Some Endeavour Past Projects

 

Wavelet Image Compression Students: Sara Brooks and Mohammad Tabbara Supervisor: Dr Brian Krongold Prizes: NEC Overall Best Project Trophy; and Rubicon Systems Software Prize

Sara and Mohammad were awarded the prize for Best Software Project and received the NEC Overall Best Project Trophy for Endeavour 2003. Their project involved complex image compression techniques and algorithms that greatly outperform current benchmark encoding techniques, such as JPEG. Their implementation was highly optimised for the PowerPC and is close to commercial-grade software.

Rapidly discriminating between different banknote denominations is a relatively tedious and error-prone task for the vision impaired. Peter and Dan set out to create a portable and inexpensive electronic device for the real-time identification of Australian banknotes. Their device detected the colour of the note using optoelectronic devices and once detected, announced the result orally so that vision impaired people could identify the denomination.

Muscle Strength Tester Students: Ron Gelberg, Claire Sharples, Ryan Slocombe and Byron Wicks Supervisors: A/Professor Mohammad Aldeen and A/Professor Kim Bennell Prizes: Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE) Hardware Prize; and Most Professional Presentation Prize

This project involved the design and construction of a device for measuring muscle strength, particularly of the back and thighs. Its major aim was to provide a suitable device for the testing of osteoporosis in elderly people. Measurement of the strength of back extensor muscles can play a significant role in the treatment of chronic back pain and the most detrimental effects of osteoporosis. Early detection of weakness and then monitoring throughout therapy gives physicians greater control over patient progress and achieves superior patient care. The group developed user friendly personal computer (PC) interfacing to allow the gathering, analysis and storage of data. The final result was an apparatus that measured the force the subject is able to generate with his or her back extensor muscles, with the measurements transferred to the PC via the apparatus-to-PC interfacing medium.
 

	Success Story - Endeavour2000
The Bubble CPAP (Continuous Positive Air Pressure) Alarm Students: Marguerite Fitzgerald and Danielle Forster Supervisor: Emmanuel Koumoundouros In 2000, a number of students won prestigious awards for their final year projects. One of these projects was undertaken by Marguerite Fitzgerald and Danielle Forster, who developed a respiratory alarm system that alerts nurses when an unsafe level of breathing is detected in premature babies. This project won the two students the Siemens 2001 National Innovation Awards for Technical Excellence in Australia. In addition, Marguerite and Danielle were awarded $25,000 in prize money and received national recognition from the Institution of Engineers. The project was successful due to its ability to meet an immediate and serious need in hospitals dealing with premature and newborn babies. In addition, the technology is low-cost, easy to use and readily maintained. Soon to be clinically tested at the Royal Women’s Hospital, the device works in tandem with a monitoring system in which bubbles of air rising in water indicate the baby’s airway pressure level. The Bubble CPAP Alarm measures the vibration caused by the bubbling in the water and is set to alert the nurses if it falls below a safe level for the baby.