Innovative Projects Realized

Advanced computer vision applied on interactive videos for the benefit of the e-commerce industry

The goal is to develop a new in-video e-commerce service that enables users to purchase apparels directly from streaming videos, such as TV shows and Music videos. To do this, we have to find apparels from an inventory list that are similar to apparel or style appearing in the video. Currently, this can be done by preprocessing videos and with the help of a human expert matching displayed apparel to items available from e-commerce stores. We aim to automate the matching task and do so in near real-time.

Weighted linear point-cloud registration for scan-matching in GPS-denied environments

The ability for an autonomous robot to create its own map based on onboard sensors and simultaneously, localize itself within this map is know as Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). Although the theory behind SLAM has been well developed much work still needs to be done in realizing SLAM solutions that meet situation-specific real-world requirements. This is because sensors and actuators onboard a robot are always corrupted by noise. In particular, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), which travel in 3D, face additional difficulties due to the nonlinearities associated with rotation. Furthermore, indoor autonomous navigation is particularly challenging without a reliable inertial measurement for pose correction. The focus of this research project is not only to develop a robust and accurate 3D SLAM method to be used online by UAVs but to also achieve this indoors. This project will not only advance the field of autonomous indoor navigation but will also help ARA Robotique to be competitive in the UAV market.

Performance-Based Design Guideline for Mid- to High-Rise Mass Timber Based Structures with Energy Dissipators and Base Isolators

In Canada, the need to address housing demand along the growing urbanization with consideration of environmental impact, motivated timber-based construction. Timber structures are known for their aesthetic, flexibility in achieving the innovative architectural designs, fast means of construction and environmental friendliness. In the past decade, significant research have been undertaken to use timber for mid- to high-rise structures. Mass timber-based structures, incorporating appropriate connections and energy dissipators, can extend the building heights in timber-based construction. The general objectives in the proposed research are: (I) to develop reliability-based design frameworks for light-timber based mid-rises with energy dissipators, and (II) to develop performance-based design frameworks for tall mass timber-based systems incorporating damping systems and base isolations. Performance-based earthquake engineering (PBEE) is widely considered to be a rational and comprehensive framework for the seismic design and assessment of civil engineering structures. TO BE CONT’D

Aircraft Modification and Configuration Tracking

Tracking the component configuration and modifications to aircraft within the commercial airline business presents a challenge for manufacturers such as Bombardier with currently available methods. This research problem is significant to the aerospace industry to construct efficient maintenance schedules for different aircraft and to properly evaluate system reliability for safety purposes. The objective of this research is to determine a new methodology for tracking and determining probable component configuration for commercial aircraft. This research will result in a prototype model for predicting component modifications and the corresponding configuration within commercial aircraft types.

Design and Development of an Emergency Response Station

The remote First Nations communities of Canada suffer from a dire lack of access to emergency response systems and services during times of crises. They lack access to life-saving services such as paramedics, 911 services, and search and rescue services due to their geographic isolation. This often puts them in grave danger and results in loss of lives. To enable these remote communities to communicate with emergency response personnel in real time, the design and development of an Emergency Response Station (ERS) prototype to be deployed in the Moose Cree First Nation community and in the Algonquin Provincial Park is proposed. An ERS is a communication facility which would enable an individual to send a distress signal to emergency response personnel with the push of a button. The ERS could be integrated with Drone Delivery Canada’s Drone Delivery services, thus expanding their market and the types of services they could offer.

Towards a Universal Polymer Crosslinker

A crosslink is a chemical bond that links one polymer chain to another. Adding crosslinks can enhance the strength of polymers, and can improve performance at high temperatures. In this collaboration between Epic Ventures Inc and the Wulff Research Group at the University of Victoria, we are inventing a new family of chemical crosslinkers that will literally work with any polymer that contains carbon–hydrogen bonds. This includes plastics like polyethylene and polypropylene that are usually considered to be chemically inert.
As an added benefit, these novel crosslinking agents will function as universal adhesives, allowing us to “glue” inert plastics together with strong carbon–carbon bonds. Additionally, we will be able to add functionality (dyes, sensors, etc.) to previously inert plastic materials. The potential applications for this new technology range from ballistic fabrics to medical implants and “smart” bandages.

Sea Cucumber Processing for Optimized Product Value

Sea cucumbers are found in both benthic areas and deep seas and have been used as a source of food and drug for decades. During the past decade, several scientific research initiatives explored various species of sea cucumber. However, not much research has been done on Atlantic species. As an emerging fishery in Atlantic Canada, the sea cucumber fishery is currently enduring sustainability and viability issues. The most common sea cucumber species found in northwest Atlantic is Cucumaria frondosa. Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) is particularly concerned about the over exploitation of Cucumaria frondosa and as a result, the province is enforcing more stringent policies compared to other Canadian provinces which are currently in the developmental stages in Sea cucumber fishery. This project will explore the sustainable harvesting, processing and utilization of this benthic marine invertebrate for the Canadian market.

Systeme de vision artificielle pour inspection d’inventaire dans un contexte de soinsde sante

Le personnel hospitalier utilise quotidiennement de centaines d’items comme des panscments, tubes,

seringues et gants. Ces items doivent etrc disponibles 100% dl! temps atin d’ assurer la qualite-dcs soins

de sante fournis aux patients. L’organisation partenaire Logi-D offre des solutiolls d’automatisation de

la chaine logistiquc pour les h0pitaux, dont Ie produit 2BIN-iD, pour lequel la gcstion d’inventaire

passe par des operations manuclles entre cabinets d’entreposage at tableaux de commandes. Ceci cst

une sOllrce d’inefftcacite et par/ois une cause d’elTeur. Le but elu projet de recherche consiste it

remplacer Ie ~y~tellle manuel par un systeme de vision arti ficielle. Le systcl11c pcnnettra de rcperer les

items manquants sans avoir 11 dcpcndre d’une action de la part du personnel. Les avancees techniques

innovatrices decoulant elu projct amcliorcront signiticativcmcnt la maniere avec laquelle les h6pituux

et cliniques medicales gerent l’utilisation quotieliemlc des fournitures medicalcs, et tOllrniront it Logi-D

lin avantage commercial intercssant par rapport il scs competiteul’s.

Dairy Policy and Dairy Cooperatives in Germany

The student’s PhD research focuses on the relationship between the dairy policy and dairy cooperatives in Germany in the context of agricultural industrialization and globalization. Traditionally, dairy cooperatives and producers were regarded as “sitting in the same boat” because dairy cooperatives are owned by producers and help producers collectively bargain to gain a fair price for their milk. Recently, however, this relationship has featured friction and divergent discourse, which poses internal governance challenges to the cooperatives. At the same time, dairy cooperatives, together with their producer-owners, have experienced major policy changes in the last three decades. Are these two issues – the cooperatives’ internal governance challenges and the policy changes – interrelated? What are the underlying political and economic forces driving the changes? Focusing on these questions, the student would like to draw on the expertise of Prof. Dr. Hanisch at the Humboldt University of Berlin to develop a PhD research proposal, literature review, and initial data collection during her stay in Germany.

Innover en acrobatie au trampoline pour Paris 2024 par la synthèse optimale et un simulateur en réalité virtuelle

Le Canada est un leader international en trampoline depuis plusieurs olympiades. Afin de maintenir ces performances, il convient d’innover dans les techniques des saltos vrillés. En collaboration avec l’INS Québec, nous allons créer, pour des trampolinistes, une variété de techniques optimales de vrilles aériennes au moyen de simulation informatique. Le défi est de développer 1) un modèle mathématique fidèle aux capacités physiques des trampolinistes et 2) un algorithme d’optimisation pour des mouvements si complexes. Les techniques retenues seront introduites dans un environnement de réalité virtuelle afin que les trampolinistes puissent apprendre les gestes. Dans ce simulateur, les mouvements de l’athlète seront captés en temps réel et les conséquences de ces mouvements sur les rotations dans l’espace seront calculées en temps réel et affichées sur un écran ou dans un casque de réalité virtuelle. Les athlètes pourront ainsi apprendre à prendre des repères lorsqu’ils effectuent des saltos avec des vrilles.

Adaptation du modèle d’affaires aux différentes turbulences externes

Ce projet vise à optimiser la rapidité de prise de décision dans les entreprises suite à un meilleur système de collecte et traitement de l’information lors de l’acquisition de données stratégiques via différentes veilles économiques (système de recherche d’informations stratégiques pour les décisions de l’entreprise). Par la suite cela permettra d’adapter plus rapidement la conception et structure de l’entreprise, et ce, de manière plus proactive et optimale.

Building community partnerships to foster the wellbeing of young children and families

The early years are optimal for investing in the future of our society, as early experiences are critical for brain development, lifelong learning, and wellbeing. BC data show that 1-in-3 children are vulnerable at school entry. To change this, we need to enhance capacities to locally identify families’ and children’s needs and provide supports to families with young children early. This partnership project will test the feasibility of a universal early child development data platform in BC communities to inform community-level decision making, strategic planning, and resource allocation in the local early years sector.