Graduate Projects
Graduate Studies
The UPEI Master of Science in Sustainable Design Engineering (MSc-SDE) program aims to train graduates who have in-depth expertise in applying principles of sustainable design engineering to interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research challenges. The MSc-SDE degree program is research-intensive and requires the students to work on their thesis under the supervision of an FSDE faculty member. Additionally, students are required to complete at least two (2) graduate-level courses. The current research themes in the FSDE are design engineering, engineering education, mechatronics, agriculture, bioresources, energy, materials, manufacturing and biomedical design. Most of the current research projects involve collaborators in other faculties, and are defined, sponsored and completed in close collaboration with industry and government organizations.
Project: A Clinical Decision Support System to Guide Light-Cured Restorations
This project aims to develop an immersive virtual environment for dental restorative techniques that incorporates modeling curing protocols and restorative procedures, composite libraries, and a user-interface (UI) / user-experience (UX) module to guide and advise the clinician/health practitioner. This platform may be utilizing for didactic training and professional training at different levels of expertise transforming the practice of dentistry as we know it.
Student: Eagan Boire
Project: Robot Control via Armband
We present a touchless shared-control approach merging wearable sensor-based control and autonomous safety control for wheelchair navigation in this study. To assist disabled people who have no or limited sensorimotor control with their fingers, a wearable armband sensor is used to control an electric wheelchair. Laser rangefinder-based autonomous safety control of obstacle avoidance is also implemented through the learning from demonstration. The shared-control architecture for wheelchair navigation is built up on the integration of the armband-based human control and autonomous safety control. A customized arbitration function was developed to make a smooth transition between two control systems according to the user's preference and satisfaction. Our experiments demonstrate that touchless shared-control can be applied for wheelchair navigation in the real world.
Student: Hamed Bozorgi
Project: Optimizing Quality for Printed Metal Surfaces
In powder-bed fusion-based metal additive manufacturing, there are difficulties with part surface roughness and the need for support structures, which require costly post-processing and design limitations. Furthermore, a trade-off with part density limits the ability to improve down-facing surface roughness by simply reducing laser energy; a more methodical approach is required. Experimental surface roughness optimization by modifying process parameters improves as-built surface quality for complex designs while maintaining high part density. We present research to understand, reduce, and optimize part roughness in the direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) process through parameter experimentation and Design-Of-Experiments (DOE) methods while not affecting constrained density and the characterization of other part properties. Improvements to build performance and capabilities are verified through application to an additive manufactured (AM) design with complex geometry.
Student: Lucas Gallant
Project: Assessment of the Accuracy of Perineurial Anesthesia Performed using a 3D Holgraphic Image Generated by Hololens
Blockade of peripheral nerves using local anesthetic agents requires training and practice for veterinary students and junior veterinarians to become proficient in these techniques. Augmented reality is a relatively new aid within the medical field, able to generate additional data with a hands-free experience. By utilizing augmented reality to provide an altered perception of the canine leg, the femoral nerve can be non-invasively targeted allowing for a more precise peripheral blockade.
Student: Rachel Dunn