization, stochastic systems • PhD, University of Illinois, UrbanaChampaign 1996 • 2003 NSF CAREER Award • 2004 Legacy Gift Award, College of Engineering • Associate Editor, IEEE Control Systems Society Conference Editorial Board
HUA WANG Associate Professor, ME Control of nonlinear phenomena, intelligent systems and control, complex networks, cooperative control, robotics, and applications in biological, energy and aerospace systems
AZER BESTAVROS Professor, Computer Science
• 2000 Cheung Kong Scholar, Ministry of Education, China and Li Ka Shing Foundation, Hong Kong, China
Scalable Internet protocols and systems, Application of game theory to the design of systems and networks, resource colocation and management for cloud computing, Virtualization and programming support for cyber-physical systems, Compositional analysis and verification of complex systems
• Senior Member, IEEE
• PhD, Harvard University, 1992
• 2000 IEEE Transactions on Fuzzy Systems Outstanding Paper Award
• Elected Chair, IEEE Technical Committee on the Internet
• 1999 IFAC Congress Best Poster Paper Prize of the Fourteenth Triennial World Congress of International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC)
• Senior member, IEEE; Senior member, the ACM
• PhD, University of Maryland 1993
• 1994 O. Hugo Schuck Best Paper Award of the American Automatic Control
• Distinguished Service Award, IEEE and the ACM • United Methodist Scholar/Teacher Award for 2010 • Selected as Distinguished Speaker of the IEEE Computer Society for 2010 • Chair of the IEEE Computer Society, Technical Committee on the Internet (since 2007)
Annual Report 2009–2010
Faculty and Staff | 11
JAMES COLLINS
MICHAEL GEVELBER
Professor, BME/MSE Division
Associate Professor, ME/MSE Division
Synthetic biology, systems biology, noise-enhanced sensorimotor function • DPhil, University of Oxford, England, 1990 • Named a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator • Named an inaugural William Fairfield Warren Distinguished Professors • Received Drexel University’s inaugural Anthony J. Drexel Exceptional Achievement Award.
Improving materials process capabilities using controls based approach: modelling, sensor development, system and control design, experimental verification; plasma spray, bulk crystal growth, CVD, ebeam deposition of optical coatings; electrospinning of nanofibers • PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1988
• 2010 Lagrange-CRT Foundation Prize PRAKASH ISHWAR Associate Professor, ECE
MARK CROVELLA Professor, Computer Science Performance evaluation, focused on parallel and networked computer systems, detecting and understanding anomalies in IP networks, efficient network monitoring, network security • PhD, University of Rochester 1994
Signal, image, and video processing (statistical, multiresolution, distributed); information theory and communications (network coding, computation, security) • PhD, University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign, 2002
• 2007 -2009 Chair of ACM SIGCOMM
• 2005 NSF CAREER Award
• Past editor for Computer Communication Review, IEEE/ ACM Transactions on Networking, Computer Networks and IEEE Transactions on Computers
• IEEE, Senior Member
• 2007 Dean’s Catalyst Award • Elected Member, IEEE IVMSP Technical Committee
PIERRE DUPONT Adjunct Professor, ME Robot kinematics, dynamics and control, medical applications of robotics, image guidance of minimally invasive surgery • PhD, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1988 • Associate Vice President of Publications, IEEE Robotics and Automation Society
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
12 | Faculty and Staff
Affiliated Faculty (continued) W. CLEM KARL
THOMAS LITTLE
Professor, ECE/BME
Professor, ECE; Associate Chair, ECE; Associate Director, NSF Smart Lighting ERC
Multidimensional and multiscale signal and image processing, detection and estimation, inverse problems, biomedical signal and image processing. • PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1991 • 2000 ECE Award for Excellence in Teaching
Computer networking (wireless, vehicular, opportunistic, delay tolerant), mobile computing, distributed systems, multimedia streaming and storage, video-ondemand, visible light communications. • PhD, Syracuse University, 1991
• Vice-chair IEEE Biomedical Image and Signal Processing Technical Committee
• 1991 NSF Research Initiation Award
• Steering Committee for the IEEE Intl. Symposium on Biomedical Imaging
• 2007 Dean’s Catalyst Award
• Past Associate Editor for Tomography & MRI, IEEE Transactions on Image Processing
• 1995 NSF CAREER Award • 2001 Mass eComm 10 Award • 2009 BU College of Engineering Faculty Service Award
• Editorial Board Member, Journal of Multimedia Tools and Applications
ERIC KOLACZYK Professor, Mathematics and Statistics Statistical modeling of instrumental data in temporal, spatial, and network indexed contexts • PhD, Stanford University, 1994 • Senior member, IEEE
LEV LEVITIN Professor, ECE Information theory, physics of communication and computing, complex and organized systems, quantum theory of measurement, reliable communication and computing, bioinformatics • PPhD, USSR Academy of Sciences, Gorky University, 1969 • Life Fellow, IEEE • Member, International Academy of Informatization
Annual Report 2009–2010
ABRAHAM MATTA Associate Professor, Computer Science Transport and routing protocols for the internet and wireless networks, feedback- based control design and analysis, architectures for protocol design and large-scale traffic management, modeling and performance evaluation PhD, University of Maryland at College Park, 1995 2008 Best Paper Award in DCOSS, Applications Track Senior Member of both the ACM and the IEEE 1997 National Science Foundation CAREER Award
Faculty and Staff | 13
EROL PEKÖZ
SANDOR VAJDA
Associate Professor, Operations & Technology Management
Professor, BME
Control over health care resource allocation is best achieved through the demand side or through regulatory controls on the supply side
Scientific computing, primarily optimization; computational chemistry and biology, including protein and peptide structure determination, protein engineering, and drug design
• PhD, University of California Berkeley 1995
• PhD, Hungarian Academy of Science (Hungary) 1983
• 2001 Broderick Prize for Teaching at Boston University
• Editorial Manager, Proteins: Structure, Function and Bioinformatics
• Outstanding Instructor Award, UC Berkeley
ARI TRACHTENBERG Associate Professor, ECE Error correcting codes; data synchronization (especially for PDAs and mobile networks); sensor-based location detection; algorithms • PhD, University of Illinois, UrbanaChampaign, 2000 • 2002 NSF CAREER Award • 2003 ECE Award for Excellence in Teaching • Senior Member, IEEE
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
14 | Faculty and Staff
Division Administration CHRISTOS G. CASSANDRAS
ELIZABETH FLAGG
Division Head
Graduate Programs Manager
PIROOZ VAKILI
CHERYL STEWART
Associate Head
Program Administrator
RUTH MASON Division Director
CISE Affiliated Staff LINDA GROSSER Associate Director, Center for Information Systems and Engineering (CISE) Administrative Director, BU Clean Energy & Sustainability Initiative (CEESI) Director of Corporate Relations, SE
Annual Report 2009–2010
DENISE JOSEPH Administrator
Faculty and Staff | 15
Division Committees GRADUATE COMMITTEE
SCHEDULING COMMITTEE
Pirooz Vakili- Chair
Pirooz Vakili- Chair
Sean Andersson
James R. Perkins
Calin Belta
Ruth Mason*
David Casta帽贸n
Elizabeth Flagg*
Ioannis Paschalidis
* ex officio
David Starobinski Elizabeth Flagg*
Professors Cassandras and Paschalidis with some of their students and a laboratory platform used for research in cooperative control and sensor networks.
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
16 | Graduate Programs
Annual Report 2009–2010
Graduate Programs | 17
Graduate Programs Graduate Recruitment and Enrollment In Fall 2009, 6 new PhD students, 3 new MS students, and 1 BS/MS student matriculated. The PhD students were funded by 3 Dean’s Fellowships and 3 Graduate Teaching Fellowships. Five of these PhD students were offered Research Assistantships for Summer 2010. For the academic year 2010-2011, we recruited 8 new PhD students, 1 new MS student, 4 new MEng students, and 1 non-degree student. The PhD students will be funded by 4 Dean’s Fellowships, 1 Dean’s Fellowship/Fulbright Scholarship, and 3 Graduate Teaching Fellowships. The MS student will be funded by a Research Assistantship. One current MS student is transferring to the MEng program effective Fall 2010.
FALL 2009 MEAN GRE SCORES Verbal
%
Quantitative
%
An. Writing
%
MS US
483
55
760
85
3.8
30
MS Int'l
400
33
730
79
3.5
20
PhD Int'l
472
53
790
92
4
22
NEW MATRICULANTS FALL 2009 - SPRING 2010 Male
Female
GTF
DF
MS/BS
1
0
0
0
MS US
0
2
0
0
MS Int'l
1
0
0
0
PhD Int'l
6
0
3
3
Total:
7
2
3
3
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
18 | Graduate Programs
Enrollment History Prior to July 2008, the SE graduate program enrolled students in the ECE department or the former MFG department, as shown in the graph below.
PhD Student Progress Prior to July 2008, the SE graduate program enrolled students in the ECE department or the former MFG department. SE graduate student progress is shown in the graph below.
Annual Report 2009–2010
Graduate Programs | 19
Graduate Teaching Fellows, Dean’s Fellows and Research Assistants Summer 2009
Fall 2009
Spring 2010
Total
Graduate Teaching Fellows
N/A
3
3
6
Dean's Fellows
N/A
3
3
6
Research Assistants
18
16
15
49
IGERT
0
0
1
1
Other Fellow
1
2
2
5
Graduate Student Award JUSTIN FOSTER received a 2010 Switzer Environmental Fellowship, a 2010 US EPA Science to Achieve Results Fellowship in Environmental Behavior and Decision Making, and an SE PhD Student Travel Award. Advisor: Michael Caramanis. YANFENG GENG received an Honorable Mention at the 2010 Boston University Science Day for his poster entitled “Design of Intelligent Parking System in Urban Environment.” Advisor: Christos Cassandras. REZA MOAZZEZ ESTANJINI received an Honorable Mention at the 2010 Boston University Science Day for his poster entitled “Controlled Mobility and the Capacity of Sparse Ad Hoc Networks.” Advisor: Ioannis Ch. Paschalidis. BINBIN LI received an IEEE 48th CDC “General Chair’s Recognition Award for Interactive Sessions” NSF Travel Award, 2009 and an SE PhD Student Travel Award. Advisor: Ioannis Ch. Paschalidis. CHEN YAO received an IEEE 48th CDC “General Chair’s Recognition Award for Interactive Sessions” NSF Travel Award, 2009 and an SE PhD Student Travel Award. Advisor: Christos Cassandras.
Graduate Degrees Awarded MS Degrees Awarded Three MS degrees were awarded in 2009-2010. Two MS graduates are post-BS PhD students continuing with their PhD program.
PhD Degrees Awarded The SE Division awarded one PhD degree in 2009-2010.
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
20 | Graduate Programs
PhD Dissertations STUDENT NAME
DISSERTATION ADVISOR
TITLE
Xiangdong Song
Ioannis Paschalidis
Scheduled Multiple Access Control for Wireless Sensor Networks
Abstract: This thesis treats the problem of efficiently transferring large amounts of data from the nodes of a wireless sensor network to a set of selected gateways. The main principle advanced is the use of transmission scheduling as a way to eliminate energy wasteful collisions and retransmissions encountered by traditional random multi-access schemes. The problem is considered in a cross-layer optimization framework according to which scheduling, routing, and power control decisions that are usually confined to different layers are now taken jointly. Throughout the thesis, a protocol-based physical layer model is assumed which specifies that only non-interfering transmissions are successful. Interference includes primary (node-exclusion) interference, as well as, secondary interference among transmission pairs in close proximity. First, the thesis considers arbitrary network topologies and develops a centralized algorithm for solving the problem using decomposition ideas from mathematical programming. The resulting policy involves time-sharing among a number of feasible transmission schemes. The algorithm uses a dual cutting-plane method and a set of novel approaches are proposed to generate dual cuts. These involve the dual separation problem and include: (i) its relaxation into a maximum weighted matching problem, and (ii) solving it approximately through a polynomial-time approximation scheme. The latter scheme is improved by using a randomization approach. Second, the thesis develops distributed algorithms for special network topologies including stars and trees. For a star topology, a theorem is established according to which the optimal solution can be searched over a much smaller space, making the problem polynomially solvable. For a tree network the problem can also be solved in polynomial time. For some special cases, an analytical solution can be obtained. Third, the thesis considers arbitrary topologies and develops distributed heuristics. These heuristics are based on distributed message-passing algorithms for solving relaxations of the maximum weighted independent set problem. A message-passing algorithm is proposed in the literature which has been shown to be exact in some special cases and under an assumption that requires the optimal solution to be unique. A new approach is proposed to address the limitations introduced by such a uniqueness assumption.
Annual Report 2009–2010
Graduate Programs | 21
History of PhD Degrees Awarded Prior to July 2008, the SE graduate program enrolled students in the ECE department or the former MFG department.
Course and Program Development SE revised the program and course requirements for the MS and MEng programs in SE. The new requirements are as follows:
The following course was adopted and approved to be cross-listed in SE:
• MS degree: 3 core courses in SE; 2 courses from one of the concentration areas in SE; at least two advanced technical courses; thesis or project.
• SE 701 Optimal and Robust Control (originally developed as ME 701): This course is aimed at an introduction (with rigorous treatment) to the fundamentals of optimal and robust control. It will be divided roughly into two parts. The first will cover aspects of robust control including model reduction, H_2 and H_ infinity control, and feedback control of uncertain systems. The second will delve into optimal control including topics such as the linear quadratic regulator, the calculus of variations, the maximum principle, and the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation. Meets with ENG ME701 and ENG SE 701; students may not take both for credit.
• MEng degree: 2 core courses in SE; 2 courses from one of the concentration areas in SE; at least two advanced technical courses.
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
22 | Research Graduate Programs
Graduate Courses COURSE NUMBER
TITLE
INSTRUCTOR
EK 500 A1
Probability with Statistical Applications CORE
Cassandras
X
SE/ME/EC 501 A1
Dynamic Systems Theory CORE
Dupont
X
BE 505 A1
Molecular Bioengineering I ELECTIVE
Vajda
X
EC 505 A1
Stochastic Processes CORE
Karl, C. /Saligrama
X
ME/MS 507 A1, DL
Process Modeling and Control ELECTIVE
Gevelber
X
ME 510 A1, DL
Production Systems Analysis ELECTIVE
Perkins
X
ME 514 / EC 514 A1
Simulation ELECTIVE
Vakili
X
SE/EC 524 A1
Optimization Theory and Methods CORE
Paschalidis
X
SE/ME/EC 543 A1, DL
Sustainable Power Systems: Planning, Operation and Markets ELECTIVE
Caramanis
EC 544 A1
Networking the Physical World ELECTIVE
Little
X
BE 561 A1
DNA & Protein Sequence Analysis ELECTIVE
Kasif
X
ME/EC 701 A1
Optimal and Robust Control ELECTIVE
Andersson
X
EC 702
Recursive Estimation and Optimal Filtering ELECTIVE
Castañón
X
SE/ME/EC 710 A1
Dynamic Programming and Stoch Control CORE
Caramanis
X
SE/ME 714 A1
Adv Stochastic Modeling and Simulation CORE
Vakili
X
SE/ME/EC 725 A1
Queueing Systems ELECTIVE
Perkins
SE/EC 732 A1
Combinatorial Optimization ELECTIVE
Castañón
X
SE/EC/ME 733
Discrete Event and Hybrid Systems ELECTIVE
Cassandras
X
ME/SE 740 A1
Vision Robotics and Planning ELECTIVE
Baillieul
X
SE/EC 741 A1
Randomized Network Algorithms ELECTIVE
Starobinski
X
SE/ME 762 A1
Nonlinear Systems & Control ELECTIVE
Wang
X
BE 777 A1
Computational Genomics I ELECTIVE
Xia
X
SE 900
Research
Varies
X
X
SE 991
Dissertation
Varies
X
X
Annual Report 2009–2010
FALL 2009
SPRING 2010
X
X
X
Research | 23
Research The Division brings together faculty from across the University to pursue collaborative research in Systems Engineering. Division faculty hold primary appointments in the College of Engineering (COE) Department of Biomedical Engineering, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and the Department of Mechanical Engineering; the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Bioinformatics Program, Department of Computer Science and Department of Mathematics and Statistics; and the School of Management (SMG) Department of Operations and Technology Management.
There are five primary areas of research: • Communications and Networking, which includes performance analysis, pricing and resource allocation, communication protocols, cyber-security, visual light communication, and optical, wireless, and sensor networks;
• Energy Systems, which includes decision support, optimization and control logic that will leverage the forthcoming smart grid to become a major contributor to a sustainable energy future; and
• Computational Biology, which includes metabolic and gene networks, systems biology, and protein docking;
• Production, Service Systems and Distribution Networks, which includes production scheduling and planning, logistics, inventory control, supply chain management, and financial engineering.
• Control, Robotics and Automation, which includes teams of autonomous agents, networked control systems, image-guided surgery, control of material processes, and nanoscale systems;
PhD student Reza Moaazez-Estanjini and Division Head Christos Cassandras discuss a research poster.
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
24 | Research
Research Highlights Improving Security in Smartphones The security of the personal information we store on smartphones could decline considerably as hardwired features increasingly give way to open-source software programs that users can customize to fit their needs. Identifying, understanding and mitigating new security risks to these “open softphones” will be critical to ensuring their continued viability and success in the mobile communications marketplace. Professor David Starobinski (Division of SE and ECE Department) along with Professors Mark Karpovsky (ECE) and Ari Trachtenberg (ECE) are addressing hardware, software and networking challenges in making softphones more secure. Their work is supported by a $3 million National Science Foundation grant for a Boston-University-led project called “Securing the Open Softphone.” Based at BU’s Center for Reliable Information Systems and Cyber Security (RISCS<http://www.bu.edu/ riscs/>), the research team includes nine senior investigators from the College of Engineering (ENG), College of Arts and Sciences, and Metropolitan College; two industrial partners, Deutsche Telekom and Raytheon BBN Technologies; and one academic partner, Warwick University.
Security concerns are growing as smart phones become more software-intensive.
“Our goal is to preempt major security problems before the technology becomes mature and widespread,” says Trachtenberg, one of the chief architects of the five-year project. “We seek to understand these problems and identify new opportunities for solving them.”
Among other things, softphone security can be compromised through malware (malicious applications), eavesdropping and identity theft. For example, the person sitting next to you at a Red Sox game could steal your softphone, search for personal information and break into your home and access your bank account. Softphones could also be used to attack critical
communication systems ranging from air traffic control to emergency services. For instance, someone could e-mail a virus to thousands of softphones in a designated region, program the virus to call 911 at exactly the same time on all the phones, and shut down the region’s 911 system. The research team ultimately aims to identify security challenges that are particular to softphones, and resolve many of them by leveraging the devices’ unique features, which include sensors, accelerometers, GPS and digital cameras. These technologies could be exploited to identify threats, detect attacks, protect user privacy and authenticate users. For example, a softphone’s sensors could be programmed to confirm its user’s biometric signature before granting access to the device, or to detect the physical proximity of an unknown caller before accepting the connection. Collaborating with experts in computer networking, security and algorithms; cryptography; and telecommunications, the College of Engineering subgroup aims to develop more effective ways to authenticate users and callers, and design more secure networking protocols and hardware. “In response to a growing interest in smartphone security, several researchers are attempting to fix individual hardware or software components,” says Trachtenberg. “We’re part of an exceptionally broad, multidisciplinary team that’s addressing different aspects of the problem in a holistic and cohesive manner.” Based on story written by Mark Dwortzan http://www.bu.edu/phpbin/news-cms/ news/?dept=666&id=56448
Refinement Methods for Protein Docking Professors Yannis Paschalidis (Division of SE and ECE Department) and Pirooz Vakili (Division of SE and ME Department) together with Professor Dima Kozakov (BME Department) are collaborating to substantially improve upon computational methods for characterizing and predicting protein-protein interactions. This work will enable treating relatively weak protein complexes involving larger proteins than
Annual Report 2009–2010
what is possible today. It will result in a better understanding of processes such as metabolic control, immune response, signal transduction, and gene regulation. Their project, entitled “Refinement Methods for Protein Docking based on Exploring Multi-Dimensional Energy Funnels,” is funded by a $1.6 million five-year grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS, part of the NIH).
Research | 25
Boosting the Autonomy of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles While unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) require no onboard pilots to accomplish their missions, controlling them from the ground is highly labor intensive. Though automated to follow a trajectory and stabilize when subject to wind gusts, UAVs cannot perform more sophisticated maneuvers, such as adjusting a flight plan based on unforeseen events and variable weather conditions, without human input. As a result, for each UAV performing a mission in the skies above Afghanistan and Pakistan, multiple Air Force pilots are needed to provide ground control. But if algorithms that Professors David Castañón (Division of SE and ECE Department) and Christos Cassandras (Division of SE and ECE Department) are developing gain traction, those pilots could end up controlling fleets of UAVs rather than teaming up to operate a single vehicle. Funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the Boston University duo is applying systems engineering techniques to achieve dramatic improvements in UAV onboard decision-making capability. Their research was featured in the April 1 edition of Science Daily. “Currently, UAVs will go where you want them to go, but they don’t know why,” said Castañón. “We’re trying to develop approaches where teams of UAVs, given sufficient processed information, can determine what tasks each UAV should be doing next. Our goal is to be able to have one operator work with a team of eight to ten unmanned vehicles without having to micromanage them.” Castañón and Cassandras’ algorithms seek to provide enough automation to enable UAV teams not only to determine and execute an optimal coordinated mission, but also to depart from that plan on the fly when unexpected conditions arise. To evaluate their algorithms’ ability to perform real-time planning under uncertainty, Cassandras and Castañón developed a test scenario in which teams of small, sensor-toting robots represent the UAVs, and enlisted several undergraduate and graduate
students to perform the testing. The robots are programmed to complete selected tasks such as finding objects where other robots aren’t searching—while subject to unexpected events such as the loss of a fellow robot. “Our approach combines both strategic and tactical decision-making,” Castañón explained. “The algorithms use optimization techniques to enumerate the contingencies a robot would encounter over time, steer them into positions where they’re likely to succeed at their missions, and empower them to make their own decisions based on realtime information—rather than preplanning the entire mission ahead of time.” Since starting the project three years ago, the BU team has developed algorithms that can make near-optimal decisions in the robotic test platform. They’re now customizing those algorithms to reflect the specific conditions encountered by military UAVs, and aim to begin boosting the autonomy of Air Force UAV fleets within three years. Because they significantly reduce manpower requirements, these algorithms could lead to an increase in UAVs performing a wide range of military and civilian applications, including surveillance, air traffic control and urban traffic congestion monitoring, The technology could also be used to deploy swarms of robotic unmanned ground vehicles for disaster relief and other high-risk missions. For example, hundreds of highly autonomous robots could be dispatched to explore terrain and find survivors in the aftermath of natural disasters such as the recent earthquake in Haiti. “You don’t know the path beneath the rubble or what you’ll encounter,” said Castañón. “But with sufficient autonomy, you could coordinate a team of robots that figure out what to do next when they encounter different situations, and communicate with fellow robots in an efficient manner.” Based on story written by Mark Dwortzan http://www.bu.edu/phpbin/news-cms/ news/?dept=666&id=56143
Advancing Surveillance Capabilities in Autonomous Vehicles Aiming to radically reduce the workload for human operators of semi-autonomous underwater, ground and aerial vehicles in military and civilian contexts, the U.S. Office of Naval Research launched the “Smart Adaptive Reliable Teams for Persistent Surveillance (SMARTS)” project in September 2009. This is a three-to-five-year $1.5 million per year effort with machine learning and control theory experts from MIT, Boston University, University of California, Berkeley, and University of Pennsylvania to engineer more intelligent and capable autonomous vehicles. At Boston University, Professors Calin Belta (Division of SE and ME Department) and Christos Cassandras (Division of SE and ECE Department) use computational tools and experimental models to develop autonomous, intelligent single agents — entities that compute, communicate and control — that can interpret and reason about their environment in changing
conditions, as well as networks of multiple agents that can safely and efficiently coordinate their activities with other agents and human operators. The BU team draws on significant recent advances in robotics, sensor networks and computer, communications and control technology. “The technology in the last 10 years has allowed us to move forward,” said Cassandras. “This includes the ability to communicate wirelessly across many agents or robots, and to pack much more powerful computational capabilities in smaller spaces.” He compared the project’s main challenges to those posed by the “traveling salesmen” problem, in which a group of salesmen must visit several cities in minimum time. “You have a large number of cities, some more important than others, some
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
26 | Research
appear and disappear, the salesmen may lose communication with each other, their cars may break down and they have to visit as many cities as they can within a set time,” Cassandras explained. “How do you coordinate all of this? At the highest level, you want to define the task in simple English so the team can efficiently decipher the details.” In the SMARTS project, each vehicle or agent must make decisions with minimal input. Ideally, technology conceived by project researchers will enable semi-autonomous vehicles to make decisions completely independent of human interaction except when absolutely necessary — regardless of changes in weather, lighting or other ambient conditions. In the military theater, the ultimate goal of this research is to create teams of persistent surveillance agents to give combat vehicles the edge in detecting and responding to hostile targets. “Their missions are to go, detect, visit targets and come home,” said Cassandras. SMARTS technology may also be developed to enable motor vehicles to carve out an optimum path to an empty parking spot through congested traffic; empower sensor networks to display and control energy consumption by dishwashers, washer-dryers and other home appliances; and provide health monitoring services to homebound elderly or incapacitated adults. With these applications in mind, Belta and Cassandras are working both on computers — using optimization methods to model the behavior of single and multiple agents and probabilistic techniques to model uncertain conditions — and deploying small robots that carry cameras, communicate with each other and perform missions in simulated settings. For instance, to test out autonomous agent decision-making performance in an urban context, Belta sends robotic cars on various missions in a
BU test bed simulating an urban setting: Small wireless robots equipped with sensors form a team that cooperatively performs various tasks. The team automatically configures itself depending on the tasks to be performed, often reacting to random events.
model city graced with plastic towers, makeshift roads with parking spots and computer-controlled traffic lights. “We’re trying to come up with formal proofs for our controls and communications strategies and to ensure they’re bug-free,” he said. “We want to make sure that our control systems always work, regardless of operating conditions.” Based on story written by Mark Dwortzan http://www.bu.edu/phpbin/news-cms/ news/?dept=666&id=54495
Tracking Forklifts in a Large Commercial Warehouse Vehicles
A view of the warehouse where a pilot version of the system has been deployed.
In an effort to further automate the operation of large commercial warehouses, forklift manufacturers are starting to equip their vehicles with electronics capable of monitoring the status of the forklift and reporting back to the warehouse manager so that maintenance, ordering of replacement parts, and the recharging of the forklift battery can be planned in advance without disrupting the workflow.
In collaboration with Raymond Corporation, a subsidiary of Toyota and the largest forklift manufacturer in the US, Professor Paschalidis (SE/ECE) has developed a novel system based on Wireless Sensor Network (WSNET) technology that can monitor
Annual Report 2009–2010
a number of condition indicators on each forklift, log how much and how the forklift has been used, and track the forklift’s location as it moves within the warehouse. Such a system can achieve continuous condition monitoring and, most importantly, leverage the location information to enable automated forklift dispatching. Professor Paschalidis’s team is also developing an automated dispatching methodology using decision theory that guides the forklifts within the warehouse to perform a number of tasks, from loading and unloading trucks, to filling orders and organizing material within the warehouse. The dispatching algorithm is designed to minimize a cost function that incorporates delays in order fulfillment and truck unloading, as well as operational costs. A pilot system has been deployed and currently being tested at a commercial Raymond warehouse in Lawrence, Massachusetts. The work is supported by the Raymond Corporation and a $2M NSF Emerging Frontiers for Research and Innovation (EFRI) project, entitled “Event-Driven Sensing for Enterprise Reconfigurability and Optimization.”
Research | 27
External Research Funding Research funding is pursued in affiliation with the Center for Information and Systems Engineering. The following table delineates the new, continuing, and supplemental grants awarded to Division faculty. The total lifetime award funding level of all participating and affiliated faculty is approximately $40.6M Dept
PI
Title of Project
Granting Agency
Type
Start Date
End Date
Combined Source Total
ECE, COE
Alanyali, Murat; Saligrama, Venkatesh
Distributed Methods for statistical Decision Making in Networked environment: REU Supplement
National Science Foundation
Continuing
9/1/2002
7/31/2009
$12,000
ECE, COE
Alanyali, Murat; Saligrama, Venkatesh
Distributed Methods for Statistical Decision Making in Networked Environments
National Science Foundation
Continuing
8/1/2004
7/31/2009
$372,652
ME, COE
Andersson, Sean CAREER: Nonlinear
National Science Foundation
New
7/01/2009
7/01/2009
$400,000
ME, COE
Andersson, Sean CAREER: Nonlinear
National Science Foundation
Supplemental
7/01/2009
7/01/2009
$30,000
ME, COE
Andersson, Sean IDBR: Simultaneous
National Science Foundation
Supplemental
9/01/2007
2/28/2011
$20,000
ME, COE
Andersson, Sean IDBR: Simultaneous
National Science Foundation
Continuing
9/01/2009
2/28/2011
$273,166
ME, COE
Andersson, Sean; Porter, Tyrone, Smith, Michael, Swan, Anna, Altug, Hatice
NUE: Undergraduate Laboratory Experiences in Nanotechnology Devices and Systems
National Science Foundation
Continuing
9/01/2009
8/31/2011
$200,000
ME, COE
Baillieul, John
Student Travel Support for the 2009 IEEE Conference on Decision and Control
National Science Foundation
New
11/20/2009
1/31/20011
$15,000
ME, COE
Behavioral Dynamics in Baillieul, John; Casta帽贸n, David the Cooperative Control
Department of Defense
Continuing
12/01/2008
6/30/2012
$1,393,925
Continuing
2/1/2005
1/31/2010
$400,000
Control for Single Molecule Tracking (in conjunction with CNN)
Control for Single Molecule Tracking (REU Supplement) (in conjunction with CNN) Tracking of Multiple Particles in Confocal Microscopy (REU Supplement) Tracking of Multiple Particles in Confocal Microscopy*
of Mixed Human/Robotic Teams (MURI-07)*
ME, COE
Belta, Calin
CAREER: Hierarchical National Abstractions for Planning Science and Control of Robotic Foundation Swarms*
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
28 | Research
Dept
PI
Title of Project
ME, COE
Belta, Calin
ME, COE
Type
Start Date
End Date
Combined Source Total
CSR-EHCS(EHS), SM: National A Formal Approach Science to Control of Hybrid Foundation Systems with Applications to Mobile Robotics*
Continuing
9/15/2008
8/31/2011
$300,000
Belta, Calin
Formal Verification Department and Synthesis of Defense of Control and Communication Strategies for Teams of Unmanned Vehicles*
New
3/01/2009
11/30/2009
$199,998
ME, COE
Belta, Calin
REU Supplement: CAREER: Hierarchical Abstractions for Planning and Control of Robotic Swarms*
National Science Foundation
Supplemental
5/01/2009
12/31/2009
$12,000
ME, COE
Belta, Calin
Specification Languages and Distributed Control Schemes for Teams of Unmanned Vehicles
Department of Defense
New
3/17/2009
3/16/2010
$229,101
ME, COE
Belta, Calin; Andersson, Sean
A formal approach to the control of stochastic dynamical systems
National Science Foundation
New
8/05/2009
8/31/2012
$240,000
ME, COE
Belta, Calin; Cassandras, Christos
Smart Adaptive Office Reliable Teams for of Naval Persistent Surveillance Research
Continuing
9/01/2009
8/01/2012
$4,500,000
CS, CAS
Bestavros, Azer EAGER: Towards a Marketplace for Colocation of Cloud Services
National Science Foundation
New
10/01/2009
9/30/2011
$199,810
CS, CAS
Bestavros, Azer Leveraging Type Systems for the Development of HighAssurance CyberPhysical Systems and Applications
National Science Foundation
Continuing
9/01/2007
8/31/2010
$99,999
CS, CAS
Bestavros, Azer
United-States/MiddleEast Regional Workshop on Emerging Networking Research (Main Conference Account)
National Science Foundation
New
10/01/2009
9/20/2010
$30,716
CS, CAS
Bestavros, Azer
United-States/MiddleEast Regional Workshop on Emerging Networking Research (Participant Support Account)
National Science Foundation
New
10/01/2009
9/30/2010
$134,636
Annual Report 2009â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2010
Granting Agency
Research | 29
Dept
PI
Granting Agency
Type
Start Date
End Date
Combined Source Total
ME, COE
Multidisciplinary Caramanis, Michael; Rebbie, Approach to the integration of high Claudio
National Science Foundation
Continuing
1/1/2002
12/31/2009
$2,670,000
ECE, COE
Cassandras, Christos
Real-Time Optimization in Complex Stochastic Environment, Principal Investigator
Air Force Office of Scientific Research
New
3/01/2009
11/01/2011
$373,000
ECE, COE
Cassandras, Christos; Paschalidis, Ioannis; Bestavros, Aver; Gao, R.; Gong, W.
EFRI-ARESCI: EventDriven Sensing for Enterprise Reconfigurability and Optimization
NSF Emerging Continuing Frontiers of Research and Innovation Initiative
11/1/2007
10/31/2011
$1,999,573
ECE, COE
Castañón, David; Cassandras, Christos
Distributed Mission Control for Unmanned Air Vehicales in Stochastic Environments
Air Force Office of Scientific Research
Continuing
7/01/2007
11/01/2009
$466,000
ECE, COE
Castañón, David; Karl, W. Clement
Center for Subsurface Sensing and Imaging Systems (CenSSIS) — Research Thrust 2 - Core MVT(Subcontract via Northeastern Univ.)
National Science Foundation
Continuing
9/01/2008
8/31/2009
$196,487
ECE, COE
Castañón, David; Saligrama, Venkatesh; Karl, Clem
ALERT: Awareness and Location of Explosives-Related Threats (Subcontract via Northeastern University)*
Department of Homeland Security
Continuing
7/01/2008
6/30/2011
$1,125,000
BME, COE
Collins, James
A Network Biology Approach to Aging: Integrating Synthetic Biology and Systems Biology
The Ellison Medical Foundation
Continuing
1/01/2009
12/31/2009
$243,750
BME, COE
Collins, James
A Network Biology Approach to Antibiotic Action and Bacterial Defense Mechanisms (Director’s Pioneer Award)
Department of Health and Human Services
Continuing
9/30/2008
7/31/2009
$812,500
BME, COE
Collins, James
Comparative Phenotypic, Functional, and Molecular Analysis of ESC and IPSC
Department of Health and Human Services
New
9/30/2009
8/31/2010
$144,450
BME, COE
Collins, James
Microbial Manufacturing of Biomaterials for Organ Engineering
Harvard Institute for BiologicallyInspired Engineering
Continuing
11/20/2008
9/30/2009
$40,000
Title of Project
performance computing in science foundation
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
30 | Research
Dept
PI
Title of Project
Granting Agency
Type
Start Date
End Date
Combined Source Total
BME, COE
Collins, James; Benson, Gary; Cooper, Geoffrey; Waxman, David; Weng, Zhiping
IGERT: Integrating Computational Science into Research in Biological Networks - Participant Support Costs
National Science Foundation
Continuing
7/1/2007
6/30/2011
$476,520
BME, COE
Collins, James; Benson, Gary; Cooper, Geoffrey; Waxman, David; Weng, Zhiping
IGERT: Integrating Computational Science into Research in Biological Networks Bioinformatics Program
National Science Foundation
Continuing
7/1/2007
6/30/2011
$173,773
BME, COE
Collins, James; Segre, Daniel
Systems Biology Platform for Characterizing Regulatory and Metabolic Pathways that Influence and Control Microbial Hydrogen Production
Department of Energy
New
9/15/2009
9/14/2010
$300,000
CS, CAS
Crovella, Mark
Computing National Innovations Fellowship Science Foundation
New
9/01/2009
8/31/2011
$267,500
CS, CAS
Crovella, Mark
Instrumentation and Measurement for GENI (Subcontract via University of Wisconsin/Madison)
National Science Foundation
Continuing
9/01/2008
7/31/2011
$80,932
CS, CAS
Crovella, Mark
New Directions in Network Dimensionality Reduction for Routing and Beyond
National Science Foundation, CISE/CNS NeTS Small
New
8/01/2010
7/31/2013
$450,000
CS, CAS
Crovella, Mark
Passive Methods for Internet Topology Discovery
Department of Defense
New
6/22/2009
6/21/2011
$360,000
CS, CAS
Crovella, Mark
Securing the Open Softphone
National New Science Foundation, CISE/CNS TC Large
8/01/2010
7/31/2015
$2,992,896
CS, CAS
Crovella, Mark
TC: Medium: National Collaborative Research Science - Wide-Aperture Foundation Traffic Analysis for Internet Security
7/01/2009
8/31/2013
$723,053
Annual Report 2009â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2010
New
Research | 31
Dept
PI
Title of Project
Granting Agency
Type
Start Date
End Date
Combined Source Total
ME, COE
Dupont, Pierre
Image-Guided IntraCardiac Beating Heart Surgery (Subcontract via Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital Boston)*
Department of Health and Human Services
Continuing
6/01/2009
5/31/2010
$222,901
ME, COE
Dupont, Pierre
Steerable MEMS Instruments for Precise Intracardiac Surgery*
Department of Health and Human Services
Continuing
5/01/2009
4/30/2010
$1,442,588
ME, COE
Gevelber, Michael
Real-Time Control National for Engineering Science Electrospun Nanofiber Foundation Diameter Distributions for Advanced Applications*
Continuing
9/01/2008
8/31/2011
$224,100
ME, COE
Gevelber, Michael
Real-Time Control National for Engineering Science Electrospun Nanofiber Foundation Diameter Distributions for Advanced Applications*
Supplemental
6/01/2009
6/01/2010
$6,000
ECE, COE
Ishwar, Prakash
CAREER: Information- National Scaling Laws, Science Bit-Conservation Foundation Principles, And Robust Coding Architectures in Sensor Networks
Continuing
12/15/2005
12/14/2010
$400,000
ECE, COE
Ishwar, Prakash
CIF: Small: National Collaborative Science Research: Towards Foundation a Paradigm-Shift in Distributed Information Processing - Harnessing Group Structure and Interaction
New
7/01/2009
6/30/2012
$249,999
ECE, COE
Karl, W. Clement
2009 IEEE International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging (ISBI)
Department of Health and Human Services
New
2/09/2009
2/08/2010
$20,000
ECE, COE
Karl, W. Clement
Biomedical Imaging Acceleration Testbed
National Science Foundation
New
12/15/2009
11/30/2010
$34,044
ECE, COE
Karl, W. Clement
Foundation for Automatic Target Recognition*
Department of Defense
Continuing
12/01/2008
11/30/2009
$167,357
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
32 | Research
Dept
PI
Title of Project
Granting Agency
Type
Start Date
End Date
Combined Source Total
ECE, COE
Karl, W. Clement
Graduate Student Support
Department of Defense
New
10/01/2009
5/31/2010
$6,000
ECE, COE
Karl, W. Clement
Graduate Student Support
Department of Defense
New
10/01/2009
5/31/2010
$3,500
Mathematics, CAS
Kolaczyk, Eric
Statistical Aspects of Information Integration
Office Naval Research
Continuing
10/01/2005
9/30/2009
$236,946
Mathematics, CAS
Kolaczyk, Eric
Statistical Propagation Office Naval of Low-Level Research Uncertainty to HighLevel Knowledge and Decision-Making in Network Information Environments
Continuing
3/15/2009
3/14/2012
$721,819
Mathematics, CAS
Kolaczyk, Eric; Crovella, Mark
Collaborative Research: Modular Strategies for Global Internetwork Monitoring
Continuing
9/01/2003
8/30/2009
$618,030
Mathematics, CAS
Kolaczyk, Eric; Schaus, Scott
Predicting Drug National Mechanism via Insitute of Chemo-Genomic Health Profiling and Sparse Simultaneous Equation Models of Gene Regulation*
Continuing
3/01/2006
2/29/2011
$1,000,081
ECE, COE
Little, Thomas; Carruthers, Jeffrey; Altug, Hatice
NSF Engineering National Research Center Science for Smart Lighting Foundation (Subcontract via Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)*
Continuing
9/01/2008
8/31/2010
$625,000
ECE, COE
Little, Thomas; Chen, R.
Consortium for Ocean Sensing In the Nearshore Environment
MIT Sea Grant
Continuing
2/01/2010
1/31/2014
$102,274
ECE, COE
Little, Thomas; Konrad, J.; Ishwar, P.
NeTs-NOSS: Localized Computation and Network Path Formation to Enable Pervasive Video Sensing
National Science Foundation
Continuing
9/01/2007
8/31/2010
$450,000
ECE, COE
Little, Thomas; Konrad, J.; Ishwar, P.
NeTs-NOSS: REU National Supplement, Localized Science Computation and Foundation Network Path Formation to Enable Prevasive Video Sensing
Supplemental
5/1/2008
8/31/2011
$16,000
Annual Report 2009â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2010
National Science Foundation
Research | 33
Dept
PI
Granting Agency
Start Date
End Date
Combined Source Total
ECE, COE
Little, Thomas; NeTS-NOSS: Localized National Konrad, Janusz; Computation and Science Iswhar, Prakash Network Path Foundation Formation to Enable Pervasive Video Sensing (REU Supplement)*
Supplemental
5/01/2008
8/31/2010
$478,000
ECE, COE
Little, Thomas; Wagenaar, R; Vaina, L.
Continuous Monitoring of Functional Activities and Movement Disorders in Individuals with Parkinson's Disease
The Wallace H. Coulter Translational Partners program
New
4/01/2010
3/31/2011
$50,000
ECE, COE
Little, Thomas; Wagenaar, R.
Continuous Monitoring of Activities in the Home and Community-Based Setting: Activity Risk Factors for Falls
Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Indepence Centers Pilot/ Exploratory Project
Continuing
9/01/2008
8/31/2011
$200,000
CS, CAS
Matta, Abraham
CNS-NeTS: Medium: A Recursive Internet Architecture
National Science Foundation
Continuing
5/01/2010
4/30/2014
$559,388
CS, CAS
Matta, Abraham
Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need in Computer Science (GAANN Fellowship)
Department of Education
Continuing
8/16/2010
8/15/2013
$393,795
ECE, COE
Paschalidis, Ioannis
Forklift Sensor Network at the AbelWomack Warehouse
Raymond Corporation
Continuing
6/1/2009
5/1/2010
$10,691
ECE, COE
Paschalidis, Ioannis
ITR: Collaborative Research: -(NHS+ASE)(DMC+INT): Diagnosis And Assessment Of Faults, Misbehavior And Threats In Distributed Systems
National Science Foundation
Continuing
9/15/2004
8/31/2009
$400,000
ECE, COE
Paschalidis, Ioannis
Statistical Techniques for Detecting Internet Traffic Anomalies
Department of Defense/ ARO
Continuing
9/15/2009
6/14/2010
$50,000
ECE, COE
Paschalidis, Ioannis; Cassandras, Christos
Distributed Wireless Sensor Networks for Long-Term Deployments*
Department of Energy
Continuing
9/1/2006
8/31/2011
$1,112,117
Title of Project
Type
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
34 | Research
Dept
PI
Title of Project
Granting Agency
Type
Start Date
End Date
Combined Source Total
ECE, COE
Paschalidis, Ioannis; Kozakov, Dmytro
Refinement Methods for Protein Docking Based on Exploring Multi-Dimensional Energy Funnels
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
New
4/1/2010
3/31/2015
$1,580,473
ECE, COE
Paschalidis, Ioannis; Vakili, Pirooz
Final-Stage PHS/NIH/ Optimization Methods NIGMS For Protein Docking Exploiting Energy Funnels
Continuing
1/15/2007
12/31/2009
$440,500
ECE, COE
Saligrama, Venkatesh
Automatic Dispersion Extraction from Acoustic Array Data
Schlumberger Continuing
1/1/2007
12/31/2009
$120,000
ECE, COE
Saligrama, Venkatesh
CPS: Medium: National Collaborative Science Research: The Foundation Foundations of Implicit and Explicit Communication in Cyberphysical Systems
New
9/1/2009
8/31/2012
$433,000
ECE, COE
Saligrama, Venkatesh
NURI Grant: Video Analytics: An Event Based Statistical Approach
National Geospatial Agency
New
10/1/2009
9/30/2014
$750,000
ECE, COE
Saligrama, Venkatesh
Smart Distributed Sensor Fields
Department of Defense/ Navy
New
1/11/2010
1/10/2013
$100,000
ECE, COE
Saligrama, Venkatesh; Konrad, J.
From Frames to Events: A Statistical Approach to Activity Analysis in MultiCamera Systems
National Science Foundation
New
7/1/2009
6/30/2012
$507,000
ECE, COE
Starobinski, David
CAREER: Quality Of Service Engineering With Multiple TimeScale Traffic (REU)
National Science Foundation
Continuing
5/1/2003
7/31/2009
$344,000
ECE, COE
Starobinski, WN: Management of David; Alanyali, Secondary Markets in Murat Deregulated Wireless Network
National Science Foundation
Continuing
9/1/2007
8/31/2010
$200,000
ECE, COE
Starobinski, David; Trachtenberg, Ari
National Science Foundation
New
9/1/2009
8/31/2012
$456,731
Annual Report 2009â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2010
CIF: Small: LargeScale Software Dissemination In Stochastic Wireless Networks
Research | 35
Dept
PI
Title of Project
Granting Agency
Type
Start Date
End Date
Combined Source Total
ECE, COE
Starobinski, David; Trachtenberg, Ari
NeTS-NOSS: SensorNet Architecture for Indoor Location Detection:From Resolution to Robustness
National Science Foundation
Continuing
9/1/2004
8/31/2009
$612,000
ECE, COE
Starobinski, David; Trachtenberg, Ari
Self-Forming Extensible Lunar Extra Vehicular Activity Network (SELENE) Phase II (Subcontract via Scientific Systems Company, Inc.)*
NASA
New
3/18/2009
2/11/2011
$113,489
ECE, COE
Trachtenberg, A Theory Of Ari; Starobinski, Monitoring Based On David Identifying Codes And Their Variants
National Science Foundation
Continuing
10/1/2007
9/30/2010
$292,000
ECE, COE
Trachtenberg, A Theory of Ari; Starobinski, Monitoring Based on David Identifying Codes and Their Variants (REU Supplement)
National Science Foundation
New
5/01/2009
9/30/2010
$280,000
ECE, COE
Trachtenberg, Secure and Efficient Ari; Starobinski, Data Distribution in David Varying-Topology Networks*
Deutsche Telekom AG (Germany)
Continuing
7/01/2008
6/30/2010
$161,154
BME, COE
Vajda, Sandor
A Multistage Approach to ProteinProtein Docking (in conjunction with BioMolecular Engineering Research Center)
Department of Health and Human Services
Continuing
3/01/2009
2/28/2010
$253,688
BME, COE
Vajda, Sandor
Computational Mapping of Proteins for the Binding of Ligands (in conjunction with BioMolecular Engineering Research Center)
Department of Health and Human Services
Continuing
4/01/2009
3/31/2010
$261,823
BME, COE
Vajda, Sandor
Computational Mapping of Proteins for the Binding of Ligands (in conjunction with BioMolecular Engineering Research Center)
Department of Health and Human Services
New
9/30/2009
3/31/2011
$487,500
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
36 | Research
Dept
PI
Title of Project
Granting Agency
Type
BME, COE
Vajda, Sandor
Superfund Basic Research: Research Support Core Bioinformatics and Molecular Modeling (in conjunction with BioMolecular Engineering Research Center)
Department of Health and Human Services
ME, COE
Vakili, Pirooz
New Strategies for Efficient Monte Carlo Simulation
ME, COE
Wang, Hua
Adaptive Fuzzy Control for Modified F-15 (E. Butler)
TOTAL $40,650,465 FUNDING:
Annual Report 2009â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2010
Start Date
End Date
Combined Source Total
Continuing
4/01/2009
3/31/2010
$211,797
NSF
Continuing
7/15/2006
8/31/2009
$256,243
NASA
Continuing
7/17/2008
12/31/2009
$30,000
TOTAL FUNDING $40, 650, 465
Research | 37
Faculty Publications Books E. KOLACYZK, Statistical Analysis of Network Data: Methods and Models, New York: Springer, 2009.
B. Liu, A. BESTAVROS, D.Z. Du, and J. Wang, (editors), Wireless Algorithms, Systems, and Applications, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Germany: Springer, 2009.
Book Chapters
E. Ermis, V. SALIGRAMA, P. Jodoin, Information Fusion
J. BAILLIEUL, “Information Acquisition in the Exploration of
Random Fields,” in: Three Decades of Progress in Systems and Control, X. Hu, B. Ghosh, B. Wahlberg, U. Jonsson, (editors), Springer, 2009.
and Anomaly Detection with Uncalibrated Cameras in Surveillance, in Multimedia Information Extraction, M. Maybury (editor), AAAI/MIT Press, 2009. Y. Benezeth, P. Jodoin, V. SALIGRAMA, Modeling Patterns
A. Agarwal and T.D.C. LITTLE, “Opportunistic Networking in Delay Tolerant Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks,” in: Advances in Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks: Developments and Challenges, M. Watfa (editor), IGI Global, in press, 2009. S. Guo and T.D.C. LITTLE, “Video Delivery in Wireless Sensor Networks,” in: Streaming Media Architectures, Techniques, and Applications: Recent Advances, IGI Global, in press, 2010.
of Activity and Detecting Abnormal Events with Low Level Co-occurrence of Activity, in Distributed Video Sensor Networks, Bir Bhanu et. al. (editors), Springer, 2010. M. Laifenfeld, A. TRACHTENBERG, and D. STAROBINSKI, “Robust Localization Using Identifying Codes,” in: Localization Algorithms and Strategies for Wireless Sensor Networks, IGI Global, pp. 321-347, 2009.
I. C. PASCHALIDIS, K. Li, and D. Guo, “Model-Free
D. Beglov, R.Brenke, G.Y. Chuang, D. Hall, M. Landon, C.H.
Probabilistic Localization of Wireless Sensor Network Nodes,” in: Indoor Environments, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Vol. 5801 (MELT), R. Fuller and X. D. Koutsoukos (editors), Springer, pp. 66-78, 2009.
Ngan, Y. Shen, S. Thiel, B. Zerbe, D. Kozakov, S. VAJDA, “Identification of Druggable Hot Spots on Proteins and in Protein-protein Interfaces,” in: Computational Protein-Protein Interactions, Nussinov, R. and Schreiber, G., (editors), CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, pp. 253-280, 2009.
S. Ray, W. Lai, D. Guo, and I. C. PASCHALIDIS, “Statistical Location Detection,” in: Localization Algorithms and Strategies for Wireless Sensor Networks: Monitoring and Surveillance Techniques for Target Tracking, Guoqiang Mao and Baris Fidan, (editors) IGI Global, pp. 230-257, 2009.
H.O. WANG, Recent Advances in Bifurcation Control,
Advances in Control Systems Theory and Applications, J. Sun and G. Tao (editors), University of Science and Technology of China Press, 2009.
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
38 | Research
Journal Articles M. ALANYALI, “A note on adjusted replicator dynamics in
iterated games,” Journal of Mathematical Economics, 46(1): 86-98, January 2010.
M. Kloetzer and C. BELTA, “Reachability Analysis of Multi-Affine Systems, Transactions of the Institute of Measurement and Control,” Special Issue on Hybrid Systems, in press, 2010.
S. Agarwal, M. Laifenfeld, A. Hagedorn, M. ALANYALI, and A. TRACHTENBERG, “Fair and distributed peer-to-peer allocation of a common, refillable resource,’’ Journal of Parallel and Distributed Computing, 69(12): 974-988, 2009.
J. Mao and C.G. CASSANDRAS, “On-line Optimal Control of a Class of Discrete Event Systems with Real-Time Constraints,” J. of Discrete Event Dynamic Systems, 20(2): 187-213, 2010.
D. Baronov and S.B. ANDERSSON, “Controlling a magnetic force microscope to track a magnetized nanosizeparticle,” IEEE Transactions on Nanotechnology, 9(3): 367-394, May 2010.
X. Ning and C.G. CASSANDRAS, “Message Batching in Wireless Sensor Networks - A Perturbation Analysis Approach,” J. of Discrete Event Dynamic Systems, in press, 2010.
S.B. ANDERSSON, D. Hristu-Varsakelis, and M. Lahijanian,
X. Ning and C.G. CASSANDRAS, “Dynamic Sleep Time Control in Wireless Sensor Networks,” ACM Trans. on Sensor Networks, in press, 2010.
“Observers in language-based control,” Communications in Information Systems (Special Issue Dedicated to the 70th Birthday of Roger Brockett), 8(2): 85-106, 2009.
C.G. CASSANDRAS, Y. Wardi, C.G. Panayotou, and C. Yao, S.B. ANDERSSON and T. Sun, “Linear optimal control
for tracking a single fluorescent particle in a confocal microscope,” Applied Physics B: Lasers and Optics, 94(3): 403-409, 2009. J. BAILLIEUL, “Control Communication Complexity of
Nonlinear Systems,” Communications in Information and Systems, Special Issue on the Legacy of Roger W. Brockett, 9(1): 103-140, 2009. (With W.S. Wong) M. Imielinski and C. BELTA, “Deep Epistasis in Human Metabolism,” Chaos, 20(2): 026104, June 2010. B. Yordanov and C. BELTA, “Formal Analysis of Discrete-time Piecewise Affine Systems,” IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, in press, 2010. M. Kloetzer, C. Mahulea, C. BELTA, and M. Silva, “An Automated Framework for Formal Verification of Timed Continuous Petri nets,” IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, in press, 2010. M. Kloetzer and C. BELTA, “Automatic Deployment of Distributed Teams of Robots from Temporal Logic Motion Specifications, IEEE Transactions on Robotics, 26(1): 48-61, 2010.
Annual Report 2009–2010
“Perturbation Analysis and Optimization of Stochastic Hybrid Systems,” European Journal of Control, in press, 2010. M. Zhong and C.G. CASSANDRAS, “Asynchronous Distributed Optimization with Event-Driven Communication,” IEEE Trans. on Automatic Control, in press, 2010. C. Yao and C.G. CASSANDRAS, “Resource Contention Games in Multiclass Stochastic Flow Models,” Nonlinear Analysis: Hybrid Systems, in press, 2010 D.A. CASTAÑÓN and J. Wohletz, “Model Predictive
Control for Stochastic Resource Allocation,’’ IEEE Trans. on Automatic Control, 54(8): 1739-1750, August 2009. D. Perrin, N. Vasilyev, P. Novotny, J. Stoll, R. Howe, P. DUPONT, I. Salgo, P. del Nido, “Image Guided Surgical Interventions,” In: Wells S, editor. Current Problems in Surgery. Mosby, Inc., 46(9): 730-766, 2009. M. Mahvash, P. DUPONT, “Mechanics of Dynamic Needle Insertion into a Biological Material,” IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 57(4): 934-943, 2010. P. DUPONT, J. Lock, B. Itkowitz, E. Butler, “Design and Control
of Concentric Tube Robots,” IEEE Transactions on Robotics, 26(2): 209-225, 2010.
Research | 39
Journal Articles (continued) Y. Wang and P. ISHWAR, “Distributed Field Estimation using Randomly Deployed, Noisy, Binary Sensors,” IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing, 57(3): 1177-1189, March 2009.
I. C. PASCHALIDIS and G. Smaragdakis, “Spatio-Temporal
E. Masry and P. ISHWAR, “Field Estimation from Randomly Located, Binary Noisy Sensors,” IEEE Transactions on Information Theory, 55(11): 5197-5210, November 2009.
E. PEKOZ and A. Röllin, “New rates for exponential
I. Stojanovic and W. C. KARL, “Imaging of moving targets with multistatic SAR using an overcomplete dictionary,’’ Journal of Selected Topics in Signal Processing, (special issue on MIMO Radar), 4(1): 164-176, December, 2009.
E. PEKOZ, M. Shwartz, C. Christiansen, D. Berlowitz,
V. Gandhi, J.M. Kang, S. Shekhar, J. Ju, E. KOLACZYK, and S. Gopalan, “Context-inclusive function evaluation: A case study with EM-based multi-scale multi-granular image classification,” Knowledge and Information Systems, (KAIS), 21(2): 231- 247, 2009.
K.L. Stolzmann, M. Meterko, M. Shwartz, G.J. Young, E. PEKOZ, J.K. Benzer, K. Osatuke, B. White, and D.C. Mohr, “Accounting for Variation in Technical Quality and Patient Satisfaction: The Contribution of Patient, Provider, Team and Medical Center,” Medical Care, in press.
M.A. Kramer, U.T. Eden, S.S. Cash, and E. KOLACZYK, “Network inference – with confidence– from multivariate time series,” Physical Review E, 79, 061916, 2009.
E. PEKOZ, A. Röllin, V. Cekanavicius and M. Shwartz, “A
C. Scott and E. KOLACZYK, “Nonparametric assessment of contamination in multivariate data using generalized quantile sets and FDR,” Journal of Computational and Graphical Statistics, in press, 2010. S. Yang and E. KOLACZYK, “Target detection via network filtering,” IEEE Transactions on Information Theory, in press, 2010. I. C. PASCHALIDIS and P. Pennesi, “A Distributed Actor-
Critic Algorithm and Applications to Mobile Sensor Network Coordination Problems,’’ IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, 55(2): 492-497, February 2010. I. C. PASCHALIDIS, W. Lai, and X. Song, “Optimized
Network Anomaly Detection by Assessing Deviations of Empirical Measures,’’ IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking, 17(3): 685-697, June 2009.
approximation and the theorems of Renyi and Yaglom,” Annals of Probability, in press.
“Approximate models for aggregate data when individuallevel data sets are very large or unavailable,” Statistics in Medicine, in press.
three-parameter binomial approximation,” Journal of Applied Probability, 46(4), 1073-1085, 2009 E. Ermis, V. SALIGRAMA, “Distributed Detection in Sensor Networks with Limited Range Multi-Modal Sensors,’’ IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing, 58(2): 843-858, December 2009. J. McHugh, J. Konrad, V. SALIGRAMA, and P.M. Jodoin, “Foreground-adaptive background subtraction,’’ IEEE Signal Process Letters, 16 (5): 390-393, September 2009. A.Sahai, K. Woyach, G. Atia, and V. SALIGRAMA, “A technical framework for lighthanded regulation of cognitive radios,” IEEE Communications Magazine, 47(3): 96-102, January 2009.
Scheduled Multiple Access Control for Wireless Sensor Networks,’’ IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, 54(11): 2573-2585, November 2009.
S. Aeron, V. SALIGRAMA, M. Zhao, “Information Theoretic Analysis for Compressed Sensing,’’ IEEE Trans. on Information Theory, in press.
I. C. PASCHALIDIS and D. Guo, “Robust and Distributed
V. SALIGRAMA, E. Ermis, P. Jodoin, P. Clarot, “Activity Based
Stochastic Localization in Sensor Networks: Theory and Experimental Results,’’ ACM Transactions on Sensor Networks, 5(4): 34:1- 34:22, November 2009.
Matching in Distributed Camera Networks,’’ IEEE Trans. on Image Processing, in press, November 2010.
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
40 | Research
Journal Articles (continued) J. Konrad, V. SALIGRAMA, “Activity Analysis in MultiCamera Systems,’’ IEEE Signal Processing Magazine, in press, September 2010. A. Al Daoud, D. STAROBINSKI, and M. ALANYALI, “Pricing Strategies for Spectrum Lease in Secondary Markets,” IEEE/ ACM Transactions on Networking, 18(2): 462-475, April 2010. H. Mutlu, D. STAROBINSKI, and M. ALANYALI, “Spot Pricing of Secondary Spectrum Access in Wireless Cellular Networks,” IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking, 17(6): 1794-1804, December 2009. R. Cohen, N. Fazlollahi, and D. STAROBINSKI, “Path Switching and Grading Algorithms for Advanced Channel Reservation Architectures,” IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking, 17(5): 1684-1695, October 2009. I. Stojanovic, Z. Wu, M. Sharif, and D. STAROBINSKI, “Data Dissemination in Wireless Broadcast Channels: Network Coding versus Cooperation,” IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, 8(4): 1726-1732, April 2009. M. Laifenfeld, A. TRACHTENBERG, R.Cohen, and D. STAROBINSKI, “Joint Monitoring and Routing in Wireless Sensor Networks using Robust Identifying Codes,” Springer Journal on Mobile Networks and Applications (MONET), 14(4): 415-432, August 2009. S. VAJDA and D. Kozakov, “Convergence and Combination of
Methods in Protein-Protein Docking,” Curr. Opinion Struct. Biol., 19(2): 164-170, 2009. R. Brenke, D. Kozakov, G.Y. Chuang, D. Beglov, D. Hall, M.R. Landon, C. Mattos, S. VAJDA, “Fragment-based identification of druggable “hot spots” of proteins using Fourier domain correlation techniques,” Bioinformatics, 25: 621–627, 2009. T. Schwede, A. Sali, B. Honig, M. Levitt, H.M. Berman, D. Jones, S.E. Brenner, S.K. Burley, R. Das, N.V. Dokholyan, R.L. Dunbrack Jr, K. Fidelis, A. Fiser, A. Godzik, Y.J. Huang, C. Humblet, M.P. Jacobson, A. Joachimiak, S.R. Krystek Jr, T. Kortemme, A. Kryshtafovych, G.T. Montelione, J. Moult, D. Murray, R. Sanchez, T.R. Sosnick, D.M. Standley, T. Stouch, S. VAJDA, M. Vasquez, J.D. Westbrook, I.A. Wilson, “Outcome of a workshop on applications of protein models in biomedical research,” Structure, 17(2):151-159, 2009.
Annual Report 2009–2010
M.R. Landon, R.L. Lieberman, Q.Q. Hoang, S. Ju, H.M.M. Caaveiroa, S.D. Orwig, D. Kozakov, R. Brenke, G.Y. Chuang, D. Beglov, S. VAJDA, G.A. Petsko, D. Ringe, “Detection of ligand binding hot spots on protein surfaces via fragment-based methods: Application to DJ-1 and Glucocerebrosidase,” J. Comp. Aided. Mol. Des., 23: 491-500, 2009. D. Beglov, C.J. Lee, A. De Biasio, D. Kozakov, R. Brenke, S. VAJDA, N. Beglova, “Structural insights into recognition of beta2-glycoprotein I by the lipoprotein receptors,” Proteins, 77(4): 940-949, 2009. G.Y. Chuang, D. Kozakov, R. Brenke, D. Beglov, F. Guarnieri, and S. VAJDA, “Binding hot spots and amantadine orientation in the influenza a virus M2 proton channel,” Biophys. J., 97(10): 2846-53, 2009. C.H. Ngan, D. Beglov, A.N. Rudnitskay, D. Kozakov, D.J. Waxman, S. VAJDA, “The structural basis of pregnane X receptor binding promiscuity,” Biochemistry, 48(48): 1157281, 2009. J.Q. Hu, C. Zhao, and P. VAKILI, “Revenue Maximization in Networks with Capacity Constraints,” International Journal of Revenue Management, 3 (4): 371 -392, 2009. Y.W. Wang, M. Yang, H.O. WANG, and Z.H. Guan, “Robust Stabilization of Complex Switched Networks with Parametric uncertainties and Delays via Impulsive Control,” IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems-I: Regular Papers, 56(9): 2100-2108, September 2009. H. Aguesse, H.O. WANG and K. Tanaka, “Information Control in a Unified Framework of Consensus Seeking,” International Journal of Information and Systems Sciences, 5(2): 199-209, June 2009. J. Yao, H.O. WANG, Z.H. Guan and W. Xu, “Passive Stability and Synchronization of Complex Spatio-Temporal Switching Networks with Time Delays,” Automatica, 45(7): 1721 -1728, July 2009. J. Yao, H.N. Wang, Z.H. Guan and H.O. WANG, “Synchronization of leader-followers networks with coupling delays via variable structure control,” Asian Journal of Control, 11(4): 407-410, July 2009.
Research | 41
Journal Articles (continued) K. Tanaka, H. Ohtake and H.O. WANG, “A Sum of Squares Approach to Modeling and Control of Nonlinear Dynamical Systems with Polynomial Fuzzy Systems,” IEEE Transactions on Fuzzy Systems, 17(4): 911-922, August 2009. K. Tanaka, H. Ohtake and H.O. WANG, “Guaranteed Cost Control of Polynomial Fuzzy Systems via a Sum of Squares Approach,” IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man and Cybernetics Part B, 39(2): 561- 567, April 2009. N. Hara, K. Tanaka, H. Ohtake and H.O. WANG, “Development of a Flying Robot with Pantograph-based Variable Wing Mechanism,” IEEE Transactions on Robotics, 25(1): 79-87, February 2009. K. Tanaka, K. Yamauchi, H. Ohtake and H.O. WANG, “Sensor Reduction for Backing-UP Control of a Vehicle with Triple Trailers,” IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 56(2): 497-509, February 2009.
M. Yang, Y.W. Wang. J.W. Xiao, and H.O. WANG, “Robust Synchronization of Impulsively-Coupled Complex Switched Networks with Parametric Uncertainties and time-varying Delays,” Nonlinear Analysis B: Real World Applications, 2009 F. Liu, Z.H. Guan, H.O. WANG, “Impulsive Control of Bifurcation,” Mathematics and Computers in Simulation, Transactions of IMACS, 79(7): 2180-2191, March 2009. F. Liu, Z.H. Guan, H.O. WANG, “Controlling bifurcations and chaos in TCP-UDP-RED,” Nonlinear Analysis: Real World Applications, 2009. Y.W. Wang, H.O. WANG, J.W. Xiao, Z.H. Guan, “Synchronization of Complex Dynamical Networks under Recoverable Attacks,” Automatica, 46(1): 197-203, 2010. Y.W. Wang, J.W. Xiao, H.O. WANG, “Global Synchronization of Complex Dynamical Networks with Network Failures,” International Journal of Robust and Nonlinear Control, 2009.
Editorials C.G. CASSANDRAS, “The Lighter Side of Reviewing, Editing,
and Research in General,” IEEE Trans. on Automatic Control, AC-54, 12, pp. 2729-2731, 2009.
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
42 | Research
Conference Proceedings M. ALANYALI and M. Dashouk, “On fair sharing of spectrum
via CSMA,” 47th Allerton Conference on Communications, Control and Computing, Champaign, September 2009. A. Al Daoud, M. ALANYALI, “On Secondary Spectrum Sharing in Narrowband Cellular Wireless Networks” 43rd Conference on Information Sciences and Systems CISS, 2009. A. Al Daoud, M. ALANYALI, and D. STAROBINSKI, “Reservation Policies for Revenue Maximization from Secondary Spectrum Access in Wireless Cellular Networks,” 4th International Symposium on Modeling and Optimization in Mobile, Ad Hoc, and Wireless Networks (WiOpt 2010), Avignon, France, June 2010. H. Mutlu, M. ALANYALI, and D. STAROBINSKI, “On-line Pricing of Secondary Spectrum Access with Unknown Demand Function and Call Length Distribution,” IEEE INFOCOM 2010, San Diego, CA, March 2010. S.B. ANDERSSON, “A nonlinear approach to tracking single
nanometer-scale fluorescent particles,” American Controls Conference, in press, 2010. R. D. Walker, S. B. ANDERSSON, C. BELTA, and P. DUPONT, “IN-Haptics: Interactive Navigation Using Haptics,” IEEE Haptics Symposium, pp.463-466, Waltham, MA, 2010. M. Lahijanian, S.B. ANDERSSON, and C. BELTA, “A probabilistic approach for control of a stochastic system from LTL specifications,” IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, Shanghai, China, pp. 2236-2241, 2009. Z. Shen and S.B. ANDERSSON, “Tracking multiple fluorescent molecules in two dimensions in a confocal microscope,” IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, pp. 6052-6057. P.I. Chang and S.B. ANDERSSON, “A maximum-likelihood detection scheme for rapid imaging of string-like samples in atomic force microscopy,” IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, pp. 8290-8295, 2009. P.I. Chang and S.B. ANDERSSON, “Theoretical bounds on a non-raster scan method for tracking string-like samples,” American Control Conference, pp. 1682-1687, 2009.
Annual Report 2009–2010
Z. Shen and S.B. ANDERSSON, “LQG-based tracking of multiple fluorescent particles in two dimensions in a confocal microscope,” American Control Conference, pp. 2266-2271. M. Lahijanian, J. Wasniewski, S. B. ANDERSSON, and C. BELTA, “Motion Planning and Control from Temporal Logic Specifications with Probabilistic Satisfaction Guarantees,” IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA 2010), Anchorage, Alaska, May 3-8, 2010. J. BAILLIEUL, “Exploration Behaviors and Decisions Regarding
Rapid Exploration,” Invited talk at the SIAM Conference on Control and its Applications, Denver, CO, July 6-8, 2009. J. BAILLIEUL, “Exploiting information content in relative
motion,” Proceedings of the American Control Conference, June10-12, St. Louis. pp. 2166-2171, (With D. Raghunathan) J. BAILLIEUL, “Motion Based Communication Channels
between Mobile Robots: A Novel Paradigm for Low Bandwidth Information Exchange,” Proceedings of the 2009 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, St. Louis, USA October 11-15, 2009. (With D. Raghunathan) J. BAILLIEUL, “The Standard Parts Problem and the
Complexity of Control Communication,” Proceedings of the Combine 48th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control and 28th Chinese Control Conference, Shanghai, China, December 16-18, pp. 2723-2728. J. BAILLIEUL, “Search Decisions in a Game of Polynomial
Root Counting,” 2010 American Control Conference, (with Dhananjay Raghunathan), in press, 2010. J. BAILLIEUL, “Cognitive Aspects of Simple Decisions
in Search and Reconnaissance,” NSF CMMI Workshop on Neuromechanical Engineering, NSF Headquarters, Washington DC, September 14, 15, 2009. (Conference) R. Gao, A. Deshmukh, W. Gong, J. BAILLIEUL, C. G. CASSANDRAS, D. CASTAÑÓN, and I. C. PASCHALIDIS, “A Control and Optimization Science Base for Sensor Networks in Adverse and Stochastic Environments: Selected Advances of 2008,’’ Proceedings of 2009 NSF Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation, 2009.
Research | 43
Conference Proceedings (continued) L.C.G.J.M Habets and C. BELTA, “Temporal Logic Control for Piecewise-Affine Hybrid Systems on Polytopes,” 9th International Symposium on Mathematical Theory of Networks and Systems (MTNS 2010), Budapest, Hungary, July 2010, in press. M. Kloetzer, S. Itani, S. Birch, and C. BELTA, “On the Need for Communication in Distributed Implementations of LTL Motion Specifications,” IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA 2010), Anchorage, Alaska, USA, May 3-8, 2010.
C. Bassem and A. BESTAVROS, “CSR: Constrained Selfish Routing in Ad-Hoc Networks,” In Proceedings of WASA’09: International Conference on Wireless Algorithms, Systems, and Applications, Boston, MA, August 2009. H. Morcos, A. BESTAVROS, and A. MATTA, “Preferential Field Coverage Through Detour-Based Mobility Coordination,” In Proceedings of the 9th IFIP Annual Mediterranean Ad Hoc Networking Workshop (Med-Hoc-Net), Juan-les-pins, France, June 2010. A. BESTAVROS , A. Kfoury, A. Lapets, and M. Ocean, “Safe
M. Lahijanian, M. Kloetzer, S. Itani, C. BELTA, and S.B. ANDERSSON, “Automatic deployment of autonomous cars in a robotic urban-like environment (RLLE),” IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, pp. 2055-2060.
Compositional Network Sketches: Tool and Use Cases,” In Proceedings of CRTS’09: The IEEE/RTSS Workshop on Compositional Theory and Technology for Real-Time Embedded Systems, Washington D.C, December 2009.
B. Yordanov and C. BELTA, “Temporal Logic Control of Discrete-Time Piecewise Affine Systems,” IEEE Conference on Decision and Control (CDC), pp. 3182-3187, Shanghai, China, 2009.
M. C. CARAMANIS, J. Foster, “Management of Electric
N. Laoutaris, G. Smaragdakis, K. Oikonomou, I. Stavrakakis, and A. BESTAVROS, “Distributed Server Migration for Scalable Internet Service Deployment,” IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking, 2010.
M. C. CARAMANIS, C. Wu, I.C. PASCHALIDIS, “Production
H. Morcos, G. Atia, A. BESTAVROS, and A. MATTA, “An Information Theoretic Framework for Field Monitoring Using Autonomously Mobile Sensors,” International Journal of Distributed Sensor Networks, 2010.
M.C. CARAMANIS, “Market Extensions for Renewable
G. Smaragdakis, N. Laoutaris, P. Michiardi, A. BESTAVROS, J. Byers, and M. Roussopoulos, “Distributed Network Formation for n-way Broadcast Applications,” IEEE Transactions on Parallel and Distributed Systems, 2010. V. Ishakian, R. Sweha, J. Londono, and A. BESTAVROS, “Colocation as a Service: Strategic and Operational Services for Cloud Colocation,” Proceedings of The 9th IEEE International Symposium on Network Computing and Applications (IEEE NCA10), 2010. A. BESTAVROS , A. Kfoury, A. Lapets, and M. Ocean, “Safe
Compositional Network Sketches: The Formal Framework,” In Proceedings of HSCC’10: The 13th ACM International Conference on Hybrid Systems: Computation and Control (in conjunction with CPSWEEK), Stockholm, Sweden, April 2010.
Vehicle Charging to Mitigate Renewable Generation Intermittency and Distribution Network Congestion,” 48th IEEE CDC, pp. 4717-4722, Dec. 2009.
Planning and Quality of Service Allocation across the Supply Chain in a Dynamic Lead Time Model,” 48th IEEE CDC, pp. 7137-7144, Dec. 2009.
Generation and Distributed Storage Synergies,” Abstract of Invited Keynote presentation, Published in the Proceedings of the fourth World Forum on Energy Regulation, WFER IV, Athens, Greece. October 18-21, 2009. M.C. CARAMANIS, C. CASSANDRAS, T. LITTLE, I.C. PASCHALIDIS, “The Cyber-Physical (CP) Electric Power
Generation-Delivery-Consumption Platform: Research Challenges for Optimal Investment Trade offs between the Platforms Cyber and Physical Components,” Proc. Of NSFNIST-DOE workshop on the Smart Grid, Baltimore, June 3-4, 2009.C. Yao and C.G. CASSANDRAS, “Perturbation Analysis and Resource Contention Games in Multiclass Stochastic Fluid Models,” 3rd IFAC Conf. Analysis and Design of Hybrid Systems, pp. 256-261, September 2009. C.G. CASSANDRAS and I.C. PASCHALIDIS, “Wireless Sensor
Networks for Localization and Coverage Control,” DOE NNSA University and Industry Technical Interchange Review Meeting, Dec. 2009.
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
44 | Research
Conference Proceedings (continued) M. Zhong and C.G. CASSANDRAS, “Asynchronous Distributed Optimization with Minimal Communication and Connectivity Preservation,” Proc. of 48th IEEE Conf. Decision and Control, pp. 5396-5401, Dec. 2009.
D. Hitchings and D. A. CASTAÑÓN, “Receding Horizon Stochastic Control Algorithms for Sensor Management,’’ 2010 American Control Conference, Baltimore, MD, June 2010.
X. Ning and C.G. CASSANDRAS, “On Maximum Lifetime Routing in Wireless Sensor Networks,” Proc. of 48th IEEE Conf. Decision and Control, pp. 3757-3762, Dec. 2009.
R. Kumar and D. A. CASTAÑÓN, “A new algorithm for outlier rejection in particle filters,’’ 2010 Fusion Conference, Edinburgh, Scotland, July 2010.
C. Yao, and C.G. CASSANDRAS, “Perturbation Analysis and Optimization of Multiclass Multiobjective Stochastic Flow Models,” Proc. of 48th IEEE Conf. Decision and Control, pp. 914-919, Dec. 2009.
E. Rodriguez Diaz, I. Bigio, S. Singh and D.A. CASTAÑÓN, “Spectroscopically-Guided Forceps for Real-Time Classification of Colonic Polyps,’’ Digestive Disease Week, New Orleans, LA, May 2010.
A. Kebarighotbi and C.G. CASSANDRAS, “Revisiting the Optimality of the cm-rule with Stochastic Flow Models,” Proc. of 48th IEEE Conf. Decision and Control, pp. 23042309, Dec. 2009.
P. DUPONT, J. Lock, B. Itkowitz, “Real-time Position Control
K. Rohloff, P. Pal, M. Atighetchi, R. Schantz, K. Trivedi, and C.G. CASSANDRAS, “Approaches to Modeling and Simulation for Dynamic, Distributed Cyber-Physical Systems,” Proc. of Workshop on Grand Challenges in Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis for Homeland Security (MSAHS-2010), March 2010. C.G. CASSANDRAS, “Cooperative Control and Optimization
in an Uncertain Asynchronous Wireless Networked World,” 18th IEEE Mediterranean Conference on Control and Automation, June 2010. C. G. CASSANDRAS, J. BAILLIEUL, D.A. CASTAÑÓN, I.C. PASCHALIDIS, R. Gao, A. Deshmukh, W. Gong, ‘’A Control
and Optimization Science Base for Sensor Networks in Adverse and Stochastic Environments,’’ Proceedings of 2009 NSF Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI) Grantees Conference), 2009. D. A. CASTAÑÓN and E. Rodriguez Diaz, “Support Vector
Machine Classifiers for Sequential Decision Problems,’’ Proc. 2009 Conference on Decision and Control, Shanghai, China, Dec. 2009. R. Kumar and D. A. CASTAÑÓN, “Modeling and Tracking of Public Transit in Urban Environments,’’ 2010 American Control Conference, Baltimore, MD, June 2010.
Annual Report 2009–2010
of Concentric Tube Robots,” Conf Proc IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, 562-568, 2010. X. Yan, M. GEVELBER, “Investigation of Electrospun fiber Diameter Distribution and Process Dynamics,” Proceedings 2009 Electrostatics Joint Conference, 2009. M. GEVELBER, “Real-Time Control for Engineering
Electrospun Nanofiber Diameter Distribution for Advanced Applications,” NSF Grantee Conference. M. GEVELBER, “Alternative Real-Time Control Strategies
and Sensing Requirements for Improving Thermal Spray Performance,” International Thermal Spray Conference, May 2009. M. GEVELBER, “Plasma Spray Process Modeling for Control:
Effect of Torch Inputs on Particle State Distributions,” International Thermal Spray Conference, May 2009. M. GEVELBER, M. Cannamela, D. Wroblewski, S. Basu,
“Alternative Real-Time Control Strategies and Sensing Requirements for Improving Thermal Spray Performance,” International Thermal Spray Conference, May 2009. D. Wroblewski. M. Cannamela, M. GEVELBER, O. Ghosh, M. VanHout, A. Lum, K. Hogstrom. S. Basu, “Plasma Spray Process Modeling for Control: Effect of Torch Inputs on Particle State Distributions,” International Thermal Spray Conference, May 2009.
Research | 45
Conference Proceedings (continued) P. ISHWAR, “Bounds for Interactive Computation in
Collocated Networks,” invited talk in the 4th IEEE International Workshop on Information Theory and its Applications ITA, San Diego, CA, 8–13 February, 2009.
L. He, B.B. Orten, S. Do, W. C. KARL, A. Kambadakone, D. V. Sahani, and H. Pien, “Spatio-Temporall Deconvolution of Perfusion CT Data in Rectal Tumor Patients,’’ 2009 IEEE Intl. Symposium on Biomedical Imaging, Boston MA, June, 2009.
N. Ma, P. ISHWAR, and P. Gupta, “Information-Theoretic Bounds for Multiround Function Computation in Collocated Networks,” Proc. IEEE International Symposium on Information Theory, Coex, Seoul, Korea, 28 June – 3 July, 2009.
S. Do, S. Cho, W.C. KARL, M.K. Kalra, T.J. Brady, and H. Pien, “CT system response models in iterative reconstruction algorithms for low-dose imaging,’’ Proceedings of the 10th International Meeting on Fully 3D Image Reconstruction in Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Beijing, China, 2009.
Y. Wang and P. ISHWAR, “Bootstrapped Oblivious Transfer and Secure Two-Party Function Computation,” Proc. IEEE International Symposium on Information Theory, Coex, Seoul, Korea, 28 June – 3 July 2009.
A. Clausen, T. Durkin, A. Ganick, J. Harris, T.D.C. LITTLE, K. Murphy, J. Wilinski, “Coastal Underwater Field Observer with Remote IP Access,” Proc. Conference on Coastal Environmental Sensing Networks, (CESN 2009), Boston, MA, July 2009.
N. Ma and P. ISHWAR, “Infinite-Message Distributed Source Coding for Two-Terminal Interactive Computing,” Invited paper in the Special Session on Multiterminal Source Coding, in the Proc. 47th Annual Allerton Conference on Communication, Control, and Computing, Monticello, IL, 30 September – 2 October, 2009.
A.M. Vegni, C. Vegni, and T.D.C. LITTLE, “Opportunistic Vehicular Networks by Satellite Links for Safety Applications,” Accepted presentation, The Fully Networked Car Workshop, Geneva International Motor Show, Geneva, Switzerland, March 3-4, 2010.
S. Do, M. K. Kalra, Z. Liang, W. C. KARL, T. J. Brady, H. Pien, “Noise properties of iterative reconstruction techniques in low-dose CT scans,’’ Proceedings of SPIE: Physics of Medical Imaging, Lake Buena Vista, FL, February, 7-12, 2009.
A. Agarwal and T.D.C. LITTLE, “Evaluation of Nearest Neighbor Communication Using Free Space Optics,” (Poster), Lighting Innovation for a Smarter Tomorrow (Industrial Outreach Conference), Boston, MA, February 2010.
I.Stojanovic, W.C. Karl, “An overcomplete dictionary approach to imaging of moving targets with multistatic SAR,’’ Compressive Sensing Workshop, Duke University, Feb 25-26, 2009.
L. Chiaraviglio and A. MATTA, “GreenCoop: Cooperative Green Routing with Energy-efficient Servers,” In Proceedings of the First International Conference on Energy-Efficient Computing and Networking, University of Passau, Germany, April 2010.
I. Stojanovic, W.C. KARL, M. Cetin, “Compressed sensing of monostatic and multistatic SAR,’’ Proceedings of SPIE: Algorithms for Synthetic Aperture Radar Imagery XVI, Volume: 7337, April, 14-16, 2009. S. Do, S. Cho, W.C. KARL, M. K. Kalra, Thomas J. Brady, and Homer Pien, “Accurate Model-Based High Resolution Cardiac Image Reconstruction in Dual source CT,’’ 2009 IEEE Intl. Symposium on Biomedical Imaging, Boston MA, June, 2009. S. Ambwani, S. Cho, W.C. KARL, A. Tawakol, and H. Pien, “A Feasibility Study of Joint Respiratory and Cardiac Motion Correction for Coronary PET/CT,’’ 2009 IEEE Intl. Symposium on Biomedical Imaging, pg. 935-938, Boston MA, June, 2009.
S. Epstein, K. Mattar, and A. MATTA, “Principles of Safe Policy Routing Dynamics,” In Proceedings of the 17th IEEE International Conference on Network Protocols (ICNP’09), Princeton, NJ, October 2009. F. Esposito and A. MATTA, “PreDA: Predicate Routing for DTN Architectures over MANET,” In Proceedings of the IEEE Globecom 2009 Next-Generation Networking and Internet Symposium (GC’09 NGNI), Honolulu, Hawaii, December 2009. F. Esposito, A. MATTA, Pietro Michiardi, Nobuyuki Mitsutake, and Damiano Carra, “Seed Scheduling for Peer-to-Peer Networks,” In Proceedings of the Eighth IEEE International Symposium on Network Computing and Applications (IEEE NCA09), Cambridge, MA, July 2009.
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
46 | Research
Conference Proceedings (continued) K. Mattar, A. MATTA, J. Day, V. Ishakian, and G. Gursun, “Declarative Transport: A Customizable Transport Service for the Future Internet,” In Proceedings of the 5th International Workshop on Networking Meets Databases (NetDB 2009), co-located with SOSP 2009, Big Sky, MT, October 2009. I. C. PASCHALIDIS, K. Li, R. Moazzez-Estanjini, “An Actor-
Critic Method Using Least Squares Temporal Difference Learning with an Application to Warehouse Management,’’ Proceedings of the 48th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, pp. 2564-2569, Shanghai, China, December 2009.
A. Aziz, D. STAROBINSKI, P. Thiran, and A. El Fawal, “EZFlow: Removing Turbulence in IEEE 802.11 Wireless Mesh Networks without Message Passing,” ACM CoNEXT 2009, Rome, Italy, December 2009. A. Aziz, D. STAROBINSKI, and P. Thiran, “Elucidating the Instability of Random Access Wireless Mesh Networks,” IEEE SECON 2009, Rome, Italy, June 2009. W. Xiao and D. STAROBINSKI, “Extreme Value FEC for Wireless Data Broadcasting,” IEEE INFOCOM 2009, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, April 2009.
I. C. PASCHALIDIS, K. Li, R. Moazzez-Estanjini, Y. Lin, and
D. Guo, “Intelligent forklift dispatching in warehouses using a sensor network,’’ Proceedings of the 17th Mediterranean Conference on Control and Automation (MED 09), pp. 112114, Thessaloniki, Greece, June 24-26, 2009. I. C. PASCHALIDIS and C.G. CASSANDRAS, “Wireless Sensor
Networks for Localization and Coverage Control,’’ Invited, DOE NNSA University and Industry Technical Interchange Review Meeting (UITI 2009), Clearwater Beach, Florida, December 2 - 3, 2009. I. C. PASCHALIDIS and B. Li, “On Energy Optimized Averaging
in Wireless Sensor Networks,” Invited, Proceedings of the 48th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, pages 37633768, December 2009, Shanghai, China. I. C. PASCHALIDIS, (CMMI) Grantees Conference, Honolulu,
Hawaii, June 22-25, 2009. N. Fazlollahi and D. STAROBINSKI, “Distributed Advance Network Reservation with Delay Guarantees,” IEEE IPDPS 2010, Atlanta, GA, April 2010. W. Xiao, S. Agarwal, D. STAROBINSKI, and A. TRACHTENBERG, “Reliable Wireless Broadcasting with Near-Zero Feedback,” IEEE INFOCOM 2010, San Diego, CA, March 2010.
Annual Report 2009–2010
A. Hagedorn, S. Agarwal, D. STAROBINSKI, and A. TRACHTENBERG, “Rateless Coding with Feedback,” IEEE INFOCOM 2009, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, April 2009. P. VAKILI and T. Borogovac, “DataBase Monte Carlo: Learning
to be Efficient,” Applied Probability Conference, July 14, 2009, Ithaca, NY. P. VAKILI, “Efficient C/Ho-mputation DataBase Monte
Carlo and Perturbation Analysis,” Control and Optimization Workshop, 48th CDC Conference, December 15, 2009, Shanghai. M. Yang, Y.W. Wang, Z.H. Guan, and H.O. WANG, “Robust Stabilization of Uncertain Complex Singular Dynamical Networks via Impulsive Control,” Proceedings of the combined 48th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control and 28th Chinese Control Conference, Shanghai, pp. 3891 - 3896, Shanghai, China, December16-18, 2009. K. Tanaka, H. Ohtake, M. Wada, H.O. WANG, Y.J. Chen, “Polynomial Fuzzy Observer Design: A Sum of Squares Approach,” Proceedings of the combined 48th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control and 28th Chinese Control Conference, Shanghai, pp. 7771 -7776, Shanghai, China, December 16-18, 2009. Y.J. Chen, H. Ohtake, K. Tanaka, W.J. Wang, H.O. WANG, “H Infinity Control of T-S Fuzzy Systems Using Piecewise Lyapunov Function Based Switching Fuzzy Controller,” Proceedings of the combined 48th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control and 28th Chinese Control Conference, pp. 3087-3092, Shanghai, China, December 16-18, 2009.
Research | 47
Conference Proceedings (continued) M. Yang, Y.W. Wang, H.O. WANG and Y.H. Huang, “Robust Synchronization of Impulsively-Coupled Complex Dynamical Networks with Parametric Uncertainties and Delays,” Proceedings of the 24th IEEE International Symposium on Intelligent Control, pp. 165-170, St. Petersburg, Russia, July 8-10, 2009. L.L. Guo, Y.W. Wang, H.O. WANG and Y.H. Huang, “DelayDependent Stability of Discrete-Time Complex Networks with Mode-Dependent Uncertain Parameters and Time Delays,” Proceedings of the 24th IEEE International Symposium on Intelligent Control, pp. 177-182, St. Petersburg, Russia, July 8-10, 2009. J. Yao, H.O. WANG and X. Jin, “Passive Synchronization of Complex Spatio-Temporal Switching Networks with Coupling Delays,” Proceedings of the 24th IEEE International Symposium on Intelligent Control, pp. 1605-1609, St. Petersburg, Russia, July 8-10, 2009. H. Ohtake, K. Tanaka and H.O. WANG, “Fuzzy Model-Based Servo Control for Nonlinear Systems with Input Constraint,” Proceedings of the 24th IEEE International Symposium on Intelligent Control,” p. 452-255, St. Petersburg, Russia, July 8-10, 2009. Y.J. Chen, H. Ohtake, W.J. Wang, K. Tanaka and H.O. WANG, “Guaranteed Cost Control of T -S Fuzzy Systems Using Piecewise Lyapunov Function Based Switching Fuzzy Controller,” Proceedings of the 24th IEEE International Symposium on Intelligent Control, pp. 440-445, St. Petersburg, Russia, July 8-10, 2009. M. Yang, Y.W. Wang, H.O. WANG, H. Ohtake, K. Tanaka, “Stabilization of Complex Switched Networks with two types of Delays via Impulsive Control,” Proceedings of the 2009 American Control Conference, pp. 5783-5788, St. Louis, Missouri, USA, June 10-12, 2009. H. Ohtake, K. Tanaka, H.O. WANG, “Improved Controller Design for Switching Fuzzy Model-Based Control,” Proceedings of the 2009 American Control Conference, pp. 4284-4289, St. Louis, Missouri, USA, June 10-12, 2009.
H. Ohtake, K. Tanaka and H.O. WANG, “Switching Fuzzy Model Construction based on Optimal Dividing Planes,” Proceedings of the 2009 International Conference on Fuzzy systems, Jeju Island, Korea, August 20-24, 2009. Y.J. Chen, H. Ohtake, K. Tanaka, W.J. Wang, and H.O. WANG, “Relaxed Stabilization Conditions of T-S Fuzzy Systems Using Piecewise Lyapunov Function Based Switching Fuzzy Controller,” Proceedings of the 2009 International Conference on Fuzzy systems, Jeju Island, Korea, August 20-24, 2009. Y. Higashi, K. Tanaka, H. Ohtake, H.O. WANG, “Improvement of Simulation Model and Development of Control Mechanism of Force Direction for a Flying Robot with Cyclogyro Wing,” Proceedings of the 2009 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, St. Louis, MO, USA, October 11-15, 2009. H. Jung, S.H. Lee, D.H. Kim, and H.O. WANG, “Development of the Car- like Robot with Variable Wheel Position Mechanism for Full Mobility,” Proceedings of the 2009 CACS International Automatic Control Conference, Taipei, Taiwan, Nov. 27-29, 2009. H. Jung, D.H. Kim, G. Ye, and H.O. WANG, “Selforganization for Swarm Systems Based on Systematic Singular Association,” Proceedings of the13th International Conference on Mechatronics Technology, Cebu, Philippines, October 20-23, 2009. F. Liu, Z. -H Guan, Y. Li, G. Zhu and H.O. WANG, “Analysis and Control of Bifurcations in TCP Fluid Model,” Proceedings of the 8th IEEE International Conference on Control & Automation, Xiamen, China, June 9-11, 2010, in press. F. Liu, Z. –H. Guan, G. Zhu, H.O. WANG, “Stability Analysis and Impulsive Control of Bifurcations and Chaos in Fluid Flow Model for TCP/AQM Networks,” Proceedings of the 8th World Congress on Intelligent Control and Automation, Jinan, China, July 6-9, 2010, in press.
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
48 | Research
Invited Lectures M. ALANYALI, “On fair coexistence of wireless networks
C. BELTA, “Synthesis of Provably-Correct Control and
via CSMA based transmission algorithms,” The Hamilton Institute, Maynooth Ireland, June 25, 2009.
Communication Strategies for Distributed Systems,” University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Electrical Engineering, 22 September 2009.
M. ALANYALI, “Network coexistence in emerging models of
unlicensed spectrum access,” Bilkent University at Ankara, Turkey, March 2009. M. ALANYALI, “A Queuing Analysis of Opportunistic
Transmission in the Downlink,” Coordinated Science Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, February 2009.
C. BELTA, “A Formal Approach to Deployment of Robotic
Teams in an Urban-Like Environment,” Workshop on Network Science and Systems Issues in Multi-robot Autonomy, Anchorage, Alaska, ICRA 2010. C. BELTA, “Synthesis of provably-correct control and
S.B. ANDERSSON, “Imaging for in-cell surgery: Studying
communication strategies for distributed mobile systems,” Workshop on Formal Methods for Robotics and Automation, Anchorage, Alaska, ICRA 2010.
Single Molecules Through Tracking,” LCSR/CISST Seminar Series at The John Hopkins University, 25 February 2009.
C. BELTA, “Formal Approaches to the Design, Synthesis, and
S.B. ANDERSSON, “Non-raster methods for high-speed
Control of Synthetic Gene Networks,” Workshop on Synthetic Biology, Ohio State University, 28 January 2010.
AFM,” The Workshop on Dynamics and Control of Micro/ Nano Systems, IBM Zurich, 11 December, 2009.
C. BELTA, “Robotics Research at Boston University,” Mass
J. BAILLIEUL, “Decision-Making in the Performance of Search
Technology Leadership Council Summit on the Future of Robotics, Boston, MA, 8 Dec 2009.
Tasks,” Colloquium Talk in the University of Washington Robotics, Controls and Mechatronics Colloquium, May 15, 2009. J. BAILLIEUL, “The Center for Human and Robot Decision
C. BELTA, “Synthesis of Provably-Correct Control and
Communication Strategies for Distributed Systems,” Caltech Workshop on Validation and Verification, Pasadena, CA, 23 September 2009.
Dynamics: Briefing to D.D.R.&E.,” Roslyn, VA, June 26, 2009. C. BELTA, “Formal Approaches to Robot Motion Planning and J. BAILLIEUL, “The Center for Human and Robot Decision
Dynamics: Invited Talk,” 2009 AFOSR Dynamics and Control Program Review, July 14, 2009.
Control,” United Technology Research Center, Hartford, CO, 9 September 2009. C. BELTA, “Automatic Deployment of Robotic Teams from
J. BAILLIEUL, “Exploration Behaviors and Decisions Regarding
Rapid Exploration,” Invited Lecture at KTH Stockholm, Sweden, September 9, 2009.
Temporal Logic Specifications,” AFOSR Dynamics and Control Program Review, Washington, DC, 16 July 2009. A. BESTAVROS , “Network and Resource Management
C. BELTA, “Synthesis of Provably-Correct Control and
Games,” CS Colloquium, Georgia Tech, 11 November 2009.
Communication Strategies for Distributed Systems,” Harvard University, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 11 February 2010.
A. BESTAVROS , “Economics-inspired Cloud Resource
Management,” CSE Colloquium at University of Notre Dame, 8 December 2009.
C. BELTA, “Synthesis of Provably-Correct Control and
Communication Strategies for Distributed Systems,” University of Delaware, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 30 October 2009.
Annual Report 2009–2010
A. BESTAVROS , “Network and Resource Management
Games,” Distinguished University Lecture at the University of Texas, San Marcos, 19 April 2010.
Research | 49
Invited Lectures (continued) A. BESTAVROS , “snBench: Virtualization and Programming
C.G. CASSANDRAS, “Sensor Networks and Cyber-Physical
Support for Video Sensor Networks,” Plenary talk at the ONR/ARO/NSF Interdisciplinary Workshop on Distributed Video Sensor Networks, June 2009.
Systems,” IEEE CSS-UAE Workshop, Al Ain, UAE, Nov. 2009. C.G. CASSANDRAS, “Perturbation Analysis, Optimization,
European Studies Center, Harvard University, March 31, 2009.
and Games in Stochastic Hybrid Systems,” 48th IEEE Conf. on Decision and Control Workshop on “Five Decades of Control and Optimization,” Shanghai, China, December 2009.
M.C. CARAMANIS, Invited to Tufts Energy Forum’s 4th
C.G. CASSANDRAS, “Designing Better Control Systems
Annual Tufts Energy Conference, Tufts University, March 28, 2009.
With Computational Models,” 48th IEEE Conf. on Decision and Control MathWorks Panel Session, Shanghai, China, December 2009.
M.C. CARAMANIS, “Geopolitics of Energy in Eurasia,”
M.C. CARAMANIS, Invited to give a seminar on PHEV load
management at the Renewable Energy National Laboratory, Denver, Colorado, May 4, 2009.
C.G. CASSANDRAS, “Real-Time Optimization for Stochastic
Hybrid Systems and Resource Contention Games,” AFOSR Program Meeting, Arlington, VA, April 2010.
M.C. CARAMANIS, Invited to give a seminar on PHEV load
management at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico, May 5, 2009. M.C. CARAMANIS, “The Smart Grid: Synergies of
Demand Side Management and Intermittent Clean Energy Generation,” Tufts Energy Forum’s 4th Annual Tufts Energy Conference, Tufts University, March 28, 2009.
C.G. CASSANDRAS, “Perturbation Analysis and Optimization
of Stochastic Hybrid Systems and Resource Contention Games,” 18th IEEE Mediterranean Conference on Control and Automation, Plenary Address, June 2010. C.G. CASSANDRAS, “Cooperative Control and Optimization
in an Uncertain Asynchronous Wireless Networked World,” June 22, 2010.
M.C. CARAMANIS, “Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicle load
management,” Renewable Energy National Laboratory, Denver, Colorado. May 4, 2009.
D.A. CASTAÑÓN and C.G. CASSANDRAS, “Mission
Optimization for Teams of Unmanned Vehicles,” Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy, May 2010.
M.C. CARAMANIS, “Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicle load
management,” Los Alamos National laboratory, New Mexico, May 5, 2009.
D.A. CASTAÑÓN, “Advanced Mission Control Algorithms for
Unmanned Vehicles,” AFOSR Workshop on Optimization and Control, April 2009, Washington, DC.
M.C. CARAMANIS, “Is the Future Renewable?” Invited to
Pardee’s house seminar to talk and lead a discussion along with Professor William Moomaw of Tufts University Fletcher School, Boston University, November 17, 2009.
D.A. CASTAÑÓN, “Stochastic Control for Adaptive
Sensor Management in Adversarial Environments,” AFOSR Workshop on Control in Uncertain or Adversarial Environments, March 2009.
M.C. CARAMANIS, “The Smart Grid Broadly Construed as a
Cyber-Physical Electric Power System Business Platform,” IEEE Demystifying the Smart Grid Symposium, MIT, November 21, 2009.
D.A. CASTAÑÓN, “Adaptive classifiers for automated luggage
inspection,” Northeastern University, April 2009.
M.C. CARAMANIS, Invited to participate in WNYC s program
“Please ExpIain “ to discuss the Electrical Power System along with Cornell University Professor of EE Robert Thomas, October 30, 2009.
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
50 | Research
Invited Lectures (continued) P. DUPONT, “Development of Robot Technology for
E. KOLACZYK, “Network Filtering with Application to Drug
Minimally Invasive Surgery,” Department of Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, September 14, 2009.
Target Prediction,” First Institute of Mathematical Statistics (IMS) Asia-Pacific Rim Meeting. Seoul, Korea, June, 2009. E. KOLACZYK, “Multiscale Statistical Modeling for Poisson
P. DUPONT, “Concentric Tube Robots for Minimally Invasive
Surgery,” Computer Science Department, Stanford University, Surgical Robotics Seminars, Stanford, CA, 6 October 2009.
Signal and Image Data,” Royal Observatory of Belgium, Brussels, Belgium, October, 2009. E. KOLACZYK, “Network-based Auto-probit Modeling
P. DUPONT, “Design and Control of Concentric Tube
Manipulators for Minimally Invasive Surgery,” Intuitive Surgical Research Seminar, Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, 8 October 2009. P. DUPONT, “A Robotic Approach to Beating-heart
for Protein Function Prediction,” Workshop on Network Modeling: Statistical Analysis of Network Data in Practice, Dublin, Ireland, June, 2009.
E. KOLACZYK, “Network Filtering with Application to
Intracardiac Surgery,” 6th Annual Symposium of Cellular, Molecular, and Clinical Research in Surgery, Children’s Hospital, Boston, 1 December 2009, Boston, MA.
Detection of Gene Drug Targets,” ENAR International Biometric Society Spring Meeting, San Antonio, Texas, March, 2009.
P. DUPONT, “Robot Design and Control for Beating-heart
E. KOLACZYK, “Network Filtering,” Harvard University
Intracardiac Surgery,” Institut des Systèmes Intelligents et de Robotique, Université Pierre et Marie CURIE, Paris 6, Paris, France, March 2010.
School of Public Health, Seminar on High-Dimensional Data Analysis, December, 2009. T.D.C. LITTLE, “Evaluation of Directional Communication
P. ISHWAR, “Distributed Source Coding for Interactive
Function Computation,” EE Seminar Series of the Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, 13 February 2009.
for Short-Range Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communications,” Department of Applied Electronics, University of Roma Tre, Rome, Italy, March 9, 2010. T.D.C. LITTLE, “Opportunistic Network Access via Visible
P. ISHWAR, “Interactive Function Computation: A Distributed
Block Source Coding Perspective,” Topics in Systems Seminar Series, Coordinated Science Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 10 March, 2009. P. ISHWAR, “Interactive Function Computation: A Distributed
Block Source Coding Perspective,” ECE Department Systems Seminar Series, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 12 March 2009.
Light Communications,” Department of Applied Electronics, University of Roma Tre, Rome, Italy, March 9, 2010. T.D.C. LITTLE, “How Smart Lighting Fills a Gap for Wireless
Communications,” Smart Lighting ERC Industry–Academia Day, Boston University, February 5, 2010. T.D.C. LITTLE, “VLC Activities in the NSF Smart Lighting
Center,” Visible Light Communications Consortium, Tokyo Japan, November 11, 2009.
P. ISHWAR, “An Information Processing Tour of Sensor
Networks: Field-Estimation, Interactive-Computing, and Visual-Analytics,” tenure talk in the ECE Department Seminar Series, Boston University, 9 September 2009. E. KOLACZYK, “Statistical Analysis of Network Data,” Institut
de Statistique, l’Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium, Sept-Oct 2009.
Annual Report 2009–2010
T.D.C. LITTLE, “LED Lighting for Ubiquitous
Communications,” Solid-State Lighting (R-SSL) and Materials Science Central Research and Service Laboratory (CRSL), Osram Sylvania, Beverly, MA, November 20, 2009.
Research | 51
Invited Lectures (continued) T.D.C. LITTLE, “The VLC Opportunity: NSF Smart Lighting
V. SALIGRAMA, “Compressed Sensing of AR Processes,”
ERC,” Sharp Labs of America, Camas WA, 13 March 2009.
International Symp. on Mathematical Programming, Chicago, 2009.
T.D.C. LITTLE, “Smart Light: Ubiquitous Communications for
the Network,” Boston University CISE Workshop, Disrupting the Status Quo in Electric Energy Management: A Systems Approach to a Sustainable Energy Future, 21 May 2009.
V. SALIGRAMA, “Noisy Group Testing and Boolean
Compressed Sensing,” Duke University, Feb. 2009. V. SALIGRAMA, “Noisy Group Testing and Boolean
A. MATTA, “On the Cost of Supporting Multi-homing and
Compressed Sensing,” UCSD, Feb. 2009.
Mobility,” At Future-Net, Boston, MA, May 2010. V. SALIGRAMA, “Multi-Camera Video Analysis,” ONR/ I. C. PASCHALIDIS, “Mathematics of Statistical Localization
in Wireless Sensor Networks and Related Problems,’’ Department of Mathematics, University of Athens, Athens, Greece, 16 June 2009. I. C. PASCHALIDIS, “A New Statistical Localization
Framework for Wireless Sensor Networks,’’ Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, The Ohio State University, May 29, 2009.
ARO/NSF Workshop on Distributed Video Sensor Networks, University of California, Irvine, May 2009 V. SALIGRAMA, “Thresholded Basis Pursuit: A Convex
Algorithm for Optimal Support Recovery from Noisy Compressed Projections,” Tata Institute for Fundamental Research, Jan 2009. V. SALIGRAMA, “Video Analytics over Multi-Camera
Networks,” LIDS, MIT, April 2009 I. C. PASCHALIDIS, “On Statistical Anomaly Detection of
Cyber-Security Threats,’’ Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, Maryland, October 2009.
V. SALIGRAMA, “Video Analytics over Multi-Camera
Networks,” University of Maryland, College Park, March 2009.
E. PEKOZ, “Stein’s Method for the Exponential Distribution,”
INFORMS Applied Probability Society Conference, Ithaca, New York, July 2009. E. PEKOZ, “Approximate Bayesian Hierarchical Models for
Aggregate Data When Individual-Level Data is Confidential or Unavailable,” National University of Singapore Department of Statistics Seminar, Singapore, January 2010. V. SALIGRAMA, “Graph Constrained Group Testing,” NSF
Workshop on Frontiers on Network Science, Controls and Games, Austin, UT, Feb. 2010 V. SALIGRAMA, “Compressed Blind De-Convolution,
Information Theory & Applications,” UCSD Feb. 2010.
V. SALIGRAMA, “Video Analytics over Multi-Camera
Networks,” MITRE Corp., Feb. 2009. D. STAROBINSKI, “Large-Scale Software Dissemination in
Stochastic Wireless Networks,” Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, December 2009. D. STAROBINSKI, “Connecting Information Technology
Education to the Physical World using Smartphones,” Second Boston University Innovative Instructional Conference, March 2010. S. VAJDA, “Reducing the essential side chain degrees of
freedom in molecular docking,” Fall 2009 ACS National Meeting & Exposition, Washington, DC, Aug. 20, 2009.
V. SALIGRAMA, “Video Sensor Networks,” NSF Workshop on
Distributed Processing over Cognitive Networks, UCLA, Nov. 2009.
S. VAJDA, “Finding Druggable Sites In Protein-Protein
Interfaces By Computational Fragment Mapping,” Drug Design and Lead Discovery Conference, San Diego, CA October 14-16th, 2009.
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
52 | Research
Student Publications and Activities Awards J. FOSTER received a 2010 Switzer Environmental Fellowship,
R. MOAZZEZ ESTANJINI received an Honorable Mention
a 2010 US EPA Science to Achieve Results Fellowship in Environmental Behavior and Decision Making, and an SE PhD Student Travel Award. Advisor: Michael Caramanis.
at the 2010 Boston University Science Day for his poster entitled “Controlled Mobility and the Capacity of Sparse Ad Hoc Networks.” Advisor: Ioannis Ch. Paschalidis.
Y. GENG received an Honorable Mention at the 2010 Boston
C. YAO received an IEEE 48th CDC “General Chair’s
University Science Day for his poster entitled “Design of Intelligent Parking System in Urban Environment.” Advisor: Christos Cassandras.
Recognition Award for Interactive Sessions” NSF Travel Award, 2009 and an SE PhD Student Travel Award. Advisor: Christos Cassandras.
Meetings J. FOSTER, 48th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control,
S. MITRA, AIST Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, May 3-6, 2010.
Shanghai, China. Advisor: Michael Caramanis.
Advisor: Michael Caramanis.
Y. GENG, 6th Northeast Control Workshop, April 23-25.
C. YAO, 48th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control,
Advisor: Christos Cassandras.
Shanghai, China; 6th Northeast Control Workshop, Baltimore, US. Advisor: Christos Cassandras.
A. KEBARIGHOTBI, North East Control Workshop, Pittsburgh,
2009. Advisor: Christos Cassandras.
M. ZHONG, 48th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control,
Dec 2009. Advisor: Christos Cassandras.
Posters Presented Y.CHEN, A new model for side-chain optimization in protein
A. KEBARIGHOTBI, Revisiting the optimality of cµ--rule with
docking, presented on Science Day 2010. Advisor: Ioannis Ch. Paschalidis.
the Stochastic Flow Models, Science and Engineering day, 2009; Optimal Scheduling of Parallel Queues with Stochastic Fluid Models: The cµ-rule Revisited, Science and Engineering day, 2010. Advisor: Christos Cassandras.
J. FOSTER, Management of Electric Vehicle Charging
to Mitigate Renewable Generation Intermittency and Distribution Network Congestion, Boston University Systems Engineering Advisory Committee Meeting, Jan. 2010. Advisor: Michael Caramanis.
C. YAO, Perturbation Analysis and Optimization of Stochastic
Hybrid Systems *2010 BU Science Day; Perturbation Analysis and Optimization of Stochastic Hybrid Systems *2010 BU Science Day. Advisor: Christos Cassandras.
Y. GENG, 2010 BU Science Day Poster: Design of Intelligent
Parking System in Urban Environment. Advisor: Christos Cassandras.
Annual Report 2009–2010
M. ZHONG, Science and Engineering day poster: 2010; NSF
Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation Grantees Conference poster session 2010. Advisor: Christos Cassandras
Research | 53
Research Laboratories The Andersson Group
Collins Lab
Professor Sean Andersson http://people.bu.edu/sanderss/ 110 Cummington St., Boston, MA 02215 617-353-4949
Professor Jim Collins http://www.bu.edu/abl/ 44 Cummington St., Boston, MA 02215 617-353-0390
The Andersson group at Boston University focuses on systems and control theory. We are primarily interested in the application areas of nanotechnology, nanobioscience, and robotics. We believe the potential of scanning probe microscopy has not yet been realized. We are investigating novel methods for rapid imaging of samples and for studying dynamics in systems with nanometer-scale phenomena. By replacing the traditional raster-scan approach to imaging with feedback control laws which drive the sampling scheme, the domain of applicability of scanning probe technologies can be extended deeper into the realm of dynamic processes. Our research on robotics centers on the framework of symbolic control. We aim to develop methods for handling the complexity of robotics in real-world environments. Ongoing work includes the use of symbols to tokenize the environment as well as the control and applications in cooperative control.
Our lab is currently working in two areas: 1) We are developing and implementing computational-experimental methods to reverse engineer and analyze gene regulatory networks in microbes and higher organisms. 2) We are designing and constructing synthetic gene networks for a variety of biotechnology and bioenergy applications. We are also using engineered gene networks to study general principles underlying gene regulation.
Advanced Materials Process Control Laboratory Professor Michael Gevelber http://www.bu.edu/pcl/ 15 St. Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s St., Brookline, MA 02446 617-353-9572
Research in this laboratory focuses on improving materials processing capabilities by applying a controls-based approach. Our controls-based approach integrates process modeling, sensor development, both system and control design, and experimentation to achieve greater control of material microstructure as well as improving yield and maximizing production rate. Research projects, typically conducted with industry partners, span a range of application areas including opto-electronic applications, advanced engines, power systems, and biomedical applications. Ongoing research projects include real-time control for plasma spray for thermal barrier coatings and fuel cells, e-beam deposition for precision optical coatings, electrospinning of nanofibers, chemical vapor deposition, and Czochralski crystal growth.
Control of Discrete Event Systems (CODES) Laboratory Professor Christos Cassandras http://vita.bu.edu/cgc/CODES/
Discrete event systems have their own distinctive features and behavior. The objectives of the CODES Laboratory range from the study of basic mathematical and computer simulation models for these systems to the development of actual software for controlling them. Some of the best-known analytical frameworks and methodologies in this field, such as Rapid Learning Technology (RLT), have been pioneered by members of the CODES Laboratory. Ongoing projects are geared toward applications in automated manufacturing, communication and sensor networks, cooperative control systems, hybrid systems, and the development of the next generation of computer simulation tools. These projects are supported by several federal agencies and by industry. One of the unique characteristics of the CODES Laboratory is its problem-driven philosophy: realworld problems motivate some of the best theoretical advances while providing workable solutions for technology transfer.
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
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Research Laboratories (continued) Hybrid and Networked Systems Lab (HyNeSs Lab) Professor Calin Belta http://hyness.bu.edu/calin/Home.html 15 St. Mary’s St., Brookline, MA 02446 617-353-9586
We are interested in phenomena that occur when continuous dynamics, described by systems of differential equations, are combined with discrete dynamics, modeled as automata or state transition graphs. Such systems are called hybrid, and examples range from man-made systems such as mobile robots, to naturally occurring systems such as biochemical networks, where the continuous dynamics of metabolic processes is regulated by the logic of gene expression. Our approach to the analysis and control of such systems combine concepts and tools from computer science and control theory. Our current application areas are networked mobile robotics, swarming, gene networks, and genome scale metabolic analysis. Information Systems and Sciences (ISS) Laboratory Professors Murat Alanyali, Maja Bystrom, Jeffrey Carruthers, Christos Cassandras, David Castañón, Clem Karl, Janusz Konrad, Thomas Little, Prakash Ishwar, Hamid Nawab, Ioannis Paschalidis, Venkatesh Saligrama, David Starobinski, Ari Trachtenberg http://iss.bu.edu/ 8 St. Mary’s St., Brookline, MA 02446 617-353-1668, 617-353-9919
The ISS Laboratory groups researchers at Boston University with common interests in research, training and technology transfer in the field of information systems and sciences. Although members of the ISS Laboratory have a wide variety of research interests, there are four primary concentration areas, namely Image Video & Biomedical Signal Processing, Statistical Learning, Communication Networks, and Systems Control & Optimization. Research from these areas finds application in a wide variety of critical national and international needs, including biomedical signal and image processing for disease detection, remote sensing for atmospheric science, buried land mine detection, distributed and mobile computing, sensor networks, and advanced visual communication and entertainment. The above topics and applications form the focus for exciting and challenging
Annual Report 2009–2010
study and thesis work. Several dozen PhD, MEng as well as undergraduate students carry out research within the laboratory. They are supervised by more than a dozen dynamic faculty of international renown and with abundant financial support. The research in the laboratory is supported by various sources, such as the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Office of Naval Research, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, as well as industry.
Intelligent Mechatronics Professors Andersson, Baillieul and Wang http://iml.bu.edu
This laboratory is equipped with a wide variety of robotic devices including RF-networked sensor arrays, nearly forty mobile robots, surgical robots, and haptic interfaces. Additional resources include real-time control software, hand-held computing and communication devices, workstations, and a wide variety of sensors and actuators. This equipment is dedicated to research in limited-bandwidth control problems, symbolic control, cooperative systems and control, and image-guided minimally invasive surgery.
Laboratory of Networking and Information Systems (NISLAB) Professors David Starobinski and Ari Trachtenberg http://nislab.bu.edu/ 8 St. Mary’s St., Boston, MA 02215 617-353-0202, 617-353-1581
DNISLAB is involved in providing novel perspectives to modern networking with emphasis on scalability, heterogeneity, and performance. Our research roots into the mathematical fields of graph theory and algorithms, probability and stochastic processes, and coding theory with applications to content synchronization, network monitoring, wireless spectrum management, and advanced networking for scientific applications. Laboratory activities include a number of practical and theoretical projects involving about a dozen graduate and undergraduate students in the department.
Research | 55
Multi-Dimensional Signal Processing Professor W. Clement Karl http://mdsp.bu.edu 8 St. Mary’s St., Boston, MA 02215 617-353-1668
Research in the general areas of multidimensional and multiresolution signal and image processing and estimation and geometric-based estimation. The development of efficient methods for the extraction of information from diverse data sources in the presence of uncertainty including: • Enhanced resolution image reconstruction for Cardiac Computerized Tomography
research goal of the PCMS laboratory is the development of a framework that facilitates concurrent manufacturing through cooperation of independent decision-making entities in a manufacturing facility. This effort includes theoretical research on complex system decomposition and coordination, and applied work on software architectures and interfaces. Resources include a mixed platform of PCs and workstations available in the laboratory, and campuswide computational facilities, like Boston University Center for Computational Science parallel processing computing resources. The PCMS laboratory is the home of graduate students primarily, but not exclusively, at the doctoral level and has established collaborative projects with a number of industrial sites.
• Multisource data fusion • Nanoscale optical microscopy
Robotics, Dynamics and Control
• Biological interface estimation and tracking Multimedia Communications Laboratory
Professor Pierre DuPont 110 Cummington St., Boston, MA 02215 617-358-1232
Professor Thomas D.C. Little http://hulk.bu.edu/ 8 St. Mary’s St., Boston, MA 02215 617-353-9877
Our research group focuses on innovative ways of solving theoretical and practical problems in robotics, structural dynamics and control.
The Multimedia Communications Laboratory (MCL) at Boston University focuses on topics in ubiquitous distributed computing. Our legacy work is in the area of distributed multimedia information systems emphasizing timedependent and continuous media data such as video. Recent work targets mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) and sensor networks (SNETs).
Structural BioInformatics
Production Control of Manufacturing Systems (PCMS) Laboratory Professors Michael Caramanis, Jian-Qiang Hu, James Perkins, Pirooz Vakili, I. Paschalidis
The PCMS laboratory is dedicated to research on the control and design of manufacturing systems. Algorithmic development for dynamic scheduling, stability and performance evaluation, design, and planning of production systems is a major research activity. An equally important
Professor Sandor Vajda http://structure.bu.edu/ 44 Cummington St., Boston, MA 02215 617-353-4757
The focus of this laboratory is the development and application of computational tools for the analysis of protein structure and protein-ligand interactions. Some of the particular problems we currently study are the evaluation of binding free energy in protein-protein complexes, development of efficient docking algorithms, computational solvent mapping of proteins using molecular probes to identify the most favorable binding positions, method development for fragment-based drug design, construction of an enzyme binding site database, and improving the prediction of protein active sites by homology modeling.
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
56 | Research
The Center for Information and Systems Engineering (CISE)
Primary application interests are in the areas of:
• Automation, Robotics and Control • Communication and Networking
www.bu.edu/systems
• Computational Biology The Division is affiliated with the Center for Information and Systems Engineering (CISE). CISE manages a Seminar Series (see complete list of speakers, below) and co- sponsored the February 8. 2010 conference: Exploring the Boundaries of Smart Light Systems in conjunction with Renssaeler Polytechnic Institure. CISE provides an interdepartmental home for faculty and students interested in research in information and control systems theory and its relevance to various application domains encompassing the analysis, design, and management of complex systems that have come to prominence as a result of the information, communication, and computation revolution. Information and systems engineering research at Boston University is strong and accomplished, but it is spread across departments, colleges and schools within the University. Created by the Trustees in 2002, CISE has raised the visibility of that strength and fostered greater interactions among researchers. CISE fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and research in emerging applications and the use of methodologies such as optimization methods, information theory, control theory, applied probability, statistics, simulation, decision theory, multiscale modeling, queueing, algorithms, and stochastic processes.
• Information Sciences • Production, Service Systems, and Distribution Networks CISE faculty have been successful in bringing in multimillion dollar external research support. As of June 2010, CISE has grown from 13 to 28 affiliated faculty from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the College of Engineering; the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Mathematics and Statistics in the College of Arts and Sciences; and the Department of Operations Management in the School of Management. There are approximately 60 graduate students affiliated through CISE faculty. CISE maintains a searchable database of systems and information engineering publications authored by CISE affiliated faculty and their students. In 2010 the CISE Publication Database was enhanced to provide an automated interface and new security options as well as to include a variety of searchable documents such as journal articles, conference proceedings, posters abstracts and presentations. CISE ongoing Seminar Series hosts prominent academic and industrial researchers to present their work to the university audience. These seminars are usually held on Fridays at 2 PM at 8 St Mary’s Street.
CISE Seminar Series 2009-2010 Date
Speaker
Department
Institution
Talk Title
Hosting Professor
September 25, 2009 Fumin Zhang, Assistant Professor
School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology
Cyber Physical Systems Theory and Cooperative Education
Sean Andersson
October 2, 2009
Michael Margaliot, Professor
School of Electrical Engineering— Systems
Tel-Aviv University
Stability Analysis of Switched Systems using Variational Principles
Christos Cassandras
October 9, 2009
Tanya Berger-Wolf, Assistant Professor
Department of Computer Science
University of Illinois
Computational Analysis of Dynamic Networks (and its Applications to Social Life of Zebras)
Ari Trachtenberg
October 16, 2009
Michael Steele, Professor
Wharton School of University of Management Pennsylvania
Annual Report 2009–2010
Stochastic Combinatorial Erol Pekoz Optimization: From the TSP and MST to Dogapillars
Research | 57
Date
Speaker
Institution
Talk Title
Hosting Professor
October 23, 2009
Andrzej Banaszuk, Fellow and Project Leader
United Technologies Research Center
Robust Uncertainty Management Methods Applied to UAV Search and Tracking Problems
Calin Belta
October 30, 2009
Adam Kalai, Researcher
Microsoft Research New England
Engineering Cooperation in Strategic Games with Private Information
Venkatesh Saligrama
November 6, 2009
Sridhar Seshadri, Professor
Department of Information, Risk and Operations Management, McCombs School of Business
University of Texas at Austin
Fixed versus Random Proportion Demand Models for Assortment Planning
Erol Pekoz
November 13, 2009
Prakash Narayan, Professor
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of Maryland
Omniscience, Secrecy and Tree Packing
Venkatesh Saligrama
November 20, 2009 Natallia Katenka, Ph.D. Student
Department of Statistics
University of Michigan
Tracking Multiple Targets Eric Kolaczyk Using Binary Decisions from Wireless Sensor Networks
December 4, 2009
Herbert Tanner, Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Delaware
Randomized Model Predictive Robot Navigation
Calin Belta
January 15, 2010
Vijay Kumar, Professor
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
University of Pennsylvania
Architectures, Abstractions and Algorithms for Large Teams of Robots
Calin Belta
January 22, 2010
Xu Chu Ding, PostDoctoral Fellow
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Boston University
Real-Time Optimal Control of Autonomous Switched Systems
Calin Belta and Christos Cassandras
February 5, 2010
Jiri Barnat, Assistant Professor
Informatics
Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
Parallel LTL Model Checking with Divine
Calin Belta
February 12, 2010
Ness B. Shroff, Chaired Professor
Electrical and The Ohio State Computer University Engineering and Computer Systems Engineering
Retransmissions and Power Laws: A New Perspective on System Performance
Ioannis Ch. Paschalidis
February 19, 2010
Frederick Daum, Senior Principal Fellow
Raytheon
Particle Flow for Nonlinear Filters
David Casta帽贸n
February 26, 2010
Junshan Zhang, Professor
Arizona State University
Fundamental Tradeoffs between Probing and Channel-Aware Scheduling in Future Wireless Networks
Joint ECE/CISE Seminar
Department
School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
58 | Research
Date
Speaker
Department
Institution
Talk Title
Hosting Professor
March 5, 2010
Vijay Gupta, Assistant Professor
Department of Electrical Engineering
University of Notre Dame
Distributed Estimation and Communication Across Networks
David Castañón
March 26, 2010
Mario Sznaier, Department Dennis Picard Trustee of Electrical Professor and Computer Engineering
Northeastern University
Compressive Dynamical Information Extraction
Christos Cassandras
April 2, 2010
Assaf Zeevi, Henry Kravis Professor
Graduate School of Business
Columbia University
Dynamic Learning and Customization in Display-Based Online Advertisement
David Starobinski
April 5, 2010
Andreas Savvides, Barton L. Weller Associate Professor
Department of Electrical Engineering and Department of Computer Science
Yale University
Estimating Consumption Breakdowns through Binary Sensing of ON/ OFF States
Joint ECE/CISE Seminar
April 9, 2010
Nuno Martins, Assistant Professor
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of Maryland
Certifying the Optimality of a Distributed StateEstimation System in the Presence of Communication Costs
Ioannis Ch. Paschalidis
April 14, 2010
Vineet Goyal, Postdoctoral Associate
Operations Research Center
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
On the Power of Robust and Affine Solutions in Dynamic Optimization
Ioannis Ch. Paschalidis
April 16, 2010
Yigal Bejerano, Member, Technical Staff
Bell Labs
Building Robust Nomadic David Starobinski Wireless Mesh Networks Using Directional Antennas
April 23, 2010
Panos Pardalos, Distinguished Professor and University of Florida Research Foundation Professor Director
Center for Applied University of Optimization, Florida Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
The Critical Nodes Detection Problem in Networks
Christos Cassandras
April 30, 2010
Shane Henderson, Professor
School of Operations Research and Information Engineering
Cornell University
Ambulance Redeployment
Pirooz Vakili
May 7, 2010
Roch Guerin, Alfred Fitler Moore Professor of Telecommunciations Networks
Department of Eelctrical and Systems Engineering
University of Pennsylvania
The Curse of Incompatible (Network) Technologies and the Role of Gateways
Ioannis Ch. Paschalidis and David Starobinski
May 20, 2010
Alessandra Pinto, Researcher
Embedded Systems and Networks Group
United Technologies Research Center
Model-Based Tool Chains fo rthe Probabilistic Analysis of Complex Systems
Annual Report 2009–2010
Research | 59
Events 7th Annual CISE Awards— CISE Wine & Cheese Event Research: 2010 BU Science and Engineering Research Symposium Tuesday March 30, 2010 Congratulations to CISE First Prize winners: Ajay Kumar Bangla and Vatche Ishakian. This year marked the 7th annual celebration of CISE graduate student research through the CISE Award at the 2010 BU Science and Engineering Research Symposium on March 31, 2009. Twenty nine CISE Students presented research posters at the Symposium. Entries were judged on scientific or engineering innovation, relevance, promise of future impact, societal implications, and the exhibitor’s presentation.
Two $500 First Prizes to: The Ajay Kumar Bangla, a Ph.D candidate in the College
Vatche Ishakian, a Ph.D candidate in College of Arts and
of Engineering for his work “Auction Algorithm for nonlinear Resource Allocation Problems.” Advisor: David Castañón.
Sciences. “A Type-Theoretic Framework for Efficient and Safe Colocation of Periodic Real-time Systems” Advisor: Azer Bestavros.
Four $100 Honorable Mentions to: REZA MOAZZEZ ESTANJINI (SE) for his work, “Controlled
Michael Rahaim for his work, “High Bandwidth Density
Mobility and the Capacity of Sparse Ad Hoc Networks. Advisor: Ioannis Ch. Paschalidis.
Visual Light Communication for Indoor Dual-Use Lighting and Communication. Advisor: Jeffrey Carruthers.
YANFENG GENG (SE) for his work, “Design of Intelligent
Ivana Stojanovic for her work, “Imaging of Moving
Parking System in Urban Environment “. Advisor: C.G.Cassandras.
Targets With Multi-Static SAR Using an Overcomplete Dictionary.” Advisor: W. Clem Karl.
The 2010 CISE judges were: • Mechanical Engineering (ENG): Professors • S. Andersson, J. Baillieul, C. Belta, M. Caramanis, P. Dupont, M. Gevelber, J. Perkins, P. Vakili, H. Wang.
Alanyali, J. Carruthers, C. Cassandras, D. Castañón (CISE CoDirector), A. Coskun, P. Ishwar, C. Karl, L. Levitin, T. Little, I. Paschalidis (CISE Co-Director), V. Saligrama, , D. Starobinski,
• Biomedical Engineering (ENG): Professor S. Vajda
A. Trachtenberg
• Computer Science (CAS): Professors A. Bestavros, M. Crovella, A. Matta.
• Electrical and Computer Engineering (ENG): Professors M.
• Math/Statistics (CAS): Professor E. Kolaczyk. • Operations Management (SMG): Professor E. Pekoz
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
60 | Research
CISE 2010 Science Day Prize Winners from left to right: Vatche Ishakian, Ivana Stojanovic, Reza Moazzez-Estanjini (SE), Ajay Kumar Bangla, and Yanfeng Geng (SE) with Professor I. Paschalidis (CISE Co-Director).
CISE Participating Faculty and Administration
Administration
• Mechanical Engineering (ENG): Professors • S. Andersson, J. Baillieul, C. Belta, M. Caramanis, P. Dupont, M. Gevelber, J. Perkins, P. Vakili, H. Wang.
• I.C. Paschalidis, Co-Director
• Biomedical Engineering (ENG): Professor S. Vajda • Computer Science (CAS): Professors A. Bestavros, M. Crovella, A. Matta. • Electrical and Computer Engineering (ENG): Professors M. Alanyali, J. Carruthers, C. Cassandras, D. Castañón (CISE CoDirector), A. Coskun, P. Ishwar, C. Karl, L. Levitin, T. Little, I. Paschalidis (CISE Co-Director), V. Saligrama, , D. Starobinski, A. Trachtenberg • Math/Statistics (CAS): Professor E. Kolaczyk. • Operations Management (SMG): Professor E. Pekoz
Annual Report 2009–2010
• David Castañón, Co-Director • Linda Grosser, Associate Director • Denise Joseph, Administrator
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Visiting Committee The first meeting of the Division’s Visiting Committee took place on Friday, January 29, 2010. The Dean of Engineering, Professor Ken Lutchen, described to the Committee the major changes recently instituted in the College of Engineering, including the establishment of two Divisions, the Division of Systems Engineering (SE) and the Division of Material Science and Engineering (MSE) since July 2008. The SE Division in particular cuts across departmental lines and recognizes the important role that Systems Engineering plays within all aspects of Engineering. The SE Division Head, Professor Christos Cassandras, summarized the goals for the meeting including: a review of academic and research missions; evaluation of the Division’s structure; identification of strengths and weaknesses; assistance in setting long range goals to achieve excellence; and identification of needed resources. He then highlighted the defining features and administrative structure of the Division and the overall philosophy regarding Systems Engineering. He presented basic statistics on applications and admissions, research funding and scholarly productivity of participating faculty. Professor Pirooz Vakili, Associate Division Head, described the graduate academic program and emphasized that the Division grants graduate degrees in Systems Engineering, including the PhD, MS and a newly established MEng degree, and outlined the course requirements for each degree. As part of the meeting, the Visiting Committee was treated to a graduate student poster session, connecting it directly with SE students and their research projects. The Committee was uniformly impressed with what they saw, both in terms of the research itself and in the ability of the students to understand and articulate the problems they presented, communicate and interact effectively with those both familiar and unfamiliar with their research areas. The Committee then had an opportunity to review what they heard during the day along with the literature provided previously to them by SE staff. In the relatively short time available, a consensus was reached on a number of topics that were subsequently discussed with the Dean. In assessing the overall SE program, the Committee stated that the case made for the creation of the Division was clear and compelling. It was impressed with the high level of research performed and felt that its focus was right on target with a curriculum which is relevant and responsive to the high demand for systems engineers. Committee members
representing industrial organizations commented that qualified systems engineers are a scarce national resource and that they require considerable post-graduate education to be effective, especially for systems that include humans or complex software components for which “laws of physics” do not apply. Because of this fact, there is a strategic benefit to the SE program. Committee members noted that the SE program runs on a largely voluntary basis, highly dependent on cooperation from the Departments. However, in addressing the question “should the Division consider evolving into a traditional Department?” most Committee members felt that this would not be an ideal solution and that the Division should continue to focus on a “grand vision,” the employability of its graduates, and to remain flexible and ready to evolve to meet the challenging problems that will impact the world in the next decade and beyond. The overall consensus was that some additional structure should be established within the College asserting the Division’s authority on important administrative matters. Along these lines, it was also the Committee’s recommendation to ensure that SE students are co-located and that the Division’s identity is enhanced. Regarding the SE Curriculum, the Committee recognized that critical systems engineering skills are inherently mathematical and it supported the quantitative and analytical nature of the core courses in the SE curriculum. A number of suggestions was offered for concrete additional courses in topics such as embedded systems and the use of modeling software, system identification, data analysis, and the effect of human elements in a system, human interactions, multiple objectives and possibly game theoretic considerations.
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
62 | Research
Visiting Committee Members TAMER BASAR is with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), where he holds the academic titles of Swanlund Endowed Chair; Center for Advanced Study Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Research Professor at the Coordinated Science Laboratory; and Research Professor at the Information Trust Institute. He received the B.S.E.E. degree from Robert College, Istanbul, and the M.S., M.Phil, and Ph.D. degrees from Yale University. He joined UIUC in 1981 after holding positions at Harvard University and Marmara Research Institute (Turkey). He has published extensively in systems, control, communications, and dynamic games, and has current research interests in modeling and control of communication networks; control over heterogeneous networks; estimation and control with limited sensing and transmission; resource allocation, management and pricing in networks; mobile and distributed computing; and security issues in computer networks. Dr. Basar is currently the Editor-in-Chief of Automatica, the Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Expert Now, Editor of the Birkhäuser Series on Systems & Control, Managing Editor of the Annals of the International Society of Dynamic Games (ISDG), and member of editorial and advisory boards of several international journals in control, wirelessnetworks, and applied mathematics. He has received several awards and recognitions over the years, among which are the Medal of Science of Turkey (1993); Distinguished Member Award (1993), Axelby Outstanding Paper Award (1995), and Bode Lecture Prize (2004) of the IEEE Control Systems Society (CSS); Tau Beta Pi Drucker Eminent Faculty Award of UIUC (2004); Quazza Medal (2005) and Outstanding Service Award (2005) of the International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC); Bellman Control Heritage Award (2006) of the American Automatic Control Council (AACC); honorary doctorate (Doctor Honoris Causa) from Dogu University (Istanbul; 2007); and honorary professorship from Northeastern University (Shenyang; 2008). He is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, a member of the European Academy of Sciences, a Fellow of IEEE, a Fellow of IFAC, a past president of CSS, the founding president of ISDG, and incoming President of AACC.
Annual Report 2009–2010
DIMITRIS BERTSIMAS is currently the Boeing Professor of Operations Research and the codirector of the Operations Research Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has received a BS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the National Technical University of Athens, Greece in 1985, a MS in Operations Research at MIT in 1987, and a Ph.D in Applied Mathematics and Operations Research at MIT in 1988. Since 1988, he has been in the MIT faculty. His research interests include optimization, stochastic systems, data mining, and their application. In recent years he has worked in robust optimization, health care and finance. He has co-authored more than 100 scientific papers and he has co-authored the following books: “Introduction to Linear Optimization’’ (with J. Tsitsiklis, Athena Scientific and Dynamic Ideas, 2008), “Data, models and decisions’’ (with R. Freund, Dynamic Ideas, 2004) and “Optimization over Integers’’ (with R. Weismantel, Dynamic Ideas, 2005). He is currently department editor in Optimization for Management Science and former area editor in Operations Research in Financial Engineering. He has supervised 42 doctoral students and he is currently supervising 10 others. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, and he has received numerous research awards including the Farkas prize (2008), the Erlang prize (1996), the SIAM prize in optimization (1996), the Bodossaki prize (1998) and the Presidential Young Investigator award (1991-1996). ANDY GRACE is the vice president of engineering for design automation tools at The MathWorks. He is responsible for the development of MathWorks’ simulation, code generation, and testing products. He has more than twenty years experience in software development and has been involved in the development of a number of MathWorks products including, Simulink, RealTime Workshop, Control System Toolbox, Optimization Toolbox, and Stateflow. He received a Ph.D. from the University of Wales in 1989 in the area of applying multiobjective optimization techniques to control system design.
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YU-CHI (LARRY) HO received his undergraduate and graduate education from MIT and Harvard respectively. For over forty years he taught and did research on the Harvard faculty. He is active professionally in numerous capacities as editor of journals, author of book and paper classics, and received numerous awards. He is a Life fellow of IEEE, elected member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and an elected foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Since October 2001, he also acts part time as the chief scientist and chaired professor of the Center of Intelligent and Networked Systems at Tsinghua University, Beijing China.
DR. KIRK E. JORDAN, Emerging Solutions Executive in the Computational Science Center at IBM T.J. Watson Research Center, has more than 25 years experience in high performance and parallel computing. Dr. Jordan oversees development of applications for IBM’s advanced computing architectures, investigates and develops concepts for new areas of growth involving high performance computing (HPC), and provides leadership in high-end computing and simulation in such areas as computational fluid dynamics, systems biology and high-end visualization. At IBM, he held several positions promoting HPC and high performance visualization, including leading technical efforts in the Deep Computing organization within IBM’s Systems and Technology Group, managing IBM’s University Relations SUR (Shared University Research) Program and leading IBM’s Healthcare and Life Sciences Strategic Relationships and Institutes of Innovation Programs. A Ph.D. in Applied Math, he held computational science positions at Exxon R&E, Argonne National Lab, Thinking Machines and Kendall Square Research before joining IBM in 1994. A Research Affiliate in MIT’s Department of Aeronautic and Astronautics, he holds leadership positions in the Society
for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM), including Vice Chair of Computational Science and Engineering SIAG and the Committee on Science Policy. Dr. Jordan is on several boards including Math Biosciences Institute’s Board of Trustees at The Ohio State University, Board of the National Professional Sciences Master’s Association, and the International Advisory Board for the Systems Biomedicine Institute at Shanghai Jaio Tong University. He is associate editor of several international journals and Guest Editor for two recent issues of IBM’s Journal for Research and Development.
P. R. KUMAR obtained his B. Tech. degree in Electrical Engineering (Electronics) from I.I.T. Madras in 1973, and the M.S. and D.Sc. degrees in Systems Science and Mathematics from Washington University, St. Louis, in 1975 and 1977, respectively. From 1977-84 he was a faculty member in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Since 1985 he has been at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where he is currently Franklin W. Woeltge Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Research Professor in the Coordinated Science Laboratory, Research professor in the Information Trust Institute, and Affiliate Professor of the Department of Computer Science. He has worked on problems in game theory, adaptive control, stochastic systems, simulated annealing, neural networks, machine learning, queueing networks, manufacturing systems, scheduling, and wafer fabrication plants. His current research interests are in wireless networks, sensor networks, and networked embedded control systems. He has received the Donald P. Eckman Award of the American Automatic Control Council, the IEEE Field Award in Control Systems, and the Fred W. Ellersick Prize of the IEEE Communications Society. He is a Fellow of the IEEE, and member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering. He was awarded an honorary doctorate (Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa) by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule), Zurich in 2008.
Boston University College of Engineering | Division of Systems Engineering
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DR. MARK T. MAYBURY is Executive Director of MITRE’s Information Technology Division. He is responsible for the direction of advanced research and development for intelligence and defense systems supporting a broad range of sponsors including the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, OSD, DISA, DARPA, NSF, and national intelligence agencies. In addition, his division provides research and modernization to the IRS, FAA and Department of State. Mark leads an enterprise distributed across Washington D.C., Bedford, MA and several U.S. and European sites spanning the disciplines of intelligent information systems, analytic tools, performance support, collaborative environments, geospatial information systems, distributed computing, networking, and data, information and knowledge management. Mark has over sixty refereed publications. Mark serves on program committees and journal boards and has chaired international workshops and conferences. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from College of the Holy Cross magna cum laude in 1986 (Fenwick Scholar), a Masters of Philosophy in Computer Speech and Language Processing from Cambridge University, England in 1987 (Rotary Scholar), a Masters of Business Administration from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1989 and a doctorate in Artificial Intelligence from Cambridge in 1991.
DR. ROBERT R. TENNEY is Vice President of BAE Systems Advanced Information Technologies. Prior to that he served as the Director, Information Exploitation Office, at the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency from 2001-2008, Executive Vice President of Alphatech, Inc. from 1984 to 2001, and as Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Engineering from 1979-1984 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Tenney received his PhD in Systems Science, MS in Electrical Engineering and BS in Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Tenney’s areas of expertise include sensors; signal processing; target recognition; computer vision; correlation and tracking; data fusion; pattern matching; automated planning; optimization; system integration; field testing. He is a member of Tau Beti Pi, Sigma Xi, and IEEE.
PRAVIN VARAIYA is Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley. From 1975 to 1992 he was also Professor of Economics at Berkeley. His current research is devoted to transportation networks and the smart grid. His honors include a Guggenheim Fellowship, three Honorary Doctorates, the Field Medal and Bode Prize of the IEEE Control Systems Society, and the Richard E. Bellman Control Heritage Award. He is a Fellow of IEEE, a member of the National Academy of Engineering, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Science.
Annual Report 2009–2010
Boston University Division of Systems Engineering Annual Report 2009–2010 © 2010, Boston University Design and production: Tess Mattern Photography: Boston University Photo Services Content: Elizabeth Flagg, Cheryl Stewart, SE staff, and SE faculty This report provides a description of the instructional and research activities of the Division of Systems Engineering at Boston University during the 2009–2010 academic year. Instructional activities are reported from the Fall 2009 through Summer 2010 semesters while scholarly activities and budget information are reported from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010. Boston University’s policies provide for equal opportunity and affirmative action in employment and admission to all programs of the University. For more information or to download this report as a PDF, please visit our website at www.bu.edu/se
Annual Report 2009â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2010
Boston University College of Engineering D i v i s i o n o f S y s t ems E n g i n eer i n g
Students in the Intelligent Mechatronics Laboratory interacting with one of its robots, THREEPIO.
Boston University College of Engineering Division of Systems Engineering 15 Saint Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Street, Room 118 Brookline, MA 02446 617-353-2842 se@bu.edu www.bu.edu/se