EPS projects fall 2023

Supervisor: Peyman Mirtaheri, professor

Humans’ ability to keep their balance upright during bipedal locomotion is unique because the human body’s anatomy contradicts basic principles for stability. Cutaneous feedback (i.e. from sensors on the skin) can provide sensation about the stability boundaries of the body and orientation of the body relative to these boundaries and the ground, which is fundamental for balance. 

For project group 1: Make a reflective optical sensory probe, suitable to be mounted on our customised platform (partly developed through a current EPS project).

There has been argued in the literature that an alternative method to detect perfusion in the skin is oxygenation measurements based on NIR spectroscopy. The group has to make a reflective optical sensory probe suitable to be mounted on our customized platform to detect oxygenation using at least three wavelengths within the near-infrared range. The precondition of the project would be a group of students with electrical and electronic and computer science students. Optical knowledge would be an advantage. It would also be helpful to have an additional student with a design background to take care of the design perspective of the optical probe. 

For project group 2: A reflex path is connected from the heel skin up to the brain’s sensorimotor part of the cerebral cortex. In order to understand these activations, there is a need for further experiments using NIR-probe from the heel (project group 1), our customised platform, and brain activity signals measured by EEG signals (g.tec brain-computer interface equipment with 32 channels existing at our lab). The group will use EEG signals regarding the timing of stimulation from the platform and analyse the causality of the signals respectively. The precondition of the project would be a group of students with biomedical engineering, electrical and electronic, computer sciences, and mechanical students. The group should be able to perform tests and analyse the data.

More background information:

Four types of specialized cutaneous receptors, called mechanoreceptors, are identified in glabrous (i.e. smooth) skin, such as the foot sole. The mechanoreceptors convert external mechanical stimuli, such as pressure or skin stretch, to action potentials, enabling tactile sensation. One in particular, Ruffini Endings, are interesting as they probably measure the shear forces in the heel skin.  The behaviour of the mechanoreceptors is investigated by a previous experiment at the Optical lab (MEK, OsloMet) and EPS groups, where a customised platform induces mechanical stimuli to the foot sole of the participants. The neural activity is assessed indirectly with a Laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF) instrument that measures blood perfusion. A wavelet analysis analyses the required data in time, frequency, and time-and-frequency domains. Thus, there is a need to expand these measurements. 

Essential-Functions Mobile App as a Cognitive Training Tool for Elderly

Supervisor: Way Kiat Bong, associate professor

Do you have any of these skills: Computer science, or Design thinking, or, Human-machine interaction, or Product design
There exist various apps for cognitive training exercises for elderly. However, there is a challenge with the usefulness of current cognitive training apps; they often do not match elderly’s real-life use of smartphones. Instead of incorporating real-life use of smartphones – such as sending and receiving text, picture and video messages – the apps require them to do interaction that have little relations with real-life use of smartphones. We want you to suggest a better solution!

The group should produce both a written report and a physical demonstration, for example a mid-fidelity prototype. We do not expect a functioning app/ software of any kind.
 

Perform a systematic review and develop a low/medium fidelity prototype of a tilting table.

Supervisor: Alejandro Jimenez Rios, Research Fellow

Do you have any of these skills: Critical appraisal, data extraction, data synthesis, prototyping, and interpersonal skills.
Researchers have used tilting table tests in the past to assess the seismic response of different masonry assemblies. The general idea is to place the masonry assembly on top of a flat surface that is lifted in one of its sides. This causes the masonry assembly to rotate and experience an equivalent horizontal force (effect analogous to what the assembly would suffer under the dynamic forces caused by an earthquake). At a certain tilting angle, the masonry assembly fails/collapses. The maximum tilting angle is then related to horizontal accelerations and the safety/integrity of the masonry assembly is determined. Furthermore, results from previous experimental tilting table tests have been used as well by researchers to validate different numerical modeling methods.

This is an interdisciplinary project with special interest in the conservation of monuments and historical constructions. It is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11.  

Some knowledge of woodworking may be handy for the building of a prototype. OsloMet Makerspace has a woodwork workshop.

Design, build, and test a small and simple prototype of a scaled ship with a moving bulbous bow.

Supervisor: Samuel Ruiz Capel, PhD Candidate

Skills wanted: Marine/Naval engineering, mechanical engineering, product design, electronics, ARDUINO, programming, CAD and 3D printing, CFD/FEM software, curiosity and willingness to work on this hands-on oriented project!

Background: Traditionally, bulbs have been built with steel, which means they have constant length and shape and can only work in optimal conditions for the designed-for speed. A conventionally shaped bow causes a wave crest, and a bulb forms a wave trough, cancelling or reducing both waves and thus, ship resistance. This cancelation mainly depends on the vessel speed and bulb length and shape.

This project proposes studying an alternative way to build the bulbous bow of a ship, providing it with the ability to change its shape and length. This will improve the performance of a vessel related to resistance to motion and seakeeping, for the whole range of speed, and operating and environmental conditions.

It is proposed to study different concepts for the smart bulbous bow (fast prototyping), and to build a scaled prototype based on the optimal concept (with the 3D printers at OsloMet MakerSpace) that will include sensors managed with ARDUINO to be tested in water. 

Research & develop different solutions and build prototypes in the OsloMet Makerspace to document a proof-of-concept (not expected to be built to scale).

Supervisor: Petter Øyan, professor

Skills wanted: The team members should have an interest in developing their expertise in these areas: design thinking process, 3D CAD and rapid prototyping, medical technology, mechanical engineering, ergonomics and tactile feedback.  Other competences might also be valuable, such as micro hydraulics.

Background: When surgeons perform keyhole surgery, they use tools that are inserted into the abdominal cavity through tubes.

To sew inside the abdominal cavity, current equipment can move the needle in certain, defined directions. The challenge is to enable an additional direction of movement.

In this type of surgery, it is important to ensure that the surgeon receives tactile feedback.

The project will be carried out by a team, and all participants must be dedicated team players!

The project task provides an exciting opportunity to get to know medical technology!