Undergraduate Projects

Summer Research Opportunities

The Summer Undergraduate Research in Engineering (SURE) and Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP) gives undergraduates a chance to participate in summer research in their field. Students who’ve begun or completed their third year can apply to the program.

Summer 2019 Projects

NAME Project #1 (For 1 student) Post-processing of hydrodynamic signals from nonlinear and nonstationary source
Faculty Mentor: Michael M. Bernitsas michaelb@umich.edu

Project Description: In the Marine Renewable Energy Laboratory (MRELab) we have been studying the Flow-Induced Oscillations (FIO) of 1-4 oscillating cylinders in tandem for the purpose of harnessing Marine Hydrokinetic (MHK) energy. Cylinders oscillate in synergy and the driving hydrodynamics is very complex as it involves interaction between boundary layers, shear layers, vortices, cylinder wakes, and cylinders.  A holistic approach is used to study such complex hydrodynamics including experiments, CFD, broad-field-of-view laser visualization, PIV, post-processing with analytical models, and signal processing tools.

Project Tasks: The SURE student needed in this project will use signal processing to study the experimental data acquired over the years by the MRELab. The codes for nonlinear and nonstationary signals have been developed in a MATLAB environment. The objective is to identify the nature of the signal components in the force and displacement time histories of a single cylinder and understand their variation with parameters such as flow velocity, oscillator stiffness, damping, and mass.

Mandatory Skills: MATLAB coding

Desirable Skills: Signal processing, Discrete Fourier Transform, Hilbert-Huang Transform, basic fluid mechanics

NAME Project #2 (For 1 student) Path planning algorithm in dynamically evolving wave field for ship autonomy
Faculty Mentor: Yulin Pan yulinpan@umich.edu

Project Description: The objective of this project is to develop an efficient path planning algorithm for ships traveling in a dynamically evolving wave field. Students will be exposed to the state-of-the-art simulation of the nonlinear evolution of a wave field, based on which path planning algorithm will be developed for different purposes such as minimizing the travel time while keeping the stability of the vehicle. The developed algorithm is aimed for application in future autonomous surface vehicles and ships.

Apply to the program

Application deadline: late January

After you apply, we’ll contact you to find out your top three projects in order of preference. (You may also list these preferences on your application, though this is not required.)