ECE Project Ideas

2008-2009 Academic Year

Note the following ideas are suggestions only. These sample ideas represent
concepts that ECE faculty have suggested and are willing to supervise. You may
choose one of these ideas, or take them as starting point to give you an idea of
the complexity and function we expect to see in a fourth year project. Another
good resource is previous projects - which often have "future work" development
possiblities. And finally, do not hesitate to use your best resource - your
professors. If you have an idea you are debating - sit down with your professors
and discuss it - most of the best project ideas have come from students.

Notez qe les idées qui suivent ne repésentent que des suggestions. Cet échantillon
d'idées vous donne une idée des concepts suggérés par les professeurs du
départment. Vous pouvez choisir une de ces idées, ou les utiliser comme référence
vis-à-vis la complexité et fonctionalité qu'on s'attend à retrouver dans un projet
de 4ème année. Les projets des années précédentes donnent également de bonnes
idées, puisqu'ils contiennet souvent une section sur le ''travail futur''.
Finalement n'hésitez pas à utiliser vos meilleures resources: les professeurs. Si
vous considérez une idée, discutez en - la majorité des meilleures idées de
projets viennent des étudiants.

Title: Robot Play Pen Navigation System

Supervisor: Capt M Fricker
Description: The current RMC autonomous robotics lab has an area commonly known as
"the Play Pen". It is equipped with an ultrasonic beacon navigation system that
is used by the 4th year robotics course (EEE447). This project would see the
capability of the navigation system to be used by multiple robots at the same
time, where as currently, only one robot can at the present. This project will
involve interfacing wireless communications devices and ultrasonic sensor arrays
through an HC12, and likely involve a moderate level of C-coding skills.

Title: Ogg Vorbis Hardware Player

Supervisor: Capt S Cayouette
Description: Ogg Vorbis is an open-source audio encoding technology similar to the
closed-source, patent encumbered mp3 format. The goal of this project would be to
design and implement a hardware decoder/player prototype either using an FPGA
development board or built from discrete parts. The player will sport common
portable music player functions such as displaying file information, creating play
lists and pausing playback. Possible additions to the player are audio filters for
bass/treble adjustments, visualization effects and support for multiple sources of
data such as USB memory and SD cards.

Title: Pédale reprogrammable d'effets sonores

Supervisor: Capt S Cayouette
Description: Les pédales d'effets sonores appliquent différents filtres, analogues
et ou digitaux, pour produire des effets sonores. Le but de ce projet est
d'implémenter des effets sonores sur une plateforme FPGA. L'entrée sonore analogue
sera échantillonnée et convertie sous forme digitale, sera traitée par des filtres
digitaux et reconvertie sous forme analogue à la sortie du système. Il sera
possible de reprogrammer les effets par une connection optionnelle à un PC.
Title: RF Direction Finder
Supervisor: Maj JC Bronson
Description: A large scale public events like the Super Bowl, so many wireless
devices get deployed (such as even organizers talking to each other) that
frequency management becomes non-trivial. So much spectrum is in use that
emissions that are not included in the overall site Frequency Management plan must
be located and stopped. The design project would be to construct a receiver and
antenna that could be walked around giving direction and signal strength of
interfering signals. For more information, check here or here.

Title: WiFi Positioning System

Supervisor: Maj JC Bronson
Description: In large urban centres, GPS signals are often blocked by tall
buildings. However, there are a growing number of other signals such as WiFi
Access Points (APs) and Cellular Phone and Pager Base stations. By using the
received signal strength of WiFi APs whose actual physical location and unique
identifier are known, a device could be constructed to compute its position
relative to known WiFi APs without relying on a GPS device at all. If a large
number of signal sources are used, then simply using the information in the beacon
signal (without measuring received signal strength) to determine position is
possible. More information can be found here.

Title: Laser Control System

Supervisor: Maj JC Bronson
Description: A standard laser pointer provides a powerful, coherent signal for
many metres. This project is to construct a device that will detect the laser
pointer's beam and turn on/off connected devices such as music players, lights,
etc. The laser pointer would be mounted on the user's head allowing remote
control of any device. It should be possible not only to detect the laser, but to
allow different movements of the beam to activate different devices.

Title: Image compression with JPEG 2000

Supervisor: Dr Don Mcgaughey
Description: The JPEG 2000 standard offers a high compression ratio with still a
good PSNR value. This group will have the opportunity to program their own JPEG
2000 algorithm and compare it with known results. The algorithm requires learning
the discrete wavelet transform. The project is a combination of signal (image)
processing and software engineering. The student's may choose their programming
language (C, C++, Matlab or Java are preferred)

Title: Wavelength Diversity - image enhancement

Supervisor: Dr Don Mcgaughey
Description: Images taken through the earth's atmosphere are significantly
distorted. We observe this distortion as the twinkling of stars. By
simultaneously collecting 2 images at different wavelengths, much of the
distortion can be corrected by post-processing the images. Images are collected
on an optics bench. Students may have the opportunity to collect their own images
using an 11" telescope on the roof of RMC. The main part of this project is
modifying the wavelength diversity algorithm. The algorithm current uses a
genetic algorithm to search for the best reconstructed image. The students will
replace this algorithm with a gradient descent or simplex algorithm.
Title: Software implementation for the processing of audio signals in real time
Supervisor: Dr Germain Drolet
Description: The signal produced by an electrical guitar, before being amplified,
is typically processed by various systems to enrich the timbre and produce effects
that are exploited in the music. This also applies to vocals and many musical
instruments during live performance, although the electric guitar generally
requires more processing. Depending on the effect, the implementation may be
analog or digital after sampling and A/D conversion. The purpose of this project
is to evaluate and further develop the fully-functional prototype developed in:
D. Dupuis, A. Pedneault, “Implémentation d'un Logiciel d'Effets Sonores en Temps
Réel pour une Entrée Audio”, Document de Conception Détaillée (GEF455/457-DID-08),
Département de Génie Electrique et de Génie Informatique, Collège Militaire Royal
du Canada, 19 mars 2007.

It is hoped that the product's performance, stability and usability will meet the
musicians needs. The initial phase will be to reevaluate the design philosophy
adopted in Dupuis & Pedneault's prototype, suggest possible changes and address
some of the concerns raised by musicians who tested the prototype. Some of the
following features will be added (depending on the students interest):
1. Improvement of the GUI: this may include the graphical creation and display
of the XML configuration file,filter design, more intuitive interface, display of
the signal waveform and spectrogram,
2. Integration of the ALSA sound driver: this may include automatic adjustment
of the sound-card controls,
3. Extra functionality in the XML configuration file: this may include extra
effects such as chorus, noise gate, freq divider/ multiplier, wah-wah, T-wah,
4. External control of the product with switches and pedals.

The students will learn how to program on a Linux platform, how to interact with
sound cards and more generally how to implement in real time some digital signal
processing algorithms. This project is suited to computer or electrical
engineering students with special interests in the processing of audio signals.

Title: Software data radio

Supervisor: Dr Germain Drolet
Description: In a digital communication system, many levels of signal processing
and data encoding are used to increase the reliability and efficiency of
transmission between users, and to simplify the hardware implementations. The
processing/encoding operations include source compression, data encryption, error
correction coding, line coding and modulation. In a software radio, these
operations are implemented in software except for the signal amplification and
transmission over the channel. Such systems are more easily reconfigured to to
communication standard updates or changes in the channel characteristics. This
project deals with the implementation of a software radio on a Linux platform for
use over the air wave medium in the commercial FM band. Specific tasks include
the transformation of digital data into an analog signal that fits in the audio
frequency band. The signal is then fed to a personal FM transmitter through the
soundcard. At the remote end, the signal is captured using a commercial FM
receiver and fed to the receiver's software through the soundcard. Full-duplex
operation is a desirable requirement. Although academic in nature, further
development may include networking of multiple computers. This project is well
suited to computer engineering students with the desire to deepen their
understanding of digital communication systems or electrical engineering students
in the communication stream with aptitudes in the design of software. More
information on commercial systems employing these concept can be found here or
here. Note that these systems are much more sophisticated than what is expected
to be implemented.

Title: Doppler Radar III

Supervisor: Dr Joey Bray
Description: A Doppler radar is an essential tool for determining the radial
velocity of a moving target. Operating at 5.4 GHz, this 3rd generation radar will
be improved upon in various ways. Students will design, simulate and build:
separate transmit and receive high-gain antennas for the radar, a new mixer for
frequency conversion, and all of the processing electronics that are necessary to
interpret the received signal such that it can be displayed on a large LED
display. The final product will be tested on moving traffic at the RMC guardhouse.
Potential students should be interested in microwave circuitry and electronics.

Title: Portable Music Player Transmitter

Supervisor: Capt LeSauvage
Description: The goal of this project would be to build a small, portable
digitally tuned FM transmitter so that music players such as the iPod can be
played on any audio source with an FM tuner.

Title: Robot Soccer Team

Supervisor: Capt Dunfield / Dr. Liang (Computer Science)
Description: In 2004/05 a Robot Soccer Team was started. In the ECE department,
two prototype robots were constructed. In 2005/06 the Robot Soccer Team was
worked on further in the Computer Science Dept. This works needs to continue in
the area of image analysis and strategy planning modules. This is primarily a SW
based challenge. The award winning robots developed in 2005 can be seen in the
robot lab and the project website can be see here. The project definition for
2006 / 07 is still under development. Speak to the supervisor for more details

Title: Combat Robots

Supervisor: Capt Dunfield
Description: Two heterogeneous robots will work together to take out enemy
robots. One robot will be developed as a scout equipped with enemy sensors. Use
of a colour camera could be used. The second robot will be an attack robot able
to fire on the enemy. Principle of operation. Scout robot will map out area and
find the enemy robot. When the target is found, it will relay location data to
the attack robot which will then move toward the target and fire on it when
possible. Map building and path planning capabilities are optional. This work
will be used in future work for a complete tank platoon in future years.

Title: Formation Robots / Map Making

Supervisor: Capt Dunfield
Description: No less than 4 robots will be used to maintain a formation. These
shall include: In line, in route, Diamond. The colony (platoon) shall be able to
dynamically change it's formation as required. The trigger used to cause a change
is TBA, but it may be that change is required when in line formation can't fit
through a passageway. The intent is to use course robots so little or no HW is
involved. The robot colony could be designed to map out a building.

Titre: Réalisation Modulaire d'un Convertisseur de Puissance Quatre Cadrans Pour

Moteurs CC
Aviseur Dr Francis Okou
Description: Il s'agira dans ce projet de dimensionner et de réaliser les
convertisseurs AC-DC et DC-DC qui composent l'amplificateur de puissance de la
commande des moteurs à courant continu. Les circuits de commande des
convertisseurs doivent aussi être réaliser. De façon exceptionnelle le
convertisseur AC-DC sera à thyristors. Le convertisseur DC-DC sera à commutation
forcée. Les solutions proposées devront être simulées auparavant dans
l'environnement SimPowerSystems.

Titre: Realisation d'un Environnement de Commande de Moteur CC Utilisant RTW de

MATLAB/SIMULINK
Aviseur Dr. Francis Okou
Description: Il s'agira de concevoir et de dimensionner un système matériel et
logiciel pour commander en position et en vitesse un moteur CC depuis
l'environnement Matlab/Simulink. Un correcteur numérique effectuant une poursuite
de trajectoire sera développer pour tester le produit. Le projet consistera à
choisir convenablement la carte d'acquisition, concevoir le circuit d'interface,
configurer RTW, concevoir un programme convivial pour tester différents
correcteurs.

Title: Tapeless Answering Maching for POTS System: on TI DSP

Supervisor: Dr Don McGauhhey/Capt Guillaume Gilbert
Description: The project will realise a tapeless answering maching that will be
able to store caller-id, stored a sampled voice message of up to 30 seconds,
produce a tone and recongnize hang ups. The project may also be required to
compress the voice message, and forward it by email or WiFi.

Titre: Donner vie à une radio AM des années 1950

Aviseur Dr. Côme Rozon
Description: Une radio AM fonctionnant avec des tubes à vide doit être équipée
d’une source de puissance adéquate et d’un contrôle à distance. Cette radio
ancienne date des années 1950 et utilisait à l’époque une grosse batterie à
courant continu qui fournissait une source de puissance stable aux circuits
internes. On pouvait donc écouter la radio dans des coins reculés où les services
électriques n’existaient pas. Malheureusement, ces batteries ne duraient pas trop
longtemps. Le projet consiste à concevoir et bâtir une source de puissance pour
alimenter la radio à partir d’un branchement standard au réseau électrique de 120
VAC, 60 Hz. Cette source doit être munie de circuits de protection adéquats et ne
pas affecter la qualité de la réception d’ondes AM. On désire également pouvoir
contrôler cette radio avec un contrôleur à distance (allumer, éteindre,
syntoniser, ajuster le volume). Ces ajouts doivent être apportés sans modifier
l’apparence rustique de la radio et sans l’endommager.

Title: Video Game Console

Supervisor: Capt Gilbert
Description: Design and construction of an 8-bit video game console, complete
with video and sound interface, and game controllers. This design could be done
using an FPGA development board or a custom system could be built from discrete
parts. An implementation of a simple game could be used to demonstrate
functionality. Another related project in software engineering would be the
software toolchain required to program this device.

Title: Two-axis egg plotter

Supervisor: Capt Gilbert
Descption: A two-axis computer controlled plotter to draw interesting patterns on
eggs. An example can be seen at:
http://www.taomc.com/studio_machines/egg_plotter.htm

Title: High Frequency Response of High Temperature Capable Thermocouples Through

Signal Processing
Supervisor: Maj Alain Beaulieu/Dr. Marc LaViolette (Mech Eng)
Description: Modern control systems need high frequency capable sensors to support
transient engine controls, conditions monitoring and fault prognostics. RMC
researchers have, to this point in time, developed signal processing techniques
that manage to obtain higher frequency performance from more rugged thermocouples.
This technique should be explored further to determine its potential as a flame
sensor for afterburners or combustion chambers.
In the F404, an optical light detection system (flame sensor) is used to detect
extinction of the afterburner. Fouling of the light transmission
elements due to soot and other combustion products leads to failures in light
sensing. Such fouling would not prevent a thermocouple from
detecting a sudden reduction in heat transfer encountered from a flame out.
Rugged thermocouples are used reliably in the other sections of
the engine. It is their low response time which makes them unsuitable as flame
sensors. The technique proposed involves determining trends of temperature
signals. Specifically, the time derivatives of the signal are evaluated and
presented. They can be processed to reflect the true input signal with sufficient
understanding of the thermocouple characteristics. This may achieve the effective
response time of the
optical technique currently used in the F404 application. A rule of thumb of a 5
millisecond response time can be used to determine suitability for gas turbine
applications.

Title: Indirect fire effect simulator

Supervisor: Maj Alain Beaulieu
Description: Atillery or mortars are used to provide indirect fire support to
operations. The CF currently has the capability of simulating direct fire (rifle)
for wargames. However, we currently do not have an indirect fire simulator. The
project would be to build an indirect fire simulator were the soldier's condition
(level of injury or death) would be determined based on where he/she is with
respect to simulated shells as well as the soldier's position with respect to
cover.