Projets novateurs réalisés

Within Our Reach: Building Community Academic Partnerships in support of a National Food Policy

Within Our Reach is an action research partnership between Food Secure Canada and Community First: Impacts of Community Engagement (CFICE). It aims to increase the capacity of community and academic partners to contribute to a civil society national food policy process. We will do this through the practical application of, and experimentation with, ways to collaborate, coordinate efforts, and share resources for enhanced policy impact and knowledge mobilization. In particular, we will generate key insights on the process of community-based brokering, and explore how to effectively encourage partnerships that meet the needs and objectives of both community and academia. Ultimately, this project will enable Food Secure Canada, the pan-Canadian alliance of organizations and individuals working together to advance food sovereignty, to mobilize cutting edge research and knowledge that will assist with the transition to a more healthy, just and sustainable food system.

Essais normalisés pour identifier les sensations de conduite de véhicules hors route

Le développement des systèmes intelligents dans les véhicules modernes est complexe et doit remplir autant les exigences des conducteurs que celles de la sécurité des véhicules. Les directions assistées des petits véhicules hors route n’y font pas exception surtout lorsqu’on considère que plusieurs de ces véhicules sont utilisés à des fins récréatives seulement. Le développement des systèmes qui interagissent avec les humains a longtemps été fait en utilisant la technique essais-erreurs avec des conducteurs experts pour ajuster les sensations ressenties à des niveaux acceptables. Cette façon de faire est longue et couteuse. Ce projet tente de développer une série d’essais répétables qui est en mesure de prédire les sensations éprouvées par un conducteur en analysant les données recueillies à partir d’un véhicule robotisé.

Water Monitoring: Instrumentation and Software Research Project

The proposed research project is to a) research and determine what are the best water monitoring components and scientific instruments that can be used in remote settings b) research the existing software which allows for simple interface with water monitoring data and the data user/contributor c) research and establish overarching system to pair water monitoring technologies and software in a manner that reflects the values and goals of the SWGIL project, including OCAP protocols for indigenous users d) submit said research to the SWGIL grant operators with suggestions on which technologies would be appropriate for field usage throughout the grant e) share that same research with partnership organization so they can use it as a value added service for their clients.

Rhetorical foundations of procedurally generated game worlds (IMMERSe)

The PC and console video game market have overtaken Hollywood movies as the number one source of entertainment dollars spent in North America. Very little work has been done to date on the effects that these games are having on (particularly young) players. This project will take well established rhetorical principles (Burke, Fahnestock, Perlman) that have been applied to the analysis of many other multi-media entertainment products and try to build a framework for a video game rhetoric. Rhetoric itself has been thought of for over 2000 years as dangerous based on the possibility of nefarious uses of persuasion. By critically investigating games under well-established rhetorical paradigms we can better understand how this new media is influencing its user base.

Development and evaluation of an autonomous UAV-photogrammetry system for metric infrastructure inspection

In this project, we will develop and evaluate an autonomous, unmanned aerial photogrammetry system for metric inspection of hard-to-reach vertical infrastructures, such as telecommunication towers and high-rise buildings. Metric inspection means identifying and measuring the facts that may have an impact on health conditions of assets, such as changes in tower alignment or deformations of structure beams. This system will benefit from a highly safe and accurate navigation system comprised of global and inertial positioning systems as well as vision-based and wireless localization systems. The system will provide accurate three-dimensional (3D) and detailed visual data of the assets. These data will be processed to automatically produce high-level information, e.g. detection, positioning and measurement of structural cracks in building façades. Realization of this project will allow Industrial SkyWorks to improve its expertise in the field of aerial data-analytics and to offer a unique technology in the domain of infrastructure inspection.

Design and Implementation of a Framework for Performance Management in Service Oriented Virtual Organizations (SOVO PM)

In this research, we propose a framework for performance management in virtual organizations (VOs) equipped with service oriented architecture (SOA). This framework enables networks of organizations to evaluate and manage their collaboration performance and also to align and coordinate their various goals and objectives. Distributed management of VO will be enhanced to reduce the necessity of a central authority. In addition providing transparency at an agreed level within VO will facilitate mutual trust among partners. The proposed solution will benefit from SOA infrastructure to form VO collaborative workflows, and to enable more dynamic VO creation and management.

As IBM is one of the major providers of SOA based solutions for B2B interactions, Business Intelligence and Performance Management, the proposed framework in this research will help IBM to extend their B2B solutions to better facilitate automated agile virtual organizations.

Developing durable and electrical conductive concrete composites for Quebec

This project focuses on the development of Electric Conductive Concrete (ECC) pavements which can efficiently reduce the cost of snow removal of Quebec. Recent research has proven that temperature regulated pavements can melt snow and ice. By taking advantage of all latest technology in conductive inclusions, the project aims will develop an optimized ECC mix design and characterize its durability performances. The technology transfer to a local company of such knowledge will foster the implementation of new solutions for heating pavements in Quebec.

Development and Evaluation of Corrosion Behaviour of Co-Based Alloys for Power Generators

With the increased demand for electric power and the need to reduce green house gas emission, newer power plants (fossil fuel or nuclear based) are being designed with elevated turbine inlet temperature to improve thermodynamic efficiencies and achieve other benefits. The much severe operating conditions (than that in the existing power plants) presents great challenges to material selections. In this proposed research, several classes of Co-based alloys will be modified and subsequently evaluated under supercritical and high temperature steam conditions for their potential use in Canadian Supercritical Water Cooled Reactor (SCWR), as out-of-core component, and in the advanced ultra-supercritical (A-USC) fossil fuel fired power plant where metal surface temperature can reach as high as 815C. Kennametal Stellite is one of the largest Co-based component providers and the application of Co-based alloys in SCWR and A-USC will greatly benefit its business. TO BR CONT’D

Multimodal Passenger Interfaces for Next Generation Business Jets

Bombardier Aerospace intends to develop novel human-machine interfaces for their next generation business aircrafts sold to corporations or high-net worth individuals. Intensive research is expected to define, develop, integrate, and evaluate the performance of new interface concepts that will allow the passengers to most comfortably interact with the Cabin Management System (CMS), control their environment and ensure connectivity. The demographics of passengers, their connectivity needs, and their ability to interact with technology are changing, and require new solutions that are seamlessly integrated with the cabin environment. This preliminary research is the first step towards the development of a multimodal human-machine interface with two main objectives of (1) developing a design framework as a guideline towards the development of such interfaces, and (2) Developing a technology demonstration platform integrating some of the key human-machine interfacing modalities such as vision and touch.

Biomechanical Evaluation of the Endolite LiNX Prosthesis

The LiNX prosthetic system combines microprocessors, sensors, and actuators for simultaneous control of the prosthetic foot and knee. Bi-directional electronic communication coordinates responses to variations in terrain and speed, adjusting for a transfemoral amputee’s situational needs. This study will use state-of-the-art virtual reality technology (CAREN-Extended system) to compare how people with transfemoral amputations walk with the LiNX prosthesis as compared with their usual prosthesis and with able-bodied individuals. The virtual reality system will provide a controlled environment so study participants can walk on level-ground, slopes, and multiple uneven ground walking conditions. This evaluation will show how intelligent prostheses can adapt to common environments, thereby improving mobility for end-users.

Development of new methods for metabolomic screens

In this project we aim to generate simple assays similar to commercial pregnancy tests that can detect the presence of specific molecules (metabolites) related to disease conditions. We will use our knowledge and
experience to generate easy-to-use strips that will allow specific detection of health-relevant metabolites that can be used in clinical or at-home settings by patients and physicians; providing for the rapid submission and
analysis of results. If successful, the project will generate tools that can be used for pre-screening and serve as real-time indicators if further, more complex, testing is required. These tools will contribute to the proprietary
patient health profiling platform of the host company, Molecular You. At the same time the intern will gain valuable experience regarding scientific research in an industry setting.

“Complex composite structure multifunction for aerospace” COMP-1601

The new generation of complex composites structures that will be developed by Hutchinson and its partners will integrate several functions, as esthetic interior panel, acoustic, thermal and vibration isolation, in addition to mechanical and robustness contribution brought by the integrated structure. These new technologies will allow to reduce the amount of parts, and also to reduce the amount of operations required to build an assembly, generating an energy saving in the global process. The self-stiffened part that will be developed will also permit to replace traditional metal components in the structure by composite materials. Combined with the optimization of the design, a weight reduction will be achieved, generating a reduction of fuel consumption.