It is amazing …• That we can arrange to

be in the same space at the same time – Considering that the

universe is so big– … and old– …. Yet, here we are …

How did you get here today?

• Got in my car

• Drove to Fitchburg

• Parked my car

• Walked to my office

Detail, details and more details

• Got in my car– Opened the door– Started the car

• Drove to Fitchburg– Drove to highway– Got on highway– Got off highway– Took streets to

campus

• Etc, etc.

More details! (tedious, isn’t it?)

• Got in my car– Opened the door (did you use a key?)– Started the car (did you get in?)

• Drove to Fitchburg– Drove to highway (did you put the car in gear?)– Got on highway (did you avoid other cars?)– Got off highway (did you stop at the stop sign?)– Took streets to campus (did you make any turns?)

• Etc, etc.

Levels of Analysis

• Biological research– Make observations

– Apply reasoning

– From behavior to molecules

– From animals to cells

• Software development– Understand the problem

– Apply reasoning … express a solution

– Breakdown solution procedures in detail

This is the 1st step …

• Agonizing stepwise refinement of details

• The process is called DESIGN• It generally begins with a set of user requirements• The users must think the process through with

copious detail and precision• The developers must listen and ask clarifying

questions

The process is iterative …

• Users & developers meet to identify requirements

• Developers start to design

• The design procedure will identify new questions and require more user input

• Users & developers meet again

• … and again and again if necessary

To make the process work …

• Each of us must be:– knowledgeable in our areas– be respectful to others and listen well– cooperative and considerate– fearless in the expression of

our ideas

• It helps to be enthusiastic• Get to know each other

Organization of design work

H o w d o we ...O p era te In p ut D ev ices

H o w d o we ...P ro ce ss In p u t D a ta

H o w d o we ...O p era te O utp u t D e vices

S o ftwa re De s ignfu n ctio na l m o d u la riza tion

id e n tify de ta ilsd iv ide up the ta sks

In p ut D ev ices O u tpu t D ev ices C o m p u ting d ev ices

H a rd w a re D e s ignid e n tify d ev ices

se lec t co m p o ne n tsfu n c tio n , size , po w er

Id e n tify U se r R eq u irem e n ts

Lots to learn …

• Normally, in the CS curriculum:– Students do not learn software design until their

last year– Even then, they do not get a chance to build

what they design– Students never do electronic design– Students never fabricate devices

• Biology students will have to stretch too

What we want you to know is …

• There is no magic to this process

• It takes many months toproduce a workingproduct

• Thoughtful user inputis key for getting a desired result

The to-do list …

• Software– High-mid level

software design (2 man-months)

– Mid-low level software design (4 man-months)

– Learning the tools (2 man-months)

– Coding and testing (4 man-months)

• Hardware– Component selection

and testing (2 man-months)

– Target hardware design (2 man-months)

– Learning the tools (2 man-months)

– Target hardware fabrication and testing (1 man-month)

My perspective on research …

• The purpose of research is to learn new things• In the beginning, everything is new to you• It is likely that others have asked questions similar

to yours• In science, we disseminate what we know through

scholarly publication• The first step is to gain a comprehensive

knowledge of what others have done

It starts with a question …

• To make progress in science, we must ask questions

• When we have a question that cannot be adequately answered by reading scholarly literature … it’s time to do an experiment

• Take all of your knowledge, apply it to your question and form a hypothesis

A Hypothesis and an Experimental Design

• A hypothesis is your best guess at what will happen in a controlled situation

• To prove your hypothesis you will collect data

• Your data will be collected according to an experimental design

• In addition to a data collection protocol, a data analysis protocol will also be specified

You are the experts …

• We depend on you to explain your– Hypotheses– Data collection paradigms– Statistical analysis methods

• The sooner we know these things, the sooner they can impact the design

Anticipating Fireflies in June …

• We have to start somewhere

• The design of basic male and female prototypes has begun

• Our goal is to have functional prototypes by June 21

Design assumptions …

• Each device will – Have a single transmitter and receiver– Log both received and transmitted flashes– Emulate the behavior of photinus ignitus by

default– Response paradigm is field modifiable to target

other species– Respond to flashes within a 1 meter radius

Transmitter details …• Yellow LEDs will be used

– Specific device has not yet been identified

• Flashes will be triangular shaped waveforms– Rising and falling edges can be specified– Flash duration can be specified

• Male flash – Duration 85 msec– Size 4mm square

• Female flash– Duration 170 msec– Size 2mm square

Receiver details …• Range of 1 meter• Light detector technology

– PMT or photodiode

– Tests are underway to identify specific devices

• Responds to flash duration measured at half-maximal amplitude

Compound eye of photinus pyralis

Protocol details …

• Unengaged male signals – with __ msec duration flash at __ second intervals

• Receptive female responds – with __ msec duration flash after __ seconds

• Engaged male – approaches and responds after __ seconds

• Engaging female– detects approach responds after __ seconds

• Disengagement happens when ___________