Engineering Commons^™

Hatt-Flow: Hierarchical Attention-Flow Mechanism For Group-Activity Scene Graph Generation In Videos, Naga Venkata Sai Raviteja Chappa, Pha Nguyen, Thi Hoang Ngan Le, Page Daniel Dobbs, Khoa Luu

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Group-activity scene graph (GASG) generation is a challenging task in computer vision, aiming to anticipate and describe relationships between subjects and objects in video sequences. Traditional video scene graph generation (VidSGG) methods focus on retrospective analysis, limiting their predictive capabilities. To enrich the scene-understanding capabilities, we introduced a GASG dataset extending the JRDB dataset with nuanced annotations involving appearance, interaction, position, relationship, and situation attributes. This work also introduces an innovative approach, a Hierarchical Attention–Flow (HAtt-Flow) mechanism, rooted in flow network theory to enhance GASG performance. Flow–attention incorporates flow conservation principles, fostering competition …

Coordinated Controls Of Residential Ev Chargers Considering High Power Appliances, Steven B. Poore, Rosemary E. Alden, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

In addition to electric vehicle (EV) adoption, the electricity demand of the modern grid is also under change from the replacement of resistive electric water heaters (EWHs) with high-efficiency heat pump electric water heaters (HPWH). Typical load of a HPWH has two parts: a low power compressor and a backup high power resistive boosting element. Within this paper, residential load from a large field demonstration for over one thousand homes is simulated in virtual power plant (VPP) operation with realistic HPWH and EV synthetic modules based on big data from the latest CBECC-Res and National Household Travel Survey (NHTS). Simultaneous …

Unconventional Computing With Photonic Oscillator Networks, Mostafa Honari Latifpour

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The ever-increasing demand for data processing and the challenges in scaling traditional computing architectures are driving intensive research into alternative computing paradigms. Optical computing has garnered renewed attention since the 2010s, driven by its potential to accelerate specialized computational tasks such as combinatorial optimization and neural networks.

Coherent light sources including lasers and parametric oscillators have been around for decades and become indispensable tools in modern technology, but these photonic oscillators are also nonlinear dynamical systems that can exhibit emergent, complex phenomena, especially when coupled in arrays. These nonlinear optical systems have recently been shown to be capable of doing …

Communication Challenges In Underwater Wireless Networks: Mac Protocols And Software Solutions, Dmitrii Dugaev

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Underwater wireless networks (UWNs) represent a diverse and intriguing research domain, encompassing a wide array of scientific and industrial applications. This dissertation delves into the communication challenges at the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer within UWNs, stemming from the distinctive signal propagation conditions and the harshness of the deployment environment. The manuscript provides comprehensive coverage of key aspects of UWNs, including potential applications, communication protocols, methodologies employed in such networks, and existing software solutions that facilitate simulation, emulation, and real testbed scenarios for underwater research endeavors. Furthermore, this research introduces innovative software and communication solutions designed to facilitate the seamless …

Evaluating Climate Sentiment In Sec 10-K Filings: S&P 50 Companies, Ruby Chu

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Evaluating Climate Sentiment in SEC 10-K Filings: S&P 50 Companies investigates how climate sentiment is portrayed in corporate financial reporting, focusing on SEC 10-K filings from leading S&P 50 companies. These filings offer detailed insights into financial performance, risks, and management discussions, providing a rich dataset for analyzing corporate behaviors with sustainability and environmental concerns. This study aims to shed light on the extent to which companies address environmental issues and the implications for environmental stewardship by analyzing how these topics are portrayed in their SEC 10-K filings. Drawing inspiration from established greenwashing indicator frameworks, the study develops a climate …

Design And Characteristics Of A Single-Storey Hybrid Wood–Soil Structure, Mohamed Darwish, Mohamed Adham, Hassan Allam, Khaled Yousri, Tamer Hassan

Faculty Journal Articles

The need to reduce the effects of climate change has been increasing. One of the pathways to answer such a need is green construction. Hybrid wood–soil (HWS) structures are eco-friendly in addition to being cost-effective. Within this study, a single-storey building has been architecturally and structurally designed and tested. A conventional reinforced concrete (RC) structural system was designed and considered as a control case to be compared to the design at hand, which is an HWS system incorporating locally cultivated Casuarina Glauca wood and an in situ earth-based mixture. The two design alternatives are compared in terms of cost and …

Evaluating The Performance Of Class F Fly Ash Compared To Class G Cement For Hydrocarbon Wells Cementing: An Experimental Investigation, Youssef Helmy, Sherif Fakher

Faculty Journal Articles

The following study presents the results of research in the field of the performance of geopolymers consisting of Class F fly ash with an alkaline activator solution consisting only of sodium metasilicate (Na2SiO3) and water. The performances of this geopolymer are compared to the those of American Petroleum Institute (API) Class G cement. This comparison is to evaluate the potential of the geopolymer as an alternative to cement in cementing hydrocarbon wells in the oil and gas industry. The gap in the research is determining the performance properties that restrict the use of fly ash in the oil and gas …

Work In Progress: Exploring The Impact Of International Experiences On The Development Of Students’ Entrepreneurial Mindset, Olgha Bassam Qaqish, Marcia Poole, William Pennock, Erick S. Vasquez-Guardado, Fahmidah Ummul Ashraf

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

International experiences, including collaborative online international learning (COIL) experiences that naturally increase accessibility, are of interest to many undergraduate students. These experiences provide educators a unique opportunity to develop a student's entrepreneurial mindset (EM). Additionally, hands-on experiences aligned with the National Academy of Engineering’s (NAE) grand challenge themes (Sustainability, Security, Health, and Joy of Living) support connections between the experience, disciplinary knowledge, multicultural awareness, and EM. Through this Work-in-Progress (WiP) study, we seek to answer: 1) How do international experiences influence undergraduate science and engineering students’ EM, and 2) How does the international experience modality (i.e., study abroad or COIL) …

Comparative Analysis Of Motors With Inner And Outer Reluctance Rotors And Pm Stators, Oluwaseun A. Badewa, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

This paper presents a comparison of special outer and inner reluctance rotor motor topologies with permanent magnet (PM) stators having toroidal AC windings. A systematic approach is taken to study and discuss the design geometries, the respective impact on performance, and adoption of technological advancements such as stator-only cooling and hair-pin winding for high slot fill factor. Parametric FEA models are developed for both topologies, and design of experiments (DoE)-based sensitivity analysis is used to study the effect of independent variables on specific performance metrics such as torque, motor loss, torque ripple, and power factor. Inner and outer rotor topologies …

Sensorless Control Of Low Inductance Coreless Afpm Machines For Fault-Tolerant Operation Of Propulsion Systems, Yaser Chulaee, Ali Mohammadi, Aaron M. Cramer, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

In motor-drive systems utilized in safety-critical applications and demanding conditions like electric aircraft propulsion systems, the reliability of the system is greatly affected by position sensors, given their susceptibility within the motor drive system. Consequently, there is a need to eliminate sensors in vector-controlled motor drives to decrease overall hardware complexity and expenses, bolster the mechanical durability and dependability of the drive system. In this paper, a fault-tolerant sensorless control system for low inductance coreless axial flux PM (AFPM) machines, integrated into electric aircraft propulsion systems, is introduced. The proposed control system spans a wide operating range, from zero to …

Fault-Tolerant Axial Flux Coreless Pm Machines With Independent Phase Modules, Yaser Chulaee, Ali Mohammadi, Dan M. Ionel, Matin Vatani

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

In this paper, a fault-tolerant two-phase high power coreless axial flux PM (AFPM) machine with a modular structure is introduced. The performance of this machine, in terms of torque, power density, and efficiency, is compared with its three-phase counterpart configuration based on finite element analysis (FEA) and experimental results. The fault tolerance of these two configurations, considering the control systems, is also compared. A detailed power loss breakdown for the prototype two-phase and three-phase printed circuit board (PCB) stator coreless AFPM machines derived from experiments is presented, showcasing that the introduced fault-tolerant two-phase machine has comparable performance and efficiency, while …

High-Power Polyphase Pcb-Type Inductive Coupler For Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging, Donovin D. Lewis, Omer Onar, Lucas Gastineau, John F. Eastham, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

The cost and manufacturing difficulty of traditionally wound coils for wireless charging of electric vehicles has led to the exploration of alternative manufacturing for scalable deployment at a range of rated powers. A rotating-field polyphase wireless coupler is developed with balanced fully pitched coils which are not possible with conventional Litz wire. The usage of printed circuit board (PCB) technology is proposed for the innovative construction at large dimensions due to reduced cost, increased ease of manufacturability, and potential geometric customization compared to would coils. Design considerations specific to PCBs are detailed for wireless power transfer coils including advantages such …

Comparative Analysis Of Vernier Machines With Spoke, Surface Mounted, And Halbach Pm Rotors For In-Wheel Traction, Ali Mohammadi, Aaron M. Cramer, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

Axial-flux Permanent Magnet (AFPM) machines are well-suited for in-wheel traction in electric vehicles due to their compact structure and higher torque density. This paper presents a large-scale design optimization of an axial-flux permanent magnet vernier machine (PMVM) of the MAGNUS type with a double stator configuration. The active stator features double layer wound coils, while the passive stator is unwound but has a similar profile. The reference design employs a rotor with permanent magnets (PMs) arranged in a spoke-type field intensifying pattern, providing high flux concentration. Design optimization was performed using 3-D electromagnetic Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and the Differential …

On The Optimal Design Of Coreless Afpm Machines With Halbach Array Rotors For Electric Aircraft Propulsion, Matin Vatani, Yaser Chulaee, Ali Mohammadi, David R. Stewart, John F. Eastham, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

This paper presents and evaluates the optimal design of a coreless axial flux permanent magnet (AFPM) motor for electric aircraft propulsion. Ferromagnetic cores are entirely removed from the machine’s structure to improve the specific power density and efficiency. An approach for envelope design optimization of the proposed motor is introduced, considering the polarity as an independent variable and employing an evolutionary algorithm and 3D Finite Element Analysis (FEA). In addition to the proposed electric motor’s electromagnetic performance, fault-tolerant capability and thermal management are considered in the optimization procedure. The optimization results and similar studies from power electronic and thermal management …

Bolin Symes Prosthetic, Samuel C. Collins, Rowan Sun, Jake Hacker

Biomedical Engineering

This project’s purpose is to design a comfortable prosthetic for an individual with a Syme’s amputation, which is a below-knee amputation that removes the foot from the leg at the ankle joint. The goal is to minimize the discomfort that is associated with the current prosthetic leg options for the client, Mr. Bolin, who has the Syme’s amputation. This project also seeks to improve mobility, quality of life, and activity levels of the client. The stakeholder for this project is Mr. Bolin. The final prototype performed successfully when worn by the client and passed comfort testing. Furthermore, COMSOL modeling of …

Foot And Ankle Exoskeleton, Janet M. Velasquez Cabral, Kathryn C. Hamilton, Grant R. Lautze

Biomedical Engineering

This paper presents a non-motorized foot and ankle exoskeleton to assist persons who have no lower limb or abdominal function. Exoskeletons are defined as “an artificial external supporting structure” [1], they are wearable devices that can be used to assist the capabilities of the human body. Although the exoskeleton must be used with crutches, plantarflexion and dorsiflexion will be implemented within the ankle joint to alleviate strain on the foot and ankle, strategically designed in a way that supports the user so their walking performance is as ideal as possible. Additionally, safety straps will be integrated into the foot portion …

Prosthetic Aid For Lifting (Pal), Emma Caringella, Cameron Yartz, Dawn Veditz

Biomedical Engineering

Approximately 1.7 million people in the United States use a limb prosthetic [1]. For these individuals, their prosthetic often enables them to engage in their choice of physical activities. Many prosthetic companies design prosthetic limbs for use in specific athletic activities such as weightlifting. These devices are not designed for everyday wear or a large variety of tasks but enable the person to interact with free weights and workout machines. According to an email conversation between the team and Bob Radocy, Founder of Therapeutic Recreational Services (TRS Inc.) and upper limb amputee, while he could not reveal how many people …

Deep Vein Thrombosis Diagnostic Device, Alisha Mitha, Karina Martel, Ayla Silbahar

Biomedical Engineering

Deep Vein Thrombosis is one of the leading causes of death in hospitals worldwide due its ability to form in patients who are sedentary after receiving care. There is a need for a DVT diagnostic device that can be worn constantly in order to alert medical professionals if a thrombosis is forming, which is the basis of this senior project. The current solutions are time consuming, and look for thrombi after they have fully formed. The goal of this senior project is to design and construct a device to constantly monitor in-hospital patients for early stage DVT and alert hospital …

Echoes Of Nature: Using Biodata Sonification To Model Electrical Communication In Plants, Penelope Anna Alioshin

Electrical Engineering

The use of biodata sonification as a tool to visualize biological data is a response to recent developments in the intersection of art and technology. This project explores the intersection by converting the electrical impulses given off by plants into audio signals. By processing and amplifying the voltage difference between two electrodes on a plant, its communication is quantified. The goal is to use this communication model as a tool to increase ecological awareness as well as improve machine learning models. A deeper understanding of non-human communication systems, specifically those that employ superposition decision matrices, could help to drastically increase …

Advancing Embedded Iot Architectures For Space And Terrestrial Applications, Wuwei Douglas Liu, Nicolas Jesus Alvarez, Eric Huang

Electrical Engineering

Radio transceivers play a pivotal role in establishing communication networks, particularly in regions where existing infrastructures are unstable or compromised due to natural disasters or conflicts. By utilizing LoRa (Long Range) communication technology, OWL Integrations develops radio transceivers to establish mesh networks to communicate with one another during disasters. This project team continues development of a second generation OWL board, classified as Quacker Advanced Development (QuAD), with a focus on transitioning to a new microcontroller and integrating GNSS libraries and drivers. An ulterior objective involved R&D for a space application of the board.

Ross Dam Micro Hydropower Project, Ryan Pospichal, Wilson Szeto

Electrical Engineering

In 2020, Utica Water and Power Authority (UWPA) commissioned the development and installation of a micro hydropower system for Ross Dam in northern California. The micro-hydro system was intended to serve as a reliable source of renewable energy to power on-site equipment for monitoring the Ross Reservoir. Despite its innovative approach, the system encountered operational shortcomings, including frequent mechanical failures, rapid wear, and an inability to adapt to variable flow rates. To address these challenges, UWPA has commissioned interdisciplinary teams of Mechanical Engineering (ME) and Electrical Engineering (EE) students to redesign the micro hydropower system. The ME team was entrusted …

X-Band Wireless Power Transfer System Using A Focused Array Lens, Jason Alexander Kunz, Tyler S. Bury, Oscar Damian Gonzalez, Jaime Garcia

Electrical Engineering

Wireless power beaming from space and energy harvesting were once stories of science fiction, until now. Wireless power transmission (WPT) is a field continually in development to provide energy in situations where energy transfer through wires is impractical or unfeasible. This engineering discipline abandons the use of wire technology for the energy transfer between the power source and a distant device. While various forms of WPT exist, our project focuses on transmission through means of radio frequency (RF), utilizing electromagnetic waves to power devices. Furthermore, WPT technology primarily assists in the elimination of a physical connection between devices, and it …

Design Of High Efficiency Doherty Power Amplifier, Kobi G. Kelly, Severin Pindell

Electrical Engineering

The project includes design and fabrication of a high efficiency power amplifier for a student design competition held at International Microwave Symposium (IMS) 2023. Efficient power amplifiers are critical for base station communication requiring efficient use of available power. The final design optimizes power added efficiency (PAE) and linearity. The amplifier will operate at 2.45 GHz. Competitive PAE above 50%, and C/I above 30 dB is achieved by leveraging a Doherty class amplifier using accurate discrete CGH4006P transistor models to simulate an efficient and linear design. Unique design features include optimal transistor bias point selection and power split ratios between …

A 4-Switch Buck-Boost Dc/Dc Converter For Electric Vehicle Applications, Andrew Hudak, Ashley Schiller

Electrical Engineering

In this project, we develop a four switch buck-boost DC/DC converter that is to be integrated into a microgrid-inspired power distribution architecture for electric vehicles. The overall architecture includes DC/DC and DC/AC converters for bi-directional energy transfer between the DC and AC ports along with a communications port to control each energy interface. There is also the onboard battery and the internal combustion engine power exchange being done with DC/DC converters and AC/DC inverters to connect to the centralized DC bus. Hardware prototypes using an Arduino and Raspberry Pi for the 500 W DC/DC and DC/AC converters have been previously …

Software Defined Radio Applicability Investigation For Owl Integrations Inc., Daniel J. Gharib

Electrical Engineering

OWL Integrations Inc. is developing a LoRa mesh network using “Duck” radios to communicate using the LoRa modulation technique. This mesh network is intended for emergency communications in situations where Internet or cellular access is unavailable, such as disaster relief or warzones. The goal of this project is to investigate the feasibility of using the CaribouLite SDR as a potential base for a SDR-based “Duck”. This feasibility testing will be performed by integrating the CaribouLite with a Raspberry Pi single-board computer and investigating its compatibility and functionality for the purposes of a communication device

Formula Sae Vehicle Dynamics Controller, Luke Edward Bosworth

Electrical Engineering

Throughout the history of motorsports, engineers have continuously pushed the boundaries of speed and control in the pursuit of enhancing vehicle performance on the track. Today’s top performing motor-vehicles leverage electric motors to the deliver instantaneous torque to the vehicle’s tires. While these electric motors can deliver a lot of power very efficiently, the delivery must be well controlled to get the most performance out of the tires. The Formula SAE Vehicle Dynamics Controller (VDC) senior project integrates vehicle modeling, state estimation, and yaw moment controls into a small- scale Formula-one style electric vehicle, improving vehicle performance and laying the …

Multi-Hop And Automated Testing Of Wide-Area Network Radio Systems, Zachary C. Numa, Joseph S. Nuccio

Electrical Engineering

Requests for low-power and versatile wide-area Internet-of-Things (IoT) networks are becoming more prevalent with upcoming research in low-data rate ad-hoc mesh networks. Connections to terrestrial satellites have proven promising methods for increasing range capabilities for wide area networks (WAN). As research in communication with IoT networks and satellites progresses, reliable multi-hop mesh networks for Earth-based communication are still necessary to develop the base for satellite communication. These multi-hop communication mesh networks are being developed to allow communication where Line-of-Sight (LOS) from A to B is incapable due to environmental barriers. Hence, communication is possible without LOS by providing an intermediate …

2-Bit Schiffman Phase Shifter, Tavita Dayton, Enrique Ruiz

Electrical Engineering

Phase shifters are found in microwave/RF applications such as defense or wireless communications for their ability to control the relative phase of a system which allows for alignment of signals to obtain constructive interference. Typical phase shifters are chip level (digital and analog) which require a DC bias therefore restricting PCB use unless allowance for air gaps. The paper analyzes a passive and low-profile 2-bit phase shifter using the Schiffman architecture, which outputs a near-constant 90 degree shift over a wide band of frequencies. The design process initially confirmed a proper 90 degree phase shift over the desired WiFi band, …

Autonomous Apple Harvester Robot, Jack Ryan Cline, Tyus Green, Devon Woolston

Electrical Engineering

As agricultural demands rise and manual labor costs increase, there has become a dire need to automate apple harvesting. However, the precision and speed necessary for cost-efficient apple harvesting pose a significant challenge for robotic automation. To maintain cost-effective production, a harvester must be able to operate fast enough and long enough to compete with human labor. It must also be able to navigate and traverse apple orchards autonomously and pick apples without damaging the fruit or tree. This project presents an apple harvesting robot that uses a Mask R-CNN vision system with an RGB-D camera to detect the location …

Supercomputers And Quantum Computing On The Axis Of Cyber Security, Haydar Yalcin, Tugrul Daim, Mahdieh Mokhtari Moughari, Alain Mermoud

Engineering and Technology Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Cybersecurity has become a very critical area to address for governments, industry and the academic community. Cyber attacks are on the rise so is research to address the challenges presented by these attacks. Research yields several technological advancements. This paper explores the development of quantum computing and supercomputers within the context of cybersecurity. As many governments and organizations are under the threat of cyber-attacks, it is critical and timely to explore the status of technological development. We use advanced scientometric techniques to disclose the development status and identify the centers of excellence. The research uses bibliometric data of published papers …