Acoustic echo cancellation

Dr. Erik Weyer (EW4): Sanjay Chhanabhai, Steven Kouloumendas, Jeyapiragash Maheswaran

A huge problem in video-conferencing, teleconferencing and Internet telephony today is the feedback of echoes. This highly undesirable phenomenon leads to the speaker hearing his own speech. Further challenges come from changing room conditions, such as the movement of people and objects. This makes the echo cancellation problem complex as it must be adaptable in different room and environment dynamics.

In this project, algorithms are developed for techniques that allow for removal of these disturbances from the speech signal prior to further processing. We will use a digital signal processing approach, involving both simulation (MATLAB) and implementation (VisualDSP++) to provide a clear, consistent and distortion-free conferencing environment.

Active noise cancellation

Dr. Brian Krongold (BK2): Kerry Kotanidis, Syafeq Sukeri

The aim of our project is to analyse the characteristics of noise in order to actively cancel it out. The practical aspect of our project will involve configuring a set of noise cancelling headphones, and can be further developed into cancelling noise in a closed space such inside a car. This will involve implementing an adaptive filter that changes over time according to the characteristics of the noise that is being cancelled. Implementing such a scheme in real time will involve programming a DSP with a suitable algorithm.

Adaptive noise control system

Dr. Erik Weyer (EW5): Yu Chien Cheong, Chee Kiat Tan

High-density housing exposes residents to noise from a variety of sources. Health-related noise problems become more evident as larger amounts of industrial equipment such as engines, fans and transformers are used.

The Adaptive Noise Control (ANC) system introduces a cancelling "anti-noise" signal through an appropriate array of secondary sources. ANC is an effective way to attenuate noise that is very difficult and expensive to control. This project aims to build and apply an ANC system in a confined area to produce a silent zone within a noisy region.

Automatic speaker/speech recognition

Dr. Brian Krongold (BK1): Harvey Hao, John Tang, Qing Xing Zhou

Do you think that a device that recognises speakers' voices will change our everyday lives? Voice recognition technology has major applications in many areas, from security systems and automatic telephoning to consumer appliances. Our project is to develop a voice recognition system to distinguish between different peoples' voices in real time.

After receiving a small amount of speech, our system will analyse your voice to be able to recognise it and separate it from a group of other voices. To develop this system, we are implementing a Gaussian mixture model using the C programming language.

Broadband wireless access: Technology behind the IEEE 802.16 WirelessMAN(tm) standard

Dr. Chandra Athaudage (CA1): Hoe Yaw How, Hing Huat Lim

Broadband wireless access (BWA) has been a hot topic for the past few decades as it provides high-speed Internet access and transmission of integrated data, voice and video without costly wiring and infrastructures. One of the most compelling aspects of BWA technology is its ease of deployment whereby networks can be created in just weeks by installing a small number of base stations on high ground.

The recent development of the IEEE 802.16-2004 standard, which specifies the Wireless MAN Air Interface for wireless metropolitan area networks, has proven to be a cost-effective alternative to cable and DSL services. The aim of our project is to understand and simulate the IEEE 802.16-2004 air-interface, in particular the physical layer. We will develop a software simulation in MATLAB that will provide an understanding of advanced wireless communication concepts such as Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) and Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) communications. These form the basis of high-speed, reliable and spectrally-efficient wireless transmissions.

Codes over rings

Dr. Margreta Kuijper (MK1): Lit Khong Chin, Gagandra Satkunanathan

Nonlinear binary block codes are a type of channel coding which enable increased error protection. For many years, researchers have struggled with these codes as they were difficult to implement, and as a result only linear binary codes were generally implemented. In the 90s, a breakthrough paper found that these codes could be interpreted as linear nonbinary codes, defining these nonbinary codes over a so-called ring. The particular ring in this context is {0,1,2,3} with operations modulo 4. Our project will show that rings are an useful mathematical concept by implementing certain nonlinear binary block codes defined by a ring.

This is a semester-long project, and may not be available for viewing on the day of the exhibition.

Coherent communications

Dr. William Shieh (WS2): Yu Rong Jia, Suet Ping Siew

Fiber optic technology is currently used by telecommunications companies to provide faster broadband and telephone connections. We aim to improve the efficiency of the optical systems by applying coherent communications techniques. These are well known in the context of radio and microwave communications systems. In coherent communications, information is carried within the frequency or the phase of the carrier signal.

Our project will construct a receiver to extract the information transmitted via fiber optic cables by coherent detection techniques. This will involve implementing a phase locked loop to ensure the frequency of a local oscillator exactly matches the carrier frequency, and whose phase is locked to the incoming signal.

Control of a ball and beam system

Dr. Chung-Yao Kao (CK2): Han Su, Ang Sun, Qing Zhang

Control of a ball and beam system

A ball and beam system consists of a solid ball and a motor-powered beam. The beam is originally balanced at its pivot point, but once the ball is placed on the beam, the system becomes unbalanced. The ball makes the beam lean down towards one side, resulting in the ball rolling along the beam.

In this project, we will design and implement a controller that will stabilise the ball on the beam from any initial position, by controlling the inclination of the beam. Mathematical modelling and control theory methods will be used to design and implement the beam controller.

Deinterleaving of pulse trains

Dr. Mark Morelande (MM1): Man Wai Sham, Danny Wan

Radar signals are used in a very wide range of applications, including vehicle speed detection and searching for survivors in rescue operations. Because this communication channel has a limited bandwidth, signals from multiple pulses are combined together during the transmission process.

The process of deinterleaving involves separating each source at the receiver end. The aim of this project is to study the process of deinterleaving single and multiple pulse signals with several different schemes. We will compare and contrast these schemes in terms of robustness and simulation cost, using Matlab to model both theoretical and realistic situations.

This is a semester-long project, and may not be available for viewing on the day of the exhibition.

Detection of seizure in infants using EEG

Prof. Iven Mareels (IM4): Mark Onisiforou

The electroencephalograph (EEG) is designed to measure the electrical activity of the brain. By using the data gathered from EEG my task is to detect seizures in infants using a number of algorithms. Early detection of epilepsy in infants is crucial, as a failure to act quickly and accurately diagnose a seizure can lead to long-term brain damage or even death.

By using software such as Matlab, I will implement and test several algorithms that detect when seizures in infants are occurring. A comparison will then be made between the algorithms to determine which algorithm produces the most accurate results and under what circumstances.

This is a semester-long project, and may not be available for viewing on the day of the exhibition.

Distributed congestion control in data networks

Dr. Girish Nair (GN1): Andrew McGree

One method of dealing with congestion in data networks is to use distributed feedback. Data sources which can adjust their transmission rates are called Available Bit Rate (ABR). Each ABR source transmits a Resource Management (RM) cell, the contents of which are marked by switches according to the level of congestion in the network. Once the RM cell returns to the source, it adjusts its rate accordingly. The aim of this project is to simulate a small ABR network and investigate how it performs in terms of throughput, delay, robustness to change and "fairness". In addition, modifications to the standard - or even a completely new protocol - may be proposed.

Electronic gate system

Dr. Brian Krongold (BK3): Natalie Hutchinson, Liz Vardy

The aim of our project is to devise a security system that is compatible with an automatic gate. An alarm located inside the office will alert the user to the fact that there is someone at the gate. When triggered, the external alarm will simulate the sounds of dogs barking.

The system will include a 2-way intercom system for a range of 40-50 meters, motion detectors, an alarm system, video camera and also remote internet access. The video camera will be used for screening visitors. Remote internet access can be used, for example, when tradesmen are expected to visit the office while the user is offsite.

Endeavour 2006

Prof. Doreen Thomas (DT1): Woo Byung Chae, Derek Chong, Elvin Gan, Pamela Loh, Mervyn Sia

Endeavour is a program hosted by the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. It aims to connect students, industry, and the general public through fostering a greater understanding of the engineering discipline.

The centrepiece of the program is the Endeavour Exhibition. Open to the general public, this event showcases the University's final year electrical and electronic engineering projects. The Exhibition will be held towards the end of the academic year and attracts around 2,500 visitors. An invitation-only Excellence Awards night is held on the evening of the Exhibition, attracting key government members and prominent industry leaders.

Throughout the year, Endeavour runs a number of events supporting students and industry. Endeavour also promotes engineering to secondary schools across regional Victoria and overseas, inviting students to the Exhibition as well as visiting schools to run presentations.

Eye tracking

Dr. Mark Morelande (MM2): Pau Kuan Ng, Hing Yip Pak, Qun Shun Tee

In contact lens fitting, anterior eye parameters such as the relationship between the eye lid position and the corneal centre influence the stability and the centration of the lens on the eye. Hence, anterior eye parameters are important when designing contact lenses.

This project aims to monitor the position of a contact lens mounted on the eye. This is done by implementing an algorithm using MATLAB to estimate the anterior eye parameters as well as tracking the contact lens mounted on eyes in real time.

Foot pressure analysis instrument

A/Prof. Peter Farrell, Dr. Peter Dower (PF4): Christopher Harris, Robert Kennedy, Ben Underwood

The purpose of this project is to produce a reliable, accurate and affordable device for the measurement of pressure experienced on the sole of the foot. These pressure measurements have numerous medical and sporting applications, such as patient recovery or gait analysis.

Completion of this project will require a sensor network coupled with appropriate hardware for real-time data acquisition and wireless data transmission. Additionally, the project requires the development of user-friendly software for analysis and presentation of the captured data.

Game theory and quantum systems simulation

Prof. Bill Moran, Dr. Adrian Flitney, A/Prof. Lloyd Hollenberg, Dr. Andrew Greentree (BM1): Luke Dal Santo, Matthew Kotros

Our project aims to build on the foundations of quantum game theory by developing electrical circuits to simulate simple quantum systems. Classical game theory analyses games of conflict, in order to determine optimal strategies for the players involved. Quantum game theory determines optimal strategies in more general situations.

We shall simulate the two-bit Grover's search algorithm, as well as interactions between two or more players in various quantum games, whose strategies are represented by quantum bits (qubits). Our simulations will be achieved with analogue electronics and also on a programmable gate array. The simulations will increase the visual, and more intuitive, understanding of quantum interactions that occur during quantum algorithms and games. Comparing the simulations will also give researchers an idea of the quality and limitations of each representation.

Generic debugging emulation interface for 4G phones

Dr. Jen Davoren (JD2): Ming Fung Yong, Yi Zhuang

4G is the next generation of wireless access technology, planned to be commercially deployed around 2010. It is expected to have a transmission rate of up to 1 gigabit per second, about 300 times faster than the current 3G network.

We aim to build an IDE (integrated development environment) for future 4G phone developers by producing an interface for the application programmer to write code for the mobile phones’ chip. In technical terms, our key role is to set up a general purpose tool chain environment. By interfacing the GDB server to Eclipse, a debugging session can then be established on a 4G phone platform which has multiple DSPs and ARM RISC cores, via Softronics’s ICE (In-Circuit Emulator).

Graphical animation of dynamic systems

A/Prof. Mohammad Aldeen (MA3): Chin Anh Lim, Danny Yong

This project aims at developing a suite of animation templates (essentially user-friendly and interactive computer programs) to simulate the behavior of dynamic systems, such as passive filters, magnetic circuits and transformers. The animations will be interactive and flexible so that various systems can be tested in real time.

The Java programming language will be used to develop the programs, since it is powerful, flexible and freely available. This would also allow the animations to be run on virtually any computer and be available for educational purposes. Research and analysis on currently available software will also be conducted as part of the development process.

Grip strength training

Mr. Emmanuel Koumoundouros (EK2): Eric Prasetyo, Munhong Tham

Every year there are 48,000 strokes in Australia and this number keeps increasing. A substantial component of stroke rehabilitation involves the patient doing “grip and pinch” strength training. The training requires easily adjustable levels of difficulty to create a flexible recovery path. In addition, the system should provide feedback on how the patient is going.

Rather than unwieldy and inflexible dynamometer that is used in conventional grip strength training, we proposed a dynamic pneumatic system that utilises a special air chamber with adjustable pressure. We aim to create both hardware and software for this system. In particular, it involves physics, sensors, control and signal processing.