Society is facing major challenges such as global warming and the increase in chronic and degenerative diseases. Engineers from different disciplines use their creativity to find solutions to these complex problems. Overview.
Posted at 8:00 am
Rachel Bouserhal, a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the École de technologie supérieure (ETS), realized that we can pick up multiple signals by placing a microphone in one ear on a device that blocks the ear canal. In the long term, certain diseases could be detected in this way.
For example, people with Parkinson’s have shorter inspiration than others, and this symptom occurs very early in the progression of the disease. Rachel Bouserhal is therefore collaborating with Parkinson Québec to prove that this symptom can be detected with an in-ear device.
With the McGill University Research Center for Studies in Aging, she tries to identify Alzheimer’s from the dictionary. “From the onset of the disease, the person uses more verbs than nouns and reduces their vocabulary,” explains the researcher. It is very gradual, so relatives do not notice. But a device worn long-term would see it. »
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
The in-ear device used by Rachel Bouserhal
Rachel Bouserhal has previously shown – the article is under peer review – that an in-ear device can detect that a person is stressed by reducing the variability in the time elapsed between their heartbeats. “What’s interesting is that someone with Alzheimer’s is more likely to have a hidden hearing loss, which actually presents a difficulty in dissecting the message that’s heard in the brain when there’s noise,” explains Rachel Bouserhal. It causes stress. For example, the stress found in humans from exposure to noise could also help us to detect Alzheimer’s at an early stage. »
Sustainable aerospace, construction and electronics
There is also a lot of work going on in the aerospace industry. “In Quebec, about 300 companies are active in this sector, from large contractors to small start-ups, and our researchers are listening to their needs to develop greener aircraft, for example by developing greener fuels or lighter materials,” explains François Bertrand, Director of Research and Innovation at Polytechnique Montréal.
Other developed technologies are now in the market introduction stage.
“This is the case with geothermal energy, which consists in using the heat that exists at a depth of a few hundred meters under buildings to heat them, instead of using oil or natural gas,” indicates Mr. Bertrand.
Philippe Pasquier, professor in the Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal, is leading a project being carried out with several partners to accelerate the use of geothermal permanent column fountains in schools. The Clé-des-Champs primary school in Mirabel is already being heated with this technology.
We are also trying to make electronics greener. For example, Clara Santato, a professor in the Department of Physical Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal, and her team have shown that she can purify the melanin found in squid ink — a material derived from living organisms — to make biodegradable electronic components.
Accelerated pace
In technology, it is important to always look to the future with one foot.
Technological changes are very rapid and they are still accelerating when competition is very fierce.
Ghislain Gagnon, Dean of Research at ETS
Ghislain Gagnon, Dean of Research at ETS, who graduated in Electrical Engineering in 2002, saw the rise of mobile phones, then came 3G and now it’s 5G. “In engineering schools we teach certain standards, but in practice we have to keep learning new ones,” he explains. The engineer must learn to learn, always keep up to date. »
And, of course, environmental sustainability is a must today, be it for regulatory or societal issues. “You have to think about it in the design phase,” adds Ghislain Gagnon. The engineer has a big role to play, but he also needs to collaborate with other professionals in design, architecture and especially the humanities to go further. »