Projets novateurs réalisés

Développement d’un algorithme d’analyse et de géotraitement des données géospatiales pour l’optimisation de l’épandage des sels de déglaçage

Clean Nature est une startup qui offre des solutions technologiques de pointe aux municipalités et aux entreprises privées afin d’accélérer la transition vers des pratiques opérationnelles plus intelligentes, durables et connectées. Une des solutions développées touche à l’entretien hivernal et consiste à proposer des taux et des types de déglaçant (sel, abrasif ou mixtes) par tronçon de route, en fonction des caractéristiques du territoire et des conditions météoroutières, qui est basée sur l’intelligence artificielle. Cette solution innovante d’aide à la décision, appelée GuiA, a été élaborée afin de réaliser des économies, de respecter l’environnement, mais aussi d’assurer la sécurité routière. En collaboration avec un partenaire, Clean Nature travaille sur la mise au point d’un système intelligent embarqué sur les camions permettant d’automatiser l’épandage, afin de réduire les erreurs liées aux interventions humaines. La technologie GuIA est au niveau de la démonstration et des projets pilotes sont prévus à l’hiver avec des municipalités. Chaque contrat avec une nouvelle municipalité nécessite une étape d’intégration de l’outil pour la ville. L’objectif du projet de stage est de poursuivre le développement d’un algorithme de géotraitement de données spatiales afin d’automatiser l’implantation d’un outil d’épandage de déglaçant.

Hollow-core Extruder Auger Metallurgy

The proposed project aims to develop a reproducible recipe for producing concrete augers that meet current expectations for wear performance and longevity. The project involves structural characterization of the hard matrix, particularly, the distribution and morphology of martensite, and the hardening particles, including various carbides embedded in such matrix. The hardness of different regions will be tested and correlated to the microstructure. An intern from the University of Manitoba will carry out the chemical and physical characterization of the current materials. This intern will benefit from metallurgy training, delving into various fields as steels, structural design, mechanical test, and the utilization of cast irons in industry. This intern will have an opportunity to address industrial needs from the fundamental knowledge and will contribute to define their future career aspirations. The partner organization, Ultra-Span, who seeks to understand and standardize their current materials, will obtain the necessary knowledge to secure their supply chains from general suppliers to produce the Augers.

L2M QC 2024 – «Dispositif d’assistance ventriculaire transcathéter intracardiaque.»

Heart failure significantly diminishes quality of life and has a high mortality rate within five years of diagnosis. While heart transplants are effective, they are limited due to donor shortages, and this gap is expected to grow with an aging population. Ventricular assist devices (VADs) offer alternatives, but VADs still underperform and remain underused due to high costs, limited accessibility, and invasive surgery requirements. This project aims to develop an innovative, pulsatile VAD designed for minimally invasive implantation, reducing costs, improving accessibility, and shortening recovery times. By enabling interventional cardiologists to perform the implantations, the number of physicians capable of providing this therapy could double, benefiting patients in public healthcare systems. VADs are classified as high-risk medical devices, requiring extensive clinical trials and significant investment for development and commercialization. Partnering with V1 Studio, we will conduct an in-depth market study to determine potential applications, market segments, and necessary innovations for this VAD. The intern will engage with industry stakeholders and clinical experts, gather insights, and present a business model and market analysis to guide the project’s commercial development. Supported by the Lab2Market program, the intern will use proven market validation techniques and strategies, participating in workshops and fieldwork to assess the VAD’s commercial viability. V1 Studio will benefit by increasing its visibility as a leader in scientific entrepreneurship, aligning with its mission of advancing research and innovation. Ultimately, we anticipate that our VAD technology will significantly improve the quality of life for heart failure patients in Canada.

Exploring Quantum Materials with Atomic Resolution within the 2D MATURE International Program

Our group develops advanced tools that allow us to observe and understand materials operating within the realm of quantum physics, particularly those that emit light at the smallest scales.

Quantum materials, often regarded as the superheroes of the science world, possess unique properties that can revolutionize technology—from ultra-fast computers to highly secure communication systems. To fully harness these remarkable properties, a deeper understanding of these materials is essential.

We utilize techniques such as Cathodoluminescence (CL) to study optical properties, Ultrafast Electron Diffraction (UED) to examine atomic structures, defect analysis to understand material imperfections, and Low-Energy Electron Diffraction (LEED) to investigate surface structures. These methods enable us to study materials at an atomic level.

Our mission is to advance fundamental knowledge in quantum research, train the next generation of scientists, and pave the way for future technological innovations. Through a proposed exchange program, students will gain complementary skills and knowledge, enhancing their research capabilities and preparing them for breakthroughs in quantum technology.

L2M QC 2024 – «Nouveau cadre pour la conception, simulation et optimisation de robots biomécaniques mous»

The budding field of soft robotics, robots made of elastic materials such as rubbers or silicone, currently represents a 1.48 billion market size with a compound annual growth of 34.45%. The problem is that there is no specialized tool for the design and simulation of soft robots. Our research has already demonstrated a promising simulation framework which cuts down on computaion time by an order of magnitude, and is intuitive to use. The goal of this project is to perform a market analysis of the sector to determine the current simulation solutions, tools available to engineers, the biggest bottlenecks and how a tailored approach would help address the current limitations. The outcome would be a wishlist of features, an approximate price point and buiseness model, knowledge of the key competitors, and a strategy to make adoption of the new technology as seemless as possible. The domain of soft robotics can be applied to many sectors and is still in its infancy. This is the perfect opportunity to get in on the ground floor and develop new technologies to acomodated the novel challenges.

L2M QC 2024 – « Real-time optical processor for next-generation telecom interconnect.»

Over the past decade, the telecommunication sector progressed and evolved quickly due to the installation of cloud-based artificial intelligence, which now needs at least data rates of 1.6 Tb/s and beyond to meet global demand. These changes are pushing the industry towards deploying scalable, highly performing, and low-energy-consuming computing units in telecom interconnect infrastructure. This aspect is currently of significant importance throughout the world, but also in Canada, where the government is massively investing in artificial intelligence (AI) and the development of AI infrastructure starting in 2024.
This project aims to establish a commercialization strategy for a novel technology that bridges the upcoming telecom data rate and the widely available electronics system through a novel photonic processor. The real-time optical processor unit used for this market analysis was previously developed and studied by the intern during his academic research, providing him with the background knowledge necessary to transition its technology toward industrial application. To achieve the product’s commercialization, the industrial partner will provide professional resources and support, enabling the student to perform an in-depth market study of the telecom industry, more specifically, researching the requirements for the next generation of telecom equipment in interconnect centers.

L2M QC 2024 – «BeNat»

There are three main problems in construction sector which are addressed through our startup. The first one is the high negative environmental impacts and energy required for conventional concrete or earthen constructions. The second problem is the high pre- and post-construction costs which results more building costs and maintenance fees. Lastly, there is the necessity for rapid construction to meet the growing market demand.
Indeed, the construction industry represents a real challenge for the environment. Concrete is the second most used material in the world after water. Cement, a hydraulic binder used in the preparation of concrete contributes significantly to worldwide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The production of cement releases approximately 0.8 tons of CO2 to the atmosphere per ton cement. Moreover, cement production presents a high energy demand and an extensive consumption of natural resources. There is a pressing necessity for sustainable building materials before it becomes irreversibly late.
Our startup BeNat is dedicated to use natural renewable resources to facilitate the construction sector in different forms and reduce its environmental impact. The present innovation proposes a new sustainable construction material called self-consolidating earth concrete (SCEC). A technology that takes the advantages of self-consolidating concrete (SCC) and earthen constructions. SCEC comprises a natural soil, stabilizer (reactive materials) and chemical high-range water reducer (HRWR) admixture. Different applications targeted by BeNat are: cast-in-place and prefabricated SCEC elements, prepacked green materials, and earth-based 3D printing. Therefore, by keeping the benefits offered by earthen materials, more advanced developments are introduced through our technology.

Thermochemical recycling of textile waste mixtures via microwave catalytic pyrolysis

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Publicité Durable : Explorer les pratiques responsables à travers la chaîne de valeur publicitaire.

Le projet de recherche vise à promouvoir des pratiques publicitaires écologiques et responsables. Nous voulons montrer comment la publicité peut être conçue et diffusée de manière durable, en utilisant des pratiques responsables et en améliorant les processus publicitaires numériques pour les rendre plus efficaces et moins polluants. Nous identifierons également les obstacles à l’adoption de ces pratiques et proposerons des solutions pour les surmonter. Nous croyons que cette initiative améliorera la qualité des publicités, réduira l’impact environnemental des campagnes publicitaires et encouragera les différents acteurs à réfléchir et à adopter des pratiques plus durables.

Gitanyow

Meziadin Junction Holdings sits on Gitanyow territory and derives customers from traffic to these lands. The Gitanyow museum has been closed for 15 years because of financial constraints; therefore, we have been restricted in our ability to share our cultural history with the public. Furthermore, Gitanyow is located in northern British Columbia and as a result of our rural location, visitors from outside of the Gitanyow community are limited. Additionally, 50% of Gitanyow members live outside of the community, making it difficult for them to access information about their culture, practices, and traditions. Through collaboration with Emily Carr University and the use of picture animation, we aim to bring to life the story of Emily Carr’s visit to Gitanyow in 1928 in a way that is engaging, accessible, and understandable for all ages, backgrounds, and education levels. The story of Emily Carr’s visit to Gitanyow speaks to an important time in Gitanyow’s contemporary history and resistance to colonization and shows Gitanyow’s point of view and vision for coexistence. Gitanyow’s resilience and strength as a nation will be highlighted through the voices and perspectives of our Chiefs.

Organizational Innovation on Blockchain Integration and Optimization Project

The proposed project involves integrating and optimizing blockchain technology within Penrose Partners’ internal operations. By implementing blockchain, the project aims to automate complex processes, enhance data security, and increase transparency within the organization. This will streamline workflows, protect sensitive information, and provide a clear record of transactions, leading to improved efficiency and reduced operational costs. As a result, Penrose Partners can expect to see not only an increase in operational effectiveness but also a boost in trust and reliability in their services, enhancing their reputation as a leader in the blockchain consultancy sector.

MRP Configuration for ERP Upgrade

The EPS Materials Management Warehouse manages the majority of the supplies, clothing, and equipment
used by the service. Goods are received, stored, issued, and distributed using a combination of email, paper,
and electronic means which are tracked in the organizations ERP system, SAP ECC. Inventory ordering is
conducted using a manual process which is time consuming and ineffective. The organization is currently
upgrading to SAP S/4 Hana which presents the opportunity to leverage its embedded Material Requirements
Planning (MRP) system to manage inventory items more effectively. Our goal for this project is to analyze
inventory usage and available storage capacity to determine min/max and order quantity thresholds that will
be used in MRP planning. The analysis will provide an opportunity to review the current data with the intent to
remove outdated or redundant information and therefore transfer only current and relevant data to SAP S/4
Hana. Implementation of SAP S/4 Hana is expected in Q4 of 2024