Innovative Projects Realized

Sphere Gyroscopique

Le domaine du cirque implique la conception de numeros acrobatiques de plus en plus

impressionnants afin de creer une experience nouvelle memorable pour I’audience.

L’utilisation de la technologie de pointe telle que la mecatronique permet de creer de

nouvelles possibilites autrefois inimaginables. Le projet propose ici entre dans Ie cadre d’une

collaboration entre I’Ecoie Poly technique de Montreal et Ie Cirque du Soleil qui a debutee en

septembre 2010 dernier et dans laquelle des etudiants de quatrieme annee de la

concentration mecatronique – une combinaison de genie mecanique, d’informatique et

d’electronique – ont eu la chance de travailler sur Ie developpement d’un prototype d’un

element scenique pour des numeros de cirque futurs. Le stagiaire va travailler sur la

conception du systeme de commande automatique de ce prototype afin de Ie rendre

premierement fonctionnel puis performant, fiable et robuste.

Solar Powered Intermittent Cathodic Protection of Reinforced Concrete

Canada’s reinforced concrete structures which includes bridges and building are deteriorating rapidly due to rusting of the steel that reinforces the structure. When steel rusts it takes up more space than non-rusting steel. This puts pressure on the surrounding concrete and causes it to break off. The proposed project aims to research a new solution for steel in concrete structure deterioration. The project would look at whether providing rust protection to the steel periodically would provide enough protection to reduce or eliminate the current rust development. The new approach would use solar panels to power the protection system. The result would be a simple and cost-effective strategy that would prevent rusting of steel in concrete structures. This would increase the service life of our structures and therefore, reduce the frequency of repairs and replacement of steel and concrete structures.

Développement d’un système de levage pour plateforme élévatrice sur mâts

La plateforme élévatrice Hydro-Mobile de série M s’adresse au marché de la maçonnerie. L’application requiert le déplacement de charges lourdes à faibles vitesses sur des hauteurs allant jusqu’à 76 m. Afin d’améliorer la sécurité et simplifier l’opération de la plateforme, Hydro-Mobil souhaite développer un nouveau système de levage complètement conforme aux nouvelles normes en vigueur. Actuellement, le système de levage de la plateforme modèle M2 est muni d’un système à crochets engagés dans deux mâts. Durant ce stage l’étudiant devra proposer un nouveau mécanisme de levage, et réaliser les calculs de dimensionnement d’une première version du nouveau concept. Le dimensionnement sera basé sur des chargements normalisés combinés à des évaluations tirées de l’expérience de l’entreprise et de modèles. Il s’agira d’établir les contraintes de fonctionnement par la méthode des éléments finis. Une étude de faisabilité économique prenant en compte l’industrialisation et la fabrication sera aussi intégrée au projet.

Simulation and Analysis of Physical Mechanisms Related to Unsteady Pressure Fluctuations in Gas Turbine Testing Facilities

Large test cells are used to evaluate the performance of modern jet engines. MDS Aero Support Corporation is a leading designer and manufacturer of these test cells. In a large engine test cell, it is common to experience large amplitude, low frequency unsteady pressure fluctuations at various sections of the facility. If not treated properly, they can be detrimental to the facility and engine testing. Work is currently underway to determine how exactly the flow in the test cell gives rise to the unsteady pressure fluctuations by studying the underlying physical processes at play. In the present project in collaboration with Dr. Jeff Defoe at the University of Windsor, that insight will be applied to develop design changes expected to reduce the pressure fluctuations. These will then be assessed using high fidelity numerical simulations of the air flow in the test cell.

A data driven estimating procedure for an accurate cost and labor assessment in mold manufacturing

Cost estimation within mold manufacturing is critical for maintaining profitability and competitiveness. This project will look at a data-driven estimating method for accurate cost and labor assessment for quoting of complex molds. We will first analyze the features of molds and manufacturing processes. Next, investigate different methods for cost estimation, such as variant-based (case-based, and parametric), generative (activity-based, feature-based) and hybrid. This procedure will be integrated within manufacturing supply chains, both internal and external processes, such as shipping, steel hardening, and sandblasting, which are outsourced. We plan to develop numerical models to assist in different labor and material cost estimations. These models are expected to be implemented using MS Excel, Visual Basic or other widely available software platforms. Due to pricing of raw materials and outsourcing requirements, dynamic and automated updating will be studied. A data driven integrated method will be developed, which will be tested and compared with practical situations.

Local adaptation of populations : deciphering the role of sexual reproduction

According to evolutionary biology, adaptation of a population to a new environment results from an equilibrium between various trends. Adaptation is shaped by selection forces, such as fecundity, mortality and competition for resources, by migration, and by the generation of diversity at reproduction. The type of reproduction, whether it is mainly clonal (asexual) or it involves two parents (sexual), drives the structure of diversity which is created. When the relative diversity is low in comparison to the other biological phenomena, evolution is expected to occurs on a long time horizon. Mathematical analysis enables to predict the long-term dynamic and asymptotic state of the population. Also, precise knowledge about biological processes can often bring new intuitions to the mathematical analysis strategy. Combining theses two points of view on the problem of local adaptation with sexual reproduction is therefore the aim of this project.The focus will be put on spatial effects: how migration of individuals and hybridization with endemic populations shape the local adaptation of species.

Development of Rapid Inverse Kinematics (IK) Modules for Integrated Robot Simulator

Industrial robotics (i.e. using robots for manufacturing processes) is one of the fastest growing industry sectors today. Traditionally, the process to program industrial robots has been laborious and time-consuming, with each robot having to be taken off-line for setup. Offline programming allows the robot users to program, simulate and generate code for multiple robots at the same time without disrupting the manufacturing process. To gain competitive edge in the global market for such specialized robot simulation programs, the industry partner is collaborating with researchers at University of Waterloo to develop rapid inverse kinematics (IK) code that will improve the ability to solve robotics problems on behalf of the user and make industrial robotic programming easier and faster. Users of offline programming solutions are not robotics experts. They are manufacturing trades people (e.g. Welders). Computationally efficient IK codes to be developed through this project will allow for algorithm development that can iteratively find optimized error free robot paths without user intervention.

Forecasting and modeling future call arrivals at Hydro-Quebec’s call centers

The call center managers at Hydro-Quebec (HQ) need to deliver both low operating costs and high

service quality. Their task is made especially difficult because they need to meet an incoming demand

which is typically both time-varying and uncertain. The current techniques of forecasting future call

volumes at HQ are often unreliable, and there is a need for new and more accurate methods.

In this project, we propose addressing the concerns of the call center managers at HQ by developing

new methods of forecasting future arrivals. Our methods will exploit dependence structures in the

arrival counts, such as those between successive days, between different periods of the same day,

and between alternative call types handled at the call center. We will test our models using real-life

call center data which was provided to us by HQ, and will implement the new, superior models in their pre-existing forecasting technology.

The Formation of Devotional Communities in North India

As part of my doctoral studies at McGill, I will conduct archival research on the formation of bhakti (devotional) communities in North India. I will focus on the Ramanandi Sampraday, which formed around the fourteenth-century Hindu guru Ramananda and is still one of the largest ascetic sects in Hinduism today. There are many stories written by and about his followers, including popular poet-saints like Kabir and Ravidas. I will obtain scans and complete translations of historical texts and literary manuscripts written in Hindi, Braj Bhasa (a language related to modern Hindi), and Sanskrit that have not yet been edited, translated, or published. I will collaborate with Professor Pratyay Nath, a history professor at Ashoka University in Delhi during this project, and I will visit libraries and archives in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. I plan to present the results of my research at academic conferences and use it in my dissertation.

Investigation of the joint effects of smoking and breastfeeding on maternal postpartum weight retention

The harmful effects of smoking on fetal development, child health, and maternal wellbeing are well described, making smoking cessation during pregnancy and the postpartum period a global health priority. Although a large proportion of expecting mothers will spontaneously quit smoking during pregnancy, the majority will restart smoking within 6 months post-pregnancy. Efforts to reduce smoking relapse in the postpartum period have largely been ineffective. Longer periods of breastfeeding, however, have been associated with a delay in postpartum smoking relapse and may increase rates of long-term smoking abstinence. The aims of our research are to determine the joint effects of smoking, which is associated with weight gain, and breastfeeding on maternal postpartum weight retention. Postpartum weight retention increases the risk of obesity, placing new mothers at a higher risk for chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease. As part of a larger longitudinal health study, research outcomes have the potential to generate evidence for clinical recommendations that will benefit mothers and their children.

Prediction models for pain volatility and engagement patterns of mobile pain app users

Chronic pain costs Canadians more than any other chronic condition and affects 1 in 6 Canadians. Scientific publications of data collected from pain management apps are important to help both consumers and healthcare professionals select the right app. Developed by ManagingLife, Manage My Pain is an app-based pain management platform that allows chronic-pain users to track and analyze their pain experiences. ManagingLife wants to understand and predict pain experiences and engagement patterns of its growing user base of 30,000. We plan to employ scientific methods that will help predict the change in pain ratings, i.e. pain volatility of the app users over time. We also aim to predict the level of user engagement in future based on the current usage behavior and users’ profile information such as gender and age. Through this research, Manage My Pain platform will have analytic capabilities that will enable targeted product development, drive retention and engagement for chronic pain patients.

Evidence-Based Dietary Protein Intake in Canadian Hospitals

Doctors are learning that nutrition plays a very important role in patient outcomes. Research has shown that protein is especially critical to patient health and recovery, especially for the elderly and severely ill. The quality of the protein, and the quantity of protein that patients receive makes a big difference. This project will examine how much Canadian health care centres are concerned about the protein their patients consume. The objectives involve collecting feedback from Canadian hospital staff, and reviewing protein research, including a new protein method that the partner organization has developed. The end goal is to use the work from this project to create compliance and quality improvement research trials in the Canadian health care system.