Digital Commons Network^™

Auction Consensus Algorithm With Loss Mechanism For Decentralized Task Allocation, Jose Rodriguez, Wenjie Dong, Constantine Tarawneh, Qi Lu

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper presents an Auction-Consensus Algorithm with a Loss Mechanism (ACALM), a decentralized task allocation method for multi-robot systems that enhances the existing Consensus-Based Auction Algorithm (CBAA) by incorporating a novel loss propagation mechanism. In contrast to purely greedy bidding strategies, it enables agents to dynamically update task priorities based on the accumulated loss from previously unsuccessful bids. This extended work reduces globally inefficient allocations caused by early suboptimal decisions. The proposed approach is evaluated through large-scale simulations in thousands of randomized scenarios and swarm sizes ranging from 5 to 120 robots. Compared to existing CBAA and GCAA algorithms, ACALM …

Enhancing Ad/Adrd Management Through Ihelpcare: A Compliant And Culturally Sensitive Ai-Driven Digital Healthcare Platform, Trisha Bhowmick

Master's Theses

The digital healthcare field is expanding fast, and now it requires platforms that use advanced technology and maintain robust data security and compliance practices. In the present paper, we present the main structure, key methods, and compliance strategies of the digital healthcare system iHelpCare, which, while fully meeting the HIPAA/GDPR requirements, provides health services more accessible, efficient, and inclusive. The proposed platform is powered by AI for personalized care solutions, with the main emphasis on preventive health management and providing tools for people with disabilities.

iHelpCare achieves real-time patient monitoring while securing medical data management and easy communication between patients, …

Implementation Of A Three-Port Solar Converter With A Battery Energy Storage System, Maison Christopher Phipps

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The increasing deployment of distributed solar and energy storage systems has created the need for integrated power converters that can efficiently manage photovoltaic (PV) generation, battery energy storage, and grid-tied AC output. This thesis presents the implementation and validation of a 5kW non-isolated Three-Port Converter (TPC) adapted for residential solar applications. The converter consolidates three power stage into a high-frequency, compact architecture: a unidirectional boost converter for PV input, a bidirectional interleaved buck-boost converter for battery energy storage, and a configurable DC/AC inverter for 120Vac single-phase output. The system is controlled using a central controller implemented on a TI C2000™ …

Design And Optimization Of High-Frequency Medium-Voltage Dual Active Bridge Dc/Dc Converter Using Sic Device, Hui Cao

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

High frequency Dual Active Bridge (DAB) converters have become a key enabling technology in medium- and high-power applications such as renewable energy integration, electric vehicle fast charging, and emerging DC power distribution systems. However, when operating at high power and high frequency, DAB converters face critical challenges including limited soft-switching range, uneven semiconductor loss distribution, deadtime-induced resonance, switching-frequency constraints of wide-bandgap (WBG) devices, and transformer DC bias during dynamic transitions. This dissertation addresses these challenges through advancements in modulation strategies and converter architecture. First, an enhanced triple-phase-shift (E-TPS) modulation scheme is proposed to achieve balanced switching and conduction losses across …

Beam Steering Control For A Small-Scale 5g Antenna Array, Omar Wagih Elkalesh

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis demonstrates the design, development, and validation of a full-scale adaptive beam steering control system of a small-scale 5G antenna array, designed and thoroughly evaluated with MATLAB Simulink. Overcoming the significant challenge of establishing strong wireless links in dynamic environments, the new system uses a new closed-loop control framework that can automatically detect the signal sources and automatically change the beam direction in real-time. The use of the adaptation is necessary to combat tracking errors that are caused by the mobility of the mobile users, environmental variations, as well as channel estimation errors, widespread in future wireless communication systems. …

Design And Development Of A Multi-Port Solid State Circuit Breaker Based On Half Bridge Sic Mosfets, Yannal Nawafleh

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates multi-port solid-state circuit breaker (M-SSCB) architectures that reduce steady-state conduction losses while preserving microsecond-class DC fault interruption and per-port selectivity. The proposed M-SSCB consolidates protection for several node interfaces into a single assembly with shared sensing, control, and a common energy-absorption branch. In normal operation, two electrically symmetric parallel semiconductor paths are established so each port’s current divides approximately in half; because conduction loss scales with current squared, the M-SSCB achieves ≈75% reduction in on-state loss relative to a conventional anti-series SiC path without increasing device count. During fault handling, the coordinated controller detects the local over-current, …

Solar Powered Conservation: The Effects Of Solar Photovoltaic Facilities On Avian Community Composition, Michael Christopher Ferrara

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The expansion of solar photovoltaic energy infrastructure is transforming landscapes worldwide. Increasingly, facilities are planted with native vegetation, yet how vegetation characteristics and landscape variables shape wildlife communities in solar facilities remains poorly understood. Because avian populations have been in decline and are sensitive to habitat changes, understanding how solar facilities influence avian communities is important. In Chapter 1, we used autonomous recording units, local vegetation measurements, and land use and land cover data to quantify how avian community occupancy is influenced by solar cover in solar facilities and comparable reference sites. We used a Bayesian multi-species occupancy model to …

Volume Status Detection With Integral Pulse Frequency Modulation Model Of Peripheral Venous Pressure, Jeremiah Rhys Wimer

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis studies the effectiveness of utilizing a modified integral pulse frequency modulation (IPFM) algorithm to synthesize peripheral venous pressure (PVP) waveforms for the detection of several physiological conditions using logistic regression. PVP waveforms are collected from 18 human patients and 4 porcine subjects. Human data are used to train models for determining the hypovolemic status of the patient, while the porcine data are used to train models for determining level of anesthesia and detecting internal hemorrhaging. In the human dataset, the waveforms collected from the 18 patients are classified into two groups according to serum chloride levels: resuscitated (≥100 …

Design Of Phase Shifter And True Time Delay Gan Mmics For High-Temperature Ku-Band Applications, Michael Lee Thompson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents the design, implementation, and high-temperature characterization of Gallium Nitride (GaN) monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) developed for beamforming and phased-array systems operating in the Ku-band (12-14 GHz). Two integrated circuits were designed: a 3-bit digital phase shifter and a 3-bit true time delay (TTD), both optimized for high linearity, low insertion loss, low phase error, and stable operation at elevated temperatures up to 300°C. Developing both a phase shifter and a TTD enabled a direct comparison of their beamforming performance and the evaluation of beam squint effects over frequency, a critical factor in wideband array design. The …

Design Principles For Customer‑Engaging Digital Service Systems: An Action Research Study, Keng Siau, Xiaofeng Chen, Xin Tan

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Digital services represent a business approach employed by organizations to operate in the digital environment. However, systematic development guidelines for developing quality digital service systems are lacking in the literature. The authors identified four general challenges for developing and implementing customer-engaging digital service systems (CEDSS). By employing the method of canonical action research in a digital service system project, they derived 10 design principles for developing high-quality CEDSS. They empirically evaluated the design principles in the development project and through follow-up focus group sessions. The design principles provide applicable and actionable guidelines for the development of CEDSS.

Development Of A Handy Tool For The Selection Of Urban Stormwater Best Management Practices, Aaron T. Kenny

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The City of Norfolk, Virginia faces substantial stormwater management challenges due to shallow groundwater, tidal influence, dense urban development, and limited right-of-way. These constraints limit the applicability of many Best Management Practices (BMPs) and require the early identification of feasible practices before detailed hydrologic modeling. This thesis introduces a decision-support tool that quickly and systematically identifies and prioritizes BMPs that are both feasible and well-suited to Norfolk’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program, streamlining early-stage selection and saving time and resources.

The tool implements a two-stage methodology. First, feasibility gates are applied using catalog attributes derived from the Virginia …

Advancement Of Wearable Hardware & Possible Cross-Sector Applications, Yassine Chahid, Patrick Slattery

Publications and Research

This study examines recent advances in wearable technologies including smart glasses, watches, rings, and related devices. It evaluates their applications across healthcare, manufacturing, education, and logistics. As real-time data collection, hands-free interaction, and continuous health monitoring become more prevalent, wearables are emerging as pivotal tools for both personal and professional contexts. The methodology combines a comparative analysis of current-generation devices, a review of technical specifications from manufacturer documentation, and case studies of specialized deployments, particularly in medical diagnostics, remote monitoring, and workplace efficiency. Project findings will indicate the rate at which wearable devices are moving beyond consumer fitness tracking and …

Evaluating Large Language Models For Requirements Engineering And Verification: A Comparative Analysis Of Gpt-5 And Gemini 3 Pro, Guadalupe Nevarez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Large Language Models (LLMs) are increasingly viewed as viable tools for Systems Engineering, yet empirical data regarding their effectiveness in generating engineering-quality requirements remains limited. This thesis compares the performance of GPT-5 and Gemini 3 Pro in generating system functional requirements for the Miner Guardian Drone, a prototype UAV designed for minefield remediation. Both models were provided with identical prompts and tasked with producing 15 functional requirements. Two independent raters evaluated the outputs using a nine-dimensional quality rubric aligned with IEEE 29148 and INCOSE guidelines to ensure rigorous assessment. The difference between the models was analyzed using descriptive statistics and …

One Step Fabrication: Software-Automated Printed Circuits Via Multi-Material Additive Manufacturing, Gabriel Sanchez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

As of now, the creation of 3D printed components faces many issues regarding stability, repeatability, and manual labor. Existing methods lack an integrated software framework that automates circuit generation while ensuring predictable behavior in printed geometries. In this work, circuits are modeled by leveraging distributed equations that reduce to lumped approximations when the printed geometry remains uniform. The system is implemented through a parametric, domain-specific programming workflow and evaluated across 100 Hz to 100 kHz to assess the accuracy of the predicted electrical values. Printed results were validated by empirical studies involving an RLC meter and by comparing both theoretical …

Development And Optimization Of A Deep Level Transient Spectroscopy System, Samuel Ruiz

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Deep-level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) remains one of the most widely used techniques for identifying electrically active defects that affect leakage current, carrier lifetime, and overall reliability in semiconductor devices. Legacy boxcar or capacitance meter implementations, however, often struggle with limited signal-to-noise ratio, labor-intensive data collection, and poor adaptability across diverse material systems. This thesis presents the design and optimization of a semi-automated, lock-in-amplifier-based DLTS platform. By pairing a Zurich HF2LI with PID-controlled cryogenic sweeps, precision signal generation, and MATLAB driven acquisition and processing scripts, the system will (i) enhance SNR through phase-sensitive detection, programmable low pass filtering, and parasitics calibration; …

Next-Generation Underwater Localization: Artificial Intelligence-Based And Energy-Aware Approaches, Mainul Islam Chowdhury, Quoc Viet Phung, Iftekhar Ahmed, Walid K. Hasan, Daryoush Habibi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Designing accurate, reliable, and energy-efficient localization techniques for underwater acoustic networks is highly challenging due to factors such as large propagation delays, the absence of Global Positioning System (GPS), node mobility, and limited acoustic link capacity. In any underwater sensor network (UWSN) monitoring application, data collected by underwater nodes becomes more meaningful when accompanied by location information. However, traditional localization methods often rely on geometric models and statistical filters that are highly sensitive to sensor noise and communication constraints. Energy consumption is another primary concern in UWSNs, not only because replacing and recharging underwater batteries are challenging, but also due …

The Effect Of Heat Treatment Duration On The Psychochemical, Mechanical, And Biodegradability Of Polyvinyl Alcohol/Gambir Extract Biocomposite Films, Ainul Kahfi Muhlasin, Poppy Puspitasari, Heru Suryanto, Diki Dwi Pramono, Dieter Rahmadiawan, Billie Jack Pasion

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

This study investigates PVA-based films with the addition of gambir and heat treatment to improve the characteristics of the film. Methods include the synthesis of PVA film with gambir addition (0.5%), treated by heat treatment for 40 minutes and 60 minutes. The film was characterised by physicochemical, mechanical properties, and biodegradability. Data was analyzed using ANOVA with a significance of 95%. Results indicate that the surface of PVA/gambir films is smoother and more homogeneous as the heat treatment duration increases. New peaks of functional groups were identified after the addition of gambir at the C-C and C-O groups. After heat …

Effect Of Argon Gas Flow Rate On Crystal Structure, Morphology, And Optical Properties Of Cigs Film For Photodetector Applications, Nurul Lathi’I Fatul Chamidah, Fadilah Wulan Cahyani, I Gusti Ayu Isnaini Fatha Ramadhani, Erma Surya Yuliana, Nasikhudin Nasikhudin, Safwan Abd. Aziz, Nandang Mufti

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

CIGS material can be used as a material for photodetector applications. The deposition of CIGS thin films remains challenging. Generally, argon is used as a gas to bombard the CIGS material through the sputtering method. This study fabricated photodetectors by varying the argon gas flow rate (50-80 sccm) to investigate its effect on device performance. XRD, SEM, UV-Vis, and photoresponse tests were characterized. Structural analysis using XRD showed a weak (112) diffraction peak, indicating that the resulting film was not fully crystalline, but rather consisted of a nanocrystalline phase, even partly amorphous, with small crystallite sizes. According to the SEM …

Thermophysical, Rheological And Wear Resistance Of Canola Oil Biolubricant With Calcium Carbonate Additive Nanoparticle As Coolant In Cnc Machining, Alfandi Jaelani, Poppy Puspitasari, Diki Dwi Pramono, Alief Muhammad, Muhammad Kozin, Muhammad Kashif

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Vegetable oil-based cutting fluids are of great importance in supporting green and sustainable manufacturing. This research introduces a new groundbreaking vegetable lubricant formulated with canola oil as the base material, coupled with CaCO3 nanoparticles synthesized from scallop shell waste and used as a cutting fluid in the AISI 1045 CNC machining process steel sprayed with minimum quantity lubrication (MQL). This investigation delves into the thermophysical, rheological, and wear resistance of the developed bio-lubricant. The results of this analysis show density value increased in the canola + CaCO3 0.15% sample by 3.28% of the pure canola sample, as did the viscosity …

Ai-Driven Innovations For Sustainable Healthcare Architecture In Developing Countries And Remote Areas: Enhancing Efficiency Through Futuristic Design, Esraa Elazab, Ahmed Eltawil

HBRC Journal

Access to healthcare in developing countries and remote areas remains a critical challenge due to geographic isolation, inadequate infrastructure, and limited medical resources. Communities in these regions face significant barriers in obtaining timely and adequate healthcare services, exacerbating public health issues. In response, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative technology, offering solutions that enhance healthcare systems by optimizing operational workflows, reducing human error, and improving resource management. When combined with sustainable design principles, AI-driven innovations provide a comprehensive approach to healthcare access and environmental sustainability. This paper presents a conceptual design proposal for a futuristic healthcare station aimed …

Cycling Network Planning Through Urban Form Analysis: A Contextual Gis Model, Nora Osama Ahmed, Rania Adham Sayed, Mona Mahrous Abdel Wahed

HBRC Journal

Promoting cycling as a sustainable mode of urban mobility requires a deep understanding of how urban form influences cyclists’ route choices. This study investigates the influence of urban form on cyclists’ route selection in an attempt to enhance context-sensitive cycling network planning. Five factors of urban form density, transportation infrastructure, housing/building type, land use, and street layout are examined to determine if any of them have a contributing factor to route selection. Based on an extensive review of the literature, the research develops an Urban Form–Cyclist Route Priority Matrix (UF-CRP Matrix) that categorizes urban conditions into three levels of desirability …

The Squeezed Middle: Housing Affordability Challenges, Nazli Dongez, Almula Koksal

HBRC Journal

Neoliberalism has deepened economic inequality, which is now spreading globally. Even though this economic inequality affects mostly lower-income households, international reports show that inequality has spread to the middle-income group. The decline in the purchasing power of the middle-income group has led to the issue of housing affordability, referred to as the squeezed middle-income group. Despite the global scope of this problem, only a limited number of academic studies have conducted a comprehensive assessment. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the problem of housing affordability for the middle-income group. The study employed the systematic literature review method. The Web of …

Factors Affecting The Cost Of Dynamic Architecture During The Execution Phase, Lamiaa Mohamed Said Elsherif, Eman N. Shaqour, Abdullah Badawy Mohammed, Sherif Mohamed Sabry El Attar

HBRC Journal

This study is part of a larger study on the factors affecting the cost of dynamic architecture during three phases (design, execution and operation), A research paper on the design phase has been published. and we will specialize in this research by studying the execution phase.

This research study is based on identifying the main factors affecting the cost of dynamic, buildings by conducting a questionnaire and analyzing it statistically by using IBM SPSS Statistics 25. To get to the definition of dynamic architecture and Types of movement directions in dynamic buildings.

By studying each of the principles of movement …

Users’ Expectations Of The Water Element As A Recreational Feature On University Campuses, Zubaidah Nadhem Mahmood Alzubaidi, Gökçen Firdevs Yücel Caymaz

HBRC Journal

Water is an important element in campus landscaping. Hence the importance of the lake opposite the Department of Architecture at the University of Mosul. However, the lake and its surroundings are currently neglected and in need of development. But any development must consider the expectations of the users, as the lake is there for them. Therefore, the research aims to identify users’ expectations of the lake as a recreational element on the campus, which can be used in any development of the lake. To this end, the literature review identified several characteristics related to the lake, such as size, movement, …

A Classification Framework For Egyptian Governorates According To Strategic Plan Implementation Requirements, Noor El Hoda Hamdy, Sammy Amin Ammer, Walid Nabil Bayomi

HBRC Journal

The implementation of strategic plans varies across regions based on their developmental typologies and the distribution of economic, natural, and human resources. This study explores differentiated approaches to strategic plan implementation by identifying typologies of development management, their mechanisms, and criteria for application. Drawing upon theoretical frameworks and global experiences, the research employs a comparative methodology to align the requirements of each development management model with the socio-economic and administrative characteristics of various Egyptian governorates. It further examines the prerequisites and success factors of each model, highlighting the suitability of each region. Key findings include the development of a novel …

Retrieval Augmented Framework For Deepfake Audio Detection, Avinash Saxena

Master's Theses

The widespread use of AI-based audio deepfakes threatens severely to undermine media integrity and public trust. Speech synthesis techniques have improved dramatically in voice conversion (VC) and text-to-speech (TTS) in recent years, making forgeries sound highly realistic, and concerns are raised about possible malevolent uses. Existing state-of-the-art techniques for identifying fake speech have proven to be effective in some cases but are still limited in application and robustness when faced with novel attacking strategies, different acoustic conditions, or alternative linguistic domains. To address some of these limitations, the current research presents a novel deepfake audio detection system based on personalized …

Transdisciplinary Perspectives On Ai: The Fourth Annual Conference Of The European Culture And Technology Laboratory, Connell Vaughan, Ioana Madalina Moldovan, Silivan Moldovan, Noel Fitzpatrick

Books/Book Chapters

The fourth annual conference of the ECT Lab+ was hosted by Technical University of Cluj-Napoca over two days in October 2024 at the Cluj Innovation Park. The conference brought together experts from the Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Technology, and other fields to discuss and reflect on the advent of Artificial Intelligence and how the associated technologies are transforming how we live, work and study. Under the title Transdisciplinary perspectives on AI: Alternative Histories, Current Practices and Possible Futures the conference moved beyond simplistic technophila and technophobia to consider whether we can co-evolve with these new technologies which combine machine learning …

Evolving Towards Efficient Technologies In Power Systems: The Paradigm Of Energy Internet Survey, Dina Emad, Omar Abdel-Rahim, Tanemasa Asano, Sobhy M. Abdelkader

Mansoura Engineering Journal

The Energy Internet represents a significant advancement in the modernization and automation of electricity systems, offering a framework for future smart grids where all electrical devices are interconnected through energy routers. This system integrates advanced power electronics, information technology, and smart control technologies, enabling the accommodation of diverse energy sources and storage devices. With its bidirectional energy flow and sharing capabilities, the Energy Internet holds great promise for the future. However, several challenges must be addressed to fully realize this potential. This review provides an overview of the Energy Internet framework and explores key challenges, particularly those related to energy …

Blockchain In Smart Cities, Shamma Alnuaimi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

This thesis explores the integration of blockchain technology with smart cities to enhance efficiency, transparency, and reliability. The basic principles of blockchain, its layered architecture, consensus protocols, and decentralized security are first reviewed. The thesis then highlights how blockchain features can be integrated with urban and energy systems. The research focuses on how token economy can be used with smart cities to promote individuals to engage in desired behaviors by employing blockchain-based incentive mechanisms that can encourage responsible energy consumption.

The FairChain test system was developed and tested using blockchain technology and the Internet of Things (IoT) to demonstrate the …

A Feature-Free Deep Learning Approach For Midair Hand Gesture Recognition From Surface Electromyogram (Semg) Data, Yasir Altaf, Abdul Wahid, Mudasir Manzoor Kirmani

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

Midair hand gesture recognition plays a crucial role in applications such as sign language recognition and human-computer interaction, particularly for supporting individuals with partial or complete hearing loss. However, recognizing gestures in midair remains challenging due to the rapid and complex nature of hand movements. To address this, noninvasive techniques like surface electromyography (sEMG)—which captures muscle activity through sensors placed on the skin—have gained attention. sEMG provides rich time-series data that reflect both spatial and temporal muscle dynamics. In this study, we propose a deep learning architecture that combines convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and recurrent neural networks (RNNs) to classify …