Research Report 2010-2011 - College of Engineering - University of ...

THEME 4 – INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AND
INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS
Overview
Information and communication research will have a large impact on future
technological and social progress. The advancement of integrated information systems
for communication, control, decision-making, and intelligent structures involves
development of new hardware, algorithms and software as well as a consideration of
application domains. Over thirty University of Saskatchewan faculty have established
niche areas of research excellence that support this field. In particular, research
clusters have been formed in:
� Communication over wireless, optical and wired channels;
� Electronic materials and devices;
� Embedded computing systems and sensory hardware;
� Intelligent control and fault detection systems;
� Actuation systems, fluid power, and mechatronics; and
� Structural health monitoring and damage detection.
Activities, around this theme, have in the past five years generated considerable
research funding to the College with funds for the coming year from CFI grants, one
NSF grant, several grants from ISIS (Innovative Sensing for Intelligent Structures),
multiple NSERC strategic and operating grants as well as Canada Research Chair
funding. Additionally, the SyLMAND (Synchrotron Laboratory for Micro and Nano
Devices) at the Canadian Light Source, a dedicated X-ray lithography facility for micro
and nano-scale structure and device research fabrication, has been cooperatively
funded. Total funding for 2010-2011 is $1.98 M with $0.81 M coming from NSERC.
This funding supports 71 graduate students (29 doctoral level and 34 Masters level)
who play active roles in the research areas and dissemination of 79 journal, conference,
and other scholarly publications. Furthermore, the past research thrust has resulted in
successful spin-off companies (Vecima Networks Inc. and Critical Telecom) and
promises the creation of new ventures in the near future. It also strongly relates and
supports initiatives for the undergraduate program, notably the new Computer
Engineering program and a projected mechatronics undergraduate stream.
Description of the theme
This theme focuses on the use of in-depth specialization in the fields of advanced
information and communication systems, intelligent integrated mechatronic systems,
and intelligent sensing within large-scale structures.
Theme 4 – IT – Research Report 2010-11 Page 22