Category: CSE Project Reports

Project Title: QoS in VoIP networks

Project Description:

Voice over IP (VoIP) technology is rapidly emerging in the telecommunication market. It enables a telecommunication company to employ a single network to transmit both data and voice traffic. The VoIP technology is gaining popularity in the enterprise and residential markets because the quality of the voice packets transmitted over the IP network is comparable to the quality of analog signals sent over the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

Aims and objectives:

To review, study, model and analyse some of the following:
• VoIP applications and architectures (Consumer, Enterprise, Service Provider)
• VoIP devices (telephones, gateways, servers)
• VoIP signalling protocols and codecs (H.323, SIP, MGCP, G711)
• Transport layer protocols (UDP,IP,RTP)
• VoIP performance metrics (Delay, Jitter, MOS)
• QoS mechanism for VoIP (Queueing, IntServ, DiffServ, MPLS-TE)
• Types of queuing systems (FIFO, Priority, ToS, WFQ)
• VoIP vendors and current trends

Product Details:

The primary aim of the project is use OPNET’s ITGURU modelling software to model and analyse the performance of a mixed traffic network with particular emphasis on the roll out of VoIP applications.

Resources Required:

OPNET ITGURU modelling software

Project Title: Load Balancing

Project Description:

The goal of this project is to design and implement a load balancing network for typical TCP/IP applications and offer support for the integration of a time dependent applications such as voice over IP. A range of load balancers from different manufacturers are offered as part of the Load Balancers library in ITGURU. Use each one of these devices to create a distinct number of scenarios to study the performance of a baseline networking infrastructure that is made of an homogeneous set of components from a network technology at your own choice.

Product Details:

At the end of the project simulation a number of simulation configurations scenarios will be completed and successfully tested. The implementation will use the Communications Systems and Networks simulator; ITGURU. The project will focus on the general aspect of load balancing applications for the integration of multimedia communications

Project Title: Fault Detection and isolation of Combined Heat and Power Units

Project Description:
The development of a fault detection scheme for industrial combined heat and power units (CHP) is required. The CHP units are operated unmanned, an onboard microcontroller connected to a central control via a modem link. Prediction of the fouling in the heat recovery process will allow reduced energy loss and unit down-time. The CHP units incorporate two heat exchangers for waste heat recovery; theses are prone to surface fouling , causing serious maintenance problems, loss of revenue and reduced energy recovery. The build up of surface deposits on either side of the heat exchangers is difficult to detect at an early stage from direct examination of data from sensors, and a unit can operate for many months with a reduced heat transfer rate. Often the first sign that a heat exchanger has fouling problems is when an alarm is triggered due to abnormal operating temperatures in the fluid. Analysis of historical data will be carried out to develop an appropriate method of detecting fouling build up in each heat exchanger at an early stage.

Product Details:
A software program will be developed for detecting the on-set of fouling deposits which can be used by CHP engineers to rectify fouling problems at a planned unit stop reducing downtime and increasing heat recovery. The program will incorporate a technique for distinguishing between assignable fault conditions and random data variation to provide statistical justification of a developing fault condition.

Resources Required:
Matlab software

Project Title: Evaluation of alternative materials for use in 3D printing – creating 3D printing simulator using HP printer for evaluation purposes.

Project Description:

Evaluation of alternative materials for use in 3D printing – creating 3D printing simulator using HP printer for evaluation purposes. The proposal is to use a HP Bubble Jet Printer to simulate the ZCorp machine to enable different powdered materials to be evaluated without causing any damage or invalidating any service contracts on the ZCorp 406 machine.

Product Details:

3D printer simulator.

Resources Required:

CAD System,
HP Bubble Jet Printer (Black)
Z Corp 3D printer
Materials testing

Project Title: Development of a process loop simulator for supervisory statistical process control analysis 

Project Description:
Statistical Process Control (SPC) tools have been traditionally applied to discrete manufacturing rather than continuous process industries. Major problems are encountered when directly applying SPC to continuous processes due to autocorrelated data and the complexity of the data structures. SPC tools can be used to supervise process loops however. The development of a process control loop simulator is required for the continued development of such techniques.

Product Details:
A software program will be developed based on a model of a heat exchanger unit controlled by a three term controller. Noise models and uncertainty will be incorporated to simulate realistic process data for SPC analysis. The program will allow the application of on-line series models for research purposes.

Resources Required:
Matlab computing environment

Project Title: Development of a Hardware in the Loop/ Rapid Controller Prototyping facility for automotive chassis control

Project Description:

This project will involve the development of a hardware-in-the-loop/Rapid controller prototyping facility for automotive controller evaluation. The initial phase of the project will focus on the mechatronic design and implementation of actuators and sensors to model the tyre forces at each wheel. These could include, hydraulics and/or electromagnetic machines. The second phase is to interface this hardware with the vehicle dynamics software. The third phase is to incorporate a real Electronic Control Unit running in the software/hardware loop.

Product Details:
A hardware in the loop/rapid controller prototyping facility

Resources Required:
No additional resources

Courses Suitability:

• Computer Network Technology
• Electronic Systems Design
• Design and Manufacture
• Mechanical Engineering
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering
• Mechatronics
• Virtual Product Development

Project Title: Detection of Diesel Generator Coupling Failure

Project Description:

A fault detection system is required for the drive coupling of an experimental 40kW diesel generator. Sensors for measuring the rotational speed of the unit are fitted on the generator, not the diesel engine. Consequently, in the event of the coupling shearing, as has happened previously, the plant control system causes the unit to overspeed. A statistical model is required of the engine speed that will be compared with the measured speed of the generator to check for excessive shear in the drive coupling.

Product Details:
A fault detection program will be developed that can be incorporated into the control system, and will initiate an emergency shutdown procedure in the event of coupling failure. Residuals of the model will be monitored with statistical process control tools to allow a distinction to be made between sensor noise and an assignable fault condition.

Resources Required:
PC + mathematical analysis software such as Matlab