To date, there is no equipment available for taking measurements of heart rate and breathing rate that do not require some physical attachment to the subject. Some previous research, done in ECE 480--using very low intensity microwave Doppler RADAR, has shown promise. 

The U.S. Department of Transportation has great need for just such a device. In their research relating to the Intelligent Vehicle Highway System (IVHS), the want to measure the vitals of a driver as he/she operates a specially instrumented motor vehicle, and they require that there be no attachment to, or devices on, the subject. 

Group 1, Transducer Design. 
The transducer will consist of a very low power 25GHz GUNN oscillator/detector combination. Problems of standing wave (VSWR) will need to be addressed, as well as Doppler signal preprocessing. 

Group 2, Signal Processing. 
The first task is to investigate various means of signal interpretation such that the desired information can be segregated from the inherent noise artifacts of such an environment. The second phase is the implementation of the selected approach: a combination of DSP hardware/software. 
 

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 Intelligent Vehicle Highway System (IVHS/ITS)    more info
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In the next few years, there will be a revolution in the motor vehicle transportation environment. The Intelligent Vehicle Highway System, otherwise known as, IVHS, is the nexus for this revolution. There will be a $ 350 billion dollar expenditure over the next five to ten years (maybe longer). It will finally put technology to work on the daily carnage on our streets and highways. 

Both groups: Study sponsor's IVHS proposal, with special attention to the visible light communications modality. 

Group 1, Design Light Emitting Diode Transmitter Arrays 
Design high-speed (~5 Mbaud) LED array driver and modulation circuits. Build, test, and maximize the efficiency of this visible light emitter. Participate in the system's integration, and the design of the Network Communication Protocol (NCP) interface. 

Group 2, Design Detector Technology 
Design wide-band (~5 Mbaud) optical detector array and demodulation circuits. Participate in the system's integration, and the design of the Network Communication Protocol (NCP) interface. 

Group 3, Design the Network Communication Protocol (NCP) 
The goal is the architecture of a special network protocol for this IVHS environment. Although this environment has some unique requirements, the use of standard protocols is encouraged. 
 
 
 

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Coed's Panic Button 
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In the last several years there has been a dramatic increase--on collage campuses--in the number of assaults, robberies, and general harassment--perpetrated against students. 

This project: the "Coed's Panic Button," is an attempt to successfully apply technology to what is otherwise, a "People Problem." 

Both groups: 
Research optimal Panic Button architecture, i.e., most effective frequencies of operation; optimal device design based on human factor criterion, signal propagation and--most important--reliability.

Group 1, Design and build working prototypes of the Coed's Panic Button device, and field test it in conjunction with the transponder group's tests. 

Group 2, Design and build working prototypes of the Transponder Device. Build several (at least 4) transponders and install and field test in conjunction with the panic button group's tests.
 

Alzheimer's TIRIS Tracking System:
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Alzheimer's patients are truly Nature's victims--of the first order. This devastating disease ranges from the mildly afflicted, to those cases who require continual--round-the-clock care, in a nursing home setting. One of the 

A system to track & locate Alzheimer's patients in a nursing home setting. This system would build on the work done so far--using the Tiris system, which overcomes many of the deficiencies in present systems. 

Group 1, Patient device design & area sensor design 
This will require the design of an inexpensive Tiris encoded anklet attachments for the patient. Also, the design of sensor strips that can detect and identify the patient as well as determine the direction of travel. 
 

Group 2, Intra-institutional sensor communications 
A system to detect and communicate the Alzheimer's patient's location in a nursing home or similar environment. 

Group 3, System manager & reporting system design 
A system, using the received data from the various sensors, that will locate and track the Alzheimer's patients in a nursing home setting. 

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Elderly Monitoring     more info
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Group 1, Sensor Design
 

Group 2, Local Communications
 

Group 2, Human Factors Design  (Bill Smith, IE?) 

"Talking Rubber Ducky"
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Infant's Plush Toy "Talking Rubber Ducky." 

Infant's plush animal toy. Mom's voice can be recorded, and plays back when touched.
 

Keyless Lock
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Keyless Lock
Design and install a "Tiris" system on the ECE480 LAB (Da 408). Design an automated screening and reporting system: each LAB user would be issued a Tiris card...
 

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"VolksScope" 
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"VolksScope" 
Device becomes a low cost Oscilloscope when interfaced to Student's TV, or PC. 
The use low cost fast Analog to Digital Converters, a dual port SRAM, and a simple NTSC encoder modulating the video on TV channel 3. Should be modular for increase in speed and/or number of channels. 
 

Talking Fire Alarm
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Built in a home smoke detector is a non-volatile speech unit that announces emergency instructions to the occupants in the event of a fire. Besides announcing "FIRE, FIRE, FIRE," (in concert with the audible alarm) the very loud message will remind the sleepy and confused occupants to "Drop to the floor and crawl; feel the door knob for heat; where to meet outside..." etc. The unit's message can be recorded by the owner with suggested non-confusing messages suggested. 
 
 

Intelligent Intersection
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Confusion reigns supreme at any intersection where vehicles and people "interact". Design an intelligent intersection that can inform anyone using it just what the intersection's status is at anytime, i.e., when can I cross, how much time do I have to cross, when can I turn right, etc. The main feature will be non-confusing signs, both crosswalk signs, as well as, "countdown clocks" for drivers.
 

Short Range Child Security System
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Automated Target Scoring     more info
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Automated Target Scoring
Build on previous work; this version to be put on a IBM PC clone 

Chaotic Color Organ 
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Chaotic Color Organ 
 
 

Hall-Effect Glove
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Hall-Effect Glove 
 
 

VR LASER Ceiling

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Child Security Transponder
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There is a need for a system for keeping track of young students traveling in chaperoned groups (<15) along guided nature trails or in wooded areas. The envisioned system would have the chaperone or teacher wearing a small radio transceiver and each student wearing a small individually addressable transponder. The chaperone's device will continually transmit or poll each student's transponder and listen for the appropriate response. This response will be in the form of a "chirped" FM signal having a phase delay proportional the round trip--from the chaperone's transmitter, to the child's receiver and translated (re-transmitted on different frequency) back to the chaperone's receiver. The receiver would alert the chaperone to anyone beyond a prescribed distance (~75 feet). 

This is a recurring project that is more complex in its implementation than is first apparent. Success will be predicated on the designers' ability to apply good RF practices: detail to the several RF paths involved, proper antenna design, etc. is paramount. 
 

Blind Reckoning 
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The needs of people with various impairments are being addressed as never before. However, the blind still have to navigate the streets and crosswalks in increasing traffic. 

Proposed:
On heavily traveled (pedestrian traffic) streets, street corners and crosswalks could be equipped with very short range induction transmitters broadcasting information about that particular location. A blind person wearing a simple inexpensive receiver in an earpiece would be able to navigate these areas with much surer knowledge of where they were as well when and if they can cross a street. 

Also, to aid in staying inside the crosswalk, 2 buried wires--one on each side--would emit signals such that as the person strayed from the center-line, they would hear a "dit-dah" or "dah-dit" tone, if they are staying in the center they hear a continuous tone. [1] Further, the tones might indicate when nearing the curb (sudden rise in loudness, etc.). 

[1] This technique was used in early aircraft navigation, it was called the "A" & "N" radio range or Adcock range. Also, I used this approach back in the seventies--with good success--in an automated skid trailer for NCDOT. It allowed the skid trailer driver to maintain a target speed. Note: If "dit-dah" and "dah-dit" overlap they make a continuous tone. 

Star-Scope from BW CCD TV Camera 
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CCD cameras have the unique ability to be scanned at just about any rate. Astronomers use special chilled CCD cameras in place of film for long time-exposures (hours). 

If one were to slow down the frame rate of a conventional CCD by 1/2, there is a doubling of light sensitivity. This can be done several more times until the law of diminishing-returns stops any further improvement. However, if one cools the image sensor: for every 7 degrees centigrade, there is a corresponding 6dB S/N improvement. Cooling of the sensor can be accomplished by a relatively inexpensive Peltier thermoelectric cooler. 

I have gotten good results using a 8:1 reduction in scan rate: just the light from an oscilloscope gave a discernible image; a heated soldering iron glows brightly. Also, CCDs can see in both near infrared and ultraviolet (either side of human vision). 
 

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Remote Medicine Data Gathering 
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Because medical doctors are reluctant to go into prisons, there is a need for an inexpensive system to gather medical data to aid in remote medical diagnosis and examinations. This would take the form of a very small high resolution color CCD TV camera. (similar to the 5/8 inch camera used on the Gilbarco project). By the use of easily installed adapters, the single camera would serve several function: viewing the ear, nose and throat, basically replacing the several instruments used by doctors during an examination. Also it might serve as an endoscope with the proper adapter. 

There is also a need for other diagnostic inputs, such as heart sounds, breathing sounds, as well as EKG data acquisition. 

These signals would be formatted and interfaced with the appropriate communications channel for transmission to the "remote doctor." 

Sponsors:  Applied Communications Concepts (ACC), RTP,   Contact: Sarkis Zartarian
   ECU Medical School,      Contact: David Balch
   (North Carolina Central Prison)

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Television Ambience 

A scheme whereby the environment of the TV viewer, e.g., the living room, is modified to complement the ongoing story line/scene. The simplest form would be room lighting modification: as the scene changes to night time the room lighting would very slowly "sink," or reduce in intensity, as well as, color or tonal quality. Likewise, when the scene becomes daylight again, the lighting complies--unnoticed by the viewer. 

This "local" control could be controlled by some intelligent DSP type device, i.e., dark video equals lowered lighting, etc., or in the form of prerecorded (and edited) instructions embedded in the video (vertical interval coding). 

Beyond lighting, there maybe other subtle cues that are of equal influence on the viewer. 
 
 
 
 

Coed Panic Button 
 Group 1, Panic Button device
 Group 2, Transponder 

Elderly Monitoring: 
 Group 1, Sensor Design 
 Group 2, Local Communications 
 Group 2, Human Factors Design 

Alzhimers TIRIS Tracking System: 
 Group 1, Patient device design & area sensor design 
 Group 2, Intra-institutional sensor communications 
 Group 3, System manager & reporting system design 

Equipment Tracking & Control, using TIRIS & Carrier Current Com. 

Talking Rubber Duck" 

VolksScope" 

Talking Fire Alarm 

Intelligent Intersection 

Automated Target Scoring: IBM PC Based 

Chaotic Color Organ 

Hall-Effect Glove 

VR LASER Ceiling: LASER Projection/CCD Linear array 

Blind Reckoning 
 Group 1, Location Information 
 Group 2, "A & N" crosswalk 

Star-Scope from BW CCD TV Camera 

TV Remote: NIR to RF convertor (no having to point) 

Remote Heart Rate  Monitoring System 
 Group 1, Transducer Design 
 Group 2, Signal Processing 

IVHS
 Group 1, Design Detector Technology 
 Group 2, Design Light Emitting Diode transmitter arrays 
 Group 3, Design the Network Communication Protocol (NCP)