USEM: A ubiquitous smart energy management system for residential homes

With the ever-increasing worldwide demand for energy, and the limited available energy resources, there is a growing need to reduce our energy consumption whenever possible. Therefore, over the past few decades a range of technologies have been proposed to assist consumers with reducing their energy use. Most of these have focused on decreasing energy consumption in the industry, transport, and services sectors. In more recent years, however, growing attention has been given to energy use in the residential sector, which accounts for nearly 30% of total energy consumption in the developed countries. Here we present one such system, which aims to assist residential users with monitoring their energy usage and provides mechanisms for setting up and controlling their home appliances to conserve energy. We also describe a user study we have conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of this system in supporting its users with a range of tools and visualizations developed for ubiquitous devices such as mobile phones and tablets. The findings of this study have shown the potential benefits of our system, and have identified areas of improvement that need to be addressed in the future

LPWAN Technologies: Emerging Application Characteristics, Requirements, and Design Considerations

Low power wide area network (LPWAN) is a promising solution for long range and low power Internet of Things (IoT) and machine to machine (M2M) communication applications. This paper focuses on defining a systematic and powerful approach of identifying the key characteristics of such applications, translating them into explicit requirements, and then deriving the associated design considerations. LPWANs are resource-constrained networks and are primarily characterized by long battery life operation, extended coverage, high capacity, and low device and deployment costs. These characteristics translate into a key set of requirements including M2M traffic management, massive capacity, energy efficiency, low power operations, extended coverage, security, and interworking. The set of corresponding design considerations is identified in terms of two categories, desired or expected ones and enhanced ones, which reflect the wide range of characteristics associated with LPWAN-based applications. Prominent design constructs include admission and user traffic management, interference management, energy saving modes of operation, lightweight media access control (MAC) protocols, accurate location identification, security coverage techniques, and flexible software re-configurability. Topological and architectural options for interconnecting LPWAN entities are discussed. The major proprietary and standards-based LPWAN technology solutions available in the marketplace are presented. These include Sigfox, LoRaWAN, Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT), and long term evolution (LTE)-M, among others. The relevance of upcoming cellular 5G technology and its complementary relationship with LPWAN technology are also discussed

DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF AN INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS-BASED ARCHITECTURE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES

The rapid development of increasingly complex in-vehicle electronics now offers an unprecedented level of convenience and versatility as well as accelerates the demand for connected driving experience, which can only be achieved in a comprehensive Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technology based architecture. While a number of charging and range related issues continue to impede the Electric Vehicle (EV) market growth, integrating ITS technologies with EVs has the potential to address the problems and facilitate EV operations. This dissertation presents an ITS based vehicle infrastructure communication architecture in which abundant information can be exchanged in real time through vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to- infrastructure communication, so that a variety of in-vehicle applications can be built to enhance the performance of EVs. This dissertation emphasizes on developing two applications that are specifically designed for EVs. First, an Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) based routing and recharging strategy dedicated to accommodate EV trips was devised. The algorithm developed in this study seeks, in real time, the lowest cost route possible without violating the energy constraint and can quickly provide an alternate suboptimal route in the event of unexpected situations (such as traffic congestion, traffic incident and road closure). If the EV battery requires a recharge, the algorithm can be utilized to develop a charging schedule based on recharging locations, recharging cost and wait time, and to simultaneously maintain the minimum total travel time and energy consumption objectives. The author also elucidates a charge scheduling model that maximizes the net profit for each vehicle-to-grid (V2G) enabled EV owner who participates in the grid ancillary services while the energy demands for their trips can be guaranteed as well. By applying ITS technologies, the charge scheduling model can rapidly adapt to changes of variables or coefficients within the model for the purpose of developing the latest optimal charge/discharge schedule. The performance of EVs involved in the architecture was validated by a series of simulations. A roadway network in Charleston, SC was created in the simulator and a comparison between ordinary EVs and connected EVs was performed with a series of simulation experiments. Analysis revealed that the vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to- infrastructure communication technology resulted in not only a reduction of the total travel time and energy consumption, but also in the reduction of the amount of the recharged electricity and corresponding cost, thus significantly relieving the concerns of range anxiety. The routing and recharging strategy also potentially allows for a reduction in the EV battery capacity, in turn reducing the cost of the energy storage system to a reasonable level. The efficiency of the charge scheduling model was validated by estimating optimal annual financial benefits and leveling the additional load from EV charging to maintain a reliable and robust power grid system. The analysis showed that the scheduling model can indeed optimize the profit which substantially offsets the annual energy cost for EV owners and that EV participants can even make a positive net profit with a higher power of the electrical circuit. In addition, the extra load distribution from the optimized EV charging operations was more balanced than that from the unmanaged EV operations. Grid operators can monitor and ease the load in real time by adjusting the prices should the load exceed the capacity. The ITS supported architecture presented in this dissertation can be used in the evolution of a new generation of EVs with new features and benefits for prospective owners. This study suggests a great promise for the integration of EVs with ITS technologies for purpose of promoting sustainable transportation system development

Innovations in Electric Vehicle Technology: A Review of Emerging Trends and Their Potential Impacts on Transportation and Society

The adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) has gained significant momentum in recent years, driven by the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and achieve sustainable transportation. This study presents a comprehensive review of emerging trends in EV technology and their potential impacts on transportation and society. The study explores various areas of innovation in the field of EVs, including battery technology, wireless charging, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) communication, lightweight materials, autonomous driving, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, circular economy approaches, advanced charging infrastructure, energy storage, and social and behavioral innovations. This study reveals that battery technology advancements are driving the adoption of EVs. Lithium-ion batteries have improved energy density, charging speed, and lifespan. Alternative battery technologies, like solid-state and lithium-sulfur batteries, show promise for even higher energy density, faster charging, and increased safety. Wireless charging technology is emerging, with high-power and high-efficiency systems potentially addressing concerns about charging infrastructure and range anxiety. V2G communication allows EVs to serve as mobile energy storage units, contributing to grid stability, load balancing, and renewable energy integration. Lightweight materials, like advanced composites and lightweight metals, can significantly reduce the weight of EVs, improving energy efficiency and overall performance. Autonomous driving technologies have the potential to improve safety, reduce congestion, and optimize energy use. V2X communication enables a wide range of applications, like intelligent traffic management and enhanced safety features. Circular economy approaches, including designing EVs with recyclability and reusability in mind, using recycled materials in manufacturing, and developing end-of-life recycling and repurposing strategies, can minimize the environmental impact of EVs and contribute to their sustainability

Revolutionizing digital healthcare networks with wearable strain sensors using sustainable fibers

Wearable strain sensors have attracted research interest owing to their potential within digital healthcare, offering smarter tracking, efficient diagnostics, and lower costs. Unlike rigid sensors, fiber‐based ones compete with their flexibility, durability, adaptability to body structures as well as eco‐friendliness to environment. Here, the sustainable fiber‐based wearable strain sensors for digital health are reviewed, and material, fabrication, and practical healthcare aspects are explored. Typical strain sensors predicated on various sensing modalities, be it resistive, capacitive, piezoelectric, or triboelectric, are explained and analyzed according to their strengths and weaknesses toward fabrication and applications. The applications in digital healthcare spanning from body area sensing networks, intelligent health management, and medical rehabilitation to multifunctional healthcare systems are also evaluated. Moreover, to create a more complete digital health network, wired and wireless methods of data collection and examples of machine learning are elaborated in detail. Finally, the prevailing challenges and prospective insights into the advancement of novel fibers, enhancement of sensing precision and wearability, and the establishment of seamlessly integrated systems are critically summarized and offered. This endeavor not only encapsulates the present landscape but also lays the foundation for future breakthroughs in fiber‐based wearable strain sensor technology within the domain of digital health