Polymeric matrices containing nano-size additives have demonstrated remarkable mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties when compared to their micro-composite counterparts. Inserting graphene in a polymer matrix consisting of a glass fiber-reinforced resin is assumed to significantly increase the material electrical conductivity, which is needed in order to fulfill electrical conductivity requirements traditionally met by carbon black […]

During External-Beam Radiotherapy in cancer therapy, Bolus, a thick sheet of flexible material, is used to cover the skin surface in order to minimize damage healthy tissues. A significant problem of using bolus is air gaps generated between the bolus and patient’s skin if an inaccurate shape of bolus was made. In this research, an […]

Airports in Canada have the difficult tasks of needing to remain open during adverse weather conditions in the winter. The research that we are undertaking is to develop and deploy a fully autonomous snow removal equipment for Canadian airports. Operating a snowplow is a dangerous and exhausting task for human operators, often they are unable […]

This project is a collaboration between NORSAT International Inc. and Laboratory for Alternative Energy Conversion (LAEC) at SFU to commercialize novel and efficient cooling solutions for NORSAT ATOM series BUCs and SSPAs. NORSAT amplifiers are typically 15-20% efficient meaning up to 85% of the applied electrical power is dissipated as heat. The heat is removed […]

The current project aims to develop a novel energy management strategy for residential heating ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Controllable wireless air damping vents will adjust the air flow in different zones of the building allowing independent control of the temperature which results in enhanced thermal comfort and energy savings. The intern will collaborate […]

The presence of harmful bacteria in drinking water sources can seriously harm the population that receives the contaminated water. The current standard methods for testing drinking water for bacteria heavily rely on using central laboratories. For small rural communities that are far from these laboratories, this scheme may represent 2-7 delays until they find out […]

Mechanical failure is a significant issue in the aerospace industry. High material and manufacturing costs make the component repair an attractive option, avoiding the need to scrap parts when defects are detected. Low Energy Welding (LEW) is a micro-welding process that offers several advantages in repairing sensitive high-cost components. Extensive work has been carried out […]

This research aims at better understanding the performance of Wireline Applied Stimulation Pulse (WASP) technique in formation damage reduction in oil and gas wells. Hydrocarbon production rate decreases as a result of plugging the sand control devices located in the wellbore region. Shock waves generated by the WASP technique help breaking the sources of formation […]

This project explores incorporation of artificial intelligence tools for advanced control techniques in order to improve quality on industrial production lines. Particularly, the novelty of this project suggests the use of the recent embedded computer systems and icloud computer assistance. This strategy is currently used for commercial products (i.e., application related to communication). However, this […]

Success in track cycling requires high athlete power and low aerodynamic losses. The latter is primarily dominated by rider position, and athletes and trainers will spend countless hours seeking any slight reduction. This is largely accomplished via trial and error either on the track or in an expensive wind tunnel. This project aims to help […]

In this project, we develop a framework to use the data from fiber sensing technologies to smart monitoring of Oil and Gas Reservoirs. The project involves extensive lab experiments simulating different monitoring conditions. Different configurations for installation of sensing equipment will be examined. The optimum location of tubing will be also determined. Signal processing methods […]

Neothermal Energy Storage Inc has developed a new kind of electric thermal storage (ETS) supplemental indoor heating appliance to reduce heating costs for homes heating with oil. Neothermal ETS does this by managing home energy use to take advantage of utility demand response programs that provide low-cost electricity when demand on the grid is low. […]