Computation, Visualization and Realization Lab.
 

The infrastructure:

Computation: We are building a Beowulf parallel computing system. This system has the ability to harness the power and low price of today's off-the-shelf Personal Computer (PC) processors and the availability of Gigabit Ethernet interconnections to create a powerful parallel computer at an affordable price. Each node will consist of a high-performance PC processor with 256Mbytes of DRAM, 3.2 Gbytes of EIDE hard disk, a PC bus backplane and an assortment of other devices. These nodes will be organized as 4 hyper-cubes, arranged on an Sears-Roebuck tool rack. Each node will run the Linux operating system, complemented with the parallel processing libraries MPI and PVM. This infrastructure will provide our group with the computational power necessary to develop, validate and run computer codes able to accurately solve sets of partial differential equations in high dimensions. These intensive computational simulations will generate high dimensional data that will be stored on a large amount of disk space provided by a cluster of 18 Gbytes of EIDE disks.

Visualization: The Visualization infrastructure consists of a cluster of visualization workstations, a high quality color printer, a high resolution scanner, a large screen television and a video recorder. The cluster of high-performance PCs will provide the computational power necessary for post-processing and visualizing the high dimensional data produced by the Computation infrastructure. Several of the workstations will be equipped with 1600 x 1024 pixel resolution, 24 bit color, low radiation Silicon Graphics 1600W Flat Panel Monitors, in order to provide a high-performance, professional and safe working environment.

Realization: We have acquired a Stratasys Rapid Prototyping machine, which is a fused deposition modeling machine that can produce parts and assemblies up to 254 x 254 x 254 mm, (10 x 10 x 10 in). Prototypes can be made in two grades of ABS plastic, a general purpose ABS and a medical grade ABS, as well as in investment casting wax. This system will support our group's efforts in concept modeling and prototype development.

The research:

The CVR laboratory will allow us to develop and test algorithms for large scale matrix problems, such as those which arise in computer vision and fluid dynamics, as well as carry out simulations effectively. It will be used for research related to the control of three-dimensional unsteady fluid flows, mixing enhancement and combustion improvement and control. Efforts will be focused on creating computer codes able to accurately simulate complex mixing and combustion processes and their intelligent manipulation and control. The reliable computational characterization of these processes is one of the challenges of the new millennium. Another challenge is the analysis and visualization of the three-dimensional flows associated with these processes. Research will be focused on designing and implementing graphical tools to accurately render complex vector fields associated with these phenomena. The infrastructure will be used for the simulation of curve and surface evolution process as they are used for problems in computer vision and bio-medicine. Physical prototypes of complex 3D structures arising from our research in fluid dynamics and bio-medicine will be built. Lastly, the CVR Laboratory will provide an environment for the rapid product development of integrated mechatronic devices for motion and force generation. The approach emphasizes the multifunctional use of parts by embedding sensing, actuation, electronics and structural support within each component.

Faculty

Graduate Students

Undergraduate Students

Alumni

  • Distributed and Parallel Computing
  • The Global Positioning System
    • Efficient and reliable methods for carrier phase based positioning
    • Integrity monitoring: fault detection and exclusion, horizontal and vertical protection levels.
  • Matrix computations
    • Pivoting in matrix factorizations
    • Solving large sparse total least squares problems
  • Computational Vision
    • Divergence-Based Medial Surfaces
    • Computing Skeletal Graphs
    • Area and Length Minimizing Flows for Segmentation
  • Computational Fluid Mechanics
    • Vortex Flows
    • Acoustically Excited Transverse Jet
    • Feedback Control of Near-Wall Disturbances in Channel Flows
    • Nonlinear Feedback Control of Unsteady Separated Flows
    • Scaling and Universality of Unsteady Separated Flows
    • Capillary waves
  • Mechanical and mechatronic systems
    • Integrated Mechatronic System Design
    • Cooperation Frameworks For Actively Articulated Wheeled Vehicles
    • Manipulation Assistive Aids


Canadian Foundation
for Innovation

School of
Computer
Science

Department of
Mechanical
Engineering