Congratulations! Three EECS professors received funding for Undergraduate Summer Research Award Program. Also, EECS supports one additional summer research program. Typically, each project hires 2 students with the pay rate as high as $12 per hour for max. 30 hours per week for 10 weeks. Those who wish to participate, please contact the corresponding professor for more details. Application deadline is Friday, April 11. (Note that the first two projects do not accept applications.)
2015
Title: Integrating an Android Device into Embedded Computer Systems
Advisor: Professor Pong Chu (p.chu@csuohio.edu)
Student: Eric Payne
Abstract: An embedded system is a computer system designed to perform a specific set of tasks, such as a GPS device and a digital camera. An embedded system is composed of three major parts: a processor (i.e.,
CPU), input devices, and output devices. The input devices are peripherals to take user command, such as switches and key pad, and sensors to measure environmental conditions, such a barometer and an
accelerometer. The output devices are actuators that generate light and sound, such as an LED (light emitting diode) display and an amplified speaker, or move parts, such as a servo motor.
An important step in prototyping an embedded system is to design the input subsystem. It is traditionally done by selecting first selecting input modules and then developing hardware and software
interfaces for each individual module. The proposed undergraduate summer research is to use an inexpensive entry-level Android phone as a “universal programmable sensor module.” It provides a
single unified interface and can be configured to replace a dozen of commonly used input devices.
Title: Humanoid Robot Vision and Control
Advisor: Professor Dan Simon (d.j.simon@csuohio.edu)
Students: Taylor Barto, Michael Iannicca, and Brandon Rutledge
Abstract:Humanoid robots are automated systems with human-like appearance, motion, and abilities. One recent entry into the race of humanoid robots is the NAO. The Engineering College has obtained three NAO robots to develop vision, path planning, and high-level control algorithms for the NAO
Title: On Security and Privacy of 4G Communications
Advisor: Associate Professor Ye Zhu (y.zhu61@csuohio.edu)
Student: Rudy Libertini
Abstract: In comparison with the 2G and 3G mobile networks, 4G networks use adaptive modulation and coding to provide constant network access with much higher bandwidth to these mobile devices. The fully IP-based 4G communications
expose these always-online mobile devices to the same attacks and threats that PCs and servers are currently facing. In this project we focus on security and privacy of 4G communications.
Title: Towards Safer Patient Handling among Workers in Nursing Homes
Advisor: Associate Professor Wenbing Zhao (w.zhao1@csuohio.edu)
Students: Abou-Bakar Fofana and Connor Gordon
Title: An Autonomous Robotic Indoor Environment Surveillance System
Advisor: Professor Haodong Wang (hwang@grail.cba.csuohio.edu)
Student: Zhe Zhao
Abstract: In this proposed research, our goal is to build an autonomous indoor environment surveillance robot system that patrols inside the building, and collects real-time, high quality indoor environment data, including temperature, humidity, light intensity, sound and images. It is an unmanned surveillance system and no human needs to be involved in the operation. The robot navigation and sensor data collection are autonomous. The collected the data is immediately transmitted to an administration center for the monitoring and storage. To successfully deliver the services, the robot has to be able to handle various difficulties in the real world and and the system should achieve a certain degree of fault-tolerance in its mission. Therefore, the system efficiency and reliability play an important role in the system design and development. Once implemented, the proposed system can also be easily extended to perform different types tasks, e.g., the wireless signal strength survey for the CSU wireless network.
The first stage of the project has already been completed. Our robot is able to navigate through an vision-aided loop and collect the real-time environmental data. The collected data are remotely displayed at a server monitor on a GUI interface. In the second stage, we aim to achieve the following two goals. First, we enhance the vision-based localization module so that the robot can navigate precisely in a more practical environment. Second, we strive to optimize the data transmission throughput so that image data can be instantly viewed at the server side. We plan to finish a research paper at the end of the project.
Title: Parallel selection algorithms on GPGPU: Implementation and performance comparison
Advisor: Professor Janche Sang (j.sang@csuohio.edu)
Student: Darius Bakunas-Milanowski
Abstract: Modern General Purpose Graphics Processing Units (GPGPUs) offer much more computational power than recent CPUs by providing a vast number of simple, data parallel, multithreaded cores. In the proposed project, we will focus on the study of two different parallel selection algorithms on GPGPU. The major activities include learning how to program on a GPGPU, implementing the algorithms, and conducting experiments to evaluate and compare the performance of the algorithms.
2014
Title: Utilization of feedback from inertial vs. Kinect sensors in improving exercise accuracy
Advisor: Professor Nigamanth Sridhar (with Prof. Ann Reinthal and Debbie Espy, School of Health Sciences) (n.sridhar1@csuohio.edu)
Abstract: Exercise is a powerful intervention in both prevention of disability and rehabilitation. However, there are several difficulties with exercise. First, it is difficult to achieve patient adherence to a home exercise program. Second, it requires a great deal of practice (thousands of repetitions) to learn new movement patterns. Finally, incorrectly performed exercises are ineffective, or even dangerous. For these reasons, many prescribed therapeutic exercise programs require continuous supervision by a skilled clinician. With outpatient physical therapy sessions typically costing over $100, correct adherence to supplemental home exercises between sessions is essential for less expensive, safe, and effective care. One way to address this health care dilemma is through development of an inexpensive, virtual “exercise tutor" to provide monitoring and guidance for correct and complete home exercise completion. This new technology, the Exercise Tutor (ET), has the potential to decrease health care costs and increase access to care while concurrently improving the quality of that care. By merging several sensor technologies, this system can capture, record, and process the exerciser’s movement while concurrently providing targeted feedback to guide correct exercise completion.
Title: Security of Smartphone Communications
Advisor: Professor Ye Zhu (y.zhu61@csuohio.edu)
Student: Nick Ruffing
Abstract: The increasing popularity of Wifi-capable and 4G-capable mobile devices such as smartphones has brought a lot of attention and concern on the security and privacy of Wifi and 4G communications. In this project, we aim to find vulnerabilities and privacy leakages of the communications and then develop defense mechanisms.
Title: Multi-Objective Optimization for Prosthesis Design and Control
Advisor: Professor Dan Simon (d.j.simon@csuohio.edu)
Student: Taylor Barto and Michael Iannicca
Abstract: This research project involves the development of multi-objective evolutionary algorithms for leg prosthesis design and control. Evolutionary algorithms are computer programs that are based on natural processes such as species migration, natural selection, and insect swarms. Leg prostheses include multiple subsystems, such as power circuits, control systems, and mechanical systems. Prosthesis design includes multiple objectives, such as accurate knee angle tracking, high efficiency, and low cost. The separate optimization of related subsystems results in overly conservative designs. A more integrated approach is sought to treat the subsystem designs as distinct but closely-related problems. Desired qualifications include computer programming expertise (especially Matlab).
Title: A Computer-Vision Based Sign Language Recognition System
Advisor: Professor Wenbing Zhao (w.zhao1@csuohio.edu)
Student: Ali Mantash
Abstract: In this project, we aim to develop a comprehensive solution to the sign language recognition problem by integrating the Microsoft Kinect and LeapMotion sensors. The main objective of this project is to track ï¬ngers movement and hand shapes accurately, and achieve high degree of sign gesture recognition.
Title: Electrochemically enhanced production of ethanol
Advisor: Professor Siu-Tung Yau (s.yau@csuohio.edu)
Student: Zhenlu Song
Abstract: An electrostatic method to control and enhance the production of ethanol from glucose is available. The application of an electrical voltage to yeast-induced fermentation of glucose at room-temperature can be used to achieve accelerated production of ethanol. Under the influence of the voltage, the fermentation produces ethanol to reach the 12-14% vol. range of maximum concentration in 13 hours or less. The enhanced rate of production has been demonstrated with 1 liter glucose solution samples. The result is to be compared to that of the conventional ethanol fermentation, which is performed at 30-32 °C and takes 40 - 80 hours to complete. The method will enhance the production of ethanol by reducing the fermentation time and the extra energy used to keep the temperature at 30-32 °C. The method shows the potential of eliminating the use of the propagation tank employed to activate and grow yeast in the standard ethanol production. This will save time and lower the cost.
Title: Hardware security
Advisor: Professor Chansu Yu (c.yu91@csuohio.edu)
Student: Chris DePolo and Jeanette Kalb
Abstract: This project is to develop experiment modules on emerging hardware security area including Hardware trojan attack, Bus snooping attack, Ring oscillators, and Physically unclonable function (PUF). It uses DE0 FPGA board and Quartus II software tool from Altera.