The research project proposed here takes a radically new approach to on-vehicle electric power generation, with the potential for developing a scalable, flexible, and conceptually very efficient method without the need for complex mechanical off-take. The new method is called the Free-Piston Direct-Drive Linear Generator, a type of Rankine Cycle expansion engine. Excess thermal energy […]

While touch screens have become the de facto user interface for cell phones, they do not provide any mechanical feedback to the user, unlike standard keyboards and computer mouse where we can feel the buttons springing back against our fingers. This, however, could be replicated through haptic technology, which can mimic various sensations through smooth […]

Two fundamental pillars of communications/communications networks are trust and truth; in particular, we must ensure that the message (or data) that a sender wishes to transmit does indeed reach the intended receiver without being altered or eavesdropped by an unwanted party. This project focuses on demonstrating one concept of the quantum internet. The quantum internet […]

A wide range of automated driving features now exist in modern vehicles, providing collision avoidance, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, parking assist, etc. There are considerable concerns that drivers do not have an appropriate understanding of the system functionality, and are therefore either not using the features, or using them in an inappropriate (and […]

This project addresses one of the challenges confronting Vertical Agriculture (VA): the acquisition of added-value data, their analysis and their transmission to enable VA to provide a steady production while minimizing its environmental impacts, manage its yield and allow for a better understanding of its inter-related component. As a starting point, strawberry production is looked […]

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2014 Synthesis Report states that “substantial [greenhouse gas] emissions reductions over the next few decades can reduce climate risks in the 21st century and beyond, increase prospects for effective adaptation, reduce the costs and challenges of mitigation in the longer term, and contribute to climate-resilient pathways for sustainable […]

To mitigate risks of global malnutrition, hunger, and conflict; food production should become more efficient and sustainable. Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) can produce higher yields at reduced spatial and environmental footprints. This control improves management of key elements like water, nutrients, and nutritional outcomes. These advantages come with a cost however; of which energy is […]

Hydrogen is a clean source of energy with zero greenhouse gas emissions. A very efficient method to obtain power from hydrogen is by using fuel cells, which generate electricity via an electrochemical reaction in which oxygen and hydrogen combine to form water with no harmful emissions. Of the major components of fuel cells are Bipolar […]

Transportation systems are evolving towards intelligent transportation systems and ISR Transit is a leading provider of these systems providing solutions in fleet management. In these systems, one of the enabling technologies is wireless sensor networks in which sensors are used to obtain information about the fleets. For example, sensors are deployed on motor, brake modules, […]

Recent catastrophic tailings storage facility (TSF) failures have resulted in immense societal, environmental and economic losses. Currently, research on TSF risk is primarily focused on the technical reasons for failure or post-failure environmental damages. Furthermore, limited research explores the financial, environmental and social consequences of potential TSF failure within potential tailings inundation zones. This project […]

Bio-oil derived from fast pyrolysis and hydrothermal liquefaction of lignocellulosic biomass usually contains a high oxygen content (30-50%), leading to a relatively low heating value, high viscosity and poor stability. Moreover, the presence of organic acids in crude bio-oil results in low pH value and hence corrosion of the reactor materials (steel or alloys). To […]

Concrete is a major construction material used worldwide responsible for the production of roughly 7% of total global carbon dioxide emissions. The extent of its environmental impact relates to the energy embodied in extraction and transportation of concrete aggregates with a direct link to the amount of Portland cement (PC) used to bind the raw […]