CSC8260: Wireless Networking and Cyber-Physical Systems (Fall 2009)

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Course mailing list: general

Instructor: Dr. Hongwei Zhang
hzhang AT cs.wayne.edu
+1 313 577 0731
Class timings: MW 3:00pm-4:20pm
Class webpage: http://www.cs.wayne.edu/~hzhang/courses/8260/8260.html
Office hours: MW 5:50pm-6:30pm in 454 State Hall, or by appointment

Teaching Assistant: Qiao Xiang
du4641@wayne.edu
TA Office hours: Tuesdays 4:30pm-6:30pm in 227 State Hall, or by appointment

Overview (flyer)

Seamlessly integrating sensing, networking, and computation with the control of physical devices and processes, cyber-physical systems (CPS) are expected to transform how we interact with and manipulate the physical world. Accordingly, CPS will have far-reaching impact on science and engineering, and are critical to a wide range of applications such as smart energy grids, transportation systems, and healthcare. One basic enabler of CPS is pervasive wireless networking that builds the coordination foundation for sensing, computing, and control. In supporting mission-critical, real-time, and closed loop sensing and control, CPS wireless networks represent a significant departure from traditional wireless and sensor networks, and it is critical to ensure controllable, predictable messaging quality in CPS.

This course is designed for students who are interested in cyber-physical systems in general and CSP wireless networking in particular. We will examine a wide range of topics including CPS applications (e.g.,smart energy grid, transportation system, healthcare), fundamentals of wireless communication (e.g., wireless channel, signal propagation, modulation, link models), wireless networking in a local region (e.g., MAC), large scale wireless networking (e.g., routing, transport), and real-time wireless networking, predictable wireless networking in an uncertain world (e.g., wireless system and environmental dynamics, jamming), and wireless networked control. This course is expected to prepare students for innovative development and research in wrieless cyber-physical systems.

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of computer networks (e.g., materials covered in CSC6290 or equivalent), elementary probability theory, statistics, and mathematical logic. Or consent of instructor.

References

Strongly recommended:

[R0] Anurag Kumar, D. Manjunath, Joy Kuri, Wireless Networking, Morgan Kaufmann, 2008. ISBN: 978-0-12-374254-4.

Recommended:

[R1] Anurag Kumar, D. Manjunath, Joy Kuri, Communication Networking: An Analytical Approach, Morgan Kaufmann, 2004. ISBN: 0124287514.
[R2] Jane Liu, "Real-Time Systems", 2nd edition, Prentice Hall, 2000
[R3] C. Siva Ram Murthy and G. Manimaran, "Resource Management in Real-Time Systems and Networks", MIT Press, 2001

[R4] Thomas G. Robertazzi, Computer Networks and Systems: Queueing Theory and Performance Evaluation (3rd edition), Springer. (ISBN: 0387950370)
[R5] Ravindra K. Ahuja, Thomas L. Magnanti, James B. Orlin, Network Flows: Theory, Algorithms, and Applications, Prentice Hall, 1993.
[R6] Joseph L. Hellerstein, Yixin Diao, Sujay Parekh, Dawn M. Tilbury, Feedback Control of Computing Systems, Wiley-IEEE Press, 2004. (ISBN: 978-0-471-26637-2)
[R7] Sheldon M. Ross, Introduction to Probability Models, 9th edition, Academic Press, 2006. (ISBN: 9780125980623)
[R8] Robert G. Gallager, Discrete Stochastic Processes, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1996. (ISBN: 0792395832)
[R9] Mohamed G. Gouda, Elements of Network Protocol Design (1st edition), John Wiley & Sons. (ISBN: 0471197440)

Flowchart of topics

CPS applications: smart energy grid, transportation system, healthcare, etc.
Fundamentals of wireless communication: wireless channel, signal propagation, modulation, link models, etc.
Fundamentals of control systems
Wireless networking in a local region: MAC
Large scale wireless networking: routing, transport
Real-time wireless networking: real-time MAC, routing, and transport in wireless settings
Predictable wireless networking in an uncertain world: wireless system and environmental dynamics, jamming, etc.
Wireless networked control

Lectures (Topics for group discussion)

Part 0: Course plan

Webcasting: 0

Part 1: Overview of wireless cyber-physical systems (WCPS)

Webcasting: 0 1

Part 2a: An Introduction to Wireless Networking

Webcasting: 0 1

Part 2b: Wireless Communication: Concepts, Techniques, and Models

Webcasting: 0 1

Part 3a: Introduction to Control Theory

Webcasting: 0 1 2

Part 3b: Introduction to Convex Optimization

Webcasting: 0

Homeworks

TBA

Projects

Project options

Solve one research issue in

vehicles: V2V, V2I, sensing and control, infotainment, etc.
power grid: alternative energy microgrid, hybrid power grid, etc.
industrial control: feedback control, machine health monitoring, etc.
healthcare: assisted living, etc.
others

can focus on issues such as MAC, interference management and control, routing, transport control, networked control, wireless sensing enabled decision making

Rules:

Each student is expected to select his project and discuss with the instructor to finalize the scope of the project.
Students are allowed to form groups in doing projects, but the number of students per group should be no more than 3.

Deliverables:

In-class presentation. 1) The slides for your presentation should be sent via email to the class at least one day before your presentation, so that everyone can go over your slides before coming to class. 2) Your presentation should include overview of related work, the problem definition, methodology, and analysis.
Written project report.

Timeline:

Select the topic and form your project group by 10/02/2009.
Submit your detail project plan and timeline by 10/31/2009.
Present your project in class according to this schedule.
Submit your project report electronically by midnight 12/18/2009.

Evaluation criteria:

Your performance in project will be evaluated based on the following metrics:

Bredth and depth of your project, as evidenced by your project report and presentation.
Presentation quality (e.g., clarity, readability, and conciseness) of your project report and in-class talk.
Whether or not you are able to stick to the project timeline.

Miscl.:

Related resources

TinyOS

TinyOS Community Forum, http://www.tinyos.net/
Phil Levis's book on TinyOS Programming
TinyOS documentation
Resources on Using TinyOS and motes

Network simulators:

TOSSIM
ns-2
qualnet/glomosim
opnet

Links to journal & conferences related to computer networking, by Hongwei Zhang

Computer System Performance Evaluation, by Dr. John S. C. Lui.
Network Design and Performance Analysis, by Dr. Santosh Kumar.
Computer Systems Analysis, by Dr. Raj Jain.

Policies

Lecture: Attendance at lectures is required. If a student has to skip a lecture due to hard constraints, he/she is required to inform the instructor beforehand.

Grading: The tentative grade weighting for the semester will be:

Class participation: 20%
Paper presentations: 35%
Project: 45%

* These weights are subject to minor adjustments.
* Letter grades will be assigned based on performance relative to other students. A tentative grading scale is as follows:

A: 93-100
A-: 90-92
B+: 85-89
B:   80-84
B-: 75-79
C+: 70-74
C:   65-69
C-: 60-64
F:    0-60

* A regrading request will cause the entire exam/homework/project to be regraded, and thereby the overall grade can increase or decrease.

Miscellaneous

I expect you to carefully read all material handed out in class. I also expect you to read the book according to the reading assignments announced in class. You are encouraged to discuss the material presented in class with other students, but definitely do not collaborate with anyone in solving the homework problems. The Wayne State University Student Code of Conduct applies. Feel free to discuss our expectations and grading criteria with the grader or me during the semester.

How to register?

Pick up a form from Jeff for registering for this course;
Stop by Dr. Zhang's office (in State Hall 454) so that he can sign your registration form. He is generally available during 5:30pm-6:30pm everyday (except Saturday).