Office Hours Display
The goal of this project is to develop a system which can display common messages (e.g., back in 30 minutes as well as open times and/or unavailable times) on an LCD display. The display should be suitable for placing in an office door or on the wall of a cubicle. The basic version should allow the user to select from a menu of standard messages. A more advanced version would allow the programming of new messages. A very advanced version would interface with a Palm Pilot or Pocket PC to display daily schedule information comingdirectly from a Personal Information Manager (PIM).
(Contact Prof. Merat, EECS)
Integrated electronics for real-time optical coherence tomography (OCT)
Description: Improvement and integration of signal processing electronic for real-time OCT imaging instrument. Project will involve specification, design, simulation, fabrication, testing, and integration of signal processing electronics, including a frequency-tracking bandpass filter. This improvement will impact all of our clinical and scientific projects using real-time OCT imaging.
(Contact Prof. Rollins, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Departments of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering
office:(216) 844-5904; lab:(216) 844-3298
FAX:(216) 844-8011
e-mail: amr9@po.cwru.edu)
Imaging software tool for clinical optical coherence tomography applications
Development of a software package for viewing, processing, and analyzing OCT images and image streams. The package will be used by researchers and clinical collaborators, including non-technical users. Project will involve integration of existing software, development of new software, and interfacing with users to specify functional and interface needs. This improvement will impact all of our clinical and scientific projects using real-time OCT imaging.
(Contact Prof. Rollins, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Departments of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering
office:(216) 844-5904; lab:(216) 844-3298
FAX:(216) 844-8011
e-mail: amr9@po.cwru.edu)
Optical Design Projects
These projects will involve design of optical systems for OCT.
(Contact Prof. Rollins, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Departments of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering
office:(216) 844-5904; lab:(216) 844-3298
FAX:(216) 844-8011
e-mail: amr9@po.cwru.edu)
DVD based motor control
This is a project for a small start-up company. They would like to develop a system whereby information is coded on a DVD such that when the DVD is played back on a standard DVD player the information can be used to control a small electric motor, i.e., move it a certain amount forward or backward. One thought is to put short high-frequency audio tones onto the DVD sound track and use a filter/microprocessor to decode these tones to control the motor. The company would like whatever method is used to encode the motor information to be as unintrusive as possible to a person watching the regular movie on the DVD.
(Contact Prof. Merat, EECS)
Low Cost Web/Ethernet Based Data Acquisition System
A need exists for a low cost data acquisition system that would have minimum of eight analog channels. The data acquisition system (DAS) would be based on a device such as the JK Microsystems FlashLite board that contains an embedded web server. Data collected by the DAS would be accessed from software such as 4D, a cross platform database program, over Ethernet. The project would primarily entail the development of the software used by the FlashLite board as well as development and testing of the requisite 4D code to access data collected by the Flashlite. This project could be applicable to other types of web enabled single board computers.
(Contact Mr. Mark Podany, mpodany@pgmdi.com)
Smart Traffic Signs
This is a continuing senior project. Previous projects have used PIC based STAMP boards and commercial wireless boards operating at 433 MHz to successfully implement a prototype system which will broadcast traffic sign information to suitable receivers in cars. Although a proof of concept has been demonstrated there remains a large amount of work to be done. Specifically, potential projects include (1) interfacing 915 MHz transmitter and receiver boards to the STAMPS, (2) developing a directional antenna for the transmitter (perhaps a Yagi or circular waveguide - search for Pringles can antennas on the Web), (3) developing a software protocol which can accommodate transmitting information corresponding to the known sign types, (4) developing an antenna suitable for implantation in a road surface which can be used to select a specific channel to receive thereby allowing cars to receive lane specific information.
(Contact Prof. Merat, EECS)
Assistive Checkers and other games
The goal of this project is to begin redesigning common games utilizing alternative piece control that transfers the burden of physical movement to the game itself, thus allowing all players to enjoy the game.
Detailed Description:
There exist many electronic versions of board games such as chess. The main hurdle to the acceptance of these game types by persons with disabilities is obvious: their lack of customizable input methods keeps many of these games out of reach for many people.
CESG work thus far: A team of three Computer Engineering students designed and built a prototype checkers game with no movable pieces. The entire game is played with two electrical inputs which control LED lights on the physical board. The board can accept inputs from any switch, i.e. buttons, puff/blow switch, foot switch, etc.
Work to do: There are many possible projects. Implement a voice recognition system into the checkers game. Once proven in the checkers game this voice control can be used for a variety of other games. (Note: at least one company offers a speech recognition microprocessor. Dr. M.) Another possibility would be to design another scheme to allow persons with disabilities to play multi-person games — games that require an element of secrecy between players are of special interest.
(Contact Robert Schneider, CESG, cesg@cwru.edu, Olin 101)
Voice amplification/clarification
The goal of this project is to assist someone who has difficulty speaking (and being understood) with a signal processor which increases the volume and clarifies their speech.
Detailed Description:
This would be a new development. There exist circuits which convert typed text into speech; however, here the input would be the actual speech of the disabled person. The initial idea would be a develop a digital signal processing system which recognizes the person's actual speech and "translate" it into clearly understood speech. You would be working with an experienced engineer from LEAP (Linking Employment, Abilities and Potential) engineer who is interested in developing this concept.
(Contact Robert Schneider, CESG, cesg@cwru.edu, Olin 101)
Assistive Crawling Board
The concept is to create a board on which a baby born with developmental problems could be placed to learn how to crawl. Electronic sensors would detect the baby's movements and move the board in the direction the baby was trying to crawl.
Detailed Description:
There exist many electronic versions of board games such as chess. The main hurdle to the acceptance of these game types by persons with disabilities is obvious: their lack of customizable input methods keeps many of these games out of reach for many people.
CESG work thus far: A mechanical engineering student has developed a prototype which uses a strain gage bridge circuit to control electric motors. This system is very jerky.
Work to do: Redesign the mechanical packaging, redesign the motor drive, design a completely new control system. For example, the present system provides motion proportional to the sensed strain (baby movement). Another method might be to apply a controlled amount of motion as long as a strain above a certain threshold is detected. The untimate goal to to provide some form of smooth control that will diminish to zero if the baby stops moving.
(Contact Robert Schneider, CESG, cesg@cwru.edu, Olin 101)
Wireless Networked Gun Target Actuation System
A need exists for the development of wireless networked target actuation system such as is used for shooter training and practice. The actuator would be required to rotate a target 90° from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation for a pre-programmed period of time and then return the target to its initial position. The system must also be able to sense the impact of the round and drop the target when the target is struck. The system should be able to support a minimum of 10 actuators that can be accessed from a computer (preferably a laptop) over a wireless network (preferably 802.11 compliant). The system should be able to operate over a maximum distance of 300 yards from the base station to the furthest actuator. It is envisioned that the actuators would be laid out on the shooting range at distances from 5 to 300 yards from the firing point. The software would recognize the actuators and assign each an ID that would appear on the computer display. The user would then program the actuators for the amount of exposure time and hide time for each target and the total number of target exposures. These times are typically on the order of 5 seconds. The actuators would themselves require an on-board microprocessor to control the actuation mechanism, arbitrate communications and keep track of scoring. Scoring can performed in one of two modes. Mode 1 would score solely based on the number target impacts. Mode 2 would score using a time/distance based bias method in that the maximum point score can be obtained only within the first 2 seconds of exposure and decreasing thereafter until the target drops at the end of the exposure period. In addition, the software would allow the targets to be configured such that certain targets can be assigned a higher point score, such as those at further distances. The actuators must be designed to operate from a battery, and the design should be such that it maximizes operational time between battery recharges. The actuators must able to operate for a minimum of 100 actuations over a time period of five hours.
This project would entail the development of the actuation mechanism, target impact sensing, implementation of the wireless networking, software development for both the remote actuators as well as the base station. It is anticipated that a significant portion of the project can be implemented with commercial off the shelf (COTS) components.
(Contact Mr. Mark Podany, mpodany@pgmdi.com)
Adso the Librarian
This is a project for a local start-up company. There are numerous software packages for the management of digital photos (e.g., Apple iPhoto, Adobe Photoshop Album, iView Media Pro, etc.) There is, however, currently no robust cross-platform software available for the management of scanned files and images, and other user-created/user-acquired (UCUA) documents.A functional prototype database has been developed to perform simple search routines to locate UCUA journal articles, and searches can be performed by Author, by Journal, by Year, by Keyword, etc. The user was responsible for hand-coding this bibliographic information into the database, and linking this information to the electronic file. Adobe Acrobat Forms was used to re-capture this bibliographic information, and attach it to the electronic file. This functional prototype was developed in 4D for the Apple Gx platform.
This functional prototype needs fundamental and evolutionary enhancements. The company desires the following tasks: (1) evaluation of similar/competitive products, identifying strengths and weaknesses; (2) improved search capabilities, possibly including GREP-style features; (3) data import/export capability; (4) duplicate entry management and internal data synchronization; (5) improved GUI (company will assist/develop/provide artwork to support); (6) streamlined data entry process; (7) cross-platform support (MAC/PC); (8) document preview; and (9) interface to other databases (e.g., Lexis-Nexis, SilverPlatter, etc.).
This will be a classic "real-world" design engineering project, with project management, design plan and schedule, design specifications, design activities and design reviews, design verification, design validation, and design documentation. The company seeks excellence in design and design documentation.
(Contact James J. Rogers, Coastal Consulting Group, Ltd. coastalcg@earthlink.net)
Automated Battery Measurement and CharacterizationThis system would consist of a PC-based data acquisition system that would automatically measure the AC and DC characteristics of a group of batteries. The system would include a set of up to 100 multiplexed inputs/outputs that would exercise the batteries and acquire the battery characteristics. The system would enter the data into a database and utilize software to process and archive the data. Development of the device will require hardware and software skills.
(Contact Larry Sears,Hexagram, Inc; lsears@hexagram.com; Voice: 216-464-1057, FAX: 216-464-1783)
Power Line Carrier Communications SystemDevelop, prototype, and evaluate a Power Line Carrier technology that can provide reliable, moderate- bandwidth communications that will overcome the distribution transformer barrier.
There has been, for many years, much effort devoted to PLC technology. At this time, there are several products which can provide very high bandwidth (1/2~1Mbps), but are limited to communicating among local-area nodes connected to one side of the distribution transformer. Conversely, there is an ultra low-speed product (~bits/minute) that can transfer data over many miles and is not hindered by distribution transformers. There is a need, however, for a technology that will provide moderate bandwidth (2~20kbps) that will allow data transfer between nodes that are on separate distribution transformers and are separated by 1-3 miles.
(Contact Larry Sears,Hexagram, Inc; lsears@hexagram.com; Voice: 216-464-1057, FAX: 216-464-1783)
NONE