Other Electrical and Computer Engineering Commons^™

Water Leak Detection System, Ryan T. Hanson

Electrical Engineering

The water supply shortage has increased in recent years due to overpopulation, climate change and obsolete water facilities, where deteriorated pipes cause most of the water leaks. The problem is not the size of the leak, but the time it takes to detect it. This paper presents the implementation of a system installed in the hydraulic facilities of a residence, to detect water leaks. The system consists of a water sensor installed by a water reservoir of interest, a microprocessor to interpret the data and evaluate whether it is a water leak or not, an SMS alert message, and an …

Data Fusion With 9 Degrees Of Freedom Inertial Measurement Unit To Determine Object’S Orientation, Long Dinh Tran

Electrical Engineering

Data fusion is a technique to integrate different types of data to a single unit to provide a more reliable representation of tracking measurement. Today, data fusion can be found in many applications such as tracking and surveillance system as well as on mobile applications. In this project, 9 Degrees of Freedom (DOF) Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) composed of 3-axis Magnetometer, 3-axis Accelerometer, and 3-axis Gyroscope are processed to yield the object’s rotations in 3 dimensions. While the magnetometer (compass) is used to determine the heading angle, accelerometer is used to determine tilt axis, gyroscope can be process to calculate …

Improving A Particle Swarm Optimization-Based Clustering Method, Sharif Shahadat

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This thesis discusses clustering related works with emphasis on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) principles. Specifically, we review in detail the PSO clustering algorithm proposed by Van Der Merwe & Engelbrecht, the particle swarm clustering (PSC) algorithm proposed by Cohen & de Castro, Szabo’s modified PSC (mPSC), and Georgieva & Engelbrecht’s Cooperative-Multi-Population PSO (CMPSO). In this thesis, an improvement over Van Der Merwe & Engelbrecht’s PSO clustering has been proposed and tested for standard datasets. The improvements observed in those experiments vary from slight to moderate, both in terms of minimizing the cost function, and in terms of run time.

Bendablesound: An Elastic Multisensory Surface Using Touch-Based Interactions To Assist Children With Severe Autism During Music Therapy, Franceli L. Cibrian, Oscar Peña, Deysi Ortega, Monica Tentori

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Neurological Music Therapy uses live music to improve the sensorimotor regulation of children with severe autism. However, they often lack musical training and their impairments limit their interactions with musical instruments. In this paper, we present our co-design work that led to the BendableSound prototype: an elastic multisensory surface encouraging users to practice coordination movements when touching a fabric to play sounds. We present the results of a formative study conducted with 18 teachers showing BendableSound was perceived as “usable” and “attractive”. Then, we present a deployment study with 24 children with severe autism showing BendableSound is “easy to use” …

An Exact Analysis For Four-Order Acousto-Optic Bragg Diffraction Which Incorporates Both Incident Light Angle And Sound Frequency Dependencies, Adeyinka Sunday Ademola

Electrical Engineering Theses

This thesis extends the prior work which produced an exact solution to the four-order acousto-optic (AO) Bragg cell with assumed fixed center frequency and with exact Bragg angle incident light. The extension predicts the model that incorporates the dependencies of both the input angle of light and the sound frequency. Specifically, a generalized 4^th order linear differential equation (DE), is developed from a simultaneous analysis of four coupled AO system of DEs. Through standard methods, the characteristic roots, which requires solving a quartic equation, is produced. Subsequently, a derived system of homogeneous solutions, which absorbs the roots obtained using …

Implementation Of Range Autofocus For Sar Radar Imaging, Nicholas J. Testin, Philip Davis

KSU Journey Honors College Capstones and Theses

The range calculation for an FMCW radar depends on accurate linear modulation. In some circumstances, linear modulation may not be available and must be corrected for. This paper describes an autofocus technique used to correct for phase error due to non-linearities in the components of a FMCW radar. Also described here is the algorithm used in calculating the phase error and application of the phase correction with triangle modulation. Known errors were calculated at certain distances and applied to correcting the phase of data taken at similar distances. The results given were generated using a SAR working outside linear ranges.

Comparing Multiple Turbulence Restoration Algorithms Performance On Noisy Anisoplanatic Imagery, Michael Armand Rucci, Russell C. Hardie, Alexander J. Dapore

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

In this paper, we compare the performance of multiple turbulence mitigation algorithms to restore imagery degraded by atmospheric turbulence and camera noise. In order to quantify and compare algorithm performance, imaging scenes were simulated by applying noise and varying levels of turbulence. For the simulation, a Monte-Carlo wave optics approach is used to simulate the spatially and temporally varying turbulence in an image sequence. A Poisson-Gaussian noise mixture model is then used to add noise to the observed turbulence image set. These degraded image sets are processed with three separate restoration algorithms: Lucky Look imaging, bispectral speckle imaging, and a …

On The Simulation And Mitigation Of Anisoplanatic Optical Turbulence For Long Range Imaging, Russell C. Hardie, Daniel A. Lemaster

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

We describe a numerical wave propagation method for simulating long range imaging of an extended scene under anisoplanatic conditions. Our approach computes an array of point spread functions (PSFs) for a 2D grid on the object plane. The PSFs are then used in a spatially varying weighted sum operation, with an ideal image, to produce a simulated image with realistic optical turbulence degradation. To validate the simulation we compare simulated outputs with the theoretical anisoplanatic tilt correlation and differential tilt variance. This is in addition to comparing the long- and short-exposure PSFs, and isoplanatic angle. Our validation analysis shows an …

Effects Of Distance, Antenna, And Channel On An Ultra Wide Band Location System, And Quantifying Them To Increase Accuracy, Nicholas Alexander Cavopol

Masters Theses

Localization has been evolving rapidly over the last 20 years, especially in the wireless world. From the advent of GPS, as well as the personal smart phone, localization has become accessible to most of the developed world. From the ability to find ones’ smartphone using a computer, to being able to locate ones’ keys using radio frequencies, there are many ways that localization has entered our lives in the last few years, however most of these either do not have high accuracy, or are only accurate in an outside environment. For indoor tracking, new technologies have been developed to help …

A Novel Time-Domain Method Of Fault Diagnosis In Induction Motors, Bryan J. Davis

Honors Scholar Theses

This paper introduces a novel time-domain method for detecting the four major types of induction motor faults without requiring complex signal processing or additional sensors other than those already in place for closed-loop motor control. This method artificially modulates the motor current feedback signal with a perturbed frequency that oscillates about the characteristic frequency of the fault in question. After filtering out the unwanted frequency components that result from the modulation, the selected fault-indicative component is a very slow sinusoid that is only present when the fault is present. The method looks for this fault-indicative component by monitoring the time …

Project Halon: Engaging Secondary Students In High-Altitude Balooning Experiments, James M. Taylor Jr, Derrick A. Nero

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Project HALON Overview

•Fewer US STEM graduates

•Shortage of STEM educators

•Lack of engaging, high quality STEM material in the classroom

•Potentially results in lower global economic competitiveness

Experiment Constraints

•Project brings together STEM major mentors and educators

•Builds understanding of research and operational challenges

•Students get excited about more complex experiments (CubeSATs)

HALON: High Altitude Learning Over Nebraska

•High altitude balloon lift platform

•Student-designed experiments tailored to student team abilities

•NASA-inspired near-space systems engineering process for tradeoffs

•Engagement / mentoring for pre-service and in-service educators

Centralized Control For Dc Microgrid Using Finite State Machine, Mahmoud Saleh, Yusef Esa, Ahmed Mohamed

Publications and Research

In this paper, an autonomous communication-based centralized control for DC microgrids (MG) has been developed and implemented. The proposed controller enables smooth transition between various operating modes. Finite state machine (FSM) has been used to mathematically describe the various operating modes (states), and events that may lead to mode changes (transitions). Therefore, the developed centralized controller aims at optimizing the performance of MG during all possible operational scenarios, while maintaining its reliability and stability. Results of selected cases have been presented. These results show stable transition between modes, verifying the validity and applicability of the proposed controller.

Transportation Engineering: Traffic Control Simulator, Sarah V. Hernandez, Karla Diaz-Corro, Taslima Akter, Magdalena Asborno, Fu Durandal

Civil Engineering Teaching and Learning

The purpose of these lesson plans is to introduce students to traffic signalization basics. Students will be lead through a series of mini-lectures on traffic control and signalization including a discussion on the limitations and benefits of traffic signalization. The lesson plans compliment a computer simulation “game” in which students act as manual operators for a single up to four by four gridded intersection. Students attempt to control the progression of signals to understand the relationship between signal timing and user delay. Through experimentation with the simulation, students generate a presentation discussing the benefits and drawbacks of signal timing and …

Laser Microphone, Michael Mckee

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

The laser microphone is a multifaceted project. The main objective of this project is the design and construction of a laser microphone. This device is able to detect sound via variations in light waves. Production of this device being one obvious outcome of the project, observation and experimentation comprise the primary focus of the venture. Experiments reveal exactly how well this device is able to function and if it is able to be used in specific engineering applications. To function appropriately, this device should handle the translation from soundwaves to light waves with little to no alteration. Full signal analysis …

Rural Broadband Mobile Communications: Spectrum Occupancy And Propagation Modeling In Western Montana, Erin Wiles

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Fixed and mobile spectrum monitoring stations were implemented to study the spectrum range from 174 to 1000 MHz in rural and remote locations within the mountains of western Montana, USA. The measurements show that the majority of this spectrum range is underused and suitable for spectrum sharing. This work identifies available channels of 5-MHz bandwidth to test a remote mobile broadband network. Both TV broadcast stations and a cellular base station were modelled to test signal propagation and interference scenarios.

Workplace Posture Assessment And Biofeedback With Kinect, Matthew Crussell

Master's Theses

With the prevalence of computing, many workers today are confined to desk within an office. By sitting in these positions for long periods of time, workers are prone to develop one of many musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), such as carpal tunnel syndrome. In order to prevent MSDs in the long term, workers must employ good sitting habits. One promising method to ensure good workplace posture is through camera monitoring. To date, camera systems have been used in determining posture in a clean environment. However, an occluded and cluttered background, which is typical in an office setting, imposes a great challenge for …

Physiologically-Aware Communication Architecture For Transmission Of Biomedical Signals In Basns For Emerging Iot Applications, Jose Santos, Dongming Peng, Hamid Sharif

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This research work proposes a novel physiologicallyaware communication architecture for the transmission of biomedical signals in BASNs (Body Area Sensor Networks) and wearables for emerging IoT applications. The architecture to fulfill the following objectives:

• Reduce volume of biomedical data in IoT networks and Internet infrastructure.

• Minimize the required computational load of biomedical data on the cloud side.

• Extend the lifetime of the mobile wearable/BASN through improved energy savings.

This architecture is generalizable to class of biomedical signals. It prevents large volume of biomedical data to be generated; uses patient state to control almost any system parameter; achieves …

Reducing Graphene-Metal Contact Resistance Via Laser Nano-Welding, Kamran Keramatnejad, H. Rabiee Golgir, Y. S. Zhou, D. W. Li, X. Huang, Yongfeng Lu

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The large graphene-metal contact resistance is a major limitation for development of graphene electronics. graphene behaves as an insulator for out-of-plane carrier transport to metallic contacts.

Laser nano-welding was developed and led to RC reductions of up to 84%.

Localized laser irradiation at the edges of graphene led to the formation of chemically active point defects.

Precise structural modifications and formation of G-M bonding led to improved carrier efficiency in graphene devices.

Indoor Navigation For The Blind And Visually Impaired: Validation And Training Methodology Using Virtual Reality, Sili Wang

Masters Theses

In this thesis we propose a navigation instruction validation tool and an user training tool for PERCEPT system.

The validation tool evaluates the navigation instructions using a virtual reality environment by ensuring that each path in the virtual environment can be traversed by following the navigation instructions. This validation tool will serve as a first automatic validation of navigation instructions prior to testing them with blind and visually impaired users.

The user-training tool enables the blind user to explore and get familiar with the real environment by using the virtual environment generated in the Unity3d based game. The user interacts …

Experimental Validation Of A Heterogeneous Radar Clutter Statistical Estimation Method, Elliot R. Erstein

Theses and Dissertations

Radar clutter models are important for radar target detection when clutter is present. A new method for estimating single clutter type, homogeneous, radar clutter statistics through measurement of a multiple type, heterogeneous clutter was developed in 2015 by researchers at the Air Force Institute of Technology. The estimation method is greatly valued in the clutter research and modeling world for reducing clutter campaign measurement time and cost. This thesis looks at validation steps for the estimation method through the use of simulations and experimental radar clutter measurements.