Engineering Commons^™

Towards Reliable Hepatocytic Anatomy Segmentation In Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Using U-Net With Auto-Encoder, Koloud Najem Alkhamaiseh

Dissertations

Despite the advantages of minimally invasive surgeries that depend heavily on vision, the indirect access and lack of the 3D field of view of the area of interest introduce some complications in the desired procedures. Fortunately, the recorded videos from these procedures offer the opportunity for intra-operative and post-operative analyses, to improve future performance and safety.

Deep learning models for surgical video analysis could therefore support visual tasks such as identifying the critical view of safety (CVS) in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), potentially contributing to the reduction of the current rates of bile duct injuries in LC. Most bile duct injuries …

Wideband Parameter Estimation Of Overhead Transmission Lines From Terminal Measurements, Fahad J. Alqahtani

Dissertations

The accurate and efficient determination of electrical parameters of transmission lines is essential when performing computer-aided analyses of power systems, including power-flow, state estimation, short-circuit, transient stability, power quality, and electromagnetic transients.

In this dissertation, a novel technique for wideband parameter estimation of frequency-dependent single-phase, three-phase transposed, and three-phase untransposed overhead lines, is proposed. The proposed technique utilizes terminal measurements of transient voltages and currents and is based on an analytical approach to solve the frequency domain 2-port nodal model of the line for the series impedance and shunt conductance per unit length as a function of the frequency. The …

Design, Simulation, Modeling, And Implementation Of Triboelectric Nanogenerator (Teng) Sensors For Automotive Applications, Sam Ali

Dissertations

Triboelectricity is a promising technique for energy harvesting in which mechanical energy converts to electricity for powering small electronic devices. This method of energy harvesting serves as an alternative to traditional battery power sources and can significantly benefit low-power sensing applications by generating unlimited electrical energy. This study focuses on the development of flexible triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) and energy harvesting devices for various applications in the automotive industry.

The study is organized into four projects. In the first project, various polymeric materials were used to investigate the performance of different TENGs. Four designs (D1, D2, D3, and D4) of flexible …

Development Of Flexible Hybrid Electronics For Sterilization And Structural Health Monitoring Applications, Arnesh Kumar Bose

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Development Of Sensor, Sensory System And Signal Processing Algorithm For Intelligent Sensing Applications, Xingzhe Zhang

Dissertations

Sensors have been receiving significant attention in the last decade and the demand for sensory systems has increased in recent years due to the rapid growth in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Sensors can improve people’s awareness by providing them with real-time information on the environment and their immediate health conditions. This dissertation presents the fulfilment of three main projects and focuses on the development of a sensor, a sensory system, and a sensor signal recognition system for AI applications by employing printed electronics, analog circuit design, and digital signal processing techniques.

In the first project, a multi-channel stethograph …

Development Of A Highly Sensitive Pressure Sensing System With Custom-Built Software For Continuous Physiological Measurements, Masoud Panahi

Masters Theses

In this work, a pressure sensing system was designed and fabricated by developing a highly sensitive cone-structured pressure sensor with a custom-built software for physiological monitoring applications. A novel highly sensitive cone structured porous polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) based pressure sensor capable of detecting very low-pressure ranges was developed for respiration monitoring. The pressure sensor was fabricated using a master mold, a hybrid-structured dielectric layer, and fabric-based electrodes. The master mold with inverted cone structures was created using a rapid and precise three-dimensional (3D) printing technique. The dielectric layer, with pores and cone structures, was prepared by annealing a mixture of PDMS, …

Intelligent System For Laparoscopic Surgery Suturing Skill Assessment, Mohammed Yasser Al-Gailani

Dissertations

In laparoscopic surgery, which is also referred to as minimally invasive surgery (MIS), surgeons carry out surgical procedures with the assistance of a video camera and several surgical instruments. Laparoscopic surgeons should possess excellent eye-hand coordination capabilities, strong cognitive knowledge, case and problem management, and manual dexterity skills. Such skills can be acquired through simulation using a basic, low-fidelity setup, such as the surgical box-trainer. General surgeons must pass a set of tests on a Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) Trainer device.

One pivotal skill for a successful operation is developing a sense of the applied forces on the tissue …

Optimized Insulation Design Of Power Transformer Windings Under Fast Voltage Pulses, Juan Manuel Villanueva Ramirez

Dissertations

Power transformers are essential electrical power system devices. Using the principle of electromagnetic induction, they can transfer electric energy between two otherwise isolated circuits, as well as reduce or increase voltage levels without modifying the frequency. This allows reduction of power losses when electric energy is transferred between power plants and consumers. Because of their importance and widespread use, transformers failures can have a severe economic impact due to the temporary interruption of electric service.

The insulation design of power transformers is performed by considering the maximum values of voltage or current to which the device will be exposed during …

Velocity Electric Mobility Platform, Austin Gilbert

Honors Theses

The purpose of this project is to develop an IOT connected micro mobility platform to be used in electric personal transportation devices such as scooters and longboards. This initial platform will be used as a starting off point for Velocity Research to continue with future development.

The first main requirement of the design is that it must be able to control two independent three phase brushless DC motors using field oriented control. These motors must be controlled based on input from the user via a handheld remote control. The second main requirement is that the device must also send and …

Silicon Oil Drop Experiment, Jacob Lutz

Honors Theses

When designing models for quantum systems, researchers are often limited to computer models to develop a large pool of data. This has always been the case until the discovery was made that bouncing droplets of silicone oil can provide a decent representation of quantum mechanical particles. A system to model this representation was created. It is designed to run continuously for a large number of trials without the need for human interaction, as well as collect motion data from generated oil droplets. The droplet generator system is composed of a fluid reservoir, pump, piezoelectric buzzer, fluid chamber, and a nozzle …

Atmospheric Turbulence Distortion In Video: Restoration Utilizing Sparse Analysis, Benjamin J. Sanda

Dissertations

The removal of atmospheric turbulence (AT) distortion in long range imaging is one of the most challenging areas of research in imaging processing with an immediate need for solutions in several applications such as in military and transportation systems. AT exacerbates distortion due to non-linear geometric blur and scintillations in long-distance images and videos, severely reducing image quality and information interpretation. AT negatively impacts both human and computer vision systems, compromising visibility essential for accurate object identification and tracking.

In this dissertation, a novel sparse analysis framework is developed to address efficient AT blur and scintillation removal in video. Operating …

Objectively Determining The Language-Related Communication Challenges For In-Flight Operations, Fehime Utkan

Dissertations

Communication breakdowns between pilots and air traffic controllers (ATCs) have been identified as primary factors in fatal airplane accidents (Wu et. al., 2019; Bauh & Stolzer, 2018; Ritter, 1996; Eurocontrol, 2011). Although there are various aspects that have affected communication efficiency, language-related issues have been mostly associated with transmissions involved in serious incidents, especially in multicultural flight environments (Sexton & Helmrich, 2000). More than 2,000 people have died in accidents where miscommunication was a primary factor (Bauh & Stolzer, 2018; Patty, 2016). By the year of 2025, the air transportation system is projected to become more complex, and the volume …

A Framework To Support Automatic Certification For Self-Adaptive Systems, Ioannis Nearchou

Masters Theses

Presently, cyber-physical systems are increasingly being integrated into societies, from the economic sector to the nuclear energy sector. Cyber-physical systems are systems that combine physical, digital, human, and other components, which operate through physical means and software. When system errors occur, the consequences of malfunction could negatively impact human life. Academic studies have relied on the MAPE-K feedback loop model to develop various system components to satisfy the self-adaptive features, such that violation of the safety requirements can be minimized. Assurance of system requirement satisfaction is argued through an industrial standard form, called an assurance case, which is usually applied …

Flexible Capacitive Pressure Sensors And Triboelectric Energy Harvesters Using Laser-Assisted Patterning Process For Flexible Hybrid Electronic Applications, Valliammai Palaniappan

Masters Theses

This work focuses on the design, fabrication and characterization of novel flexible capacitive pressure sensors and triboelectric energy harvesters using laser-assisted patterning process for flexible hybrid electronic applications. Initially, the capacitive pressure sensor was developed by fabricating a set of polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS) dielectric films with pyramid shaped micro-structures using a laser-assisted patterning process. The pressure sensor consists of two electrodes (top and bottom) that were fabricated by depositing silver (Ag) on flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) using additive screen-printing process. Finally, the pressure sensor was assembled by attaching the top and bottom Ag electrodes to the smooth side of pyramid shaped …

Optimized System For On-Route Charging Of Battery Electric Buses And High-Fidelity Modelling And Simulation Of In-Motion Wireless Power Transfer, Yogesh Bappasaheb Jagdale

Masters Theses

Electrifying cars, buses and trucks is an attractive means to reduce energy use and emissions, because it involves minimal restructuring of the transportation network. Transit buses drive fixed routes, minimizing driver range anxiety by properly sizing energy storage system but the major challenge to fully electrifying transit buses, is the amount of energy they consume in a day of driving. To enable a full day of operation, batteries need to be large, which is expensive and heavy. This work utilizes real-world transit bus data fed to a battery electric drive-train model to co-optimize charger locations, charger power levels, and vehicle …

Ece Senior Design Project - Cost-Effective Diy Electrometer, Benjamin Hahn

Honors Theses

An electrometer is a critical electrophysiology instrument used to generate minuscule currents for intracellular stimulation of biological neurons. An electrometer also enables simultaneous measurement of the neuron membrane voltage response. This device is necessary to perform accurate stimulation of neurons. However, the cost of commercial electrometers, around $5000, is prohibitive to many researchers, particularly at the high-school or introductory college level. A recent Western Michigan University graduate student, Lucas Essenburg, designed a basic electrometer for $210. His thesis proved that quality electrometers can be constructed for a fraction of the price of commercial-grade equipment.

This project focused on the improvement …

Cost-Effective Diy Electrometer, Emily R. Johnson

Honors Theses

An electrometer is a critical electrophysiology instrument used to generate minuscule currents for intracellular stimulation of biological neurons. An electrometer also enables simultaneous measurement of the neuron membrane voltage response. This device is necessary to perform accurate stimulation of neurons. However, the cost of commercial electrometers, around $5000, is prohibitive to many researchers, particularly at the high-school or introductory college level. A recent Western Michigan University graduate student, Lucas Essenburg, designed a basic electrometer for $210. His thesis proved that quality electrometers can be constructed for a fraction of the price of commercial-grade equipment.

This project focused on the improvement …

Sunseeker Display And Driver Controller, Alec Kwapis

Honors Theses

Digital dashboard displays with critical driver information are found in all modern vehicles. Examples of such information available to the driver include a speedometer, odometer, engine RPM, fuel gauge and more. The current 2016 Sunseeker solar car already has numerous displays that can show critical information to the driver, however, there are several problems that exist. Each display itself is less than two inches in size, the text on the screens is difficult to read, and the measurements have no units. Furthermore, these displays were made by a company that no longer exists, thus preventing the solar car team from …

Vehicle Velocity Prediction Using Artificial Neural Networks And Effect Of Real-World Signals On Prediction Window, Tushar Dnyaneshwar Gaikwad

Masters Theses

Prediction of vehicle velocity is essential since it can realize improvements in the fuel economy/energy efficiency, drivability, and safety. Many publications address velocity prediction problems, yet there is a need for the understanding effect of different signals for the prediction. There are numerous new sensor and signal technologies like vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication that can be used to obtain comprehensive datasets. Several references considered deterministic and stochastic approaches that use the datasets as input to determine future operation predictions. These approaches include different traffic models and artificial neural networks such as Markov chain, nonlinear autoregressive model, Gaussian function, and recurrent …

Development System For Intelligent Surgical Box-Trainer Research, Janos Grantner

Faculty Research and Creative Activities Award (FRACAA)

Laparoscopic surgery, also referred to as minimally invasive surgery, describes the performance of surgical procedures with the assistance of a video camera and several thin surgical instruments. During the surgical procedure, small incisions of up to half an inch are made and plastic tubes called ports are placed through these incisions. The camera and the surgical instruments are then introduced through the ports which allow access to the inside of the patient. The video camera becomes a surgeon's eyes. Excellent eye-hand coordination capabilities are crucial to carry out laparoscopic surgery procedures. Gaining basic laparoscopic skills such as …

Portable Electrochemical System For Flexible Hybrid Electronics, Anthony Joseph Hanson

Masters Theses

This work focuses on the fabrication and design of a portable electrochemical sensing system for flexible hybrid electronic (FHE) sensors. A three-electrode chemical sensor was fabricated using copper tape on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate, using laser etching process. An electronic circuit was designed to measure the sensor response through electrochemical techniques to detect different concentrations of glucose. The device was calibrated to give the user a concentration value in 5 seconds. The system was also designed to preform tests such as cyclic voltammogram and chronoamperogram for various chemicals. A Bluetooth Low Energy module was used to wirelessly transmit the results …

Intracellular Electrometer, Lucas M. Essenburg

Masters Theses

The Western Michigan University Neurobiology Engineering Laboratory conducts re- search in energy-efficient electrical stimulation of biological neurons. Experimental work re- quires an intracellular electrometer to inject nanoamp-level currents into a biological neuron and to measure its membrane voltage response. In order to fully understand the generation of such minute currents, an `in-house' electrometer was designed, constructed, and validated. This required exploration of various design trade-offs including precision of generated nanoamp-level currents vs. susceptibility to noise, portability vs. functionality, and cost vs. functionality. The electrometer was successfully used to stimulate and measure responses of neurons from the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana …

Multiple Ssid Framework For Rss-Fingerprint Based Indoor Positioning Systems, Ahmed Kareem Abed

Dissertations

Location-Based Indoor positioning systems significance stems from the bloom of recent applications in various fields such as in tracking services for an elder or a patient within large living communities, mobile robot localization, and several other security applications. Currently, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are the most widely used location-sensing technique. However, satellite-based GPS signals require line of sight (LOS) to work correctly, which is something cannot be achieved inside buildings. Fortunately, wireless LAN can be employed in indoor positioning systems (IPS), and since all large buildings such as malls, hospitals, airports, schools, and museums have hundreds of Wi-Fi access points, …

Interdisciplinary Projects Help Fulfil Psychological Needs Of University Students, Hamid Mehmood Pasha

STEM Instructional Graduate Teaching Assistant Posters

Every scientific discipline is based on a specific body of concepts and presumptions. These concepts are crucial for understanding the design and implications of a situation.Therefore, it is believed that an interdisciplinary approach to research projects will help in generating a successful change to encourage an evolution in higher learning at University level.

Student retention can be increased by introducing interdisciplinary study projects which may involve students from the engineering, economics, social, history, language and/or human sciences departments. This is done to increase the basic psychological needs of the students in helping promote the academic engagement. Such projects can contribute …

Communication Debugging Platform, Husam Beitello

Honors Theses

More and more products are becoming “connected” devices, integrating multiple communications subsystems into their design. These subsystems increase the complexity of a design, and require extensive testing and debugging before they reach an end user. The purpose of the project was to create a prototype for a peripheral device that enables bidirectional communication between a typical smartphone and another target device communicating using the infrared, Bluetooth, and/or CAN communication protocols. Such a device could then be used to debug the behavior of a product relying on these forms of communication, by running test procedures referred to as scripts from the …

Parameter Determination And Modeling Of Transformer Windings For Fast Transients Including Frequency Dependent Effects, Yazid Al-Kraimeen

Dissertations

Power transformers are static devices capable of transferring energy from one electrical circuit to another by means of electromagnetic induction at the same frequency. The most common application of transformers in an electric power system is to step up or down the voltage level of an electric grid. This is essential for the efficient transmission and distribution of electricity from generating plants to different types of consumers. Electrical energy used in residential, commercial and industrial settings is delivered to consumers by means of transformers, which normally operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Therefore, design improvements that result …

Hardware/Software Co-Design Of A Reconfigurable Accelerator Platform For Fuzzy Logic-Based Spatial Image Processing Filters, Aous Hammad Kurdi

Dissertations

Rapid development in the architecture and fabrication technology of field programmable gate array (FPGA) and system on a chip (SoC) in the last two decades is dramatically increasing the reliability of those devices as a cost-effective alternative for traditional real-time image processing systems. Module reusability nature of FPGA and SoC development decreases design and implementation time noticeably. On-site reconfigurability allows for intensive design alterations to occur at a small cost. This study is presenting the design and implementation of a new hardware accelerator for an edge detector on Xilinx 7 series FPGA devices based on a fuzzy logic approach. The …

Network Equivalents Applied To Transient Analysis Of Large Distribution Systems, Ghassan Abdul-Hussein Bilal

Dissertations

Frequency domain (FD) methods for electromagnetic transient analysis of electric power systems offer outstanding simplicity and accuracy when dealing with distributed parameter elements and components that exhibit frequency-dependent behavior. However, the use of FD methods is usually restricted to the simulation of small and simple networks, since it is commonly believed that their application implies a very large computational burden when compared to time domain methods. This study demonstrates that FD methods can accommodate the detailed simulation of large distribution networks within acceptable computer times and in a very straightforward manner, thus offering an attractive complement or alternative to common …

Stereotypic Repetitive Hand Flapping Movement Detector Children With Autism, Subodh Ashok Bansode

Masters Theses

The prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has increased at a significant rate in recent years, especially in developed nations such as the United States, Japan, and South Korea. Extensive research is being carried out to study the behavioral characteristics of the disease. Children affected with autism tend to exhibit a spectrum of symptoms depending on the severity of the disease. These behaviors are primarily repetitive, self-stimulatory, and stereotypic behaviors such as hand flapping (i.e., repeatedly shaking their hands), body rocking (i.e., swaying their body back and forth), drumming, walking around in a confined space, and walking with shortened steps …

Development And Characterization Of Nano Nickel-Based Conductive Inks For Flexographic Printing Of Electronics And New Interpretations Of Surface Energies Of Solids, Bilge Nazli Altay

Dissertations

Traditional printing technologies and conductive/functional inks have been integrated to print electronic devices and circuits on really think, lightweight and flexible materials in a time and cost-effective manner. Printing is an additive manufacturing technology, which selectively deposits materials only where needed to produce a wide range of devices including sensors, smart packaging, solar panels, batteries, light sources and wearable electronics. Therefore, it greatly reduces the number of required steps for manufacturing as well as the amount of waste generated relative to conventional electronic manufacturing. However, the process requirements and ink formulations to print electronics differ from graphic printing; therefore, the …