- Date:
- 2011-2015
- Funding:
- European Commission
ADVANCE is an FP7 Information and Communication Technologies Project funded by the European Commission. The overall objective of ADVANCE is the development of a unified tool-based framework for automated formal verification and simulation-based validation of cyber-physical systems.
Unification is being achieved through the use of a common formal modelling language supported by methods and tools for simulation and formal verification. An integrated tool environment is providing support for construction, verification and simulation of models.
ADVANCE is building on an existing formal modelling language - Event-B - and its associated tools environment - Rodin - with strong support for formal verification. In ADVANCE, Rodin is being further strengthened and augmented with novel approaches to multi-simulation and testing.
Primary investigator
Secondary investigator
- jlco5r
Partners
- Alstom
- Critical Software Technologies
- Selex-ES
- Systerel
- University of Dusseldorf
Associated research group
- Electronic and Software Systems
- Date:
- 2013-2018
- Funding:
- EPSRC
PRiME, a ã5.6m EPSRC funded five year programme (2013-2018), brings together four universities with world-leading expertise in the complementary research areas of; low-power, highly-parallel, reconfigurable and dependable computing and verified software design. Working in collaboration with five companies and seven international visiting experts, PRiME will tackle the challenge of developing the theory and practice of future high-performance embedded systems utilising many-core processors.
Future many core processors will have a wide range of applications in embedded, mobile, general and high performance computing, where energy and reliability are central requirements. PRiME seeks to exploit the transformative potential of many-core processors; our objective is to enable processor core scaling with sustainable energy consumption and reliability.
Primary investigator
Secondary investigators
Partners
- Imperial College
- University of Newcastle
- University of Manchester
Associated research group
- Electronic and Software Systems
- Date:
- 2014-2016
- Themes:
- Environmental Monitoring, Communication and Networking, Web of Things
- Funding:
- NERC
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a term given to the concept of ââ¬Åsmartââ¬? internet connected devices. This project aims to use cutting edge technology to study the environment and in particular to deploy a pilot system on the Cairngorm plateau for observing hydrological, peatland and frozen ground processes.
By using the Internet Protocols throughout the sensor network we will be able to investigate the benefits in terms of human interfaces, management and robustness.
This project is funded by the NERC Technology Proof of Concept programme.
Primary investigators
- Kirk Martinez
- Prof. Jane K. Hart
- pjb
- Dr Andrew Black
- Dr Olivia Bragg
Secondary investigators
- gmb1g08
- tw16g08
Partners
- School of Geography, University of Southampton
- School of the Environment, University of Dundee
- Wildland Ltd.
Associated research group
- Web and Internet Science
- Date:
- 2010-
- Themes:
- Software Engineering, Grid and Distributed Computing
Flocc (functional language on compute clusters) is a high-level language for Big Data/data parallel programming on clusters. Its compiler showcases a new technique to automatically optimize the storage of Big Data collections on clusters, that works for distributed arrays, maps, and lists. It is much more flexible than existing techniques like HPF and MapReduce that don't optimize their distributed data layouts, and typically only work for one collection type. The compiler works by considering using different distributed-memory implementations of a program's high-level data-parallel operators (encoded as higher-order functions), and uses a type system and type inference algorithm to automatically derive distributed data layout information for these operators. It then code generates MPI programs in C++ from possible plans, and uses a performance feedback based search to look for optimal cluster implementations of input programs.
Primary investigators
- taj105
- Bernd Fischer
Associated research group
- Electronic and Software Systems
- Date:
- 2013-2016
- Theme:
- Accessibility
- Funding:
- Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF)
The background to this research into the development of a freely available Arabic symbol dictionary is based on the premise that there is a paucity of freely available culturally suitable Arabic pictograms, icons, symbols or other graphical representations of language for use within the Arabic community by those who have a wide range of communication difficulties. There is a growing recognition about the number of individuals who could benefit from this type of support. Their needs are being met by the use of externally developed Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) symbol systems which are not entirely suitable for use within the Qatari culture or surroundings. Some commercially available symbol sets have added additional Arabic culturally recognizable symbols but these are not available to all users as the costs are high. There is also a significant gap in the knowledge around the type of individuals who can make use of pictorial symbol systems and how symbols can be integrated into education and daily life.
Images, symbols and pictograms can be part of a toolkit of strategies to benefit two main groups of people with a communication difficulty. First those people for whom speech and text communication is impossible, where there is a push to investigate the use of natural language processing to speed access to symbols when used with electronic AAC devices, and secondly those people with low levels of literacy, learning disabilities or specific learning difficulties, including those with Dyslexia where symbols can aid reading and writing skills. In this situation it is important to have a symbol dictionary that contains frequently used words based on standard classical Arabic. There are also some individuals who have social interaction difficulties such as severe Autism where symbols can act as prompts. Symbols may also work in a similar way for those who acquire speech and language difficulties due to strokes and brain injury.
Symbols as indicators have value in supporting the understanding of Arabic for those with little knowledge of the language and symbols as pictograms can also be used as indicators within the built environment to assist in way finding or act as health and safety warnings in a way that is obvious to the widest possible audience.
Primary investigators
- Mike Wald
- Dr Amal Ahmad
Secondary investigators
- E.A. Draffan
- David Banes
- Amatullah Kadous
- nh
- Nadine Zeinoun
- Amatullah Kadous
- cd
- Dana Lawand
Partners
- Mada
- Hamad Medical Corporation
Associated research group
- Web and Internet Science
- Date:
- 2014-2014
- Themes:
- Accessibility, Internet Science
- Funding:
- Technology Strategy Board
We understand mathematical ideas by making connections between language, symbols, pictures and real-life situations . Individuals who face barriers with reading, comprehending and/or seeing these connections, such as those with print disabilities, dyscalculia and learning difficulties always struggle with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects and professions. Hearing and seeing symbols together can help make those links. These connections are important whether learning numbers 1 to 10, dealing with calculations in the workplace or understanding maths at university. For up to 10 million individuals in the UK affected by print disabilities or dyscalculia, having a tool to read aloud mathematical language and symbols at an appropriate level could ameliorate many difficulties they experience when manipulating mathematical concepts. The lack of accessibility in mathematical notation is impacting on the progress of students working at basic functional skills levels through to degree as well as in the workplace at all levels from apprentice through to professionals such as scientists and engineers.
Primary investigator
Secondary investigators
Associated research group
- Web and Internet Science
- Date:
- 2014-2018
- Theme:
- Bionanotechnology and Biosensors
- Funding:
- University PGR studentship
Relatively recently it has been demonstrated that nanopores can be used for label-free detection of single biomolecules. Conceptually this is similar to a classical Coulter counter, where the passage of a bacterial cell through a micropore causes a temporary partial blockage of the pore, which is detected as a short-lived decrease in electrical current (~aqueous electrolyte) flowing through the micropore, with the frequency of current block events ('pulses') correlating to the bacterium concentration. In this project, the biological nanopore a-hemolysin is used for the detection of nucleic acid biomarkers by resistive pulse sensing. The nanopore is incorporated in aperture-suspended lipid bilayers and nucleic acids are made to traverse the pore by application of a transmembrane potential. Probe DNA is added to the sample to create probe-target duplexes that cause a deeper and longer-lifetime current block than non-complexed non-target molecules, enabling specific single-molecule detection of the biomarker in a complex sample.
Primary investigators
- Maurits De Planque
- Dr Philip Williamson (Biological Sciences)
Secondary investigator
- Josip Ivica
Associated research group
- Electronics and Electrical Engineering
- Date:
- 2014-2014
- Theme:
- Bionanotechnology and Biosensors
- Funding:
- NC3Rs
Animals are currently needed to perform cardiac pharmacology and toxicology studies on novel compounds with potential therapeutic value before their use in clinical practice. A potential alternative is the use of human stem cell-derived cardiac cells but, with the current culture protocols, they present poorly developed features of adult cardiac cells and therefore are inadequate for drug testing. Here, we aim to develop a novel, in vitro system consisting of cell culture platforms with special structural and mechanical properties designed to encourage maturation of human stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes into tissues with relevant structure and physiology. These platforms will allow the use of a simple method to monitor cardiac contractility, a frequent target of cardiac and non-cardiac drugs that is currently difficult to monitor in toxicology settings. In order to obtain the maturation of the stem cell-derived cardiac cells, we will engineer flexible membranes using Parylene-C, a biocompatible and durable polymer, already used for other bioengineering purposes. The novel application of this material consists in the fabrication of very thin membranes to be used as a cell culture substrate. As adult cardiac tissue is formed by elongated, carefully aligned cells, the cell culture membranes will be patterned to obtain the deposition of the cells into parallel lines. This will be achieved by oxygen plasma treatment, a technique that makes the membrane differentially hydrophilic in predetermined areas, allowing adhesion of the cells only in certain configurations. In these conditions the cells will develop a shape and structure that is more similar to mature cardiac cells. To study contractility we will develop an optical system and associated software for a reproducible and reliable image movement analysis. This method will be incorporated in an existing system developed for the screening of large number of compounds and used in combination with other techniques, to provide a comprehensive assessment of the response to drug treatment. If successful this system will also be employed for studies into the mechanisms of cardiac disease, with further, significant reduction of the use of animals for research.
Associated research group
- Nano Research Group
- Date:
- 2014-2017
- Themes:
- Bionanotechnology and Biosensors, Medical Engineering
- Funding:
- EPSRC
Our aim is to develop a low-cost real-time protein detection device to continuously monitor cytokines during in-vitro culture that could eventually expand in clinical practice. We will do this by exploiting discrete electronic components as chemical sensors that are compatible with unique microfluidic chips for minimising the overall cost of the device in combination with small size enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) chambers that minimise antibody requirements. We aspire achieving this by adapting well established manufacturing techniques, currently employed in fabricating printed-circuit boards (PCBs), that could effortlessly render bespoke functionalised electrodes coupled with üm-scale fluidic channels/chambers.
Primary investigator
Secondary investigator
Partners
- Peter Kelleher, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London
- Panagiotis Pantelidis, Infection and Immunity, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
- Louise Greathead, Infection and Immunity, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Associated research groups
- Nano Research Group
- Southampton Nanofabrication Centre
- Date:
- 2012-2017
- Themes:
- Nanoelectronics, Photovoltaics and Energy
- Funding:
- EPSRC
Summary
An alternative paradigm for enhancing the light utilisation in photovoltaic (PV) devices is the use of nano-particles of metals in order to make superior use of the optical field. Since the size and shape of nano-particles act as tuning variables for plasmonic effects, it should be possible to design schemes to enhance different PV technologies in wavelength regions where they could perform better. The structures could be introduced at various interfaces within a PV device. Issues are surface recombination and absorption losses, both of which are potentially significant if the density of nanoparticles is high.In order to thoroughly understand the influence of plasmonics on the PV materials and devices by experiment, carrier lifetime measurements and photoconductivity measurements can be performed. The aim of this project is to produce a test platform which can be used to measure the change in photoconductivity of a thin layer of silicon due to the presence of a variety of plasmonic nanostructures on the surface.
Method
We have chosen the asymmetric metal-semiconductor-metal photodetector as the basis for our plasmonic structure test platform as these devices are known to have fast response times and high sensitivities. We are optimizing the dimensions of the MSM photodetector, such as distance between metal fingers, width and lengths of metal fingers, thickness of the silicon device layer and thickness of the SiO2 passivation layer using simulations built in Athena/Atlas software. The simulation results are being used to guide the design of MSM devices for our plasmonic structure test platform. Fabrication of the initial MSM devices is currently underway.Next steps
Following fabrication and testing of the MSM devices, plasmonic structures will be placed in between the metal fingers using ebeam lithography and lift-off or deposition from a liquid suspension. Photoconductivity measurements will then be performed using the IV characteristic measurement systems.Key References
1. Barnard, E. S.; Pala, R. A. and Brongersma, M. L. ââ¬ÅPhotocurrent mapping of near-field optical antenna resonancesââ¬?, Nature Nanotechnology, 2011, 9, 588-593 2. Chui, C. O.; Okyay, A. and Saraswat, K. ââ¬ÅEffective dark current suppression with asymmetric MSM photodetectors in Group IV semiconductorsââ¬?, Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE, 2003, 15, 1585-1587 3. Sesuraj, Rufina S.A.; Temple, T.L. and Bagnall, D.M. ââ¬ÅOptical characterisation of a spectrally tunable plasmonic reflector for application in thin film silicon solar cells.ââ¬? Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 2013, 111, 23-30.Primary investigators
- Pavlos.Lagoudakis
- Stuart Boden
- Asa Asadollahbaik
Secondary investigator
Associated research group
- Nano Research Group