Electrical and Computer Engineering Commons^™

Design And Performance Analysis Of Fiber Bragg Grating Temperature Sensor For Industrial Processes Sensing Applications, Paul Stone Stone Brown Macheso S.B.

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensor has become a widespread sensing device because of its small size, passive design, immunity to electromagnetic interference, and direct ability to measure physical properties like temperature and strain. Recently, femtosecond infrared laser processing and regeneration techniques have resulted in the development of stable high-temperature gratings, which are a powerful tool in smart factories, an aspect of the fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), and show promise for application in harsh environments like high pressure, high temperature, or ionizing radiation. The development of stable high-temperature gratings that can withstand harsh environmental factors like high temperatures, pressures, and …

Clustering Mini-Grids To Enhance Power Systems Reliability In Distributed Generation, Santos Kihwele

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

This study investigates the effectiveness of clustering mini-grids as a method to improve the reliability and operational stability of distributed generation systems in remote areas, particularly where renewable energy sources are predominant. As renewable resources like solar and wind are increasingly integrated into mini-grids, these systems face various challenges, particularly in maintaining stable voltage and frequency across interconnected networks. Such issues are compounded by the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources and the lack of extensive communication infrastructure in rural or resource-constrained settings. To address these control challenges, this study applies droop control techniques to two mini-grids in Uganda, utilizing …

Synthetic Inertia Provision For Load Frequency Control In Networks With High Penetration Of Renewable Energy Sources, Paulina Mkoi

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The integration of renewable energy sources (RESs) such as solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind energy has become a promising solution as the world shifts toward clean energy. Solar PV and wind resources are increasingly replacing conventional synchronous generators, leading to reduced system inertia and increased vulnerability to frequency instability during disturbances. To address this challenge, this study proposes a novel synthetic inertia provision strategy using a battery energy storage system (BESS) integrated alongside solar PV. The proposed method dynamically compensates for the loss of inertia by considering the variability of solar PV output due to changes in irradiance and temperature. …

Power-Beaming: Wireless Energy Transfer Using Lasers, Spencer L. Barnett

ATU Scholars Symposium

The objective of the project is to implement a wireless energy transfer system utilizing laser technology. This system involves modulating the laser’s beam profile and spatial distribution through precise optical manipulation. The energy transmitted by the laser is captured by a photovoltaic array, commonly referred to as a solar panel, which is engineered to convert incident photons into direct current (DC) electrical power. The current challenge is to develop a reliable wireless energy transfer mechanism capable of operating over extended distances, thereby overcoming the constraints imposed by wired connections, particularly in environments where wiring is impractical, such as in space. …

An Iterative Approach To Utility Contribution For Arc Flash Incident Energy Calculations, Zachary Giese

ATU Scholars Symposium

Accurately determining short-circuit fault contribution from utilities is a major challenge in arc flash incident energy analysis. Utilities may withhold or frequently alter data, and the presence of distributed generation complicates worst-case scenario identification. Additionally, commercially available software imposes limitations on scenario modeling and calculations, restricting engineers' ability to refine results. This research introduces an iterative approach that enhances worst-case arc flash identification while addressing software constraints. Initially, the study applied this approach to various facility models using commercial tools, comparing different methodologies. However, the focus has since evolved into developing an open-source arc flash calculator. This tool surpasses existing …

Pep Manned Electric Boat, Llanzita Chea, Sean Cobb, Robin Cung, Justin Fuentes, Khynnedi Murry

ATU Scholars Symposium

A team of five engineers took on the challenge of designing, building, and testing a single-person electric boat for the Promoting Electric Propulsion (PEP) competition. From the start, our team focused on maximizing efficiency and performance by carefully selecting and refining each part of the system—everything from the hull and shaft to the propeller, motor, and battery setup. We repurposed an old hull, repaired it, and outfitted it with a new custom-designed shaft and a well-matched propeller to improve handling and propulsion. Power came from a custom-built LiFePO₄ battery pack, paired with a reliable battery management system to keep everything …

Deep Learning-Based Multi-Class Classification Of Breast Cancer Ultrasound Images Using Convolutional Neural Networks, Andres E. Dewendt Urdaneta

ATU Scholars Symposium

The National Cancer Institute forecasts 2,001,140 cancer diagnoses in 2024, with approximately 600,000 expected deaths. Breast cancer is projected to be the most prevalent, with about 310,000 cases. Early diagnosis is critical to improving outcomes, and various diagnostic technologies, including imaging, biopsies, and blood tests, play a vital role. Image testing methods include X-rays, ultrasounds, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and PET scans. Artificial intelligence (AI) has recently significantly improved cancer detection, improving speed, accuracy, and effectiveness. This research project uses a convolution neural network (CNN) to analyze ultrasound breast images, classifying them as benign, malignant, or normal. Our CNN model …

Arkansas Tech University Modular Robot Training System, Bryson C. Hicks, Dominic Snow, Harrison Taylor, Spencer Barnett, Leland Bosley

ATU Scholars Symposium

The Arkansas Tech University Modular Robotics Training System (ATUM RTS) project was started two semesters ago by a team of six engineering students at Arkansas Tech. Their goal was to combine the two existing systems of the Georgia Tech Robotarium and the Micromouse maze solving competition. This was done to bring new challenges and excitement to maze-solving robotics while incorporating the cloud-based learning system of the Georgia Tech Robotarium. By creating randomized mazes using tiles and remote walls, ATUM RTS will provide an additional resource to students that will allow them to utilize their knowledge in real world applications. This …

Semi-Autonomous Trash Bot, Ben Leon, Ethan Mashburn, Connor Olivera, Dillon Michael Wood

ATU Scholars Symposium

Title: Semi-Autonomous Trash Robot

Authors: Benjamin Leon, Ethan Mashburn, Connor Olivera, Dillon Wood

Abstract: Environmental pollution is becoming more worrying every day as megatons of human waste persist in vast amounts in our ecosystems. The existing waste collection methodologies, with the labor, time, and cost components combined, make the process cumbersome. A potential solution could be an automated waste collection robot that incorporates AI into a cheap system that autonomously detects trash. This report proposes a machine that may be manufactured to adequate standards in terms of size and cost and deployed in various environments, with the ultimate goal of …

An Empirical Evaluation Of Communication Technologies And Quality Of Delivery Measurement In Networked Microgrids, Ruairí De Fréin, Yasin Emir Kutlu

Articles

Networked microgrids (NMG) are gaining popularity as an example of smartgrids (SG), where power networks are integrated with communication technologies. Communication technologies enable NMGs to be monitored and controlled via communication networks. However, ensuring that communication networks in NMGs satisfy quality of delivery (QoD) metrics such as the round trip time (RTT) of NMG control data is necessary. This paper addresses the communication network types and communication technologies used in NMGs. We present various NMG deployments to demonstrate real-life applicability in different contexts. We develop a real-time NMG testbed using real hardware such as Cisco 4331 Integrated Services Routers (ISR). …

Designing A Control System With Automatic Transition Between Flight Modes For A Vtol Airplane, Asher Cunningham

Honors College Theses

Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) airplanes provide a great degree of flexibility in mission type, as they combine the landing ability of a helicopter with the range of an airplane. This paper describes the design, implementation, and testing of the control system for just such a vehicle. Due to its non-typical motor configuration, there is an unbalanced torque on the frame. Two control methods are suggested and tested to balance this torque, and a PID controller with a high I gain is selected. Furthermore, the distance of the pods from the centerline is calculated and set at 14 inches. A …

Machine Learning In Baseball Analytics: Sabermetrics And Beyond, Wenbing Zhao, Vyaghri Seetharamayya Akella, Shunkun Yang, Xiong Luo

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

In this article, we provide a comprehensive review of machine learning-based sports analytics in baseball. This review is primarily guided by the following three research questions: (1) What baseball analytics problems have been studied using machine learning? (2) What data repositories have been used? (3) What and how machine learning techniques have been employed for these studies? The findings of these research questions lead to several research contributions. First, we provide a taxonomy for baseball analytics problems. According to the proposed taxonomy, machine learning has been employed to (1) predict individual game plays; (2) determine player performance; (3) estimate player …

Simultaneous Observations Of Irregular Sporadic E Structures Using The Lwa And A Dps4d, Kenneth S. Obenberger, C. A. Taylor, Jonah J. Colman, Eugene Dao, J. Dowell, J. D. Eccles, Daniel J. Emmons, C. T. Fallen, J. M. Holmes, G. B. Taylor

Faculty Publications

Multi-instrument studies have recently shed new light on the morphology of sporadic E, especially intense sporadic E. Here we present simultaneous observations of dense sporadic E (E_s) structures using the Long Wavelength Array (LWA) radio telescopes and a Digisonde Portable Sounder 4D (DPS4D). Our coordinated observations show that the LWA radio telescopes in central New Mexico can reliably locate regions of dense Es structures as they pass over a Digisonde located over 500 km away in Texas. The LWA appears to be most sensitive to the densest E_s structures, which also appear to contain irregularities with vertical …

Electrocatalytic Nitric Oxide Reduction To Yield Ammonia Over Fe3C Nanocrystals, Sen Lin, Lang Zhang, Tong Hou, Jun-Yang Ding, Zi-Mo Peng, Yi-Fan Liu, Xi-Jun Liu

Journal of Electrochemistry

Nitric oxide (NO), which generally originates from vehicle exhaust and industrial flue gases, is one of the most serious air pollutants. In this case, the electrochemical NO reduction reaction (NORR) not only removes the atmospheric pollutant NO but also produces valuable NH₃. Hence, through the synthesis and modification of Fe₃C nanocrystal catalysts, the as-obtained optimal sample of Fe₃C/C-900 was adopted as NORR catalyst at ambient conditions. As a result, the Fe₃C/C-900 catalyst showed an NH₃ Faraday efficiency of 76.5% and an NH₃ yield rate of 177.5 μmol·h^–1·cm^{–2 …}

Ordering Degree Regulation Of Pt2Nico Intermetallics For Efficient Oxygen Reduction Reaction, Chen-Hao Zhang, Han-Yu Hua, Jun-Hao Yang, Qian Zhang, Chang Yang, De-Li Wang

Journal of Electrochemistry

Alloying transition metals with Pt is an effective strategy for optimizing Pt-based catalysts toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Atomic ordered intermetallic compounds (IMC) provide unique electronic and geometrical effects as well as stronger intermetallic interactions due to the ordered arrangement of metal atoms, thus exhibiting superior electrocatalytic activity and durability. However, quantitatively analyzing the ordering degree of IMC and exploring the correlation between the ordering degree and ORR activity remains extremely challenging. Herein, a series of ternary Pt₂NiCo intermetallic catalysts (o-Pt₂NiCo) with different ordering degree were synthesized by annealing temperature modulation. Among them, the o-Pt …

Performance Of Co2/H2O Co-Electrolysis In A Flat-Tube Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell Stack Under Air-Free Environment, Xiao-Hui Zhong, Fei Wang, An-Qi Wu, Bei-Bei Han, Jian-Xin Wang, Wan-Bing Guan

Journal of Electrochemistry

This work investigates the transient performance and stability of CO₂/H₂O co-electrolysis in an air-free environment using a flat-tube solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) stack. The results show that the transient behavior of the stack with and without blowing gas in the air electrode is almost the same. With a current density of 0.67 A·cm⁻²@750 °C, the stack operated for over 200 h under co-electrolysis conditions with no air blowing, and the voltage drop rate of the stack was approximately 0.203%/100 hours. Microstructure analysis reveals significant loss of Ni particles and formation of an insulating …

Variation Of Membrane Electrode Assembly Catalyst Layer In Unitized Regenerative Fuel Cell, Yollanda Nurcholifah, Dedi Rohendi, Edy Herianto Majlan, Nirwan Syarif, Addy Rachmat, Dwi Hawa Yulianti, Nyimas Febrika S

Journal of Electrochemistry

A unitized regenerative fuel cell (URFC) is a device that may function reversibly as either a fuel cell (FC) or water electrolysis (WE). An important component of this device is the Membrane electrode assembly (MEA). Therefore, this study aimed to compare the performance outcomes of MEA using electrodes with single and three catalyst layers. This study measured Electrochemical Surface Area (ECSA), Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), X-ray Diffraction analysis (XRD), and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF). Furthermore, the round-trip efficiency (RTE) of the MEA, as well as the performance in FC and WE mode, was measured. In comparison, The ECSA values of Pt-Ru/C …

Scalable Cyber-Physical Testbed For Cybersecurity Evaluation Of Synchrophasors In Power Systems, Shuvangkar Chandra Das, Tuyen Vu, Hebert L. Ginn Iii

Faculty Publications

This paper presents a synchrophasor-based real-time cyber-physical power system testbed with a novel security evaluation tool, pySynphasor, that can emulate different real attack scenarios on the phasor measurement unit (PMU). The testbed focuses on real-time cyber-security emulation using different components, including a real-time digital simulator, virtual machines (VM), a communication network emulator, and a packet manipulation tool. The script-based VM deployment and software-defined network emulation facilitate a highly scalable cyber-physical testbed, which enables emulations of a real power system under different attack scenarios such as address resolution protocol (ARP) poisoning attack, man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack, false data injection attack (FDIA), and …

Graphtreemed: A Hybrid Graph-Tree Rag Architecture For Mission-Critical Medical Applications, Joshit Mohanty, Sandeep Kumar Nayak, Sumit Lahiri

Graduate Student Government Association Research Conference

Studies within engineering management indicate that decision-making is often based on the cognitive processing of grouped and pictographic information clusters entangled with high-level pattern recognition. Similarly, graph-based retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) architectures substantially improve diagnostic accuracy and interpretability, while tree-structured systems reduce critical misses through hierarchical reasoning. However, existing solutions often lack a unified framework that seamlessly integrates these two paradigms to address the multifaceted demands of mission-critical healthcare settings. This proposal introduces GraphTreeMed, a novel hybrid RAG architecture designed to harness the complementary strengths of graph-based and tree-based retrieval mechanisms, thereby advancing the safety and efficacy of clinical decision support …

Using Eeg Signal For Smart Health: An Overview, Addison Clark, Chelsea Bonyata, Ishfaq Ahmad, Hansheng Lei, Khalid Saifullah, Victor Ibarra

Informatics and Engineering Systems Faculty Publications

This survey paper aims to provide an overview of the current state of EEG (Electroencephalography) signal technology as it relates to people with disabilities. It will highlight the various methods and techniques employed, discussing their advantages and disadvantages. The paper will also examine the applications of EEG technology in assisting individuals with disabilities, specifically focusing on Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) and assistive device control. By understanding the current state of EEG signal technology, we can identify the opportunities and challenges involved in utilizing this technology to improve the lives of people with disabilities.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

A Dynamically Efficient Predictive Controller For Voltage Stability In A Dc To Dc Boost Converter, Giovanni Reyna

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Reliable voltage regulation has become a critical issue with increase demand in modern power electronic applications. This study presents a Model Predictive Controller (MPC) for voltage regulation in DC-to-DC boost converters. A closed loop analytical MPC framework is created with the purpose of computing optimal duty cycles to maintain a stable output voltage under varying load conditions, input changes, and disturbances.

To evaluate the performance of the MPC we set the controller against a comparative analyzing with a traditional cascading proportional integral (PI) controller. The proposed controller design is specifically targeted to improve dynamic efficiency during the converter’s transient events. …

Antenna Analysis Using Mixed Computer Platforms (Aacp), Keith H. Bova

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

This thesis reviews the design, implementation, and benchmarking of commercially available, previous generation (CAPG) computer systems, and how they can be used with computational electromagnetics. The thesis focuses on their architecture, performance, and practical applications. It begins with an overview of CAPG system components, including different node types such as login/controllers, compute nodes, block storage, and object storage. The process of assembling these systems is outlined. The conjugate gradient method and direct linear solvers were benchmarked. The performance of CAPG systems is compared with modern computing architectures. A detailed analysis provides recommendations for designing CAPG systems around the performance of …

Single-Entity Protein Electrochemistry Of A Diffusion-Limited Enzyme, Ziwen Zhao, Nikolaos Kostopoulos, Sagar Ganguli, Paul Bergstrom, Alina Sekretareva

Michigan Tech Publications

In this work, we present single-entity protein electrochemistry (SEPE) experiments on catalase, along with a theoretical model to simulate its enzymatic activity and predict the experimentally observed current responses. We perform SEPE measurements at various enzyme concentrations and use protein film voltammetry to investigate the origin of the observed electrochemical signals in SEPE. The modeling approach we develop combines finite element simulations in COMSOL Multiphysics with random walk simulations in MATLAB. The enzyme is represented as a partially active sphere, with an arc on the surface corresponding to the enzyme’s diffusion channel leading to the active site. Notably, the model …

The Role Of Counter Electrode In Perovskite Solar Cell On Silicon Substrate To Enhance Power Conversion Efficiency For Cmos-Compatible Applications, Sameh O. Abdellatif, Eman Sawires

Electrical Engineering

This study investigates the impact of various counter-electrode materials on the overall power conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) fabricated on silicon substrates. We examined four distinct configurations using fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) as bare cell, copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), and highly p-doped silicon wafers as counter electrodes. The results indicate that the PSCs with Cu achieved the highest short-circuit current density (JSC) of 17.11 mA/cm2, while the p-doped silicon and aluminum showed lower JSC values of 16.19 mA/cm2 and 16.51 mA/cm2, respectively. Open-circuit voltage (VOC) values remained competitive across all cells, with FTO achieving a VOC of …