15 research outputs found
The Netherlands: Challenges for the 21st century
No full textHydraulic EngineeringCivil Engineering and Geoscience
Embedded System Design for Bioelectronic Interface to Sensory Cortex
No full textVisual perception is a pillar of human life. Visual impairment, therefore, has a severe impact on the quality of life. The Bioelectronic Interface to Sensory Cortex (BISC) project is aimed at building a system capable of both recording and stimulating neurons in order to remedy visual impairment. The proposed BISC system consists of three components: a brain implantable chip, a relay station, and a base station. The so-called BISC chip implanted atop the brain can electrically interact with neuron populations for the purpose of recording and stimulation. The relay station transfers data to and from the BISC chip wirelessly, and is composed of an embedded system and a printed circuit board (PCB) that the user can wear on the outer side of the head. The base station connects to the relay station via Wi-Fi in order to communicate with the BISC chip, and is represented by a desktop computer. In this work we focus on the design of the embedded system in the relay station. We compare networking protocols and perform bandwidth measurements on the Wi-Fi link to explore the design space. A minimum bandwidth of 83.2 Mbit/s is required to support the BISC chip data rate. Our C++ software infrastructure for networking reaches an attainable bandwidth of about 90 Mbit/s using 5 GHz Wi-Fi. A C++ Application Program Interface (API) is developed in order to communicate with the BISC chip from the base station, through the relay station. The API enables a base station user to send instructions to the BISC chip in order to set it up for recording or stimulation. Responses and recordings from the BISC chip are transferred to the base station for analysis. A digital module for the relay station is designed in order to relay data to and from the BISC chip. The digital module is written in SystemC and synthesized for FPGA fabric using a high- level synthesis tool. The module successfully interfaces to the PCB and is capable of relaying 83.2 Mbit/s of data from the BISC chip to memory. Additionally, embedded software to control the digital module is developed. The embedded software is capable of delivering BISC chip instructions to the module, and can read responses and recordings from memory in order to make them available to the API. By testing in vitro, the BISC system is demonstrated to be functional with acknowledgements sent out by the BISC chip in response to commands sent from the base station. Recordings can be stored on the relay station or transferred wirelessly to the base station in real-time.Bioelectronic Interface to Sensory CortexElectrical Engineering | Embedded System
Coastal management: Global change. global observation?
No full textThe theme of the present discussion is to consider coastal observation needs in the broader context of a sustainable, integrated management response to coastal change. Thus underlining the notion that observations are an element of a more comprehensive process. We will therefore first explore the process of ICZM, and find that deficits in international co-ordination and concertation are large. An overview of salient coastal zone issues emphasises the spatial, spectral and temporal diversity of observational needs, which is concluded to be an important reason for the relative underdevelopment of coastal zone observation systems. A "global" coastal observation effort should give due consideration to these aspects, and aim to help resolve this in concertation with national and international institutions carrying responsibility for a sustainable development of the coastal zone. The interpretation of the meaning of global appears to be twofold, global in the sense of a generic, universal need (although many coastal problems are local), and global in the sense of institutionalisation and co-ordination on a global level.Hydraulic EngineeringCivil Engineering and Geoscience
Hydrogen fuel-cell heavy duty trucks for long haul transport in the EU; conditions for a successful implementation
No full textIt is uncertain which drivetrain will be used for future long haul transport of goods in the EU. One of the possible technologies is the use of hydrogen fuel cell heavy-duty trucks (HFC-HDTs). This research focuses on success and failure factors which influence the successful implementation of HFC-HDTs in the EU and aims to achieve an overview of certain conditions necessary to implement HFC-HDTs. In order to achieve an overview of these factors, a framework has been developed in which aspects are represented regarding current developments, technological factors, societal and economic factors, and political factors. To further test the framework, the learning curve equation is used to calculate different scenarios based on learning rates and perspectives based on a set of assumption deducted from the developed framework. The findings from this research show that there are absolute necessary conditions which need to be met in order to implement HFC-HDTs even on a smaller scale. These conditions mainly relate to technological factors. Firstly, the HFC-HDTs need to be available for operators to purchase. Secondly, the availability of hydrogen to be used as a fuel needs to be sufficient. Lastly, there needs to be a sufficient refuelling infrastructure along major transport routes and transport/storage for these locations. However, these basic necessary conditions are not enough to fully implement the HFC-HDTs in the EU. The findings and calculations show that the future implementation of HFC-HDTs is highly dependent on policies and regulations set by the EU and its member states. These policies and regulations should focus on taxing emission emitting transport modes and coupling these proceeds to the purchase of HFC-HDTs. Furthermore, additional incentives such as subsidies on hydrogen itself and beneficial circumstances for the construction of refuelling station should be put into place in order ensure a working HFC-HDT system. These conditions will incentivise operators to opt for HFC-HDTs instead of other alternatives which would create a positive feedback loop on the further development of HFC-HDTs and its accompanying infrastructure.Complex Systems Engineering and Management (CoSEM
Climate of coastal cooperation
No full textA book for coastal stakeholders and professionals who are or will be responsible for physical planning, applied research and management of coastal resources. It gives summaries of policy statements, case studies and tool
Focal Coil Design for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Mice
No full textElectrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer ScienceMicroelectronicsBio-Electronic
Capacity building: Hydraulics and coastal engineering
No full textHydraulic EngineeringCivil Engineering and Geoscience
Climate Change, Sea Level Rise and Morphological Developments in the Dutch Wadden Sea, a Marine Wetland
No full textSupport for the sustainable development of the Yellow River Delta
No full textThe environment in the Yellow River Delta (YRD) is under stress from large socio-economic pressures, leading to air, soil and water pollution. A Sino-Dutch project the Sustainable Development YRD project (1995 – 1997) was undertaken with the principle goal of contributing to the sustainable, long-term development of the Yellow River Delta. Objectives and criteria for sustainable development were defined. One of the main project challenges was to show how to use the limited fresh water resources in a sustainable way. This was undertaken using integrated and analytical tools in which future developments and strategies were systematically analysed. Such an approach provides a strong incentive to begin communication and develop mutual understanding between the different responsible authorities and stakeholders.Hydraulic EngineeringCivil Engineering and Geoscience
