Engineering Commons^™

Sustainable Building Materials Of The Future: Architectural Forms And Structural Design, Sean Sadler, Moritz Meditz

Symposium of Student Scholars

This research investigates the use of non-rigid formwork and the techniques aiming to create more efficient concrete forms. During casting, concrete takes the shape of its formwork; traditionally, these formworks are made of rigid materials like steel or wood. The results are prismatic members, which are not optimized for material usage but only for simplicity in construction. Most of the research in the area focuses on improving the constituent materials, while the formworks have remained unchanged throughout the years. By using the approach described in this study, optimized shapes are achieved. These geometries can save up to 30% of the …

Cooperative Localization Between Robots Using Vision And Path Planning Algorithm, Charles Koduru

Symposium of Student Scholars

The aim of this article is to provide an obstacle avoidance solution for navigating a robot from one point to another. The robots that are being considered are the NAOHumanoid robot and the wheeled robot Rosbot 2.0. This article's main purpose is to understand how robots work together to minimize positioning errors. The image processing robot (NAO) will be able to instruct the wheeled bot (Rosbot) to navigate around obstacles more accurately by incorporating Inverse Perspective Mapping methods (IPM) and the A-Star Algorithm. This approach demonstrates the ability to improve robot collaboration in order to diagnose various collisions and develop …

Analysis And Characterization Of Microplastics In Water Treatment Plants

Symposium of Student Scholars

Plastic pollution is a growing public concern due to its effect on our environment and oceans. Based on the increasing prevalence of microplastics in the environment, they are now present in potable water. Microplastics can be defined as pieces of synthetic polymers that can typically be measured to be smaller than five millimeters. Microplastics can stem from sources such as beauty products containing microbeads, polystyrene foam packaging, and the deterioration of disposable plastic items. Much of this waste enters natural water bodies, which is the source of our drinking water. Little is known about the microplastics contaminating our water treatment …

Atomistic Simulation Of Desalination, Ian David Durr

Symposium of Student Scholars

Atomistic Simulation of Desalination

Ian Durr, Matheus Prates, and Jungkyu Park

Kennesaw State University

In this research, we investigate the desalination capacity of three-dimensional (3D) carbon nanostructures using molecular dynamics simulations. 3D carbon nanostructures proposed here will filter seawater efficiently because of their multiple layers with holes of tunable sizes. The structure is designed to be flexible, allowing mechanical deformation during daily use. The 3D carbon nanostructure will still possess high thermal conductivity, enabling easy recycle through a simple heating process. Here, we employ LAMMPS, Large-scale Atomic/MolecularMassively Parallel Simulator distributed by Sandia National Laboratories to measure salt ion flux through …

Using Comprehensive Finite Element Analysis To Simulate A Special Connection In Post-Tensioned Concrete, Joshuah Leljedal

Symposium of Student Scholars

Finite element analysis (FEA) uses differential equations to determine a computer-based solution that explains interactive behaviors within models of complex structural and mechanical systems, subjected to various loading and environmental conditions. Those systems are partitioned into finite elements consisting of a linear mesh with nodes at each end point, and FEA determines relationships, such as force-displacement, between each of the finite elements. This apportioned model allows systems to be evaluated under multiple loading scenarios. Computer-based FEA offers significant benefits that reduce cost and the time required to perform alternative analysis for complex structural systems. In this research project, a comprehensive …

Blade Optimization For Ground Level Low Speed Wind Turbines, Ryan Foster

Symposium of Student Scholars

Low speed wind turbines can provide inexpensive and clean energy in areas where large scale wind power generation is impractical. The purpose of this research is to explore factors that affect the efficiency of low speed wind turbine blades. The factors that were tested include angle of attack, angle of twist, chord length, average thickness, span, and taper ratio. The goal is to determine a combination of these variables to enable maximum power extraction from a low wind speed source. These blade parameters are optimized for the Southeastern region of the United States. NOAA weather data at ground level are …

Wireless Power Receiver With Tripler Circuit, Boost Converter And Supercapacitor, Bradley Clayton

Symposium of Student Scholars

This presentation lays out the groundwork, advancements, and results of a three-stage wireless power receiver with the purpose of providing power to low-power electronic equipment that operate at 5V. The receiver incorporates an impedance matching network, a tripler circuit, a boost converter, and a super capacitor. The impedance matching network has been designed for 1GHz but through testing the receiver with a signal generator followed by an antenna, it has been found that the signal frequency of 996MHz yields optimal energy capture at the tested received power levels of 0dBm, 3dBm, and 6dBm. The signal is produced from a signal …

Security And Privacy Analysis Of Wearable Health Device, Abm Kamrul Islam Riad

Symposium of Student Scholars

Wearable technology allows for consumers to record their healthcare data for either personal or clinical use via portable devices. As advancements in this technology continue to rise, the use of these devices has become more widespread. In this paper, we examine the significant security and privacy features of three health tracker devices: Fitbit, Jawbone and Google Glass. We also analyze the devices' strength and how the devices communicate via its Bluetooth pairing process with mobile devices. We explore possible malicious attacks through Bluetooth networking. The outcomes of this analysis illustrate how these devices allow third parties to access sensitive information, …

Securing Global Positioning Systems In A Blockchain Using Vehicle-To-Everything Communications, Malik Purefoy

Symposium of Student Scholars

Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) are being deployed globally to support vehicular safety innovation using wireless communication. The ITS paradigm of vehicle-to-everything communication (V2X) enables vehicles equipped with an on-board unit (OBU) to communicate with a roadside unit (RSU) infrastructure to provide safe intersection movements between similarly equipped vehicles, pedestrians, and animal life. However, the current paradigm relies heavily on the availability of a Global Positioning System (GPS) for ensuring road user safety. In a doomsday scenario where GPS becomes unavailable, collision avoidance services provided through V2X may be rendered unavailable. The proposed solution is to develop a secure and reliable …

Design And Test Of Novel Vehicle-To-Everything Packet For Sensor Arrays In Under Roadway Deployment, Marquis Brown

Symposium of Student Scholars

Title: Design and Test of Novel Vehicle-to-Everything Packet for Sensor Arrays in Under Roadway Deployment

Poster Presentation Undergraduate Student(s): Hakeem Wilson, Marquis Brown Research Mentor(s): Dr. Billy Kihei

Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communications is a burgeoning technology that will enable safer, greener, and more productive usage of roadways. In the V2X paradigm, all equipped vehicles and infrastructure can communicate with each other in real-time. By utilizing V2X communications as an Internet-of-Things gateway, a sensor array installed under roadways, allows real-time monitoring of road conditions which increases overall road safety and road maintenance cost. In our research, we have utilized the WAVE Short …

Detecting Primitive Jamming Attacks Using Machine Learning In Vehicle-To-Everything Networks​, Hakeem Wilson

Symposium of Student Scholars

Vehicle-to-Everything communications (V2X) is gaining additional ground as an upcoming ad hoc safety network. In V2X, basic safety messages are used for exchanging critical information between vehicles at a set broadcast rate. However, jamming attacks on the safety spectrum could deny V2X radios the ability to save lives on the roadway. This preliminary work analyzes two types of primitive jamming attacks performed on target V2X devices. Lab results reveal that V2X networks are easily susceptible to jamming attacks, due to all V2X standards lacking a requirement to detect/mitigate jamming. To avert this threat and promote safety of life on the …

Novel Vehicle-To-Everything Rollover Antenna, Aya Alazzawi

Symposium of Student Scholars

Rollover Vehicle-to-Everything Antenna

Poster Presentation Undergraduate Student: Aya Alazzawi

Research Mentor(s): Dr. Billy Kihei

Soft robotics is a new field of engineering ready to be explored, because of its use of unconventional materials it can withstand copious amounts of stress which makes it ideal for applications involving vehicular accidents. In this groundbreaking work, we attempt to integrate soft robotics technologies with Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communications. Specifically, we introduce the preliminary planning stages for creating a novel V2X rollover antenna that can reduce road deaths and provide more reliable accident data. An up-right roof-mounted antenna could be damaged during a roll-over accident …

Motion Detection On A Frequency Jumping Rfid Signal ​ Using Machine Learning, Trevor Stanca

Symposium of Student Scholars

Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) is a well-known technology in wireless communication. It is hypothesized that the capabilities of RFID can be extended by reading an ID number and detecting movement around the reader during the read. Following regulatory standards, this study presents the foundation for a software defined RFID reader that may simultaneously detects and classifies the type of movement during the interrogation operation. A frequency hopping signal in unlicensed 5.8GHz can be analyzed using machine learning to extract a Doppler profile. We effectively collect information about an object through RFID by potentially detecting the speed of the object or …

The Influence Of Mechanical Properties Associated With Exercise Equipment Padding On Maximizing Performance And Minimizing Potential Soft-Tissue Injury When Performing High-Intensity Weight Lifting Exercises, Robert Hewston

Symposium of Student Scholars

The intention of this study is the measurement of mechanical properties such as resilience and compressibility associated with exercise equipment padding in order to determine the ability to minimize potential soft-tissue injuries while performing high-intensity weight lifting exercises. ASTM standards were used to test the resilience and compressibility of five different exercise equipment padding specimens. The specimens consisted of standard bench press foam, composite foam, polyethylene foam, a single yoga mat foam, and double yoga mat foam. The resilience and compressibility are tested to determine the amount of deformation each sample can experience and the level of energy returned back …

A Special Slab-Wall Connection In Post-Tensioned Concrete, Mohammad Jonaidi

Symposium of Student Scholars

Post tensioned concrete is a widely used method in the construction of the slab of high-rise buildings, podium (transferred) slab of wood-framed structures, bridges and so on. The effects of slab shortening due to concrete shrinkage and post-tensioning compression should be considered in the design of the structure. Various connections, between slab and wall, are used in the industry. However, the behavior of a special connection which consists of steel reinforcement dowels wrapped with compressible material has not been investigated. This research study investigates a case that requires a permanent slip detail in which the dowel between the shear wall …

Long Distance Li-Fi, Adeyemi Fagbemi

Symposium of Student Scholars

Wi-Fi has been in existence since 1998 providing an increase in the amount of data transmitted and generated by machines. With the growing market demand for network bandwidth, it will make it nearly impossible for typical radio frequency (RF) technologies like Wi-Fi to supply the resources needed for the data transmission. As a complementary solution, Li-Fi was introduced in 2011 as a method of data transfer through the use light of light sources. Li-Fi employs the use of visible light spectrum which has 1000 more times the bandwidth of typical RF spectrums. This study investigates the distance to which this …

Lifting Flow Over A Cylinder As A Lift System, Kyle Mello

Symposium of Student Scholars

The goal of this project is to conceptually design a lift system consisting of rotating cylinders that may improve certain flight characteristics when compared to conventional wings for a typical two passenger airplane. The functions of flaps, ailerons, lift to weight ratio and structural responses are considered. The cylindrical model is developed within CFD simulation software such that it generates the same lift produced by the wings of a Cessna 172 wings at cruising speed. Incompressible flow theoretical solutions are initially shown to compare favorably with the computational predictions for elementary cylindrical designs.

The rotating cylinder aircraft generates the same …

Pulmon-C: A Real-Time Monitoring Framework Of Pulmonary Function, Md Saiful Islam, Maria Valero, Shahriar Hossain

Symposium of Student Scholars

This project will develop PulMon-C, a real-time monitoring framework of pulmonary function to diagnose COVID-19 patients who are being self-quarantined at home. The tool will identify anomalies in breathe rate and predict pulmonary deterioration to raise alert for immediate actions. The uniqueness of the tool is using non-invasive sensors placed under-mattress that are able to communicate data about the respiratory signal. The customer segment of PulMon-C will be the diagnosed COVID-19 patients and healthcare providers. PulMon-C will assist with the remote monitoring of COVID-19 patients as an urgent need in the USA and will bring larger impact in delivering …

Oral Minimal Model For Gestational Diabetes, Sarah Peters

Symposium of Student Scholars

Gestational diabetes is one of the most common issues that a pregnant woman encounters that could result in harm to both the woman and child. Due to this issue, the woman’s glucose and insulin levels should be carefully monitored throughout her pregnancy to assess the need for prescribed diabetic medication to help regulate those levels. In this research, the objectives is to develop a MATLAB computer program of the Oral Minimal Model, which is a model that can be used to estimate a person’s insulin sensitivity from an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) where plasma glucose and insulin levels are …

Sterilizing Masks With Uvc Light, Christopher Focht

Symposium of Student Scholars

This experiment focused on the construction and testing of a UVC light box and the treatment of facemasks with UVC light. Exposure rates were calculated and measured to ensure efficacy of the light box. Masks were contaminated with bacteria and exposed for set time intervals, after which the bacteria were collected, cultured, and counted. Early results show that the masks in the box had no bacteria survive past ten seconds. This research is ongoing with different bacteria strains and mask types.

Source Localization Of Electroencephalogram (Eeg) Waves With Convolutional Neural Network, Terence Onyewuenyi

Symposium of Student Scholars

This paper investigates the use of deep learning as a means for quantification and source localization of prioritizing electroencephalogram (EEG) waves for the purpose of detecting different eye states of human subjects. The Convolutional Deep Learning tool is trained to recognize EEG reading corresponding to a set of different eye movements as generated by watching different action scenes. The results also predict whether the subjects' eyes are open or closed. Source localization is performed next on the EEG data to focus on the different EEG components which primarily contribute to the activity. This was done by using a convolutional neural …

Poster Awards Ceremony, Hongyan Ma

INSPIRE-UTC Annual Meetings

• 1st Place: Dongbin Kim, Missouri S&T, A Human-Embodied Drone for Dexterous Aerial Manipulation
• 2nd Place: Yu Otsuki, Georgia Tech, Autonomous ultrasonic thickness measurement using Martlet wireless sensing system integrated with a steel climbing mobile robot
• 3rd Place: Pu Jiao, Missouri S&T, INSPIRE UTC Bridge Inspection Field Campaign Update, 2021

Closing Remarks And Winners Announced, Hongyan Ma

INSPIRE-UTC Annual Meetings

Closing Remarks and Winners Announced by INSPIRE UTC Graduate Student Poster Session Chair Dr. Hongyan Ma, Assistant Professor, Civil, Architectural & Environmental Engineering, Missouri S&T

Improving 3d Metric Gpr Imaging Using Robotic Data Collection And Dnn Based Processing, Jinglun Feng

INSPIRE-UTC Annual Meetings

GPR is one of the most important NDE devices to detect subsurface objects and reconstruct the underground scene. There are two challenges for GPR- based inspection, which are GPR data collection and subsurface object imaging. To address these challenges, we propose a robotic solution that automates the GPR data collection process with a free motion pattern. It facilitates the 3D metric GPR imaging by tagging the pose information with GPR measurement in real-time. We also introduce a DNN based GPR data analysis method which includes a noise removal segmentation module to clear the noise in GPR raw data and a …

Encoding Time-Series Ground Motions As Images For Convolutional Neural Networks-Based Seismic Damage Evaluation, Xinzhe Yuan

INSPIRE-UTC Annual Meetings

Earthquake records can be encoded as images to classify their resulting damage states to structures based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Different encoding techniques such as Recurrence Plot (RP) and Wavelet Transform (WT) can be used to transfer earthquake records to images. Presently, no consensus has been reached on the understanding of the most suitable encoding technique for CNN-based seismic damage classification. In this study, we develop a new encoding technique based on Time-series Segmentation (TS) and compare it to state-of-the-art RP and WT techniques. These techniques are mainly compared based on their classification accuracy and computation efficiency.

Reveal Underground Defects Through Impact Sounding (Is) And Impact Echo (Ie), Ejup Hoxha

INSPIRE-UTC Annual Meetings

Impact Echo (IE) and Impact Sounding (IS) are well-developed non-destructive evaluation (NDE) methods that are widely used for inspection of concrete structures to ensure safety and sustainability. However, it is a tedious work to collect IE and IS data along grid lines covering large target area for characterization of subsurface defects. On the other hand, data processing is very complicated and requires domain experts to interpret the results. To address the above problems, we present a robotic inspection system, to automate the data collection process and introduce data analytics software to visualize the inspection results allowing non-professionals to easily understand …

Autonomous Ultrasonic Thickness Measurement Using Martlet Wireless Sensing System Integrated With A Steel Climbing Mobile Robot, Yu Otsuki

INSPIRE-UTC Annual Meetings

The objective of this research is to develop an autonomous ultrasonic thickness measurement system for steel bridge members through the integration of wireless sensing and robotics. The ultrasonic thickness measurement is achieved using a transducer that requires access to only one side of a steel bridge member. Building upon the Martlet wireless sensing platform, this project first develops pulser and ultrasonic daughter boards to generate a pulse excitation and to filter and amplify the received ultrasonic signal. The developed Martlet wireless ultrasonic device is next integrated with a steel climbing mobile robot developed by University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). The …

Drone Vision-Based Clamping Strategy For Bridge Inspection, Bo Shang

INSPIRE-UTC Annual Meetings

Most bridges in the United States are near their designed lifetime. So, policy needs bridges to be inspected every two years. Currently, most of those inspections are done by human which needs to block the traffic and can cause injury. MST INSPIRE-UTC’s project Bridge Inspection Robot Deployment Systems (BIRDS) tries to develop a flying and climbing platform that has the following benefit:

• Capturing high quality data for inspection without vibration;
• Free of blocking traffic;
• Operator and inspector are safe.

Ronald E. Mcnair Scholars Program Profiles And Abstracts 2021, Mcnair Scholars Program

McNair Symposium

This is the complete event program and provides presentation abstracts and biographies of McNair scholars and their mentors.

Gas Leakage Detection With Hyperspectral Imagery-Based Vegetation Stress Indices, Pengfei Ma

INSPIRE-UTC Annual Meetings

The objective of this research is to provide a basis for gas leakage detection with hyperspectral cameras. The gas leakage attacks vegetations, which yields some spectral signature changes. As the vegetation under different stressors may induce similar effect. The spectral signature changes can be similar. A lab test was arranged to test three kinds of plants under four common natural stressors with a reference. All plants are routinely scanned with hyperspectral cameras every three days to obtain every developmental stage. Linear discriminant analysis (LDR) was applied in the data analysis to discriminate the plant with gas leakage treatment from the …