News & Events

Last updated: 15 Decemberl 2005

This page lists the current news and upcoming events of the ERI, and also recent research output.

Organised:

1. Symposium on Vibrations and Acoustics in Bio-mechanical Systems
ASME International 20th Biennial Conference on
Mechanical Vibration and Noise (VIB)
September 25-28, 2005
Hyatt Regency Long Beach Hotel, Long Beach, California

2. Symposium on Vibrations and Acoustics in Biomedical Applications
Bioengineering Division, IMECE2005
2005 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition
November 5-11, 2005, Orlando, Florida USA

Keynote speaker
”Mechanical approach to Respiratory Illness and Vision Correction” at the 2005 International Symposium of Bio-medical Engineering, Taiwan

March 2005 - The ERI's first Ph.D graduates!
Pui Ming Au graduated with his PhD on Friday 18 March 2005. Pui is the first ERI student to graduate with a Ph.D, and we are all immensely proud of him! The topic of his research was vibration of thin shells in relation to the respiratory system. Other students graduating were Grant Ottaway (M.E.) and Robbie Peris (B.Eng).

December 2004 - ERI's Christmas Party!
The Diagnostics and Control Research Centre held its 2004 Christmas Party on December 9. Many people attended, both from within AUT and also from external companies associated with the ERI. A special thanks goes to Lisa and Fred for making the amazing Christmas decorations for the event! A small selection of photos from the event are listed below.

October 2004 - Three ERI students graduate!
The Diagnostics and Control Research Centre is very proud to annouce that three of it's students graduated with their Master of Engineering degrees during the last graduation. Congratulations go to Prasika Manilal (1st class honours), Vera Hermawan (2nd class 1st division honours) and Zhipeng Xu (2nd class 2nd division honours). The ceremony was held on 15 October at the Bruce Mason Theatre, Takapuna and a great night was had by all. Pictured (from left) are Vera Hermawan, Prasika Manilal, Prof Ahmed Al-Jumaily (supervisor), Dr Roy Nates (supervisor) and Zhipeng Xu.

July 2004 - National Party MPs visit the ERI
The Hon. Bill English, Dr. Wayne Mapp (both National Party Members of Parliament) and Derek McCormack (Vice-Chancellor) recently toured the ERI and viewed some of the research being conducted.

Prof. Al-Jumaily gave a brief presentation on the activities of the Centre, and also demonstrated some of the technology being developed. Overall, the MPs were quite impressed with the calibre of the work being performed and commended Prof Al-Jumaily on his efforts.

July 2004 - Lecture on Gear Dynamics and Noise presented by Prof. Donald Houser
A seminar presented by Prof. Donald Houser (Director, Gear Dynamics and Gear Noise Research Laboratory). Professor Houser's research is directed toward the reduction of gear noise and gear dynamics through modifications to gear tooth surface design. This research is also oriented toward the measurement of dynamic and static transmission error and friction and shuttling excitations of gears as well as automotive noise measurements for sound quality evaluation. Unique new design methodologies for gears have been developed that result in extremely robust designs, both in terms of minimization of numerous response functions such as noise, stresses and scoring and insensitivity to manufacturing errors. Recently these methods have been applied to all types of gears such as hypoid, worm and face gears.

June 2004 - AUT Honoured at MacDiarmid Young Scientist Awards
The ERI's very own Prasika Manilal was recently honoured at the inaugural MacDiarmid Young Scientist Awards, in a gala cermony held at the Heritage Hotel in Auckland. Prasika was the first runner-up in the Biotechnology division and won the award for her work on the bubble CPAP system performed in callaboration with Fisher & Paykel Heathcare. You can read more about Prasika's work by clicking here. Pictured (from left) are Hon. Pete Hodgson (Minister of Research, Science and Technology), Prasika Manilal (AUT) and Prof. Alan MacDiarmid (University
of Pennsylvania).

May 2004 - Prof Al-Jumaily presents the seminar "Research between Academia and Industry" at Manukau Institute of Technology
Within the collaboration between the Diagnostics and Control Research Centre of AUT and the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Manukau Institute of Technology, Professor Al-Jumaily presented some ideal venues of how to establish academic-industrial engineering research and also explored the ERI's experience in this regard.

April 2004 - Advanced Technology Solutionz (ATS- New Zealand Ltd.) founded in conjunction with the Diagnostics and Control Research Centre
The primary goal of ATS is to explore commercial research avenues suggested by academic research. It had board members from a number of companies within the Auckland region as well as academia from other universities.

March 2004 - Prof Al-Jumaily presents a seminar on Bioengineering as part of AUT's Seminar and Workshop Series 04
In this lecture, presented to the Faculty of Heath, Prof Al-Jumaily described some of the current research activities of the ERI. As the Centre has particular specialties in biomedical engineering, respiratory devices and smart polymers with potential medical applications, Prof. Al-Jumaily also explored possibilities for collaborative research opportunities with Faculty of Health staff.

March 2004 - Lecture on Structural Optimisation and Design of Machinery presented by visiting Professor S. Hoon Ro
Professor Ro (visiting professor from the School of Mechanical Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology , Korea) presented a lecture on process of design improvement of machinery structures based on his industrial research experience. Frequency analysis tests and the Finite Element Model were the main procedures used in the analysis. After attaining satisfactory results for the simulated structure (less vibration, longer machinery and/or tool life etc.), Prof Ro then showed how the same approach is applied to a real structure to increase stability and/ or productivity.