Summer and Fall 2014: Topics for Directed Independent Study (Graduate and Undergraduate level) and MS Thesis Topics
Please contact: Dr. Shankar, shankar@fau.edu, (561) 306-5625
(561) 306-5625/ (561) 297-3470(561) 297-3470
Please let me know if any of these topics interest you. You can find more about our work at the following sites: http://csi.fau.edu/ , http://csi.fau.edu/ , http://android.fau.edu/ , http://robotics.fau.edu/ , http://smartsystems.eng.fau.edu/ , and http://semanticweb.fau.edu/ .
If you are interested, you would register for 3 credits of DIS (directed independent study) which counts as a technical elective, or 6 credits of research for MS thesis with me and work on the topic for one to two semesters.
PhD Students: Refer to another tab: “Doctoral Research Topics’ Under Research.
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Topic #1: Android App QOS Metrics
Focus: Computer Science
Level: UG (COT4900) – 3 credits/semester/student
Prerequisites: CEN 4214 (Software-Hardware Design), COT 6930 (Android Components), or background in Android programming and software engineering
Description: We have developed more than 55 Android Apps at FAU; we wish to refine them further and make them usable to all. The student will develop procedures for optimal test coverage, exception handling, refactoring, and power dissipation, and for mapping to different hardware options (screen sizes, hardware accessories and memory capacities) and operating system versions. The student will also validate the processes with two or more existing Apps. This is directly transferable as a job skill.
References: d.android.com, PowerTutor, http://junit.org/, http://android.fau.edu/
Number of DIS Students: Two. Students (may or may not work together). Duration: One or two semesters
Topic #2: Embedded Android
Focus: Computer Engineering
Level: UG (COT4900) / G (COT 6905) – 3 credits/semester/student
Prerequisites: Linux, C, Eclipse, microcontrollers, and background in Android programming.
Description: Android, with touch-based user interface and open source code, has created a groundswell of interest among embedded system developers. The student will use ARM’s DS-10 profiler which is an Eclipse Plug-in and an ARM-based board (Panda board) to develop C-level code for Android. The book by Yaghmour shows how to create your own Android version for a particular embedded device. Android has differences with its Linux roots, though it integrates Linux components such as glibc and BusyBox. Embedded Android is in its infancy and Linaro open source project is gaining maturity. There is significant potential for creating new and exciting embedded devices as with wearable computing, medical applications, and gaming.
References: Embedded Android by K. Yaghmour, source.android.com, and www.arm.com
Number of DIS Students: Two (Students may or may not work together). Duration: One or two semesters
Topic #3: Biomedical signal processing with TI’s DSP board
Focus: Electrical Engineering
Level: UG (EEL4905) / G (EEL 6905) – 3 credits/semester/student
Prerequisites: Digital Signal Processing (DSP), C and (preferably) Eclipse
Description: TI provides a DSP board that works with an Eclipse-like new version of Code Composer Studio IDE (integrated development environment). One can plug in the board via a protocol emulator (on the board) to USB input of a PC, so the IDE can be used to develop and debug C code. The student will help develop a course around their TMS DSP board and the books for a biomedical lab. This hands-on experience will help with jobs and advances in the medical field. Felipe Carvalho, Senior in BSEE, is currently using the TI board in acquiring and processing the ECG signal. Two students plan to do DIS on this. You are welcome if you are interested. More information at http://smartsystems.eng.fau.edu/biomedical-signal-processing/ .
References: www.ti.com, “Real-Time Digital Signal Processing from MATLAB® to C with the TMS320C6x DSPs,” Second Edition, by Welch, Wright and Morrow; and “Biomedical Digital Signal Processing” by Willis Tompkins.
Number of DIS Students: Two. Students may or may not work together. Duration: One or two semesters
Topic #4: Robotic Platform for Math Education
Focus: Computer Engineering, Computer Science, and/or Electrical Engineering
Level: UG (COT4900, EEL 4905) / G (COT 6905, COT 6900, EEL 6905)
Prerequisites: Course on robotics/mechatronics/microcontrollers
Description: Low cost robots have been built in courses at FAU using Arduino boards and open source software. These robots are used in math education at the high school level, where students draw geometric art on a 6’ x 6’ canvas. The student will use modular approaches to build software using a high level (easy-to-use) language for drawing geometric primitives (arcs, lines, and angles), and use them to build more complicated shapes (circles, polygons and fractals). The UI (user interface) on the PC needs to capture raw data on speed, distance, direction, angle, and time – and use them to compute Physics and math variables of interest. Jean Lapaix, Senior in BSEE, is currently using PID algorithms to improve the robot’s precision. More students needed. More information at: http://robotics.fau.edu/ and http://smartsystems.eng.fau.edu/precision-robotics/ .
References: robotics.fau.edu and http://www.arduino.cc/.
Number of DIS Students: One or Two. Students may or may not work together. Duration: One or two semesters
Topic #5: Intelligent Web Technologies
Focus: Computer Science and Computer Engineering
Level: Graduate (COT 6905, COT 6900)
Prerequisites: Java and Eclipse
Description: This is a new breed of algorithms that empowers a host of commercially successful applications with intelligence. Examples of success stories based on these techniques are Google, Amazon and Netflix. The algorithms can be categorized into those for search, recommendation, groupings, classification, and the combination of classifiers. Dr. Shankar has taught a graduate course on this in the past using the book by Marmanis and Babenko. Lucene and Nutch are tools that have been used by graduate students at FAU in their research. The student will develop tutorials for a subset of the algorithms. Kris Donate, MSCS, is currently building a semantic search engine for seeking urban planning information. More students needed.
References: Algorithms of the Intelligent Web by H. Marmanis and D. Babenko, Manning.
Number of DIS Students: One or Two. Students may or may not work together. Duration: One semester (Fall 2013)
Topic #6: Hydrology Modeling with EDA (engineering design automation) tools
Focus: Computer Engineering
Level: Graduate (COT 6905)
Prerequisites: Engineering Design Automation and/or Mathematical Modeling
Description: We have used VHDL, Verilog HDL and SystemC in several EDA and chip design projects. However, our new goals are to export these concepts to other areas. For example, one of my PhD students, another ex-employee of Cadence like me, is developing a hierarchical model for hydrology – current models are slow and non-real time. My student has already shown how mixed signal modeling can be adapted here for faster response – for some benchmark examples. He is extending it to more of them. Perhaps this project interests you. If so, that is one area you can contribute to.
Topic #7: Nonintrusive Monitoring of Lego EV3 Motion
Focus: All disciplines of Engineering
Level: Undergraduate (4xxx DIS course)
Prerequisites: Physics and Math
Description: Another area is the use of robotics to teach Math. We just submitted a proposal to NSF (national science foundation) on this. We have developed low cost robots to teach Math. More can be found here: http://robotics.fau.edu/ . We also want to use the commercial Lego EV3 in solving Math problems. For this, we will have to externalize distance and angle measures from the robot and find ways to control and improve the precision so Math problem solutions are more precise. This would involve nonintrusive monitoring and control perhaps with a smart phone.
Topic #8: Audio DSP Course Development with ARM and OMAP
Focus: Electrical Engineering
Level: Undergraduate (4xxx DIS course)
Prerequisites: Introduction to DSP
Description: A third area is to work with the School for Multimedia Studies and Communication. The idea is to develop an introductory DSP course focused on the music/audio signal. An undergrad student is exploring the use of a TI board (with ARM and OMAP) and associated software to write C-level code for biomedical signal processing. Your focus could be music/audio signal processing. This may also involve other faculty members such as Dr. Erdol, our Chair.
Please let me know if any of these topics interest you. You can find more about our work at the following sites: http://csi.fau.edu/ , http://csi.fau.edu/ , http://android.fau.edu/ , and http://semanticweb.fau.edu/ .