Below are the projects from 2013/2014.

This list is kept online for incoming students thinking of possible project ideas and sponsors, and for potential sponsors to see previous project postings.

The first posting for the 2013/2014 project listings will be posted approximately the week before classes begin on Tues Sept 2nd.

UBC ENGINEERING PHYSICS PROJECT LAB

AVAILABLE PROJECTS - 2013/ 2014

d. Full Writeups

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1. Modular Power Management for Laser Imaging Systems (Illusense)

Brad Bycraft, Illusense

We are developing a new laser imaging technology to enter the oil and gas transportation market. The development of the technology will be incorporated onto existing PIG

(Pipeline Inspection Gauge) devices. The focus of the project will be to solidify preliminary design aspects bringing us closer to raising capital investment.

Design and Analysis

This project will focus on the electrical engineering requirements for an in-line pipeline inspection technology using lasers. The electrical and mechanical engineering design will need to abide by ISO pipeline standards.

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2. Laser alignment for optical inline scanning (Illusense)

Nathan Chan, Illusense

We are developing a new laser imaging technology to enter the oil and gas transportation market. The development of the technology will be incorporated onto existing PIG

(Pipeline Inspection Gauge) devices. The focus of the project will be to solidify preliminary design aspects bringing us closer to raising capital investment.

Design and Analysis

This aspect of the project will focus on active vibration control for lasers and laser optics.  A major challenge associated with this project is that oil pipelines have pressure ranging from 1200psi down to 100psi.

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3. [&] Accurate drug dosing in children (Ansermino Dumont Larson)

Mark Ansermino (Director of Pediatric Anesthesia Research, British Columbia's Children's Hospital)

Charles Larson (Professor, Department of Pediatrics, UBC / Director, Centre for International Child Health)

Guy Dumont (UBC Electrical and Computer Engineering)

[& Sept 9 - claimed by 479 group ]

The Electrical & Computer Engineering for Medicine (ECEM) research cluster and the Centre for International Child Health at British Columbia’s Children’s Hospital would like to partner with the UBC Engineering Physics Project Lab to develop and evaluate an innovative, low cost and robust method to guide drug dosing in children in remote locations.

The weight is currently the most widely used method to estimate drug dosing in children. In low resource settings scales to measure weight are not routinely available, are not mobile (for mobile healthcare workers), and are not robust in these environments (pilfering and damage are common).

We are looking to develop a simple, yet novel method (e.g. based on a photographic image of the subject) to estimate drug dose requirements that can be implemented on a smartphone. The challenge in this project would be to scale the image or other measurement method to accurately reflect the drug distribution and clearance. The goal would be to estimate the appropriate weight band.

The solution will be evaluated in a group of children at BC Children’s Hospital. This technology would have worldwide application for drug administration in children have a major impact on the 10 million children who die globally every year from diseases that can easily be cured with the correct dose of medication.

Figure 1: How much drug to deliver to this child?

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4. Electronic Photonic Integrated Circuits (EPIC) (Chrostowski)

Lukas Chrostowski, UBC Electrical and Computer Engineering  

This project is related to silicon photonics and silicon-on-insulator (SOI) nano-fabrication technology. Silicon photonics is a hot topic in optical communications and optoelectronics, with a huge investment from electronics industry for removing the bottleneck in electrical communications:    The compatibility with silicon CMOS technologies makes SOI a very promising candidate for the future integration of photonics and electronics on a common silicon platform. During past four years, a trans-Canadian graduate course in silicon nanophotonics fabrication has been successfully developed at UBC (http://www.mina.ubc.ca/eece584):

Many students have published their projects in journal papers and presented them at international conferences.

Fig. 1. SOI chips from the silicon nanophotonics fabrication course.

In the previous projects in 2009/10, 2010/11, and 2012/13, the Engineering Physics students developed a ring-resonator measurement system and a chip-to-chip coupling system. Their reports can be found here:  

• LIMITATIONS OF DATA TRANSFER RATE ACROSS SOI RACETRACK RESONATORS (Sterling, Russell, 2009) »

• "Photonic Chip-to-Chip Couplers" (Chen, Du, 2010)  »

For the upcoming projects, the students will have access to more advanced technologies in the context of Electronic Photonic Integrated Circuits (EPIC). The goal is to characterize active and passive silicon photonics devices and sub-systems, including optical modulators, wavelength-division multiplexers and de-multiplexers, and optical detectors. As an example, Fig. 2 shows a scanning electron microscope (SEM) image of a microring optical resonator. The students will be involved in system construction and measurement for novel designs. A setup from previous project is shown in Fig. 3. The students would also model the system using numerical or analytical method with commercial software packages and compare their experimental results with theory. Finally, the results should be written in a manuscript for journal and/or conference publication.

Fig. 2. SEM image of a microring optical-resonator reflector using a waveguide crossing.

Fig. 3. Experimental setup for silicon photonic circuits

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5. MAGIC / Human Communication Technologies Lab  

UBC MAGIC ( Media and Graphics Interdisciplinary Centre)

The UBC MAGIC Centre has projects that are concerned with understanding and creating new interfaces to improve the people's ability to interact with technology.  Some of the past projects have resulted in patents, academic publications, graduate theses and products.  Most projects require programming skills in at least C or C++ as a starting point and also require integration of hardware and software.

A number of undergraduate projects are listed at the following website:  

http://www.magic.ubc.ca/student/

Please contact the Project Lab to discuss the listed options prior to contacting  the MAGIC lab director or the other project leads listed on the website.

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6. 5G Channel Sounder  (Michelson)

David Michelson, UBC Electrical and Computer Engineering

Background Information:

In recent months, the world’s leading telecommunications companies have each announced plans to develop and, by 2020, deploy the technologies and systems required to use the millimeter-wave frequency bands at 28, 30 and 38 GHz to provide broadband cellular access services. In response to Huawei Technologies Canada is collaborating with the UBC Radio Science Lab (RSL) to: 1) develop measurement systems or channel sounders suitable for characterizing 5G wireless channels, 2) conduct field measurement campaigns and 3) derive channel models useful in both design and simulation.

During the course of the project, UBC RSL’s Stepping Correlator Channel Sounder will be upgraded several times to add functionality and meet ever more demanding requirements. Ingenuity and cleverness will be required to determine the correct approach and realize a practical system.

Project Main Objective(s)

We propose that a group of fourth-year ENPH students act as pathfinders for the team and take the first steps towards developing practical solutions to one or more of the following design and development issues:

1. Design and development of antenna-pointing assemblies suitable for use on both the transmitting and receiving side of the link with emphasis on reducing weight, minimizing cost, environmental ruggedness and providing a capability for positioning the antennas by remote control.
2. Design and development of an external pseudo-random binary sequence generator that will allow the Agilent Vector Signal Generator that forms the heart of the transmitter to be clocked at a rate greater than the 50 MChip/s that the internal clock generator will allow.
3. Design and development of a mm-wave scanning antenna array that will vastly speed up data collection compared to manual antenna pointing.
4. Design and development of a method for calibrating the system and assessing the validity of the measurements collected by the system. (RSL’s SR5500 channel emulator supports a maximum bandwidth of 25 MHz. The 5G-channel sounder will initially support a bandwidth of 100 MHz and may ultimately need to support bandwidths of up to 1 GHz.)
5. Design and development of a software tool, possibly based on NI Labview, which will automate and simplify the data collection process.
6. Design and implementation of an advanced database management system that will allow easy storage and retrieval of complex measurement data.

Project Main Deliverable(s)

The main deliverables will include prototype or trial hardware and software that address one or more of the issues listed above, together with presentations slides, reports and test results. Graduate student researchers and/or Huawei research engineers will refine the ideas and prototypes for use in the research project as required.

Special considerations (equipment, location, constraints, existing material…):

• The UBC Radio Science Lab will provide the test and measurement equipment and other materials required by the student team. All expenses associated with the project will be borne by Huawei through a project grant issued to the Radio Science Lab.
• 459 group is preferred - Ideally, the team will pursue this as an eight-month project with the first term devoted to developing the instrument and the second term devoted to using it to collect field data.  8-month group but will take a 4-month group if necessary
• Students should have a sincere interest in wireless communications and a good grasp of basic MATLAB. We're prepared to teach them the rest.
• Signing up for EECE 483 - Antennas and Propagation would be favourably regarded.

Possible Equipment Configurations

Fig. 1 - Transmitter setup

Fig. 2 - Receiver setup

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7. [&] Moisture and Drug Sensor for Micro-Needle Drug Monitoring (MiDruM)   (Hafeli)

Urs Hafeli, UBC Pharmaceutical Sciences

[ & - Sept 10 - Project claimed by 479 group] 

We are developing micro-needle patches to sample very small amounts of tissue fluids (nano- to microliters). These small tissue fluid samples are extracted through needle-like microstructures and then assessed for the presence of specific drugs. Our micro-needles have a typical length of about 500 µm and penetrate only the top layer of the skin, without effecting the dermis layer and are used as a painfree and bloodless sampling method (Fig. 1a and b). Our micro-needle patches require a feedback control to assure they penetrate the epidermis and are sampling fluid. The aim of this project is therefore to develop and test a simple micrometer sized moisture sensor.

Figure 1. a) Sketch of the outer skin layers, b) Photograph and SEM image of needle patches, c) concept of needle-based moisture sensor.

The key project goals are:

1. to first build a simple sensor from off-the shelf hypodermic needles (BD 20G, 24G, 30G ...) with a low power source and a reference wire.to         test the sensor in controlled humidity environments and measure the reference resistance for different sized sensors.
2. to develop a simple user interphase with LabVIEW which will allow real-time read-out and measurements with the sensors.
3. to shrink the sensor to smallest commercially available hypodermic needle and wire, and to quantify and calibrate the sensor.

Anticipated duration:         4 months (extension possible)

The ideal student(s) for this project to investigate a micro-moisture sensor and develop a software user interface i) must have a basic background in electrical engineering principles, ii) should be self-motivated and focused to achieve the project goals, and iii) must be willing to work in an interdisciplinary environment.   Knowledge of LabVIEW is an asset, but not required as support and guidance for the software development part of the project will be provided. The work will be conducted in the new Pharmaceutical Sciences Building with state of the art equipment. For more information about the work group visit our website at http://www.magneticmicrosphere.com/hafeli_lab/index.php.

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8. Self-Folding  Origami products  (Olson)

James Olson, UBC Mechanical Engineering / Director, Pulp and Paper Center    

Objective:  Design inexpensive origami products using a novel patented self-folding origami paper-polymer composite material.   The self-folding origami products can be incorporated with printable electronics, sensors and smart materials to make them active / reactive.   One example would be a origami based robot that can sense and react to the environment. A simpler example would be a self-folding origami lamp shade with embedded LED lights and sensors.

The products should have some or all of the following characteristics.  

1. It needs to be made mostly of paper and will be self-folding.
2. Should be highly decorative or artistic in nature.
3. Include printed electronics to enable active / reactive ability.
4. Be Inexpensive and have the ability to be mass produced.

Approach and techniques:  In recent years there have been a large number of low-cost, paper-based technologies that have been developed to make low-cost devices.  These technologies include:

• Printable electronics directly onto paper as a substrate (examples, RFID tags,  etc.)

• Example, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925400502001703 

• Printable paper based sensors.
• Printable Li-Ion batteries that can be incorporated into paper
• Smart materials such as shape memory alloy actuators for movement (wing flapping, leg motion).
• http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=00012085 
• Or http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2011-10/robotic-venus-flytraps-could-trap-bugs-and-eat-them-fuel

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9. [ & ] Two Photon Microscopy Development Team  (Haas Sakaki)

Kurt Haas and Kelly Sakaki, Brain Research Centre, UBC Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences

[ & - Sept 23 - claimed by 459 group ]

Project Background and Scope

Two-photon microscopy (TPM), coupled with cell and systems biology, is an extremely powerful method to conduct in vivo analyses due to its low output power and high resolution characteristics. TPM imaging can resolve minute features because two photon absorption is proportional to the squared-incident light intensity, confining the excitation to a small volume near the focal point. TPM is well suited for in vivo imaging, since tissues are transparent to the red-shifted excitation wavelengths used, and photo-damage is reduced due to the limited excitation volume.

At the Brain Research Center, in the Haas Lab, neuron growth is analyzed within the intact and awake embryonic brain. TPM is used to image rapid growth dynamics over seconds to minutes, and long term changes over days, to investigate mechanisms underlying normal and abnormal neuronal development (i.e. neural plasticity).

Project Objectives

A team of 2 to 4 (max) members, supported by mentors within the Haas laboratory, will take part in the design and implementation of a new multiuser, multiplexed TPM system being developed at the Brain Research Center. Students will take an active role in analyzing existing TPM designs, followed by optimization and fabrication of a new TPM system for the facility.

This exciting, multifaceted project is an excellent opportunity for students to be immersed and take part in optical, electromechanical, and software design for systems, which play an integral role in the development of novel, scientific methods at the single cell level.

Design and Analysis

During the design stage, the team will analyze the proposed core of the design – the TPM optical train. The team-members, will collaborate with mentors and laboratory staff to gain an understanding of existing TPM designs from top-down, and bottom-up perspective and develop an understanding of the hardware and software components in order to implement a new TPM system.

The student-team will collaborate with members of the laboratory to determine if the proposed TPM design can be further optimized (e.g., footprint, cost, application, etc) based on nominal specifications and on proposed novel techniques. The team will then be expected to proceed using learned, design methodologies and perform at least one further design iteration based on their findings and procure any remaining resources prior to fabrication. The team will then take part in fabrication, the development of calibration and user-initialization protocols, followed by monitoring the design quality through observing fundamental user protocols.

Resources Available

1. Mentors and immediate project assistance for optical, electrical, mechanical and software engineering design and fabrication
2. Basic laboratory instruments and tools for optical rig construction
3. Facility for in vivo analysis
4. Funding for procuring apparatus infrastructure
5. ‘Desired’ Technical Background

Understanding of one or more, or a keen desire to learn:

Integrated systems development

Mechanical/CAD design

Electrical circuit design and fabrication

Application level and basic driver development (Matlab, C/C++, basic driver development)

Troubleshooting

Project Duration   (459 group preferred)

Estimated project duration: 8 months

4 months - concept analysis, design iteration, and procurement (if necessary)

4 months – fabrication, design implementation, and testing

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10. Mechanobiology with Drosophila (Tanentzaph)

Guy Tanentzapf. UBC Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences

Our lab works is in the emerging, medically important, field of mechanobiology (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanobiology) and would interested in recruiting interested students. In our lab we study morphogenesis, the process by which individual cells form complex tissue architecture, and in particular how cells alter their mechanical properties and cell shape during embryonic development. We are using a number of related approaches: cutting-edge imaging and image processing technology, genetic and molecular biology tools, and mathematical modeling. Our goal is to provide quantitative biological descriptions of morphogenetic processes in order to understand how they work and how they go wrong during disease. Interested students would work with biologists from our lab to help analyze, quantitate, and model data we have collected from our ongoing experiments

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11. [&] Active shim system to improve magnetic field homogeneity in MRI of mouse brain, hummingbird brain and rat spinal cord  (Yung)

Andrew Yung, UBC MRI Resaerch Centre

[& Sept 9 - claimed by ENPH 479 group]

Background:

The MRI Centre is currently pursuing experimental imaging studies on mouse brain (spectroscopic imaging to measure metabolites), hummingbird brain (functional imaging to identify brain regions activated during visual stimulus or flight), and rat spinal cord (imaging of myelination status).  We have found that one of the main challenges is severe magnetic field inhomogeneity which degrade image quality, especially around the ear canals near the brain and the spinal column.  Our MRI scanner uses current-bearing "shim coils" which improve the homogeneity of the main magnetic field, but these have proven to be insufficient for our needs.  A set of shim coils built more closely around the organ of interest is needed, where the current in each coil element must be updated for every imaging slice that is being acquired.

Scope and Objectives:

We are trying to reproduce a state-of-the-art shim system mentioned in the literature (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3136546/).  The proposed system would consist of:

1) an array of shim coils built on a former that will encompass the subject's head or spinal cord

2) constant current amplifiers with good stability

3) low-latency logic circuit (custom FPGA?) to load the amplifiers with the shim current value, interfaced to a control computer which will calculate the currents

Expected outcomes would include a working prototype for at least one of the above organ systems, and reference designs for the electronics which could be reproduced for future implementations.

Resources:

While we will be unable to provide advice on the implementation of the electronics, we will provide the algorithm and code for calculating the currents, the MRI scanner and sequence design to perform tests, and a budget for consumables.

Skills required:

- Proficiency in amplifier design and FPGA design

- ability to program in C

- machining skill for construction of coil array

Preference for Project Length: 4 month or 8 month

Sample results from paper

r:

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12. [ # ] Obstacle Avoidance (UBC Sailbot)

UBC Saibot Team

# CROSS-POSTING    This project is being cross-posted to UBC MECH Capstone Project Courses ]

The UBC Sailbot Team plans to develop a sailboat capable of crossing the Atlantic Ocean. To achieve this goal, the boat needs to successfully navigate from Newfoundland to Ireland, avoiding ships and floating objects (icebergs, logs, etc). So far, the main impediment to most attempts by other teams has been large ships crossing their path and sinking their boat.  Ideally, our boat would come equipped with an obstacle avoidance system to avoid these situations, but no design has proven reliable up to this point. If successful, this project could pave way for a world record attempt in autonomous ocean crossing!

A successful design for an Obstacle Avoidance system would incorporate these points:

• Logic code written in Python (or similar) on a Linux platform.
• Designed for minimal power usage.
• Sensors able to function in high-sea conditions and differing pitch of boat.
• Waterproof.

Project delivered to be easily physically  implemented onto an approximately 5.5 meter sailboat.

More information is available by contacting co-captain@ubcsailbot.org.

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13. [ & ] Remote Security Sensor and Camera (Spire Innovations)

Patrick Crawford, Spire Innovations.

[ & - Sept 23 - claimed by 459 group ]

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14. Large-Scale Wireless System for Monitoring Equipment Integrity  (Dominion Diamond)                          

Lachlan MacLean, Team Leader (Reliability), Ekati Mine (Maintenance), Dominion Diamond Ekati Corporation

About the Sponsor:

Dominion Diamond Corporation (TSX: DDC, NYSE: DDC) is the largest publicly listed diamond mining pure play by market capitalization. The Company has interests in two major producing diamond mines situated approximately 200 kilometers south of the Arctic Circle in Canada’s Northwest Territories. It supplies rough diamonds to the global market through its sorting and selling operations in Canada, Belgium and India and is the world’s fourth largest producer of rough diamonds by value.

The Ekati Diamond Mine (named after the Tlicho word meaning ‘fat lake’) is Canada’s first surface and underground diamond mine.  It officially began production in October 1998, following extensive exploration and development work dating back to 1981.  Like Diavik, the Ekati mine site is located in the Lac de Gras region of the Northwest Territories, approximately 300 kilometers northeast of Yellowknife.

Project Background:

There is a desire to have a system of wirelessly monitoring the thickness and wear of dozens or possibly hundreds of different mechanical elements throughout the physical plant.  The ultimate goal would be a relatively cheap, re-usable, wireless, ultra-sonic thickness tester that can be linked in a scalable network for flexible deployment in industrial applications.

Work done by researchers at Queen's University describes the use of piezoelectric elements to use acoustic waves for non-destructive testing and estimating of material thickness in industrial equipment.   The papers not only describe the transducer arrangment but also the wireless communication setup allowing users to measure the thickness of the setup.

• Ultrasonic Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Using Wireless Sensor Networks
• WSN application in the harsh industrial environment of the oil sands
• Sprouts Sensor Platform         (spinoff company website, no recent updates)

There is a desire to replicate the core features of this system, targeting the specific environment found on equipment at the Ekati Diamond Mine, located 310 km northeast of Yellowknife, NWT.

The project breaks down into two separate parts, each to be taken on as independent projects but it is expected that the groups will work collaboratively to the final solution.

PROJECT A:   Transducer System Development.

• The papers describe a transducer system capable of measuring thickness of materials.   The transducer system uses a piezoelectric element, high-voltage drivers, signal amplfiers, filters, and a dedicated microcontroller to estimate the thickness of the material.
• The goal of the project is to replicate many of the same features of the described system, with the following specifications:
• The majority of elements to be monitored will be made of ferrous steel.  There is also interest in measuring cast iron and rubber (used as liners).
• Nominal thickness of materials in the range of 1/4 inches up to 2 inches thick.  
• Desired accuracy on the order of +/- 1mm
• There is no need to incorporate any energy-recovery or energy harvesting into the system.
• There is no need for determining thickness of laminates within the sample, only the bulk thickness of the material.
• The system must be able to withstand a physically harsh industrial environment (wet, dusty, vibration)
• Total cost of each module (wireless network + transducer) must be less than $100.
• Students working on the project would ideally have a strong background in data acquisition, experimental design, and design targeted to rugged environments.

PROJECT B:  Wireless Network Development

• The Wireless Network System requires both the development of the physical modules, as well as the software system for collecting and presenting the collected data.
• In their existing arrangement, communication is through Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE/Bluetooth SMART), which requires an operator to be within bluetooth range to gather data from a single transducer.   Although this might be an acceptable solution, there is a strong desire to have all modules communicate directly with a centralized to one stationary location (e.g. As a mesh network through zigbee protocol).  This may be a trade-off with the battery power requirements (see below).

• The wireless system must be scalable to allow for 100's of individual transducers (there may be 40-50 transducers on a single piece of equipment, and several machines in a single large open facility).
• The system must allow for easy registration of each module (initialization, recording physical location).
• The system must present the data in a format which is easy to incorporate into existing inspection processes.
• It may be desirable to have several transducers connect to a single wireless node, as there may be multiple transducers which are physically close to one another.  
• Samples are to be recorded approximately once a week  (maintenance on the equipment can be scheduled once every 5 weeks).
• Total power for the system must allow for at least 6 months independent power.   Minimization of required battery pack size is highly desirable.
• The system must be able to withstand a physically harsh industrial environment (wet, dusty, vibration)
• Total cost of each module (wireless network + transducer) must be less than $100.

Students working on the project would ideally have previous experience with GUI development and a strong background in electronics, firmware, and wireless development.

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15. Design Competition – Assistive Devices Research and Development Projects  (GF Strong)

Doug Gayton and others, GF Strong Rehab Centre

A number of assistive-research devices suggested by clinicians, occupational therapists and potential users can be found at:    

www.assistive-technology.ca/solutions.html  

http://www.assistive-technology.ca/sol_idea.html

These projects contains a number of opportunities for students to target ideas which do not have viable solutions for the end users, with a focus on thoughtful mechanical design.

Note that students undertaking any of these projects are expected to attend SOLUTIONS Exposition on the third Thursday in April, 2014 at the GF Strong Rehab Centre for demonstration of their proposed device and solution.

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16. [&] Measuring the dynamic physical properties of stretch fabrics (Nakane)

Jon Nakane, UBC Engineering Physics Project Lab.  [&  Sept 5 - claimed by 479 group]

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17. [ & ] GPU‐accelerated probabilistic tractography (probtrackx) (Bjornson Kim)

Dr. Bruce Bjornson /  Danny Kim, Children’s Brain Mapping Center, CFRI / BC Children’s Hospital

[ & - Sept 23 - claimed by 459 group ]

8-­month project group (459) preferred

Project Objectives, Background and Scope

Tractography allows mapping of the white matter pathways and allows researchers and clinicians to visualize the complex connective anatomy of the human brain. Among the techniques of tractography, probabilistic tractography calculates the measure of uncertainty in fiber orientation, giving confidence measures in the produced white matter pathway. The downfall of this method is the extensive computation time required, which is unfavorable in a fast-­‐paced research or clinical environment. Lately, GPU has been used to accelerate the algorithm, taking advantage of the processors massive number of cores that can work in parallel fashion that can accelerate algorithms that are inherently parallel.  

The objective of this project is to “port” over FMRIB Diffusion Toolbox’s “probtrackx” to work in GPU environment. The students will investigate the workflow of probtrackx algorithm, outline the parallel algorithm and write new code that will work with the GPU. Afterwards, validation will take place with test data to investigate the reproducibility and reliability of the new algorithm by comparing the output white-­‐matter pathways

Design and Analysis

Current version of probtrackx is available as opensource from FMRIB Software Library. Students will design the parallel algorithm on the simple-­‐mode one point white-­‐matter tracking mode. CUDA C or OpenCL can be used to port the code over to GPU. Once the algorithm is developed for the GPU, testing will entail multiple run on test data for reproducibility test, comparing with CPU results, calculating variance in white-­‐matter pathways.

Resources available

• 4xNVIDIA Tesla C2075 GPUs, Niveus 4200 Ubuntu workstation for testing

• students will be given temporary CFRI account and remote access

• Test MRI data
• MRI data editing tools

Expected Technical Background

• Proficient C++ experience and ability to read and write object-­oriented-­programs
• Proficient experience in compiling C++ codes (Makefiles, gcc, g++)
• Ubuntu Linux experience
• Prior experience with CUDA-­‐C or OpenCL an asset but not required
• Interest in Medical Image Analysis, Parallel Computing, Neuroscience  

Figure 1 –  T2-weighted MRI of healthy adult brain.

Figure 2 –  Fractional anisotropy map represents preferred direction of diffusion in RGB color, signifying white-matter tract anatomy. (Red=Left-Right, Green=Anterior-Posterior, Blue=Superior-Inferior).

Figure 3 – Left and right corticospinal tract (CST) defined by probabilistic tractography algorithm (Red-Yellow: Left CST, Blue: Right CST).

References

GPU-­‐Accelerated Tractography:

1. McGraw T, Nadar M. “Stochastic DT-­‐MRI connectivity mapping on the GPU”. IEEE Trans Vis Comput Graph. 2007 Nov-­‐Dec;13(6):1504-­‐11.

2. Hernandez, M.; Guerrero, G.D.; Cecilia, J.M.; Garcia, J.M.; Inuggi, A.; Sotiropoulos, S.N., "Accelerating Fibre Orientation Estimation from Diffusion Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging Using GPUs," Parallel, Distributed and Network-­Based Processing (PDP), 2012 20th Euromicro International Conference on , vol., no., pp.622,626, 15-­‐17 Feb. 2012

3. Mo Xu; Xiaorui Zhang; Yu Wang; Ling Ren; Ziyu Wen; Yi Xu; Gaolang Gong; Ningyi Xu; Huazhong Yang, "Probabilistic Brain Fiber Tractography on GPUs," Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium Workshops & PhD Forum (IPDPSW), 2012 IEEE 26th International , vol., no., pp.742,751, 21-­‐25 May 2012

FMRIB Diffustion Toolbox (bedpostx and probtrackx)

1. http://fsl.fmrib.ox.ac.uk/fsl/fslwiki/FDT

2. Characterization and Propagation of Uncertainty in Diffusion Weighted MRI images http://www.fmrib.ox.ac.uk/analysis/techrep/tr03tb1/tr03tb1/

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18. [ & ] Head-tracking spotlight for giant robot (Tippett)

Jon Tippett, - Prosthesis: The Anti-Robot.  

[ & - Sept 23 - claimed by 459 group ]

Introduction  

Prosthesis is a 2-story tall, 3000kg, 4-legged wearable walking machine being built by independent artist and engineer, Jonathan Tippett, (co-creator of the Mondo Spider), a team of skilled volunteers and the support of the eatART Foundation.A 2:3 scale prototype leg, called The Alpha Leg has already been built. check out this video of it in operation. Notice that the machine is controlled by an exo-skeletal interface on the pilots arm and is entirely dependant on operator skill to perform. The full machine will have a full body exo-skeletal interface, making the worlds first sports robot.  Prosthesis is part of a larger plan to spawn an entire new league of high-performance racing robots.

A number of recent articles and writeups have appeared for both the sponsor and project:

• Maker Profile: Jonathan Tippett's Prosthesis Project (tested.com)
• Raising capital: Getting off the ground via crowdfunding (vancouversun.com)

Project Description    

There is a desire to have a head-tracking spotlight system for the unit which will focus light wherever the operator points their head (a highly physical exo-skeleton is used to track the user motions to the required motions of the legs, as shown in these videos). Some notes from the project sponsor:

• I’m imagining a machined/watercut/welded 2-axis gimble with open loop steppers as the easiest approach.
• For head position detection we could do a head band with optical targets, or, possibly less error prone, an accelerometer with some optical calibration.
• The light would be about 1 kilo x 5W LED

Resources Available    

• a giant, 1000kg, robotic leg
• fully tooled metal fabrication laboratory (eatART lab on GNWC) for testing
• a pool of engineers and programmers who have already built electric vehicles and other giant robots to guide and mentor.

Customer Requirements    

End of year prototype and report.

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19. [ & ] Honeycomb Kinetic Structure  (Tangible Interaction)

Alex Beim,  Tangible Interaction   (videos of ongoing projects can be found following this link)

[ & - Sept 23 - claimed by 459 group ]

Tangible Interaction has worked on a number of public art installations involving lighting and kinetic structures, making use of a selection of off-the-shelf and custom electronics, both wired and wireless, to control and power the systems.  

For the current project, Tangible Interaction would like to create a large kinetic public art sculpture, with the idea is to be able to open and close umbrellas from a computer.  The electromechanical system should control the amount of opening and closing of the umbrella, and be individually addressable, likely controlled a similar way to how they control lights, using Artnet protocol (Artnet is an ethernet implementation of a DMX communication standard, ).    

The focus of the project is on the mechanical development of the system - to design a system to robustly control a single umbrella, opening and closing and holding its position.  For a prototype, working with off-the-shelf umbrellas with minimal or no modifications may be desired, but for future installations Tangible Interaction will likely fabricate special hexagonal umbrellas to create a honeycomb structure then use the umbrellas to create patterns

An ideal prototype the system would be low-cost and easy to replicate for many umbrellas in a single installation, would keep wiring tightly organized and make use of existing controllers.   A project from 2011/12 involved designing a stepper motor controller matrix, allowing for multiple stepper motors to be used in an installation - it may be appropriate to use the controller to control motors here, or it may prove to be too expensive to require 1 stepper motor per installation.  

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20. Field Test and Modify Plumbing Endoscope for Seawater Deployment, Part II (VanAqua)

Dr. Jeff Marliave, Vancouver Aquarium 

Objectives & Scope

A standard plumbers endoscope kit with viewing screen will be deployed by SCUBA divers from the Vancouver Aquarium in crevices in shoreline rockpiles, using a SubCom system for communication between the deploying diver and the surface tender (including the UBC students), to obtain sub-terranean images of organisms living deep in rock piles.  The UBC students will attempt to design a flexible arm for inserting the endoscope around corners in crevices that are large enough for entry of rockfish (several centimeters width).  The goal is to be able to insert a camera as deep underground (underwater) as possible.  The first attempts with the endoscope will be in shallow water, so that no effort will be made in this preliminary project to improve the depth resistance of the camera/fibre optic unit.

Figure - the first attempt at an endoscope camera, in an untensioned position.

A previous 479 group made a first attempt at the project in Fall 2012 (2012 - Adapted Endoscope for Underwater Exploration (pdf))   The conceptual designed worked but a further iteration is required to improve issues with the cabling in the prototype unit.   In addition, the handle for manipulating the cables and dealing with orientation of the unit needs improvement - the camera is manipulated underwater by the diver with instructions relayed by video viewers on the surface, which requires controls which can be handled precisely.   Dealing with the tension in the cabling from the camera was also tricky, as the USB extension within the arm and heading to the surface users was limited to the length limits of USB cabling.

Design and Analysis

The endoscope design will be standard equipment.  The diving communication equipment is standard gear provided by the Aquarium divers.

Resources Available  

Vancouver Aquarium will obtain the endoscope kit and will provide divers and their communication equipment, as well as the tender boat and crew.  The UBC students must take part in the field testing and then invent some means for enabling a diver, under surface instruction from video observers, to bend the camera cable around corners and insert the probe further into non-linear crevices.   It is critical to have a group available early on to participate in dives in the rock pile to collect information on fish and the biodiversity within the deep crevices in the area.

Technical Background:  

Student must be a swimmer with no discomfort regarding open water boating in Howe Sound.  Outdoor field testing required.  

All work will be conducted in the vicinity of Horseshoe Bay, probably on weekends, unless students have at least half-days available during the class week.

Can be completed in 4-month group.

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21. Drop Camera System for Ground-Truthing Seabed Mapping (VanAqua)

Dr. Jeff Marliave, Vancouver Aquarium 

Three GoPro cameras need to be fixed to a platform one meter above the end of a stainless cable (162’ on hose reel), then three broad beam dive lights need to be set on a platform another meter up, pointed slightly downward (ca. 30 degrees).  The cable reel is on hand, and funds exist to buy the lights and cameras.  Our Dive Safety Office will provide a dive compass which would be mounted on a ski at the apex of two of the cameras, so that the lower left of one video field and the lower right of another would indicate compass direction, with the third video field pointing 180 degrees away from the compass ski (whatever its magnetic orientation).  By using on-deck GPS and depth monitoring, the exact location of the views will be recorded and the cameras will be used for drift dives over sites of interest.  The major part of this project is trouble-shooting the camera/light angles to maximize footage quality.  

Students must be good swimmers who are comfortable on an open boat in the open sea.  All work will be conducted in the vicinity of Horseshoe Bay, probably on weekends, unless students have at least half-days available during the class week.  This project needs to carry forward fast to enable trials prior to stormy weather that starts in November.  Analysis of footage for ground coverage and image quality can be an involvement later in the semester, if desired.

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22. Size Measurement Tool for Crystal Upgrade in Belle II Calorimeter (Hearty)

Chris Hearty, UBC Physics and Astronomy / IPP Principal Research Scientist

The Belle experiment at KEK in Japan is a high-energy detector for measuring B-meson and other interactions. It began operation in 1999. An effort to upgrade the experimental setup, called Belle II, is currently underway. One of the planned upgrades is to increase the beam beam intensity, which in turn requires faster detectors, counters and electronics.

Figure1:   The KEK accelerator (Left) and The Belle II experiment detector (Right)  (from http://belle2.desy.de/e103206/)

Figure 2 - The Belle electromagnetic calorimeter for Belle

As part of the upgrade, some of the crystals used within the electromagnetic calorimeter will be changed from CsI(Tl) to undoped CsI. This change, along with associated changes to the photodetectors and waveshaping electronics to detect the interactions, will result in much faster response and decay times, and the potential for reduced radiation interference from the increased beam intensity. The changes will be made to the crystals located in the forward end-cap part of the detector – in this portion of the calorimeter, over 500 physical crystals will be changed to undoped CsI.

Each crystal is relatively large (30cm in length, with a width and height on the order of 60mm). They are tightly packed into the endcap, which requires high tolerances on both the size of the XY faces and the taper angle of the crystals in order to fit. The crystals to be replaced are grouped into 40 different shapes, each with different taper angles and face sizes, and each to a tolerance of +0.1/-0.3 mm. An example of one of these crystals, showing the required angle offset angles, can be found here – Crystal 21 (pdf)

An automated size measurement device is required to measure each of the crystal samples prior to its installation. An example of a previous size measurement device is shown in Figure 3 below. It is desirable to have the system automatically take the measurements of each of the crystals with an accuracy and repeatability of at least 10 microns.

Figure 3: Size measurement device for CsI crystals.

Other notes:

• It is assumed that the linear gauges will have to come into physical contact with the crystal in order to get accurate measurements. Care must be taken to not damage the crystals, and to get repeatable measurements with the system.
• Although the size measurement device will likely be run in a temperature-controlled environment, thermal issues will be of importance during the design stage to avoid mechanical drift in the device between measurements.

References:

“The Belle Detector”, Abashian et al, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

Volume 479, Issue 1, 21 February 2002, Pages 117–232

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168900201020137#

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23. Acoustic Imaging  (Waltham)

Chris Waltham, UBC Physics and Astronomy  http://acoustics.phas.ubc.ca

Imaging sound is a rapidly developing technology for analyzing vibrational and environmental noise, made possible by the exponentiating processing capability of affordable computers. A previous ENPH479 group has built a 30-microphone array (pictured below in CEME’s anechoic chamber) for analyzing the radiation from any structure that can fit inside it. In the past year extensive data has been taken on violins, violas, harps and Chinese string instruments. The physics works but the computing tools for displaying the images are at an early stage of development. What is needed now is a means to show velocity distributions over a geometrically complex surface, i.e. that of the instrument. A major part of the job is to generate 3-D maps of the instruments to mm accuracy and to devise a system to define their position (x,y,θ,φ) with respect to the microphones while data are being taken. Ease of future use is a major consideration.

Figure:  Gothic harp at 710 Hz; red and blue represent sound sources of opposite phases; arrows represent the acoustic velocities.

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24. [&] Noise Maps (Waltham)

Chris Waltham, UBC Physics and Astronomy  http://acoustics.phas.ubc.ca

[ & - Sept 10 - Project claimed by 479 group] 

Monitoring environmental noise is vital to maintaining the livability of our cities. However, the traditional method of using a few high quality fixed microphones and extensive computer modelling is expensive and unresponsive to short-term changes. However, most people now carry around a microphone connected to a sophisticated data acquisition and communications device, i.e. a cell phone. An open source system developed by Sony, NoiseTube, has been shown to work, but currently has less than 1700 participants worldwide. That number deployed on, say, a university campus, could provide a high density (spatial and temporal) of noise information that could yield much more than the sparse noise maps achieved so far. Phase information for example would allow for the imaging of noise sources in 3D, and low level sound generation and reception can give the room response of even occupied and noisy lecture theatres.

Figure:  Noise exposure on the Paris metro (noisetube.net)

I propose a pilot project whereby a group of ENPH459 or 479 students use their own cellphones to collect acoustic data and extract ambient noise and geographical information (discriminating local conversations, for example). The cellphones will be calibrated in CEME’s anechoic chamber.

E. D’Hondt et al., Pervasive and Mobile Computing, 2012 http://noisetube.net/publications/partnoisemaps.pdf

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25. Open Source Optical Design Software (MacCallum)

Kenneth MacCallum, jOcular Optical Design Software

Project Objectives, Background and Scope

I’m just starting to develop some optical analysis software in Java with the intent of being broadly similar in functionality to Zemax or Code V. The goal is to release it as open-source, probably under a BSD license. I’m doing this because I’ve noticed the lack of open source software in this realm and because I’m interested. I didn’t really plan to open and release the code quite so early; I originally wanted to get to a more concrete milestone first. Given the timing of the Project Lab, I’m adjusting my plan.

The optical design software project can be found here:     jocular.sourceforge.net

Keep in mind that like any other early open source project there’s a good chance that it will get nowhere. On the other hand, this seems like as good an opportunity as ever to develop a free, optical design system; the likes of which does not seem to exist. This would be a tool that hopefully could be useful to all sorts of people in academia, industry and hobbyists too.

So far I have the following in place, although not all fully tested:

• Basic class architecture for optical computations: photons, polarization, 3D vectors, complex math, etc
• Simple objects like spherical and cylindrical optical interfaces, spherical lenses, point light source, RBG imager
• Simple optical media: Vacuum, Borosilicate
• Optical computation of reflection, refraction and transmission non-birefringent materials with photons of arbitrary polarization (linear, circular, elliptical)
• Computation of light propagation through the system to generate simulated images

My immediate goal – next week or two hopefully – is to implement the following:

• simple 2D visualization of the optical system to render the lenses and photon paths. This will allow me to more easily test and debug my implementation of the physics.
• UI Action infrastructure to allow simple addition of user functionality
• Finalize (if that’s not too strong a word) the main class architecture to facilitate collaboration.
• Put it on SourceForge for version control, wiki, bugtracking, mailing lists.

Here’s what I hope it will do in the not-to-distant future (with your help perhaps):

• Allow the development of optical systems probably in a tabular form, including lenses, prisms, light sources (coherent, polarized, incoherent and combinations) using both simple and birefringent materials.
• 3D visualization of optical system
• Develop a richer UI infrastructure to support typical use cases.
• Compute the effect of typical manufacturing tolerances in lens and positioning.
• Save and load designs and results, probably in XML

Design and Analysis

There are multiple aspects of the software that could be partitioned into interesting parcels of work:

• File storage and loading, XML schema development
• User interface design
• Result rendering
• 3D rendering of optical system
• Development of new optical object types like prisms, grin lenses, apertures, etc.
• Development of new light sources like Gaussian beams, illuminated images, etc
• Artwork
• Documentation/ Wiki
• SourceForge project upkeep and management
• Optical interaction physics and computation to include birefringence and to improve accuracy of results particularly with respect to photon polarization.
• Maybe some aspects could even be compared to experimentation or on-paper analysis for verification purposes

Resources Available

There are no specialized resources required. I assume the students will have access to a PC which can have the required IDE (Eclipse) installed. I can be available for Skype sessions, email and hopefully an in-person visit although I obviously have a day job (at StarFish). It’s conceivable that having an optical bench to hand might be useful if someone wants to do some real-world comparisons but that would depend on student interest and so-on.

Expected Technical Background

Here’s a list of some useful skills. They’re not inclusive. Any of these probably could be back-filled with an appropriate amount of enthusiasm.

• Optics
• Physics
• Java programming
• Understanding of Object Oriented programming

Preference for 4-month or 8-month group

I don’t mind. This project could be big enough or small enough to fit either.

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26. [ & ] Dielectrophoretic Field Flow Fractionalization Demonstration Unit  (Starfish Medical)

Mark Drlik, Starfish Medical

[ & - Sept 23 - claimed by 459 group ]

Project Objectives, Background and Scope

Dielectrophoretic Field Flow Fractionalization is an active area of development and is utilized to separate particles based on their electrical properties and size. These forces are influenced by the medium of the carrier fluid, permittivity of the target object, as well as the frequency of the electric field being applied. This phenomenon is to be exploited to fabricate a demonstration unit to separate polystyrene balls of two different sizes. As a leader in the Medical Device Design space, StarFish wishes to gain further understanding on this emerging field, as well as to conduct a case study or white paper on the result.

Design and Analysis

First principles calculations are to be utilized in order to determine appropriate electric field strengths, drag coefficients, and flow rates. This multidisciplinary project will require a team familiar with electrical schematics and layouts, frequency generators, amplifiers, as well as mechanical design for microfluidic channels. Support on common implementation, vendors, and equipment will be supplied by StarFish in support of this effort.

Resources available

Throughout the project, it is anticipated that mechanical and electrical prototypes will be required. StarFish will negotiate a budget with the project team based on collaboratively

Additional resources (such as frequency generators / analyzers, simple machining, vendor leads and introductions, etc) to be taken on a case by case basis,

Expected Technical Background

The ideal team will be a multi-disciplinary and will have experience with electric field modeling and/or first principle calculation, microfluidic flow modeling and/or first principle calculation, PCB schematic design and layout, firmware programming, and simple mechanical modeling.  For further information on the components of a DEP-FFF system, please see the following link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3198799/

Preference for 4-month group (ENPH 479)

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27. Low Cost Fluorescence Imager Proof-of-Concept (Starfish Medical)

Kenneth MacCallum, Starfish Medical

Project Objectives, Background and Scope

A number of potential clients of ours are working on devices requiring a low cost fluorescence imager. In order to bring the cost down, one possibility is to use low-cost, consumer-grade components, such as camera modules and LEDs. This project will explore the use of such components by first analyzing the requirements theoretically and then building a POC imager on an optical bench and comparing results with the theory.

Design and Analysis

• Assume a standard fluorophore, such as the Alexa series. Assume typical concentrations. Calculate optical efficiencies.
• Develop and document requirements with StarFish
• Devise architecture of system intended to meet requirements including parts specs: camera, lens assembly, dichroic beam splitter, LEDs, etc.
• Predict noise, required illumination, integration times, illumination uniformity, etc.
• Build experiment.
• Take measurements
• Synthesize results
• Write detailed report

Resources Available

• Cost of components (hopefully a University optical bench and accessories is available)
• Technical assistance

Expected Technical Background

• Optics (analysis, lens design, fluorescence, non-imaging optics design)
• Computers (for instance: Freemat, Java, Spreadsheet )

Preference for 4-month or 8-month group

Could be either.

• 4 months would probably get to a first POC and document results, good or bad
• 8 months would probably have time to debug and optimize.

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28. [ & ] Experimental Analysis of Droplet Vibrations  (Jalaal)

Maziyar Jalaal, UBC Mechanical Engineering

[ & - Sept 23 - claimed by 459 group ]

Project Objectives, Background and Scope

The vibration of droplets has been extensively studied due to its significance in various applications such as spray coating or inkjet printing. Droplets vibrate about their equilibrium state when they are travelling through air and also when they are deposited on a solid substrate. Very recently the latter case of sessile droplets found an interesting application to droplet movement: watch the “Playing PACMAN with a water droplet” video [1]. The vibration of droplets on solid substrates is also important for surface tension measurements and fluid mixing. In the present study we aim at investigating the effect of substrate vibrations on a sessile droplet that is initially stationary on a solid substrate. For this purpose, an experimental setup as shown in Fig. 1 needs to be designed and fabricated.

Fig.1. a) A schematic view of the test platform. b) Vibration of the droplet due to oscillation of the substrate. c) Anexample of images obtained for dynamics of droplets using the current imaging technique.

The test platform includes an oscillator (can be implemented with speakers or other mechanical vibrating elements), a replaceable substrate to achieve surface properties from hydrophilic in the case of glass, to hydrophobic for Teflon, a means of generating droplets of different liquids, a high speed camera that is connected to a stereo microscope, an LED light source, and image and signal processing tools. In our experiments we would like to study the influence of fluid rheology on the vibration of droplets; for this purpose, we will employ Newtonian fluids such as water, as well as highly non-Newtonian fluids: watch this instructive segment of the TV show “The Big Bang Theory” [2]. Code will need to be written for a software package to control the different waveforms sent to the oscillator via an amplifier. In addition, image processing code will be required for processing of image data to track the interface of the droplet over time. The students will also develop a dynamic system model to explain the experimental results.

[1] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNToUWawpyE 

[2] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA1jSlx9c30 

Design and Analysis

Students will design the experiments and develop the required test platform. They will apply image processing to the

experimental data and they will analyse their results with a suitable signal processing techniques.

Resources available

The relevant basic theory of droplet vibration is available in the literature.

Several parts of the experimental setup including high speed camera, light sources and microscope are ready to use.

A rheometer is available to characterize the non-Newtonian properties of the liquids.

Relevant resources for image processing are available.

Expected Technical Background

Comfortable working with experimental tools

Good understanding of physics of fluids

Good understanding of instrumentation

Knowledge of Matlab

Knowledge of signal processing

Preference for 4-month or 8-month group

An 8-month group is preferred (459)

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29. [&] 3D Rigid-body Physics Engine with Compute Shader (Chen)

Edwin Chen, UBC Engineering Physics  [& Sept 4 - claimed by 479 group]

Project Objectives:

1. Build a 3D physics engine as a platform to develop and test the specific quadratic programing problem (QP) arises from the least constraint formulation.
2. Build a interface between Matlab and OpenGL to use Compute Shader to accelerate 3D graphics rendering.
3. Verify if the implementation of least constraint formulation agrees with real-world examples and measurements.

Information about Compute Shader please see:

http://education.siggraph.org/media/conference/S2012_Materials/ComputeShader_1pp.pdf

Some more information about the project please see:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/n612bd546j28zof/Y-Cek3LT3m

For more information please contact edwinchenyj@gmail.com 

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30. Induction Heated Thermoplastic Extruder for Rapid Prototyping Applications  (Novakov)

Steve Novakov, UBC Engineering Physics / UBC Rapid

Thermoplastic extrusion is a process by which solid plastic, (commonly reels of filament or pellets) are heated past the glass transition temperature and forced through a extrusion tip into a work piece. This is commonly known in the 3D printing world as FDM, (fused deposition modelling). In small form factor FDM prototyping, common heating methods center around using ceramic or nichrome heating elements to heat a metal extruder nozzle, through which the plastic filament is forced. This process is typically plagued by several problems:                

• Slow convergence to desired steady state temperature at extruder tip, (many seconds, up to several minutes) and
• (related), slow feedback loop for temperature control, (from 100's of ms to s)
• Lack of fine-grain temperature control at extruder tip, in steady state, the entire metal nozzle is essentially soaked to, or near, the melting temperature.
• Inconsistent feeder response due to varying liquid plastic volume near tip and
• (related) limits on filament and extruded plastic drop size

The induction extruder tip would be physically similar in appearance, but would have a few distinct differences:

• Rather than a metal nozzle, it would be made of a thermally insulating, nonconductive material such as glass or boron nitride.
• The actual heated element would be buried inside the tip to make direct contact with the plastic
• The power for heating is transferred through electromagnetic coupling of a driving coil to the heated element. The heated element, (and the molten plastic around it), are thermally isolated from the rest of the extruder.

The full writeup for the project can be found in the accompanying PDF.

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31. [&] Scanning electron microscopy of nanostructures  (Nojeh)

Alireza Nojeh, UBC ECE / MiNa / Nanostructure Group

[ & - Sept 10 - Project claimed by EECE Capstone group] 

[ # CROSS-POSTING    This project is being cross-posted to UBC EECE Capstone Project Courses ]

Background Information

The scanning electron microscope (SEM) enables imaging with very high spatial resolution, and has become one of the main workhorses of imaging and inspection in the semiconductor industry, materials analysis and micro/nanotechnologies. The purpose of this project is to modernize an existing SEM by designing and building a number of new electronic circuits and a computer interface for it, and then use it to image nanostructures such as carbon nanotubes.

Project Main Objective(s)

• Designing and building drive/control circuits for the following:

• Electron-optical column (electron-beam generation, acceleration, steering and focusing)
• Sample stage
• Vacuum system

• Designing and building a signal acquisition circuit for the electron detector
• Implementing computer software to control the above circuits and display/manipulate the acquired image
• Using the above to image nanostructures such as carbon nanotubes

Project Main Deliverable(s):

A fully functional prototype of the entire system; sample images from nanostructures, demonstrating the system performance; complete and detailed documentation, allowing future users to fully understand the circuits and troubleshoot or improve them as necessary.

Special considerations (equipment, location, constraints, existing material...):

It is expected that the circuits will be designed and built in the undergraduate labs. Integration with the SEM and imaging of nanostructures will be performed in the Nanostructure Group lab in the Lower Mall Research Station.

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32. [#] Field-emission microscope  (Nojeh)

Alireza Nojeh, UBC ECE / MiNa / Nanostructure Group

[#  CROSS-POSTING    This project is being cross-posted to UBC EECE Capstone Project Courses ]

Background Information

Electron sources (devices that emit electrons into vacuum) are at the core of many technologies ranging from high-speed, high-power electronics to semiconductor and medical imaging, manufacturing technologies, displays and beyond. One of the main techniques to study an electron source is field-emission microscopy, which allows the imaging of the electron emission spot with atomic resolution. The purpose of this project is to design and build a simple field-emission microscope.

Project Main Objective(s)

• Designing and building the electromagnetic lenses
• Designing and building the microscope column and the phosphor screen
• Designing and building the necessary control/drive circuits
• Designing and implementing software to control the entire system and display/manipulate the image
• Using the above to image electron emission spots from a nanoscale electron source

Project Main Deliverable(s)

A fully functional prototype of the entire system; sample images of electron emission for a few nanoscale electron sources, demonstrating the system performance; complete and detailed documentation, allowing future users to fully understand the components and troubleshoot or improve them as necessary.

Special considerations (equipment, location, constraints, existing material...)

It is expected that the circuits will be designed and built in the undergraduate labs and the lenses will be built in the ECE machine shop. Integration into a vacuum system will be performed in the Nanostructure Group lab in the Lower Mall Research Station.

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33. Two Projects from UBC E-Racing   (UBC E-Racing)

William Aitchison, UBC E-Racing 

Introduction

E-Racing is a student team which races an electrically powered Formula car at local motorsports events, with the goal of proving the competitiveness of electric vehicle technology.  Founded by the EngPhys program in 2010 and run by engineering students from many programs, the team has recently finished its first season of active racing with great success.  The team is looking to push the performance, reliability, and marketability of the car even further over the next season with several engaging projects.

Project A: Design a New Drivetrain System, Fabricate the Needed Structural Elements

E-Racing is looking to redesign our car drivetrain by transitioning to a dual motor direct drive arrangement.  This project involves designing, modelling, and constructing a new rear subframe to accommodate two AC or DC electric motors and a fixed reduction gearing ratio, both specified by the team.  The existing drivetrain is also mounted in a subframe and is removable, which should allow the development of this new drivetrain without missing any of the current racing season.

Requirements:

• Must be a bolt in replacement for current drivetrain (Fig 1.)
• Incorporates current suspension design and parts already on hand
• Accommodates two small motors and reduction gear/chain/belt (one per rear wheel)

Deliverables:

• SolidWorks model of new rear end
• Functional new rear subframe (structural elements only, access to contract machining and professional welding available)

Figure 1 - The current car rear end.

Project B: Design and Construct a New Carbon Fiber Nose Cone and Front Wing

The race car nose cone is extremely heavy and in a state of general disrepair (Fig 3.).  A new cone and front wing needs to be constructed from aluminum and carbon fiber, which will mate up with the rest of the car’s existing bodywork.  The new cone could be modelled in solidworks, then built in fiberglass and tested in a wind tunnel, or alternatively physical iterations can be built from fiberglass and wind tunnel tested, using the existing cone as a design start point.  Once the part has performed to a satisfactory level, the final part can be built from carbon fiber.

This project is excellent for those interested in exploring carbon fiber construction techniques, and aerodynamics design.

Requirements:

• Must be lighter than the current nose cone
• Must have better downforce and drag performance in the 20-100 km/h speed range when compared to the current cone and wing setup
• Must be structurally sound enough to function safely at racing speeds

Deliverables:

• A functioning robust nose cone useable in future racing events
• A mold to replicate/iterate the nose cone in the future

Figure 3 - The current nose cone.

Resources Available for Students on These Projects:

• Flexible budget for justified expenses
• Working space and tools in the EDC
• Professional consultation on metal fabrication and professional welding services
• Easy access to supportive and friendly project sponsors

Students who invest themselves in these projects will be given the opportunity to drive/compete in the car if desired.

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34. [ & ] Remote Controlled Self Balancing Bicycle  (GRIN Technologies)

Justin Lemire-Elmore, GRIN Technologies

[ & - Sept 23 - claimed by 459 group ]

The objective of this project is to make a full sized remote controlled bicycle, for use in pranks, fun stunts, and general edification about control theory.

Expectations: This is an ambitious project, yet anything short of a working RC ebike would be considered a failure by the project sponsors, as we know this is within the scope of what an ambitious 459/479 team could pull off. The students could decide how much analytic modeling versus empirical testing they would want to pursue, but the deliverable in any case is for a running full size electric bicycle that can be navigated by remote control without a rider.

Requirements: This project requires diverse skills in mechanics, servo motors, control, and electronics. The sponsors will provide the basic hardware (hub motor, controller, battery, bike frame) for a building a complete electric bicycle as well as a 4 channel radio controlled transmitter and receiver. The student group would be expected to design and build:

a) a servo motor linkage to steer the handlebars left and right, and

b) a microprocessor circuit with tilt and inertial sensors that can receive signals from the RC receiver and power both the bicycle hub motor and handlebar steering accordingly.

In operation, a person holding the RC transmitter can use the joysticks to navigate the bike forwards and steer it left and right just like they would with an RC car. The control circuit would be automatically adjusting the handlebar steering and motor power to keep the bike stable at all times, compensating for bumps, side winds, banked roads, and other disturbances. Bonus points will be provided for enabling a trackstand mode that allows the bike to stay approximately in position without net forwards motion, and for enabling it to run in reverse.

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35. Characterization and Optimization of Nuvinci CVT Hub Transmission  (GRIN Technologies)

Justin Lemire-Elmore, GRIN Technologies

Background: The Nuvinci hub from Fallbrook Technologies is the only continuously variable transmission available for bicycle drives, and its seamless shifting characteristics make it ideal for use in electric assist bikes that supply power via the bicycle chain.  However,  the manufacturer is coy about providing any data on the the drives mechanical losses, making it difficult to optimize its usage or model the net efficiency of the complete system.

Objective:  The purpose of this project is to design and build a test apparatus that can directly measure or infer the losses of a Nuvinci N360 hub, and then characterize this efficiency over a range of torques, RPM's, and gear ratios. Such a full characterization would allow ebike designers to fully understand and optimize their use of the Nuvinci transmission, and it would allow the providers of such data to achieve some notoriety in the wider bike community, which has been clamoring for years to see objective analysis on the performance of this hub.

Deliverables: The student group would be responsible for first coming up with a piece of test equipment that can measure mechanical drive efficiencies.  There is a brute force approach to drive and load the Nuvinci hub with a pair of electric motors, all of which are mounted in a cradles with strain gauges for measuring input and output torques. Alternately, a simpler approach may be to perform a thermal characterization of the Nuvinci hub, and closely monitor the temperature rise under different loads in order to asses the heat generation and hence internal losses.

Once the test apparatus is built, then the next step would involve producing set of empirical efficiency measurements between 100 to 600 RPM and a 10-100 Nm torque range and providing recommendations on how best to incorporate the N360 hub in a bike drive.

Resources: The sponsor will provide the N360 Nuvinvi hub, large motors, chains, and cogs as required for driving and loading the transmission, and whatever sensors (strain gauge, thermal, tachometers etc) are required for the analysis.

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36. [&] iCrow-o-matic  (Jones)

David Jones, UBC Physics and Astronomy

[ &  Sept 13 - the project is claimed by a 479 group]

Project Objectives

Have you ever been woken up from a deep satisfying sleep early in the morning from those squabbling crows? Wouldn’t it be nice to solve that problem? As living in Vancouver limits the use of firearms (as well as the fact this requires you to get out of bed), there needs to be other solutions. For this project you would build a pulsed, on-demand water cannon with a proximity/motion sensor that would aim and shoot pulse streams of water from a pressurized reservoir.

Design and Analysis

Commercially, there are offerings such as these ones (Jet Spray Pest Repeller) which are along the same general idea. The iCrow-o-matic would offer several advantages over the current products including:  

• On-board intelligence to aim a directed stream of water at the pest rather than just a blind sprinkle pattern. (Crows are smart)
• Sustainable use of water
• Pressurized reservoir (CO2 or ?) to make the iCrow-o-matic more portable/deployable
• Possible 360 degree coverage

Specific requirements for the iCrow-o-matic include

• adjustable sensitivity, solid angle of coverage, and range
• universal mounting jig for chimneys, roofs and trees
• self-contained
• weather/water proof

I’m open to any suggested (optional) upgrades such as a webcam to view the iCrow-o-matic in real time over WiFi and live remote control of the water cannon.

Resources Available

All necessary materials will be provided.

Expected Technical Background 

Nothing special

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37. [&] Femtosecond Enhancement Cavity to Maximize Generation of Blue Light  (Jones)

David Jones, UBC Physics and Astronomy

[& Sept 9 - claimed by 479 group]

Project Objectives

Photoemission spectroscopy requires high-energy (short wavelength) photons to eject electrons from samples we study to determine their bandstructure, etc. However, no laser can directly generate the necessary ultra-violet (UV) photons that we need. Instead, starting from a mode-locked laser producing 100 fs pulses at 820 nm, we employ nonlinear crystals to double the frequency (or half the wavelength) of the pulse train to 410 nm. A second nonlinear crystal is used in a similar fashion to generate 205-nm light, which then is used in the photoemission experiments.

Currently, we generate the 410-nm light in a single pass configuration as shown in Fig. 1a with about 500 mW of power at 820 nm. As the conversion process from 820 nm to 410 nm is nonlinear (i.e. quadradic) it is helpful to have the highest possible power at 820 nm. We cannot increase the output power of our laser at 820 nm. However we can use an enhancement cavity (or resonator) to build up the power by a factor of 20 or so inside the resonator. (which means we’d have 400x the amount of power at 410 nm) as shown in Fig 1b. Development and demonstration of such an enhancement cavity for high power generation at 410 nm is the object of this project.

Fig 1: Second harmonic generation (SHG) of 820 nm pulse train. a) SHG using a single pass arrangement. b) SHG using a resonant (multipass) cavity to increase the power of 820 nm light and hence the power of the generated 410-nm light

Design and Analysis.

You will design and build an enhancement cavity to operate at 820 nm with the appropriate intracavity nonlinear crystal to produce 410-nm light. After aligning the cavity and coupling it to a mode-locked laser, you will then using an electronic servo to lock the laser to the cavity and thus keep it on resonance. If time permits, you would perform subsequent characterization of the system and integrate it into the photoemission experiment. Depending on the degree of completion, this could be a publishable result in a peer-reviewed journal.

Resources Available

We have all the necessary optical and electronic hardware for this project. My lab has also built similar enhancement cavities for a variety of systems so we have experience with this topic.

Expected Technical Background

Optics experience is helpful but not required…as long as you are willing to put some effort to get up to speed with optics knowledge requirements. Some experience/exposure to control theory, Bode analysis plots, and PID theory will be helpful.

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38. Microsoft Kinect: detecting obstacles in a wide field of view  (Mitchell)

39. Microsoft Kinect: mounting calibration  (Mitchell)

Ian Mitchell, UBC Department of Computer Science  

Independent mobility is a key factor in quality of life, and powered wheelchairs (PWC) offer mobility to persons with significant physical impairments.  However, because of the damage these large, heavy machines can cause, persons with even mild cognitive or sensory impairments are often not allowed to use them.  Intelligent robotic automobiles are already being tested on urban streets, but a major challenge in transitioning this technology to a PWC is the high cost of sensor systems.  Fortunately, there is the Microsoft Kinect: an inexpensive, image-based sensor system originally designed for video games.  These two projects involve finding, modifying and/or writing software to enable the use of the Kinect for tasks important to constructing an intelligent PWC.

Project 38-  Detecting obstacles in a wide field of view

OBJECTIVES & SCOPE:

In a previous Eng Phys project, students developed software which detects nearby obstacles (eg: anything that is not the floor) using the Kinect.  The goal of this project is to extend the previous results into a wider field of view by using multiple Kinect cameras appropriately mounted on the PWC and appropriately synchronized.  Mounting and synchronization are important because the Kinect uses an active infrared pattern generator as part of its depth mapping system, and it is possible that having multiple cameras pointed at the same space will cause interference.  Furthermore, the Kinect is unable to detect obstacles that are too close to the camera.

The robotics community has embraced the Kinect sensor, and consequently there is extensive software already available for it.  In particular, for this project students will use ROS (www.ros.org), an open-source robotics software platform / operating system which provides drivers and many packages for dealing with data from the Kinect.

RESOURCES:

We have one Kinect dedicated to the project, and can easily get additional cameras for testing once a prototype system is in place.  We have an instrumented, computer controlled PWC with mounting hardware for the Kinect.  We have a report and software from last year's project team.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND:

Experience with C++ is necessary to work with ROS.  Some basic linear algebra, probability and statistics is used in some of the existing floor detection algorithms.  Using the Kinect through ROS is straightforward.  Students can expect to learn how to use ROS and some state estimation algorithms from computer vision, robotics and control during the project.

Project 39: Mounting Calibration

OBJECTIVES & SCOPE:

The cloud of 3D points that the Kinect sensor uses to describe what it sees in the environment is measured relative to the sensor.  In order to achieve safe and free motion in the presence of the obstacles, it is important to know where those obstacles are with respect to the PWC; therefore, it is important to determine the transformation between the Kinect's coordinate system and the PWC's.  Physically measuring this relationship is time-consuming, prone to error, and likely impossible for typical PWC users, so we would like to determine it using only information from the Kinect and other PWC sensors in a manner that could be regularly repeated.  The most likely approach would be to move the PWC in some simple fashion and compare this motion with the motion visible to the Kinect.

RESOURCES:

We have a Kinect.  We have an instrumented, computer controlled PWC with mounting hardware for the Kinect on which to test the system.  There are several packages in ROS for determining motion of the Kinect, motion of the PWC, and coordinate transformations.  We have a report on some preliminary work that was done this past summer by an Eng Phys coop summer student.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND:

Experience with C++ is necessary to work with ROS.  Likely algorithms will require some knowledge of linear algebra and elementary statistics.  Using the Kinect through ROS is straightforward.  Students can expect to learn how to use ROS and some state estimation algorithms from computer vision, robotics and control during the project.

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40. Remote viewing of an avatar during WiiFit exercise sessions (Mitchell)

Ian Mitchell, UBC Department of Computer Science  

Objectives, Background & Scope

As the population ages, it is expected that the incidence of lower limb amputation will increase due to chronic vascular diseases that are common with aging.  Subsequent loss of mobility often leads to reduced participation in physical and social activities.  Effective use of prosthetic limbs can improve mobility, but such limbs are often abandoned because learning to use them requires highly repetitious task performance.  An in-home training program based on Nintendo's WiiFit software has been proposed as a motivating and cost-effective alternative or adjunct to expensive out-patient rehabilitation.  After training at a clinic, participants perform the exercises (mostly on a balance board) with their prosthetics at home several times a week in small groups, using video conferencing software to communicate with their trainer and other members of their exercise group.

One challenge with this approach is that the trainer may have a hard time judging the quality of a participant's exercise because the trainer has no access to the WiiFit game data and only a low quality video feed of the participant's motion.  The goal of this project is to provide additional data to the trainer from up to two potential sources.  The first is to somehow capture data from the Wii console / balance board itself.  The second is to capture body posture / skeleton from a separate kinect-style camera.  In both cases the goal is to capture useful information and transmit it in real-time to the trainer without requiring too much additional bandwidth or equipment at the participant's home.  Such information will allow the trainer to provide better feedback to the participants during training, and hopefully lead to more effective use of the prosthetic after the training program.  If the project is successful, there may be an opportunity to test the system with trainers and participants who are currently taking part in a randomized controlled trial of the training program.

Design & Analysis

Students will have to determine the computational and bandwidthrequirements for extracting the desired information from the Wii and/or Kinect, propose a hardware system to perform the task, construct the system and demonstrate that it meets its goals.

Resources Available

A WiiFit system and a Kinect-like camera are available.  Based on the outcome of student investigations into computational requirements, it should be possible to borrow or purchase a suitable netbook or single-board computer to implement and test the prototype.

Technical Background

Programming experience; C / C++ / C# are most likely to be relevant.  Digital hardware experience might be an asset.

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41. Open source crab robot  (Royer)

Dan Royer, Marginally Clever Systems 

Background and Objective

The crab robot was developed almost 4 years ago as an open source learning platform.  It remains the only open source robot of it's type on the market.  The manufacturer of the original electronics has quit without releasing plans.  The scope is to produce an open source replacement for the one electronic component that is now missing.  There is also a desire to design a "foot" for each leg of the robot with an integrated touch or feedback sensor of some kind.

Resources Available

Funding for prototyping & production

Expected Technical Background

Electronics Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

PWM control, Arduino shields a plus.

Hall effect or contact switch experience a plus.

4-month group is strongly preferred (479).

If this project is successful it could lead to more paying work in future.  (that's a note that should be added to the other projects, too, please.)

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42. MixologyBot, the cocktail mixing robot  (Royer)

Dan Royer, Marginally Clever Systems 

Project Objectives, Background and Scope

The MixologyBot v1 is run from a smartphone (at parties) or a POS (in commercial venues).  Many technical challenges have been solved and many remain.  The final v1 machine will mix drinks and sodas but cannot frost glasses or cut up ingredients (such as in a caesar).  Due to time constraints this project is falling behind and I would love some help to bring it to completion.

A prototype frame has already been built and most of the software has been written.  There are still some important issues and a lot of testing to do.  Participants in this project, if successful, will have with a machine of their own on completion.

Design and Analysis

The robot must be designed for ease of of use (cleaning, refilling, controlling).

The robot must be designed for safety (keeping electronics away from fluids).

Resources available

I have two 3D printers and a laser cutter for manufacturing custom parts.  

Every part of the machine must either be off the shelf or makeable with one of these devices.

Expected Technical Background

Practical experience working with fluids.

Experience with slot-fit and snap-fit design.

Solidworks.

Linux scripting experience (writing daemons)

An eye for aesthetics.  

4-month group, please.

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43. Open source 6DOF robot arm  (Royer)

Dan Royer, Marginally Clever Systems 

Project Objectives, Background and Scope

The arm should be able to lift 1kg at 50cm.

The goal is a repeatable accuracy of <1mm.

Must have force feedback for haptic "drive by demonstration" and safe usage near people.

There are four major components that need work.

(a) an automatic tool changer

(b) the radius/ulna rotation

(c) a hypocycloid gearbox for motion control

(d) a propellor-based or arduino-based control board that can drive up to 6 steppers and receive input from at least 6 digital sources.

Resources available

I have two 3D printers and a laser cutter for manufacturing custom parts.

I hope every part of the machine must either be off the shelf or makeable with one of these devices.

Expected Technical Background

Practical experience working with gearing.

Experience with slot-fit and snap-fit design.

Solidworks.

An eye for aesthetics.

8-month group, please.

I can see each of the four parts easily being a separate project.

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44. Experiments in social signal processing (Leung)

Dr. Cyril Leung, UBC Electrical and Computer Engineering

Imagine the vast range of interesting applications that could be developed if it was possible to accurately measure human emotions. In the past decade, there has been a great deal of research interest in the technically challenging problem of “social signal processing”, including the recognition of emotions. See A. Vinciarelli et al, "Bridging the Gap between Social Animal and Unsocial Machine: A Survey of Social Signal Processing", IEEE Transactions on Affective Computing, vol. 3, No. 1, Jan-Mar 2012, pp. 69-87. The objective in this project is to select a specific small set of emotions (e.g. happy, angry, sad) to recognize and assess the effectiveness of promising approaches/algorithms which have been proposed.

Students interested in this project will take the lead in generating the project objectives and deliverables.  During the project proposal phase, students will be expected to (a) do a thorough review of the state-of-the-art in the field, both in commercial devices and items under development; (b) review previous 459/479 projects in similar fields; (c) discuss options with local experts in the field for their input and guidance; and (d) select and present their project objectives and deliverables based on their findings.   The project sponsor will be available to offer project oversight, provide financial resources where appropriate, and direct student groups to appropriate resources.

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45. Methods for Monitoring of Human Movement (Leung)

Dr. Cyril Leung, UBC Electrical and Computer Engineering

The motivation for this project can be found in the paper “Sensors-based Wearable Systems for Monitoring of Human Movement and Falls” by Shany, T. Redmond, S. Narayanan, M. Lovell, N. in the IEEE Sensors Journal. The Abstract of the paper is reproduced below.

“The rapid aging of the worlds population, along with an increase in the prevalence of chronic illnesses and obesity, requires adaption and modification of current healthcare models. One such approach involves telehealthapplications, many of which are based on sensor technologies for unobtrusive monitoring. Recent technological advances, in particular involving microelectromechnical systems, have resulted in miniaturized wearable devices that can be used for a range of applications. One of the leading areas for utilization of bodyfixed sensors is the monitoring of human movement. An overview of common ambulatory sensors is presented, followed by a summary of the developments in this field, with an emphasis on the clinical applications of falls detection, falls risk assessment and energy expenditure. The importance of these applications is considerable in light of the global demographic trends and the resultant rise in the occurrence of injurious falls and the decrease of physical activity. The potential of using such monitors in an unsupervised manner for community dwelling individuals is immense, but entails an array of challenges with regards to design considerations, implementation protocols and signal analysis processes. Some limitations of the research to date and suggestions for future research are also discussed.”

The objective in this project is to select, implement and evaluate a cost-effective approach for monitoring the movement of seniors in a home environment.

Students interested in this projects will take the lead in generating the project objectives and deliverables.  During the project proposal phase, students will be expected to (a) do a thorough review of the state-of-the-art in the field, both in commercial devices and items under development; (b) review previous 459/479 projects in similar fields; (c) discuss options with local experts in the field for their input and guidance; and (d) select and present their project objectives and deliverables based on their findings.   The project sponsor will be available to offer project oversight, provide financial resources where appropriate, and direct student groups to appropriate resources.

Report from Previous Group Found Here:  Indoor Positioning with Ultrasound and Radio Frequency Waves (2012)

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46. Energy conservation and management tools for the home (Leung)

Dr. Cyril Leung, UBC Electrical and Computer Engineering  

It is widely recognized that the use of energy and the associated environmental impact are major global challenges. There is a great deal of interest on the part of governments as well as individual citizens in energy conservation and efficiency measures. At the home level, these include designing new home which minimize energy consumption, improving heat loss in existing homes, smart electrical metering, etc. The objective in this project is to develop specific tools to assist residents in reducing their home energy use. An example is a tool for determining areas in which the most energy savings can be obtained, and suggesting a list of cost effective measures for residents.

Students interested in this projects will take the lead in generating the project objectives and deliverables.  

During the project proposal phase, students will be expected to (a) do a thorough review of the state-of-the-art in the field, both in commercial devices and items under development; (b) review previous 459/479 projects in similar fields; (c) discuss options with local experts in the field for their input and guidance; and (d) select and present their project objectives and deliverables based on their findings.   The project sponsor will be available to offer project oversight, provide financial resources where appropriate, and direct student groups to appropriate resources.

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47. An Electronic White Cane for the Visually Impaired (Leung)

Dr. Cyril Leung, UBC Electrical and Computer Engineering

The objective is to design an electronic white cane to assist visually impaired individuals in everyday activities. Features which could be considered for implementation include aural feedback to the user about the condition of the pavement, surrounding obstacles, GPS capability to provide geographical location, character recognition ability for reading signs, etc. Students will be provided with information on past-year projects on this topic.

Students interested in this projects will take the lead in generating the project objectives and deliverables.  During the project proposal phase, students will be expected to (a) do a thorough review of the state-of-the-art in the field, both in commercial devices and items under development; (b) review previous 459/479 projects in similar fields; (c) discuss options with local experts in the field for their input and guidance; and (d) select and present their project objectives and deliverables based on their findings.   The project sponsor will be available to offer project oversight, provide financial resources where appropriate, and direct student groups to appropriate resources.  

Previous White Cane projects done for 459/479 projects include :

• DROPS:  Drop-Off Recognition Optical Processing System
• Electronic White Cane using RFID Tags
• Navigational Aid for the Visually Impaired

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48. Error Control Coding for Flash Memory (Leung)

Dr. Cyril Leung, UBC Electrical and Computer Engineering  

The popularity of NAND flash memory is growing very rapidly due to desirable characteristics such as nonvolatility, shock-resistance, light weight and energy efficiency. Applications include USB drives, digital camera storage and solid-state drives (SSDs). As the demand for higher storage capacity per unit area increases, so do the raw bit error rates. In this project, the main error mechanisms affecting NAND flash memory are to be surveyed. The use of low density parity check (LPDC) codes for error control has been proposed. An implementation of LDPC coding and a simulation study of its performance are the main tasks in the project. (Useful courses: EECE 453, EECE 454)

For reference, one good technical resource is the book "Error Control Coding, Second Edition" by S. Lin and D.J. Costello, published by Prentice-Hall. There are also many helpful papers which can also be retried from IEEE Xplore by doing a search on "LDPC, implementation, decoding, ..."

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49. Development of a Novel Nerve Refraction modality to facilitate Electrosurgical endoluminal Bladder/Prostate Surgery (Nguan)

Christopher Nguan MD FRCSC  - Assistant Professor, Dept of Urologic Sciences, Vancouver General Hospital / Director, STELLAR facility

Introduction    

Transurethral surgery (TUR) remains the standard for diagnosis, treatment and ongoing surveillance of the bladder for bladder cancer.  As bladder cancer represents a field defect, tumors can arise from any location of the lining of the bladder wall.  Unfortunately, the bladder is a central pelvic organ and when distended, as in TUR surgery, will contact many adjacent pelvic organ structures including the nerves innervating the muscles of the leg as they exit the pelvis.  Resection of lesions over these nerves will result in the direct stimulation of those nerves, and result in the activation of the distal muscle causing contraction, disruption of the operating surgeon, and increasing the potential for bladder perforation.  In the setting of bladder cancer, this is highly undesirable is it allows for bladder cancer cells to potentially spread outside the bladder.

Much is now known about nerve physiology, and the formation of an action potential, the transmission of nerve impulse and characteristics of the neuron transmitting these signals.  It is known that nerves typically have a refractory time following transmission of an electrical impulse, and that no stimulation of the nerve will result in distal transmission during this time.

Modern day electrosurgical units (ESU) used in surgery are complex machines and vary current power, waveform and frequency in order to achieve desired coagulation and cutting properties.  I propose the development of a novel ESU algorithm leveraging characteristic nerve properties such that the ESU itself induces nerve refractory state while cutting or coagulation objectives to be met close to the nerve itself; prototypic operation: transurethral bladder tumor resection (TURBT).

Click the above image to view online demo from mcgill re: refractory period quantification:   [ http://www.medicine.mcgill.ca/physio/vlab/cap/refract.htm ]

Project Description    

Development of a novel electrical dispersion algorithm for inducing nerve refractory state while cutting or coagulating.

Expected Outcomes    

Development of  prototypic profiles for integration with current ESUs.

Resources Available    

• expert MIS surgeon mentor and departmental resources
• large animal facility for preclinical trials
• small animal facility for preclinical trials
• basic science laboratory resources
• financial assistance
• opportunity for operating room / clinical experience for data gathering
• research ESU available for testing

Customer Requirements    

Development of  prototypic profiles for integration with research ESU for preclinical trials.

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50. [#] Addressable Induction Seeds (Nguan)

Christopher Nguan MD FRCSC  - Assistant Professor, Dept of Urologic Sciences, Vancouver General Hospital / Director, STELLAR facility

[ # CROSS-POSTING    This project is being cross-posted to UBC EECE Capstone Project Courses ]

Introduction  

The world of surgery continues to progress towards less and less invasive options to the point where needle based image guided surgery will be the norm in the not too distant future.

An example of one challenge is the delivery of a therapy to a specific three dimensional coordinate accurately in repeatable fashion.   However, if an inert fiducial is left at the target site, then this can mark the site accurately between therapeutic sessions.

Project Description    

Development of a system in which multiple inert “seeds” could be implanted into an organ, and then each seed separately addressed and induction coil “induced” to produce a thermal response.

Expected Outcomes    

Concept, Research and development of putative system and prototype generation for preclinical studies.

Resources Available    

-expert MIS surgeon mentor and departmental resources

-large animal facility for preclinical trials

-small animal facility for preclinical trials

-basic science laboratory resources

-financial assistance

-opportunity for operating room / clinical experience for data gathering

Customer Requirements    

End of year prototype and report.

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51. Development of a System for Assisting Visualization and Tracking of Urinary Stones for Targetting during Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (Nguan)

Christopher Nguan MD FRCSC  - Assistant Professor, Dept of Urologic Sciences, Vancouver General Hospital / Director, STELLAR facility

Introduction    

Physicians often utilize imaging modalities such as x-ray to visualize structures within the body either for diagnosis or for targeted therapy.  In the operating room, we utilize realtime fluoroscopy (x-ray) to imaging moving parts of the body, results of therapy or to image the dynamic processing of administered agents such as radiocontrast dye.

It is often necessary to image and treat structures which are of low contrast relative to surrounding tissues.  However, with detailed knowledge and experience of regional anatomy of the genitourinary system, Urologists are able to locate and treat lesions effectively even with relatively poor assistance from realtime imaging.  Even with the most experienced surgeon however, and even more so with those of lesser experience, there comes a time when imaging is critical to the success of the procedure and optimization of the acquired image is required.

Project Description    

We propose a project that will require students to acquire a realtime datastream from a C-arm, angio suite or other source of realtime fluoroscopic data, process the image with the intent on isolating and highlighting the target of choice in either a semi-autonomous or fully autonomous mode, and tracking it over time in an environment with poor imaging conditions (poor contrast, overlying structures, movement of other structures during imaging, poor penetration overall of Xray, etc).  The prototype procedure to be used is extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) where we utilize realtime fluoro and a shockhead to fragment stones between the kidney and the bladder in a minimally invasive fashion.

Expected Outcomes    

Hardware / software and interfaces to result in a demonstration of efficacy versus manual visualization and targeting.

Resources Available    

• expert MIS surgeon mentor and departmental resources
• large animal facility for preclinical trials
• small animal facility for preclinical trials
• basic science laboratory resources
• financial assistance
• opportunity for operating room / clinical experience for data gathering
• opportunity to experience the Acute Stone Center and lithotripter unit in operation at VGH
• resources of a full basic science endourology lab with artificial and human stones

Customer Requirements    

Prototype system demonstration.

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52. Development of a novel imaging method using transcorporeal transmitted light   (Nguan)

Christopher Nguan MD FRCSC  - Assistant Professor, Dept of Urologic Sciences, Vancouver General Hospital / Director, STELLAR facility

Introduction    

Current diagnostic imaging modalities have limitiations: X ray and CT use ionizing radiation, ultrasound requires direct contact of a probe with the surface of interrogation, MRI has long acquisition times and limits field-interacting equipment, etc.  There is a need for the development of a  nontoxic, noninvasive, realtime, noncontact , high fidelity diagnostic and therapeutic imaging modality for future medical and surgical applications.

Transmission versus reflectance imaging is used in penetrative energy type imaging modalities such as X ray and CT.  These methods are useful as they allow for highly detailed imaging by analysis of characteristics of energy changes as they pass through various tissue types on the way to the detector.  

With contemporary understanding of this type of imaging, combined with increased availability of detector technology and computational power, would it be possible to leverage transmissive imaging theory obviating non-ionizing radiation in favor of less lethal means (e.g: visible light).

Project Description    

Conceptualization, development and prototyping of a system for transcorporeal imaging using non-ionizing radiation.

Expected Outcomes    

Concept, Research and development of putative system and prototype generation for clinical studies.

Resources Available    

-expert MIS surgeon mentor and departmental resources

-large animal facility for preclinical trials

-small animal facility for preclinical trials

-basic science laboratory resources

-financial assistance

-opportunity for operating room / clinical experience for data gathering

-interface with Diagnostic Imaging dept at VGH

Customer Requirements    

End of year prototype and report.

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53. Realtime Eye Gaze Surgeon Committee System (Nguan)

Christopher Nguan MD FRCSC  - Assistant Professor, Dept of Urologic Sciences, Vancouver General Hospital / Director, STELLAR facility

Introduction    

Minimally invasive surgery, particularly laparoscopy, enjoys significant popularity due to its abilty to facilitate patient recovery and reduce pain for even very large, complex operations. In a laparoscopic case, a surgeon would be holding the laparoscope (camera), and another one would be manipulating the instruments, with possibly another surgeon assisting with more instruments. One of the deficiencies of laparoscopy stems from the training and mentoring standpoint where because each of the surgeons’ hands are fully occupied, it poses a logistical difficulty in pointing out on the screen, where the efforts of the operation are to proceed, what are the ongoing areas of concern, and what are the things to be looking at to note in reducing potential complications. Other groups have examined the use of Kinect type devices, laser pointers and the like, but when all appendages are being used, it makes it disruptive to stop the procedure to use these devices. As well, one of the objectives would be to allow the procedure to flow smoothly such that trainees could see what elements the operative field should be examined, noted and manipulated, especially as much of what an experienced surgeon does is almost instinctual and nonverbalized.

Project Description    

Development of a operating theatre based system for tracking eye gaze of all the attendent surgeons of the procedure, record for posterity linked to the video footage, but also provide weighting of GUI feedback based on surgeon experience or seniority, “committee” system where concurrent eye gazes would hold higher weighting, realtime testing of the trainee with hiding of the tester gaze and then seek with the trainee, then reveal the tester gaze for concurrence automatic marking. Analysis of concurrence of gaze over the entire procedure for report generation at the end.

Expected Outcomes    

Concept, Research and development of putative system and prototype generation for clinical studies.

Resources Available             

 -expert MIS surgeon mentor and departmental resources

-large animal facility for preclinical trials

-small animal facility for preclinical trials

-basic science laboratory resources

-financial assistance

-opportunity for operating room / clinical experience for data gathering

-interface with Diagnostic Imaging dept at VGH

Customer Requirements                              

End of year prototype and report.

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54. Eng. Phys. Projects at the Laboratory for Atomic Imaging Reseach (Pennec)

Yan Pennec, UBC Physics and Astronomy www.lair.phas.ubc.ca

General background

The LAIR works to build an understanding of how electrons, spins, phonons and photons interact in matter from the atomic scale up using advanced scanning probe microscopy tools to pave the way for next generation quantum materials.

Projects and equipment are not lacking in our laboratory. If you have specific skills you want to apply or learn, we will help you find a way to do so. Below, we offer below a small selection of topics suitable for the Eng. Phys. Project.

Project #1: Sub microvolt ultra-low noise electronics for Scanning Tunneling Microscopy.

Our novel microscope operates at temperatures down to 20mK. These temperatures correspond to an energy scale of only a few microvolts. Being able to probe matter at these energy scales makes it possible to resolve extremely fine features in the electronic band structure of the quantum materials we investigate. However, in order to actually achieve such fine energetic resolution, our detection and control electronics cannot introduce too much additional noise into our measurements. This requires our detection and control electronics to be extremely well isolated from electromagnetic disturbances. For this project you will establish a general grounding scheme for the electronics. You will build and commission a set of room temperature DC to 10 KHz PI filters for the 30 transport lines in our dilution refrigerator. You will design, build and commission a second set of four 50

Ohms, 40 GHz filters operating at cryogenic temperature for the high bandwidth bias lines.

Project #2: Noise cancellation through active damping for an 80 Ton inertial mass.

The spatial resolution of an STM is on the order of femtometers (1E-15 m) , as a result these microscopes are incredibly sensitive to vibration. At the LAIR we have built one of the quietest places on earth in order to perform extremely high-resolution STM experiments. The concept of the isolation system is simple: a large inertial mass is supported by soft spring, forming a harmonic oscillator! In practice the mass is a highly engineered 80 ton concrete block and the soft springs are massive air-sprung pneumatic pistons. This combination results in a sub 1Hz resonant frequency. The commissioning of the instrument has been positive but we would like to suppress the natural amplification at resonance of our isolators. In order to do so, your task will be to implement an active damping of the mass using high sensitivity piezoelectric accelerometers and electromagnetic force

actuators.

Project #3: Image analysis software for extraction of Quantum Quasi-Particle Interference Pattern.

A recent development in the analysis of images acquired with the scanning tunneling microscope allows us to extract the band structure of quantum materials. However such analysis requires a set of very specific data manipulations based on background subtractions, spatial filtering,Fourier transforms, logarithmic rendering etc. By investigating different classes of materials we have developed a large variety of these analysis tools. For this project you will incorporate the different analysis tools into a single program and develop a user interface. The language will be labview, matlab, C++ or GNU. We also have contact with the developers of Gwyddion (gwyddion.net) to incorporate this

code with their extensive image analysis software.

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55. [ & ] Ultrasonic Tourniquet System for Surgery (McEwen)

Jim McEwen, Western Clinical Engineeering Ltd.        

[ # CROSS-POSTING    This project is being cross-posted to UBC EECE Capstone Project Courses ]

[ & - Sept 10 - Project claimed by EECE Capstone group] 

Background Information:

This project focuses on a disruptive technology that is becoming a game changer in many areas of biomedical engineering. The specific project is aimed at designing, implementing and initially evaluating a prototype of a new generation of ultrasonic tourniquet systems that have the potential to supplant and replace automated tourniquet systems that are commonly used in surgery throughout the world.

General information on surgical tourniquets can be found by visiting www.tourniquets.org, and by reading reference publication [1]. Specific information on new and disruptive ultrasonic tourniquet innovations pioneered by Western Clinical Engineering Ltd of Vancouver can be found in patent references [2] and [3]. Introductory information on 2D ultrasound sensing arrays can be found in reference [4].

(PDF copies of all references are available from the company.)

[1] Noordin S, McEwen J, Kragh J, Eisen A, Masri B. Current Concepts: Surgical tourniquets in orthopaedics. J Bone Joint Surg Am (Dec 2009); 91: 2958-2967.

[2] McEwen J, Jameson M. Ultrasonic Tourniquet System. US Patent No. 8,366,740, Issued 5 Feb 2013.

[3] McEwen J, et al. Tourniquet apparatus for controlling blood penetration. Patent App No. PCT/CA2010/000106, published Jul 28, 2011.

[4] IEEE Spectrum. Next-Gen Ultrasound: Medical imaging borrows techniques from the microelectronics industry, 1 May 2009.

Project Main Objective(s):

The overall objective of the project is to design, implement and initially evaluate the first practical ultrasonic tourniquet system, based on the innovations described in the above-referenced patents, for use in common orthopedic surgical procedures performed on the upper limb (arm) and lower limb (leg). If possible, this new system will use new CMUT 2D ultrasonic arrays which are quickly becoming available commercially. If CMUT 2D arrays are not available for use in the project, then a combination of readily available (1D) ultrasonic transducers could be used.

Project Main Deliverable(s):

The main deliverable is a working prototype ultrasonic tourniquet system:

(a) that has a patient-applied part suitable for application to both upper and lower limbs of human subjects without compromising access to surgical sites and their sterility;

(b) that is suitable for use on human subjects in a biomedical engineering lab setting to evaluate safety, accuracy, simplicity and ultimate cost in comparison to non-ultrasonic systems now available; and

(c) that is potentially suitable for initial demonstration in an actual orthopaedic surgical procedure.

Related deliverables are to demonstrate the implemented prototype system in a lab setting, and to complete an initial evaluation of the prototype in terms of safety, accuracy, simplicity and ultimate cost, in comparison to automated tourniquet systems now in use.

Special considerations (equipment, location, constraints, existing material…):

The sponsoring company, Western Clinical Engineering Ltd, will cover all approved costs of materials, supplies and special equipment. Also, the company will make available to the student team key staff who have many years of extensive knowledge about, and extensive experience with, surgical tourniquet systems.

The project team will have access to the company's lab, including its exemplars of automated tourniquet systems and accessories, its Ultrasonix ultrasound system and its standard first generation ultrasonic transducers. Additionally, the company will help the student team in seeking information and support from related ultrasound companies and from companies involved in supplying ultrasonic systems for a related and now discontinued project of the US Department of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) .

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56. Five Projects from Zaber Technologies (Zaber)

Andrew Lau, Zaber Technologies   

Zaber Technologies was founded in 1997 by a group of friends, all former UBC students. We develop and manufacture precision motion control products, many of which use open-loop microstepping drives that can achieve resolutions of 0.1 um or better with ±10 um accuracy over 50 mm of travel. Researchers, engineers, systems integrators, and OEMs from around the world use our products in a wide variety of markets including optics and photonics, lab automation, microscopy, and industrial automation.

Zaber was founded by fizzers and electro-mechs from UBC. We have a flat structure, flexible working hours, and a very friendly work environment. We are completely employee-owned with no outside funding. We are profitable and growing organically at double digits every year. Sign up for one of our projects to experience first-hand why Zaber is a different kind of company.

Project 1 - XY Stick-Slip Piezo Stage

Background: Zaber manufactures precision motion control products that incorporate a carriage driven by a lead-screw directly coupled to a stepper motor. The practical resolution achievable with such a system is limited to around 0.1 um by sticktion effects.  For customer applications requiring finer resolution, Zaber would like to develop piezo-driven actuators.

The Laboratory for Atomic Imaging Research (LAIR) has been doing cutting edge research in Scanning Tunneling Microscopy, one component of which is precision motion control using piezo actuators. LAIR is interested in further developing the technology, and in exploring industry collaboration and commercialization opportunities for the technology.

Project Objectives:   If you are interested in precision mechanics and motion control, this project is for you!

Zaber Technologies and LAIR have teamed up to begin developing XY positioner stages

for scanning microscopy based on piezoelectric actuators.  This project will involve researching, designing and prototyping an XY positioner with 10 mm x 10 mm travel and 50 nanometer spatial resolution using the a stick-slip piezoelectric actuator. A successful design has the potential to eventually be incorporated into one of LAIR’s cutting edge Scanning Tunneling Microscopes or a commercial product produced by Zaber.

Principles of a Piezo Stick-Slip Actuator. Source: Wikimedia Commons

The successful student team will learn much about cutting edge research techniques as well as the steps to commercialize a product from the co-sponsors.

Design and Analysis: This is a multidisciplinary project that involves:

• Designing a compact XY stage that operates on the principle of stick-slip
• Researching the appropriate piezo material suitable for actuating the stage
• Designing the high-voltage electronics to drive the stage
• Bringing it all together in a functional prototype
• Testing the stage for performance

Resources Available: The students will have access to the combined resources of both LAIR and Zaber. There will be weekly meetings with both collaborating sponsors, alternating at LAIR and at Zaber's office. There is also a budget allocated for building the prototype.

Expected Technical Background: This is an ideal project for somebody interested in diving deeper into precision mechanics and motion control. Useful skills include proficiency with SolidWorks, knowledge of mechanical design, material properties, analog and power electronics, and solid documentation skills and attention to detail.

Preference: 8-month group

Project 2 - XY Flexure Piezo Stage

Background: Zaber manufactures precision motion control products that incorporate a carriage driven by a lead-screw directly coupled to a stepper motor. The practical resolution achievable with such a system is limited to around 0.1 um by sticktion effects. For customer applications requiring finer resolution, Zaber would like to develop piezo-driven actuators.

The Laboratory for Atomic Imaging Research (LAIR) has been doing cutting edge research in Scanning Tunneling Microscopy, one component of which is precision motion control using piezo actuators. The LAIR is interested in further developing the technology, as well as exploring industry collaboration and commercialization potentials for the technology.

Project Objectives: If you are interested in precision mechanics and motion control,

this project is for you!

Zaber Technologies and LAIR have teamed up to begin developing XY positioner stages for scanning microscopy based on piezoelectric actuators.  

This project will involve researching, designing, and prototyping an XY positioner with 1 mm x 1 mm travel and 1 nanometer spatial resolution using a flexure-style piezoelectric actuator. A successful design has the potential to eventually be incorporated into a commercial product produced by Zaber, or one of the LAIR’s cutting edge Scanning Tunneling Microscopes.

Figure:   Example of a Flexure Stage

The successful student team will learn much about cutting edge research techniques aswell as the steps to commercialize a product from the co-sponsors.

Design and Analysis: This is a multidisciplinary project that involves:

• Designing a compact XY flexure stage
• Researching the appropriate piezo material suitable for actuating the stage
• Designing the high-voltage electronics to drive the stage
• Bringing it all together in a functional prototype
• Testing the stage for performance

Resources Available: The students will have access to the combined resources of both LAIR and Zaber. There will be weekly meetings with both collaborating sponsors, alternating at LAIR and at Zaber's office. There is also a budget allocated for building the prototype.

Expected Technical Background: This is an ideal project for somebody interested in diving deeper into precision mechanics and motion control. Useful skills include proficiency with SolidWorks, knowledge of mechanical design, material properties, analog and power electronics, and solid documentation skills and attention to detail.

Preference: 8-month group

Project 3 - Precision Position Measurement Through Image Analysis

Background: Modern CCD cameras are cheap and offer very high resolution image capture. The technology behind these devices is also constantly evolving, getting better and cheaper every year. We believe there is the potential to develop a CCD-based measurement system that can be used to perform quick, non-contact, micron-scale accuracy measurements. Some laboratory experiments have been done supporting this idea and there are even a few commercial measurement systems available based on CCDs. Can you improve upon these devices? What is the accuracy limit for this type of measurement system?

An example of a conventional position measurement device is the Heidenhain MT 1271 glass scale encoder shown below. At Zaber, we use this encoder primarily to measure the accuracy of our linear stages during product development. The tests is cumbersome to set up and run and are subject to some limitations. For example, the MT 1271 can only provide position measurement over 10 mm. It is also subject to misalignment error.

Left:  Optical Flow Example (A.Stahl, P. Ruhnau and C.Schnörr: A Distributed-Parameter Approach toDynamic Image Motion)

Right:  Heidenhain MT 1271 optical linear encoder

Project Objectives: Develop an image analysis-based system for the precise position measurement of a motion control device. The system will consist of a physical camera apparatus paired with processing and control algorithms run on a portable computer. The output of one test will be a data set of position error v.s. target position for a stage moving through its full travel. The system should be able to measure accuracy to 1 micron, and an emphasis should be placed on robustness and speed.

Possible Applications: A successful measurement system has the potential to decrease the cost of precision measurement by an order of magnitude. Our primary need is for an accuracy test which can be run quickly on every product that goes out the door. An embedded miniature version of this system could be used with closed-loop control to achieve extremely high accuracy positioning. A novel measurement scheme could have wide ranging applications in every field from astrophysics to microbiology.

Design and Analysis:

• Model the theoretical accuracy and potential sources of error in this system
• Design the physical system and determine specifications for any equipment
• Implement or develop an analysis algorithm which interfaces with the moving device and the camera(s)

Resources: We will be providing resources, guidance, and funding for the fabrication of a prototype. Your team may also work alongside engineers at our office a few days a week. We will provide two linear encoders that can be used to verify the operation of prototypes: one has 10 mm of travel and 50 nm resolution; the other has 1 m of travel and 1 um resolution. We will also provide several linear stages that can be used for testing.

Preference: Either 4 or 8 months

[ &]  Project 4 - Interference Pattern Reader

[& Sept 13 - now claimed by 479 group ]

To review this posting, go to the password-protected writeup:   ProjectLab2013 - additional contents »

Project 5 - Diode Laser Stabilization System

To review this posting, go to the password-protected writeup:   ProjectLab2013 - additional contents »

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57. Projects at the UBC Farm (UBC Farm)

Véronik Campbell,  Academic Coordinator, Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm

Background:

The UBC Farm/Centre for Sustainable Food Systems is a 24 hectare teaching, research, and demonstration farm located on the UBC Vancouver campus.

There are four distinct categories needing improvement at the farm:

(1) Labour intensive processes: tools, manual processes, ergonomics, mechanization, automation, record keeping,

(2) Environmental elements requiring manipulation, control and monitoring: soil, water, heat, light,

(3) Production volume and quality: seeds and seedling planting process, thinning, weeds, pests, disease, harvest, processing, packaging, storage, and

(4) Organization and management: planning, monitoring, recording, data management.

The UBC Farm has suggested that students interested in doing projects with the farm to visit the site, meet with staff members and graduate students, and evaluate evaluate one of the four components above and create a tool/project for improvement.   An example of two potential project topics:

• A hop dehydrator. The UBC Farm has recently began a pretty important organic hop production. The goal is to grow, dry, and sell the hops to homebrewers and ideally to local microbrewery with the hope that one day, we will have a UBC Farm beer. Drying hops is a complex process, where temperature need to be controlled in a specific manner but also complex because the quantity of hops we must dry is enormous and our space resources minimal.  (From Emily Carmichael, perennial plant coordinator)
• Seeding Warming System.  Developing a way of effectively using heat generated by active compost to warm seedlings on a seedling start table. Our thoughts have been to use water tubes to transfer the warmed water from the compost to the table. This is an old idea that requires much refinement.

It is recommended that projects with the farm be limited to 8-month students (459) who are also available in the Sept-Dec term to physically visit the UBC Farm for on-site meetings and project discussion.

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58. Front-Wheel Removable Electric Bicycle Motor (Kotlicki)

Andrzej Kotlicki, UBC Physics and Astronomy

Attempt to build a removable all-in-one unit for a friction-drive system containing both the battery pack, motor, and motor controller for the front wheel of a bicycle.  Similar systems are being designed for the back wheel (including one that involves some significant Engphys input on a project based out of MIT, the Copenhagen Wheel Project), and a few systems have been built with front-wheel friction drive (see here and here), combining both features and designing the system for a newer generation of smaller more powerful LiPo batteries has yet to be completed.  A system attached to the front wheel fork may allow for a few improvements over existing kits, including the use of a much smaller drive motor, and the ability to swap the motor in and out the system relatively easily without having to replace the wheel or hub.

Groups last year contributed to the first iteration of the project:   Front Wheel Electric Drive Bicycle Motor (2013)   The next iteration will attempt to bring together all of the elements into a transportable self-contained unit which can be used by the Project Sponsor and others on a variety of rental bicycles in Vancouver and, ideally, throughout Europe.  The next iteration will take the components from the previous generation and focus on manufacturability, the ease of use on the most popular styles of rental bicycles, and minimal manual adjustments required to fit a variety of bicycles.

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59. Boat barnacle scraping system  (Kotlicki)

Andrzej Kotlicki, UBC Physics and Astronomy

It is difficult and expensive to remove barnacles and other buildup from the hulls of recreational boats.  Although some tools make the operation easier to perform manually (like             the Waveblade Barnacle Eater),  it is still a manually intensive process.

There are large automated systems (the US Navy BUG robot) targeted at doing large vessels, but no solution exists for smaller recreational boats, which might benefit from having a system for easy servicing of the hulls without necessarily going into drydock.   It may be that a passive system to prevent buildup might be the optimal solution (the Barnacle Guard for pontoon pylons), if a group could design such a system.

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60. Active Bio-Mechanical Feedback Device for Elite Sport Training (Marasigan)

Joel Marasigan

Background Information

In many competitive sports, the separation between good and elite athletes is often determined by his/her ability to make minute joint angle adjustments, hitting the bio-mechanical sweet-spot crucial for top performance. These crucial movements are so minute in nature, that without more tangible feedback, they continue to elude many athletes.

A device capable of providing feedback to an athlete during activity can enable the athlete to develop awareness toward achieving such crucial fine motor skills. In addition, extra recording capabilities can further allow analysis between two different performances; therefore a more tangible performance target can be better defined and achieved.

Project Main Objective(s)

To create a discreet and low impeding wearable device measuring angular changes within joints during athletic movements. As a proof of concept, a device shall be specialized to measure only shoulder and elbow joint rotations, with the following requirements:

• +/- 1 degree of resolution
• reference positions can be set
• a threshold of deviation from the reference position can be set
• an audible feedback will be given when deviation from the reference position exceeds a specified threshold
• must not rely on external cameras or sensors
• the target BOM (Bill of Materials) cost of this device covering 4 joints is under $100.00

Optional Objectives

The team can expand the scope of the project to include the additional requirements below, after the primary objectives are met:

• Real-time recording of the joint angles for post-processing/analysis

• Local recording and separate downloading
• Real-time streaming to a mobile device for monitoring

• Extending to other joints
• Expanding monitoring of angular movement from singular dimension to 3-D movement

Project Main Deliverable(s)

• Fully functional prototype as described above.
• Detailed design documentation, covering:

• Design concept and analysis
• Assembly and usage instructions
• Firmware and software designs and source codes

• Detailed test report
• Recommendation for next phase

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61. [ & ] Remote Control and Access of Cattle Gates at UBC Dairy Centre (Weary)

Dr. Dan Weary, UBC Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems.

[ & - Sept 23 - claimed by 459 group ] 

Introduction and background

UBC’s Animal Welfare Program (AWP) aim is “to improve the lives of animals through research, education, and public outreach”. To aid researchers in their endeavor, this engineering project aims to provide AWP researchers with the tools and means with which they can scientifically assess the behaviour of dairy cows living in stalls and on the farms.  The UBC Dairy Education and Research Centre, located in Agassiz, houses more than 225 lactating animals which form part of a closed teaching research herd of approximately 500 animals.

Previous posted projects from the AWP have focused on instrumenting the stalls holding the cattle, and gathering information about the position of the animals within the stalls (lying down, standing fully, standing leaning against the stall), as well as instrumenting the feeding of the calves to measure the time and delivery of liquids to growing calves.

This project focuses on developing remote automation of the gates separating the cattle in the stalls from the fields where they can graze freely.   There is interest in allowing users to remotely grant access to the cattle to access the fields depending on the specific cattle, the time of the day, or whatever other criteria the user would like to apply.   Having such a tool available would allow researchers to investigate the differences with different populations interacting with the cows (urban/rural, young/old, dairy workers/dairy customers), in monitoring their interactions with the cattle and gates and seeing whether different populations respond to different situations, incentives or disincentives to remotely controlling the gates for the cattle (e.g. opening the gates for their “favourite cows”, or requiring users to pay some fee to free the cattle, to compensate the cattle owners for the increase in operating costs of having cattle roam freely)

The technology would involve some or all of the following:

• Remote / Automated Cattle Gates  (similar to these items)
• RFID tags and readers (all cattle are currently tagged with industry-standard markers.  If these tags cannot be read, a trial can be done with any other variety of tags to help automate the system).
• Local hardware for reading the tags, accessing the gates, and using other means to automatically detect the passage of the cows through the gates (proximity sensors, video analysis).   Wifi access is available at the farm.
• Software to allow for remote access to the hardware.

Resources 

UBC Animal Welfare Program will provide the stall hardware needed for the project. Scientists from the Program will meet with students weekly to discuss progress and provide support.

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62. Five Projects From Misty West (Misty West)

MistyWest is an innovative engineering consulting company based out of Vancouver, Canada with very strong Engphys Representation in its founders and employees.  MistyWest specializes in the research and design of sustainable energy and transport products, solutions and policies.

Project 1 -   Deployable Solar Bike Trailer

Project Objectives: To develop a simple deployable solar assembly to be used in-place of portable fuel generators at public events (e.g. eatART). The assembly will include an integrated power inverter and battery conditioning system. The assembly is to be mounted to a bike trailer and have the ability to collapse and stow for delivery by bike. Total power should be as high as feasible for a portable array.

Expected Outcome: Prototype design may include (but not limited to);

1. Simple mechanical deployment or assembly for solar array
2. Battery charge conditioning system (monitor battery condition and include programmed charge conditioning cycles)
3. Display for battery capacity, condition, and power up-time (based on draw         from electronics currently plugged in)

Project 2 -   Folding Skateboard

Project Objectives: To design and prototype a skateboard (or longboard) which can be folded into itself to become its own carrying case (e.g. briefcase form factor). The entire skateboard must be easy to conceal without the use of tools or external parts. When folded, the skateboard case should expose an integrated carrying handle and appear to be a generic briefcase.

It is more important for the briefcase to appear as a generic case when folded over looking like skateboard when riding (i.e. in the worst case, it is better to look like a briefcase skateboard opposed to a skateboard briefcase).

Expected Outcome: Prototype will include;

1. Simple mechanism for collapsing the skateboard into a briefcase
2. Mechanism will be stiff enough to function on sidewalks/asphalt (e.g. low durometer, large diameter wheels)
3. Custom design of deck, trucks, wheels, etc. as necessary to adopt a folding mechanism
4. Board         size can be between the size of a skateboard or longboard – case         size must be light/small enough to carry comfortably

[&] Project 3  -    Smart Door Lock  

[& Sept 5 - claimed by 479 group]

Project Objectives: Develop a (ideally) non-invasive method for reporting the status of a door lock/deadbolt lock. Once detected, the device will report the lock status online (e.g. web server, twitter) for public viewing. In addition, the lock status will also be displayed to a remote light which will pull from the online web server (e.g. dock locked = light on).

Specifically, this project will be used as an occupancy sensor for the washroom at the HiVE co-working office space.

Expected Outcome: Prototype design should include;

1. Internet enabled door lock monitor
2. Method for publicly reporting the lock status online (e.g. web GUI, Twitter, etc)
3. Remote LED light/sign to display the lock status wirelessly

Project 4  -    Interactive desk sculpture

Project Objectives: Develop an artistic, interactive desk sculpture that is responsive to its environment. This is an open ended creative design project. The design of sculpture is open to interpretation by the students but should include use of unique mechanisms (e.g. 3D printed organic structures, water motion, LED light pipes) and environmental sensors (sound, light, touch, motion, water).

Expected Outcome: Details and scope to be decided upon between the student and MistyWest

Project 5  -  Happiness Meter

Project Objectives: The goal of this project is to determine and implement a metric for monitoring office happiness. We are interested in collecting happiness data (e.g. twice a day) from employees and intelligently correlating emotional treads to work load, projects, calendar activity, day of the week, weather, etc.

The implementation of this system should involve a physical prototype to allow employees to anonymously “vote” towards or against happiness. Votes throughout the day will be tallied together and weighted with an algorithm designed based on a psychology literature review.

Expected Outcome: This project will have three major components;

1. Research on the psychology of measuring happiness related to work environments
2. Development         of an algorithm for taking a user prompted input, and a physical prototype which will take the inputs (e.g. voting system, buttons, touch scale)         
3. Uniquely display the communal happiness level in real-time (e.g. brightness of LED array, inflating/deflating happy face balloon, etc).

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63. [ & ] Calibration Source Manipulator System for Hyper-Kamiokande  (Tanaka)

Hirohisa Tanaka, UBC Physics and Astronomy

[ & - Sept 23 - claimed by 459 group ]

Introduction

Extremely large water cherenkov (WC) detectors have been at the forefront in the study of neutrinos for nearly two decades. The basic principle of these detectors it to provide an enormous volume of highly pure water and instrument the periphery with photosensors called photomultiplier tubes. Relativistic charged particles emitted from neutrino interactions in the water will generate light known as Cherenkov radiation. This light is detected by the photosensors, and an analysis of the light pattern can determine the species and kinematics of the particles, which in turn are related to the properties of the incident neutrino. The photon on the left of Figure 1 shows Super-Kamiokande, the world’s largest WC detector with the water partially drained. The yellow bulbous objects are the 20” photomultiplier tubes, of which more than 11,000 line the walls. For scale, two people in a raft can be seen in the back.

An even more ambitious WC detector called (rather unimaginatively) Hyper-Kamiokande (HK) is now being planned. The basic layout of HK is shown on the right of Figure 1. It will consist of two volumes of water nearly 250 meters in length and 50 meters tall and wide, to contain one megatonne of water viewed by 99000 photosensors.

Since the Cherenkov radiation must traverse many meters of water to arrive at the photosensors, water quality is critical to the WC detectors. The water quality is typically measured through the detector by deploying calibration devices like lasers fibers and radioactive sources throughout the detector with a deployment system.

Figure 1: Left: Super-Kamiokande (SK), the world’s largest water Cherenkov detector. Right: Hyper-Kamiokande, a proposed upgrade to SK which will contain 1 megatonne of water in two volumes.

Project Description

The project is to design such a calibration deployment system for HK. One starting point is the SNO manipulator system shown in Figure 2. Using a system of pulleys and cords with anchor points on the sides of the detector, a calibration source is moved in a two-dimensional plane within the detector. A similar system could be employed within HK, though other concepts can be considered and explored. The challenges include:

1. The size and shape of HK: as can be seen in Figure 1, HK has an egg-shaped cross section where each volume is divided lengthwise into 5 caverns. Ideally, the system should be able to deploy the source to any location within the volume with ~1 cm accuracy.
2. The system must work remotely and reliably with an expected lifetime of a decade. Any failure, including the system getting stuck or the cord snapping, etc. could be disastrous for the experiment.  
3. The vertical clearance above in the area above the detector, where such a system would be installed, is limited. The floor can also support a limited weight.

The project is envisaged to have several phases:

1. Several design options for a system are considered and a default is chosen.
2. The design is developed while identifying the critical engineering challenges and potential failure modes, as well as feedback and monitoring systems.
3. A scaled down system which tests as many of these critical issues is designed.
4. The scaled down system is built and operated.

A scaled-down prototype version of the HK detector will be built in a few years. The scaled-down system should be compatible with this prototype detector, which will likely be a cylinder approximately 6 meters in radius and 10 meters in height in order to accommodate 1 kT of water.

Required Skills:

The project involves primarily mechanical and controls issues. Prior experience with robotics, remotely operated systems, etc. would likely be very useful. Familiarity with CAD tools (ANSYS, SolidWorks, etc.) will be also very useful.

Figure 2:  The SNO calibration deployment system.  The left shows the overall scheme, where mainipulator ropes are used to position the source within a plane.  The right shows the glove blox and spooling system on top of the detector.

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64. A miniature wireless rotary encoder for measuring the rotation of the C-arm gantry  (Amiri)

Dr. Shahram Amiri - Centre for Hip Health & Mobility

C-arms are medical imaging devices used for acquiring x-rays during surgery. One area of focus of our lab at the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility is in developing technologies for enhancing the use of intraoperative imaging. Measurements of the exact rotational angle of the gantry of C-arm fluoroscope can help add more imaging capabilities to these devices. The project is related to design/build/tests of a miniature contact rotary encoder wheel that can be mounted on any design of the C-arm to report the exact rotational angle of the C-gantry of the device and communicate live measurements to a laptop-PC through Bluetooth communication. Requirements for the student are very high skills and previous experiences in both microelectronics and mechanical design.   The costs of the consumable or rapid prototype will be provided by the sponsor.

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65. [ & ] Three projects from the Murphy Lab (Murphy Silasi)

Tim Murphy, UBC Neuroscience  / Greg Silasi, Department of Psychiatry and the Brain Research Centre   [% Sept 4 -  corrected link to lab ]

[ & - Sept 23 - claimed by 459 and 479 groups ]

Project 1  -   Automated tracking of individual mice being trained as a group on a behavioural task.

Objectives and Scope

Implement radio frequency (RF) tagging or other technology to identify individual mice during a group-housed behavioural task for stroke recovery experiments. Mice are trained over days to enter a compartment in their home cage and perform a lever-pulling task, which progresses in difficulty. We need an automated method for tracking which mouse enters the compartment so that reward schedules can be matched to individual performance. Developing software for data logging and analysis are also part of this project.

Resources available

We have a functional version of the apparatus for training the mice and appropriate ID sensors can be purchased based on the recommendation of the group. The solution should be compatible with our current Raspberry Pi data acquisition hardware.

Budget: $500

Project 2. Measuring limb forces and applying a perturbation force in a mouse lever-pulling task.

Objectives and Scope

We train mice on a lever-pulling task to assess motor performance while we apply non-invasive brain stimulation (see below) to potentially alter recovery after stroke.  The current version of the task uses a simple microswitch to detect a lever pull and trigger a reward. We need an upgraded lever system, potentially a torque motor, to measure the timing and duration of the force applied by the mice. Furthermore, we wish to apply a perturbation force to the lever, which will require the mice to alter the applied force in order to receive a reward. The mouse forelimb weighs less than 2 grams, so the forces involved will be small.

Resources available

We have a functional version of the apparatus for training the mice and appropriate sensors can be purchased based on the recommendation of the group. We also have all the data acquisition hardware such as National Instruments boards and Raspberry Pi.

Budget: $400

Project 3  -   Developing hardware and software for patterned brain stimulation

Objectives and Scope

We use transgenic mice expressing light-sensitive proteins to stimulate or inhibit neurons within the brain. This technique – known as optogenetics – was voted the “Method of the year for 2010” by the prestigious Nature Publishing Group. This emerging field has great potential to advance progress in the field of Brain Machine  Interface and will open new therapeutic strategies such as neuro-opto-prosthetis. Our current setup allows for a single laser beam to be targeted to a specific brain  region (see above), however we would like to expand our technique to allow multiwavelenght spatiotemporal patterned light stimulation and therefore target multiple points on the brain simultaneously with different colors. This can be done with a Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) or a commercially available videoprojector. Software controlling the pattern and timing of stimuli will have to be developed.

Available Resources

We will purchase the data projector or DMD device depending on the request of the group. All other hardware, optics and electronics are available in our lab.

Budget:  $400 + we will purchase DMD.        

From Tsuda et al.  2013,  Neuroscience  Research

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66. Manipulating Nanoparticles Using Trapped Photons (Young)

Jeff Young, UBC Physics and Astronomy

This project includes a number of technical challenges all related to the further development of a recently developed technique for using optical forces to trap ~ 30 nm diameter metal nanoparticles at precise locations in optical microcavities fabricated in silicon-on-insulator wafers.  These structures have potential applications in sensing, and in quantum-information schemes involving photons.

The technical tasks include:

1. Learning to use our spectroscopy system, and then systematically characterizing  the optical properties of existing microcavity arrays (determining the transmission efficiency and cavity quality factor)
2. Learning the layout software and generating new fabrication files (.gds) for next-generation devices
3. Upgrading our optical characterization system to perform new types of characterizations using multiple laser sources.

This is a multi-member project that should expose the group to state-of-the art nanofabrication, optical characterization, and optical spectroscopy techniques.

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67. Cryogenic Ion Etching (Young)

Jeff Young, UBC Physics and Astronomy

It has recently been discovered that the quality of silicon nano-patterned with a chlorine-based reactive ion process can be dramatically improved if the sample is maintained at a temperature of -100 C.  This requires the development of custom sample chucks compatible with the reactive ion etcher, that can reach these temperatures in a controllable manner.  This project will involve, at a minimum, the design of a cryogenic sample chuck compatible with an existing reactive ion etcher in AMPEL.  It is likely that a prototype can be fabricated and tested during the project as well.

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68. Simulation and Demonstration of Robot Arm Products (Remtech)

Bahador Moosavi,  Remtech Systems   [ % Sept 3 added images ]

Background

Remtech Systems (http://www.remtechsystems.com/), a proud member of the Williams and White Group of Companies, offers turnkey robotic products and automated solutions to its Bahadcustomers, mainly in the manufacturing sector. Remtech Systems has recently started to standardize some of its products involving industrial robotic arms for applications such as Machine Tending, Machining, Palletizing and high speed pick & place.  Teams working on this project will utilize resources from Remtech's product development team to fully engineer some of these products.

Deliverables

The student group will be responsible to choose one or two of these products and completely design them. The design should include a complete BOM, a Solidworks simulation and a working demonstration (including time and reach studies) on RobotStudio or RobotGuide.

Pending the complete success of the design stage, the group may get a chance to set up a complete demonstration cell in Remtech System's facility in Burnaby.

Resources

Teams are expected to have access to Solidworks and other software; however, Remtech Systems will provide access to one RobotStudio or RobotGuide seat per team at Remtech Systems' facility in Burnaby.   Remtech Systems will also provide the team with their knowledge and expertise including engineering reviews. Should the project move to the second stage for setting up a demo cell, Remtech Systems will pay for all the hardware.

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69. [&] Breather (MacLean)

Karon MacLean, UBC Computer Science / SPIN Lab

[ # CROSS-POSTING    This project is being cross-posted to UBC MECH Capstone Project Courses ]

[ & This project has been claimed by a MECH capstone group ]

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70. [&] Kite Power - Control Algorithm Design, Image Processing, UI Design  (Emery)

Adrien Emery, UBC Engineering Physics

[ & - Sept 10 - Project claimed by 479 group] 

Background:

Over the past three semesters I have been working through ENPH 459, 479 and EECE 496 to develop an autonomous Kite Power system (http://adrienemery.com/2012/10/25/enph479/). The end goal is to generate electricity from the force of the spooled tether being pulled out while turning a generator (See here fore a bit of thoery: http://adrienemery.com/kite-power/ ). To do this we need to develop and autonomous kite that can reliably stay in the air under varying wind conditions. Currently we have a working remote controlled system with initial control algorithms waiting to be tested.

Design:

- Develop and test control algorithms based of feedback of webcam feed to control kite in 3 separate flight patterns.

- Improve reliability and accuracy of image processing data to track kite in the air

- Add to/Upgrade control UI built in Qt

Resources available: Eng Phys Project Lab

Expected Technical Background:

- OpenCV

- Arduino

- Python

- Qt (C++ or PyQt/PySide)

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71.  [%] Localizing sound sources using an acoustical antenna (Hodgson)

Murray Hodgson, UBC Mechanical Engineering / Acoustics and Noise Research Group   [% Sept 4 - first posting of project. ]

An acoustical antenna comprising a hemispherical array of 26+1 microphones and beam-forming software, including the DAMAS algorithm to improve spatial resolution, has been developed and tested to estimate the distribution of sound intensity incident on the microphone array from the half-space in which it points. This follow-on project will extend this work to apply the antenna to the determination of the 3D coordinates of sound sources by making multiple measurements at different positions and using triangulation techniques. A comprehensive triangulation algorithm will be developed. The resulting system will be tested with single and multiple sound sources, in free-field (anechoic chamber) and reverberant (room) environments when empty and containing obstacles, and then in an industrial workshop.

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72. [& ] Project from STEMCELL Technologies (STEMCELL)

[ &  Sept 13 - now claimed by 479 group ]

Steven Poon, STEMCELL Technologies.   [% Sept 4 - first posting of project]

[ # CROSS-POSTING    This project is being cross-posted to UBC EECE Capstone Project Courses ]

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73. [%] Network Analyzer  (Michal)

Carl Michal, UBC Physics and Astronomy [% Sept 4th first posting ]

A network analyzer based upon a 500 MHz PTS synthesizer under arduino control is planned. The necessary interface and measurement hardware exists, but arduino firmware and host computer software to operate the analyzer do not. This project will require knowledge of rf transmission line theory, arduino programming and cross-platform GUI programming. The end result should be a full-featured network analyzer for characterizing the impedance of circuits up to 500 MHz.

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74. [% #] Non-intrusive natural gas metering for fireplaces  (Structured Reports)

Stefan Storey, Structured Reports Corp.  [% Sept 4 - first posting]

[ # CROSS-POSTING    This project is being cross-posted to UBC EECE Capstone Project Courses ]

Background Information:

In large strata buildings with multiple suites, natural gas is often metered for the whole building but rarely for individual suites. Residents in these suites are not directly billed for their gas, rather, the bill is paid from a central communal strata operating fund. This means there is no financial incentive to conserve fuel. Worse, some suite residents treat the gas supply as ‘free’ and shed thermal heating from their metered electrical baseboards to unmetered ‘free’ natural gas fireplaces.

This project aims to redress the issue by finding cheap metering solutions to be installed on individual fireplaces

Project Main Objective(s):

The objective is to build a proof-of-principle device that will estimate how much gas is being consumed in a suite fireplace. The device must then relay data back to a central cloud-based server.

Functional requirements:

To create a meter that will measure, log and return consumption data. The device must be non-intrusive and be simple to install. The device must be discrete, preferentially non-visible, and not in any way be detrimental to the resident.

There is considerable flexibility within the solution space of the device. Sensors may include temperature, combustion gas concentrations, or indirect flow measurement of the device.

Project Main Deliverable(s):

A metering device must be minimally capable of:

1. Sensing when the fireplace/boiler is switched on
2. Sensing flow rate to at least 80% accuracy
3. Sending data back to cloud based server
4. Basic  visualization of data

The device, along with the data transfer capability and simple visualization mark project completion and success.

Expected technical background

Required: Experience in C, Python programming or similar languages

Desirable: Experience in programming micro-controllers such as Arduino, communication with sensors.

Resource available for the project

Any of the following: Arduino/Beagle Bone controllers, RPi platform. Basic sensors temp/CO2/RH

Access to acoustic instrumentation

Eng fizz alumni support!

Length of term

Project completion in 1 or 2 terms. If the project is for two terms then the web based communication and visualization platform can be developed further

Special considerations (equipment, location, constraints, existing material…):

Support: SRC will be able to meet with the students on a regular bases as they like as we are currently in graduate studies at UBC.

Intellectual Property: An NDA will need to be signed before project start. All IP would remain with SRC

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75. [%] Project #75

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76. [%] A scripted control system for ultra-cold atom experiments

Prof. Kirk W. Madison, UBC Physics and Astronomy

[ % added to list Sept 6th]

Our experiments with laser cooled atoms are fully automated and presently controlled by a combination of python scripts and lower level code (C++ and assembly).  We would like to incorporate a few new hardware devices (including a residual gas analyzer, or RGA) that communicate over ethernet.  This project would entail (among other things) coding a new control structure to acquire data from the RGA and incorporate its control in the existing frame work.

Additional work would include the design and implementation of various optimization algorithms for the experiments (including a so-called "Particle Swarm Optimization).  In addition, the design and implementation of a GUI for the control system is a potential goal for this project. Similar work has recently been published:

A scripted control system for autonomous hardware-timed experiments

http://arxiv.org/pdf/1303.0080v3.pdf

Footnote: The Particle Swarm Optimization is an iterative optimization method in which each particle in the optimization has a position and a velocity in the parameter space.  The particles experience an attraction to the best global particle and the best position that the particle had in its past.  With every iteration, each particles fitness is evaluated and its historical best and the global best are updated.  Once every particle has been evaluated, new velocities are calculated for the particles, and the particles are moved to new positions based on their velocities and a new iteration can begin.

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77. [ % ]Quantum-Gas-Microscope : A high-resolution, diffraction limited microscope for the imaging and study of molecular Bose-Einstein condensates and atomic Fermi degenerate quantum gases  (Madison)

Prof. Kirk W. Madison, UBC Physics and Astronomy

[ % added to list Sept 9th]

Recently at UBC, we have produced a quantum degenerate gas of fermionic atoms and, for the first time in Canada, a Bose Einstein condensate of molecules (http://pra.aps.org/abstract/PRA/v88/i2/e023624).  The starting point for both experiments is a laser cooled atomic cloud that we then transfer into an optical tweezer and cool by evaporation to temperatures below 500 nK.

This project will involve the design, construction, testing, and installation of an optical imaging system with a diffraction limited resolution of about 1.5 microns.  With this imaging system, we will have the optical resolution to detect momentum correlations (produced by quantum entanglement) in the spatial correlations of the atoms after a free expansion of the cloud.

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78. [%] Dual-Motor-Brushless Propulsion And Regeneration Controller For Electric Vehicles  (Zender)

Bernhard Zender, UBC Engineering Physics Project Lab

[ % added to list Sept 6th]

This is a power electronics design project (479 suggested)

Brushless motors are now well established for electric propulsion especially for small electric vehicles. While there are plenty of controllers for that purpose currently on the market, none of the existing products offers satisfying performance and efficiency when it comes to regenerative braking. Increasing the motor’s permanent magnet and inductor -sizes would add cost and weight, and so would the use of switched-mode voltage converters especially if the power output is desired to be equal or even higher in regenerative mode, than in drive mode.

This proposal is for a different setup, using two motors each accounting for half of the nominal power. The novel approach here is for obtaining desired voltage levels, which would be done by running the motors in parallel when driving, but switches the setup to a “two-in-series” type when regenerating. The circuit will have to be able to perform the switch from driving to regenerating in a reasonably short time, estimated to be less than 250ms.

Deliverables: Working electronic prototype to operate two permanent magnet outrunner motors (RC hobby type) via one triple-H-bridge (a three phase controller) based on an N-Channel-MOSFET-only design. In regeneration mode the two motors will each have their independent three-phase rectifiers of which the outputs are used in series to obtain a comparatively high output voltage. Switching between the two modes of operation has to include safety circuits that test for proper conditions, to avoid functional overlaps and resulting shortcuts. Testing and mode switching has to be done in less than 250ms, and switching has to be mechanically gentle and easy on the motors. From a user’s perspective, operation is via a single twist-grip type handle like on a conventional motorcycle, with variable power for both acceleration and deceleration, and a middle position for neutral.

        Drive:                                      Regen:

The most likely use for a setup like this would be with a friction-drive type electric bicycle.

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79. [%]  Battery Powered Spot Welder   (Zender)

Bernhard Zender, UBC Engineering Physics Project Lab

[ % added to list Sept 6th]

This is a power electronics design, and entrepreneurial project (459 suggested)

Spot welding is a well established method of joining metals. Lithium polymer batteries of the latest generation have unprecedented power output. These two facts are waiting to be combined into a handheld lightweight tool for cordless welding.

A high-current power circuit will have to be designed and tested, to enable the user to set a desired weld time using a microcontroller. The circuit makes use of the low impedance of high-end Lipo batteries and does not require capacitors. In contrast to a grid-powered welder, this system has to take the reaction time of the battery into account. The microcontroller also monitors battery health, system temperatures as well as battery charge status.

The functioning circuit is to be designed and tested for commercial manufacturing by a low-volume supplier. Once the production-prototype stage has been reached, a business is is to be registered as a joint venture of students and project sponsor, this is part of the deliverables. The main purpose of the business is to market and sell electronics and software, as well as mechanical core components for the entire setup to the do-it-yourself community. For hardware parts that are not electronics, established services such as Ponoko, Shapeways or Solid Concepts are to be utilized, to minimize inventory and material handling/shipping.

The project includes setting up a basic website and videos describing in detail how to build such a spot welder using the parts sold by the business.

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80. [%] ROV with Bidirectional Single Cable Power and Signal  [Dennison]

Glen Dennison, Electronics Technologist, TRIUMF

[% Sept 9 - Project posted to list]

NB:  this is a follow-up project to work done by a 459 group in 2012/13.  The ROV currently resides in the Project Lab.

Introduction

Studying deep water glass sponges in Howe Sound in conjunction with Dr Jeff Marliave of the Vancouver Aquarium we are in need of a ROV system for deep water work on sponge bioherms located on sea mounts in Howe Sound.

Specifications

Depth rating 2000 feet (pressure compensated housing).

Wire tether; Single cable coaxial RG59 or similar

Signals; NTSC video 400 line minimum horizontal resolution

                  Digital control signals for pan and tilt

                  Power feed down the cable  400 watts

                  Signals transmitted top side; video, NMEA format depth, temperature, heading

                  Signals transmitted bottom side; RF modulated motor controls, pan & tilt for cameras

Knowledge Needed:

Electronics; analog, digital, RF

Programming in C or assembler code

Physics; gas laws, coax cable transmission theory

Machining

Pressure Seal technology

Power and Signal Specifications

Wire tether; Single cable coaxial RG59 or similar

Signals; NTSC video 400 line minimum horizontal resolution

                  Digital control signals for pan and tilt

                  Power feed down the cable 400 watts minimum

                  Signals transmitted top side; video, NMEA format depth, temperature, heading

                  Signals transmitted bottom side; RF modulated motor controls, pan & tilt for cameras

Knowledge Needed

Electronics; analog, digital, RF, some medium voltage DC work to 400VDC

Programming in C or assembler code

Physics; coax cable transmission theory

Budget: $300 + sponsor supplies

Hardware Supplied

Camera, cable, pressure sensors, brushed DC motors & controls, power switching modules, Leds, lasers, seals, some enclosures hardware (to be reviewed with design team).

Results

Team to demonstrate in the lab power transfer through 1000 ft of cable at the same time video and control signals are bidirectional transmitted.

Team to demonstrate a working ROV.

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81. [%] Remote Controlled Syringe Pump for Regional Anesthesia

Dr. Raymond Tang,   Director of Regional Anesthesia, Department of Anesthesia, Vancouver Coastal Health

[% added to list Sept 10]

Background, Objectives and Scope:

Regional anesthesia involves the placement of local anesthetic onto specific groups of nerves in order to provide analgesia and/or anesthesia to limb. Surgery may be performed under regional anesthesia and this technique may also be used to provide analgesia following surgery. The nerves are identified by ultrasound with the operator holding a transducer on the patient. Once the nerves are identified, the operator inserts a needle in real-time such that the needle tip and orifice is adjacent to the nerves. Attached to the needle is a tubing and syringe filled with local anesthetic. An assistant then aspirates the syringe to ensure that the needle is not inadvertently placed inside a blood vessel; in that case, blood would be seen in the tubing. Then the assistant injects the local anesthetic around the nerves with the operator directing the injection to ensure that the injectate pattern is adequate by ultrasonography. During injection, the assistant must also monitor the injection pressure as high pressure indicates intraneural injection (needle placed inside the nerve) which should be avoided.

One of the limitations of this model is that an assistant is not always available and the operation of the syringe could be automated via a remote controlled device linked to a syringe pump. Such a device currently does not exist for this purpose.

Design and Analysis:

Syringe pumps are commercially available for the injection and infusion of fluids and medications and there are multiple designs. However, a pump that has the capability of aspiration and injection which can be controlled remotely through a wired or wireless remote is novel. Modification of an existing syringe pump may be an option to fulfill the following criteria:

The syringe pump must have the capability of:

1. Aspirating at a given negative pressure
2. Injecting fluid volumes accurately to industry standards
3. Potentially work with multiple different types of syringes

The syringe pump must monitor and display:

1. Whether the device is injecting or aspirating
2. The volume of local anesthetic injected
3. Injection pressure with alarm setting at high pressures

The remote controlled device should have the characteristics of:

1. Ideally being wireless (ie. Bluetooth)
2. Syncing easily to a specific syringe pump and not interfering with the operation of any other nearby pumps
3. Not interfering with surrounding electronic equipment        
4. Being small enough and easy enough to attach to a ultrasound probe head
5. Having buttons to allow for activation of the aspiration or injection feature of the pump
6. Having buttons that are not too sensitive to cause unintentional activation of the pump and at the same time not too hard to press to interfere with maintaining the ultrasound probe position on the patient

Testing of the prototype device would start with measurements of its function in a lab to ensure accuracy of pressure and volume measurements and proper function of the remote. The device would then be clinically trialed on patients.

Resources Available:

The regional anesthesia research team at Vancouver General Hospital, which includes myself, will be available for regular meetings. A functional syringe pump and ultrasound probe currently being used clinically will be available as a model to base the designs. An initial meeting will allow for a demonstration of the normal conduct of a regional anesthetic technique and explanation of how a remote controlled infusion pump could be utilized to facilitate a one-person technique. Industry standards for infusion pumps will be discussed as well as clinical guidelines for the performance of regional blocks such as injection pressures, speed and volume of injections.

Expected Technical Background:

Applicants should have an interest in developing new medical technology and have experience with electronically controlled devices, particularly wireless technology. Applicants should possess knowledge to design and calibrate equipment to specific industry standards for delivery of drugs at specific volumes and pressures. In the design, ergonomic factors should be taken into account such that the device could be easily used by all clinicians.

Time Frame:

Either a 4 month or 8 month group would work for this project.

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82. [ % ] Adaptive and Responsive Spaces USING EEGs   (UBC SALA)

AnnaLisa Meyboom / Sara Maia, UBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture

I.  RATIONALE/CONTEXT

The evolution of architecture through time has been closely related to available resources and technology. Technology developments and embedded computation has recently allowed architectural spaces to sense, observe, learn, adapt and interact. Meanwhile, architecture is increasingly requested to respond to and perform in an expressly vaster range of criteria.

Technologically, the possibilities of responsive environments are limited by the means to (1) “read” the environment and its use, to (2) process the data and formulate a response, and to (3) executaa a response. The basic current composition of this triad in responsive spaces are sensors, microprocessors and actuators, respectively.  However, parameters of what is possible in robotics continue to expand, through areas of development such as nanotechnology, image processing and touch-based wave propagation. The input mediums that might enable the most versatile and prolific way of human-environment interaction are the non-invasive brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), such as those based on scalp-recorded electroencephalography (EEG).

By the beginning of the current decade, researchers like Royer et al. (2010) and McFarland et al. (2010) succeeded in establishing control in three dimensions using EEG for digital simulation. Also, research in the field has already developed to the point of enabling brain-to-brain interfaces, where a researcher successf ully controls a colleague’s motions (http://www.washington.edu/news/2013/08/27/researcher-controls-colleagues-motions-in-1st-human-brain-to-brain-interface/)  .  The fact that commercial EEG devices of reasonable resolution have been recently made technologically and economically feasible to implement opens a great and still underexplored pot ential of use of EEG devices in interactive environments.

This project will experiment with integrating EEG based responsive technology into interior and urban space. We will examine the functional and emotional qualities of how we interact with buildings and the built environment with regard to a brain signals level, and then create opportunities for augmenting such relationships.  

This project is in conjunction with a professor and graduate student in the UBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (UBC SALA)

II. OBJECTIVES

• To explore the relation between the human perception of space and the human-environment interactions, from a perspective of what can be measured and delivered by current technology;
• To explore the potential of EEG usage in interactive environments.
• To design and fabricate a prototype or digital simulation of interactive element/space conceived to make use of ‘thought’ data to augment relationship with space

III.  Selected References

Braham, W.W., and J.A. Hale. Rethinking Technology: A Reader in Architectural Theory. Taylor & Francis, 2006. Print.

Bullivant, L. 4dspace: Interactive Architecture. John Wiley & Sons Canada, Limited, 2005. Print.

Fox, M., and M. Kemp. Interactive Architecture. Princeton Architectural Press, 2009. Print.

Fox, M. Catching up with the past: A small contribution to a long history of interactive environments. Footprint journal, No. 6, 2010.

Jenkin, Michael, and Harris, Laurence. Seeing Spatial Form. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.

Kronenburg, Robert. Flexible: Architecture that Responds to Change. Laurence King Publishers, 2007.

Kolarevic, Branko. Architecture in the Digital Age: Design and Manufacturing. Ed. New York: Taylor & Francis, 2003, 2005.

Oosterhuis, Kas. Hyperbody: first decade of interactive architecture. Heijningen: Jap Sam Books ; Delft University of Technology, 2012.

A. S. Royer, A. J. Doud, M. L. Rose, Bin He. EEG Control of a Virtual Helicopter in 3-Dimensional Space Using Intelligent Control Strategies. Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, IEEE Transactions on, Vol. 18, No. 6. (December 2010), pp. 581-589

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83. [ & ] MIDI-sequenced LED light instrument for professional audiovisual performers

Hybridity Music www.hybriditymusic.com

[& posted & claimed by a 459 group]

The goal of this project is to construct a modular array of tricolour LEDs for use by professional (or amateur) electronic musicians during live performances. The unit will contain a microcontroller system that receives MIDI messages from the musician's equipment, interprets the messages, and displays a corresponding pattern on the LED array.

During this project, students will gain experience with embedded computing systems, digital signal processing, and software development. Assuming the project goes well, there may be opportunities to work with professional musicians to test the product in a live performance setting.

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84. Project Postings to Come….

A number of project postings are still to come from various sponsors on and off campus.  As of Sept 10th, the likely shortlist includes:

• 1 from Mark Halpern for an autonomous glider used to help calibrate the CHIME experiment  in Penticton.

End of Project List.