UWindsor Annual Report 2007/2008

Three University of Windsor professors received grants from the Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE), Centre for Materials and Manufacturing, for innovative research and development projects designed to address the needs of the province’s industry.

The Centre co-invests with industry to encourage the development of competitive, industrially relevant technologies and engages the brightest minds at Ontario universities and colleges to address challenges faced by Ontario businesses.

University of Windsor recipients are:

Sazzadur Chowdhury, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, received a grant for, MEMS sensors for automotive collision avoidance. Dr. Chowdhury is developing and fabricating micro-electromechanical, systems-based sensors (MEMS), for real-time proximity detection of other vehicles, pedestrians, and obstacles. This technology will help establish and maintain a dynamic safety shell around a vehicle, which will help to avoid a collision or minimize the collision damage where a collision is unavoidable.

Xueyuan Nie, Department of Mechanical, Automotive & Materials Engineering, received a grant for, Wear and corrosion prevention for Mg engine applications. Dr. Nie and his research team are developing an eco-friendly coating that prevents corrosion and wear to engine blocks in passenger vehicles. Nie’s electrolytic plasma process has the potential to provide significant fuel savings and considerable emissions reduction.

Roman Maev, Department of Physics, received a grant for Nanotechnology-based solid lubricant tread patterning made using innovative gas dynamic spray technology for fabrication of oil-free sliding components for automotive applications. Dr. Maev and his team of researchers will be the first to offer a cost-effective and efficient manufacturing method to apply solid lubricants in the sliding components of an automobile. Maev’s work will enable future automotive engines to run more efficiently with less maintenance, less wear and greater fuel economy. Use of the new technology can benefit the environment by decreasing liquid lubricant and will provide a competitive advantage to Ontario parts suppliers and automakers.