Development and Experimental Analysis of Wireless High Accuracy Ultra-Wideband Localization Systems for Indoor Medical Applications

This dissertation addresses several interesting and relevant problems in the field of wireless technologies applied to medical applications and specifically problems related to ultra-wideband high accuracy localization for use in the operating room. This research is cross disciplinary in nature and fundamentally builds upon microwave engineering, software engineering, systems engineering, and biomedical engineering. A good portion of this work has been published in peer reviewed microwave engineering and biomedical engineering conferences and journals. Wireless technologies in medicine are discussed with focus on ultra-wideband positioning in orthopedic surgical navigation. Characterization of the operating room as a medium for ultra-wideband signal transmission helps define system design requirements. A discussion of the first generation positioning system provides a context for understanding the overall system architecture of the second generation ultra-wideband positioning system outlined in this dissertation. A system-level simulation framework provides a method for rapid prototyping of ultra-wideband positioning systems which takes into account all facets of the system (analog, digital, channel, experimental setup). This provides a robust framework for optimizing overall system design in realistic propagation environments. A practical approach is taken to outline the development of the second generation ultra-wideband positioning system which includes an integrated tag design and real-time dynamic tracking of multiple tags. The tag and receiver designs are outlined as well as receiver-side digital signal processing, system-level design support for multi-tag tracking, and potential error sources observed in dynamic experiments including phase center error, clock jitter and drift, and geometric position dilution of precision. An experimental analysis of the multi-tag positioning system provides insight into overall system performance including the main sources of error. A five base station experiment shows the potential of redundant base stations in improving overall dynamic accuracy. Finally, the system performance in low signal-to-noise ratio and non-line-of-sight environments is analyzed by focusing on receiver-side digitally-implemented ranging algorithms including leading-edge detection and peak detection. These technologies are aimed at use in next-generation medical systems with many applications including surgical navigation, wireless telemetry, medical asset tracking, and in vivo wireless sensors

MakerFluidics: low cost microfluidics for synthetic biology

Recent advancements in multilayer, multicellular, genetic logic circuits often rely on manual intervention throughout the computation cycle and orthogonal signals for each chemical “wire”. These constraints can prevent genetic circuits from scaling. Microfluidic devices can be used to mitigate these constraints. However, continuous-flow microfluidics are largely designed through artisanal processes involving hand-drawing features and accomplishing design rule checks visually: processes that are also inextensible. Additionally, continuous-flow microfluidic routing is only a consideration during chip design and, once built, the routing structure becomes “frozen in silicon,” or for many microfluidic chips “frozen in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)”; any changes to fluid routing often require an entirely new device and control infrastructure. The cost of fabricating and controlling a new device is high in terms of time and money; attempts to reduce one cost measure are, generally, paid through increases in the other. This work has three main thrusts: to create a microfluidic fabrication framework, called MakerFluidics, that lowers the barrier to entry for designing and fabricating microfluidics in a manner amenable to automation; to prove this methodology can design, fabricate, and control complex and novel microfluidic devices; and to demonstrate the methodology can be used to solve biologically-relevant problems. Utilizing accessible technologies, rapid prototyping, and scalable design practices, the MakerFluidics framework has demonstrated its ability to design, fabricate and control novel, complex and scalable microfludic devices. This was proven through the development of a reconfigurable, continuous-flow routing fabric driven by a modular, scalable primitive called a transposer. In addition to creating complex microfluidic networks, MakerFluidics was deployed in support of cutting-edge, application-focused research at the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory. Informed by a design of experiments approach using the parametric rapid prototyping capabilities made possible by MakerFluidics, a plastic blood--bacteria separation device was optimized, demonstrating that the new device geometry can separate bacteria from blood while operating at 275% greater flow rate as well as reduce the power requirement by 82% for equivalent separation performance when compared to the state of the art. Ultimately, MakerFluidics demonstrated the ability to design, fabricate, and control complex and practical microfluidic devices while lowering the barrier to entry to continuous-flow microfluidics, thus democratizing cutting edge technology beyond a handful of well-resourced and specialized labs

Preliminary definition and evaluation of advanced space concepts. Volume 2: Analyses and results

For abstract, see N78-28106

Synthesis of aesthetics for ship design

In the search for consensus on a definition of beauty, fitting the task of appreciating a ship’s design, this research revealed that other components of visual appraisal and 3d pattern analysis are required for a systemic approach. The model process presented is built around local adaptation and Gestalt psychology and uses retrospective case studies to categorise and calculate proportions, and recognisable patterns. The number of results from each type of vessel were found to be different, due to each ship or boats various geometries and anatomy, which illuminated the importance of standardising a procedure of categorisation in the appreciative approach.The categorisation of functions around the philosophy of functional beauty and the maths of summation series, it is suggested here, will allow a library of algebraic patterns and parameters to penetrate further into the impending or emulated integrated systems of ship design. The process to derive physical parameters via the culturally focussed narrative of functional beauty, is deemed as a manageable and novel addition to the naval architect's role. However, for the results to have a decisive impact on commercial design or education, variance and validation through further case studies is required

Axmedis 2005

The AXMEDIS conference aims to promote discussions and interactions among researchers, practitioners, developers and users of tools, technology transfer experts, and project managers, to bring together a variety of participants. The conference focuses on the challenges in the cross-media domain (which include production, protection, management, representation, formats, aggregation, workflow, distribution, business and transaction models), and the integration of content management systems and distribution chains, with particular emphasis on cost reduction and effective solutions for complex cross-domain problems

Designing for adaptability in architecture

The research is framed on the premise that designing buildings that can adapt by accommodating change easier and more cost-effectively provides an effective means to a desired end a more sustainable built environment. In this context, adaptability can be viewed as a means to decrease the amount of new construction (reduce), (re)activate underused or vacant building stock (reuse) and enhance disassembly/ deconstruction of components (reuse, recycle) - prolonging the useful life of buildings (reduce, reuse, recycle). The aim of the research is to gain a holistic overview of the concept of adaptability in the construction industry and provide an improved framework to design for, deploy and implement adaptability. An over-arching research question was posited to guide the inquiry: how can architects understand, communicate, design for and test the concept of adaptability in the context of the design process? The research followed Dubois and Gadde s (2002) systematic combining as an over-arching approach that continuously moves between the empirical world and theoretical models allowing the co-evolution of data collection and theory from the beginning as part of a non-linear process with the objective of matching theory with reality. An initial framework was abducted from a preliminary collection of data from which a set of mixed research methods was deployed to explore adaptability (interviews, building case studies, dependency structural matrices, practitioner surveys and workshop). Emergent from the data is an expanded and revised theory on designing for adaptability consisting of concepts, models and propositions. The models illustrate many of the casual links between the physical design structure of the building (e.g. plan depth, storey height) and the soft contingencies of a messy design/construction/occupation process (e.g. procurement route, funding methods, stakeholder mindsets). In an effort to enhance building adaptability, the abducted propositions suggest a shift in the way the industry values buildings and conducts aspects of the design process and how designer s approach designing for adaptability

Central Washington University Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog 2004-2005

https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/catalogs/1274/thumbnail.jp

Robot Manipulators

Robot manipulators are developing more in the direction of industrial robots than of human workers. Recently, the applications of robot manipulators are spreading their focus, for example Da Vinci as a medical robot, ASIMO as a humanoid robot and so on. There are many research topics within the field of robot manipulators, e.g. motion planning, cooperation with a human, and fusion with external sensors like vision, haptic and force, etc. Moreover, these include both technical problems in the industry and theoretical problems in the academic fields. This book is a collection of papers presenting the latest research issues from around the world

Evoking presence through creative practice on Pepper's ghost displays.

This thesis proposes a theoretic framework for the analysis of presence research in the context of Pepper’s ghost. Pepper’s ghost as a media platform offers new possibilities for performances, real-time communication and media art. The thesis gives an overview on the 150 year old history, as well as contemporary art creation on Pepper’s ghost with a specific focus on telepresence. Telepresence, a concept that infused academic debate since 1980, discusses the topic of remote communication, perceived presence transmitted through networked environments. This discourse of telepresence revealed shortcomings in current analytical frameworks. This thesis presents a new model for presence in the context of my research. The standard telepresence model (STM) assumes a direct link between three fundamental components of presence and a measurable impact on the audience. Its three pillars are conceptualised as presence co-factors immersion, interactivity and realism, presented individually in the framework of my practice. My research is firmly rooted in the field of media art and considers the effect of presence in the context of Pepper’s ghost. This Victorian parlour trick serves as an interface, an intermediary for the discussion of live streaming experiences. Three case studies present pillars of the standard model, seeking answers to elemental questions of presence research. The hypothesis assumes a positive relationship between presence and its three co-factors. All case studies were developed as media art pieces in the context of Pepper’s ghost. As exemplifiers, they illustrate the concept of presence in respect of my own creative practice. KIMA, a real-time sound representation experience, proposes a form of telepresence that relies exclusively on immersive sound as a medium. Immersion as co-factor of presence is analysed and explored creatively on the Pepper’s ghost canvas. Transmission, the second case study, investigates the effect of physical interaction on presence experiences. An experiment helps to draw inferences in a mixed method approach. The third case study, Aura, discusses variations of realism as presence co factor in the specific context of Pepper’s ghost. The practical example is accompanied by an in-depth meta-analysis of realism factors, specifically focusing on the intricacies of Pepper’s ghost creative production processes. Together, these three case studies help to shed light on new strategies to improve production methods with possible impact on presence in Pepper’s ghost related virtual environments – and beyond