Engineering Commons^™

Filter Incidence Narrowband Infrared Spectrometer For Space-Based Methane Measurement And Plume Detection, Bruno Mattos

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Monitoring methane emissions from space is essential for reducing global warming. This dissertation introduces the Filter Incidence Narrowband Infrared Spectrometer (FINIS), a compact, lightweight instrument designed for nanosatellites to accurately measure methane emissions. FINIS uses two innovative imaging spectrometers to capture the Earth's reflected light, focusing on the strongest methane absorption feature at 1666 nm. By using tiled interference filters, each imager collects detailed spectral data, allowing precise methane detection. FINIS has been significantly improved from its prototype to its space-ready version, set to launch on the ACMES CubeSat in late 2025. The new design includes a binocular optical system …

Thermal Management Of Roadway-Embedded Power Electronics For Electric Vehicle Dynamic Wireless Charging Systems, Conner R. Sabin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining popularity worldwide. However, concerns raised by the public about purchasing EVs include the limited availability of charging infrastructure, high costs, and the inconvenience of current charging methods. Dynamic wireless charging systems enable electric vehicles to charge while driving, thereby extending the range of EVs and reducing the necessity for large, expensive batteries. Moreover, these systems can initiate charging automatically without user interaction, enhancing charging convenience.

The ground assembly of existing dynamic wireless charging systems consists of an electromagnetic assembly, power electronics for the transmitter pad, and power electronics for grid connection. Installation of these systems …

A Position Allocation Approach To The Battery Electric Bus Charging Problem, Alexander Brown

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

With an increasing adoption of Battery Electric Bus (BEB) fleets, developing a reliable charging schedule is vital to a successful migration from their fossil fuel counterparts. In this work, a BEB charging scheduling framework that considers fixed route schedules, multiple charger types, and battery dynamics is modeled as a Mixed Integer Linear Program (MILP). The MILP is modeled after the Berth Allocation Problem (BAP) in a modified form known as the Position Allocation Problem (PAP). The optimization coordinates BEB charging to ensure that each vehicle remains above a specified charge percentage. The model also minimizes the total number of chargers …

Gps-Denied Navigation Using Location Estimation And Texel Image Correction, Nikolas I. Jensen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

In recent years, the use of small drones, also categorized as small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (sUAV), has surged. They are used for tasks like surveying land, collecting data from a distance, and performing maneuvers for military operations. These drones are popular because they are affordable, small, easy to use, and can navigate well in complex areas. These factors make them a cheap and quick option for tasks like surveying and surveillance when compared to traditional methods.

This thesis introduces a system that uses algorithms to figure out where the drone is. Typically, this relies on sensors and GPS, but GPS …

Anomaly Detection On Wind Turbine Blades Using Aerial Imaging, Image Processing, And Deep Learning, Bridger Kohl Altice

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

In reaction to rising global temperatures and carbon dioxide emissions, many countries are looking to use energy sources other than fossil fuels. One such source of energy is wind energy, which can be harvested by wind turbines. By rotating at high speeds, the blades of these large turbines are able to convert wind energy to kinetic energy, which is then converted to electricity usable by the power grid. Traditional methods for inspecting these turbines for damages are expensive, unsafe, and susceptible to human error. These turbines are so tall and so large that inspectors run the risk of falling from …

Federated Learning In Wireless Networks, Xiang Ma

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transitioning from a long development period into reality. Notable instances like AlphaGo, Tesla’s self-driving cars, and the recent innovation of ChatGPT stand as widely recognized exemplars of AI applications. These examples collectively enhance the quality of human life. An increasing number of AI applications are expected to integrate seamlessly into our daily lives, further enriching our experiences.

Although AI has demonstrated remarkable performance, it is accompanied by numerous challenges. At the forefront of AI’s advancement lies machine learning (ML), a cutting-edge technique that acquires knowledge by emulating the human brain’s cognitive processes. Like humans, ML requires …

Ensemble Machine Learning At The Edge Using The Codec Classifier Structure And Weak Learners Guided By Mutual Information, Aj Beckwith

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The Codec Classifier is a low-computation, low-memory tree ensemble method that dramatically improves feasibility of image classification on resource-constrained edge devices. It achieves advantages over other tree ensemble methods due the separation of encoder and decoder tasks in the classifier. The encoder partitions feature space, and the decoder labels the regions in the partition. This functional separation of tasks enables the encoder design (partitioning) to be guided by maximizing the mutual information (MI) between class labels and the features (i.e. the encoded representation of the data) without regard to the error performance of the classifier. Experiments show maximizing MI leads …

Techniques To Overcome Energy Storage Limitations In Electric Vehicles, Matthew J. Hansen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular, battery limitations (cost, size, and weight) complicate electric vehicle adoption. While important research on battery development is ongoing, this dissertation discusses two main approaches to overcome those limitations within the existing battery technology paradigm. Those thrusts are: improving battery health through an optimal charging strategy and minimizing necessary battery size through dynamic wireless power transfer. In this dissertation, relevant literature is discussed, with opportunities for further development considered. Within the two thrusts, three objectives sharpen the focus of the research presented here. First, a planning tool is defined for a battery electric bus fleet. …

Design And Implementation Of An Accelerated Lifetime Testing Platform For Silicon Carbide Mosfets, Conner Deppe

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

In the last several years, the United States has seen a significant increase in sales of electric vehicles. The increase of electric vehicles brings the need for increased availability of public charging stations. In the last two years, satisfaction levels for public chargers have fallen significantly due to unreliability, which is raising concerns for new potential electric vehicle owners. To mitigate the reliability concerns, chargers must be physically understood so they can be consistently monitored to assess their health status. To understand the electric vehicle charging reliability, electrical components must first be understood. In the cutting-edge charging technology, the relatively …