Emerging electrical and computer research on show

Media Release

8 October 2008

Emerging electrical and computer research on show

Emerging discoveries in robotics, software and power systems are among the cutting-edge research projects to be displayed to the public for the first time at RED Day.

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of Auckland is holding its first Research Exhibition Day (RED Day) on Friday October 10. It will showcase the dozens of research projects being completed by its academics and postgraduate students.

“The exhibition day is a chance to find out about new technologies before they hit the market,” organiser Dr Partha Roop says. “There is a great deal of exciting research being produced by this department for the healthcare, agriculture, electricity and other technology-driven sectors, that the public and industry never gets to see.”

Some of the projects already sparking interest include a wireless sensor network for agriculture, and a new technology for cutting timber.

Postgraduate student Ljiljana Simic is developing a network of wireless nodes to collect information like temperature, humidity and air pollution on large agricultural sites, such as vineyards, farms, or wildlife habitats. The wireless ‘nodes’ can be placed anywhere, outdoors or indoors, can communicate with eachother, and use a minimal amount of energy.

Another postgraduate student, Hao Leo Li, has developed technology in collaboration with PowerbyProxy Ltd for Waratah Forestry Attachments, which removes the direct wire connections on harvesting machines in forests. Leo has used inductive power transfer technology to remove the need for wires, improving the tolerance of the machines to dust, wood chips, bark and sticks.

Another highlight will be public access to the recently launched Joint New Zealand/Korean Robotics Research Centre, and research projects will be displayed in control systems, embedded systems, engineering education, power electronics, radio systems, signal processing and software engineering.

The exhibition is on Friday October 10 between 2pm and 6pm in the ECE laboratories, Levels 1, 2 and 3, Science Buildngs 301 & 303S, 38 Princes Street.

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