Projets novateurs réalisés

Automated Part Numbering for 3D Printed Medical Devices for Covid-19 Response using Generative Design Methodologies

Thousands of 3D printers across Canada are producing PPE for frontline workers. Different printers and materials affect the quality and safe re-usability of parts. Trying to track down this information for every single one of millions of parts would be impossible. The purpose of this project is to improve the quality and safe re-use of 3D printed PPE by developing a system for printing a unique identification code onto every single part that will let end users know what type of material was used and how and when the part was printed.

Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO); A novel technique for gold recovery from mercury-contaminated tailings from artisanal and small-scale gold mining

The proposed research aims to optimize the use of DMSO as a lixiviant in gold recovery. To date, mercury and cyanide are the popular lixiviants used in the gold processing industry. These chemicals are harmful to both the environment and humans, and have been the major concern in gold mining. The proposed lixiviant, DMSO, is an FDA approved chemical that is cheap and environment friendly. The successful use of DMSO in gold mining is beneficial to the gold mining industry.

Upon the successful use of DMSO for gold leaching, Newlox Gold Ventures Corp, being the partner organization for the study, will have the opportunity to pilot the use of DMSO in gold leaching. The company also has the advantage of promoting the technique to other miners in the industry, as well as establish collaborations with local and national governments.

Enhanced Content-Based Similarity Detection for Book Recommendation

Recommendations is one of the main ways Kobo users discover content on the platform. By using purchase history, Kobo can suggest other books similar to a certain item. However, this does not provide meaningfulrecommendations in some cases, especially for bestsellers and fiction books. Currently, only for books that have no purchase history does Kobo supply recommendations based on text. The purpose of this project is to improve its text-based similarity analysis to provide better recommendations for all titles regardless of popularity and genre, as well as for all users who want recommendations that better reflect their purchases. Through this project, Kobo will benefit from an enhanced recommender system, and in effect, an improved customer experience and an increase in purchase conversion.

Characterization of antiviral coatings: Wetting studies and efficacy

There is an urgent need to develop antiviral coatings that would be applied to functional surfaces such as personal protection equipment (PPE) and others to arrest the spreading of COVID-19. In this project, the University of Waterloo researchers will work with industry partner, SiO2 Innovation Labs, to develop an optimal composition of such antiviral coating by characterizing the wetting and associated properties along with the efficacy of the coating against different viral loads. Once successfully achieved, the desired coating material will propel the industry partner in marketing their coating to large number of end-users and would eventually save millions of lives worldwide.

Developpement d’un outil numerique amallorant la versatilite des impulseurs en vue dereduire Ie nombre de pompes intermildiaires, et conception d’un plus gros impulseur pour les pompescentrifuges mult

Pour des constructeurs des pompes hydrauliques, la conception, la fabrication et la caracterisation des pompes
centrifuges presentent toujours un grand defi. Une meilleure fabrication de ce type des pompes exige une
determination avec precision de tous les parametres cies des composantes de la pompeo II s’agira, dans Ie cadre
de celie proposition de recherche, de developper des modeles numeriques fiables et precis d’impulseur de
pompe centrifuge permellant d’etudier de maniere approfondie les ecoulements complexes de liquide dans la
pompe, les contraintes, Ies vibrations, les poussees axiales et radiales induites, ainsi que la cavitation. Tout ceci
dans Ie but d’ameliorer les performances des pompes centrifuges etla versatilite des impulseurs disponibles chez
Technosub.

Development of paper-based Rapid Diagnostic Kit for COVID-19

Until an effective vaccine becomes widely available for COVID-19, a frequent home test of the coronavirus on a weekly basis might become a new norm. Therefore, developing rapid, accurate, stable, and cost-effective tests is critical for combatting the spread of COVID-19 over the long term. Aptamers are single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides that can be selected from a large DNA library to bind to many target molecules. They can overcome the problems associated with antibodies since DNA is highly stable, cost-effective with a little batch-to-batch variation. However, aptamer sequences for COVID-19 viral proteins are not yet available. Therefore, we aim to isolate such aptamers to fill in this gap. The industry partner, ChitoLytic will provide chitosan and other functionalized paper surfaces for paper-based biosensor development. They already have acquired a patented technology that demonstrated the detection of lipids on a paper-based microfluidic device. Chitolytic platform will be tested for our proposed aptamer-based detection of COVID. The expected outcome is a paper-based colorimetric assay using aptamers for specific binding of the COVID-19 virus in the saliva, thus aiming to develop the first paper-based biosensor for the detection of COVID-19 virus in the saliva.

Étude des systèmes de communication V2X pour l’automatisation des mines souterraines

L’industrie minières ne cesse de développer les moyens lui permettant d’améliorer à la fois la sécurité de ces travailleur et l’efficacité de sa productivité. L’usage des véhicules connectés et automatisés (CAV) représente la future étape transformatrice de cette industrie lui permettant d’atteindre ces deux objectifs toute en permettent à celle-ci de prendre le virage de l’industrie 4.0. Pour permettre au CAV dans leur version évoluée de voir le jour dans les mines souterraines, il est nécessaire d’analyser et de maitriser le fonctionnement des systèmes et des technologies de communication utilisées pour supporter les échanges entre ces véhicules autonomes, voir même entre ces véhicules et tous les acteurs évoluant dans leurs environnements. Il s’agit dans cette proposition de mettre en avant les connaissances requises pour l’usage des CAV dans en milieux confinés minier.

Integration of Data Mining into a Homomorphically Encrypted System: Enabling COVID-19 Researchers to Discretely Mine Sensitive Data

Krate Distributed Information Systems Inc. (Krate) and Saskatchewan Polytechnic (SP) are developing an advanced encryption module that will integrate with the distributed computer platform of fellow startup Distributed Compute Labs (DCL). DCL’s distributed computer is already functional and in use by scientists and researchers across Canada. This module will equip DCL’s distributed computer with the ability to process encrypted data without ever needing to decrypt it. It will also allow data to be publicly yet securely stored, computed, and transmitted without needing to ensure that the involved devices are trustworthy and secure. These will be accomplished by combining technologies like distributed systems, ubiquitous computing, blockchain, and smart contracts with encryption and other techniques. It will revolutionize data management, analysis, and cybersecurity because it is capable of conclusively ending the crisis of identity thefts and data breaches, and it offers governments, health providers, and health researchers the ultimate system for processing Personally Identifiable Information.

Power Monitor Load Disaggregation for the Electric Grid

For decades the electric grid has remained a passive system that has delivered electricity to many
households and businesses. As utility companies look at converting a passive electric grid to a smart
grid, a number of sensors and smart meters must be deployed throughout the grid system to achieve
this objective. Deploying vast amounts of sensors and smart meters becomes a costly and timely affair.
This project looks at adapting nonintrusive load monitoring (NILM) algorithms for the smart grid.
NILM algorithms have been used for monitoring appliances being used within a horne using one
power meter. Using NILM algorithms has the potential to minimize the amount of sensors deployed
over the smart grid (saving cost and time). This project investigates extending, optimizing, and
evaluating NILM algorithms for the smart grid.

Toward Net Zero Transportation: Environmental benefits of Hydrogen-fuelled Trucks

Hydra Energy Corporation Commercial Demonstration Project based in Prince George, British Columbia 12.4 MT/day of waste hydrogen will be captured, purified and transported to an onsite hydrogen refueling station from which Class 8 tractor-trailer truck fleets will refuel daily. Hydra’s demonstration project can provide a significant reduction in fleet greenhouse gas(GHG) emissions, Particulate Matter and other air emissions.

The R&D project results will advance the scientific knowledge of hydrogen in internal combustion engines, support the granting of a third party verification/certification of the environmental benefits of Hydra’s technology, and will help to expand the availability of clean energy transportation technologies in and beyond B.C.

Using a mobile application to support at-risk student re-entry into post-secondary education in the era of COVID-19

The aim of this 2-year project is to do research to inform the development of, and fully test and develop a mobile application designed to improve the experience of (particularly at-risk) post-secondary (PSE) students in addressing COVID-19-related issues. Our key concern is that COVID-19 has not only disrupted important and significant developmental experiences that improve student experience and success, but it has also caused challenges in students’ lives away from university that will spill over into their experience of being post-secondary students. We seek to address these disruptive factors via assessment of need and development of a mobile application which can link students with supports necessary to address those needs. A mobile application approach is particularly valuable in an era where social distancing will reduce the opportunity for face-to-face and in-person communication for at least the next 18-24 months.

Rural Asset Management in a Changing Climate

The Rural Asset Management in a Changing Climate (RMACC) project will develop asset management capacity and guide the implementation of asset management plans and policies that account for future challenges posed by climate change with a cohort of five small municipalities. The objective of the project is to perform asset management planning in a comprehensive manner for climate resilient and sustainable infrastructure.