EPS projects spring 2022

Overview - EPS projects spring 2022

  • Project 1 - Arena Oslo/Rebel building

    The Rebel building (Universitetsgata 2, Oslo) is a new building in downtown Oslo. In this high-rise, many small technology companies and teams from larger companies have a mix of offices and shared workspaces, as well as privileged access to shared, hybrid spaces.

    These hybrid spaces and drop-in workspaces are part of an emerging trend. “Work from anywhere” has become a reality for many. Travelling for seminars and conferences are less popular, at the same time as conferences become smaller and more frequent. 
     
    In this reality, the managers of the Rebel building wish to further develop an app for all users of the building.

    However, before any coding can begin, they need a good understanding of the use and users. Your goal is to create a concept, a starting point, or a mock-up of an app that computer science students can create in a later semester.

    The group will continue the work started by previous EPS-groups. There is therefore some groundwork but not yet specific data to provide the knowledgebase for an actual app.

    Desired background: Design, user experience, business and management are all desired competences in this project.

    Technical know-how will make it easier to communicate the findings to a future programming group, as well as understanding what an app can and cannot easily do.

    Supervisor: TBD.

  • Project 2 - Work-from-home or Work-from-anywhere? Challenges and opportunities

    Work-from-anywhere has long been a reality for a minority. The concept of digital nomads was established two decades ago.

    Now the pandemic has transformed a niche mode of working into a general expectation for large portions of European office workers. 
     
    We need curious students with a combination of technological know-how and human-centred skills to contribute to research within this field.

    You will conduct research as well as looking for solutions to the challenges the WFA-mode create for both the individual and the organisation.
     
    This project will be part of a larger research project on “Organising Teleworking in an Inclusive Manner” aiming to explore the various facets of teleworking and how they may relate to feelings of inclusion or exclusion amongst teleworkers.
     
    We will aim at publishing the results of the project in a scientific paper either at a scientific conference or in an academic journal.
     
    Supervisor: Professor Laurence Habib.

  • Project 3 – Serpens

    "Serpens" is an inexpensive modular robot whose body consists entirely of modular 3D-printed parts. This project aims at improving both the mechanical design and the control of the existing prototype. 

    Snake robots can exploit obstacles as rocks, branches, or other terrain irregularities as a means of propulsion to achieve locomotion. 

    This can be an advantage in challenging real-life operations in confined areas that conventional robots and humans are unable to access (e.g. exploration of earthquake-hit areas, gas pipe inspections, and search-and-rescue activities). 

    The group will continue the work started by previous EPS-groups. There is therefore some groundwork but not yet a physical prototype. 

    The following research questions are considered:

    • Software/mechanics co-design (i.e. based on AI).
    • Optimise design/controller and gate generation.
    • Overall implementation of control, navigation and guidance (CNG) architecture. 

    Supervisor: Dr. Filippo Sanfilippo.

    Further information:

    Filippo Sanfilippo et.al. (2019) “Serpens: A Highly Compliant Low-Cost ROS-Based Snake Robot with Series Elastic Actuators, Stereoscopic Vision and a Screw-Less Assembly Mechanism”. Applied Sciences 9(3)(396).

  • Project 4 - Autonomous surface vessel (ASV)

    The objective of the project is to design, build and test a prototype of an autonomous surface vessel (ASV) built using a Stand-Up Paddle (SUP) as a base platform.

    A first iteration has already been created by a previous EPS group. You may have to re-do the process or improve the existing design, propulsion or similar.
     
    This platform could be an extremely cost-effective way of collecting water quality and environmental data for coastal areas.
     
    Tasks:

    • Perform experiments in Oslo fjord to characterize propulsion system, autopilot system
    • Design and develop electronic system, a watertight box with batteries and control unit to provide commands to thrusters. Includes GPS, Compass and communication system using 4G mobile network. This could be for instance based on a raspberry pi.
    • Develop simple software to control the robotic SUP from a mobile phone / PC connected to internet
    • Design/ improve propulsion system. 
    • Design/ improve mechanical attachments of propulsion system and electronics onto SUP.

    Desired background: Mechanical engineering; Electrical engineering; Computer Science/ Software development.

    Supervisor: Professor Alex Alcocer.

Some EPS projects may require agreements and contracts

Normal projects that are not part of a research project and not industry connected, usually do not need any contracts.

As a rule, students will be considered to be the owner of the results of their contributions to research projects and project assignments, unless otherwise agreed. If exceptional results are achieved, necessary agreements can be set up as the project develops.

However, when projects are offered in collaboration with external enterprises and/or are connected to research projects, supervisors are responsible for establishing necessary agreements between OsloMet, students and project partners.

OsloMet has developed templates in English for students and project partners (student.oslomet.no).