Innovative Projects Realized

Security Analysis of the Rainbow-eta Signature Scheme

Digital signatures are used as electronic alternatives to handwritten signatures, and are built upon mathematical problems. Such problems are computationally unfeasible to solve with classical computers, and give the security basis for signature schemes. With the possible advent of quantum computers, conventional signatures created by currently used schemes cannot be considered secure. Thus, the need for quantum-safe digital signature schemes arises. We focus on Rainbow, which is based on multivariate quadratic equations. Some problems connected to such equations are not known to be solved more efficiently with quantum computers. It generates and verifies signatures very efficiently, but the key generation step is slow and produces large keys. We have proposed a variant of the scheme, called Rainbow-eta, which employs a novel method to reduce private keys. We expect to provide a detailed security analysis of the scheme, as well as a constant-time reference implementation, which does not leak information through physical means.

Towards creating intelligent heat stress monitoring and management solutions to safeguard health and wellness

The scientific challenge for this research project is to advance our understanding of the impacts of heat stress in heat vulnerable workers and to use this information towards the creation of intelligent heat stress monitoring and management solutions to safeguard health and wellness. Currently, our understanding of the effects of heat exposure on vulnerable individuals remains incomplete, limiting our ability to implement protective measures to optimize performance/safety during work in hot environments. Our work employing the world’s only air calorimeter (device to measure precisely whole-body heat loss) shows that government-recommended heat exposure guidelines fail to protect workers, especially older adults, against dangerous increases in core temperature during work in the heat. This is because they do not consider factors like age, chronic disease and others that can affect heat dissipation. Moreover, they do not account for factors that modify a person’s day-to-day tolerance to heat (exposure time, hydration, others). Thus, this project aims to develop thresholds for ‘high-risk’ work conditions based on ambient temperature, work intensity and duration, and biometric data which will be integrated into a first-generation ‘heat’ app and lead to the creation of a physiological monitoring system for the assessment of heat strain in heat vulnerable workers.

Développer un modèle d’apprentissage automatique pour déterminer des stratégies de transactions virtuelles dans le marché énergétique de MISO « Midcontinent Independent System Operator »

Les transactions faites sur les marchés de l’énergie permettent aux opérateurs de systèmes d’assurer la satisfaction de la demande énergétique à un prix compétitif. Les négociants du parquet des transactions énergétiques doivent prendre positions sur le marché et soumettre des transactions de vente ou d’achat qui seront profitables pour le parquet. Afin de prendre ces positions, les négociants et analystes doivent prendre en considération un très grand nombre de variables (la demande de l’énergie, la production de l’énergie, les conditions météorologiques, entre autres). L’objectif de ce projet est d’utiliser des techniques d’apprentissage automatique pour prévoir le prix local de l’énergie dans le marché du Mid-Ouest nord-américain.

Automatisation de la classification par magnétométrie quantique de failles en présence d’erreurs de mesure

De nombreuses structures sont enfouies sous terre dont les conduites de transport de liquide dangereux tel que le pétrole. Lorsqu’une alerte est donnée pour indiquer qu’il y a possiblement une faille dans une zone de la conduite, identifier l’emplacement de la faille nécessite soit de déterrer la conduite, soit l’utilisation de magnétomètre (détecteur de champ magnétique). La première option est très couteuse en temps et main d’œuvre et la deuxième utilise des magnétomètres classiques insuffisamment précis. À l’aide de magnétomètres quantiques à base de diamant, l’objectif de ce projet est de développer un algorithme d’apprentissage automatique de détection de la présence, la forme et l’emplacement de failles de structures métalliques enfouies. Par la suite, le système pourra être installé sur un véhicule afin de balayer de grandes zones de façon autonome.

Toward an understanding of how YB-1 regulates drug resistance in glioblastoma multiforme through epigenetic regulation governed by BMI-1.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive form of brain cancers and is the second most common cancer in children only behind leukemia. Conventional therapy consists primarily of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, and while these approaches have slightly improved the length of patient survival, there remains no cure for this disease. With the emerging understanding of biology in the process of cancer development, identification of therapeutic targets are being elucidated that will allow more targeted and effective treatment of the disease. This approach is especially important in pediatric brain cancer where conventional therapies may result in damage to the brain causing long-term neurocognitive deficits. We have identified one such target, a protein called the Y-box binding protein (YB-1) that is expressed in adult and pediatric GBM. In those cancer cells it promotes tumor cell growth and also drug resistance making it an….TOBECONTINUED

Drone hélicoptère de surveillance maritime

Le projet, affilié au projet CRIAQ UAS MaSu mobilise deux PME canadiennes appuyées par deux universités spécialisées en génie, soit l’Université de Sherbrooke et l’École de technologie supérieure, afin de développer plusieurs concepts et technologies dans le domaine des drones maritime. Les partenaires feront la démonstration à la fin du projet d’un système sans pilote capable d’atterrir sur une plateforme en mouvement représentant le pont des navires. L’entreprise LAFLAMME AÉRO démontrera l’expertise et les technologies de la jeune entreprise en aérospatiale en proposant une version maritime de son hélicoptère développé dans le cadre du projet CARIC AUT-703 en y intégrant une motorisation à carburant lourd certifiée et plusieurs autres technologies nécessaires pour les opérations en haute mer. L’entreprise N.G.C. AÉROSPATIALE de Sherbrooke, qui se spécialise pour sa part en conception et en déploiement de logiciels intelligents pour systèmes spatiaux, aéronautiques et terrestres, mettra à profit son expertise et ses technologies en développant et intégrant un système d’autopilotage évolué et adapté aux hélicoptères tandems ainsi que son propre environnement de simulation hautefidélité.

Determination of Structural Behavior of UHPC piles

This Mitacs project will develop and determine the structural performance of a novel bridge construction method using precast girders and precast deck slabs made of ultra high-strength and durable concrete. Full-scale tests and computer simulations will be conducted to accomplish the goal of this project. The test data obtained from this study will be analysed to determine the performance and suitability of this beam girder for its use in large-span vehicular road bridges. Such bridge girders and decks, if found successful, will be used to build Canada’s first vehicular road bridge made of ultra high-strength concrete. This will certainly bring Canada into the elite club of building road bridges using high performance concrete. The work will be completed by one doctoral student and one master’s student under the guidance of Dr. S. Das at the University of Windsor and Mr. P. Loh at Facca Incorporated with the help of two experienced lab technicians.

Towards a Theory of Blockchain as a Socio-Informational-Technical System

Blockchains operate as perhaps the most promising system of trust for any type of digital transaction of value — everything from cryptocurrencies to patient medical records. But a number of barriers — involving social institutions, data and identity management and technological processes — stand in the way of broader adoption. These challenges also ultimately speak to fundamental issues of trust and perceived legitimacy on the part of both service providers and their end users. This project intends to advance the state of the art in all three areas to reduce if not eliminate the barriers to broader adoption. The partner organizations involved in this project are all working to integrate blockchain in their processes and expect to significantly advance their efforts through the fruits of this research.

Prototyping and Characterization of TLC Photovoltaics

Solar panel cost has decreased dramatically over the year, but to fully displace fossil fuels from the power sector panels must further decrease in cost, and must increase in efficiency and durability.
TLC is a novel solar panel design that combines high efficiency, high durability and low cost. TLC uses three very-low-cost optical stages to concentrate up to 1500x onto array of ultra-efficient tandem microcells. Detailed optical, thermal, mechanical, electrical and cost studies show that TLC has exceptional promise – with today’s tandem cells, module efficiency should be twice that of typical silicon solar panels, cost per Watt should be roughly half that of silicon panels, and well-cooled tandem cells in a hermetically sealed module should provide a 50-year life.
This Mitacs project will build the first TLC prototype and characterize its performance on-sun.

Flaw Growth Thresholds in Composites

A new generation of composites-intensive aircraft designs promises to

dramatically accelerate the growth of a market currently valued at more than $7 billion (USD).

The objective of this research program is to propose experimental and modeling

methodologies to determine endurance limit for damage onset in composite based on

fracture mechanics and fatigue crack initiation monitoring using wave mode propagation

based on Modal Acoustic Emission new approaches (MAE). Through an analysis of the

guided wave mode propagation and signal contents, the approach will be developed to

determine the endurance limit related to the onset of delamination and cracks initiation in composite materials, as function of cyclic loading and environmental conditions related to

temperature and humidity. Analytical and numerical modeling tools will be performed to

predict delamination onset and growth. Crack propagation of the starting delamination will be

modeled by the Virtual Crack Closure Technique and Cohesive Zone method. Experimental

procedures and analytical model will be proposed to determine composite stiffness loss….TOBECONTINUED

Goal-oriented Safety-Guided Design and Assurance for FinTech

With the increasing popularity of digital assets such as cryptocurrencies, many financial technology (FinTech) systems have become safety critical. However, current FinTech system development approaches often lack the rigorous safety practices found in the aerospace, nuclear, automotive, and military industries. To address safety concerns of FinTech stakeholders (users, but also regulators and financial institutions), this project aims to support FinTech system development with safety-guided design principles, with goals elicited from stakeholders and results clearly communicated to them using appropriate models. The intern will use and adapt standard requirements engineering modelling notations, hazard causation theory, and assurance cases to develop safety-guided design principles. This will be done through a digital asset management case study of value to and provided by the partner organization. This will help the partner organization to more rigorously assess and demonstrate to other stakeholders the safety of its FinTech solutions.

An Automatic Tool for Developing Transactive Energy Smart-Contracts: Development, Validation and Integration with the IEMS Blockchain Platform

Energy consumers and prosumers are currently dealing with each other via utility companies, which is a slow, costly and indirect mechanism. With the aim of moving toward a free market, the goal of this project is to provide a suitable platform for automatic development and evolution of smart contracts in distributed transactive energy markets. This platform will make the blockchain technology, underlying smart contracts, applicable to direct transactions between energy consumers and prosumers, enabling additional steps towards a free market. This platform and its smart contract tools will build on the IEMS blockchain and IBM’s Hyperledger platforms, hosted by The Linux Foundation. The resulting platform and tools will help the energy market developers, including IEMS, to develop, edit and apply smart contracts following changes in market policies.