- Date:
- 2008-
- Themes:
- Communication and Networking, Wireless Networking, Channel coding, Pervasive Healthcare and Telemedicine, Healthcare in ECS, Low-Energy Sustainable Systems
There is demand for Body Area Wireless Sensor Networks (BAWSNs) in which the sensor nodes are small and light, preventing the use of bulky batteries. In order to maximise the length of time that the sensor nodes can operate without being recharged, their energy consumption needs to be minimised. Since the energy consumed when transmitting has a significant contribution to the energy consumption of typical wireless sensor nodes, it is desirable to consider sophisticated error correction schemes, which allow reliable communications to be maintained when the transmission energy per data bit is reduced significantly. However, these error correction schemes are associated with some processing complexity, which consumes energy and erodes the transmission energy savings that are afforded. This project aims to analyse the processing energy consumption associated with sophisticated error correction schemes, allowing the optimal trade-off between processing energy and transmission energy to be found. In this way, the net energy consumption of wireless sensor nodes can be minimised.
Primary investigator
- ll08r
Secondary investigators
Associated research groups
- Pervasive Systems Centre
- Communications Research Group
- Electronic Systems and Devices Group
- Electronics and Electrical Engineering
Embedded systems based on system-on-chip (SoC) are making their way into more and more devices, from household appliances to hand-held devices, from satellite applications to automobiles, sensors, etc. Since many of these systems are battery powered, power consumption is a prime design issue to extend battery life. Also, to optimize system performance the design of efficient on-chip communication architecture is a crucial design requirement.
An emerging requirement of the current and the future SoCs is the ability to operate in the presence of soft errors caused by radiation. However, addressing the power minimization and reliability improvement simultaneously is difficult because lowering voltage to reduce power consumption has been reported to exponentially increase the number of transient faults or soft errors. Such power reduction also causes degradation of system performance as operating frequency is also reduced. Therefore, with increasing complexity of applications and short time-to-market requirements, the design of low power, efficient and reliable system is a truly challenging task.
The aim of this project is to develop efficient on-chip communication architectures for multiprocessor SoCs and to devise system-level design techniques, which are able to simultaneously meet both low power consumption and reliability requirements. The impact of soft errors on reliability is investigated at application-level rather than at architectural-level. Based on the investigation, novel power minimization technique has been developed meeting a specified acceptable-level reliability and real-time performance for a given soft error rate. Furthermore, the impact of application system tasks mapping on reliability has been studied. Underpinning this study, a novel design optimization technique has been developed to jointly minimize power consumption through voltage scaling and the number of soft errors experienced through application task mapping. The effectiveness of the proposed techniques is evaluated using different applications, including MPEG-2 video decoder and random task graphs.
Primary investigator
Secondary investigator
- ras06r
Associated research group
- Pervasive Systems Centre
- Date:
- 2009-2012
- Themes:
- Web Science, Knowledge Technologies, Decentralised Information Systems
- Funding:
- EPSRC (EP/G008493/1)
The EPSRC funded Advanced Knowledge Technologies Interdisciplinary Research Collaboration (AKT IRC) has been a significant success in terms of papers published, grants awarded, students trained, and international impact. The Review Panel rated the project as "outstanding" scoring 34 out of a maximum possible 35 on the seven review criteria used to assess the results of projects by the EPSRC. The purpose of this proposal is to take some of the most important results from AKT and organise a next stage of research. This in turn will serve as a precursor to a longer-term ambition; the establishment of Web Science as a discipline. This initiative we are undertaking with the Web's inventor Professor Sir Tim Berners-Lee and MIT.
The development of new Semantic Web technologies (many developed and researched in the AKT IRC) points to a new generation of Web capability that can explore and query, assemble and integrate content in a context-aware, focused fashion. The basic idea is that we move from a document centric view of the Web to one in which data and information are the principle objects of interest. This data may relate to people, scientific structures, financial transactions or any domain that can be represented on the Web.
With the emergence of a Web of data it is essential to address three key research problems; (1) how to build ontologies quickly that are capable of exploiting the potential of large-scale user participation, (2) how we query an unbounded web of linked data, (3) how to visualise, explore, browse and navigate this mass of data.
The proposal is to undertake fundamental research in the areas 1-3 identified above. This fundamental research is supported via two application domains; one in the area of public sector information, a second in the domain of transport. The application domains will provide the context in which to gather realistic requirements, understand the social aspects that determine the success or otherwise of the systems constructed, test the adequacy of solutions, and showcase the promise of the results obtained in pursuing the research objectives outlined.
Primary investigator
Secondary investigators
- timbl
- Nicholas Gibbins
- Wendy Hall
- monica schraefel
- gc3
- Ian Charles Millard
- ms8
- Temitope Omitola
- clk08r
- ip2g09
- yy1402
- Hugh Glaser
Associated research groups
- Intelligence, Agents, Multimedia Group
- Agents, Interaction and Complexity
- Web and Internet Science
- Date:
- 2009-2010
- Theme:
- Accessible Technologies
- Funding:
- (Computer Aid International)
The project aim is to produce an open source Windows based screen magnifier that will run from a USB pen drive and work in line with the NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA) free and open source screen reader for use by visually impaired users.
Although magnification in various forms is available on Windows XP and Vista with complete screen magnification on Windows 7 it is felt that these systems do not offer a portable solution with links to an open source screen reader or such options as:
- Invert on screen colours for better contrast, providing users with multiple colour combinations to choose from for text, foreground and background.
- Font smoother
- Level of magnification: fractional magnification
- Full Screen Magnification
- Magnifying Lens
- Strip Magnifier
- Vertical and Horizontal Split Screens
- Ability of visualising the mouse pointer in the magnified area (and changing its colour/size)
- Ability to use the mouse in the magnified area
This project will build on the work of the LATEU funded Access Tools with the accessible USB pen drive menu and inclusion of other free and open source applications.
Primary investigators
Secondary investigators
- Sebastian Skuse
- jc1
- mc5
Associated research group
- Learning Societies Lab
- Date:
- 2009-2011
- Theme:
- Accessible Technologies
- Funding:
- (Paxtoncrafts Charitable Trust)
PicBoard has already been developed as a Windows based application and is used to create and print communication charts. It is a ââ¬Ålow-techââ¬? Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) solution that has many uses, including supporting children with cerebral palsy and adults who have had a stroke. PicBoard has also been installed in several hospitals in Ukraine, for both adult and young clients. The Mulberry Symbols used with Picboard can be found on the Straight Street website.
The original version of PicBoard was written in Borland Delphi (for Windows platforms). Due to the increasing use of many other platforms ( e.g. Linux, Mac, PDA/smartphones), the Paxtoncrafts Charitable Trust now feel the software needs to be rewritten as a web application to reach a wider audience.
While some 'high-tech' solutions exist to help with communication (such as dynamic speech output devices), many clients are not able to use these (for example, many pre-school children with such disabilities), so an interactive web based tool that can support the development of customised speech charts, communication books and wall signs etc can be invaluable to many individuals, families, friends and therapists.
The major benefit of making this AAC solution a web application will also be the collaborative nature of producing charts. Currently, individual efforts are made by therapists at each PC, but this project will allow charts to be stored to a global library for everyone to peruse. The time devoted to producing such charts is very time-consuming and this will become a rich resource for therapists.
This project will use the combined benefits of Open Source and Open Content to bring an important resource to clients who cannot access such communication tools due to cost barriers. JISC OSS Watch will be advising on this aspect of the project.
Primary investigators
Secondary investigator
- Sebastian Skuse
Partner
- Garry Paxton
Associated research group
- Learning Societies Lab
- Date:
- 2009-2012
- Themes:
- Energy Harvesting, Modeling and Simulation, Systems Design, Energy Harvesting & Sensing Devices, Low-Energy Sustainable Systems, Low-Energy Sustainable Systems
- Funding:
- EPSRC (EP/G067740/1)
We are entering an era of electronic systems powered, or at least augmented, by energy harvesters. Future self-powered applications will require electronic systems that are more complex and compact but also intelligent, adaptive and able to perform more computation with less energy. ââ¬ÅNext Generation Energy-Harvesting Electronics: Holistic Approachââ¬? is a ã1.6M collaborative research project funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) which began in November 2009. The project consortium consists of over 20 people at four Universities (Southampton, Imperial, Newcastle and Bristol) working in collaboration with five industrial partners: QinetiQ, Diodes Inc., ARM, NXP, and Mentor Graphics.
The project recognises the high level of interaction in an energy harvesting system, from the design and properties of the micro-generator and power conversion electronics, to the design and architecture of the load and the algorithms and applications that operate on it. This approach aims to maximise the available harvested energy and the efficiency with which it is used, and is fundamental to ultra energy-efficient design and to the miniaturisation of next-generation wireless electronics. These developments are needed in emerging application areas, including pervasive healthcare and autonomous environmental and industrial monitoring.
The three themes of the project are:
- Adaptive, High-Efficiency Micro Generators: This project is advancing the state-of-the-art by developing a micro-generator capable of adapting its resonant frequency and damping. This will achieve, for the first time, ââ¬Ëbroadband and resonantââ¬â¢ energy harvesting, thereby representing a step-change in the average power density. This theme is also investigating the interactions between an adaptive micro-generator and the power conditioning and control circuitry. This aspect of the research is investigating and designing circuit architectures that provide an efficient interface between the micro-generator and load electronics, thus linking with the second theme.
- Energy Harvesting-Aware Computation Circuits: The project is investigating energy-harvester-aware design methods for computational logic that are capable of working with variable and unpredictable energy sources. This will radically advance the state-of-the-art in ultra low power design and expand it into the area of power-adaptive electronics and computing. This research includes the investigation of generic design techniques for highly adaptive computational circuits, and the investigation of asynchronous and synchronous processor designs specifically for energy harvesting applications.
- Integrated Modelling & Performance Optimisation for Energy Harvesting Systems: To achieve optimisation of the whole energy harvesting system, the project is investigating and developing an integrated modelling and performance optimisation methodology to underpin the generation of an automated design toolkit. This will allow the modelling, simulation and optimisation of vibration-based energy harvesters. A version will be made available at the end of the project to enable users to develop bespoke system solutions where required. To support automated optimisation, the project is also investigating methods and techniques for making dramatic improvements in the simulation performance of energy harvesting systems.
For further information, please visit www.holistic.ecs.soton.ac.uk.
Primary investigator
Secondary investigators
Partners
- Newcastle University
- Imperial College London
- University of Bristol
- ARM Ltd
- Mentor Graphics Europe
- NXP Semiconductors
- QinetiQ Ltd
- Zetex PLC
Associated research groups
- Electronic Systems and Devices Group
- Electronics and Electrical Engineering
- Date:
- 2010-2012
- Themes:
- Energy Harvesting, Energy Harvesting & Sensing Devices, Low-Energy Sustainable Systems, Low-Energy Sustainable Systems
- Funding:
- EPSRC (EP/H013458/1)
The Energy Harvesting Network is an EPSRC funded network of UK academic and industrial researchers and end-users of energy harvesting (EH) technology. Specifically, the primary objectives of the Network are to:
- Define new challenges in EH research and address them through new multidisciplinary teams.
- Facilitate the interaction and mobility of EH researchers.
- Ensure wide dissemination of the advances in the science and the developments of the technology.
Primary investigator
Secondary investigator
Associated research groups
- Electronic Systems and Devices Group
- Electronics and Electrical Engineering
- Date:
- 2008-2012
- Themes:
- Solid dielectrics, Space and surface charge, Modelling and Simulation, Nanomaterials and Dielectrics
The polyethylene is widely used for electrical cable insulation in power cables. This material is prone to develop an inevitable effect of electrical and chemical degradation after some long-standing operation. Due to the physical and engineering importance of this phenomenon, significant effort has gone into tackling this problem, using approaches relevant to the interference of ageing mechanism, to space charge measurement and to the identification of the chemical nature of traps. The aspect on space charge phenomena has been extensively analyzed recently. The occurrence of space charge within these polymeric materials and subsequently electroluminance would introduce an early ageing effect. To assist the space charge analysis, various space charge profiling and measuring tools have been developed recently, such as PEA (Pulsed Electro-Acoustic) method. Electroluminance has been studied under both dc and ac fields. In addition, the research area on this topic has gradually extended to the numerical-computational technique of analyzing the space charge dynamics via simulation based on various space charge models.
Primary investigators
Secondary investigator
- jz208r
Associated research group
- Electronics and Electrical Engineering
- Theme:
- Solid dielectrics
Polymeric electrets have been widely used as a sensor due to their light weight and low cost. The long term performance and relaibility of the sensors rely on the charge stability. Surface potential measurement is one of the most useful tools to gauge electrical properties of materials. However, the surface charges (or surface potential) tend to decay over a period of time, therefore, affects the lifetime of the sensor. For corona charged sample, it has been observed that the potential of sample with an initial high surface potential decays faster than that with an initial lower surface potential, known as cross-over phenomenon. This mechanism is also affected by room temperature, humidity and initial charging time. The phenomenon has been found a few decades ago and various theories and models have been proposed. The common feature of the existing models is that they are all based on single charge carrier injection from corona charged surface. With our recent space charge measurement results on corona charged sample, double injection from both electrodes has been verified. Based on this new fact, a new model based on bipolar charge injection has been proposed. In this research, the details of the new model will be tested both experimentally and numerically. If fully verified, it is expected that a new set of parameters related to the material can be extracted and these parameters can be useful in assess the material. Having understood the charge transport mechanisms, another objective of the present project is to improve the stability of the charge. The improvement could be achieved by using nano particles loaded polymers.
Primary investigators
- George Chen
- mr
Secondary investigator
- yz205
Associated research groups
- Electrical Power Engineering
- Electronics and Electrical Engineering
- Theme:
- Solid dielectrics
Polymeric electrets have been widely used as a sensor due to their light weight and low cost. The long term performance and relaibility of the sensors rely on the charge stability. Surface potential measurement is one of the most useful tools to gauge electrical properties of materials. However, the surface charges (or surface potential) tend to decay over a period of time, therefore, affects the lifetime of the sensor. For corona charged sample, it has been observed that the potential of sample with an initial high surface potential decays faster than that with an initial lower surface potential, known as cross-over phenomenon. This mechanism is also affected by room temperature, humidity and initial charging time. The phenomenon has been found a few decades ago and various theories and models have been proposed. The common feature of the existing models is that they are all based on single charge carrier injection from corona charged surface. With our recent space charge measurement results on corona charged sample, double injection from both electrodes has been verified. Based on this new fact, a new model based on bipolar charge injection has been proposed. In this research, the details of the new model will be tested both experimentally and numerically. If fully verified, it is expected that a new set of parameters related to the material can be extracted and these parameters can be useful in assess the material. Having understood the charge transport mechanisms, another objective of the present project is to improve the stability of the charge. The improvement could be achieved by using nano particles loaded polymers.
Primary investigators
- George Chen
- mr
Secondary investigator
- yz205
Associated research groups
- Electrical Power Engineering
- Electronics and Electrical Engineering