Project

# Title Team Members TA Documents Sponsor
4 Actions to Mosquitoes
 Lumeng Xu
Peiqi Cai
Xiangmei Chen
Yang Dai
 design_document1.pdf
design_document2.pdf
final_paper1.pdf
final_paper2.pdf
proposal1.pdf
 Said Mikki
# Team Members
Xiangmei Chen [xc47]
Peiqi Cai [peiqic3]
Yang Dai [yangdai2]
Lumeng Xu [lumengx2]

# Title
Actions to Mosquitoes

# Problem
Many of us get bitten by mosquitoes without notice. We come up with a device that can distinguish by sound whether a mosquito exist in a given area and take actions to keep it away. Solutions existing in the market include mosquito spray, insect-repelling lamp, and mosquito-repellent incense. However, they work continuously, and people may get uncomfortable with its smell. It would be less disturbing and resource saving if the device only reacts when a mosquito approaches.

# Solution Overview
In order to have in-time response of mosquitoes, we first need a device to detect sounds of mosquitoes. After the sound is collected, we need to process the signal to tell if a mosquito presents. If the presence is true, an actuator will take actions to keep the mosquitoes away.

# Solution Components
[Sound Detecting Subsystem] A sound detecting device, could be high accuracy microphone that can capture the sound of mosquitoes since they produce a characteristic buzzing sound when they fly, which varies depending on the species and gender. The frequency of the sound that the system capturing can be set to the range of frequencies of the mosquitoes to further improve accuracy.
[Signal Processing Subsystem] A signal processor that can analyze the sound and identify the presence and type of mosquitoes. The signal processor could use a machine learning or other algorithms, or a frequency filter to distinguish the mosquito sound from other noises.
[Mechanical Subsystem] An actuator that can take actions to keep the mosquitoes away. Depending on the desired effect, the actuator could emit a high-frequency sound that repels mosquitoes, a chemical spray that kills or deters them, or a device that could emit gas or light of specific wavelength that attract them and knock them down.

# Criterion for Success
Detection Accuracy: The device should be able to accurately detect the distinctive sound of mosquito wings flapping with a high degree of precision to minimize false positives (e.g., from other insects or ambient noise) and false negatives (failure to detect mosquitoes).
Responsiveness: Upon detecting a mosquito, the device should promptly activate the mechanical components to deter or eliminate the mosquito within a predefined time frame, ensuring efficient protection.
Coverage Area: The device must effectively monitor and protect a defined area, such as a standard-sized room, from mosquitoes, with clear specifications on its effective range.
User Interface: If applicable, any software interface for the device should be user-friendly and allow users to easily adjust settings, such as detection sensitivity or deterrent mechanisms.
Energy Efficiency: The device should operate efficiently, using a reasonable amount of power, and if battery-operated, should have a battery life that is practical for typical use cases (e.g., overnight use in a residential setting).
Safety: The device and its deterrent methods (such as acoustic waves or mosquito sprays) should be safe for use in the intended environment, not posing health risks to humans or pets.


# Distribution of Work
Peiqi Cai [EE]:
Responsible for the design and implementation of the microphone array and any other necessary sensors that are part of the hardware which collects the mosquito sounds. This will include circuit design, component selection, and integration of the sensors with the rest of the system.
Lumeng Xu [ECE]:
Develop the signal processing software that analyzes the audio data from the hardware to distinguish mosquito sounds. This includes writing the algorithm, possibly utilizing machine learning, and ensuring it can run efficiently in real-time.
Yang Dai [ECE]:
In charge of the overall system integration, ensuring that the hardware and software components communicate effectively. This student will also be responsible for the user interface, if applicable, and making sure that the software is user-friendly and robust.
Xiangmei Chen [ME]:
Design and test the mechanical components that take action to repel or eliminate mosquitoes. This could involve the design of the enclosure that houses the electronics, any moving parts for the actuation mechanism, and the dispersion system for the repellent if a spray is used. She will also ensure that the physical design adheres to safety and ergonomic standards.

A Micro-Tribotester to Characterize the Wear Phenomenon

Shuren Li, Boyang Shen, Sirui Wang, Ze Wang

A Micro-Tribotester to Characterize the Wear Phenomenon

Featured Project

**Problem**

Many research efforts have been made to understand the complex wear mechanisms used to reduce wear in sliding systems and thus reduce industrial losses. To characterize the wear process, coefficient of friction needs to be measured “not only after completion of the wear test but also during the wear test to understand the transitional wear behavior that led to the final state”.(Penkov) In order to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of these research methods, it is necessary to improve the instrument used to characterize the wear phenomenon to better measure the friction coefficient of the material. Although the instrument can be applied on all solid samples, we will use silicon wafer coated with SiO2 as our specimen targeted object.

**Solution Overview**

The objective of the experiment is to evaluate the wear phenomenon of the sample during the sliding test so as to obtain the wear information of the material. We will design planar positioning and force sensing system to get the move and force information of our objects. To collect the data of vertical load and horizontal friction, 2 force sensors are mounted on linear rails to minimize the radial force and ensure that only the axial forces are collected. Then, the coefficient of friction can be calculated by equation:

![](https://courses.grainger.illinois.edu/ece445zjui/pace/getfile/18615)

And to determine the relationship between the coefficient of friction and the state of wear, we use a microscope to monitor the state of wear at a given location in the wear track and evaluate the wear process during each sliding cycle. In this way, we can investigate the wear transition processes with respect to the sliding distance then transport our data to a computer. Finally, we will design our data processing method in the computer to successfully obtain an acceptable result in the margin error.

**Solution Components**

1. Motion Platform: This subsystem includes a linear actuator that moves the sample in reciprocating motion along X-axis, a stationary counter surface that applies constant vertical load onto the sample, and another actuator that compresses the spring and provides a vertical load to the counter sample.

2. Specimen and Counter surface: We will test the wear and friction between the specimen and the counter surface during the sliding test. A 10 × 10 mm^2 silicon (Si) wafer coated with 50 nm thick SiO2 will be used as the specimen and a stainless-steel ball with a diameter of 1 mm was used as the counter surface.

3. Sensors: This subsystem includes two force sensors that measure the vertical load and horizontal friction. The Load Sensor should assemble along with the Z-axis actuator. To measure the friction without the effect of load, we assemble the Load Sensor and Friction Sensor sensor on the Linear Rails, as the photo attached shows. Since the sensors are strain gauges and only outputs, small changes in resistance, amplifiers, and ADC are needed to collect the signal and send converted data to the computer.

4. Data Processing: This subsystem includes acquiring raw data of load and friction on the computer, applying necessary filters to reduce noise and improve accuracy, and plotting the result that reflects the relationship between the sliding cycles and coefficient of friction for our sample.

![](https://courses.grainger.illinois.edu/ece445zjui/pace/getfile/18611)

**Criterion for Success**

1. Motion platform can perform precise reciprocation. The control system can effectively control the number and speed of reciprocating motion.

2. The acquisition unit can collect data effectively and can transfer the data that can be processed to the computer.

3. On a computer, the raw data can be processed into a readable graph based on algorithms set up. By analyzing the graph, the relationship between the data and the expected results can be correctly obtained.

**References**

Penkov OV, Khadem M, Nieto A, Kim T-H, Kim D-E. Design and Construction of a Micro-Tribotester for Precise In-Situ Wear Measurements. Micromachines. 2017; 8(4):103. https://doi.org/10.3390/mi8040103