Research

Active Research

Self-Sustainable Wireless Sensor Network Applications for Residential Energy Management

Residential energy consumption accounts for nearly 20% of the total national consumption and 50% of the critical peak consumption in California.  With blackout-related economic losses costing billions of dollars, residential energy consumption is at the forefront of energy management research.  My research focuses on utilizing wireless sensor networks as an enabling technology for novel energy management applications.  Such applications require extreme deployment lengths in excess of a decade, in which battery replacement is not optional.  Design requires an integrated approach to balance performance of the application, network, and node.  Specifically, I am developing comfort-based residential HVAC control strategies that leverage distributed sensing, characterizing 2.4GHz wireless sensor network communication performance in residential settings, evaluating energy scavenging opportunities in residential environments, and designing application-specific energy scavenging power sources.

Residential HVAC Control with Distributed Sensing

The typical residential HVAC system often erroneously assumes every room is the same temperature as the thermostat.  The resulting energy-inefficient control decisions often cause uncomfortable temperature differences among rooms and unneeded heating or cooling.  This research explores the use of distributed sensing (e.g. temperature, humidity, occupancy) to make better control decisions that reduce HVAC energy consumption without sacrificing comfort.  The resulting design permutations of control strategies, deadbands, and operational modes produce a “cost-comfort” design space that enables price-elastic consumer options and Demand Response functionality.

Wireless Sensor Network Communication in Residential Environments

Packet-level communication is a typical characterization of performance for wireless sensor networks.  This research aims to gain quantitative data about packet-level performance metrics (e.g. aggregate packet loss, link symmetry) and performance characteristics (e.g. “burstiness” of a packet loss event, how many rooms loose packets simultaneously) in residential environments.

Energy Scavenging in Residential Environments

Wireless sensor nodes are energy constrained devices that must operate for many years.   Batteries, alone, do not provide sufficient energy reserves.  Wall outlets provide unlimited energy but are typically in undesirable sensing locations.  Scavenging ambient energy from the environment is one alternative solution.  This research explores energy photovoltaic, vibratory, thermoelectric, and fluidic scavenging opportunities in residential environments. 

Active Projects

Alternative Interfaces for Residential Ambient Intelligence

These mini-projects explore non-conventional methods for interacting with your house.  A set of software “widgets” that discretely rest on your computer desktop provide current electricity prices, electric grid status, and conditions throughout your house.  A portable thermostat accepts your temperature set point, but also allows you to specify your “cost-comfort” preference and indicates if electricity prices are high at the moment. 

Sensor Network Applications Center (SNAP)

SNAP provides a wiki-based environment for enabling application engineers to “snap” together components to make enabling wireless sensor network applications.  In the real world, SNAP is a research space where UC Berkeley students can create wireless sensor networks applications in a “hands-on” manner. It’s where mechanical, civil, architectural, chemical, and material science engineers go to get started with wireless sensor networks.

Please visit the SNAP.

Past Projects

In addition to my active research, here is a selected list of projects. 

Hitachi Fellowship: u-Chip (RFID)

This fellowship was an interdisciplinary team effort to develop a jewelry-tracking application using the Hitachi u-Chip (pronounced “mu chip”) radio frequency identification technology.

tinyML

An XML approach for wireless sensor networks.

Etchnet

Wireless sensor networks in industrial and commercial environments.

MEMS Out-of-Plane Half Gear

An out of plane half-gear was designed for the MUMPS process.  The design challenge was based on the limited structural layers inherent with the MCNC MUMPS process.  The proposed design achieves will achieve a maximum of 160 degrees of motion orthogonal to the wafer surface.  In addition, a custom inchworm motor was designed to translate in-plane motion to the gear.

pesFixator

The pesFixator is a device to assist surgeons perform the modified lapidus arthrodesis procedure that corrects severe hallux valgus deformities (bunions).  As a senior project, the pesFixator was developed with support from Dr. Lee Weiss at Carnegie Mellon University and Brad Lamm from the Foot and Ankle Institute of the Western Pennsylvania Hospital.

Running Man

The Running Man is a personal navigational device and digital “trainer.”  The Running Man system combines heart rate and accelerometer data to manage and optimize a runner’s performance.  Specifically designed for those who travel, the Running Man system utilizes GPS data, downloadable maps, and vibrating motors to direct the runner through unfamiliar running routes.

Summit Integrated Navigation System

The Summit Integrated Navigational System is a high-tech alternative to tradition map-and-compass navigation.  Specifically designed for outdoor enthusiasts, the Summit consists of a small watch attachment, body server, and water monitor.  Combining GPS and topographical data with a digital compass, the Summit intelligently guides a hiker along through the wilderness.  In addition, safety features such as notification for trail deviation and water management and location are included.  Go to the Summit site.

Tactile Vest

The tactile vest is a prototype communication device that utilizes the sense of touch as a modality for communication.  The vest consists of vibrating motors and infrared control hardware housed in an ergonomic shoulder harness.  In addition to wearable design guidelines, the tactile vest was designed to operate at sound levels below the human threshold for hearing.  The tactile vest was designed and developed with Francine Gemperle and Professor Dan Siewiorek at The Wearable Group, Carnegie Mellon University.

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