Other Electrical and Computer Engineering Commons^™

Solid State Drive, Shaun A. Steele

Electrical Engineering

This project documents the design and implementation of a solid state drive (SSD). SSDs are a non-volatile memory storage device that competes with hard disk drives. SSDs rely on flash memory, a type of non-volatile memory that is electrically erased and programmed. The appeal of SSDs lies in the fact that they allow a fast, reliable, and durable memory storage device. The goal of this project is to have a working external SSD built from scratch.

Improving A Particle Swarm Optimization-Based Clustering Method, Sharif Shahadat

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This thesis discusses clustering related works with emphasis on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) principles. Specifically, we review in detail the PSO clustering algorithm proposed by Van Der Merwe & Engelbrecht, the particle swarm clustering (PSC) algorithm proposed by Cohen & de Castro, Szabo’s modified PSC (mPSC), and Georgieva & Engelbrecht’s Cooperative-Multi-Population PSO (CMPSO). In this thesis, an improvement over Van Der Merwe & Engelbrecht’s PSO clustering has been proposed and tested for standard datasets. The improvements observed in those experiments vary from slight to moderate, both in terms of minimizing the cost function, and in terms of run time.

On The Simulation And Mitigation Of Anisoplanatic Optical Turbulence For Long Range Imaging, Russell C. Hardie, Daniel A. Lemaster

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

We describe a numerical wave propagation method for simulating long range imaging of an extended scene under anisoplanatic conditions. Our approach computes an array of point spread functions (PSFs) for a 2D grid on the object plane. The PSFs are then used in a spatially varying weighted sum operation, with an ideal image, to produce a simulated image with realistic optical turbulence degradation. To validate the simulation we compare simulated outputs with the theoretical anisoplanatic tilt correlation and differential tilt variance. This is in addition to comparing the long- and short-exposure PSFs, and isoplanatic angle. Our validation analysis shows an …

Project Halon: Engaging Secondary Students In High-Altitude Ballooning Experiments, James M. Taylor Jr., Derrick A. Nero

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Project HALON Overview

•Fewer US STEM graduates

•Shortage of STEM educators

•Lack of engaging, high quality STEM material in the classroom

•Potentially results in lower global economic competitiveness

Experiment Constraints

•Project brings together STEM major mentors and educators

•Builds understanding of research and operational challenges

•Students get excited about more complex experiments (CubeSATs)

HALON: High Altitude Learning Over Nebraska

•High altitude balloon lift platform

•Student-designed experiments tailored to student team abilities

•NASA-inspired near-space systems engineering process for tradeoffs

•Engagement / mentoring for pre-service and in-service educators

Transportation Engineering: Traffic Control Simulator, Sarah V. Hernandez, Karla Diaz-Corro, Taslima Akter, Magdalena Asborno, Fu Durandal

Civil Engineering Teaching and Learning

The purpose of these lesson plans is to introduce students to traffic signalization basics. Students will be lead through a series of mini-lectures on traffic control and signalization including a discussion on the limitations and benefits of traffic signalization. The lesson plans compliment a computer simulation “game” in which students act as manual operators for a single up to four by four gridded intersection. Students attempt to control the progression of signals to understand the relationship between signal timing and user delay. Through experimentation with the simulation, students generate a presentation discussing the benefits and drawbacks of signal timing and …

Physiologically-Aware Communication Architecture For Transmission Of Biomedical Signals In Basns For Emerging Iot Applications, Jose Santos, Dongming Peng, Hamid Sharif

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This research work proposes a novel physiologicallyaware communication architecture for the transmission of biomedical signals in BASNs (Body Area Sensor Networks) and wearables for emerging IoT applications. The architecture to fulfill the following objectives:

• Reduce volume of biomedical data in IoT networks and Internet infrastructure.

• Minimize the required computational load of biomedical data on the cloud side.

• Extend the lifetime of the mobile wearable/BASN through improved energy savings.

This architecture is generalizable to class of biomedical signals. It prevents large volume of biomedical data to be generated; uses patient state to control almost any system parameter; achieves …

Reducing Graphene–Metal Contact Resistance Via Laser Nano-Welding, Kamran Keramatnejad, H. Rabiee Golgir, Y. S. Zhou, D. W. Li, X. Huang, Yongfeng Lu

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The large graphene-metal contact resistance is a major limitation for development of graphene electronics. graphene behaves as an insulator for out-of-plane carrier transport to metallic contacts.

Laser nano-welding was developed and led to RC reductions of up to 84%.

Localized laser irradiation at the edges of graphene led to the formation of chemically active point defects.

Precise structural modifications and formation of G-M bonding led to improved carrier efficiency in graphene devices.

Optimized Trajectory Generation For Car-Like Robots On A Closed Loop Track, Tyler Friedl

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents a method for generating an optimized path through a given track. The path is generated by choosing waypoints throughout the track then iteratively optimizing the position of these waypoints. The waypoints are then connected by optimized paths represented by curvature polynomials. The end result is a path through the track represented as a spline of curvature polynomials. This method is applied to multiple simulated tracks and the results are presented. By generating and representing the paths in the continuous domain, the method has improved computational efficiency from many of the discrete methods used to generate an optimal …

Automatic Power Management For Instructional Computers At Humboldt State University: A Calculation Of Potential Energy Savings And Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions, Nicholas F. Flenghi

Projects

Computers consume an estimated 5,610 GWh per year in California alone. Much of that energy is consumed by computers that are not being used. In this project, detailed user login data are used to estimate the energy consumption of instructional computers at Humboldt State University (HSU) over the course of one semester. The data are also used to estimate the potential energy savings from automating the shutdown process. Potential cost savings and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions resulting from implementing an automatic-shutdown power management plan are also calculated.

There are approximately 1,000 computers used for teaching and learning purposes at …

Performance Comparison Of Binarized Neural Network With Convolutional Neural Network, Lopamudra Baruah

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Deep learning is a trending topic widely studied by researchers due to increase in the abundance of data and getting meaningful results with them. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) is one of the most popular architectures used in deep learning. Binarized Neural Network (BNN) is also a neural network which consists of binary weights and activations. Neural Networks has large number of parameters and overfitting is a common problem to these networks. To overcome the overfitting problem, dropout is a solution. Randomly dropping some neurons along with its connections helps to prevent co-adaptations which finally help in reducing overfitting. Many researchers …

Brief Study Of Classification Algorithms In Machine Learning, Ramesh Sankara Subbu

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study is to briefly learn the theory and implementation of three most commonly used Machine Learning algorithms: k-Nearest Neighbors (kNN), Decision Trees and Naïve Bayes. All these algorithms fall under the Classification algorithm category of Unsupervised Machine Learning. This paper is constructed structurally in explaining the working theory behind each algorithm and an implementation of a Machine Learning problem solved by each algorithm. KNN algorithm is designed using Euclidean distance measurement and Decision Trees make use of ID3 algorithm as a basis. We conclude the study by providing an overall picture of its strengths and weaknesses …

Omni-Directional Infrared 3d Reconstruction And Tracking Of Human Targets, Emrah Benli

Theses and Dissertations

Omni-directional (O-D) infrared (IR) vision is an effective capability for mobile systems in robotics, due to its advantages: illumination invariance, wide field-of-view, ease of identifying heat-emitting objects, and long term tracking without interruption. Unfortunately, O-D IR sensors have low resolution, low frame rates, high cost, sensor noise, and an increase in tracking time. In order to overcome these disadvantages, we propose an autonomous system application in indoor scenarios including 1) Dynamic 3D Reconstruction (D3DR) of the target view in real time images, 2) Human Behavior-based Target Tracking from O-D thermal images, 3) Thermal Multisensor Fusion (TMF), and 4) Visual Perception …

Respiratory Prediction And Image Quality Improvement Of 4d Cone Beam Ct And Mri For Lung Tumor Treatments, Seonyeong Park

Theses and Dissertations

Identification of accurate tumor location and shape is highly important in lung cancer radiotherapy, to improve the treatment quality by reducing dose delivery errors. Because a lung tumor moves with the patient's respiration, breathing motion should be correctly analyzed and predicted during the treatment for prevention of tumor miss or undesirable treatment toxicity. Besides, in Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), the tumor motion causes difficulties not only in delivering accurate dose, but also in assuring superior quality of imaging techniques such as four-dimensional (4D) Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) and 4D Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Specifically, 4D CBCT used in CBCT …

Identity‐Based Schemes For A Secured Big Data And Cloud Ict Framework In Smart Grid System, Feng Ye, Yi Qian, Rose Qingyang Hu

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Smart grid is an intelligent cyber physical system (CPS). The CPS generates a massive amount of data for efficient grid operation. In this paper, a big data‐driven, cloud‐based information and communication technology (ICT) framework for smart grid CPS is proposed. The proposed ICT framework deploys hybrid cloud servers to enhance scalability and reliability of smart grid communication infrastructure. Because the data in the ICT framework contains much privacy of customers and important data for automated controlling, the security of data transmission must be ensured. In order to secure the communications over the Internet in the system, identity‐based schemes are proposed …

Identity-Based Schemes For A Secured Big Data And Cloud Ict Framework In Smart Grid System, Feng Ye, Yi Qian, Rose Qingyang Hu

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Smart grid is an intelligent cyber physical system (CPS). The CPS generates a massive amount of data for efficient grid operation. In this paper, a big data-driven, cloud-based information and communication technology (ICT) framework for smart grid CPS is proposed. The proposed ICT framework deploys hybrid cloud servers to enhance scalability and reliability of smart grid communication infrastructure. Because the data in the ICT framework contains much privacy of customers and important data for automated controlling, the security of data transmission must be ensured. In order to secure the communications over the Internet in the system, identity-based schemes are proposed …

Electronic Deer Warning System, David Zhuo, Anlang Lu

Computer Engineering

Deer-vehicle collisions (DVCs) are extremely dangerous, often injuring or even killing drivers. Unfortunately, this form of automotive accident is commonplace in the United States. According to the NHTSA, DVCs result in 200 human deaths a year.2

Despite these deadly incidents, there currently are no deployed federal or state systems for preventing DVCs. There are many consumer electronic deer deterrent products, but their long-term effectiveness is questionable.3 In fact, there does not appear to be much research into electronic deer deterrent systems. Aside from constant audio output and electric shock, no other means of electronic deterrent exist. Even if fixed deterrents …

Recursive Non-Local Means Filter For Video Denoising With Poisson-Gaussian Noise, Redha A. Almahdi, Russell C. Hardie

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

In this paper, we describe a new recursive Non-Local means (RNLM) algorithm for video denoising that has been developed by the current authors. Furthermore, we extend this work by incorporating a Poisson-Gaussian noise model. Our new RNLM method provides a computationally efficient means for video denoising, and yields improved performance compared with the single frame NLM and BM3D benchmarks methods. Non-Local means (NLM) based methods of denoising have been applied successfully in various image and video sequence denoising applications. However, direct extension of this method from 2D to 3D for video processing can be computationally demanding. The RNLM approach takes …

Analysis Of Various Classification Techniques For Computer Aided Detection System Of Pulmonary Nodules In Ct, Barath Narayanan Narayanan, Russell C. Hardie, Temesguen Messay

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. It usually exhibits its presence with the formation of pulmonary nodules. Nodules are round or oval-shaped growth present in the lung. Computed Tomography (CT) scans are used by radiologists to detect such nodules. Computer Aided Detection (CAD) of such nodules would aid in providing a second opinion to the radiologists and would be of valuable help in lung cancer screening. In this research, we study various feature selection methods for the CAD system framework proposed in FlyerScan. Algorithmic steps of FlyerScan include (i) local contrast enhancement (ii) …

Cal Poly Supermileage Electronic Fuel Injection, Alexander Pink

Electrical Engineering

Cal Poly Supermileage is a student-run engineering club that builds prototype gasoline vehicles optimized maximum fuel-efficiency. To power their vehicles, the Supermileage team makes use of single-cylinder, 4-stroke, electronically fuel-injected (EFI) gasoline engines. This report details the development, iterative design & test cycles, and integration of an EFI system for the Supermileage club. This project develops an EFI system that interfaces to the most common types of sensors found in the low-power Supermileage-range of engines, including throttle-position sensors, manifold absolute pressure sensors, gear-tooth hall-effect sensors, variable-reluctance position sensors, engine coolant temperature sensors, intake air temperature sensors, and exhaust oxygen sensors. …

Histogram Of Oriented Phase (Hop): A New Descriptor Based On Phase Congruency, Hussin Ragb, Vijayan K. Asari

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

In this paper we present a low level image descriptor called Histogram of Oriented Phase based on phase congruency concept and the Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Since the phase of the signal conveys more information regarding signal structure than the magnitude, the proposed descriptor can precisely identify and localize image features over the gradient based techniques, especially in the regions affected by illumination changes. The proposed features can be formed by extracting the phase congruency information for each pixel in the image with respect to its neighborhood. Histograms of the phase congruency values of the local regions in the image …

Achieving A Better Balance Between Productivity And Performance On Fpgas Through Heterogeneous Extensible Multiprocessor Systems, Abazar Sadeghian

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) were first introduced circa 1980, and they held the promise of delivering performance levels associated with customized circuits, but with productivity levels more closely associated with software development. Achieving both performance and productivity objectives has been a long standing challenge problem for the reconfigurable computing community and remains unsolved today. On one hand, Vendor supplied design flows have tended towards achieving the high levels of performance through gate level customization, but at the cost of very low productivity. On the other hand, FPGA densities are following Moore's law and and can now support complete multiprocessor …

Diffractive Propagation And Recovery Of Modulated (Including Chaotic) Electromagnetic Waves Through Uniform Atmosphere And Modified Von Karman Phase Turbulence, Monish Ranjan Chatterjee, Fathi H.A. Mohamed

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

In a parallel approach to recently-used transfer function formalism, a study involving diffraction of modulated electromagnetic (EM) waves through uniform and phase-turbulent atmospheres is reported in this paper. Specifically, the input wave is treated as a modulated optical carrier, represented by use of a sinusoidal phasor with a slowly timevarying envelope. Using phasors and (spatial) Fourier transforms, the complex phasor wave is transmitted across a uniform or turbulent medium using the Kirchhoff-Fresnel integral and the random phase screen.

Some preliminary results are presented comparing non-chaotic and chaotic information transmission through turbulence, outlining possible improvement in performance utilizing the robust features …

Large-Area Object Search And Recovery Using Sector-Based Aerial Acousto-Optic Scanning And Reflection Sensing, Monish Ranjan Chatterjee, Salaheddeen G. Bugoffa

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

A sector-based angular scanning system intended to identify and spatially locate relatively small objects scattered over a large terrain is described in this paper. The system is modeled as a planar surface on the horizontal (XY) plane, with an acousto-optic Bragg cell on board an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operating in the XZ plane.

The Bragg cell is excited by a chirped RF signal with a designed frequency ramp. As the scanning beam reflects off the horizontal surface, a detector placed strategically at a suitable altitude (in the analysis shown to be on board the UAV itself) picks up the …

A New Architecture For Application-Aware Cognitive Multihop Wireless Networks, Trenton Evans, Kossivi Tossou, Feng Ye, Zhihui Shu, Yi Qian, Yaoqing Yang, Hamid Sharif

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

In this article, we propose a new architecture for AC-MWN. Cognitive radio is a technique to adaptively use the spectrum so that the resource can be used more efficiently in a low-cost way. A multihop wireless network can be deployed quickly and flexibly without fixed infrastructure. In our proposed new architecture, we study backbone routing schemes with network cognition, and a routing scheme with network coding and spectrum adaptation. A testbed is implemented to test the proposed schemes for AC-MWN. In addition to basic measurements, we implement a video streaming application based on the proposed AC-MWN architecture using cognitive radios. …

A Real-Time Information Based Demand-Side Management System In Smart Grid, Feng Ye, Yi Qian, Rose Qingyang Hu

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

In this paper, we study a real-time information based demand-side management (DSM) system with advanced communication networks in smart grid. DSM can smooth peak-to-average ratio (PAR) of power usage in the grid, which in turn reduces the waste of fuel and the emission of greenhouse gas. We first target to minimize PAR with a centralized scheme. To motivate power suppliers, we further propose another centralized scheme targeting minimum power generation cost. However, customers may not be motivated by a centralized scheme since such a scheme requires total control and privacy from them. A centralized scheme also requires too much real-time …

An Adaptive Security Protocol For A Wireless Sensor‐Based Monitoring Network In Smart Grid Transmission Lines, Xuping Zhang, Feng Ye, Sucheng Fan, Jinghong Guo, Guoliang Xu, Yi Qian

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

In this paper, we propose a new security protocol for a wireless sensor network, which is designed for monitoring long range power transmission lines in smart grid. Part of the monitoring network is composed of optical fiber composite over head ground wire (OPGW), thus it can be secured with conventional security protocol. However, the wireless sensor network between two neighboring OPGW gateways remains vulnerable. Our proposed security protocol focuses on the wireless sensor network part, it provides mutual authentication, data integrity, and data confidentiality for both uplink and downlink transmissions between the sensor nodes and the OPGW gateway. Besides, our …

A High Performance Ceramic-Polymer Separator For Lithium Batteries, Jitendra Kumar, Padmakar Kichambare, Amarendra K. Rai, Rabi Bhattacharya, Stanley J. Rodrigues, Guru Subramanyam

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

A three-layered (ceramic-polymer-ceramic) hybrid separator was prepared by coating ceramic electrolyte [lithium aluminum germanium phosphate (LAGP)] over both sides of polyethylene (PE) polymer membrane using electron beam physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD) technique. Ionic conductivities of membranes were evaluated after soaking PE and LAGP/PE/LAGP membranes in a 1 Molar (1M) lithium hexafluroarsenate (LiAsF₆) electrolyte in ethylene carbonate (EC), dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and ethylmethyl carbonate (EMC) in volume ratio (1:1:1). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques were employed to evaluate morphology and structure of the separators before and after cycling performance tests to better understand structure-property correlation. …

Pothole Reporting System, Alissa L. Mcgill, Brian G. Simmons, Sean D. Querry, Elizabeth J. Hammell

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this project is to create a pothole detection device that can be attached to the underside of a commercial vehicle. Potholes cost motorists around 6.4 billion dollars annually, thus demonstrating the need for a system to aid with the detection and reporting of potholes. The four systems we needed to consider for the implementation of this project were the power system, the sensing system, the data processing system, and the reporting and logging system. Power pulled from the vehicle will enable the sensors and data processing module. The data processing module will analyze the readings from the …

Autonomous Navigation With Obstacle Avoidance For Unmanned Aircraft Systems Using Milp, James A. Devens

Theses and Dissertations

Autonomous coordination among multiple aerial vehicles to ensure a collision free airspace is a critical aspect of today’s airspace. With the rise of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in the military and commercial sectors, obstacle avoidance in a densely populated airspace is necessary. This thesis investigates finding optimal or near-optimal trajectories in real-time for aircraft in complex airspaces containing a large number of obstacles. The solution for the trajectories is described as a linear program subject to mixed integer constraints, known as a Mixed Integer Linear Program (MILP). The resulting MILP problem is solved in real time using a well-known, public …

Skin Effect Suppression In Infrared-Laser Irradiated Planar Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube/Cu Conductors, Kamran Keramatnejad, Yang Gao, Yunshen Zhou, Hossein Rabiee Glogir, Mengmeng Wang, Yongfeng Lu

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Skin effect suppression in planar multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/Copper (Cu) conductors was realized at the 0-10 MHz frequency range through infrared laser irradiation of MWCNTs, which were coated on the surface of the Cu substrate via the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) method. The effect of laser irradiation and its power density on electrical and structural properties of the MWCNT/Cu conductors was investigated using a wavelength-tunable CO2 laser and then comparing the performance of the samples prepared at different conditions with that of pristine Cu. The irradiation at λ=9.219 μm proved to be effective in selective delivery of energy towards depths close …