Projets novateurs réalisés

Acceptabilité des innovations en santé: le cas de l’exosquelette de réadaptation

Les organisations de santé doivent innover et se maintenir à jour avec les nouvelles technologies basées sur les données probantes. Les exosquelettes de réadaptation sont une nouvelle technologie pouvant améliorer la mobilité des personnes ayant une lésion médullaire, mais la recherche sur acceptabilité par les acteurs de la réadaptation est limitée. L’étude de cas de l’acceptabilité des exosquelettes de réadaptation par les cliniciens de réadaptation au Centre de réadaptation et de réhabilitation mutualiste de Kerpape en France vise à explorer les éléments influençant l’acceptabilité de l’exosquelette. Les conclusions de cette étude seront importantes pour améliorer les soins de santé en réduisant les obstacles à l’utilisation de ces technologies.

Semiconducting and mechanical nanoscale 3D printing

Two-photon polymerization (2PP) additive manufacturing, also referred as two-photon lithography, has enabled complex three-dimensional (3D) structures with emergent mechanical properties to be printed at high speed and lateral resolutions below 200 nm. Recently, the Gu Group at Stanford University reported a 2PP photoresist containing quantum-confined nanoclusters which act as highly sensitive two-photon activators to enable arbitrary 3D structures with impressive mechanical properties such as high specific strength, energy absorption, deformability, and recoverability. The objective of this project is to develop a 2PP resist which would enable printing semiconducting and mechanically robust 3D nanostructures with high resolution by introducing semiconducting 2D materials into the nanocluster-based resist developed by the Gu Group. Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are a class of semiconducting 2D crystals with favourable mechanical properties and have the general form of MX2, in which M symbolizes transition metal from groups IV–X and X represents chalcogen. TMD nanoplatelets are well suited for dispersion in the nanocluster-based resist to achieve semiconducting electronic behaviour. A secondary objective of this research is to demonstrate an application of the developed resist by developing an ultra-small, highly sensitive, and low-cost nanoelectromechanical accelerometer that is orders of magnitude smaller than commercially available options.

Indigenous relations and energy businesses: Building foundations for authentic and sustainable community partnerships

In Canada, there is a lack of trust in energy businesses to develop energy projects in environmentally and socially responsible ways. From blockades to protests, we see that many groups are taking extreme action against energy projects. This is especially true for Indigenous groups, who have experienced many negative impacts from energy businesses.

One of the main methods in building trust is through community consultation to better understand the impacts and how they can be mitigated. In my project, I will be researching ways to not only improve the consultation process but also how consultation can be shifted towards more meaningful partnerships between Indigenous groups and energy businesses. This research will be conducted in partnership with Touchwood Agency Tribal Council Economic Development Company Ltd. (hereafter, TATC) which is a for-profit organization representing four First Nations. The organization’s purpose is to represent their people through economic development projects. One such project is a joint venture with Rainforest Energy Corporation (RFEC) to pilot a technology that converts waste biomass into renewable gasoline as well as propane equivalent.

Proxemics-Aware Agents for Everyday Activities

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming more and more ubiquitous with each passing day. Our goal in this project is to enhance human-AI interaction by exploring ways in which proxemics can help drive and support the interaction. We want to create more intuitive and user friendly agents that are aware of one’s context and proxemics in relation to one’s environment. More specifically, we’re focusing on how an agent can infer information based on the user’s head orientation and distance to other entities and objects in their environment. To achieve our goal, we will explore ideas from previous designs and articulate them as a tookit for our research. Based on our toolkit, we will develop a scenario in Virtual Reality (VR) to showcase how this AI agent can help people in their everyday activities.

A Feasibility Study on the Punnichy, Saskatchewan Biomass-Methane Clean Fuel Project

The purpose of this project is to perform a feasibility study on the Punnichy, Saskatchewan biomass-methane clean fuel project covering the three anchors of energy, environment, and economics. While the primary focus of this investigation is to analyze the economic feasibility of the clean fuel project, the energy and environmental implications will also be addressed on a high-level basis. Investigation methods would mainly include review and assessment of applicable economics and tax policies for the industry, together with performing financial and sensitivity analysis with data collected from both primary and secondary sources. Investigation findings will be important for management, potential investors, and other stakeholders to assess the economic sustainability and potential for future project expansion. Furthermore, the financial indicators would facilitate industry practitioners and governmental bodies to assess performance benchmarks, understand potential limitations and make adjustment for future policies.

Modeling, design, analysis, and control of a parallel hybrid electric vehicle drivetrain including optimal drive mode operation

Prototyping of HEV powertrains is cumbersome, expensive, and time-consuming. Thus, design optimization is the most feasible alternative process for accomplishing a good design. This project will identify key system components and develop a high-fidelity model of the hybrid drive train capturing key dynamics. Modes such as engine mode, motor mode, hybrid-parallel mode, regenerative braking mode, and driving modes, such as crawling, take-off, cruise, traffic mode, heavy and frequent braking mode, will be investigated. Finally, a multi-body dynamic model will be developed for a small vehicle and iterative testing will be conducted at different standard drive cycles to analyze the acceleration performance e.g., maximum speed, acceleration time, maximum grade, and travel range, and fuel economy, including power consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in addition to the robustness of the adaptive control algorithms.

Autism Society NL’s Pantry Garden Social Enterprise Strategic Marketing Plan

The Pantry Café is run by the Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador (ASNL) as a social enterprise. It is is built on historic farmland in the center of St. John’s. The property includes a fruit tree orchard, 36 garden beds, current gardens, a large greenhouse, and other growing facilities. ASNL also has an on-site restaurant that utilizes the farm-to-table offerings of the garden, along with providing social and financial benefit to ASNL. Together, these make up our social enterprise “The Pantry Café & Gardens”. Maximizing the output of our facilities and building a true marketing plan for the social enterprise will help our organization grow and provide more opportunities for our community.
The objectives and approaches of the project include:
1. Perform a market scan to identify potential target markets;
2. Define strategies around product, pricing, location, distribution and people to maximize return on social, financial and environmental measures
3. Identify strategic goal to maximize the potential of all social enterprise assets.

Novel TPV System Comprising Optical Cavities and Bifacial PV Cells

The objectives of the proposed research are to design, build and test a simple but robust prototype thermophotovoltaic (TPV) system comprising an optical cavity configuration and a bifacial PV cell. As a part of this collaboration, the design and fabrication of an optical cavity-based TPV system will be done at York University. This optical cavity will be integrated with Bifacial PV cells designed and fabricated at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid as well as periodic emitters pending time availability. Tests will also be done on monofacial TPV cells integrated with cooling systems for comparison. As a secondary objective, Optical characterization of the PV cells, optical cavity, and emitter will be performed. The expected outcomes are a prototype of a simple but robust TPV system that integrates Bifacial PV cells from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and optical cavity based TPV systems designed at York University.

From meal planning to grocery shopping cart; a smart software platform combining personalized recommendations, grocery shopping, and healthy-eating-behavior building

Families need help with their weekly food needs due to busy schedules, stressful weekly meal planning and rising food costs. This research project aims at combining recipes, nutrition, family profiles and preferences, and grocery shopping to recommend healthy and varied meal plans to families. These meal plans will be the base to build grocery shopping lists that are optimized with grocery products that cater to family preferences and needs, saving them both time and money. The goal is for this project to lead to a recommendation engine that provides menu options catered to family needs whether its healthier, more varied or budget conscious options and as well as reduce food waste with smarter planning and shopping.

Toward a better treatment to optimize biomechanical function in individuals with a foot amputation

This project aims to compare the biomechanics of the lower limbs in individuals with different types of foot amputation (i.e., transmetatarsal, metatarsophalangeal and toe) during locomotion (e.g., walking, stair ambulation). To achieve these objectives, individuals with and without a foot amputation will undertake a biomechanical evaluation (joint movements/forces and muscle activity) during the aforementioned tasks.

Highly Integrated System for True Time Delay Optical Beamforming Phased Arrays

The participants are working together to provide a novel solution to the requirement for steering antennae for satellite communications. The solution will use new integrated circuits designed to process information optically rather than electronically. The application for this work includes the provision of broadband access to remote communities. The work brings together experts from McMaster University, the National Research Council and MDA of Montreal. The proposes solution is highly-disruptive and with the involvement of Canadian industry, there is a clear route to economic benefit.

EMR Marketing Strategy

Conduct EMR market research to develop a marketing strategy to penetrate new markets across Canada to further growth.