Engineering Commons^™

Signal Timing Optimization Via Reinforcement Learning With Traffic Flow Prediction, Ming Xu, Jinye Li, Dongyu Zuo, Jing Zhang

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: In response to the existing reinforcement learning-based traffic signal control methods that do not consider the changing trends in traffic flow, leading to congestion and inability to adapt to complex and variable road conditions, we propose a traffic signal timing optimization reinforcement learning method based on flow prediction. A phase timing amplitude control model is introduced. This model analyzes the spatiotemporal characteristics of historical traffic data to predict the flow for the next time slot and calculates a reasonable range for phase timing based on the prediction results. The H-PPO algorithm is employed to control the signal phase while …

Capability Dependency Analysis Based On Kill Chain And Fdna, Yushuai Wang, Guangya Si

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: To better support the operation SoS analysis, deeply analyze the impact of dependency relationship during mission accomplishment, and accurately grasp the deep logic of SoS capability generation, the capability dependency analysis method based on the kill chain and function dependency network analysis(FDNA) is proposed. Combined with the analysis of the characteristics of the capability dependency relationship, the kill chain closure and the kill web formation process are abstracted from the perspective of operational interaction, a capability dependency network modeling method for the SoS is proposed, and a specific process covering the identification of capability dependency, calculation of operability, solving …

A Radar Countermeasure Modeling Method Incorporating Cognitive Bias, Rui Wang, Xiangyang Li, Dong Wang, Hongguang Ma, Zhili Zhang

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Cognitive bias, stemming from electronic measurement error and variability in human perception, exists in cognitive electronic warfare and affects the outcomes of conflicts. In this paper, the dynamic game approach is employed to develop a model for cognitive bias induced by incomplete information and measurement errors in cognitive radar countermeasures. The payoffs for both parties are calculated using the radar's anti-jamming strategy matrix A and the jammer's jamming strategy matrix B. With perfect Bayesian equilibrium, a dynamic radar countermeasure model is established, and the impact of cognitive bias is analyzed. Drawing inspiration from the cognitive bias analysis method used …

Side Channel Analysis Of Modern Cryptographic Processors, Srinivas Nittala

Three Minute Thesis (3MT)

No abstract provided.

Durability And Steel Corrosion Resistance Of Fly Ash Concrete Exposed To Groundwater, Mohamed Ahmed Bayomy, Khaled M. Osman, Hala Emad Elden Fouad

Mansoura Engineering Journal

This article proposes replacing Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) with a fly ash (FA)-based geopolymer (GP) material, activated by a chemical activator, as the binding material. A 90-day study was conducted to evaluate the performance of fly ash geopolymer concrete (GPC) in a corrosive environment (groundwater). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), compression testing, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were used to assess the toughness of the samples. Additionally, the linear polarization resistance (LPR) method was employed to measure the corrosion of steel embedded in the concrete structures. The comparison shows that increasing the fly ash (FA) content in geopolymer concrete (GPC) enhances …

A Parallel, Real-Time Fpga Implementation Of The Ccsds 123.0-B-2 Standard, Ruaa Ayman Saadi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Hyperspectral images are used in remote sensing scientific research and more, but they can reach hundreds of megabytes in size. This large number of datasets creates a problem with the limited storage capacity and bandwidth available on the satellite which in turn necessitates the use of hyperspectral image compression algorithms. The near lossless CCSDS123 hyperspectral algorithm provides a high compression capability, but it has some data dependencies in its predictor module that slows down the compression process. This Master of Science (MSc) thesis focuses on implementing a parallel, real-time FPGA based architecture of the near lossless CCSDS123 compression standard. The …

Research Week 2025, Michael Schueth

Research Week

Welcome to Undergraduate Research Week at Collin College!

This week celebrates the innovative research and scholarly work of our undergraduate students across all disciplines. From our informative webinars to Cultivating Scholars, our student poster presentation, the week offers opportunities to explore new ideas, share discoveries, and connect with fellow researchers and faculty mentors.

We invite all students, faculty, and staff to participate in these events designed to highlight the importance of undergraduate research in academic and professional development. Whether you're presenting your work or simply curious about your peers' projects, your engagement helps foster our college's culture of inquiry and …

Disturbance Observer-Based Control For Power Converters In Renewable Energy Systems, Amulya Viswambharan

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Renewable energy systems face significant challenges in ensuring stability, efficiency, and reliability due to model uncertainties, unmeasured disturbances, and grid variabilities. This thesis addresses these challenges through the development and experimental validation of disturbance observer-based control (DOBC) strategies for power converters. The first study focuses on DC-DC boost converters, employing a backstepping-based DOBC to achieve zero steady-state error, robust stabilization, and compensation for control saturation without requiring anti-windup schemes. Experimental results confirmed the controller effectiveness under diverse load types and operating conditions. The second study presents a robust current control scheme for grid-tied inverters with LCL filters, combining state-feedback control …

The Optimization Of A T-Cell Resonator: Towards Highly Sensitive Photoacoustic Spectroscopy For Noninvasive Blood Glucose Detection, Thasin Mohammad Zaman, Md Rejvi Kaysir, Shazzad Rassel, Dayan Ban

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research

Noninvasive blood glucose monitoring is crucial for diabetes management, and photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) offers a promising solution by detecting glucose levels through human skin. However, weak acoustic signals in PAS systems require optimized resonator designs for enhanced detection sensitivity. Designing such resonators physically is complex, requiring the precise identification of critical parameters before practical implementation. This study focused on optimizing a T-shaped photoacoustic resonator using finite element modeling in a COMSOL Multiphysics environment. By systematically varying the geometric design parameters of the T-cell resonator, a maximum increase in the pressure amplitude of 12.76 times with a quality factor (Q-factor) of …

Learning Through Leadership, Mike Alison

ASEM Capstones

2025 ASEM 620 Capstone Project

Validation Of Task-Based Risk Assessment (Tabra) As An Effective Risk Evaluation Tool For Manufacturing Machinery Systems, Rick Lemons

ASEM Capstones

2025 ASEM 620 Capstone Project

The Human Element In Nuclear Safety, Daniel Vincent Gascon

ASEM Capstones

2025 ASEM 620 Capstone Project

Measuring The Effects Of The Leaves On Stalk Strength And Dynamic Response In Maize, Grant C. Ogilvie

Theses and Dissertations

Maize is one of the most widely cultivated grains in the world, making it crucial to world food security and important economically. One major problem in maize production is stalk lodging (greensnap), which results in billions of dollars in lost harvests annually for maize farmers in the US alone. Understanding the mechanical properties of maize plants is crucial to addressing this problem. Previous studies have suggested that the leaf blades and leaf sheaths affect maize mechanical properties. The objectives of this thesis are twofold: to present measurement techniques for the stalk bending strength, damping ratio, and natural frequency of maize …

A Novel Wrench Decomposition And Development Of A Large-Scale Soft Robot For Displacement-Based Human-Robot Collaborative Manipulation, Dallin Cordon

Theses and Dissertations

This work represents an examination of various facets of physical human-robot collaborative manipulation and the implementation of compliant, soft-robotic manipulators. A survey of physical human-human interaction and haptic communication is presented, alongside an investigation into the decomposition of force and torque components that enable effective human-robot collaboration. To address the inconsistent terminology found in previous literature, a standardized framework for force decomposition is proposed. A new taxonomy is introduced to categorize the force components involved in collaborative manipulation tasks. This taxonomy clarifies the role of each component in an agent's applied force during task execution and provides a structured framework …

Testing And Modeling Of Nonlinearities In Riveted And Bolted Structures, Joshua E. Blackham

Theses and Dissertations

Joints are difficult to model because of various small-scale and nonlinear features, such as local geometry, preload, friction and contact. These features cause a local change in stiffness and energy dissipation which result in changes in the effective natural frequency and damping of the whole structure. Past studies have found good success using nonlinear Iwan elements as whole joint models for bolted joints in a few different structures. In Chapter 3, a similar approach is proposed for modeling riveted joints, which seeks to capture the vibrational response of a test structure including changes in the effective modal frequency and damping …

2025 Scholarly Productivity Report, Missouri University Of Science And Technology

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Scholarly Productivity Reports

No abstract provided.

Wind Collapse Risk And Serviceability Drift Of Steel Concentrically Braced Frame Buildings, Sarah Corrinne Partington Cluff

Theses and Dissertations

Seismic design provisions use the ductility and reserve strength of the lateral structural system to reduce the loads used in design, making the structural design more economical while maintaining life safety. In contrast, current wind design provisions do not. Conventional wind design relies primarily on elastic behavior. The objective of this study is to determine a wind response modification factor for steel concentrically braced frames that could be applied to reduce wind design loads based on ductility and reserve strength, while still meeting drift requirements for serviceability of the structure. To achieve the objective, three types of ductile braced frames …

Steps Towards Effective Human-Robot Co-Manipulation Through Real-Time Modus Detection And Effects Of Stiffness Variation For Human-Soft-Robot Dyads, Shaden Moss

Theses and Dissertations

A group of individuals can coordinate very easily to carry a large or heavy object together. This act of collaborative carrying is called co-manipulation. Unlike human teammates, robots cannot easily detect and respond to the intent of human partners during co-manipulation tasks. This shortcoming can be compensated for via the physical design and the software design of robots. This work treats software design with a neural net that detects human modus (or the manner in which a team moves an object together) in real time. This work treats physical design with the use of a soft robot in human-robot co-manipulation, …

Improving Devices To Measure The Thermal Conductivity Of Molten Halide Salts, Ryan J. Ruth

Theses and Dissertations

Molten salts are of high interest for use in nuclear reactors, though their thermophysical properties are notoriously hard to measure due to the extreme conditions created by them. Significant gaps remain in thermal conductivity and heat capacity data, which this work seeks to fill by improving the Needle Probe-a modified transient hot wire probe originally used by Merritt et al to measure the thermal conductivity of FLiNaK- measuring two new salts, and exploring new materials for use with molten salts. Improvements made to the Needle Probe include automation to reduce human error, more accurate heat generation modeling, a more thorough …

Strength And Ductility Of Rod-Braced Diaphragms In Metal Building Systems Subjected To Earthquake Ground Motions, James Niedens

Theses and Dissertations

Metal building systems are a common form of construction but the behavior of roof diaphragms in metal buildings that are subjected to earthquake ground motions is not entirely understood. In this study, the strength and ductility of rod-braced diaphragms with hillside washer connections or rod-pad connections was determined using experimental tests and computer simulation. Tensile tests of rods were used to determine the effect of the type of rod on strength and ductility. Two types of rods were tested, full-body rods with cut threads at each end of the rod and bracing rods with rolled threads. Three rod sizes (5/8 …

Smart Traffic Intersections: Leveraging Isac And Millimeter-Waves For Advanced Vehicle Platooning, Mohammed Risal Thadathil

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

The rapid advancement of self-driving cars is reshaping the transportation industry and accelerating the development of smart cities. Vehicle platooning, a key capability of autonomous vehicles, has the potential to enhance traffic efficiency, reduce congestion, and improve safety at intersections. However, maintaining platoon cohesion, minimizing latency, and optimizing traffic signal interactions remain significant challenges. This study addresses these issues by leveraging Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) technology with millimeter-Waves (mmWaves) signals to optimize platooning performance at traffic signal intersections. The research identifies gaps in existing Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication frameworks, particularly in managing platoon movements in urban traffic intersections. To bridge …

Hybrid Treatment Method Of Biofiltration Preceded With Advanced Oxidation Process For The Removal Of Emerging Contaminants From The Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent, Anjali Mohan Payathuparambil

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Renewable energy systems face significant challenges in ensuring stability, efficiency, and The global demand for potable quality water has been on a continuous rise. Consequently, water reuse is now considered as an alternative to significantly expand supplies of freshwater in communities facing water shortages. Most of the conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are not efficient in the removal of emerging contaminants from the water, which will cause serious issues to the environment, human and animal life. This research investigated the possibilities of treating wastewater for reuse. First, the feasibility of utilizing a biofiltration system without pre-treatment for removing emerging contaminants …

Navajo Speech Recognition Using Low-Resource Language Models, Emery M. Sutherland

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

This thesis describes the development of a speech recognition system to classify Navajo (Dine) words using Low Resource Language (LRL) datasets. Presently there are no recognized high-quality open-sourced datasets for the Dine language needed to train models for speech recognition. A small balanced dataset was designed to train several models. To overcome the scarcity of the LRL dataset, the audio recordings were augmented to account for time-stretching, amplitude variations, time shifts, small amounts of white Gaussian noise, and SpecAugmentation. The models included a Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), and a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model with …

Rf Emission From Partial Breakdown Events And Their Classification, Torin Sammeth

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Electrical breakdown is a core component of Pulse Power both in its utilization and as a failure point in systems. This research is investigating the feasibility of D-dot antennas to detect and potentially identify different forms of partial electrical breakdown in a point-to-plane gap geometry. In this work, the RF emission detected by a D-dot probe during a partial breakdown event is shown to correlate with the presence of light and current using a fast-current transformer and photomultiplier tube. Additionally, the frequency components of the RF signal were measured with the use of a fast Fourier transform. Identifying these frequencies …

Using Human Computation And Harmonic Expansions For Characterization And Design Of Grain Boundary Networks, Christopher W. Adair

Theses and Dissertations

Grain Boundary Networks (GBNs) are a high-dimensional feature in polycrystalline microstructural materials that are formed from the crystallographic degrees of freedom. This feature affects multiple material properties such as diffusivity, fracture, elasticity, heat transfer, and others. The link between the crystallography and the material properties is called the structure-property linkage, and allows for simulation and design of materials. While it is possible to use the structure-property linkage to design materials for better performance, the high-dimensional nature of the interconnected grain boundaries preclude the use of many common optimization algorithms for efficiency or local minima considerations. This work shows how the …

Integrating Temperature-Dependent Tissue Properties Into Hifu Computational Models For Enhanced Treatment Planning, Christian Kevin Valencia Narva

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a non-invasive therapy that ablates diseased tissues with high precision. Computational simulations using the Pennes Bioheat Transfer Equation (PBTE) can guide HIFU treatment by predicting temperature distributions and thermal dose volumes. Traditional simulations assume constant thermal and acoustic properties, which may oversimplify tissue behavior. Methods: This study evaluates the impact of integrating temperature-dependent thermal properties (thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, and perfusion) in finite-difference time-domain HIFU simulations. Three scenarios were simulated: (1) a homogeneous liver with both high- and low-power sonications, (2) a rabbit thigh muscle validated against preclinical MRTI data, and (3) an …

Boeing 747 Fixed Drive Link Redesign, Eric White

Honors Theses

This project focuses on redesigning the fixed drive link for the Boeing 747-400, a critical component of the flap actuation system that connects the drive mechanism to the flaps. Over recent years, this part has been prone to fracturing under full flap deflection. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing have investigated this issue but have not successfully developed a durable solution.

This problem was presented by Kalitta Air, an air freight company experiencing frequent failures and costly maintenance related to the fixed drive link. If fracturing of the fixed drive link occurs the component must immediately be replaced. Similar …

Variable Volume Refrigerator, Ryder Dietz

Honors Theses

This project presents the design and development of a Variable Volume Mini-Fridge Shelf, a solution to address the limitations of fixed compartment sizes in standard mini-fridge/freezer units. The proposed design enables users to dynamically adjust the internal ratio of fridge to freezer space using a repositionable shelf integrated with an airflow-regulating vent. The project involved multiple stages, including concept development, thermal and flow simulations, and physical prototyping.

SolidWorks Flow Simulation was employed to validate natural convection-driven airflow between compartments and guide initial design decisions. While attempts were made to integrate a dynamic control loop using MATLAB Simulink and the SolidWorks …

Continuous Purification Of A Parvovirus Using Two Aqueous Two-Phase Extraction Steps, Natalie Nold, Sheridan Waldack, Grace James, Trisha Colling, Lynn M. Manchester, Taravat Sarvari, Amanda P. Bekkala, Seth Kriz, Madison Baldwin, Emily Agustin-Mazariegos, Michael J. Betenbaugh, Caryn Heldt

Michigan Tech Publications

Aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) are a liquid–liquid extraction method that offers low-cost, continuous-adaptable virus purification. A two-step ATPS using polyethylene glycol (PEG) and sodium citrate that recovered 66% of infectious porcine parvovirus with 2.0 logs of protein removal and 1.0 logs of DNA removal in batch has now been run continuously. The continuous system output of < 10 ng/mL DNA regardless of starting DNA titer agreed with batch studies. However, the continuous system had a five-fold higher contaminating protein titer than batch studies, likely because of incomplete mixing or settling. Turbidity was tested as a measure of mixing and settling efficiency. Monitoring in-line absorbance at 880 nm directly after mixing and before collection in the settling reservoir could track both mixing and settling during operation. Settling time was reduced by changing the settling line material from PVC to PTFE, which is more hydrophobic. A flow-through AEX filter tested to make impurity removal more robust recovered 90% of PPV and removed an additional 87% of host cell DNA. The filter did not add any additional protein removal. In the future, in-line absorbance sensors could be implemented along with conductivity sensors to measure salt concentration, refractive index sensors to track the PEG-citrate interface, and scales to track mixer and reservoir volumes to enable automated, continuous ATPS. Our vision is to integrate continuous ATPS into a fully continuous end-to-end production for viral vectors.

Optimizing Epoxy Nanocomposites With Oxidized Graphene Quantum Dots For Superior Mechanical Performance: A Molecular Dynamics Approach, Prathamesh P. Deshpande, Robert Chan-Jobe, Josh Kemppainen, Gregory Odegard, Ozgur Keles

Michigan Tech Publications

Due to their excellent mechanical properties, epoxy composites are widely used in low-density applications. However, the brittle epoxy matrix often serves as the principal failure point. Matrix enhancements can be achieved by optimizing polymer combinations to maximize intermolecular interactions or by introducing fillers. While nanofillers such as clay, rubber, carbon nanotubes, and nanoplatelets enhance mechanical properties, they can lead to issues like agglomeration, voids, and poor load transfer. Quantum dots, being the smallest nanofillers, offer higher dispersion and the potential to promote intermolecular interactions, enhancing stiffness, strength, and toughness simultaneously. This study employed molecular dynamics simulations to design graphene quantum …