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A 40nm CMOS switched-capacitor voltage reference
No full textThis report presents a low-power switched-capacitor bandgap reference which
operates in the subthreshold region. The design comprises of a switch-capacitor
voltage generator and a dynamic biased operational transconductance amplifier (OTA)
employing correlated double sampling network. The dynamic biased OTA is modified
from a cascode-compensated push-pull OTA with level shifting for ground compatible
design. Implemented with TSMC 40nm CMOS technology, the proposed circuit is
powered by the DC supply of 1.2V and it consumes an average current of 1.529µA,
switches are controlled by a 10kHz biphasic clock. The obtained T.C. is 35 ppm/°C
within the temperature range of -20°C to 80°C. At room temperature, the nominal
reference voltage is 399.4mV with the line sensitivity 3.63 %/V. Compared to other
reported works, the proposed design has reasonable power consumption and line
sensitivity. The temperature coefficient (T.C.) FOM is at least comparable to majority
of the circuits and better than some of other works.Bachelor's degre
Design and fabrication of continuum robots with integrated sensing capabilities
No full textDeveloping continuum robots with integrated sensing capabilities is a critical chal lenge in creating compact, efficient systems that can adapt to complex environments. Traditional designs often rely on external sensors, increasing system bulk and reducingflexibility. This study introduces a soft continuum robot constructed from conductivepolymer composites (CPCs), which simultaneously serve as both the structural materialand the sensing elements. A tendon-driven mechanism enables actuation, while an em bedded sensor network monitors resistance changes to capture shape and deformationin real-time. A Conformer-based neural network model is applied to reconstruct theend-effector position from the sensor data, enabling accurate environmental perceptionand closed-loop control. The robot’s workspace approximates a semi-ellipsoid with 12cm and 6 cm as the major and minor axes, respectively. Performance tests confirmedhigh accuracy, with an end-effector RMSE of 0.0063 m and a Mean Position Error of 0.0038 m. A 2.5 × 60 mm CPC cylinder (33% graphite) test sample showed excellentrepeatability over 50 stretch cycles (2 mm amplitude). This integrated sensing approachhas potential applications in soft robotics, self-sensing end-effectors, and wearabledevices requiring real-time feedback.Master's degre
Locomotion control and simulation of a 4-legged robot for obstacle avoidance
No full textOver the past decade, Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems have been exponentially growing in
the technological industry. Within the family of AI, robots and automative systems have drawn
a lot of attention to its vast usage in many growing fields. However, as people move towards
an automation and robotics dominant era, more emphasis will start focusing on the performance
and time efficiency of these robots to better improve a system overall execution.
The aim of this project focuses on identifying how different obstacle avoidance movement of
a 4-legged (quadruped) robot will affect their performance efficiency defined by overall time
taken for task completion. Findings were done through research and simulations on the main
software application – MATLAB, by various codes with different parameters and variables
acting as the robot, obstacles and start/end path for the robot to get through. Parameters were
adjusted to better simulate a potential situation.
Simulating a quadruped robot with various movements for obstacle avoidance is achieved in
this project. However, more movements can be further studied for better understanding and
potential discovery. The more the movements analysed, the better locomotion control system
can be created. The findings from this project hopes to bring in another perspective for the
industry when it comes to designing more task efficient quadruped robots specifically for
obstacle avoidance.Bachelor's degre
Exploration of novel motor design topologies for enhanced efficiency and performance in electric vehicle applications
No full textGlobal warming, primarily driven by greenhouse gas emissions from burning of fossil fuels, poses significant environmental and societal challenges globally. One promising response to this crisis is the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), which offer a cleaner alternative to conventional internal combustion engine vehicles. The increasing demand for efficient, high-performance EVs has fuelled research into innovative motor design topologies that push the limits of energy efficiency and power density. In this paper, a novel electric vehicle motor is proposed to offer a better option than the current conventional motor used today. The novel motor design consists of a 12-slot, 20-pole Vernier Permanent Magnet Motor (VPM) and compared to a conventional 12-slot, 4-pole Surface Mounted Permanent Magnet Motor (SMPM). By comparing simulation using JMAG and experimental data based on certain factors such as area of permanent magnet used, power factor, efficiency and torque produced by the two simulations. This study highlights the benefits and trade-offs associated with the chosen topology, contributing to the development of next-generation motors that align with the automotive industry's goals of sustainability, performance, and cost-effectiveness in electric vehicle systems The results of the simulation backs up the theory and design of the motor, showing that it is better in terms of specific aspects. There are also implications and future works that can be done to improve the motor within the study which will be discussed in the paper.Bachelor's degre
Application of hydrophilic-oleophobic silver-nylon membrane in oil and water separation
No full textOil spills continue to be one of the most catastrophic environmental problems and current clean-up
methods have their limitation. Membrane-based separation appears as a promising alternative, but
conventional membranes suffer from fouling which reduces their long-term efficiency. This study
explores the application of hydrophilic-oleophobic silver-nylon membrane for oil-water separation,
addressing the limitation of current clean-up methods such as low separation efficiency particularly
when dealing with emulsified oil-water mixture and membrane fouling.
By coating the nylon membrane with silver nanoparticles through sputter coating, it enhances the
membrane's hydrophilic and oleophobic properties which improves water permeation while repelling
oil and reducing fouling. Both the nylon membrane and silver-coated nylon membrane were tested
under various conditions such as 100ppm and 500ppm oil concentration in both tap water and seawater.
The membrane performance was evaluated based on the oil separation efficiency using chemical
oxygen demand (COD) test, membrane flux and wettability.
The silver-coated nylon membrane achieved a higher oil removal efficiency and average flux, lower
water contact angle and higher oil contact angle as compared to the nylon membrane. In 100ppm oil
seawater condition, the oil removal efficiency of silver-coated nylon membrane was 98.56% which was
significantly higher than 84.62% for nylon membrane. Additionally, the silver-coated membrane
achieves a higher average flux of 19 LMH compared to the nylon membrane of 10 LMH respectively.
Wettability analysis showed that the silver-coated nylon membrane is more hydrophilic and oleophobic
as compared to the nylon membrane.
Overall, this study has shown that sliver coating can enhance the hydrophilic and oleophobic properties
of the nylon membrane, leading to improved oil-water separation efficiency and reduced fouling.Bachelor's degre
Work environment, person-job fit, and job security as predictors of job satisfaction and turnover intention in maritime employees
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the transformation of the maritime industry, driving
widespread adoption of automation, digitalisation, and flexible work arrangements. This study
examines the impact of work environment, person-job fit, and job security on job satisfaction, and
further analyses how job satisfaction relates to turnover intention among shore-based maritime
employees in Singapore. Guided by Self-Determination Theory and Job Embeddedness Theory,
a quantitative survey of 64 respondents was conducted, employing factor analysis, ANOVA, and
multiple regression to test hypothesised relationships.
Findings reveal that social environment and Needs-Supplies fit are the strongest predictors of both
intrinsic and extrinsic job satisfaction, outweighing the effects of physical environment,
psychological environment, and Demands-Abilities fit respectively. Similarly, perceived job
stability also plays a significant role in determining both intrinsic and extrinsic job satisfaction,
while perceived risk of job loss does not directly affect satisfaction. Notably, intrinsic job
satisfaction was found to negatively relate to organisational commitment, diverging from
conventional findings and highlighting the disruptive influence of industry-specific stressors in
the sector. In contrast, extrinsic rewards alone do not significantly reduce turnover intention or
enhance organisational commitment.
The study concludes that social cohesion, employment stability and reward structures are critical
for enhancing satisfaction and retention. Theoretical contributions refine Self-Determination
Theory and Job Embeddedness Theory for high-change, high-risk sectors, emphasizing the
primacy of relatedness and fit and links and sacrifice respectively. Practical recommendations for
maritime organisations include investing in team cohesion, individual career development,
transparent career pathways, and extrinsic reward structures. Future research should adopt
longitudinal and cross-cultural approaches to further explore the interplay between automation,
job security, job satisfaction, and turnover intention in the maritime sector.Bachelor's degre
Advanced surface metallization of CFRP composites using cold spray technology
No full textThis study investigates the feasibility of employing low-pressure cold spray
(LPCS) to deposit metallic coatings onto polymeric substrates, more specifically
carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs). The main goal was to explore the relatively
new process for the advanced surface metallization of lightweight composite
structures, which have found many uses especially in the aerospace industry. A series
of experimental attempts were conducted using spherical Cu powder, Al 2219 powder
and Al 6061 powder under varying process parameters. The experiments conducted
also tested the feasibility of spraying the above-mentioned powders on harder surfaces
like Cu and Al 2219.
Despite the efforts, the results from the experiments did not achieve a solid and
continuous coating on CFRP. The deposition of the Cu powders indicated that there
was limited adhesion to the substrate, which can be attributed to its spherical
morphology. Both aluminium alloys also failed to obtain a cohesive coating, likely due
to the lack of deformation upon impact with the substrate. Key challenges that arose
during the experiments were linked to particle rebound, poor mechanical interlocking
as well as the lack of metallurgical bonding of the non-metallic nature of CFRP
substrates.
This project aims to contribute to the further understanding of this additive
manufacturing process on polymeric substrates and offer substantial insights into the
process optimization as well as material selection for future efforts.Bachelor's degre
A review on liner shipping companies' investment strategy in the logistics sector (Maersk)
No full textAmidst evolving global supply chain dynamics and increasing competition, liner shipping companies
(LSCs) are shifting beyond their traditional roles to transform into logistics integrators. This strategic pivot
is prominently led by Maersk and CMA CGM, both actively pursuing end-to-end supply chain control
through aggressive logistics acquisitions. In contrast, companies like Hapag-Lloyd maintain a more
conservative stance, focusing on acquiring logistically enabled terminals rather than fully integrating into
broader logistics services.
This study critically examines the financial, operational, and strategic drivers of Maersk's logistics
integration (LI) by leveraging a mixed-methods approach including surveys, stakeholder interviews, and
secondary financial and operational data. Findings reveal that while LI has been highly effective in revenue
diversification and generating healthy commercial traction, it has been less efficient at converting integrated
operations into short-term profitability due to post-merger integration costs and the inherent expense of
last-mile logistics. The analysis of Maersk’s withdrawal from the DB Schenker acquisition further
illustrates that Maersk prioritises strategic fit, operational coherence, and long-term positioning over
immediate financial gains. Despite Schenker’s scale, misalignments in geography, organisational culture,
and capital intensity prompted Maersk’s exit, reinforcing the company’s selective and strategic integration
philosophy. In essence, Maersk’s LI is driven less by immediate financial returns and more by ambitions
to secure competitive positioning, scale, and end-to-end service control in high-growth markets. While the
author acknowledges that the pandemic-induced windfalls also played the role of a catalyst, it is these
strategic imperatives that foreground Maersk’s rationale for LI.
Building on these insights, the study recommends Maersk to model its approach applied in Asia-Pacific
(APAC) in the India, Middle East, and Africa (India/MEA) region as well - a targeted, acquisition-led
strategy focusing on acquiring a large-scale entity with the capacity to handle terminal and shipping
volumes, and the capabilities to deliver end-to-end logistics solutions to overcome infrastructural and
regulatory barriers. Additionally, the author emphasises the value in modular, asset-light frameworks
particularly in air freight, to avoid the financial burdens observed in cases like Senator International. The
study concludes that Maersk’s logistics strategy is fundamentally prospectively driven, aimed at securing
long-term competitive leverage through strategic market penetration and service integration. It advises a
cautious continuation of the integrator model, underpinned by robust post-merger frameworks to harmonise
systems, processes, and cultures, ensuring sustainable growth while mitigating operational complexity and
strategic rigidity.Bachelor's degre
The Iran-Israel conflict: geopolitical implications for the Middle East
No full textThe Iran-Israel conflict will affect the Middle East in three ways. First, it will setback the normalisation of Israel’s relations with countries in the region. Second, Israel’s military power, as demonstrated in its war with Iran, could intensify the military buildup in these countries as they seek to balance Israel’s military might. Third, a weakened
Iran could lead to a vacuum of influence in the Levant, and allow Israel, Turkey and the Gulf states to expand their influence, which could intensify existing tensions in the region.Published versio
America takes a leaf out of China's international relations playbook
No full textIn their competition for geopolitical supremacy, Trump and Xi are overcompensating for years of US-China engagement in which their predecessors made concessions compromising their domestic fronts. Trump is now taking a leaf out of Xi’s international relations playbook.Published versio