Robotic sensor networks (RSN) are increasingly applied to Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP). In such an application, a RSN is deployed to safe-guard some critical infrastructure (e.g., building, pipeline, etc.) in a secure and reliable fashion. By actively considering risk as a major driving force,  this project aims at deciding on the optimal configuration of an […]

The proposed research project is intended to develop a software solution (middleware) that will work in conjunction with a remote communication device (i.e. ability to communicate via satellite and/or cellular networks) to greatly reduce the cost and complexity of monitoring in-field sensors including wireless sensors and critical industrial equipment from a centrally located office environment. […]

Weight reduction has been one of major driving forces of research and innovation in automotive industries. Changing from the conventional Laser overlap welding to edge welding could save 50% of total weight of joint flanges of workpiece. Also, edge welding can significantly improve the welded joint mechanical properties. However, edge welding is challenging since the […]

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites provide wide area global perspectives through images of the Earth’s surfaces and its governing processes. Capable of detecting small variations in surface roughness, and unconstrained by lighting and weather conditions, SAR is a robust remote sensing instrument. Designing and operating a SAR is a complex process, as there are numerous […]

Teams in crisis management operate in uncertainty and time pressure conditions, which severely constrain team performance. Systems capable of detecting critical levels of cognitive functioning could help teams to adapt better to the situation they face by allowing an intelligent re-allocation of tasks across agents. Traditionally, adaptive systems are based on the operator behavioral response […]

The effective planning of resources when scheduling maintenance tasks and repair jobs is an enormous challenge, especially for heavy industries such as aerospace and transportation manufacturers. In such industries, because of the product complexity and variety, not to mention continuous technological improvements, a broad range of maintenance tasks and high-performance services should be done over […]

In the airline industry, crew planning is an essential task that every airline will face. Flight crew expenses constitute the second largest operating cost (Kohl and Karisch. 2004), second only to the rising cost of fuel. Crew planning refers to the assignment of flight segments to pilots and flight attendants so that they start and […]

In plasma spray, coating materials melted by the plasma heat source are sprayed onto a substrate to make a coating layer which can be highly resistance to thermal and mechanical shocks. It is of importance to accurately measure the velocity and temperature of the sprayed coating particles. These characteristics have a great impact on the […]

Organic coatings are used to protect surfaces in many prominent industries such as automotive and aerospace. The industrial partner has found it imperative to develop their varnish for aircraft interiors in-house. They have identified a “super varnish” that must have exceptional resistance to cracking, prevention of shrinkage and adhesion to wood substrates (grouped herein as […]

Autonomous mobile robots which are designed to operate in unknown environments, such as Mars or the Moon surface must be robust to unpredictable challenges and capable of making correct decisions to survive. One of the important tasks of rovers is to locate themselves in an environment where no navigation aids such as GPS is available. […]

The Project contributes to the development of a field-ready and commercially useful long-range cargo unmanned aerial vehicle, including analyses of flight envelope and performance characteristics.

Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) is interested to further investigate the use of novel Polymer Matrix Composites (PMC’s) technologies, in order to improve their products by reducing weight and increasing performances of their engines. Current applications of PMC’s in P&WC’s engine are mostly limited to cold section parts (< 100°C), nonstructural external components, and nacelle […]