Accurate device navigation and control are significant challenges in various minimally invasive cardiovascular interventions. The long length of the devices used (e.g., catheters and guidewires), their high flexibility, and their engagement with the tortuous anatomy limit the accurate and reliable control and navigation of the device's tip. This article aims to design, develop, and assess a novel alternative solution that promises to overcome the major limitations of conventional devices. By utilizing an expandable cable-driven mechanism and a corresponding 3-D cam surface for cable length adjustment, we propose a fully manually operated system that can be navigated through the tortuous anatomy and then teleoperated to allow for accurate, reliable, and localized position control and tracking of the device. In this article, the methods of design, development, and verifications of this system are presented. The system's performance is assessed under different path tortuosity conditions and different opening diameters of the expandable frame. Our results indicate that the proposed system provides complete teleoperation of the device within the full reachable workspace of the mechanism and allows for positioning and tracking of the device with submillimeter accuracy irrespective of the tortuosity of the path and expansion size of the frame. <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Ex-vivo</i> phantom model experiments also show the device significantly outperforms conventional devices in terms of navigation time and success rate. The CathPilot allows for direct manipulation, accurate positioning, and tracking of the device tip relative to the anatomy, promising to overcome some of the major limitations of conventional interventional devices.

The emerging technologies that may shape the future of our society are highlighted each year in reports from well-known organizations for technology and entrepreneurship. <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">IEEE Potentials</i> occasionally covers topics including those emerging technologies, presenting to its readers the opportunities, threats, and trends accompanying them. Examples of emerging technologies are the Internet of Things (IoT), presented in a past theme issue, and robotics, which will be covered in a forthcoming issue.

This research conducted total ionizing dose and single event effect testing of two automotive-grade N-Channel MOSFETs for qualification for use in low Earth orbit satellites. A decrease in the threshold voltage was observed in both components after 25 kRad(Si) of radiation exposure. Testing showed that with appropriate design margin for threshold voltages, the components may be suitable for use on satellites operating in a 500 km altitude Earth orbit with mission durations approximately between five to ten years.

Video games have come a long way over the past few decades. From the early days, when we would proudly enter our initials after spending a wealth of quarters reaching a high score at the local arcade, to later blowing the dust off game cartridges before booting-up games at home and, more recently, transitioning to online and mobile single- and multiplayer games. It is an industry that is constantly evolving and incorporating new technologies to engage gamers worldwide.

An accurate knowledge of the satellites, space debris, and other objects orbiting Earth is critical to mission planning and avoiding on-orbit collisions. Numerous ground and space-based space situational awareness platforms have been developed to aid in the identification and tracking of these objects, collectively known as resident space objects. While space situational awareness satellites are ideal for identifying and tracking space debris, many other satellites have sensors that may be able to contribute to space situational awareness. This paper examines the feasibility of leveraging several existing sensor technologies to aid in identifying and tracking resident space objects. Specifically, we investigate how Synthetic Aperture Radars (SARs), laser rangefinders, Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) devices, and laser communication devices can provide range measurements between the observing platform and the resident space object. Based on this survey, we believe that investigating the feasibility of utilizing LIDAR devices for RSO ranging is worth further study.

An accurate knowledge of the satellites, space debris, and other objects orbiting Earth is critical to mission planning and avoiding on-orbit collisions. Numerous ground and space-based space situational awareness platforms have been developed to aid in the identification and tracking of these objects, collectively known as resident space objects. While orbital space situational awareness satellites are ideal for identifying and tracking space debris, many other satellites have sensors that may be able to contribute to our space situational awareness capabilities. This research examines the feasibility of leveraging several different existing sensor technologies to aid in identifying and tracking resident space objects. Specifically, we investigate methods that can provide range measurements between the observing platform and the resident space object.

The Apollo moon missions of the 1960s pioneered the classic phased approach to space mission management. While successful at the time, this rigid and inflexible management philosophy has become synonymous with cost and schedule overruns of most high-profile space missions. The software industry has recently adopted modern, more flexible project management techniques based on “lean-agile” methods that enable team collaboration and communication through distributed task and schedule management, online document sharing and rolling-wave planning. However, due to the inherent schedule complexities of hardware development and the firm constraints of design review and launch timelines, flexible project management frameworks have not been widely adopted for space mission management. This paper presents a modified version of the traditional agile management philosophy, adapted to the unique needs of the space industry. A recent satellite development project was managed using the new modified-agile approach, while collecting project hours and task durations. Comparisons were made between this new style of space project management and a recently completed satellite development project using traditional space project management techniques. Results show that the new management approach reduced strain on the project team, improved overall productivity, and maintained a more level task loading when compared to the traditional management approach. This paper also illustrates how the new management approach can enable project resilience to change by analyzing its response to the labor disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

People often talk about the intangible benefits of participating in engineering design competitions; however, they seldom discuss the challenges. Students participating in these events must balance both their academic and personal lives.

During student orientation week at the University of Manitoba, Dean Emeritus Doug Ruth used to tell incoming classes, “Don’t miss 50% of your education by attending 100% of your classes.” After a short pause, he would qualify that statement by encouraging students to take advantage of learning opportunities, like engineering design competitions, that are found outside the classroom. Engineering design competitions complement the engineering curriculum by exposing students to complex and interdisciplinary projects that would otherwise not fit within a semester-long course. Such projects motivate participants to realize ideas, apply the knowledge acquired from university courses, and solve real-world engineering problems. This procedure helps students appreciate the tradeoffs of their design decisions in order to respect constraints and meet the specifications of a complex system. Moreover, such competitions provide practical experience as participants conceptualize, design, test, and iterate through the design flow steps needed to realize the desired results.