Innovative Projects Realized

L’intégration de la culture, des attitudes et des pratiques en matière de gestion énergétique comme dimension du profil de durabilité chez les PME

Les PME sont des acteurs essentiels pour répondre aux défis que posent les enjeux climatiques qui nous confrontent. Elles représentent 99% des entreprises au Québec et génèrent des effets négatifs importants sur l’environnement. C’est pourtant le segment de marché le moins connu en matière de culture et de pratiques énergétiques. C’est donc dans l’intérêt commun (politiques publique, accompagnement) et dans celui du partenaire immédiat, soit l’Institut de Recherche d’Hydro-Québec, que le présent projet consiste à développer un questionnaire d’enquête fondé sur les connaissances les plus à jour sur le sujet qui servira à mieux comprendre ces acteurs, les pratiques qu’ils mettent de l’avant et celles qu’ils pourraient envisager, puis ce qui les stimule à s’engager sur la voie de l’efficience énergétique.

Optimal path planning for service robotics in a convention setting

CrossWing Inc. has been developing a service robotics platform called VirtualMe, which is a

multifunctional mobile robot base that can be configured for many applications. CrossWing is

attempting to have the VirtualMe used as an interactive guide/mascot for convention settings. The

goal of this project is to develop autonomous navigation capabilities for VirtualMe that would allow it

to function as a kind of mobile information kiosk that can serve as many people as possible. We

believe that this added functionality would be of use and add an interesting dimension to the gatherings

which invariably occur at public events.

Benefits to Crosswing include an added capability for VirtualMe that will allow them to expand into

new markets. They plan to introduce the interactive kiosk at a major international sporting event,

where they will have the opportunity to showcase their technology to the world.

A set membership filtering approach to low-complexity state estimation from PMU measurements

The widespread use of phasor measurement units (PMUs) in power-grids can greatly enhance state-estimation (SE) by making use of accurate, GPS time-stamped synchronous phasor measurements. Unlike conventional SCADA measurements which are reported every 4 seconds, synchro-phasor measurements are typically available as frequently as 30-60 measurements per second. While the availability of more measurements can provide accurate state estimates in real-time, the sheer amount of data can overwhelm the computational capabilities of most data processing systems. One potential approach to reducing the computational complexity of SE under high measurement rates is set-membership filtering (SMF). SMF algorithms are related to the normalized least mean squares (NLMS) algorithm. However the SMF algorithms not only exhibit better convergence and tracking properties, but also require parameter-updates only for a fraction of observations. This make SMF approach ideal for SE in PMU-equipped power grids. Even though SMF algorithms have been widely considered for many statistical signal processing applications including SE in communication networks, this rich class of algorithms has received very little attention in the context of SE in power grids.

Modélisation et caractérisation des capteurs Lidar embarqués dans les véhicules intelligents et leurs applications en détection/reconnaissance d’obstacle par fusion multi-capteurs Lidar-Vision

Le développement des systèmes de sécurité embarqués dans les véhicules a connu un progrès significatif ces dernières années avec l’apparition, notamment, de systèmes intelligents d’aide à la conduite (ADAS) et de la conduite automatisée. Parmi les capteurs utilisés, la combinaison des capteurs lidars et des caméras permet de mesurer et de reconstruire virtuellement l’environnement du véhicule et ses obstacles. Le projet proposé ici porte sur 1) la modélisation, la caractérisation et la validation des lidars dans différentes conditions d’utilisation et 2) la fusion lidar-vidéo pour la détection, la classification et le pistage d’obstacles en temps réel. Le projet d’une durée de trois ans implique la firme Phantom Intelligence de Québec ainsi que deux doctorants et un maitrisard membres du laboratoire LIV (Laboratoire sur l’intelligence véhiculaire) de la Faculté de génie de l’Université de Sherbrooke.

Development of a reject refining method in the magnesium bisulfite pulping process

Twin Rivers Paper previously installed and ran a reject refining process in order to improve their pulp yield. However, once the process was implemented it decreased the cleanness in the produced pulp which is undesirable for customers therefore the process was shut down. Currently the rejected chips are either being burned or sent to landfill but the issue with this is that there are still good fibers within those rejects that are able to be pulped. The objective of this research is to implement a reject refining process at the mill that will recover the good fibers from the true rejects in order to increase the overall pulp yield, which is economically beneficial.

Anomaly Detection in Financial Data

In this joint collaboration with Scotiabank we hope to solve a commonly faced problem by large financial institutions. It is to detect errors in financial datasets. This could be due to typing errors made by a human or a computer glitch that causes an incorrect value to be stored. To identify these errors, we plan to build an error detection system. It will model how financial variables change in relation to other variables. This will help us identify groups of variables that move, through time, in a similar manner. With this knowledge we will then be able to spot errors in the data. This system will enable the bank to build trading models that are not affected by these errors and reduce the time taken to identify them.

Economic complexity, value chain network and Québec’s global competitiveness

The purpose of this project is to position Quebec in the global production network and to compute Quebec’s Product Complexity Index (PCI) and Economic Complexity Index (ECI) using Hidalgo and Hausmann (2009) methodology. Based on the rankings of PCI and ECI, we can have a clear understanding of the economic structure of different countries and their hierarchical position in the global production and trade network. Hidalgo and Hausmann (2009) argue that economic growth is related to the intensity and diversity of business activities taking place in geographically bounded regions. At the same time, the distribution of value and power across firms, activities and countries is unequal. Certain business sectors require high level of knowledge intensity and cross-sectional coordination and collaboration than the others. As a result, these business sectors have higher levels of Production Complexity Index (PCI) in the global production network and are at the core of the global product space. Hidalgo and Hausmann (2009) assert that it is more beneficial for a country to have competitive advantage in producing and trading the products that are in the core of the global product network rather than those that at the periphery, […]

Investigating Insurance Insolvency in Canada’s Property and Casualty Industry

PACICC role is to compensate policyholders in scenarios where a P&C insurer can no longer provide compensation while overseeing the health of the P&C industry in Canada. The proposed project aims to improve PACICC’s ability to identity companies at risk of insolvency and improve strategies to minimize dead weight loss when insolvency is imminent. The intern will analyze balance sheet data to determine key predictors of insolvency and to develop mathematical and statistical models to determine the impact of potential insolvency on the network under various conditions. PACCIC serves to protect policyholders while maximizing consumer, government and regulatory confidence in the P&C industry throughout Canada.

Identification of heterotic gene pools to accelerate hybrid breeding in Brassica napus (canola) – Year two

Heterosis is a natural phenomenon where offspring (hybrids) outperform their parents in many agronomic traits, although exploited in breeding the mechanisms controlling heterosis remain elusive. Genetic distance between parents has been positively correlated with heterosis, yet does not adequately explain the phenomenon. Dividing lines from any crop into heterotic groups that provide optimal combining ability upon crossing, is one of the most important goals of any hybrid breeding program. The main objective of this proposal is to define the heterotic pools of Brassica napus (canola). Comparative datasets, one from a diverse population of unrelated lines and the second from elite breeding lines, and their representative hybrids will be utilised. The level of genetic diversity and the uncovered heterosis will be assessed using phenotypic and genotypic measurements. TO BE CONT’D

Identification of heterotic gene pools to accelerate hybrid breeding in Brassica napus (canola)

Heterosis is a natural phenomenon where offspring (hybrids) outperform their parents in many agronomic traits, although exploited in breeding the mechanisms controlling heterosis remain elusive. Genetic distance between parents has been positively correlated with heterosis, yet does not adequately explain the phenomenon. Dividing lines from any crop into heterotic groups that provide optimal combining ability upon crossing, is one of the most important goals of any hybrid breeding program. The main objective of this proposal is to define the heterotic pools of Brassica napus (canola). Comparative datasets, one from a diverse population of unrelated lines and the second from elite breeding lines, and their representative hybrids will be utilised. The level of genetic diversity and the uncovered heterosis will be assessed using phenotypic and genotypic measurements. TO BE CONT’D

Development of easy-to-prepare pulse-based meals for consumption by office workers to combat the negative health consequences of a sedentary work environment – Year two

The project will involve the development of seven “pulse-based” lunches, which are designed to be easy to prepare (i.e. “out of the package”) for people in a typical busy office work environment. Pulses include non-oil legumes such as lentils, chickpeas, beans, and peas, which are a major component of the Canadian agricultural industry and an environmentally sustainable crop (i.e. they require low greenhouse gas input). The post-doctoral applicant (Maryam Kazemi) helped develop a pulse recipe book from a previous clinical trial where pulses reduced risk factors (i.e. blood cholesterol) for heart disease. Ten of the meals from this recipe book will be developed into pre-packaged, ready-to-eat meals and consumer testing will allow identification of the seven favourite meals. TO BE CONT’D

Development of easy-to-prepare pulse-based meals for consumption by office workers to combat the negative health consequences of a sedentary work environment

The project will involve the development of seven “pulse-based” lunches, which are designed to be easy to prepare (i.e. “out of the package”) for people in a typical busy office work environment. Pulses include non-oil legumes such as lentils, chickpeas, beans, and peas, which are a major component of the Canadian agricultural industry and an environmentally sustainable crop (i.e. they require low greenhouse gas input). The post-doctoral applicant (Maryam Kazemi) helped develop a pulse recipe book from a previous clinical trial where pulses reduced risk factors (i.e. blood cholesterol) for heart disease. Ten of the meals from this recipe book will be developed into pre-packaged, ready-to-eat meals and consumer testing will allow identification of the seven favourite meals. TO BE CONT’D