Expertise - SmartTO

Lab Facility

At York University's Lassonde School of Engineering, the Mobility Innovation Centre (MOVE) leads in advancing transportation through groundbreaking research. MOVE integrates interdisciplinary expertise to tackle today’s mobility challenges and develop innovative solutions in:

Autonomous Mobility: Enhancing safety and performance with data-enabled autonomous vehicles.
Sustainable Mobility: Using big data to address safety and electrification in transportation.
Mobility Analytics: Leveraging AI to analyze and predict mobility patterns.
IoT and Connected Mobility: Advancing multi-band wireless networks and IoT for reliable vehicular communication.
AR/VR Mobility: Utilizing AR/VR for realistic simulations and autonomous vehicle development.

MOVE’s pioneering research and expertise make them a key partner for SmartTO, driving the future of smart mobility.

MTEC Lab Capabilities

The Manufacturing, Technology, and Entrepreneurship Centre (MTEC) at York University's Lassonde School of Engineering integrates diverse disciplines to rapidly advance technologies. MTEC's mission is to foster collaborative research and impactful solutions through strong academic and industry partnerships.

MTEC Highlights:

Globalization and Industry 4.0: Adapts to global material supply, flexible manufacturing, and Industry 4.0 advancements.
Society 5.0 Integration: Utilizes AI to address social issues and enhance technology impact.
Experience and Achievements: Boasts 30 years of industry experience, numerous awards, and $15 million in collaborative grants.

Flagship Project: SARIT

Micro-mobility Innovation: A disruptive electric vehicle project funded by Stronach, focusing on user discovery, data collection, and advanced technology integration for manufacturing.

Film (Transparency) Photomask Service

A film (transparency) photomask serves as a low-cost alternative to soda-lime masks and is indispensable in UV lithography. It facilitates the selective pattern transfer of structures from the mask to the photoresist layer on a substrate. Applications include creating patterns for metal electrodes or interconnects, microfluidic channels, and movable or immovable microstructures of MEMS sensors. YMF has optimized traditional PCB masks for microstructures down to 20μm. This service includes design and printing, with costs based on time and material consumption. Available materials are listed below.

Materials:

Indium Tin Oxide (ITO)
Zinc Oxide (ZnO)
Titanium Dioxide (TiO2)
Aluminum (Al)
Silver (Ag)
Tin Oxide (SnO2)
Carbon Graphite (C)
Copper (Cu)
Titanium (Ti)
Chromium (Cr)

Nickel (Ni)
Silicon Nitride (Si3N4)
Silicon (Si)
Gold (Au)
Palladium (Pd)
Platinum (Pt)
Tungsten (W)
Bismuth (Bi)
Tantalum (Ta)
Tin (Sn)

Thin Film Coating and Etching

Thin film processes are essential for microelectronics, MEMS, and microfluidics. YMF offers a comprehensive suite of instruments for thin film deposition and etching, including a Sputter Deposition System, an eBeam Evaporator, Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD), and Reactive Ion Etching (RIE) tools. We provide services for depositing/etching single or multiple layers of thin films, utilizing materials such as Au, Ag, Al, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pt, Ti, ITO, SiOx, SixNy, and others. The fee structure for this service is based on time-based equipment usage, labor, and optional material costs.

Photolithography with UV

Our advanced UV mask aligner enables YMF to offer UV photolithography services for creating custom microfluidic or MEMS structures, components, or devices. Currently, we provide custom microfluidic master molds and PDMS devices. The service rate is based on each order.

Surface Characterization

The KLA Contact Profilometer and the Keyence Digital Microscope in the YMF labs are a powerful suite of microscopic tools, capable of extracting surface profiles ranging from a few hundred nanometers to a few millimeters. YMF accepts samples from users and performs surface characterization. The fee structure is based on time-based equipment usage and labor.

MOVE

MTEC

YMF

Experts

Alex Czekanski

Professor, P.Eng

Specializations and Key Areas

Elastomers
System Engineering
Additive Manufacturing
Material Characterization

Autonomous driving systems
Bioprinting
Topology Optimization
Computational Modeling

Integrated Design and Engineering Analysis Lab (IDEA-LAB)

Alvine Boaye Belle

Assistant Professor

Generative AI & Autonomous Driving Systems:
- Dr. Belle's research in generative AI and safety assurance for autonomous driving systems can support SmartTO's initiatives in smart mobility. She can help design and validate AI-driven solutions for autonomous vehicles, ensuring their safety and reliability.
System Assurance & Safety Requirements:
- With a strong background in system assurance and the assurance of safety requirements, Dr. Belle can contribute to projects that require rigorous safety assessments, particularly in the context of smart mobility technologies.
Knowledge Representation & Reasoning:
- Her expertise in knowledge representation and reasoning can be instrumental in developing intelligent systems and smart city technologies, enabling more efficient data management and decision-making.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in Computing:
- As a champion of EDI, Dr. Belle can lead initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion within SmartTO projects, fostering a more equitable and inclusive environment.
Mentorship & Research Leadership:
- Dr. Belle's experience in supervising undergraduate, master's, and PhD students, as well as her involvement in various committees, positions her as a valuable mentor and leader. She can guide young researchers and professionals, helping them navigate complex projects and develop their skills.
Collaboration & Interdisciplinary Research:
- Her involvement in interdisciplinary research, including collaborations across different domains and institutions, can facilitate partnerships and innovative projects within SmartTO. Dr. Belle's connections with other researchers and organizations can help bring diverse perspectives and expertise to SmartTO's initiatives.
Public Administration & Governance:
- Dr. Belle's background in public administration and governance equips her with the skills to navigate regulatory and organizational challenges, ensuring that projects align with legal and ethical standards.

Specializations and Key Areas

System assurance
Assurance of safety requirements
Generative AI

Autonomous driving systems
Knowledge representation and reasoning
EDI (Equity-Diversity-Inclusion) in computing

Aijun An

Professor

Specializations and Capabilities Related to Electric Vehicles:
Aijun An’s research in data mining, machine learning, and pattern recognition contributes significantly to the fields of electric vehicles and automotive technologies. Her work on optimizing data migration, performance of target systems, and developing intelligent systems aligns well with advancements in electric vehicle technologies and their associated data management challenges.

Research Interests

Data mining and machine Learning
Classification, clustering, and pattern mining
Data stream mining
Bio-inspired computational models

Topic detection from text documents, emotion and sentiment analysis
Keyword search over graphs and relational databases.
Social media analysis, recommender systems

Afshin Rezaei-Zare

Associate Professor, P.Eng

Research Interests:

Power System Resilience to Geomagnetic Disturbance (Solar Storm)
Power System Real-Time Simulation and Wide-Area Control and Monitoring
Electric Vehicles and Transportation Electrification
Microgrids and Renewable Energy Systems
Design and Optimization of Electrical Machines and Drives
Geomagnetic Disturbance (GMD) Effects on Transformers and Power Systems

Specialization Key Areas:

Development of real-time GMD simulators
Advanced transformer differential protection under GIC conditions
State-of-charge prediction and capacity prediction for Li-ion batteries using machine learning
Electric Vehicle (EV) energy management systems and fast charging infrastructure
Mitigation of power system voltage unbalance for EV adoption

Prof. Rezaei-Zare's work on real-time power system simulations, GMD impact analysis, and advanced EV technologies positions him as a key contributor to SmartTO's initiatives in smart mobility and renewable energy systems. His expertise in electric vehicles, power system resilience, and interdisciplinary research aligns with SmartTO's goals of fostering innovation in smart technology and energy solutions.

Specializations and Key Areas

Real-Time GMD Simulators
Transformer Differential Protection
Li-ion Battery Prediction
Machine Learning in Battery Management

EV Energy Management Systems
EV Fast Charging Infrastructure
Power System Voltage Mitigation
Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GIC)

Alidad Amirfazli

Professor

Facilities

Spin Coater
Wet Chemical Station
Rotary Wing System
Wind Tunnel for Icing Conditions
High Voltage Power Supplies and Controllers
Temperature Control and Humidity Control Chambers
Plasma Cleaner
High Temperature Ovens
Surface Tension and Contact Angle Measurement Equipment
High Speed Particle and Droplet Impact Facility
High Speed Camera and Imaging Facilities
Wind Tunnel for Humid Air

Research Areas

The Evaporation of an Array of Droplets on a Substrate Surface
Liquid Bridge
Study of Droplet Evaporation
Drop Particle Impact in Midair (a first study of its kind)

Specializations and Key Areas

Surface Engineering
Droplet Surface Interactions
Anti-Icing Systems
Additive Manufacturing

Water Management in Fuel Cells
High-Speed Imaging
Particle Impact in Midair
Wind Tunnel Testing (Icing and Humid Conditions)

Surface Engineering and Instrumentation Lab (SEiL)

Andrew Maxwell

Associate Professor

Specializations and Key Areas

Technology entrepreneurship
Technology transfer and commercialization
Capstone entrepreneurship education
Technology company formation and management

Multinational technology experience
Innovation and business venturing
Academic leadership in entrepreneurship
Business journal editorial work

Gunho Sohn

Associate Professor of Geomatics Engineering, Department Chair

Specializations and Key Areas

3D Urban Space Modelling and Augmentation
Photogrammetric Computer Vision
Geometric Remote Sensing
Web and Wireless GIS
Building Information Modelling

Hany E. Z. Farag

Associate Professor, P.Eng

1. List of equipment

Real time simulator to test EV chargers, batteries, and controllers in real-time via hardware in the loop

Customized SCADA system to design distributed energy resource management systems (DERMS) including EV charging stations, battery storage, and renewable generation
Commercial software licenses such as CYME, PSS/E, and Digsilent to perform connection impact assessments of EVs in power distribution and bulk transmission systems
In-house tested models and professional software licenses such as HOMER to run techno-economic analysis and detailed feasibility studies for deployment of EV charging systems, electrification of private and public fleets, and hydrogen refuleing stations
In-house tested models using professional optimization tools such as GAMS to optimize the design and sizing of EV charging stations with battery storage systems in commercial and residential buildings

2. Services:

Design and real-time testing of batteries, controllers, and EV chargers

Software Development of customized DERMS to manage and optimize EV charging along with other local energy resources

Review Single-line-Diagrams and perform connection impact assessments of EVs in local power distribution systems

Conduct techno-economic analysis and detailed feasibility studies for deployment of EV charging systems, electrification of private and public fleets, and green hydrogen production for heavy duty vehicles.

Optimal design and sizing of private and public EV charging stations and battery storage systems (e.g., commercial and residential buildings)

Specializations and Key Areas

Real-time simulator
EV chargers
SCADA system
DERMS
Microgrids
Electrification of public bus transit

Techno-economic analysis
Connection impact assessments
Optimization tools
Battery storage systems
Hydrogen Refuelling Stations

Smart Grid

Simulator

Kevin Gingerich

Associate Professor

Transportation Network Modelling: Analyzing and optimizing transportation networks to improve efficiency and reduce congestion.
Freight Transportation: Focusing on the movement of goods, including the development and implementation of cargo bike solutions for urban deliveries.
GIS Spatial Analysis: Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to analyze spatial data and support transportation planning and decision-making.
Discrete Choice Modelling: Understanding and predicting decision-making behavior related to transportation choices.
Collaborative Projects: Previously worked with organizations such as Transport Canada, MTO, and Union Gas.

Key Projects

Cargo Tricycle Delivery Pilot in University Innovation Zones: A project focused on implementing and testing cargo tricycles for efficient delivery within university innovation zones

Specializations and Key Areas

Transportation Network Modelling
Freight Transportation
GIS Spatial Analysis

Discrete Choice Modelling
Cargo Tricycle Delivery Pilot

John Chi Wo Lam

Associate Professor, Graduate Program Director - MASc and PhD Programs, P.Eng

Medium-to-High Frequency Power Converters and Inverters: We specialize in the development and testing of power converter and inverter systems. Our facility includes advanced digital oscilloscopes and probes capable of measuring up to 7kV and 30A.

Grid Simulator: Our single-phase and three-phase grid simulator allows for comprehensive investigation of grid code compliance for testing inverter units. This ensures that systems meet regulatory standards and perform reliably in real-world scenarios.

High Voltage DC Electronic Load: This equipment emulates the current and voltage characteristics of high voltage batteries, making it ideal for testing high voltage EV systems.

Photovoltaic (PV) Emulator: Our PV emulator is designed to output customized voltage and current characteristics of PV panels, facilitating accurate simulation and analysis of solar energy systems

Specializations and Key Areas

Power Electronics
High Frequency Power Converters
Inverter Systems
High Voltage Testing

Photovoltaic Emulation
Grid Simulation
Digital Measurement Systems
Battery Testing

POWER ELECTRONICS LAB FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY RESEARCH (PELSER)

Jinjun Shan

Professor, P.Eng

The AUV Lab at York University serves as a critical platform for emerging research on the co-operative control of multi-agent systems. This experimental platform fosters collaboration between academia and industry in the autonomous unmanned vehicles (AUV) sector.

Key Features:

Multi-Agent Systems Control: Specializing in the navigation and control system design of multi-agent systems.
Application-Oriented Projects: Supports high-resolution, real-time navigation and collaborative mobile mapping projects.
Industry Collaboration: Companies can utilize our facilities for testing and leverage our expertise through consulting services in the field of autonomous systems.

Our lab offers state-of-the-art resources and expert knowledge to advance research and development in autonomous unmanned vehicles.

Research Interests

Multi-Agent Systems
Smart Materials and Structures
Dynamics, Control, and Navigation
Autonomous Systems

Decision-making for Autonomous Driving Vehicles
Collaborative Mobile Mapping
Active Vibration Control
Space Instrumentation

Autonomous Unmanned Vehicles (AUV) Lab

Mehdi Nourinejad

Assistant Professor

At our lab, we develop interactive decision-making tools that incorporate optimization and machine learning models to create interactive tactical planning platforms. We cater to various sectors, including transportation, energy, real estate, and last-mile delivery, as long as there is data and a vision for decision-making.

We can schedule a call to discuss the interactive decision-making tools and their potential applications in detail.

Specializations and Key Areas

Interactive Decision-Making Tools
Optimization Models
Machine Learning

Tactical Planning Platforms
Data-Driven Decision Making

Interactive Operational Research Lab

Peter Y. Park

Professor, Associate Dean Research Innovation, Enterprise & Partnerships, P.Eng

Lab Capabilities:

Offering software workshops for companies.
Expertise in various software tools for transportation

Specializations and Key Areas

Software Workshops

Pirathayini Srikantha

Associate Professor, Canada Research Chair (Tier 2)

Focuses on the integration of Electric Vehicles (EVs) in microgrid settings.
Conducts research on Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology, grid stability, energy storage, and renewable energy integration.
Utilizes Real-Time Digital Simulation (RTDS) for testing and developing algorithms.

Key Research Areas:

Microgrid Operations:
- Study of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources.
- Examination of grid-connected, island, and transition modes of operation.
EV and V2G Technology:
- Environmental benefits of EVs.
- Challenges in grid stability due to EV energy demands.
- Solutions for charging surges and renewable energy intermittency.
- Utilization of EV batteries for energy storage and redistribution.
Optimal Charging Algorithms:
- Development of charge/discharge algorithms for EVs.
- Techniques for peak shaving and grid support using EVs.
- Real-time control of EV charging with Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing.
Impact on Grid Stability:
- Research on the stability of low-inertia microgrids.
- Simulation of microgrid systems with and without EV integration.

Notable Equipment:

RTDS (Real-Time Digital Simulator):
- Used for simulating and testing microgrid operations and EV integration.
- Allows for the development and validation of real-time control strategies.
SEL 751 Protection Relay:
- Utilized for protection and control of microgrid systems, particularly in scenarios involving electromagnetic transients (EMT) due to EV integration.
- Ensures system stability by monitoring and reacting to anomalies in real-time.

Specializations and Key Areas

Microgrid
Electric Vehicles (EV)
Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G)
Grid Stability
Energy Storage

Renewable Energy Integration
Real-Time Digital Simulation (RTDS)
Optimal Charging Algorithms
Peak Shaving
Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) Testing

Resilient Intelligent Sustainable Energy Lab

Paul O'Brien

Associate Professor

Specializations and Key Areas

Thermophotovoltaics (TPV)
Nanomaterials for Energy Harvesting

Energy Storage
Aerogel-Based Composites

Advanced Materials for Sustainable Energy Technologies Laboratory

Liam Butler

Associate Professor, Director, CD3 Facility for Built Infrastructure, P.Eng

Facilities:

Climate-Data-Driven Design (CD3) Facility for Built Infrastructure
- Focuses on studying the impacts of varying climates on materials and structures, which can be vital for the infrastructure supporting electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and smart mobility solutions.
- Advanced simulation and testing capabilities for evaluating the resilience and sustainability of smart infrastructure in urban environments.
Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction (CSIC)
- Expertise in infrastructure sensing, especially related to bridges and prestressed concrete railway ties, which could support the integration of EV charging infrastructure within existing city frameworks.
- Use of fibre-optic sensor networks for real-time monitoring of infrastructure performance, potentially applicable for EV charging stations and mobility hubs.

Research Areas Related to Smart Mobility:

Sustainable and Low-Carbon Infrastructure for Smart Cities
- Development of low-carbon concrete and recycled materials that contribute to sustainable infrastructure needed for EV charging stations and the broader smart mobility ecosystem.
- Research in climate-resilient structures that ensure long-term viability and low environmental impact of smart mobility infrastructure.
Advanced Sensing Technologies for Smart Mobility Applications
- Implementation of advanced sensors for structural health monitoring, which can be extended to monitor and optimize the performance of smart mobility infrastructure (e.g., EV charging stations, dynamic traffic control systems, and smart roadways).
- Use of digital twins and data-driven models to enhance infrastructure performance, improve decision-making, and predict future wear and tear, important for EV fleet management and mobility hubs.
Smart Infrastructure and EV Integration
- Design and analysis of smart, self-healing materials (e.g., ultra-high-performance concrete) that can be used in the construction of EV charging stations, ensuring minimal maintenance and longer lifespans.
- Focus on the digital twinning of infrastructure—an area highly relevant to the integration of autonomous and electric vehicles, offering real-time insights into the status of critical infrastructure and enhancing EV deployment strategies.

Specializations and Key Areas

Low Carbon Concrete for EV Infrastructure
Self-Sensing Concrete and Materials

Advanced Digital Modeling and Simulation
Infrastructure Performance Monitoring with Fibre-Optic Sensing

Solomon Boakye-Yiadom

Associate Professor, P.Eng

Key Areas of Expertise

Smart Materials
- Advanced Alloys and Smart Composites: Focus on designing materials that respond dynamically to environmental changes such as temperature, stress, and strain.
- Complex Concentrated Alloys (CCAs): Development of high-performance alloys for EV applications, focusing on lightweight, durable, and energy-efficient materials.
- Self-Healing Materials: Investigating materials that can recover from damage, improving the lifetime and sustainability of electric vehicle components.
Materials for Electric Vehicles (EVs)
- Battery Materials: Research on advanced materials for improving energy storage systems, enhancing battery life, and reducing weight.
- Thermal Management: Development of materials to manage and dissipate heat efficiently in EV batteries and powertrains.
- Impact and Failure Behavior: Study of materials’ deformation and failure under high strain rate and impact loading conditions, crucial for ensuring the safety and reliability of EVs.
Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) for Advanced Materials
- Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF): Exploring new techniques in metal-based additive manufacturing, ideal for producing lightweight, high-strength components for EVs.
- In-Situ Process Monitoring: Integrating machine learning and sensor technologies to optimize the manufacturing of smart materials and structural components.
Biomechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Biomechanics of Materials: Research on the deformation behavior of materials under extreme loading conditions, with applications in EV safety and crashworthiness.
- Aerospace Material Innovations: Applying high-performance materials to both aerospace and EV industries for weight reduction and increased energy efficiency.

Facilities:

Electron Microscopy and Microanalysis Lab
- High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) for detailed material analysis at the atomic level.
- Auger Electron Spectroscopy for surface analysis, essential for material selection in advanced EV components.
Advanced Manufacturing and Fabrication Lab
- Metal Additive Manufacturing (LPBF): Facilities for laser powder bed fusion, enabling rapid prototyping and fabrication of complex metal parts.
- Processing and Characterization of Biomaterials: Focus on advanced tissue simulant biomaterials, potentially useful in bio-inspired smart materials for EVs.
Mechanical Testing Lab
- High-strain rate testing (tension, compression, torsion) for evaluating material performance under extreme conditions, relevant to both EV safety and performance.
Computational Modelling and Simulation Lab
- Finite Element Method (FEM) Simulation: Advanced computational tools for simulating material behavior under various loading conditions, including high-impact and high-temperature environments typical in EVs.
- Machine Learning Integration: In-depth research on the application of machine learning algorithms to predict material behavior during manufacturing and in operational conditions.

Specializations and Key Areas

Materials for Sustainable EV Design
High-Performance Materials for Safety

Advanced Manufacturing of Smart Components
Impact Biomechanics & Structural Integrity

Processing-structure-property-performance (PSPP) of Materials