EPS projects spring 2023

Use our health-technology lab and help develop a system to predict foot position through trials and research!
 
Gait analysis is the systemic study of the locomotion of human beings during walking. Gait analysis plays an essential role in detecting abnormality in the human walking pattern. 

Changes in gait styles imply important information about a person’s fitness that would be used to assess or analyse individuals with pathological situations that affect their ability to walk and the complete bio-mechanic system. 

One of these situations occurs during the pronation and supination of the foot. In collaboration with a Norwegian company (Gaitline AS), we are analysing the human gait in relation to pronation. 
 
We are interested in developing a system using IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) to detect gait motion in real-time. 

In this project, we attempt to make the system predict the foot position in angles and estimate the differences in the gait length and the heap position. 

The project is successful with students who have a background in electrical and electronics, mechanical engineering, and computer science as the project involves some programming. 
 
Supervisor: Professor Peyman Mirtaheri, leader of research group ADEPT

Help us take previous student project and research one step further.
 
Humans’ ability to keep their balance upright during bipedal locomotion is unique because the human body’s anatomy contradicts basic principles for stability. 

Continuous feedback 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. 

Four types of specialised cutaneous receptors, called mechanoreceptors, are identified in glabrous skin, such as the foot sole. The mechanoreceptors convert external mechanical stimuli, such as pressure or skin stretch, to action potentials and enable tactile sensation. 
 
The behaviour of the mechanoreceptors is investigated by a previous experiment at the Optical lab (MEK, OsloMet), 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. The suggested project needs to develop the idea further to get a more “real-time” stimulation as the foot touches the platform; it should initiate the stimulus and the LDF measurements.

There is also a need to do further experiments to produce more data. The precondition of the project would be a group of students with mechanical, electrical, and electronic students. 
 
It would also be helpful to have an additional student with a design background to improve the platform as a module to make the experiments smoother. 
 
Supervisor: Professor Peyman Mirtaheri, leader of research group ADEPT

Overview: Work-from-anywhere has long been a reality for a minority. The concept of digital nomads was established two decades ago. 

Now the pandemic has transformed a niche mode of working into a general expectation for large portions of European office workers. 
 
We invite curious students with a combination of technological know-how and human-centred skills to contribute to research within this field. 

You will conduct research as well as looking for solutions to the challenges the WFA-mode of work create for both the individual and the organisation.
 
This will be part of an ongoing research project led by Professor Jane Jørgenson (University of South-Florida) and Professor Laurence Habib (OsloMet)  
 
Supervisor at OsloMet: Professor Laurence Habib

Make a difference for our students! Analyse the needs and wishes of a large student population, and develop input for a trial, a proof-of-concept or a prototype for the Department of Art, Design and Drama (EST).
 
The department has to leave the current building, and we don’t know to where. In this project, you should analyse creative students’ needs and develop an important input to the campus-planning process at EST. 

You will work according to the design thinking process and bring in your creativity and competences on top of the process structure to conceive relevant & valuable design solutions. 
 
This is a goal oriented multi-disciplinary design project! Your results will be included in the department's planning process for new, future-proof learning arenas. 

To achieve relevant results in a project like this, we need multi-disciplinary competence in the project group. Consequently, we need a team with a wide professional range; researchers, ergonomists, designers, civil engineers +++.
 
Supervisor: Professor Petter Øyan

Smart textiles and wearable technologies are expanding widely. But can we move beyond the watches and heart-monitoring?

Are there more professional or industrial use-cases?  

With the increase of Makerspaces and Fab Labs, smart textiles and wearable technology share common ground with science and technology. 

We challenge you to do creative problem solving with craft, design, and technology. We expect a prototype made in our makerspaces.

A previous EPS-group created a proof-of-concept for a divers' glove with built-in battery and remote control for head-mounted camera. 

You may follow up on this or choose a new direction. Regardless, this project will focus on employing innovation, interdisciplinary learning, and entrepreneurship methods as part of the learning/ exploration process. 

Electronics, understanding of materials, business understanding as well as some software knowledge is wanted.

Supervisor: assistant professor Nuno Marques