Engineering Commons^™

Low-Power Sensor Design And Fusion To Edge Devices For High-Speed Object Detection And Enhanced Soldier Situational Awareness, Scott Patrick Wood

Theses and Dissertations

Threat detection and physiological monitoring of soldiers from fused sensor data collected in real time is currently limited to running deep neural networks with substantial computing needs. The lack of data acquisition from sensor readings and efficient detection of novel enemy signatures motivates the need for a low-power, low-cost, wireless multisensor fusion computing system. We propose the current trends in Internet of Things to deploy a chargeable, wireless multi-channel acquisition system that can be interfaced to a high speed, Single Board Computer (SBC) such as the NVIDIA Jetson Orin capable of running object detection models, such as YOLOv7-tiny to enable …

Prostate Tissue Motion Tracking And Ultrasound Elastography Using Tissue Mechanics Derived Constraints, Tristan S. Curry

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Current prostate cancer detection methods can be costly to obtain, such as magnetic resonance imaging, or lack specificity, such as a digital rectal exam. Ultrasound elastography, a method that can be used to develop and test algorithms that output stiffness, strain, and displacement data captured by ultrasound radio frequency readings, offers a potential solution to these challenges. An initial algorithm utilizing dynamic programming and analytic minimization estimates the radial and angular displacements from a pre- and post-compression data set to determine the required material properties. This estimate of displacements is then refined through an algorithm where incompressibility, Laplacian smoothing, and …

Towards The Development Of Wearable Tremor Suppression Systems Combining Functional Electrical Stimulation And Mechanical Actuation, Zahra Habibollahi

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Parkinson's disease (PD), the second most prevalent neurological disorder, is characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms including tremor. Wearable tremor suppression devices (WTSDs), have shown promising results for tremor reduction, using functional electrical stimulation (FES) or active actuators. However, results and study procedures are not consistent in the literature. Although stimulations below and above motor threshold can suppress tremor, the mechanisms of the first is still not clear, and the second might lead to muscle fatigue and discomfort over time. While active actuators have shown better results for tremor suppression, they are often heavy and bulky for daily use. Lastly, …

Modular Open-Source Photovoltaic-Powered Dc Nanogrid For Application-Specific Designs, Md Motakabbir Rahman

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Decreasing cost of green energy producing solar panels has significantly boosted their popularity. Despite this, the power electronics associated with PV systems remain closed-source, expensive, and not easily compatible or expandable. This limits accessibility, especially for low-power applications. This research addresses these issues by adopting and analyzing DC nanogrid technology, converting it into a modular, open-source hardware system that users can easily assemble and expand. Detailed small signal analysis of the DC nanogrid was conducted, followed by the design of controllers and an effective energy management system. The system's stability was also thoroughly analyzed. Subsequently, hardware was developed and tested …

3d-Printable Open Source Hardware Developed For Sustainable Technology, Dawei Liu

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

As open-source technology and additive manufacturing evolve, their advantages become increasingly evident, offering solutions to global challenges. This thesis presents the development of two open-source 3D-printable hardware tools to accelerate this trend: a melt flow index (MFI) tool and tourniquet tester. The MFI tool is introduced as a low-cost method for measuring the MFI of thermal-sensitive material, particularly assessing their suitability for recycling thermoplastics for 3D printing. The tourniquet tester provides a low-cost instrument for measuring the pressure of tourniquets to assess efficacy. This device offers a cost-effective solution to ensure the safety and functionality of these critical emergency tools …

The Rise Of Bread: Leveraging Open-Source Process Control, Finn Keith Hafting

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Industrial pilot projects and the automation of experiments often rely on expensive and proprietary electronic hardware, known as supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, to control and monitor areas of their processes. The Broadly Reconfigurable and Expandable Automation Device (BREAD) framework was created to address the need for inexpensive SCADA systems. New BREAD Slices were designed and compared to commercial heating, motor, pump, and pH controllers, exceeding all in functionality and cost. In each case, the decreased accuracy of the BREAD controller had little impact on the final products but greatly reduced the cost of the system. The modularity …

Enhancing Fundraising Strategies In Higher Education Through Machine Learning, Laith Alatwah

Electrical Engineering Theses

This thesis presents a comprehensive application of machine learning techniques, namely Fine Gaussian SVM and RUS Boosted Trees, to enhance fundraising strategies in higher education institutions. Analyzing a rich dataset from Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT, spanning 2012 to 2022, the study focuses on donor profiles, including demographics, donation history, and engagement patterns. Key demographic insights include the increasing engagement of younger donors (20-29 age group) and significant contributions from older donors (70-99 age group). Geographical trends are also examined, revealing distinct patterns based on donors' city, state, and ZIP code. The Fine Gaussian SVM model demonstrates moderate discriminatory power, with …

Design Of A Portable Fast Scan Cyclic Voltammetry Device Utilizing Pulse Width Modulation For Waveform Generation, Nora Szymkowski

Masters Theses

Fast Scan Cyclic Voltammetry (FSCV) is a widely used electrochemical technique for real-time measurement of the brain’s chemical messengers, including the molecule dopamine, with high temporal resolution. Currently the financial burden of performing FSCV is quite high, ranging from $8,000 to $20,000+ making the barrier to entry nearly insurmountable for laboratories and classrooms at small institutions. The purpose of this project was to develop a Do-It-Yourself (DIY), portable, and cost-effective FSCV system for use in laboratory and classroom settings. The project aimed to create a compact and cost-effective system that could be used by researchers and educators to study dopamine …

Evaluation, Modeling And Application Of Gallium Nitride Field Effect Transistor, Geno Guillaume

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Gallium Nitride (GaN) has emerged as one of the leading materials for power devices due to its wide band gap and high electron mobility. The band gap is the minimum energy required to excite an electron up to a state in the conduction band where it can participate in conduction. Because of this, wide band gap (WBG) materials are favorable for various electrical applications. The market for GaN high-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) is projected to exceed $1.25 billion by 2027. With the increase of market interest, modern technologies emerge that aim to push the boundaries of efficiency for GaN power devices. …

Synthesis Of Nanoparticles And Their Applications In Power Module Packaging And Organic Electronics, Xinsong Zhang

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Nanoparticles can greatly change the properties of regular materials due to their special structures. In this research nanoparticles, such as silver nanowires, silver nanospheres and expanded graphite, are used in interconnection materials for power module packaging, and in conductive films for organic electronics. Silver nanowires synthesized by polyol synthesis, are used as fillers in micron silver paste. The electrical and mechanical properties of the sintered hybrid silver paste are investigated and compared with those of micron silver paste. The composites of silver nanospheres and expanded graphite are mixed with PEDOT:PSS solutions in 5 different weight ratio. The electrical and optical …

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 Broadband, Dual Polarized Antenna For The Radio Neutrino Observatory In Greenland, Danny Maas

Master's Theses

The Radio Neutrino Observatory in Greenland (RNO-G) is a multidisciplinary, multinational collaboration which uses antennas to detect neutrino interactions with arctic ice sheets. Neutrinos are formed from nuclear reactions; predominant sources include nuclear reactors, stars, supernovae, and the big bang. They rarely interact with normal matter and thus travel from origin to destination relatively unimpeded, with applications including tracking nuclear weapons tests and supernovae. Measurements of galactic neutrino flux can provide information about how the universe developed and its current evolution. Neutrino interactions produce signals from 100 to 1000MHz. Current RNO-G antennas operate over only a portion of this band; …

Data-Driven Enhanced Energy Management System Applications For Energy Control Centers, Dulip Madurasinghe

All Dissertations

This dissertation explores the pressing needs of modern bulk power system operation and control and delves into enhancements to EMS applications with minimal infrastructure development. The dissertation investigates three main EMS application enhancements. The transmission network topology processing (TNTP) is a foundational application of the EMS. A physics-based hierarchical transmission network topology processing (H-TNTP), including substation configuration identification, to improve efficiency and reliability is proposed. Secondly, a multi-level distributed linear state estimation (D-LSE) approach solely based on PMUs is proposed utilizing H-TNTP as the network modeling tool. The D-LSE can conduct linear state estimation (LSE) at either substation, area or …

Time-Domain Line Protection In Presence Of Renewables, Prabin Adhikari

All Dissertations

Inverter based resources (IBRs) are crucial in integrating renewable energy sources into the power grid. However, their unique fault characteristics, significantly different from synchronous generators (SGs), present several challenges for existing line protection schemes at both transmission and distribution levels. These schemes, reliant on distance and directional relays designed in phasor domain, are not well-suited for IBRs. Most published literature addressing this problem concentrates on altering the control design of inverters. However, this approach faces practical limitations. Inverter controls, often proprietary, are not readily accessible to utilities, rendering the control-based solutions impractical for widespread implementation.

To address this challenge, this …

Computer Vision Algorithms For Assessment Of Surgical Suturing Skill Using Hand And Needle Motion, Jianxin Gao

All Dissertations

Surgical suturing skill assessment is a crucial part of surgical education. Vascular surgery educators have developed a simulation-based examination called Fundamentals of Vascular Surgery, which includes a clock-face model for assessing open surgical suturing skills. The clock-face model, however, requires the valuable time of expert surgeons to determine examinees' skills. Moreover, expert surgeons have different judgments for appropriate sutures, which leads to inconsistent grading. These limitations motivate us to use sensors to measure examinees' needle motions and hand motions during the clock-face suturing exercises, and then use the measurements for objective suturing skill assessment.

To assess suturing skills based on …

Reconfigurable, Reliable And Online Learning Enabled Memristive Neuromorphic Core Design For Brain-Inspired Computing, Nishith Nirjhar Chakraborty

Doctoral Dissertations

For several years, the von Neumann architecture has served as the foundation of contemporary computers due to its straightforward, cost-effective architecture for processing units and memory. However, this design encounters a significant impediment in meeting the growing demand for increased parallelism in complex computations. Additionally, the post-Moore's law era emphasizes the need for energy-efficient computing with fewer resources and reduced space. As a response to these challenges, researchers are actively seeking alternatives to the von Neumann architecture, with neuromorphic computing emerging as a promising candidate. Neuromorphic computing garnered attention initially for its ability to harness the parallelism inherent in bio-inspired …

Development Of Digital Twin Applications In Power Systems To Improve Operation Of Emerging Grid Technology, Jeremy Till

Doctoral Dissertations

Power systems are continuously increasing in penetration of renewable energy resources and new technologies. Carbon-neutral requirements across the United States act as a catalyst forcing wide spread acceleration of these implementations. However, grid advancements exacerbate existing problems and potentially create new issues. New technologies for system planning and operation must be developed alongside the advancement of power systems. One such new technology is digital twins. Digital twins are a relatively new research topic in power systems. The main concept of a digital twin is a model of a real-world system that can run online with the physical system utilizing measurement …

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 …

Leveraging Millimiter Wave Communications For Effective Remote Sensing, Zhiyang Zhang

Doctoral Dissertations

Millimeter wave (mmWave) is a promising technique in the 5th generation of cellular communications due to its large bandwidth and thus unprecedentedly high data transmission rate. To study the characteristics of mmWave and evaluate various algorithms, we build a high directional mmWave communication testbed.

The first topic of this thesis consists of two parts. The first one seeks to track a single object by using blockage phenomenon. Algorithms to capture the moving object are proposed. Detailed experiments and numerical simulations are compared with actual GPS trajectory to demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed solutions. In the second part, we formulate …

Converter-Based Microgrid Testing Platform Development And Fault Detection Method For Inverter-Based Resources By Utilizing Instantaneous Power Theory, Nattapat Praisuwanna

Doctoral Dissertations

Renewable energy sources (RESs) are rapidly being installed into electric systems. Most RESs are inverter-based distributed generations (IDGs). To better manage energy from IDGs, microgrids will play a crucial role. However, microgrids that have high penetration of IDG will have modification in fault current levels and bidirectional power flow causing protective devices to misoperate, so the traditional protection system does not correctly function in the microgrids. Therefore, the integration of IDGs into the microgrids establishes some significant consequences on protection systems.

Overcurrent protection is widely utilized in the electric distribution systems today; however, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between …

Development Of 3d Human Cardiovascular And Cancer Tissue Model Within A Self-Driven Microfluidic Platform For Preclinical Drug Screening, Aibhlin Alexis Esparza

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

According to the American Heart Association and World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide. Monolayer cell culture (2D) and animal models are conventional methods to study CVDs, however, they limit researcherâ??s ability to simulate the human cardiovascular cellular microenvironments and accurate predication of pharmaceutical drug responses. Human induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs), biomaterials, and microfluidic technologies can be combined to create a controlled, reproducible 3D platform to study physiologically-relevant cellular responses to biochemical and physical changes in the microenvironment. My dissertation work demonstrates the development of novel self-driven microfluidic devices designed with …

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 …

Training Uav Teams With Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning Towards Fully 3d Autonomous Wildfire Response, Bryce Hopkins

All Theses

As climate-exacerbated wildfires increasingly threaten landscapes and communities, there is an urgent and pressing need for sophisticated fire management technologies. Coordinated teams of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) present a promising solution for detection, assessment, and even incipient-stage suppression – especially when integrated into a multi-layered approach with other recent wildfire management technologies such as geostationary/polar-orbiting satellites and CCTV detection networks. However, there remains significant challenges in developing the necessary sensing, navigation, coordination, and communication subsystems that enable intelligent UAV teams. Further, federal regulations governing UAV deployment and autonomy pose constraints on real-world aerial testing, creating a disconnect between theoretical research …

Novel Polymer-Derived Ceramic Antennas For Hypersonic Applications, Peter J. Alley

Masters Theses

With recent advances in three dimensional [3D] printing of polymer-derived ceramics [PDCs], and the controllability of electrical continuity thereof, interest has risen in potential applications resultant from these techniques in the realm of radio communication, particularly in cases where extreme high temperatures are ambient. The following investigates the electrical properties of both insulating and conductive variants of these PDCs, the interaction between each, and the performance characteristics observed when combined using microstrip antenna design theory for high temperature applications.

Development Of A Smart Power Lab For Advanced Power Electronic Research, Joseph Lentz

Theses and Dissertations

In the pursuit of enhancing power systems efficiency, reliability, and sustainability, the establishmentof advanced research laboratories plays a pivotal role. This thesis dives into the development and integration of a cutting-edge power laboratory aimed at fostering innovation across three key domains: Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) analysis, Microgrid studies, and Energy Storage exploration. The first section focuses on the creation of an EMI laboratory tailored for the comprehensive evaluation of both radiated and conducted emissions. EMI poses significant challenges in modern electronic systems, necessitating meticulous analysis and mitigation strategies. By meticulously designing and equipping an EMI lab, researchers can gain insights into …

A Convex Approach To Advanced Air Mobility Trajectory Optimization, Yufei Wu

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation addresses the challenge of real-time trajectory optimization for electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) vehicles within the framework of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). With urban airspaces becoming increasingly crowded, ensuring the safety, efficiency, and feasibility of eVTOL operations is crucial. This research primarily focuses on the development and application of convex optimization techniques to solve trajectory optimization problems that not only enhance operational capabilities but also ensure adherence to stringent safety and efficiency standards.

The study is structured into several critical analyses and methodological developments across multiple chapters. In the first chapter, I introduce a multi-phase trajectory optimization …

Hardware-Based Solutions For Improving Situational Awareness In Power Systems With High Renewable Integration, Yuru Wu

Doctoral Dissertations

This doctoral dissertation addresses the evolving challenges in power system frequency dynamics as the penetration of renewable energy sources increases, leading to a decrease in system inertia. The integration of these renewable sources, particularly those involving electronic inverters, introduces high-frequency harmonics and oscillations, necessitating enhanced accuracy and wideband measurement capabilities for effective monitoring and situation awareness in power systems.

The dissertation makes several significant contributions to this field. In Chapter 2, the dissertation introduces a review of the related literature, detailing the development and application of monitoring devices in modern power systems. Chapter 3 proposed a variety of hardware devices …

Power Controller For Insulated Solar Electric Cooker, Ryan Koshy, Justin Tae-Hoon Kim

Electrical Engineering

Insulated Solar Electric Cookers, or ISECookers, are devices created to aid those in impoverished regions improve safety, sustainability, and quality of life regarding their cooking practices. ISECookers present an alternative to traditional biofuel/biomass energy sources and provide a closed-loop, self-sustaining system that can be used in a variety of environments. These devices present solutions to widespread issues such as pollution, deforestation, and hazardous emissions as a result of traditional cooking in developing regions around the world. A notable obstacle of these devices is power delivery. Given the varying conditions experienced by a solar panel (inclement weather, irradiance irregularities, etc.), it …