Innovative Projects Realized

Impact du patron d’oscillation du faisceau laser dans le procédé de soudage hybride laser-arc sur la qualité, la robustesse et la métallurgie du joint de soudé.

Le projet de recherche se concentre sur l’étude de l’impact de l’oscillation du laser dans le procédé de soudage HLAW. En effet, l’utilisation de l’oscillation du faisceau laser dans les procédés de soudage laser ont montré des avantages en termes de qualité et de résistances mécaniques des soudures tout en maximisant l’écartement entre deux pièces en soudage laser.[9] Il est donc légitime de penser qu’un impact similaire sera observé dans le cadre du soudage hybride laser-arc. Si c’est le cas, l’entreprise partenaire gagnera en compétitivité (réduction des coûts de positionnement, de taux de rebus, d’utilisation machine) et en productivité (diminution du temps de production tout en augmentant la qualité) ce qui constitue un atout important.

Novel and efficient approaches of converting volatile fatty acids (VFAs) topolyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs)

Genecis Bioindustries makes bacteria that enables production of premium materials cost-competitively. Their first product line is a biodegradable plastic resin (PHAs) used for high-end applications, like 3D printing filaments and personal care products. Genecis can reduce production costs by 40% by using organic waste as the feedstock, lowering the barrier for plastic manufacturers to create healthy and affordable products. This project will be able to provide Genecis with the foundation of their 2nd generation synthetic bacteria – one that offers a higher conversion efficiency with guaranteed PHA production consistency. The consistency especially, is a huge step forward to ensure Genecis’ customers are able to receive high quality bioplastic to produce their end products in a consistent manner. This project would also ensure that Genecis is able to make a wide variety of PHAs that find application in various domains.

A Web-Based Traffic Steering and Orchestration Platform for NFV Services

Traditionally a Service Function Chain (SFC) consists of a set of dedicated network service boxes such as firewall, load balancers, and application delivery controllers that are concatenated together to support a specific service. With a new service, new devices must be installed and interconnected in certain order. This can be a very complex, time-consuming, and error-prone process, requiring careful planning of topology changes and network outages and incurring high OPEX. Through network function virtualization (NFV) service, carriers and service providers can dynamically create virtual environment for a specific SFC and eliminate the complex hardware and labor work.
While AWS (Amazon Web Service) is a big success in cloud services, there are few customer-driven platforms for NFV that provide the synergy of cloud services, core networks, and edge resources. In this project, we propose to develop an orchestration and traffic steering platform that allows customers to setup their service function chains dynamically through web. These SFCs will be deployed over the infrastructures operated by network and service providers automatically with elastic and optimal resource usage.

Measuring the contributions of non-crop areas to precision canola yield

Canola growers recognize that the beneficial arthropods that live in natural habitats and non-crop areas may play an important role in augmenting and stabilizing crop yields. These bees, flies, beetles, spiders and other arthropods may spill over into the crop, and through pollination or pest control, help to improve yields, decrease inputs, and increase profitability. A postdoctoral fellow will assess the relationship between natural habitats and canola yield that may result from these spillover effects, or other ecosystem services. Their task will be to use precision yield data collected by sensors on the harvesting equipment of grower-cooperators. These data will be applied to build spatial statistical models relating yield hotspots with non-crop areas in at least 60 fields. The partner organization, Canola Council of Canada, will receive an assessment of the potential for non-crop areas (which are very common in prairie canola fields) to contribute to yield, as well as advice which it can disseminate to canola growers about how to leverage any effects of non-crop areas effectively.

Use of remote sensing for eelgrass mapping in James Bay

The project is part of an ongoing program led by the Niskamoon Corporation that aims to develop a bay-scale monitoring program for eelgrass beds in James Bay (Eeyou Istchee). The Niskamoon Corporation is a not-for-profit organization that provides an efficient framework for cooperation between the Cree people and Hydro-Québec, enabling the implementation of the Cree/Hydro-Québec Agreements. The project will allow to develop efficient methods for the Niskamoon Corporation that will allow the Cree peoples to monitor the eelgrass beds located in their territory using a cost-effective, sustainable monitoring tools to track their environment. The combination of remote sensing tools being applied to quantify coastal submerged aquatic vegetation is unique and will advance our understanding of how to overcome challenges related to northern coastal waters. This project is a good example of the application of traditional ecological knowledge and Indigenous expertise to develop an efficient monitoring program.

Selective Ablation of Circulating Tumor Cells by Dynamic Photothermal Therapy

Cancer metastasis is responsible for 90% of cancer deaths. In metastasis, a group of cancer cells detach from the tumor, entre the blood stream and ultimately make new colonies in other organs. In this study we aim to develop a new technology to target these cancerous cells in the blood circulation with laser irradiation. We will use absorbents that selectively home to these cells in the blood. These absorbers are able to convert the laser irradiation to heat and consequently kill the cancer cells they are attached to. This technology can be used as an alternative to current therapies for blood cancers and metastatic phase of other solid cancers.

Wide Dynamic Range CMOS Image Sensor (part 2)

The project entails designing a new CMOS Image Sensor with wide dynamic range capabilities.
In the frame of this project David will learn and understand the design of previous versions of the wide dynamic range sensor and will help design a new and improved version of the sensor.
David will also acquire experience and tools in designing the system for image sensor chip and he will later on use that experience to design a new neural network based image sensor in collaboration with Prof. Orly Yadid-Pecht

Analysis of Soil Health following the Conversion of Boreal Forest to Agriculture in Northern Ontario

The purpose of this project is to assess the impact of forest land clearing practices for agricultural production on boreal soil health, using the soil health assessment developed at Cornell University. Using soil samples collected in Northern Ontario, a soil health assessment will be conducted to determine soil function under both relatively undisturbed soil forest conditions and agricultural fields, by comparing biological indicators (soil organic matter, active carbon, soil protein index, and soil respiration). The expected outcomes are to understand the relationships between farm management practices and soil health and how they may change due to land clearing. Also, this research will be the base for future long-term soil monitoring that can help forecast and develop models that mitigate and build soil resilience in light of changing climate conditions. Secondary project objectives are to build soil health assessment capacity and initiate further collaboration with the Soil Health Lab at Cornell.

Conservation humide de résidus agricoles

Le projet proposé porte essentiellement sur l’entreposage humide des résidus de culture du maïs (feuilles, tiges,

épis) en vue de leur utilisation pour produire de l’éthanol cellulosique et des coproduits sans recourir aux

procédés de séchage, d’ensilage ou encore d’ajout des produits chimiques. En effet, le séchage est énergivore

(consomme des carburants fossiles), l’ensilage favorise la fermentation lactique ou acétique (dégradation des

sucres et des celluloses) et l’ajout des produits chimiques est coûteux et parfois non compatibles avec

l’environnement. Dans le cas du bioraffinage cellulosique utilisant les résidus agricoles, il est préférable et

économique de les conserver humides avec une technique qui ne dégrade pas la cellulose et les sucres et qui

ne génère pas de composés potentiellement inhibiteurs pour les procédés en amont d’hydrolyse enzymatique et

de fermentation éthanolique. C’est dans ce contexte que ce projet est proposé. Le projet a pour but de

développer une technique de conservation des résidus agricoles à l’état humide (40-50% d’humidité) avec……………….TOBECONTINUED

Amélioration de la résistance en fatigue des joints par recouvrement soudés au laser par modification de la trajectoire du faisceau laser.

Le projet de recherche porte sur l’amélioration du procédé de soudage au laser pour la fabrication des caisses ferroviaires. La maximisation de la résistance en fatigue des joints par recouvrement réalisés sur des plaques fines en acier inoxydable est ici visée. Pour ce faire, le projet propose de modifier les patrons de soudage, c’est-à-dire les trajectoires du faisceau laser. Alors que celles-ci étaient jusqu’à présent généralement rectilignes, on souhaite désormais obtenir des trajectoires complexes. Le projet s’inscrit dans le cadre de l’amélioration de la qualité des assemblages mécano-soudés sur des lignes d’assemblage automatisées. Les patrons les plus prometteurs, sélectionnés par des analyses par la méthode des éléments finis, seront testés expérimentalement en statique et en fatigue.

An Examination and Case Study of Forest Management Activities in BC to Support Grizzly Bear Conservation

This project will involve identifying, comparing and contrasting how different forestry practices affect grizzly bear habitat in BC. The research will involve examination of peer-reviewed scientific literature as well as NGO and government reports in order to categorize and explain how grizzlies respond to different management techniques. Key comparisons and concepts will then be applied to create models that can estimate the chances of grizzly bear occurrence using remotely sensed data. This includes satellite imagery, airborne or UAV imagery as well as GPS collar data. The partner organization will benefit by gaining a better understanding of how forest management directly affects grizzly bears and how geospatial data can be used to assess and predict the impact of different management techniques.

Effet de la présence de contaminants sur la biodégradation de la biomasse au cours du compostage

L’objectif du projet est d’optimiser le compostage au sein d’Espace pour la Vie (EPLV). Le projet sera supporté par la Fondation Espace pour la Vie, une fondation publique et reconnue comme organisme de charité indépendant qui reçoit des fonds de donateurs privés. Une quantité importante de résidus organiques et alimentaires est produite au sein d’EPLV, tant par les employés, les restaurants que par les activités d’élevage du Biodôme et les activités horticoles du Jardin botanique. Dans une perspective de développement durable, les institutions ont entrepris de composter les grands volumes de déchets générés. Les travaux de doctorat de Mme Vanessa Grenier portent sur l’effet de différents types d’intrants sur les processus microbiologiques dont découle le phénomène de compostage (biodégradation). En partenariat avec la Fondation, nous avons convenu de tester l’impact de plusieurs facteurs externes sur les propriétés du compost de EPLV. Les variables mesurées seront les communautés microbiennes, le rendement et la qualité du produit final. À terme, nous souhaitons mieux comprendre les processus biologiques en place afin d’optimiser au mieux le traitement de la matière première résiduelle d’Espace pour la Vie