Editorial pass 2: Clarity and sentence structure improvements

- Broke up complex sentences for better clarity
- Replaced first-person pronouns with more formal constructions
- Improved parallel structure in lists
- Enhanced readability in technical sections
- Maintained precision while improving accessibility

3-research-approach/v3.tex

@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ eventually reaches operating temperature''), and response properties (``if
 coolant pressure drops, the system initiates shutdown within bounded time'').
 
 
-I use FRET (Formal Requirements Elicitation Tool)—developed by NASA for high-assurance timed systems—to build these temporal logic statements. FRET provides an intermediate language between temporal logic and natural language. It enables rigid definitions of temporal behavior through syntax accessible to engineers without formal methods expertise. This accessibility proves crucial for industrial feasibility: the current nuclear workforce can adopt these tools without extensive formal methods training.
+This methodology uses FRET (Formal Requirements Elicitation Tool)—developed by NASA for high-assurance timed systems—to build these temporal logic statements. FRET provides an intermediate language between temporal logic and natural language. It enables rigid definitions of temporal behavior through syntax accessible to engineers without formal methods expertise. This accessibility proves crucial for industrial feasibility: the current nuclear workforce can adopt these tools without extensive formal methods training.
 
 FRET's key feature is its ability to start with logically imprecise
 statements and refine them consecutively into well-posed specifications. We
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ Reactive synthesis produces a provably correct discrete controller that determin
 
 Control objectives determine the verification approach. Modes classify into three types—transitory, stabilizing, and expulsory—each requiring different verification tools matched to its distinct purpose. This subsection describes each type and its verification method. 
 
-This methodology's scope requires clarification: this work verifies continuous controllers but does not synthesize them. The distinction parallels model checking in software verification, which confirms whether an implementation satisfies its specification without prescribing how to write the software. Engineers design continuous controllers using standard control theory techniques—this work assumes that capability exists. The contribution lies in the verification framework confirming that candidate controllers compose correctly with the discrete layer to produce a safe hybrid system.
+This methodology's scope requires clarification. This work verifies continuous controllers but does not synthesize them. The distinction parallels model checking in software verification. Model checking confirms whether an implementation satisfies its specification without prescribing how to write the software. Engineers design continuous controllers using standard control theory techniques. This work assumes that capability exists. The contribution lies in the verification framework. It confirms that candidate controllers compose correctly with the discrete layer to produce a safe hybrid system.
 
 The operational control scope defines go/no-go decisions that determine what
 kind of continuous control to implement. The entry or exit conditions of a
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ the vector fields at discrete state interfaces makes reachability analysis
 computationally expensive, and analytic solutions often become intractable
 \cite{MANYUS THESIS}.
 
-I circumvent these issues by designing the hybrid system from the bottom up with verification in mind. The discrete transitions define each continuous control mode's input and output sets clearly \textit{a priori}.
+This methodology circumvents these issues by designing the hybrid system from the bottom up with verification in mind. The discrete transitions define each continuous control mode's input and output sets clearly \textit{a priori}.
 
 Each discrete mode $q_i$ provides
 three key pieces of information for continuous controller design:
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ systems, including CORA, Flow*, SpaceEx, and JuliaReach. The choice of tool
 depends on the structure of the continuous dynamics. Linear systems admit
 efficient polyhedral or ellipsoidal reachability computations. Nonlinear
 systems require more conservative over-approximations using techniques such as
-Taylor models or polynomial zonotopes. For this work, we will select tools
+Taylor models or polynomial zonotopes. This work will select tools
 appropriate to the fidelity of the reactor models available.
 
 %%% NOTES (Section 4.1):
@@ -505,7 +505,7 @@ requirements. The discrete automaton produced by reactive synthesis will be
 compiled to run on Ovation controllers, with verification that the implemented
 behavior matches the synthesized specification exactly.
 
-For the continuous dynamics, we will use a small modular
+For the continuous dynamics, this work will use a small modular
 reactor simulation. The SmAHTR (Small modular Advanced High Temperature
 Reactor) model provides a relevant testbed for startup and shutdown procedures.
 The ARCADE (Advanced Reactor Control Architecture Development Environment)
@@ -513,16 +513,15 @@ interface will establish communication between the Emerson Ovation hardware and
 the reactor simulation, enabling hardware-in-the-loop testing of the complete
 hybrid controller.
 
-Working with Emerson on such an implementation is an incredible advantage for
-the success and impact of this work. We will directly address the gap of
-verification and validation methods for these systems and industry adoption by
-forming a two-way exchange of knowledge between the laboratory and commercial
-environments. This work stands to be successful with Emerson implementation
-because we will have access to system experts at Emerson to help with the fine
-details of using the Ovation system. At the same time, we will have the benefit
-of transferring technology directly to industry with a direct collaboration in
-this research, while getting an excellent perspective of how our research
-outcomes can align best with customer needs.
+Working with Emerson on such an implementation provides an incredible advantage for
+the success and impact of this work. The collaboration directly addresses the gap in
+verification and validation methods for these systems and industry adoption. It
+forms a two-way exchange of knowledge between the laboratory and commercial
+environments. This work stands to succeed with Emerson implementation
+because it will have access to system experts at Emerson. These experts can help with the fine
+details of using the Ovation system. At the same time, the collaboration will
+transfer technology directly to industry through direct research participation. This provides an excellent perspective on how research
+outcomes can best align with customer needs.
 
 This section addressed two critical Heilmeier questions: What is new? Why will it succeed?
 

6-broader-impacts/v1.tex

@@ -26,17 +26,16 @@ Synthesizing provably correct hybrid controllers from formal specifications auto
 
 The correct-by-construction methodology proves critical for this transition.
 Traditional automation approaches cannot provide sufficient safety guarantees
-for nuclear applications, where regulatory requirements and public safety
-concerns demand the highest levels of assurance. By formally verifying both the
-discrete mode-switching logic and the continuous control behavior, this research
+for nuclear applications. Regulatory requirements and public safety
+concerns demand the highest levels of assurance. This research formally verifies both the
+discrete mode-switching logic and the continuous control behavior. It
 produces controllers with mathematical proofs of correctness. These
-guarantees enable automation to safely handle routine operations---startup
-sequences, power level changes, and normal operational transitions---that
+guarantees enable automation to safely handle routine operations: startup
+sequences, power level changes, and normal operational transitions. These operations
 currently require human operators to follow written procedures. Operators will
 remain in supervisory roles to handle off-normal conditions and provide
-authorization for major operational changes, but the routine cognitive burden of
-procedure execution shifts to provably correct automated systems that are much
-cheaper to operate.
+authorization for major operational changes. The routine cognitive burden of
+procedure execution shifts to provably correct automated systems that cost far less to operate.
 
 SMRs represent an ideal deployment target for this technology. Nuclear
 Regulatory Commission certification requires extensive documentation of control
@@ -49,15 +48,15 @@ continuous control modes. The infrastructure of requirements and specifications
 already exists as part of the licensing process, creating a direct pathway from
 existing regulatory documentation to formally verified autonomous controllers.
 
-Beyond reducing operating costs for new reactors, this research will establish a
+Beyond reducing operating costs for new reactors, this research establishes a
 generalizable framework for autonomous control of safety-critical systems. The
-methodology of translating operational procedures into formal specifications,
-synthesizing discrete switching logic, and verifying continuous mode behavior
+methodology translates operational procedures into formal specifications. It
+synthesizes discrete switching logic. It verifies continuous mode behavior. This methodology
 applies to any hybrid system with documented operational requirements. Potential
 applications include chemical process control, aerospace systems, and autonomous
-transportation, where similar economic and safety considerations favor increased
-autonomy with provable correctness guarantees. Demonstrating this approach in
-nuclear power---one of the most regulated and safety-critical domains---will
+transportation. Similar economic and safety considerations favor increased
+autonomy with provable correctness guarantees in these domains. Demonstrating this approach in
+nuclear power—one of the most regulated and safety-critical domains—will
 establish both the technical feasibility and regulatory pathway for broader
 adoption across critical infrastructure.