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Electrical Engineering and Systems Science

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Thursday 11 December

Systems and Control

Conformal Prediction-Based MPC for Stochastic Linear Systems

We propose a stochastic model predictive control (MPC) framework for linear systems subject to joint-in-time chance constraints under unknown disturbance distributions. Unlike existing approaches that rely on parametric or Gaussian assumptions, or require expensive offline computation, the method uses conformal prediction to construct finite-sample confidence regions for the system's error trajectories with minimal computational effort. These probabilistic sets enable relaxation of the joint-in-time chance constraints into a deterministic closed-loop formulation based on indirect feedback, ensuring recursive feasibility and chance constraint satisfaction. Further, we extend to the output feedback setting and establish analogous guarantees from output measurements alone, given access to noise samples. Numerical examples demonstrate the effectiveness and advantages compared to existing approaches.
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All authors Lukas Vogel, Andrea Carron, Eleftherios E. Vlahakis, Dimos V. Dimarogonas

Signal Processing

NN-Based Frequency Domain DPD for OFDM Massive MIMO Transmitters With Multiple States

Frequency domain (FD)-digital predistortion (DPD) is a low-complexity DPD solution for massive multiple-inputmultiple-output (MIMO) transmitters (TXs). In this letter, we extend FD-DPD to scenarios with multiple signal states (e.g., bandwidths and power levels). First, we propose a new neural network (NN)-based FD-DPD model, whose main idea is to use a hypernetwork (HN) to generate parameters for the output layer of the main NN based on the signal states. Then, we introduce how to effectively train the model with the help of time-domain (TD)-DPD. Experimental results show that the proposed model can achieve excellent performance, without requiring additional online training when signal states change.
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Audio and Speech Processing

Exploring Perceptual Audio Quality Measurement on Stereo Processing Using the Open Dataset of Audio Quality

ODAQ (Open Dataset of Audio Quality) provides a comprehensive framework for exploring both monaural and binaural audio quality degradations across a range of distortion classes and signals, accompanied by subjective quality ratings. A recent update of ODAQ, focusing on the impact of stereo processing methods such as Mid/Side (MS) and Left/Right (LR), provides test signals and subjective ratings for the in-depth investigation of state-of-the-art objective audio quality metrics. Our evaluation results suggest that, while timbre-focused metrics often yield robust results under simpler conditions, their prediction performance tends to suffer under the conditions with a more complex presentation context. Our findings underscore the importance of modeling the interplay of bottom-up psychoacoustic processes and top-down contextual factors, guiding future research toward models that more effectively integrate both timbral and spatial dimensions of perceived audio quality.
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All authors Pablo M. Delgado, Sascha Dick, Christoph Thompson, Chih-Wei Wu, Phillip A. Williams

Systems and Control

Active prognosis and diagnosis of modular discrete-event systems

This paper addresses the verification and enforcement of prognosability and diagnosability for discreteevent systems (DESs) modeled by deterministic finite automata. We establish the equivalence between prognosability (respectively, diagnosability) and pre-normality over a subset of the non-faulty language (respectively, a suffix of the faulty language). We then demonstrate the existence of supremal prognosable (respectively, diagnosable) and normal sublanguages. Furthermore, an algorithm is then designed to compute the supremal controllable, normal, and prognosable (respectively, diagnosable) sublanguages. Since DESs are typically composed of multiple components operating in parallel, pure local supervisors are generally insufficient, as prognosability and diagnosability are global properties of a system. Given the limited work on enforcing prognosability or diagnosability in modular DESs, where these properties are enforced through local supervisors, this paper leverages a refined version of pre-normality to compute modular supervisors for local subsystems. The resulting closed-loop system is shown to be globally controllable, normal, and prognosable/ diagnosable. Examples are provided to illustrate the proposed method.
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All authors Shaopeng Hu, Shaowen Miao, Jan Komenda, Zhiwu Li

Systems and Control

Estimating Hormone Concentrations in the Pituitary-Thyroid Feedback Loop from Irregularly Sampled Measurements

Model-based control techniques have recently been investigated for the recommendation of medication dosages to address thyroid diseases. These techniques often rely on knowledge of internal hormone concentrations that cannot be measured from blood samples. Moreover, the measurable concentrations are typically only obtainable at irregular sampling times. In this work, we empirically verify a notion of sample-based detectability that accounts for irregular sampling of the measurable concentrations on two pituitary-thyroid loop models representing patients with hypo- and hyperthyroidism, respectively, and include the internal concentrations as states. We then implement sample-based moving horizon estimation for the models, and test its performance on virtual patients across a range of sampling schemes. Our study shows robust stability of the estimator across all scenarios, and that more frequent sampling leads to less estimation error in the presence of model uncertainty and misreported dosages.
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All authors Seth Siriya, Tobias M. Wolff, Isabelle Krauss, Victor G. Lopez, Matthias A. Müller

Systems and Control · Cross-listed from math.OC

Time-Invariant Linear Quadratic Regulators: A New Look

This paper demonstrates that linear ordinary differential equations with constant coefficients serve as the main building block for time-invariant linear quadratic regulators (LQRs). By applying the Euler-Lagrange equations to a flat output, i.e., to a basis of the free finitely-generated module over the commutative principal ideal ring of time-invariant linear differential operators with respect to the time derivation, this result emerges directly. In module-theoretic terms. The freeness of this structure corresponds to the classical Kalman controllability condition (M. Fliess, Some basic structural properties of generalized linear systems, Syst. Contr. Lett., 15 (1990) 391-396). Within this framework, the two-point boundary value problem, including the control variables, becomes analytically tractable, enabling the derivation of optimal time horizons, optimal parameter design, and rest-to-rest trajectories. Furthermore, a novel turnpike-like phenomenon is established via nonstandard analysis. The feedback loop is closed thanks to the HEOL approach (C. Join, E. Delaleau, M. Fliess, Flatness-based control revisited: The HEOL setting, C.R. Math., 362 (2024) 1693-1706), an extension of model-free control (MFC) that leverages intelligent controllers. Our viewpoint, which significantly simplifies the presentation by avoiding the conventional Kalman state-space representation, relies on foundational algebraic concepts that, while elementary, are rarely used in today's control theory. To aid intuition, some rudimentary examples are presented, most of which include computer simulations.
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Systems and Control

Codeshare agreements between airlines: literature review with the aid of artificial intelligence

Codeshare agreements are contracts that allow two or more airlines to share seats on the same flight. These agreements, which are widespread in commercial aviation as a response to highly competitive environments, have enabled the expansion of airline networks without additional costs or risks for the companies involved. The literature presents ambiguous effects associated with the practice, with evidence of increased supply and reduced prices in situations of route complementarity, while also pointing to anti-competitive impacts in markets where companies act as competitors. A review of scientific production over time, including theoretical contributions and case studies, is essential to understand the evolution of these agreements and their implications, especially in the Brazilian context, marked by its own characteristics and particular regulatory history. Thus, this article reviews the literature on codesharing, with an emphasis on the Brazilian market, and uses the Litmaps computational tool, based on artificial intelligence techniques, to support the contextual analysis of publications through their citation relationships. The ultimate goal is to identify and evaluate the main evidence accumulated over decades on the effects of these agreements in Brazil. The joint analysis of the contributions allows us to outline the current state of knowledge, characterize specificities observed in the Brazilian market, and identify gaps that may guide future studies.
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Systems and Control

NWP-based Atmospheric Refractivity Modeling and Fast & Stable Non-uniform Plane Wave Ray-Tracing Simulations for LEO Link Analysis

Existing low-Earth-orbit (LEO) communication link analyses face two main challenges: (1) limited accuracy of 3D atmospheric refractivity reconstructed from sparsely sampled radiosonde data, and (2) numerical instability in previous non-uniform plane-wave ray-tracing algorithms (i.e., underflow under standard double precision), where non-uniform plane waves inevitably arise at complex-valued dielectric interfaces, is caused by extremely small atmospheric loss terms. To address these issues, we reconstruct a high-resolution 3D complex-valued refractivity model using numerical weather prediction data, and develop a fast and numerically stable non-uniform plane-wave ray tracer. The method remains stable in double precision and delivers a 24-fold speedup over high-precision benchmarks. Comparisons show that boresight-error deviations and path-loss differences between the rigorous method and the uniform-plane-wave approximation remain negligible, even under heavy precipitation. Although rays in a lossy atmosphere experience different phase- and attenuation-direction vectors-forming non-uniform plane waves-the resulting effective attenuation along the path is nearly identical to that predicted by the uniform-plane-wave model. These findings justify the continued use of uniform-plane-wave ray tracing in practical LEO link analyses.
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All authors Bowoo Jang, Jun Heo, Yong Bae Park, Dong-Yeop Na

Systems and Control

Structural Methods for handling mode changes in multimode DAE systems

Hybrid systems are an important concept in Cyber-Physical Systems modeling, for which multiphysics modeling from first principles and the reuse of models from libraries are key. To achieve this, DAEs must be used to specify the dynamics in each discrete state (or mode in our context). This led to the development of DAE-based equational languages supporting multiple modes, of which Modelica is a popular standard. Mode switching can be time- or state-based. Impulsive behaviors can occur at mode changes. While mode changes are well understood in particular physics (e.g., contact mechanics), this is not the case in physics-agnostic paradigms such as Modelica. This situation causes difficulties for the compilation of programs, often requiring users to manually smooth out mode changes. In this paper, we propose a novel approach for the hot restart at mode changes in such paradigms. We propose a mathematical meaning for hot restarts (such a mathematical meaning does not exist in general), as well as a combined structural and impulse analysis for mode changes, generating the hot restart even in the presence of impulses. Our algorithm detects at compile time if the mode change is insufficiently specified, in which case it returns diagnostics information to the user.
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All authors Albert Benveniste, Benoit Caillaud, Yahao Chen, Khalil Ghorbal, Mathias Malandain

Image and Video Processing

Hyperspectral Image Data Reduction for Endmember Extraction

Endmember extraction from hyperspectral images aims to identify the spectral signatures of materials present in a scene. Recent studies have shown that self-dictionary methods can achieve high extraction accuracy; however, their high computational cost limits their applicability to large-scale hyperspectral images. Although several approaches have been proposed to mitigate this issue, it remains a major challenge. Motivated by this situation, this paper pursues a data reduction approach. Assuming that a hyperspectral image follows the linear mixing model with the pure-pixel assumption, we develop a data reduction technique to remove pixels corresponding to mixtures of multiple endmember signatures. We analyze the theoretical properties of this reduction step and show that it preserves pixels that lie close to the endmembers. Building on this result, we propose a data-reduced self-dictionary method that integrates the data reduction with a self-dictionary method based on a linear programming formulation. Numerical experiments demonstrate that the proposed method can substantially reduce the computational time of the original self-dictionary method without sacrificing endmember extraction accuracy.
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Signal Processing

T-ADD: Enhancing DOA Estimation Robustness Against Adversarial Attacks

Deep learning has achieved remarkable success in direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation. However, recent studies have shown that adversarial perturbations can severely compromise the performance of such models. To address this vulnerability, we propose Transformer-based Adversarial Defense for DOA estimation (T-ADD), a transformer-based defense method designed to counter adversarial attacks. To achieve a balance between robustness and estimation accuracy, we formulate the adversarial defense as a joint reconstruction task and introduce a tailored joint loss function. Experimental results demonstrate that, compared with three state-of-the-art adversarial defense methods, the proposed T-ADD significantly mitigates the adverse effects of widely used adversarial attacks, leading to notable improvements in the adversarial robustness of the DOA model.
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All authors Shilian Zheng, Xiaoxiang Wu, Luxin Zhang, Keqiang Yue, Peihan Qi, Zhijin Zhao

Signal Processing

A Novel Pilot Scheme for Uplink Channel Estimation for Sub-array Structured ELAA in XL-MIMO systems

This paper proposes a novel pilot scheme for multi-user uplink channel estimation in extra-large-scale massive MIMO (XL-MIMO) systems with extremely large aperture arrays (ELAA). The large aperture of ELAA introduces spatial non-stationarity, where far-apart users have significantly distinct visibility at the antennas, thereby reducing inter-user interference. This insight motivates our novel pilot scheme to group users with distinct visibility regions to share the same frequency subcarriers for channel estimation, so that more users can be served with reduced pilot overhead. Specifically, the proposed pilot scheme employs frequency-division multiplexing for inter-group channel estimation, while intra-group users – benefiting from strong spatial orthogonality – are distinguished by shifted cyclic codes, similar to code-division multiplexing. Additionally, we introduce a sub-array structured ELAA, where each sub-array is a traditional MIMO array and treated as spatial stationary, while the distances between sub-arrays can be significantly larger to achieve an expanded aperture. The channel support for sub-arrays features clustered sparsity in the antenna-delay domain and is modeled by a 2-dimensional (2-D) Markov random field (MRF). Based on this, we propose a low-complexity channel estimation algorithm within a turbo Bayesian inference framework that incorporates the 2-D MRF prior model. Simulations show that the proposed scheme and algorithm allow the XL-MIMO system to support more users, and deliver superior channel estimation performance.
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Signal Processing

Outdoor Crowd Flow Estimation Using RSRP from Commercial LTE Base Station: A Field Study

With the advent of the 6G era, Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC) has attracted increasing attention. One representative of use cases is crowd flow estimation on outdoor streets. However, most existing studies have focused on indoor environments or vehicles, and demonstrations of outdoor crowd flow estimation using commercial LTE base station remain limited. This study addresses this use case and proposes an analysis of a crowd flow estimation method using Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) obtained from a commercial LTE base station. Specifically, pedestrian counts derived from a camera-based object recognition algorithm were associated with the variance of RSRP. The features obtained from the variance were quantitatively evaluated by combining a CatBoost regression model with SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis. Through this investigation, we clarified that an optimal variance window size for RSRP is 0.1 to 0.2 seconds and that enlarging the counting area increased the features obtained from the variance of RSRP, for machine learning. Consequently, this study is the first to quantitatively demonstrate the effectiveness of outdoor crowd flow estimation using commercial LTE, while also revealing the characteristic behavior of variance window size and counting area size in feature design.
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All authors Kaisei Higeta, Masakatsu Ogawa, Tomoki Murakami, Kazuya Ohara, Shinya Otsuki

Systems and Control

Collision-Aware Density-Driven Control of Multi-Agent Systems via Control Barrier Functions

This paper tackles the problem of safe and efficient area coverage using a multi-agent system operating in environments with obstacles. Applications such as environmental monitoring and search and rescue require robot swarms to cover large domains under resource constraints, making both coverage efficiency and safety essential. To address the efficiency aspect, we adopt the Density-Driven Control (D$^2$C) framework, which uses optimal transport theory to steer agents according to a reference distribution that encodes spatial coverage priorities. To ensure safety, we incorporate Control Barrier Functions (CBFs) into the framework. While CBFs are commonly used for collision avoidance, we extend their applicability by introducing obstacle-specific formulations for both circular and rectangular shapes. In particular, we analytically derive a unit normal vector based on the agent's position relative to the nearest face of a rectangular obstacle, improving safety enforcement in environments with non-smooth boundaries. Additionally, a velocity-dependent term is incorporated into the CBF to enhance collision avoidance. Simulation results validate the proposed method by demonstrating smoother navigation near obstacles and more efficient area coverage than the existing method, while still ensuring collision-free operation.
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Systems and Control

Structural Sign Herdability in Temporally Switching Networks with Fixed Topology

This paper investigates structural herdability in a special class of temporally switching networks with fixed topology. We show that when the underlying digraph remains unchanged across all snapshots, the network attains complete SS herdability even in the presence of signed or layer dilations, a condition not applicable to static networks. This reveals a fundamental structural advantage of temporal dynamics and highlights a novel mechanism through which switching can overcome classical obstructions to herdability. To validate these conclusions, we utilize a more relaxed form of sign matching within each snapshot of the temporal network. Furthermore, we show that when all snapshots share the same underlying topology, the temporally switching network achieves $\mathcal{SS}$ herdability within just two snapshots, which is fewer than the number required for structural controllability. Several examples are included to demonstrate these results.
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Systems and Control

A Novel Phase-Noise Module for the QUCS Circuit Simulator. Part I : the Periodic Steady-State

The paper discusses work done to expand and extend the capabilities of the open-source QUCS circuit simulator through the implementation of a computationally efficient time-domain steady-state analysis module, supporting simulation of autonomous circuits. To our knowledge, this represents the first time such an analysis module has been implemented in the QUCS environment. Hitherto, the only available option was a harmonic-balance module which was strictly limited to non-autonomous (driven) circuits. The research has several important scientific and industrial applications in the area of large-signal steady-state analysis of autonomous circuits e.g. free-running and coupled oscillator circuit networks. The reported results will have great impact w.r.t. analyzing, synthesizing and optimizing oscillatory behavior of various important industrial circuits and systems. The developed tool, furthermore, introduces support for simulating noise performance of circuits operating under large-signal conditions. This paper is the first part of a two-part series documenting the implementation of a novel (coupled)-oscillator phase-noise simulator engine in the QUCS environment. The goal of this undertaking is the advancement of the open-source QUCS project towards becoming a viable competitor to the commercial simulators currently on the market.
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Systems and Control · Cross-listed from cs.RO

Design of a six wheel suspension and a three-axis linear actuation mechanism for a laser weeding robot

Mobile robots are increasingly utilized in agriculture to automate labor-intensive tasks such as weeding, sowing, harvesting and soil analysis. Recently, agricultural robots have been developed to detect and remove weeds using mechanical tools or precise herbicide sprays. Mechanical weeding is inefficient over large fields, and herbicides harm the soil ecosystem. Laser weeding with mobile robots has emerged as a sustainable alternative in precision farming. In this paper, we present an autonomous weeding robot that uses controlled exposure to a low energy laser beam for weed removal. The proposed robot is six-wheeled with a novel double four-bar suspension for higher stability. The laser is guided towards the detected weeds by a three-dimensional linear actuation mechanism. Field tests have demonstrated the robot's capability to navigate agricultural terrains effectively by overcoming obstacles up to 15 cm in height. At an optimal speed of 42.5 cm/s, the robot achieves a weed detection rate of 86.2% and operating time of 87 seconds per meter. The laser actuation mechanism maintains a minimal mean positional error of 1.54 mm, combined with a high hit rate of 97%, ensuring effective and accurate weed removal. This combination of speed, accuracy, and efficiency highlights the robot's potential for significantly enhancing precision farming practices.
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All authors Muhammad Usama, Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, Ahmad Hasan, Muhammad Shaaf Nadeem, Khawaja Fahad Iqbal, Jawad Aslam, Mian Ashfaq Ali, Asad Nisar Awan

Systems and Control · Cross-listed from cs.NI

L2 Ethernet Switch VLSI Implementation

Ethernet switches are foundational to the global internet infrastructure. These devices route packets of data on a local area network between source addresses to destination media access control addresses. On the L2 layer of the Open Systems Interconnections model, Ethernet switches take in digitized data from a Media Independent Interface and send it to the corresponding output port for the destination address. Switches need to handle parallel input and output streams from each port, prioritizing throughput, efficiency, and packet integrity. Due to the confidential nature of the networking device industry, there do not exist many open source implementations of switching fabrics. We propose an open source design for an L2 Ethernet switch along with the power, performance, and area tradeoffs for architecture decisions.
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Systems and Control · Cross-listed from cs.RO

Lies We Can Trust: Quantifying Action Uncertainty with Inaccurate Stochastic Dynamics through Conformalized Nonholonomic Lie groups

We propose Conformal Lie-group Action Prediction Sets (CLAPS), a symmetry-aware conformal prediction-based algorithm that constructs, for a given action, a set guaranteed to contain the resulting system configuration at a user-defined probability. Our assurance holds under both aleatoric and epistemic uncertainty, non-asymptotically, and does not require strong assumptions about the true system dynamics, the uncertainty sources, or the quality of the approximate dynamics model. Typically, uncertainty quantification is tackled by making strong assumptions about the error distribution or magnitude, or by relying on uncalibrated uncertainty estimates - i.e., with no link to frequentist probabilities - which are insufficient for safe control. Recently, conformal prediction has emerged as a statistical framework capable of providing distribution-free probabilistic guarantees on test-time prediction accuracy. While current conformal methods treat robot configurations as Euclidean points, many systems have non-Euclidean configurations, e.g., some mobile robots have SE(2). In this work, we rigorously analyze configuration errors using Lie groups, extending previous Euclidean space theoretical guarantees to SE(2). Our experiments on a simulated JetBot, and on a real MBot, suggest that by considering the configuration space's structure, our symmetry-informed nonconformity score leads to more volume-efficient prediction regions which represent the underlying uncertainty better than existing approaches.
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Systems and Control · Cross-listed from math.OC

Optimality Deviation using the Koopman Operator

This paper investigates the impact of approximation error in data-driven optimal control problem of nonlinear systems while using the Koopman operator. While the Koopman operator enables a simplified representation of nonlinear dynamics through a lifted state space, the presence of approximation error inevitably leads to deviations in the computed optimal controller and the resulting value function. We derive explicit upper bounds for these optimality deviations, which characterize the worst-case effect of approximation error. Supported by numerical examples, these theoretical findings provide a quantitative foundation for improving the robustness of data-driven optimal controller design.
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All authors Yicheng Lin, Bingxian Wu, Nan Bai, Yunxiao Ren, Zhisheng Duan

2512.10270 · 11 Dec · This version is withdrawn to avoid confusion with subsequent developments of the authors' research on related topics. The results and presentation are being reorganized in a broader context, and this version is no longer maintained as a standalone manuscript

Signal Processing

Antenna Coding Design for Multi-User Transmissions Using Pixel Antennas

This work investigates exploiting the potential of pixel antennas, which are a reconfigurable antenna technology that can flexibly adjust the antenna characteristics through antenna coding, in multi-user transmissions. To that end, we propose a multi-user multi-input single-output (MISO) pixel antenna system, which deploys the pixel antenna at users, and develop the system model including pixel antenna with antenna coding and multi-user beamspace channels. Aiming at maximizing the sum rate performance, we first propose an algorithm to alternatively design the precoding at the transmitter and the antenna coding at users, which explores the performance boundary for the proposed multi-user MISO pixel antenna system. To reduce the computational complexity, we propose a codebook-based antenna coding design algorithm, where the antenna coder is online optimized from an offline codebook. To further enhance the computation efficiency, we propose a hierarchical codebook-based antenna coding design that uses a multi-layer hierarchical search to achieve a better performance-complexity trade-off. Simulation results show that, adopting the proposed algorithms, the multi-user MISO pixel antenna system can always outperform conventional multi-user MISO systems with fixed antennas. More importantly, results validate that the proposed (hierarchical) codebook-based algorithms can significantly reduce the computational complexity while maintaining a satisfactory sum rate performance.
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Systems and Control

Permutation-Equivariant Learning for Dynamic Security Assessment of Power System Frequency Response

This paper presents a hybrid model-AI framework for real-time dynamic security assessment of frequency stability in power systems. The proposed method rapidly estimates key frequency parameters under a dynamic set of disturbances, which are continuously updated based on operating conditions and unit commitment. To achieve this, the framework builds on a modal-based formulation of the system frequency response (SFR), which leverages the system's eigenstructure to predict key frequency stability metrics. A Deep Sets-inspired neural network is employed to estimate the complex modal coefficients required by the modal-based SFR approach, formulated as a permutation-equivariant learning problem. This enables fast and accurate prediction of the frequency nadir and its timing across different operating conditions and disturbances. The framework achieves scalability by reusing precomputed modal structures and updating only the disturbance-specific coefficients. It demonstrates strong generalization capabilities without requiring an extensive set of operating scenarios during training or the widespread deployment of phasor measurement units (PMUs). The method is validated on the IEEE 39-bus and 118-bus systems, showing superior accuracy, robustness, and computational efficiency compared to purely data-driven approaches.
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All authors Francisco Zelaya-Arrazabal, Sebastian Martinez-Lizana, Hector Pulgar-Painemal, Jin Zhao

Signal Processing · Cross-listed from cs.IT

Improving the decoding performance of CA-polar codes

We investigate the use of modern code-agnostic decoders to convert CA-SCL from an incomplete decoder to a complete one. When CA-SCL fails to identify a codeword that passes the CRC check, we apply a code-agnostic decoder that identifies a codeword that satisfies the CRC. We establish that this approach gives gains of up to 0.2 dB in block error rate for CA-polar codes from the 5G New Radio standard. If, instead, the message had been encoded in a systematic CA-polar code, the gain improves to more than 1.5 dB. Leveraging recent developments in blockwise soft output, we additionally establish that it is possible to control the undetected error rate even when using the CRC for error correction.
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All authors Jiewei Feng, Peihong Yuan, Ken R. Duffy, Muriel Médard

Image and Video Processing

Active Optics for Hyperspectral Imaging of Reflective Agricultural Leaf Sensors

Monitoring plant health increasingly relies on leaf-mounted sensors that provide real-time physiological data, yet efficiently locating and sampling these sensors in complex agricultural environments remains a major challenge. We present an integrated, adaptive, and scalable system that autonomously detects and interrogates plant sensors using a coordinated suite of low-cost optical components including a LiDAR, liquid lens, monochrome camera, filter wheel, and Fast Steering Mirror (FSM). The system first uses LiDAR to identify the distinct reflective signatures of sensors within the field, then dynamically redirects the camera s field of view via the FSM to target each sensor for hyperspectral imaging. The liquid lens continuously adjusts focus to maintain image sharpness across varying depths, enabling precise spectral measurements. We validated the system in controlled indoor experiments, demonstrating accurate detection and tracking of reflective plant sensors and successful acquisition of their spectral data. To our knowledge, no other system currently integrates these sensing and optical modalities for agricultural monitoring. This work establishes a foundation for adaptive, low-cost, and automated plant sensor interrogation, representing a significant step toward scalable, real-time plant health monitoring in precision agriculture.
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Systems and Control

Traffic Equilibrium in Mixed-Autonomy Network with Capped Customer Waiting

This paper develops a unified modeling framework to capture the equilibrium-state interactions among ride-hailing companies, travelers, and traffic of mixed-autonomy transportation networks. Our framework integrates four interrelated sub-modules: (i) the operational behavior of representative ride-hailing Mixed-Fleet Traffic Network Companies (MiFleet TNCs) managing autonomous vehicle (AV) and human-driven vehicle (HV) fleets, (ii) traveler mode-choice decisions taking into account travel costs and waiting time, (iii) capped customer waiting times to reflect the option available to travelers not to wait for TNCs' service beyond his/her patience and to resort to existing travel modes, and (iv) a flow-dependent traffic congestion model for travel times. A key modeling feature distinguishes AVs and HVs across the pickup and service (customer-on-board) stages: AVs follow Wardrop pickup routes but may deviate during service under company coordination, whereas HVs operate in the reverse manner. The overall framework is formulated as a Nonlinear Complementarity Problem (NCP), which is equivalent to a Variational Inequality(VI) formulation based on which the existence of a variational equilibrium solution to the traffic model is established. Numerical experiments examine how AV penetration and Wardrop relaxation factors, which bound route deviation, affect company, traveler, and system performance to various degrees. The results provide actionable insights for policymakers on regulating AV adoption and company vehicle deviation behavior in modern-day traffic systems that are fast changing due to the advances in technology and information accessibility.
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All authors Jiaxin Hou, Kexin Wang, Ruolin Li, Jong-shi Pang

Signal Processing

Topology Identification and Inference over Graphs

Topology identification and inference of processes evolving over graphs arise in timely applications involving brain, transportation, financial, power, as well as social and information networks. This chapter provides an overview of graph topology identification and statistical inference methods for multidimensional relational data. Approaches for undirected links connecting graph nodes are outlined, going all the way from correlation metrics to covariance selection, and revealing ties with smooth signal priors. To account for directional (possibly causal) relations among nodal variables and address the limitations of linear time-invariant models in handling dynamic as well as nonlinear dependencies, a principled framework is surveyed to capture these complexities through judiciously selected kernels from a prescribed dictionary. Generalizations are also described via structural equations and vector autoregressions that can exploit attributes such as low rank, sparsity, acyclicity, and smoothness to model dynamic processes over possibly time-evolving topologies. It is argued that this approach supports both batch and online learning algorithms with convergence rate guarantees, is amenable to tensor (that is, multi-way array) formulations as well as decompositions that are well-suited for multidimensional network data, and can seamlessly leverage high-order statistical information.
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All authors Gonzalo Mateos, Yanning Shen, Georgios B. Giannakis, Ananthram Swami

Signal Processing · Cross-listed from quant-ph

Quantum Internet in the Sky: Vision, Challenges, Solutions, and Future Directions

This article envisions the concept of a “Quantum Internet in the Sky", aiming to establish ubiquitous quantum communication links among distant nodes via free-space optical channels. Our key focus is on deploying quantum communication terminals on non-terrestrial platforms, specifically unmanned aerial vehicles and satellites, at various altitudes. By highlighting the unique characteristics of these platforms compared to terrestrial counterparts, we address inherent challenges and discuss potential solutions through meticulous system designs and analyses of typical non-terrestrial quantum communication scenarios. Finally, we illuminate the path forward by proposing essential future directions that underscore the integration of high-dimensional multipartite quantum communications with sensing, computing, and intelligence for multiple users en route to realizing a fully operational Quantum Internet.
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Signal Processing · Cross-listed from cs.LG

Assessing Neuromorphic Computing for Fingertip Force Decoding from Electromyography

High-density surface electromyography (HD-sEMG) provides a noninvasive neural interface for assistive and rehabilitation control, but mapping neural activity to user motor intent remains challenging. We assess a spiking neural network (SNN) as a neuromorphic architecture against a temporal convolutional network (TCN) for decoding fingertip force from motor-unit (MU) firing derived from HD-sEMG. Data were collected from a single participant (10 trials) with two forearm electrode arrays; MU activity was obtained via FastICA-based decomposition, and models were trained on overlapping windows with end-to-end causal convolutions. On held-out trials, the TCN achieved 4.44% MVC RMSE (Pearson r = 0.974) while the SNN achieved 8.25% MVC (r = 0.922). While the TCN was more accurate, we view the SNN as a realistic neuromorphic baseline that could close much of this gap with modest architectural and hyperparameter refinements.
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All authors Abolfazl Shahrooei, Luke Arthur, Om Patel, Derek Kamper

2512.10179 · 11 Dec · 5 pages, 6 figures. Poster included as ancillary file (IEEE_NER2025_NeuromorphicEMG_poster.pdf). Presented at IEEE EMBS NER 2025, also at NC State College of Engineering Applied AI Symposium and NC State ECE Graduate Research Symposium (tied for Best Poster)

Signal Processing · Cross-listed from quant-ph

Simultaneous Classical and Quantum Communications: Recent Progress and Three Challenges

A critical aspect of next-generation wireless networks is the integration of quantum communications to guard against quantum computing threats to classical networks. Despite successful experimental demonstrations, integrating quantum communications into the classical infrastructure faces substantial challenges, including high costs, compatibility issues, and extra hardware deployment to accommodate both classical and quantum communication equipment. To mitigate these challenges, we explore novel protocols that enable simultaneous classical and quantum communications, relying on a single set of transceivers to jointly modulate and decode classical and quantum information onto the same signal. Additionally, we emphasize extending quantum communication capabilities beyond traditional optical bands into the terahertz, even possibly to millimeter-wave and microwave frequencies, thereby broadening the potential horizon of quantum-secure applications. Finally, we identify open problems that must be addressed to facilitate practical implementation.
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All authors Phuc V. Trinh, Shinya Sugiura, Carlo Ottaviani, Chao Xu, Lajos Hanzo

Wednesday 10 December

Audio and Speech Processing

Continual Learning for Acoustic Event Classification

Continuously learning new classes without catastrophic forgetting is a challenging problem for on-device acoustic event classification given the restrictions on computation resources (e.g., model size, running memory). To alleviate such an issue, we propose two novel diversity-aware incremental learning method for Spoken Keyword Spotting and Environmental Sound Classification. Our method selects the historical data for the training by measuring the per-sample classification uncertainty. For the Spoken Keyword Spotting application, the proposed RK approach introduces a diversity-aware sampler to select a diverse set from historical and incoming keywords by calculating classification uncertainty. As a result, the RK approach can incrementally learn new tasks without forgetting prior knowledge. Besides, the RK approach also proposes data augmentation and knowledge distillation loss function for efficient memory management on the edge device. For the Environmental Sound Classification application, we measure the uncertainty by observing how the classification probability of data fluctuates against the parallel perturbations added to the classifier embedding. In this way, the computation cost can be significantly reduced compared with adding perturbation to the raw data. Experimental results show that the proposed RK approach achieves 4.2% absolute improvement in terms of average accuracy over the best baseline on Google Speech Command dataset with less required memory. Experimental results on the DCASE 2019 Task 1 and ESC-50 dataset show that our proposed method outperforms baseline continual learning methods on classification accuracy and computational efficiency, indicating our method can efficiently and incrementally learn new classes without the catastrophic forgetting problem for on-device environmental sound classification
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