Clearpath Robotics has developed an accurate GPS navigation system that enables autonomous robots to move in outdoor environments. However, to move toward a target location and avoid obstacles along the path, a path planner is required. The objective of this project is to develop, tune and modify an efficient path planner for the robot in order to make it capable of moving in outdoor environments, then, the performance of the path planner and GPS navigation system will be checked by extensive real-world experiments.

The proposed research project seeks to develop protocols that will enable one to measure the functionality of the auditory brainstem in a way that is clinically viable and time efficient. This project aims to minimize the time necessary to conduct an inclusive otoacoustic emissions (OAE) test using contralateral acoustic stimulation. By setting threshold signal to noise ratios, outputs from the ear in response to specified pure tones centered around frequency levels imperative for understanding speech will be analysed.

In the operation of CANDU reactors, the Zr-2.5Nb pressure tubes holding the cooling water and fuel bundles are susceptible to hydride cracking-induced crack initiation mechanisms, known as delayed hydride cracking and overload crack initiation. For structural integrity evaluation of CANDU pressure tubes, of fracture toughness and hydride crack initiation models were developed. However, the hydride morphology input for the model is still based on microstructures taken decades ago.

NORAM Engineering and Constructors have a technology called salt splitting. This technology is used to produce caustic soda and sulfuric acid. However, the presence of fluoride in this technology can cause the breakdown of the coating on the titanium anode, which can cause premature anode failure. As replacing these titanium anodes can incur significant costs, purification in this technology to reduce its fluoride concentration is imperative.

Controlled plant factories are closed and insulated environments that can be automated and artificially illuminated. They may be built in recycled shipping containers that are mobile, carrying enormous potential for food crop production and addressing food security in remote areas. However, lighting technologies and light positioning in these factories has not been optimized for different plant species. Our objective is to improve lighting and plant production practices in small plant factories.

Antimony is classified as a strategic element due to its high relevance for many military and technical applications, e.g. its use in fire suppressants and lead-acid batteries. Canada has currently no operational mine to produce antimony and about 90% of the world production originates from China and east Asia. This project will develop a geophysical prospecting program to explore for antimony, which has been discovered in samples taken from the industry partner’s mineral claim in the southern Quesnel terrane, northwest of Kelowna, British Columbia.

This project will aim to convert a commercially available variable rate sprayer into and intelligent sprayer able to precisely spray the pests and weeds in the potato seeds only when needed. The detection of the pests and seeds will take place by cameras equipped with algorithms able to detect each target. The team members will establish communication between the cameras and the electronic components in the sprayer and modify other components to enable a real-time application.

In Canada, there are over 280 communities that are off the grid, the majority of which are First Nation. They use stand-alone diesel-powered electricity generators to supply their basic needs, and whilst there are plans to provide renewable energy alternatives, this will take time. In addition, there are a growing number of generators that burn biogas from landfill sites or wastewater treatment plants.

Parkinson’s disease is most highly recognized by tremors of the hands that occur in those afflicted with the disease. Though the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease involving motor function begin with very slight tremors of the hands, they further develop into issues such as difficulty swallowing, severe postural problems and extremely limited mobility. In this proposal, a method of reducing these tremors that appear during the early stages of the disease is developed by creating a wearable passive device that reduces vibrations of the hand and arm through the use of magnetic actuators.