Sasan Haghani

Design and implementation of a home automation system for smart grid applications

A home automation system for smart grid is designed and implemented. The system monitors temperature and humidity and controls air conditioning, lights and appliances. The Message Queuing Telemetry Transport protocol and Djanjo web framework are used. A graphical user interface is developed to enable the user to control the devices remotely via a website.

BER of Noncoherent MFSK with Postdetection Switch-and-Stay Combining in TWDP Fading

The performance of noncoherent M-ary frequency-shift keying (MFSK) with dual-branch postdetection switch and stay combining (SSC) in two-wave with diffuse power (TWDP) fading is studied. A closed-form expression for the average bit error rate (BER) of noncoherent MFSK with dual-branch postdetection SSC is derived. Monte Carlo simulation results are presented to verify the validity of the obtained analytical expressions. The effects of TWDP fading parameters on the relative performances of postdetection and predetection SSC receivers are studied. It is shown that postdetection SSC has superior performance over predetection SSC.

Average BER of BFSK with Postdetection Switch-and-Stay Combining in TWDP Fading

The performance of noncoherent binary frequency shift keying (BFSK) with dual-branch postdetection switch-and-stay combining (SSC) in two-wave with diffuse power (TWDP) fading is studied. A closed- form expression for the average bit error rate (BER) of noncoherent BFSK with dual-branch postdetection SSC is derived. Previously obtained results on the performance of predetection SSC in TWDP fading are corrected. The performance of postdetection SSC is compared to the performance of predetection SSC and it is shown that postdetection SSC outperforms predetection SSC. The effects of the fading parameters on the relative performances of the two SSC receivers are studied. Monte Carlo simulation results are presented to verify the validity of the obtained analytical results.

Bit Error Rate of Noncoherent MFSK with S+N Selection Combining in Two Wave with Diffuse Power Fading

The performance of noncoherent M-ary frequency-shift keying (MFSK) with L branch signal-plus-noise (S+N) selection combining (SC) in two wave with diffuse power (TWDP) fading is studied. The fading on the diversity branches are assumed to be independent but not necessarily identically distributed. Two S+N SC receiver structures are examined and for each receiver a tractable bit error rate expression is derived. The effects of fading parameters on the relative performances of S+N SC and classical SC receivers are studied. Monte Carlo simulation results are presented to validate the obtained theoretical results.

Building a more diverse biomedical engineering workforce: Biomedical engineering at the university of the district of Columbia, a historically black college & university

Biomedical Engineering (BME) is a new, multidisciplinary, and rapidly growing field, however, the BME Workforce suffers from limited ethnic and gender diversity. Despite the demand and growth of this new field due to its public health importance, only 4 out of the 107 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) nationwide offers a Bachelors of Science (B.S.) in Bio-Engineering related fields. In order to contribute to a growing BME Workforce, HBCUs need to react and offer more degree-programs relevant to BME. At the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), an HBCU and the Districts only public institution for higher learning, we have recently established a new, degree program: Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering (B.S. in BME) full-board approved in Fall 2014, with program activities initiated in Fall 2015. The educational goal of this program is to enhance the quality and diversity of the BME Workforce via student professional development, new and relevant BME courses, and BME scholarly activities (e.g., guest lectures and journal club sessions), ultimately to increase the number of ethnic minorities pursuing careers and degrees in BME. Through our program activities, we are aiming to meet the nations demand to contribute to a diverse BME workforce, directed towards solving problems in human health. A secondary, but related goal, is to increase the diversity of STEM-related fields. This paper summarizes our initial, but encouraging, BME activity-related findings. However, this study will be longitudinal (on a multiple year time period) to observe the true outcomes of our initiative.

Wearable Wireless Inertial Sensors for Estimation of Gait Parameters and its integration with Portable Harness Ambulatory System for Rehabilitation

There is a growing demand for quantifying the performance and efficacy of rehabilitation programs. Researchers are advocating home based rehabilitation devices and continuous monitoring of patients status in real time through wearable sensors. This paper investigates the use of inertial measurement sensors for recording the dynamic gait status. In order to facilitate long term recording and minimal interface of recording devices, these MEMS sensors are advantageous in many ways over the conventional laboratory methods. Portable Harness Ambulatory System (PHAS) can be effectively used in home environments with minimal assistance for gait rehabilitation. This paper addresses the stages of mechatronic integration of a prototype of PHAS with an aim for early gait rehabilitation of elderly and stroke survivors without fear of falling. Sensors modules comprised of accelerometer and gyroscope were developed. X-bee wireless communication protocol is used for transmitting the gait data for computer storage. Gait experiments with wireless sensor modules attached to shoulder, wrist, thigh and ankle joints of normal human subjects were conducted for slow and fast walking speed. The inertial measurement sensors provide information on the range of motion, gait speed, and orientation. Experimental results prove that sensor modules were successfully able to acquire and record the gait information wirelessly. These sensor modules can also be integrated in the PHAS prototype. The paper outlines the results of initial research and discusses possible alternatives.Copyright