Faridah Akinotcho graduated from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in May 2024 under supervisor Professor Julia Rubin. Since graduation, Faridah has been actively engaged in her research while exploring opportunities in software and mobile engineering.
Discover more about Faridah’s time in ECE, her journey in this field, and advice for current and future ECE students!
Research focus
When you download a mobile app from an official store like the Google Play Store, the last thing you’d want is a buggy, crash-prone, or even insecure experience. That’s why apps go through rigorous testing before release. One popular way to test Android apps is through their graphical user interface (GUI)—essentially interacting with buttons and screens like a human would. Many automated tools have been built for this purpose.
But here’s the catch — these tools struggle with real-world apps like Instagram or WhatsApp, often exploring less than 30% of the app. My research dives into why that happens: is it a tool problem or would humans also struggle (spoiler: they do!). Even skilled testers miss features that are hidden behind conditions they don’t meet such as being at a specific location, on a specific date, with a specific device type, etc., which are common in modern apps. Think about Netflix: no matter how many buttons you tap, you won’t see a show that’s unavailable in your country. Many apps work the same way with features they only activate under specific conditions — like an ad shown only to users in California or a discount available only on Black Friday.
That is why GUI-based testing isn’t enough. To reach the remaining 70%, we need tools that don’t just explore but adapt, recognizing when features are hidden and figuring out why. Instead of: “I couldn’t reach this screen,” future tools should explain: “This ad is only shown to users in California, so I can’t access it right now,” or even better: “I’ll change my location to Los Angeles and try again.” My work lays the groundwork for designing such tools, providing insights into strategies they should employ— with the goal to ultimately shift toward smarter, more explainable testing.
Future research plans
Since graduating, I’ve continued my research on the same topic and worked on a paper, which I’ll be presenting at ICSE 2025 in April! Meanwhile, I’ve been looking for roles in R&D, software engineering or mobile engineering. I’m excited to see how the skills I developed during my time in ECE will transfer to industry and how more work experience will shape my career as an engineer and a researcher. While I’m taking a break from academia for now, I still have ideas for follow-up research in the same area that I’d love to explore in the future as side projects—maybe even a PhD down the road, unless I end up liking industry too much and never look back, haha.
What drew you to ECE?
My undergrad was heavy on theory—I did a dual degree in Math and Computer Science—so for my master’s, I wanted something more hands-on to build on that foundation. That’s when I found out about ECE, specifically UBC’s Master of Engineering (MEng) program, which stood out to me for its practicality and flexibility. I had the freedom to explore different areas—from formal methods to cybersecurity to reinforcement learning—take on co-op placements, work on research projects, transfer to a research-based master’s, and even take Korean courses just because I wanted to!
Funny enough, when I first started the program, I didn’t have a clear idea of what to focus on. Hardware and robotics piqued my interest the most, especially since I knew nothing about them. But I ultimately found myself drawn to software engineering research, mainly because I was encouraged and given the space to explore.
I love how ECE sits at the intersection of theory and application. It’s not only about writing code or formal proofs (both of which I enjoy); it’s also about solving real-world problems, making systems more reliable, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. My research on software testing is a perfect example—better testing means more reliable apps, which impacts millions of users. Whether it’s improving automation, securing systems, or optimizing performance, the work done in ECE shapes the technology we all use every day.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I spend most of my free time reading (novels, manga and webtoons), watching anime, TV shows or YouTube videos. I’m a big foodie, so I love trying out new food spots and cuisines. I also like going to concerts and traveling—though my budget always has the final say.
Favourite place in UBC and Vancouver?
On campus, whenever I wasn’t stuck in my dorm in Thunderbird (COVID habits were hard to break!) or in the lab, I would be in the IKB library, the Nitobe Garden or sometimes just taking a stroll around. Outside of campus, my go-to spot is the Indigo on West Broadway, where I can spend hours reading without getting told off. I also love the Vogue Theatre—the intimate setting made it one of my favorite venues to see artists live. Food-wise, The Rise Eatery in Kitsilano used to be my all-time favorite, but since it closed, I’m on the lookout for their next location!
Favourite memory from your time in ECE?
Graduation was definitely the highlight—my family flew in, friends brought me flowers and honestly, the feeling of being “done” was the best! Now, if I had to pick from my time as a student, it would be a tie between the San Francisco Trip organized by the department in my first year or my first time presenting a paper at a conference in Singapore.
In San Francisco, we visited the Silicon Valley and got to meet former UBC students working there. I had just joined UBC and didn’t know a lot of people, so it was such a fun experience. I made some lifelong friends during that trip, and considering quarantine hit right after we got back, I am so glad I went!
Singapore was my first major research presentation, and as intimidating as it was, the experience was also very rewarding. I attended great talks, met great people and had great food. It gave me a behind-the-scenes look at the research world, and it was the first time I could see myself as a researcher rather than a student in a research lab.
Who inspires you the most?
It’s hard to pick just one person—I’ve met so many incredible people during my journey in the ECE department, from classmates and lab mates to fellow researchers and professors, especially my supervisor who became a mentor for me. But when I think about those who remain a constant source of inspiration in all aspects of my life, I’d have to say my parents. They both had to overcome a lot in life, but they made sure my siblings and I never felt that same struggle. Growing up in Benin, where life couldn’t be more different from Canada, they taught me to believe that nothing is out of reach, no matter how far or unfamiliar. Whenever I think of values that matter to me like hard work, humility, and resilience, I think of my parents — they’re my idea of defining your own success.
To this day, even though they still don’t fully understand what it is exactly that I do or why I can’t “just fix” their computer when it won’t turn on, they keep being supportive, open-minded, eager to learn and ready to brag to any of their friends. I can tell I got the same mindset (minus the bragging) and passion for learning from them, and I hope to carry it with me in everything I do.
Do you have advice for ECE students?
Don’t be afraid to reach out. When I first started at UBC, I had no clue where to begin. The first thing I did was contact the department advisor which led me to meeting my future supervisor and lab mates within my first week at UBC. You don’t need to have it all figured out — reach out, ask questions, and make help@ece your best friend. People are more than willing to help you out.
Do your research and stay up to date. UBC offers tons of resources to students, but they can be easy to miss out on when you’re new. I personally discovered some only after graduating —did you know there’s a dedicated space for Black students on campus? Take the time to look into what’s available early on — whether it’s career services, course advising, international advising or even wellness. Also, check department emails from time to time—they might have info that is directly relevant to you (maybe an invite for an ECE News feature?).
Get involved outside class. UBC isn’t just about courses. Actually talk to people in those classes, join clubs, go to events—this is how you build your community. Even if you’re an introvert like I am, subscribing to a newsletter or checking out a club’s social media can go a long way. Fun fact: the network I built while at UBC has been the greatest help in my job search, so try to connect as much you can!
Do your own thing. There’s no single, one-size-fits-all path. My journey didn’t go as planned —I mean, five years is enough for a master’s and a PhD where I’m from— but it all turned out for the best. Don’t feel like you need to follow anyone else’s timeline and do what makes the most sense for you.
Take it easy. Above all, make sure to enjoy yourself. It’s easy to get caught up in wanting to be done and graduate (trust me, I’ve been there), but university can be one of the most fun and memorable times in your life if you let it.
Continue the conversation with Faridah and connect on LinkedIn!
ECE graduate students Jonas Welsch and Mohammed Elnawawy made a significant impact at the ECE 3MT competition on March 4th, 2025. Jonas’s first place win and Mohammed’s second place triumph not only showcased their hard-work in ECE but also advanced them to the semi-finals competition hosted by UBC Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
ECE spoke with Jonas and Mohammed about the research they presented during the competition and their future plans. Read on to learn more!
Jonas Welsch
Research presented at 3MT
I am working on small Ultrasound sensors called polyCMUTs to monitor ultrasound signals of microscopic cracks and defects in Materials and structures. The specific topic I presented is the monitoring of hydrogen tanks for aircraft as an alternative fuel to classic kerosene.
What was your favourite part of this experience?
Seeing everybody else’s research and presentation style is always very interesting. It gives you a good chance to connect to grad students from other departments.
What was your biggest challenge?
The overall quality of presentations and presenters was really really high this year so it was a tough competition.
What are your future plans in research and work?
For now I will stay at UBC as a postdoctoral fellow. I’ll try to take one step at a time at the moment due to all the chaos around us.
What is your favourite thing to do outside of school and work?
I love the outdoors, skiing in the winter and hiking and off-roading in the summer.
Do you have any advice for students who want to participate in 3MT?
Especially if you are from engineering try and use as little jargon as possible. Don’t go too much into detail, be aware that all the other people listening have no idea of engineering or all the things familiar to you. Try and make your presentation as easy to understand as possible.
Mohammed Elnawawy
Research presented at 3MT
Safety-critical applications such as healthcare and autonomous vehicles use machine learning models like deep neural networks (DNN) to make predictions and infer decisions. However, DNNs are susceptible to evasion attacks, which trick the DNN into making wrong decisions at inference time, leading to catastrophic consequences. Current defences treat every threat the same, making them either too weak or too slow. My research introduces a smarter defence: one that adapts in real-time using risk profiling. If the system detects a low-risk attack, it uses lightweight defences to stay efficient. If the risk is high, it deploys powerful defences to ensure safety. This approach makes AI systems more secure without sacrificing performance.
What was your favourite part of this experience?
My favourite part was interacting with the audience after the event and seeing their excitement about my research. It was rewarding to hear their questions and realize that I had successfully communicated a complex topic in a way that resonated with them!
What was your biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge was simplifying my research without losing its essence. I’ve always struggled to explain my work to people outside my field, but 3MT pushed me to find creative ways to make it accessible. It was tough at first, but learning to tell a clear, compelling story about my research was incredibly rewarding.
What are your future plans in research and work?
I would love to return to my undergraduate alma mater as a professor, where I can mentor the next generation of researchers and share my passion for AI security. At the same time, I want to continue my research on building robust and resilient AI systems, especially for autonomous vehicles.
What is your favourite thing to do outside of school and work?
I’m a passionate soccer fan—I love both playing and watching the game. I also enjoy board games, especially the fun moments they bring. When the weather is nice, I love going for walks to clear my mind. But above all, I cherish spending quality time with my wife and family—it’s what truly matters most to me.
Do you have any advice for students who want to participate in 3MT?
There’s nothing to stress about…except the 3-minute timer, of course! But seriously, practice your talk until you’ve nailed it. Once you step into the room, let go of the nerves and focus on delivering with confidence. Give it your all, enjoy the experience, and remember—it’s just as much about sharing your passion as it is about the competition!
“During our previous work on spin-photon quantum computing, we found that photon loss is one of the biggest challenges for photonic-based quantum computing. Photons are precious, and once they are lost, the quantum information is gone,” said project lead and UBC Blusson QMI Investigator Lukas Chrostowski.
SEM image of the single photon sources being studied.
SEM image of the single photon sources being studied.
“Hence, our research and commercialization efforts are geared towards solving the problem of efficiently coupling light between different devices and materials. This is critical for quantum photonics, but also for data communications where reducing the optical losses will improve the energy efficiency of data centres.”
The project leverages quantum-dot nanowire light source technology invented at NRC and the hybrid silicon photonics integration technology used and developed at UBC. The commercialization effort will be led by the BC-based company Dream Photonics Inc.
Quantum light sources are essential for next-generation semiconductor and photonic chip technologies, but barriers for integration limits their scalability for industrial applications. The challenge lies in combining III-V semiconductor-based quantum emitters with the silicon platform widely used for electronics and photonics. Current methods struggle to achieve both efficiency and scalability, making a practical solution for deterministic single-photon sources an urgent priority.
Using the advanced equipment at UBC’s Advanced Nanofabrication Facility, Chrostowski and his team have developed a pioneering method for integrating lasers into photonic circuits, overcoming longstanding technical barriers.
“Our goal is to make the commercialization of plug-and-play quantum light sources a reality and simplify their integration with chips,” said Matthew Mitchell, project lead and Senior Scientist at Dream Photonics. “The project will pave the way for more cost-effective and practical applications in optical communication, quantum computing and sensing technology.”
This initiative supports Canada’s National Quantum Strategy (NQS), a federal effort to cement the country’s position as a leader in quantum innovation. The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) supports the implementation of the NQS through funding opportunities that advance domestic multisectoral partnerships, the development of talent, and international collaborations in quantum research and innovation. The National Research Council Canada (NRC) supports the NQS through internal programs, interdepartmental projects, and collaborative research Challenge Programs, including the Internet of Things: Quantum Sensors Challenge Program (QSP).
Support provided through this joint initiative aims to reinforce, coordinate, and scale up Canada’s domestic research capabilities in quantum sensing science and technology through partnerships between university researchers, SMEs, the NRC, and other organizations from the private, public, or not-for-profit sectors.
In 1944, Edna Anita Clarke entered the records of UBC history, becoming the first woman to graduate in Electrical Engineering. The life of our first female graduate was one of determination, novelty, and a lifetime of living right on the frontiers of engineering and adventure.
Born in 1921 near Penticton, British Columbia, Edna grew up in a time when opportunities for women in engineering were extremely limited. In 1939, at age 18, she was accepted into UBC’s Engineering program, relocating to Vancouver with her mother and sister.
At UBC, she was well-known. She served as secretary on the student council of her graduating class. She was known two-fold: for being one of the few women in engineering and commuting to school by motorcycle. Edna’s academic path was ever-changing due to her many varied interests. She first enrolled in Mechanical Engineering, then shifted to Aeronautical Engineering, and finally graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1944. Her ability to successfully move between engineering disciplines would be a hallmark of her illustrious career.
Graduation saw Edna’s inclusion in the University of Toronto team, which worked on Canada’s first functional computer, the UTEC Mark I. Anointed by the Globe and Mail as a wonder capable of everything from forecasting weather to playing chess, the UTEC Mark I was a marvel indeed and a credit to the ingenuity of its creators. Edna’s involvement with this groundbreaking project had already begun to make her a forerunner in this growing field.
Canada’s first functional computer, UTEC Mark I
During this time in Ontario, Edna met and married Arthur Yuile, a Battle of Britain veteran. Later, they relocated to Connecticut, where Edna was employed as a civil engineer for Northeast Utilities. She had a successful career for those times, not frequently made available for women, and thus was remarkable in both talent and resilience.
Besides her professional achievements, Edna lived a life full of adventure and travel: she skied across North America, often went power boating, and converted to the Baha’i faith, which led her to visit India several times.
Edna was a trailblazer for all the women who came after her in Electrical Engineering. She proved it was possible to succeed as a woman in the field, opening the doors for the 240 women currently in the Electrical and Computer Engineering program. She was quite proud of being the first woman and would be proud to see young women continuing to thrive in the field.
Thank you to her niece, Noni Clarke, for interviewing with our team.
Professor Karthik PattabirmanAssistant Professor Guanpeng LiZitao Chen
January 10th, 2025
ECE Professor Karthik Pattabiraman and research group members ECE PhD student Zitao Chen, who is graduating this year, and Assistant Professor Guanpeng Li from the University of Iowa and alumnus of ECE, focus on machine learning (ML) applications in high-stakes environments such as autonomous driving and their reliability to the effect of hardware transient faults. Computer systems are composed of software and hardware working together. However, hardware can be subject to faults such as cosmic rays, stress on the system, and age; all can cause a system to malfunction. Dr. Pattabiraman’s team focuses on understanding and improving the error resilience of ML systems to hardware faults.
When the hardware isn’t working properly, the software will be affected, and computation errors are the result. In using these erroneous values for computation, the software can emit a faulty output, such as causing a self-driving system to misidentify the traffic sign. Usually, when a fault arises in a software’s computation, someone can step in and recompute it again. However, the process of recomputing can be laborious and is particularly challenging for use in time-sensitive applications, like when a self-driving car is operating.
“Therefore, the focus of this study is, how can we effectively mitigate hardware faults to ensure the functional safety of ML systems without causing significant runtime delays?”
Dr. Pattabiraman
Process of Developing the Research
To prevent hardware faults from corrupting the program output, Dr. Pattabiraman’s team starts by analyzing why these faults can lead to output corruption. Dr. Pattabiraman explains how his team focused on their area of research, “In a previous study by our team [1], we found that a specific fraction of hardware faults are more prone to causing incorrect program output. We identified that these faults tend to result in abnormally large computation values during software computation, a characteristic influenced by the mathematical properties of ML models [1].
“Building on this insight, in this research, we introduced a technique called Ranger [2] to automatically reduce the damage caused by hardware faults, thereby preventing the program output from being corrupted. Ranger performs range restriction during software computation (hence the name), ensuring the values of the software computation fall within an accepted statistical range. If there is a value that falls outside this range, it brings this erroneous value back to a safe region.”
In the above example, Ranger is correcting an autonomous vehicle’s faulty computer vision. On the far left, the vehicle recognizes the road correctly. In the center, a fault has occurred, affecting the vehicle’s ability to infer which way to go- and directing it into traffic. In the right image, Ranger has corrected this error and the vehicle can proceed safely.
Future Impacts
“As ML applications continue to rely on high-performance hardware, we believe Ranger will have a broader impact in both academia and industry.”
Dr. Pattabiraman
Academic researchers have been building improved solutions on top of the Ranger system to combat hardware faults in emerging ML applications such as Vision Transformers. Meanwhile, the Ranger system has been adopted by Intel’s OpenVINO toolkit for practical use, and Dr. Pattabiraman and his group believe it can benefit practitioners in building dependable ML systems in wider application domains, such as large language models.
[1] Zitao Chen, Guanpeng Li, Karthik Pattabiraman, Nathan DeBardeleben “BinFI: An Efficient Fault Injector for Safety-Critical Machine Learning Systems” In Proceedings of the International Conference for High Performance Computing, Networking, Storage and Analysis, 2019
[2] Zitao Chen, Guanpeng Li, Karthik Pattabiraman “A Low-cost Fault Corrector for Deep Neural Networks through Range Restriction” The 51st Annual IEEE/IFIP International Conference on Dependable Systems and Networks, 2021
A University of British Columbia researcher is being recognized for his groundbreaking work to develop a mixed reality, immersive environment that makes it easier and more affordable for Canadians to receive ultrasound procedures without having to travel far distances to a medical centre.
The game-changing work has earned David Black (pictured) a Mitacs Innovation Award – Outstanding Innovation, presented by Mitacs, a Canadian innovation leader.
Supported by the Government of British Columbia, Mitacs connects businesses and researchers to drive competitiveness and productivity in sectors such as clean technology, life sciences, emergency management, advanced timber, and agritech. The award will be presented at a ceremony at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa on November 19.
Black – a University of British Columbia PhD student in the Department of Electrical and Computing Engineering under the supervision of Professor Tim Salcudean – is being recognized for his innovative work to build a compact tele-ultrasound system that allows a novice to perform an ultrasound on a patient while being guided by an expert sonographer or radiologist from a remote location.
The system consists of a mixed reality headset, point-of-care ultrasound probe – equipped with force and position sensors – and tablet or smartphone at the patient end, and a haptic device attached to a dummy ultrasound probe and connected to a computer display at the expert end.
As the remote expert maneuvers the virtual probe, guided by real-time video images transmitted over a high-speed connection, they are able to ‘feel’ the patient as if performing the procedure in person, thanks to the haptic interface.
At the point-of-care, the novice – or even the patient in some cases – aligns their probe with the movements of the virtual probe as they follow along using the mixed reality headset. Two-way verbal communication between the novice and expert is also supported.
“Other emerging teleoperation systems rely on robots to mirror the expert’s motion and, though the technology is impressive to look at, there’s a great deal of complexity and calibration that needs to happen to make it work. The robots are also very expensive,” Black explained.
“By replacing the robot with a human novice and relying on lower cost technology that can perform well over a 5G cellular network, our system is much more viable in the real-world.”
Black, who decided to focus on improving access to healthcare after personal experiences with remote medical emergencies, said Mitacs support is truly impactful.
“It allowed us to advance our technology rapidly to the point of testing and helped enable our partnership with industry leader Rogers Communications, who not only shares their communications infrastructure knowledge, but also helps forge valuable connections with other partners in the community and government,” he said.
The highly functional prototype system developed by Black, with the help of several Mitacs interns, was recently tested in the town of Skidegate, where ultrasounds were accurately performed at a distance of 750 kilometres away.
To date, testing has involved simplistic scans of the abdomen. Moving forward, Black is continuing to optimize the system to handle more complex scans, such as obstetrics, with the aim of launching a start-up company to commercialize the technology in the coming years.
The goal is to offer a lower cost solution that would make it possible to bring expert ultrasound knowledge to remote communities, people at home, or paramedics in the field. For example, Bella Bella, a community of 1,400 people in B.C., spends as much as $500,000 each year transporting patients to Vancouver by airplane in order to receive an ultrasound, said Black, a process that turns a one-hour appointment into a three-day excursion.
“That’s where we aim to come in and divert some of those appointments to a local community centre, medical centre or even to their home,” he said.
The Mitacs Innovation Award – Outstanding Innovation recognizes extraordinary talent from across Canada whose Mitacs-funded research has potential to achieve larger societal and economic impacts, driving innovation and broadening our understanding of the world around us. Mitacs programs are supported by funding from the Government of Canada and provincial and territorial governments across the country.
Black is one of eight Mitacs Innovation Award winners nationally, chosen from thousands of innovators who take part in Mitacs programs each year, and one of four winners in the Outstanding Innovation category. Additional 2024 categories, updated with a fresh look to better reflect Canada’s innovation landscape, include: Canadian Start-Up Innovator of the Year, Canadian Enterprise Innovator of the Year, Outstanding Research Leadership, and Inclusive Innovator of the Year.
In congratulating the winners, Mitacs’ CEO Dr. Stephen Lucas reflected on the organization’s long history and proven track record as a Canadian innovation leader. “Not only do these awards recognize achievements of exceptional innovators across B.C. and Canada, but they also highlight the infinite potential for impact when creative leaders work together,” Dr. Lucas said.
“As Mitacs celebrates 25 years as a leader in Canadian innovation, we reaffirm our belief that partnerships between research, enterprises, and talent – like the ones we honour with the Mitacs Innovation Awards – are key to a successful, prosperous Canada,” he said.
For more information about the Mitacs Innovation Awards and a full list of winners, visit www.mitacs.ca/newsroom.
About Mitacs As Canada’s innovation organization, Mitacs connects businesses and researchers with unrivaled access to talent, financial support, and the partnerships needed to turn ideas into impactful innovations. Through unique collaborations, Mitacs is driving productivity and positioning Canada as a global innovation leader. Mitacs is funded by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, Innovation PEI, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Government of Yukon.
This joint position reflects the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of mobile robotic platforms in both research and industry applications.
Robotics for marine vessels have the potential to enable more efficient and sustainable vessel operations. Developing Canadian expertise and applications opens the door to an important export market, as international interest grows in using autonomous systems, collaborative robotics and integrated sensing in the marine industry.
“The collaboration has huge potential to have a transformative impact on marine engineering innovation in Canada within a short time,” said Dr. Desjardins. “I am excited to develop new paradigms for rapidly accessing and navigating underwater environments. With interdisciplinary teams that include collaboration between UBC and Seaspan, we will move quickly from ideation to solutions that are successfully deployed in the ocean.”
Dr. Desjardins has an extensive background in sensing and robotics. His interdisciplinary research is focused on the development of novel sensing methods, machine learning, and autonomous robotic platforms for navigating complex environments, with marine, ocean science, and biomedical applications.
He will research and teach in emerging areas such as adaptive sensing and imaging, autonomous navigation, underwater inspection, monitoring of natural environments, and collaborative swarms.
This is the third chair to be funded by Seaspan, further enhancing a joint commitment to advance Canadian shipbuilding and support technological innovation in the marine sector.
“We are proud to continue and strengthen our partnership with Seaspan in driving forward innovative teaching and research within our local and Canadian marine communities,” said Dr. James Olson, Dean, Faculty of Applied Science. “Strategic partnerships like this play a critical role in building BC’s economy, fulfilling our commitment to protecting our environment, and attracting and training talented students to this important sector.”
UBC Applied Science is committed to addressing emerging areas of research to reduce the impacts of climate change, while fostering local and global collaboration. Dr. Desjardins will bring together a wide range of academic and industrial expertise in robotics, advanced sensing, data analytics and AI to develop new solutions for autonomously inspecting marine vessels, measuring environmental impact, and monitoring vessel performance.
Seaspan’s $1-million investment into this chair over the next five years—which will be equally matched by the UBC President’s Academic Excellence Initiative—is part of the company’s broader commitment to supporting innovation, sustainability, and skills development under Canada’s value proposition program within the National Shipbuilding Strategy.
“We are excited to build on our existing relationship with UBC and further invest in the future of Canadian marine technology,” said Dave Hargreaves, Senior Vice President, Strategy, Business Development and Communications, Seaspan Shipyards.
“Dr. Desjardins will lead important research that advances novel sensing and robotic systems that support high-functioning fleets and sustainable ship operations. At Seaspan, we believe this kind of forward-thinking collaboration is essential to ensuring Canada’s shipbuilding industry remains competitive on the global stage.”
Capstone design projects are a major component of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering curriculum. Students design a product or service of significance and solve an open-ended problem in their field of study.
ECE hosted a project showcase for the summer term on August 8th, 2024.
Wirelessly-Powered Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Ardavan Pourkeramati, Mihir Nimgade, Nick Zhao, Ethan Joyce Partner: UBC ECE Communications Lab and Sierra Wireless
Project and Solution
A common problem in the trucking industry is the need to remap tire pressure sensors after tire swaps. Without remapping, the system is unable to determine which pressure readings originate from which tire. This remapping requires manual technician labor and is an additional expense for trucking companies. Our team has developed a battery-free, wirelessly powered, Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) capable of performing this remapping automatically. Our system is able to selectively power the individual sensors in each tire, allowing it to always know which tire each pressure reading originates from, eliminating the need for manual remapping.
Challenges
During this project, we encountered several challenges that pushed us to expand our engineering skills. One of the key challenges was applying the theoretical Radio-frequency (RF) knowledge we learned in class to real-world scenarios. This required hands-on experience with testing and debugging using specialized RF equipment such as spectrum analyzers and VNAs. We also had to dive deep into researching and understanding RF energy harvesting, a field that is intricate and full of complexities. Identifying the most suitable harvesting solution took considerable time and experimentation to ensure it met our specific needs.
Designing the RF printed circuit boards (PCBs) presented its own set of difficulties. Our project required two PCBs–one for transmitting and one for receiving RF power. This process wasn’t just about creating a functional design; it demanded extensive research and testing to effectively integrate RF principles with embedded systems for optimal performance.
Future Impact
We hope that this project has successfully demonstrated an alternative method for performing automatic tire location mapping (i.e. “auto-localization”) for large vehicles such as tractor-trailers. Our solution favours a hardware-based approach by using RF energy harvesting (RFEH) technology to individually power on the embedded tire sensors. For our system, it was the application of RFEH that made the auto-localization problem tractable.
Computer Vision Processing for High-Resolution Angle Sensor in Computer-Assisted Surgery
Eddy Nangia, Michael Perkins, Charlotte Luo, Yifeng Liu, Zelin Li Partner: ISTAR Group, Vancouver General Hospital, and UBC Department of Mechanical Engineering
Project and Solution
The ISTAR group at the University of British Columbia is pioneering a new surgical system for mandibular reconstruction surgery. This system integrates mechanical devices with intraoperative surgical guidance to improve surgical outcomes. A critical aspect of this system is accurately tracking the positions of objects in the surgical field, such as mechanical devices and bone segments, using optical markers. However, the current optical markers are large and often obstructed, leading to suboptimal performance.
Our team’s objective was to replace these markers with a newly developed system called LentiMark. When used with a standard camera, LentiMarks can accurately measure position and orientation while being smaller and less obtrusive. This innovation aims to enhance ISTAR’s surgical guidance system, resulting in more effective operations.
The project focuses on developing and implementing a high-resolution angle sensor for computer-assisted surgery, using advanced computer vision techniques to improve surgical precision and reliability. The core innovation is the LentiMark, a novel optical marker combining ArUco markers with Variable Moiré Patterns (VMPs). While ArUco markers provide preliminary pose information, VMPs offer greater angle detection accuracy by varying visual effects with the viewing angle. Experimental results show that angle measurements maintain an error margin within 1 degree, significantly enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of surgical tools and thereby benefiting surgical navigation.
Challenges
Our team members come from diverse backgrounds, each with different strengths. Effective teamwork allowed us to support each other throughout the term, overcoming challenges and learning together. One significant challenge was the initial research, as some aspects of the project involved medical and optical knowledge not directly related to electrical or computer engineering. The design of Variable Moiré Patterns (VMPs) was particularly challenging due to the limited research available, so we had to learn from scratch and adapt the design to meet our project requirements.
Computer vision programming was another complex area that required extensive self-learning, testing, and iterations. Our team invested considerable effort in building from basic libraries to optimizing for more stable and accurate outcomes. This involved refining the Otsu binarization method for automatic image thresholding to better suit LentiMark detection and developing a custom angle calibration procedure tailored to our project’s specific needs.
Future impact
In computer-assisted surgical systems, precisely tracking objects like surgical instruments, anatomical structures, or mechanical devices is crucial. Instead of developing complex algorithms to identify and track each object individually, visual markers are attached directly. Once detected, the system infers the position and orientation of the associated object based on information from the marker. This method allows for precise control and accurate tracking while offering flexibility across different procedures and equipment with minimal adjustments.
Our project delves deeply into the design of the LentiMark visual marker. In the future, LentiMark could be used not only in surgical applications but also in robotics and beyond. LentiMarks presents a compelling alternative by combining enhanced accuracy with the compact size and durability needed for advanced applications. This positions LentiMarks as a superior option for a wide range of tasks requiring visual markers.
Assistant Professor Prashant Nair, from the University of British Columbia (UBC) Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, is the recipient of the 2024 IEEE Technical Committee on Computer Architecture (TCCA) Young Computer Architect Award. Professor Nair received this award “In recognition of outstanding contributions to mitigate scaling-related DRAM faults and security vulnerabilities.”
The TCCA annually honours early-career researchers with the TCCA Young Architect Award. This award is considered the highest honour for early-career researchers in the field of computer architecture across the world, recognizing outstanding research contributions. The award was presented at the banquet ceremony during the International Symposium on Computer Architecture (ISCA) 2024. UBC is the first Canadian University with a faculty member to receive the TCCA Young Architect award.
Professor Nair’s primary roles include teaching and research, with some time dedicated to service. He primarily teaches computer engineering courses, specifically Digital Design and undergraduate and graduate Computer Architecture. His research focuses on secure, reliable, and scalable memory systems. In addition, Professor Nair works on alternative computing paradigms, such as quantum computing, from a computer engineering perspective.
What were some of your recent works that contributed to you being selected for the TCCA Young Computer Architect Award?
The efforts of my research group, Systems and Architectures STAR Lab, to mitigate the Rowhammer vulnerability in Dynamic Random Access Memories (DRAM) were a significant factor. Rowhammer is a security vulnerability that enables adversarial users to manipulate the data of other users who share the same memory system. Rowhammer enables adversarial users to repeatedly access their data in memory systems and indirectly tamper the data of other users (victims) in the shared memory system.
Additionally, my decade-long efforts in mitigating resilience issues with DRAM, which have had a notable industry impact, likely contributed to my selection for this award.
How do you feel about this award?
I am honoured to have been chosen for this award. To put things in perspective, UBC is the first Canadian University, and the first university outside of the United States to have its faculty receive this recognition. I am glad that the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering has been incredibly supportive of my research vision and growth.
“The award reinforces my motivation to continue doing good work and to expand my research mandate. I am also delighted that my community recognizes and supports the importance of simple, creative, and industry-friendly solutions.”
What impact could this research have?
My research in the area of DRAM scaling could significantly impact the development and enablement of applications in edge devices, client devices, and servers. It can also influence the design of current and future computing systems. This is because, memory systems often act as bottlenecks in terms of latency, capacity, and bandwidth.
“My work aims to address these issues while also highlighting the importance of resilient, secure, and efficient solutions.”
What are your future research plans?
My research group is currently investigating memory capacity issues for large-scale machine learning models, such as large language models (LLMs) and recommender systems. The overheads of serving and training these models are driven not only by GPUs but also by the architecture of their memory systems.
Additionally, we are exploring industry-friendly and practical solutions to mitigate Rowhammer and investigating security vulnerabilities beyond Rowhammer. Memory systems at scale also present sustainability challenges, and we are currently exploring strategies to address these from both over-provisioning and resilience standpoints.
Many city infrastructures worldwide were long ago transformed to require single-occupancy vehicles if people wanted to get around. People made due and it became a way of life, though this wasn’t accessible for some. For years, planners have theorised that a new transformation is possible, one that benefits more people, and makes for more efficient streets, healthier air, and more affordable options.
This year, students from SCARP’s PLAN 341 course may have just come up with a real plan.
The course and its students
PLAN 341 is about Smart Cities, the pursuit of analysing information about people’s needs to provide those needs. Taught this past spring by SCARP PhD candidate Madison Lore (whose research identifies paths to sustainable behaviours through machine learning), this Planning course is part of UBC SCARP and UBC Geography’s Major in Urban Studies.
Urban Studies is interdisciplinary by its very nature, and these students come from many academic pursuits, including Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Political Science, Sociology, and Urban Studies itself.
The students who produced Streetwise Solutions proudly includes:
Hazel Chongoti
Michael Claassen
Kieran Freitag
David McPherson
Noa Nibbelink
Ben Torry
A bold solution
As these students’ final project, they produced a plan to help sustainable transit modes thrive.
While the tool they eventually developed has potential applications worldwide, the project began as a spirited response to Vancouver’s traffic challenges. Vancouver has the second-worst traffic in Canada, at an average rate of 23 minutes for every 10 km and, on weekdays bus delays amounting 2,400 hours/day.
The students of PLAN 341 have a bold solution to this challenge: Smart Traffic Lights, which dynamically adjust green-light windows by traffic density and prioritise sustainable modes of travel, a contrast to the historical and default domination by single-use vehicles. These intersections would interface with a downloadable app in the pockets of drivers and passengers as well as on board buses (analysing how many people are present and what they’re driving) and then adjust green-light timelines to best serve the most people and the most sustainable transit. Their research carefully measured velocities, scalability, and impact over time, and the simulations the students produced is confirmed mathematically accurate.
Then, not content with merely presenting their findings, these students went above and beyond and actually created a full working simulator of their invention, as well as the hardware it would instantaneously interact with in an urban scenario.
With their simulation, the students confirmed their ability to vastly increase the number of people who can safely and easily traverse a busy intersection.
The prototype
Hazel’s, Michael’s, Kieran’s, David’s, Noa’s, and Ben’s Streetwise Solutions start-up incentivises public transport and carpooling (as well as emergency vehicles). Theoretically, participating cities deploying Streetwise would gradually expand public transportation infrastructure, making sustainable choices more accessible to broader populations and easing congestion.
To make Streetwise Solutions as feasible as possible, their plan takes into account data privacy, cybersecurity, possible system errors, and algorithm bias.
The tool is designed specially to be:
Robust Automatic failsafe: revert to normal intersection pattern
Scalable More people using the system = better traffic management
Fair No mandatory participation: each traffic direction has a minimum guarantee to consider those not using the system
Extendable Can extend to include more complex traffic phasing and intersection coordination, further improving management efficiency
Transparent Always accessible to the public
Following software and lab testing, a single intersection in Vancouver can be chosen to pilot the infrastructure, before the proof of concept is potentially rolled out on a larger scale (including the public release of the mobile app). More than a proof-of-concept simulation, Streetwise Solutions is a comprehensive plan involving government partnerships, financial models, and staggered roll-out. In short: this could happen.
View it in action
The students have launched a demo of their simulation that you can view from home. How to use it:
The dual interface shows how both a normal intersection and a StreetWise Solutions smart intersection would handle any scenario you throw at it.
Select any combination of vehicles to arrive at the intersection.
When ready, press PLAY to watch the scenario play out with or without the tool, and sum up how many people are serviced each time!
Implementing the scope of this plan would of course be a hardware and software feat, and of course involve strong governmental partnerships. Some may also think it requires a cultural shift in how we view transportation, but it may be a keener insight to say this tool reflects a cultural shift already underway. This model could be a catalyst for a revolution in accessibility and sustainability, one already craved by many.
Some words about the project’s significance from PLAN 341 student Kieran Freitag
“As with many others taking the smart cities class I was always interested in urbanist ideas of how we can make our cities better. I found it really engaging to work on a project where we could be at the helm of not only coming up with these ideas, but also how to be realistic in terms of implementation strategies and potential consequences.
Also, since every one of us in our group are in different majors, we were able to contribute something unique to our own skill sets. I’m in a second degree computer science program here at UBC and so I wanted to create a simulation of our idea to test its viability. This was quite fun as I was able to use the concepts I learned in my other computer science courses – such as how to appropriately model systems with objects, properties, and the relationships between them – in a more “real-life” environment with the traffic simulation.
Ultimately, I think this simulation was very helpful since it was much easier to find what works and what doesn’t with our smart traffic algorithm. You can theorize about potential effects and consequences of implementing something, but the most effective way to know what happens is to actually implement it (and the second best way is through a simulation of the process)!”
Praise for the students’ excellent work from instructor Madison Lore
Madison Lore, SCARP PhD candidate and PLAN 341 instructor in 2024WT2
“The goal of the final project is to think through a Smart City solution that uses technology to improve the quality of life for people. Students need to consider cost constraints, environmental and social impacts, and evaluate their system against a criteria that measures the unintended consequences of their solution on vulnerable groups.
The students in the class produced great projects that ranged from healthcare solutions, to sustainable and efficient transportation solutions, to urban gardens and waste management solutions. Each solution included innovative aspects from the course mixed with creativity and lived experience of the students.
The Streetwise Solutions group went above and beyond to build an online simulation of their solution to illustrate its effectiveness. The group have diverse majors and passions and you can see how it came together to produce an urban smart city solution. This is representative of the different backgrounds and skill sets we need to solve some of these major urban challenges.”
