| This is the list of projects to be ranked as part of the project assignment lottery. These projects are offered via Lecture X01. |
| Projects Originating from U of A Student Groups | ||
| Many university student groups, including the Student Vehicle Groups, could benefit from your efforts. These groups include ARVP, FSAE, UAARG, and Eco-Car.
Brief Eco-Car Background The University of Alberta EcoCar team designs and builds zero emission vehicles to race in international events. The team aims to design and build an electric vehicle capable of crossing Canada powered by hydrogen. | ||
| [1] | Title: | GPS Tracking/Automatic Video Upload to Internet |
| Client: | Peter Kos | |
| Email: | ||
| Description: | The team will have to find an easy and effective way for the members of the EcoCar
team to be able to upload real-time GPS information to the EcoCar website. This should
be shown on a map of Canada. Additional real time information that can be included in
the upload is average/current speed, consumption, etc. This information will already be
available and just needs to be streamed to the website.
Also the team will be responsible for uploading a video feed in real time from a camera which will be travelling with the EcoCar team across Canada. | |
| Design IP Owner: | Client | |
| Projects Suggested by U of A Research Groups | ||
| Many research groups have project ideas that are well-suited for implementation as a Capstone Project. Working with a researcher or research group will provide you with many opportunities, including getting to know what work is done on campus, a glimpse of what graduate students do, and working in a field that interests you. | ||
| [2] | Title: | Smart Phone/iPad-based Data Acquisition Tool |
| Client: | Dr. Wilsun Xu | |
| Email: | ||
| Description: | This project is to investigate and construct a smart-phone (or iPad) based tool that can work with NI DAQ board for general purpose monitoring (in the field), with a special application to voltage and current data acquisition in power systems. Additionally, the data may be transmitted to an internet server using the wireless network provided by telephone companies. | |
| Design IP Owner: | Client | |
| [3] | Title: | Wireless Temperature Module for Curing Oven |
| Client: | Michel Herszak | |
| Email: | ||
| Description: | We measure the oven temperature with thermocouples. A thermocouple consists of two dissimilar metals, joined together at one end. When the junction of the two metals is heated or cooled a voltage is produced that can be correlated back to the temperature. We are currently using an IOIO board to acquire this information. The board itself is capable to cover a variety of tasks but doesn't provide an interface to the thermocouple. The board provides robust connectivity to an Android device via a USB or Bluetooth connection and is fully controllable from within an Android application. We need an interface solution to connect thermocouples to either an existing printed circuit board, or a custom solution capable to accommodate a thermocouple connector. The anticipated size for the board is 3x5inches with 18 total I/O pins; all of which can function as digital inputs and outputs. The board should be stand alone and have a power regulator providing up to 1.5A of 5V supply. Additionally, it should be able to convert from analog to digital and multiply the voltage from thermocouples. Ultimately, the board should be sending this information wirelessly to another mobile device. | |
| Design IP Owner: | Client | |
| [4] | Title: | HP8519B VNA Data Extraction |
| Client: | Dr. Mojgan Daneshmand | |
| Email: | ||
| Description: | In high frequency communications, the devices are characterized using their S-paremter which is measured using a system called vector network analyzer. This systems are in the range of $100K or higher. In M2M lab and the ECE department, there is an older version of the VNA that is HP8510B but the data can not be read by computer. We need to extract the readable data and plot them on the VNA.
HP 8510B has 3 different memory allocation systems ; Basics: The built-in disk drive can be used to store and retrieve different types of data on a 3.5 inch disk. Data files can be stored in either the HP LIF or MS-DOS(R) formats. Project description: read data from internal magnetic tape output and convert to standard PC format input and develop a software to plot the measured S-parameters. Besides above, there is also a GPIB port that can be used to connect to a plotter and plot the data on paper. As another option (if economically it is wise), this can be used to extract the data and connect to a computer. Then it should be programed so that the data can be read from the board and translate to S-parameters. | |
| Design IP Owner: | Client | |
| [5] | Title: | Manipulator for Microfluidics |
| Client: | Somayyeh (Nilufar) Poshtiban | |
| Email: | ||
| Description: | This project will see the design of an automated arm that can manipulate a permanent magnet from one coordinate to another with (in the future) 6 degrees of freedom. The ultimate goal is to use this system to move magnetic particles in a microfluidic channel. In this project, we are interested in the design of the control electronics board and a simple mechanical arm for the sake of demonstration. | |
| Design IP Owner: | Client | |
| [6] | Title: | Programmable Robotic Arms for Multi-Dipcoating |
| Client: | Dr. Karthik Shankar | |
| Email: | ||
| Description: | Development of a robotic dip-coating system. Please see http://www.ece.ualberta.ca/~ee401/suggestions2012/dipcoater.pdf for more information. | |
| Design IP Owner: | Client | |
| [7] | Title: | Low-Capacitance Ultrasound Transducer Interface |
| Client: | Dr. Roger Zemp | |
| Email: | ||
| Description: | The Zemp group has fabricated a large number of capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducers (CMUTs) in collaboration with industrial partners. These are MEMS devices that are capable of transmitting and receiving ultrasound. Conventional connections of these CMUTs to ultrasound systems are not ideal because of reasons associated with parasitic capacitance. This project will entail design of voltage-protected pre-amps using commercially available components integrated on a flex-circuit with minimal parasitic capacitance routes to pre-amplifiers right next to the transducer elements. First a prototype for a single channel will be constructed and tested with a pulser-receiver, then integrated into a programmable ultrasound system, then if time permits, a multiple-channel system will be designed, fabricated, and tested. | |
| Design IP Owner: | Client | |
| Projects with Industrial Collaboration | ||
| These projects are performed in conjunction with an off-campus firm that can provide unique design opportunities. Benefits include "networking" and providing a design that may naturally lead to bigger things.
Please note that taking on a project that falls under this category may require permission to be provided by you for the company that you are working with to use the materials you develop for the project. This is the case with Eleven Engineering who post your project information on their website for use by their clients and customers. | ||
| [8] | Title: | Forge Temperature Controller |
| Client: | Front Step Forge - Shawn Cunningham | |
| Email: | ||
| Description: | This project would see the development of a temperature monitor and controller for a propane-fired forge used by the client while blacksmithing. This unique project will allow you to work with accomplished local artist and educator, Shawn Cunningham. | |
| Design IP Owner: | Client | |
| [9] | Title: | Multichannel Temperature/RH Data Logger |
| Client: | MYAC Engineering - Mark Ackerman | |
| Email: | ||
| Description: | An 8- or 16-channel temperature and relative humidity data logger using the Sensirion SHT75 sensing IC. Wireless (bluetooth or similar) connection to a laptop is desired, although local storage (to compact flash or other medium) could also be an option. | |
| Design IP Owner: | Client | |
| [10] | Title: | Motion-Sensing Slap Pad |
| Client: | Cleankeys Inc. - Steve Hole | |
| Email: | ||
| Description: | This project will see the development of a touchless motion-sensing slap-pad intended for use in, primarily, the medical environment. A device such as this is intended to communicate next steps in a work process to an employee, and to record the completion of that steps. By being touchless, interaction is sterile, and therefore the propagation of pathogens is reduced. | |
| Design IP Owner: | Client | |
| Projects from Almuni | ||
| Many students who have gone through Electrical and Computer Engineering are interested in having projects developed for varying reasons (entrepreneurial, plain interest, etc.). The benefit of working with these individuals is that they have a good grasp on what the EE Capstone Courses are all about, and still recall what it is like to be a student in the program. | ||
| [11] | Title: | Daft Punk Helmet (Guy-Manuel) |
| Client: | Jonathan Le | |
| Email: | ||
| Description: | Create a Daft Punk helmet in the style of Guy-Manuel. Design a spectrum analyzer and LED driver, and use them to light up LEDs on a helmet. This project comprises of the design for both the electronics and the hardware enclosure. The helmet must be wearable. This project has been done before, so it is essential to not simply copy their designs. Here is one example of the project seen online: http://volpinprops.blogspot.ca/2010/07/daft-punk-final.html | |
| Design IP Owner: | Client | |
| [12] | Title: | Cloud-Based Data Logging System |
| Client: | Woon Tiong Ang | |
| Email: | ||
| Description: | Web-enabled sensor node allows users to collect and log sensor data on web server. The data can be anything from temperature, humidity, acceleration, light intensity etc (the students will decide on one or two sensors to be integrated). The students will develop a sensor node that wirelessly (through Wifi or GPRS or 3G, to be determined) feeds data collected to a backend database (a web host supporting MySQL will be needed). A Web App will be developed and installed on the web server that allows the users access to sensor data via a web browser. In summary, this project involves 3 parts:
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| Design IP Owner: | Client | |