Projets novateurs réalisés

Conception d’une technologie de communication sur courant porteur

La compagnie RMDS est très présente dans le domaine de la communication par courant porteur. Cette technologie permet de communiquer sur les réseaux d’alimentation. Cela apporte différents défis de taille puisque ces réseaux ne sont pas conçus pour la communication, mais sont conçus par la transmission d’énergie à très basse fréquence. La technologie de RMDS doit être mise à jour. Plusieurs aspects de celle-ci seront améliorés notamment la vitesse de transmission, la robustesse du système face au bruit, les coûts de production du système ainsi que la puissance requise pour communiquer. La nouvelle technologie développée permettra à RMDS de mettre à jour ses produits et enrichir son expertise dans le domaine.

Analyse coûts-avantages des infrastructures vertes pour le contrôle à la source des eaux pluviales en milieu urbain

Les infrastructures vertes sont de plus en plus utilisées en milieu urbain pour gérer les eaux pluviales à la source, c’est-à-dire avant qu’elles ne rejoignent le réseau souterrain de conduites. Or, de nombreuses questions subsistent en ce qui concerne les bénéfices procurés par les infrastructures vertes de gestion des eaux pluviales par rapport à leurs coûts. L’objectif général du projet est de réaliser une analyse coûts-avantages de la mise en place d’infrastructures vertes pour le contrôle à la source des eaux pluviales dans les secteurs urbains drainés par des réseaux d’égout unitaires, avec un accent particulier sur l’évaluation des coûts et des avantages liés à l’entretien de ces infrastructures. Le projet se déroulera en deux étapes : effectuer une revue exhaustive de la littérature scientifique et des expériences scientifiques au sujet des coûts et des avantages liés aux infrastructures vertes de gestion des eaux pluviales et réaliser une étude de cas sur un secteur urbain réel.

Development of Metallurgical Testing Methodologies to Assess Sensor Based Sorting

Sensor Based Sorting is a relatively new technology for the mining industry. The ability to use sensor to classify particles or bulk materials ahead of expensive downstream grinding and separation has many benefits including reduced energy and water usage, reduced operating costs and improved metal recoveries. Testing to assess sorting for a mineral deposit is normally conducted by the technology companies and there are no standard approaches to conducting such studies. The proposed study builds off of more than 20 years of research
experience to advance sensor based sorting. The goal is to develop and validate testing methodologies that can be conducted by third party independent metallurgical companies. The ability to conduct such studies will better inform mining companies of the potential benefits to their operation as well as indicating the best sensor based sorting system for a mine.

Assess the impacts of pedagogical narration on teachers practice and curriculum making

The goal of this research is to assess the impacts of a teaching methodology known as pedagogical narration on teachers’ practices. The research study aims to introduce teachers to the Early Learning Framework and to mentor teachers in using pedagogical narration. Capilano University student interns will be deployed to iGen Education Group to support the use of pedagogical narration as a teaching methodology at iGen Education Group.
The research question is: What are the impacts of pedagogical narration on teachers’ pedagogical practice and curriculum design?
iGen education provides STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) education for children 3 to 8 years old. Interns will collaborate with iGen educators to cultivate conditions for responsive, thoughtful, place-based, situated, and inclusive pedagogical practices and to use pedagogical narration in designing curriculum. The purpose of the research is to contribute knowledge to scholarly literature related to merits and possible shortcomings of pedagogical narration.

Realization of high-power, single-frequency, solid-state lasers using nanostructured laser mirrors

Achieving autonomous vehicles depends on the development of reliable optical sensors to replace human vision. The lidar is the top candidate to achieve real-time mapping of the scene. The most promising lidar design uses a chirped single-frequency laser to achieve fast distance and speed mapping. However, the delivered power is small, which limits the range, the speed and measurement accuracy. Recently, we introduced single-frequency lasers using parity-time-symmetric polarization eigenstates. Such concept requires optically anisotropic laser mirrors, which can be achieved with periodically corrugated surfaces. Since the anisotropy is integral to the laser mirrors, no other element is needed and a very short laser device is possible. A thin disk of rare-earth-doped material will be placed between these two mirrors and end-pumped with a laser diode. Our preliminary results indicate that the emission should be single mode when the two mirrors are properly adjusted. This laser design will improve on existing compact single-frequency emitters used in lidar applications by achieving higher brightness than the current semiconductor laser technologies. Our idea will help speed up the development of lidars for autonomous driving applications as well as in other areas requiring miniature sources of light with high brightness.

Photovoltaic devices for short-wave infrared (SWIR) range

In this collaborative project between L. Goncharova’s group (Western) and Sciencetech (London, ON), silicon, germanium, and tin heterostructure will be grown by thin-film deposition techniques. By precisely controlling the amount of each element in the films, these heterostructures can overcome the poor light adsorption and emission properties of silicon, and will be explored for light detection in short wave infra-red spectral range. Precise control of these parameters can be achieved via ion implantation or during a growth process called molecular beam epitaxy, followed by ion implantation. Photovoltaic characteristics of these novel materials will be explored at Western and Sciencetech. Ultimately, these structures can be used as short-wave infrared detectors, with applications in spectroscopy and other optical domains.

Conception et optimisation d’un réacteur à vis à l’échelle laboratoire pour le procédé de pyrolyse rapide de la biomasse

La determination de la meilleure conception de reacteur a vis, !’identification des parametres optimaux du precede et de la meilleure technologie de recuperation s’imposent comme une necessite pour l’entreprise. Pour ce faire, l’entreprise veut construire une unite laboratoire, afin d’appliquer les ameliorations et de corriger les defauts et les faiblesses releves lors de !’operation sur l’unite de demonstration. Malgre la disponibilite d’une litterature scientifique abondante, ii n’existe pas de directives standards pour la conception d’un reacteur a vis. Par consequent, la compagnie a sollicite le centre d’etudes des procedes chimiques du Quebec (CEPROCQ) pour la conception et l’optimisation d’un reacteur a vis a l’echelle laboratoire pour le precede de pyrolyse rapide.

Development of polymer-based CMUT array design for Ultrasound Computer Tomography

An emerging imaging modality for breast cancer screeing is Ultrasound Computer Tomography (USCT). The thereby used image reconstruction techniques result in special requirements for the ultrasound transducers. At the University of British Colombia, a novel fabrication technology was recently presented. This technology allows the realization of polymer-based Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasound Transducer (CMUT), whose properties match very well the requirements coming from USCT.

The main goal of the project is to develop a transducer array design that will allow the evaluation of the polymer-based CMUT technology for its use in USCT. This design must consider requirements coming from the image reconstruction, the system integration, the fabrication technology and medical device regulations. Subsequent projects should then focus on the fabrication and characterization of this design. Overall, the project establishes a first promising interface between a novel transducer fabrication process and a possible application in a clinical ultrasound system.

Development of tissue phantoms

LifeLike BioTissue has developed a suite of products to assist in the training of medical professionals with highly realistic models that mimic the mechanical properties, feel and anatomy of human body organs and structures. These human tissue phantoms replicate a variety of complex human tissues, supporting surgeons and medical device companies for surgical training and testing needs. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a hydrogel with desirable physical properties to emulate the properties of human tissue as three-dimensional crosslinked polymer networks swollen with water. In this project we will develop new products by modifying the PVA material to control the viscosity and elastic properties. New material and processing techniques will allow the company to continue to closely match soft tissues and organs and to achieve a higher degree of realism that will increase the company’s market share in the simulation arena.

The art of working together: Community case studies supporting a model for collaborative arts informed research as social practice

The Art of Working Together: Developing a Sustainable Model for Arts Informed Research as Social Practice aims to strengthen the capacity of Centre[3] for Artistic and Social Practice (Centre[3]) to support community-based arts-informed research as social practice by developing a model for sustainable partnerships. Centre[3] has a long tradition of research collaborations with institutions (university/college/hospital), community-based organizations (e.g. Hamilton Public Library) and local, regional, provincial and national partners. The ad-hoc nature of these partnerships means parameters must be re-established with each new project; to address this challenge, Centre[3] has proposed a partnership with McMaster University to develop a model for sustainable collaboration. Developing a framework holds potential to enhance effectiveness of partnerships by establishing best practices for arts-informed research collaborations.

Transition towards an automated and centralized staff scheduling system

The project includes the integration of a new software for crew scheduling at ViaRail, which will make uniform the crew scheduling rules. Crew scheduling is currently distributed over 5 geographical centers at ViaRail, with each center producing schedules independently. Consequently, the project will include three phases: collecting the current practices for crew scheduling in the five centers, analyzing the collection of those rules and proposing a unified process for crew scheduling across the five centers in view of the crew scheduling software purchased by ViaRail. While going through those three steps, the intern will need to keep in mind the optimization of the crew scheduling in terms of staff scheduling work blocks and bidding process. The project will also include the automation of the payroll from the collection fo the data from the crew members, up to the generation of the pay checks.

Dynamic framework development for mineral processing circuits

The mining industry is integral to modern living standards and related technological advancements. However,
mining operations are complex and capital-intensive ventures that rely on the coordination of a number of moving
parts to remain viable. Moreover, external forces such as evolving global economic, socio-environmental and
geopolitical factors also present significant levels of risk to modern mining projects. The result is an increasing
number of failed or stalled projects, often due to limited community engagement and an ultimate lack of the social
license to operate. This research project aims to address some of these issues by contributing to Mineral
Impulse™, a new mining business model trademarked by Inspire Resources Ltd. and focused on the sustainable
development of smaller-scale projects with transparent and active participation of owners and/or community
stakeholders. By developing tools that can model and simulate mineral processing plant behaviour in response to
internal and external stressors, mining projects can benefit in terms of justifying or negating the next level of
required investment from design through to implementation and sustained operation stages.