Innovative Projects Realized

Towards Development of a Transparent Surgical Mask

It has become clear during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic that the standard opaque medical masks pose a challenge for effective communication in healthcare settings, especially for deaf and hard of hearing people and other individuals who rely on visual cues or lip/speech reading. To address this challenge, this research project aims to develop a transparent single-use disposable surgical mask, though an electrospinning process and its optimization using a fractional design of experiments approach. In order to qualify and certify the mask for healthcare environment, a wide range of requirements have been identified including filtration efficiency, breathability, mechanical performance, fire retardancy, blood resistance, and flame resistance.

Multimodal-based inferencing of behavioral constructs in asynchronous video-based interviews: portability, efficacy, and interpretability

The intern is expected to work on devising novel, research-based solutions to model traits (e.g., naturalness, confidence, engagement, humor, etc.) from video recordings of non-cognitive, performance-based tasks. Specifically, we are working toward an intelligent combination of multimodal (video, speech, text) data to create an enriched model for predicting human traits in human-computer interactions. The intern is also expected to assist in the development of on-device, nonverbal tracking that would reduce turnaround time for task-based performance feedback and scoring and preserve personally identifiable information in the mobile device. The intern would gain valuable experience working alongside ETS researchers in an agile environment to create prototypes that have the potential to benefit millions of learners and students worldwide.

Reformulation of Electrochemical Sensors for Trace Dissolved Oxygen Monitoring

Electrochemical sensors for monitoring dissolved oxygen levels are commonplace in industrial, research
and regulatory labs. The industrial partner?s commercialized device is capable of real-time monitoring of
O2 at parts-per-billion levels but is interested in reformulating the electrode materials to remove heavy
metals, thereby minimizing negative environmental impact and ensuring sustainability of the technology.
This project will measure and document the characteristics of candidates to replace the heavy metals in
the electrodes while ensuring continued operation at necessary. The project will analyze viable options
for materials to be used as anodes and cathodes, optimize the pairing of anode and cathode materials
together to ensure measurement of O2 at parts-per-billion levels, and compare the outcomes to possible
next-generation optical sensor designs.

Digital Tools and Techniques to Enable Mass Customization of Prefabricated Housing Year Two

The intended research aims at bringing the design and production process of the industry partner, BONE STRUCTURE into a new level of customization, that involves effective homebuyers participation in the design of their homes, using cutting-edge computatioanl design techniques. The customization process is initiated with a layout design; roomblocks modifications, till selection of appliances and systems, via web- based, interactive interface that would engage homebuyers in a designer-customer like dialogue. In that sense, the research project targets devising a methodology for a comprehensive, advanced configuration system that would allow for customization of housing, while maintaining an effective link between design and production data.

Human Resource Expert System: a Help Centre/Inquiry Expert System for Hospitals

Seneca and Trinetra are collaborating to develop a Human Resources (HR) Expert System—a self-service, Artificial Intelligence (AI)–powered application capable of responding to queries or questions from hospital staff by extracting the right answer from relevant sources: collective bargaining agreement, policies, etc., which will be piloted at Markham Stouffville Hospital (MSH). This System will provide an easy access portal for employees to quickly find public-facing information, reducing the repetitive searching for solutions by HR staff, and providing insight into repeated queries by staff to provide companies with a snapshot of employee interests. TriNetra, an expert in multi-platform system deployment, plans to market this to other hospital HR areas, ultimately rolling out to multiple industry segments across Canada and the world.

Using the FRAM to inform autonomous adaptive instructor feedback in lifeboat simulators

This research project focuses on using functional modelling (FRAM) to map trainee-trainer interactions in lifeboat simulators. The functional model will be used as a basis to create a virtual instructor that can provide feedback to trainees autonomously in Virtual Marine’s lifeboat simulators. The research will contribute to improving the
capabilities of Virtual Marine’s lifeboat simulators as well, as their training courses. This work will also contribute to an improvement in offshore safety as it is expected to increase the time to competence for offshore workers who complete these training courses.

Developing an Adaptive Digital Twin for Denture Surface Quality Control during CNC Micro-Milling

We are at the era of precision medicine and dentistry; however, currently the leading-edge technologies used for adaptive milling control and modeling of CNC milling have not entered the micro-scale milling applications in the dental industry. The overall objective of this MITACS project is to utilize an Industry 4.0 based approach to explore characterization parameters that can be specifically used to optimize the surface quality of micro-scale milled dentures in real-time. The desired long-term result of this research program is to create a Canadian innovation in the dental industry that combines micro-milling, artificial intelligence, and informatic systems.

Investigate of implications of atmospheric corrosion on various flanged configurations for pipelines and process equipment

Atmospheric corrosion, commonly known as weathering is among the leading causes of infrastructure degradation. The extent of atmospheric corrosion becomes more concerning when it triggers localized and non-linear metal loss rates. One such scenario is the localized corrosion at the flanged connections in piping, pipeline, and equipment for hydrocarbon industry and even utility sectors. As reported by transportation board Canada, flanges degradation is among the leading causes of leaks/ spills from pipeline. Today, almost every protection measure for flanges namely Cathodic protection, protective coatings, reactive repairs, etc. have inherent limitations which limit the options for end users towards achieving adequate flange integrity. This study will help improve the understanding about various flange protection measures via quantified and systemic corrosion characterization along with validating a Canadian invention i.e., novel Flange Belt (Patent no. CA 3115319) for flange protection suitability.

Pharmacokinetics of nicotine delivered by a novel electronic nicotine delivery system in healthy adult smokers: a feasibility study

Ditch Labs is a medical technology company developing a new treatment for smoking cessation. The objective of this research project is to understand how nicotine delivered by a novel electronic nicotine deliver system travels through the body from its absorption to its excretion. The study is important because it will allow Ditch Labs to select optimal nicotine doses to be delivered to patients and then subsequently reduced over a period of several weeks until complete cessation.

Non-destructive applications of gene transcriptional profiling to fish health and stress quantification

Freshwater fish contribute to the economic and ecological wellbeing of Canada; however, they are in decline globally. To mitigate those threats, accurate health status data for individual fish is critical. Since fish respond to changes in their habitat through gene expression, unexpected changes in gene expression patterns are powerful indicators of fish stress and declining health. “Transcriptional profiling” is the quantification of gene expression across multiple related function genes to detect changes in fish health. This project will develop non-destructive sampling methods for gene expression fish health assessment. Specifically, methods to sample tissues such as blood, mucus, gill and muscle without harming the fish will be developed. also It will explore using environmental RNA whereby transcriptional profiles can be determined from RNA extracted from the water the fish live in – without even touching the fish! Such non-destructive approaches will revolutionize fish health assessment for industry, government and ecological purposes

Dimensionnement mécaniste empirique de chaussées

Le dimensionnement des chaussées au Canada est actuellement effectué avec des méthodes empiriques. Ces méthodes limitent la possibilité d’utiliser de nouveaux matériaux et de nouvelles technologies qui permettraient de prolonger la durée de vie des chaussées tout en limitant leur impact négatif sur l’environnement. Il existe des méthodes de dimensionnement mécaniste-empirique, comme PavementME et des méthodes rationnelles comme la méthode française qui utilisent le comportement thermomécanique et les performances des matériaux testés en laboratoire afin de faire un dimensionnement optimal. Ces deux méthodes utilisent par contre différents intrants et différents modèles de calcul qui complexifie la comparaison entre les deux. Ce projet de recherche porte sur l’étude et l’optimisation du dimensionnement mécaniste-empirique des chaussées bitumineuses pour le Canada. Le projet est séparé en trois phases. Une première phase théorique dans laquelle des corrélations entre la procédure française et la procédure utilisée dans PavementME seront effectuées. La deuxième phase consiste en des essais de laboratoire pour avoir les données nécessaires aux différentes corrélations, mais également des essais de caractérisations de matériaux de chaussées à faible empreinte environnementale non usuels au Canada. La troisième phase porte sur la calibration des modèles de calculs à partir de résultats sur chantier.

Set-Theoretic Output Feedback Control for Safety-Critical LPV systems

The proposed research aims to develop an innovative control framework to deal with safety-critical systems in which the plant’s safety constraints must be fulfilled regardless of the possible presence of unpredictable disturbances and measurement noise. The technology developed by this project is expected to be beneficial in different application domains of current interest to Quebec, Canada, and the world, such as smart grids, intelligent transportation systems, medical technologies, and industry 4.0.

In the project’s first phase, the student (Jackson Ernesto) will perform an in-depth literature review. Then, in the second phase, he will develop novel control strategies to ensure the stability and the safety of linear parameter varying systems subject to disturbances and limitations on the actuation signal. In the third phase, he will validate the proposed solution by implementing it into the Matlab/Simulink environment, where a near-to-real testbed system will be considered. Moreover, the proposed solution will be contrasted with different state-of-the-art approaches. Finally, during the final phase, the student, under the guidance of the home supervisor (Dr. Eugênio Castelan) and host (Dr. Walter Lucia) supervisors will prepare a research manuscript.