Electro-Mechanical Systems Commons^™

Heavy Metals Pollution In Roadside Ecosystems, Lilian Matafu

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Heavy metals refer to metallic elements that are characterized by having a relatively high density and they are toxic or poisonous even at low concentration. They are environmental pollutant owing to toxicity and longevity in atmosphere and ability to accumulate in living things via bioaccumulation. They tend to enter in different system such as food chain. Analyses of water, soil sediment and the surrounding growing plants (Cynodon dactylon and Cyperus species) for selected heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Zn and Cu) were conducted on a roadside pond located at Boko MSB, Dar es Salaam. Pond water, soil sediments and plant samples …

A Bibliometric Analysis Of Pat-Seig Evolution As An Alternative Energy Generation Method, Emanuel J. Nyirenda

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Pumps as Turbines (PATs) coupled with Self-Excited Induction Generators (SEIGs) as an alternative energy generation method have been the subject of significant research in recent years. This paper presents a bibliometric analysis of the evolution of PAT-SEIG technology as an alternative energy generation source. An analysis of a comprehensive dataset of peer-reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings, and patents related to PAT-SEIG systems, using advanced bibliometric techniques and PRISMA to identify key research themes, influential authors, the growth of the field and patterns of collaboration, and changes in research focus over time. Over a publication period of 32 years, a total …

Effects Of Thermal Shock Protection Methods On Pressure Measurements In A Rapid Compression Machine, Myeji Materego

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The study investigates the impact of thermal shock protection methods on pressure measurements in Rapid Compression Machines (RCMs). It focuses on the performance of various pressure transducers, specifically 601A, 701A, 6061B, and 7005, under atmospheric initial conditions. The research emphasizes the importance of mounting techniques and coatings, revealing their significant effects on pressure trace accuracy. Special mounting adaptors for the pressure transducers were designed and manufactured, this enabled simultaneous measurements for all transducers to be made in a single compression stroke. Instantaneous pressure within combustion chamber was measured when air was compressed in RCM from initial pressure and temperatures of …

Efficient Operation Of Direct Coupled Solar Home Pv System: A Case Of Solar Home Pv System Installed In Dodoma, Tanzania, Sarah P. Ayeng'o

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Direct coupled Photovoltaic (PV) system is a common topology among most of the off-grid communities in the world. This topology has less components hence resulting in low investment costs. However, it suffers much losses when battery operating voltage is far from maximum power point voltage of PV modules. This scenario can be attributed by different factors such as; variation in solar radiation, load profile and temperature. Efficient operation of these systems is required in order to reduce losses. Usually in direct coupled system, PV modules are connected in parallel with batteries through a charge controller hence making PV output to …

Towards A New Era Of Surgery Using Intelligent Robot, Ahmed Mahfouz, Hassan A. El Gamal, T. Awad, M.B. Badawi

Journal of Engineering Research

This research aims to overcome the difficulties of surgical tumor removal, especially in brain tumors that needs precision and time saving of the operations. The traditional surgical approach often is slow and targeting accurate manual cutting of the tumor, which is time-consuming and increase the risk to the patient. The error in cutting the deep layers of the tumor can occur, which increase the cost and dangerous for the patient.

To overcome these challenges, a proposed solution involves designing a robot that can quickly and accurately remove tumors by following their contours as it comes from the medical imaging data, …

Design, Modeling, And Control Of Medical Service Quadrotor, Mohamed Eid, Anas Mohamed, Ali M. Mohamed

Journal of Engineering Research

Due to road accidents, it is difficult to supply injured people with first aid, especially in difficult-access regions. Also, uneven roads or far places pose a problem for ambulances and doctors to reach and save injured people’s lives. The paper aims to design, model, and control a drone able to fly at different heights and support patients with essential needs after accidents. The drone also contains sensors to measure blood sugar and pressure in cases of diabetic coma that require urgent intervention. The drone design was tested using SolidWorks and FLUENT to ensure safe design in different flying conditions. The …

Intelligent Microfluidic Systems For Precision Manipulation And Real-Time Recognition Via Dielectrophoresis And Deep Learning, Negar Danesh

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Dissertations - Archive

This dissertation introduces intelligent microfluidic platforms by combining advanced DEP-based manipulation with real-time visual feedback. A DEP device featuring circular corral traps and dual-plane electrodes enables precise submicron particle trapping, high-resolution particle separation, and cell-particle co-assembly. Simulations and experiments confirm enhanced electric field control and stable confinement. To enable adaptive operation in EWOD systems, a deep learning model (U-Net) was developed for real-time droplet meniscus segmentation. The model achieved 98% accuracy and remained robust under noisy, low-contrast conditions. A live video pipeline was implemented, enabling consistent frame-by-frame feedback for closed-loop control. Together, these innovations establish a foundation for autonomous, high-performance …

Simulating Positive Ion Distribution In The Protodune Single Phase Detector, Vishnu Pfeiffer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This work covers the validation and implementation of a model to solve for argon ion (Ar+) distribution in the ProtoDUNE-SP liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC). ProtoDUNE-SP undergoes a constant flux of cosmic ray muons due to surface operation. The performance of the ProtoDUNE-SP provided valuable insights into single-phase technology, membrane cryostat technology, and calibration of cryogenic instrumentation. Still, challenges in achieving precise measurements persist due to the space charge effect—the distortion of the electric field within the detector due to the accumulation of positive argon ions generated from constant cosmic muon flux. The overarching goal of this thesis is …

Simplified Molecular Diagnostics Methods For Environmental Testing Of Pathogens And Other Applications, Mohammad Dehghan Banadaki

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Environmental Surveillance (ES) has emerged as a powerful tool to monitor the emergence and persistence of a pathogen within a facility or community using wastewater/water analysis. Over the past four years, implementation of ES has experienced an explosive acceleration, driven by efforts to monitor the spread of SARS-CoV-2, which has made ES a routinely used public health tool in many locations. We can now use ES to measure the emergence/presence/abundance of different viruses (e.g., SARS-CoV-2, influenza, mpox), bacteria (e.g., E. coli, V. cholerae, antibiotic-resistant strains), fungi (e.g., C. auris), and other biological markers indicative of infectious diseases. However, its broad …

Design And Manufacturing Of Multifunctional Piezoelectric Composites, Huan Zhao

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Piezoelectric materials possess a unique ability to convert mechanical energy into electrical signals and have broad industrial applications. However, monolithic piezoelectric materials such as piezoceramics and piezopolymers often suffer from inherent trade-offs among mechanical strength, elasticity, and durability. Piezoelectric composites, typically consisting of a polymer matrix with ceramic reinforcements, offer a solution by combining the advantages of each constituent. Nevertheless, maintaining stable mechanical performance in high-temperature environments remains a significant challenge as conventional polymer matrices usually experience structural degradation.

In this thesis, a novel piezoelectric composite is developed using a preceramic polymer (PCP) matrix with barium titanate (BTO) inclusions. PCPs …

Non-Invasive Glucose Monitoring Using Ppg, Ai, And Iot-Driven Mobile Integration For Real-Time Diabetes Management, Mostafa Abdelaziz, Amr Refaie

Mechanical Engineering

Diabetes mellitus patients must regularly monitor their blood glucose levels to manage glycaemia, typically requiring capillary tests at least three times daily and laboratory tests one to two times per month. These conventional methods involve finger pricking, causing significant discomfort and stress. This study introduces an innovative non-invasive glucose monitoring approach by integrating photoplethysmography (PPG) technology with an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm, complemented by a mobile application using Flutter, IoT systems, and Firebase cloud for real-time data access. Among the AI models tested, polynomial regression demonstrated superior accuracy in glucose prediction, achieving a Mean Squared Error (MSE) of 14.76 and …

Ai-Driven Robotic System For Predictive Maintenance: Urban Road Defect Detection In Smart Cities, Mostafa Abdelaziz, Mahmoud Khedr

Mechanical Engineering

This paper presents the development and evaluation of an integrated AI & robotic solution for predictive maintenance in smart cities, focusing on urban road defect detection. The proposed system integrates a mobile robot equipped with a high-resolution camera and a GPS module to capture video footage and geolocation data of road surfaces. The collected data is processed using cloud-based AI models, with YOLOv9 and Roboflow 3.0 Object Detection (Fast) identified as the most effective for analyzing footage to detect cracks and potholes. Experimental results validate the system's ability to accurately identify defects and generate timely reports for maintenance teams. While …

Reactive Model-Free Control For Underactuated Vehicles Operating In Resource-Constrained Environments, Austin Lane Sponaugle

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Buoyancy-driven, underactuated vehicles offer a compelling solution for long-duration autonomous operations in constrained environments. By leveraging buoyancy to generate lift, these vehicles can remain aloft for extended periods with minimal power requirements, making them well-suited for applications in atmospheric monitoring, planetary exploration, and communications. However, their limited actuation authority, strong coupling with environmental forces, and operating domains introduce significant control challenges, including nonlinearity, sensitivity to external disturbances, and limited observability.

This work investigates the design and implementation of lightweight, reactive model-free control strategies that enable robust autonomy in such constrained settings. A digital Extremum Seeking Controller (ESC) is first implemented …

Online Parameter Adaptation Of Lqr Controllers Via Rls For Prosthetic Joint Control: Experimental Validation On A Quanser Qube-Servo 2 Platform, Cynthia Lopez-Jordan

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis develops and experimentally validates an online adaptive Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) control method for prosthetic joint systems using Recursive Least Squares (RLS)-based real-time parameter estimation on the Quanser QUBE-Servo 2 platform. Traditional LQR controllers assume a fxed system model, which limits adaptability and results in reduced tracking accuracy, poor robustness, and loss of optimal performance when applied to dynamically changing prosthetic joints, infuenced by load variations, user gait changes, and mechanical wear. Limited experimental validation exists for combining RLS with online LQR adaptation in prosthetic-like systems.

To address these limitations, an RLS-driven Adaptive LQR framework was implemented to …

High Voltage Junction Box For Demonstrator Vehicle, Benjamin Lubowicki, Ryan Dorste

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Schaeffler, our industry sponsor for this project, is designing a battery pack for a demonstration vehicle that requires a high voltage junction box to route power to the vehicle. The project type is a unique design of a mechanical component, mechanism, and process. Our objective for this project is to assemble provided electro-mechanical components into an enclosure following a provided electrical diagram. The expected deliverables are the following: 3D CAD assembly of final product, FEA analysis of designed components, 2D print of final product, fabrication and assembly of designed parts, technical report documenting design process and installation. The skills required …

Head Mounted Surgical Robot, Mason Currens

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this design project is to utilize a six degree of freedom, robotic system that will be head mounted device that can either assist in, or perform, facial and optical surgery. The six degree of freedom idea came from current systems used in flight simulations. By optimizing the system to fit the figure of a patient’ s head, many of the present errors in surgical robotics can be reduced. One of the major errors when using a facial tracking robot is sudden impulses, such as a cough or a twitch, that the robot can't precisely track. Mounting the …

Smart Material Actuated Flap, James Lyons, Kristofer Johnson

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The objective of this project is to develop and evaluate a smart material actuated aerodynamic control surface to determine the viability of these new systems as alternatives to conventional electromechanical and hydraulic systems. The research will begin with the selection of a control surface and actuator design. The concept will then be tailored to create an experimental model for the purposes of this project. Smart materials that suit the model requirements will be selected and procured. Next, the actuators will be shape trained and characterized to meet the model requirements. Then, a benchtop model will be produced for design verification, …

Kb Bioenergy Mobile Dewatering System Research, Wyatt Balser, Nathan Szymczak

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This report outlines the design and development of a mobile skid-mounted dewatering system intended for high-solids sludge processing at wastewater treatment facilities. The goal was to create a self-contained, transportable unit capable of reliably separating water from sludge using a screw press, while integrating upstream processes such as polymer conditioning, sludge maceration, and pumping. The final design prioritizes serviceability, structural integrity, and operational simplicity, featuring a consolidated equipment layout, engineered piping diagrams, and vendor-specified components.

Throughout the project, multiple design alternatives were evaluated using a weighted decision matrix, leading to the selection of a skid platform over a trailer configuration …

3d Printing Of A Solid-State Battery, Maurizio A. Brozzi

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Solid-state battery research has gained significant attention in recent years, as it provides a unique solution for several common issues in conventional Li-ion batteries. Additionally, as additive manufacturing technologies continue to advance, they have the potential to fabricate solid-state batteries with new materials. The objective of this study is to explore the feasibility of 3D printing of a solid-state battery. By creating an initial PEO-PSF hybrid polymer matrix dissolved in DMSO and adding a lithium salt, the base electrolyte ink was formed. With the addition of conductive additives and active material, electrode inks were also produced. Super P was used …

Design And Lab Implementation Of An Air Source Transcritical Co2 Heat Pump, Geoffrey Turbeville

Dissertations and Theses

A laboratory-scale air-source transcritical CO2 heat pump (TCHP) was developed to evaluate the performance of low-global-warming-potential (GWP) refrigerants for cold climate applications. A custom climate chamber was also constructed to simulate winter weather conditions typical of the northeastern United States. Both the TCHP and the chamber were fully instrumented to collect temperature, pressure, and mass flow data, which were used to calculate the co- efficient of performance (COP) in accordance with ASHRAE standard refrigerant enthalpy methods. Prior to testing the CO2 system, the experimental setup was benchmarked using a commercially available R410A heat pump manufactured by LG.

The climate chamber …