Vedang Chauhan, PE

Education

Professional Engineer (P.Eng.), PEO, Ontario, Canada
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Queen's University, Canada
Master of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Sardar Patel University, India
Bachelor of Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Sardar Patel University, India

Research Grants

  • Chauhan, V. (PI), “Continuing development of an Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (E-CVT) System for Small Engine Applications”,  the Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center (MTTC) Acorn Innovation Fund, Janurary 2020 through August 2020.
  • Santamaria, A. (PI), Mortazavi, M. (Co-PI), Chauhan, V. (Co-PI), Benner, J. (Co-PI), “Two-phase Flow Characterization of PEM Fuel Cell Channels using Machine Learning: Phase II”,  Toyota Research Institute of North America, May 2020 - Feb 2021.
  • Santamaria, A. (PI), Mortazavi, M. (Co-PI), Chauhan, V. (Co-PI), Benner, J. (Co-PI), “Two-phase Flow Characterization of PEM Fuel Cell Channels using Machine Learning: Phase I”,  Toyota Research Institute of North America, May 2019 - Feb 2020.
  • Chauhan, V. (PI), “Design & Control System Optimization Testing of an Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (E-CVT) System for Small Engine Applications”, MA Acorn Award through the Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center (MTTC), January 2019 through April 2019.

Mechatronics Lab

  • Advanced Fanuc LR Mate 200 iD industrial robot with iRVision system
  • National Instruments (NI) Smart camera for automated inspection
  • Robotic hand
  • PLC trainers with pneumatic system
  • Conveyor based machine vision system
  • Arduino Kits
  • Motor control kits
  • Software: MATLAB, LabVIEW, SolidWorks, RS Logix 500

Baja Club Advisor

The SAE Baja is a club on campus that focuses on building, accelerating, and improving students' design, business and teamwork skills. SAE Baja is hosted by the Society of Automotive Engineers. SAE tasks colleges worldwide to design, manufacture, and compete at one or more of their three yearly competitions with an off-road vehicle. At these competitions, the Baja vehicle is tested to its limits in an acceleration test, suspension course, maneuverability course, hill climb, and a four-hour endurance race. In addition to the testing of the Baja car at the competition, SAE challenges teams to present their design in a vigorous review session and to pitch 4000 units of their built vehicle to mock investors in a sales presentation. The WNE Baja team accomplishments include finishing 15th place overall against 100 teams worldwide in the 2018 SAE Maryland competition and being the first team in the United States (and second in the world) to implement at competition a very new transmission technology called an Electronically Controlled Variable Transmission.

Research Interests

AI and Machine Learning

Apply machine learning and data science to efficiently solve engineering problems. Implement Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and Deep learning networks for logistic regression and object classification problems.

Machine Vision

Design and build automated inspection systems using machine vision and image processing techniques. Develop machine vision system for feature extraction from images and videos and apply AI/Machine Learning to the extracted data.

Robotics and Mechatronics

Develop vision guided material handling system using multiple degrees of freedom industrial robot such as Fanuc LR Mate. Design and develop mechatronics system for home and industrial automation.

Fluid Power

Hydraulics and pneumatic system design and control for material handling, manufacturing and assembly systems.

Scholarly Works

Journal Articles

Joshi, K. D., Chauhan, V., Surgenor, B. W. (2018 , July ). A flexiblemachine vision system for small part inspection based on a hybrid SVM and ANN approach . Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing , 1-23.

Chauhan V., Joshi, K. D., Surgenor, B. W. (2017 , August ). Machine Vision for Coin Recognition with ANNs: Effect of Training and Testing Parameters . Communications in Computer and Information Science (CCIS) ,744 , 523-534.

Chauhan, V. and Surgenor, B. W. (2016 ). Fault detection and classification in automated assembly machines using machine vision . The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology (IJAMT) , 1-22.

Gor, M. M., Chauhan, V. and Verma, A. (2016 ). Isomorphism Detection of 10-Links Kinematic Chain Using Joint Connectivity Approach . International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and Technology ,5 , 8802-8806.

Chauhan, V. and Surgenor, B. W. (2015 ). A comparative study of machine vision-based methods for fault detection in an automated assembly machine . Procedia Manufacturing ,1 , 416-428.

Conference Proceedings

Joshi, K. D., Chauhan, V. and Surgenor, B. W. (2016 ). Comparative analysis of methods for the recognition of Indian currency coins . The 23rd conference on Mechatronics and Machine Vision in Practice (M2VIP), China.

Chauhan, V. and Surgenor, B. W. (2016 ). Performance evaluation of machine vision inspection for fault detection in automated assembly machines . roc. of the IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics (AIM 2016), Banff, Canada.

Joshi, K. D., Chauhan, V. and Surgenor, B. W. (2016 ). Real time recognition and counting of Indian currency coins using machine vision . Proc. of the Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering (CSME) International Congress, Kelowna, Canada.

Fernando, H., Chauhan, V. and Surgenor, B. W. (2014 ). Image-based versus signal-based sensors for machine fault detection and isolation . Proc. of the 12th ASME Biennial Conference on Engineering Systems Design and Analysis (ESDA), Denmark.

Chauhan, V., Fernando, H. and Surgenor, B. W. (2014 ). Effect of illumination techniques on machine vision inspection for automated assembly machines . Proc. of the Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering (CSME) International Congress, Toronto, Canada.

Chauhan, V., Sheth, S. and Hindocha, B., Shah, R., Dudhat, P. and Jani, P. (2011 ). Design and development of a machine vision system for part colour detection and sorting . Proc. of the Second International Conference on Signals, Systems and Automation (ICSSA-11), India.

Soni, A., Aghera, M., Modi, C. and Chauhan, V. (2010 ). Machine vision based part inspection system using canny edge detection technique . Proc. of the Fourth International Conference on Advances in Mechanical Engineering (ICAME), India.

Patel, A., Chauhan, V. and Gelot, B. (2010 ). Modelling and analysis of two machine problem to generate the reachability tree using petri net system . Proc. of the Third International Conference on Advances in Mechanical Engineering, India.

Modi, C. and Chauhan, V. (2009 ). Machine vision based liquid level inspection system using laplacian of gaussian edge detection technique . Proc. of the International Conference on Signals, Systems and Automation (ICSSA-09), India.

Chauhan, V., Gelot, B. and Patel, A. (2009 ). Development of algorithm for watermarking of an image in spatial domain using random numbers and bit plane slicing method . Proc. of the National Conference on Innovations in Mechatronics Engineering (IME), India.

Chauhan, V. and Verma, A. (2008 ). Application of fuzzy logic for determination of isomorphism among planner kinematic chain . Proc. of the National Conference on Emerging Trends in Mechanical Engineering, India.

Journal Reviewer

Journal of Machine Vision and Applications, Springer
Journal of Applied Science, MDPI
Sensors Journal, MDPI
Journal of AriEngineering, MDPI
Journal of Information, MDPI
Waste Management Journal, Elsevier
Electronics Journal, MDPI
Physica E Journal, Elsevier

Courses Taught

ME 202 Engineering Mechanics: Statics

This course is designed both to teach problem-solving techniques and to provide students with the necessary background to take succeeding courses in solid mechanics. Students will become familiar with the analysis of two- and three-dimensional force systems using both scalar and vector techniques. These systems include frames, machines, trusses and simple structures. Additionally, students will have the ability to draw free body diagrams and apply the principles of static equilibrium to both particles and rigid bodies and to analyze problems involving friction. Students will determine the centroids of lines, areas and volumes and the moments of inertia of areas and masses using calculus and composite section methods.

ME 203 Dynamics

This introductory course is offered to all engineering students and is designed to provide students with a clear understanding of the theory and applications of dynamics. The course depicts realistic situations encountered in engineering practice. Students will learn how to apply Newton’s Second Law of Motion to study the effects caused by an unbalanced force acting on a particle; use the principle of work and energy to solve problems involving forces, displacements, and velocities; determine the power and efficiency of machines; solve problems involving impact of bodies; and analyze problems involving the planar kinematics and kinetics of rigid bodies. An individual project of a typical dynamics problem is required. The methods of assessing students include homework assignments, quizzes, examinations, projects, and a final exam.

ME455 Applied Mechatronics Systems

This advanced course is intended to equip students with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of key mechatronic concepts and their applications to the robust design of mechatronic products and systems for consumers and industry.  Core aspects are combined with practical industrial applications and are presented in an optimal way for understanding.  A collection of case studies drawn from a variety of industries (complete with parts, lists, setup, and instructions) are used to support the mechatronics design methodology.  This course will help students to deepen their knowledge of system integration and Mechatronics system design process.  It also develops concepts related to robotics applications. The methods of assessing students include homework assignments, quizzes, a final project.

ME 656 Advanced Mechatronics Systems

This advanced course is intended to equip students with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of key mechatronic concepts and their applications to the robust design of mechatronic products and systems for consumers and industry. Core aspects are combined with practical industrial applications and are presented in an optimal way for understanding. This course which builds on the skills introduced in ME 311 and ME 324 will help students to deepen their knowledge of system integration and Mechatronics system design process. The major emphasis will be given to control aspect of mechatronics systems. It also develops concepts related to robotics applications. An introductory concept related to machine vision inspection system will also be covered with supporting practical examples. The course, like ME 324, also provides a real life experience related to the practice of mechatronics engineering. Students apply the concepts to group projects and build practical mechatronics systems.The methods of assessing students include homework assignments, quizzes, a final project.

ME 427 Kinematics and Control of Electro-Mechanical Systems

This course deals with the mechanics of motion of machines and mechanisms. Students will learn to assess mechanisms for mobility and use graphical analytical methods to study displacement, velocity, acceleration and forces on linkages. Gears and gear trains are also examined. Computer programs including MS Excel, MatLab and Working Model 2D will be used throughout the course. Practical design of mechanisms will be emphasized using selected case studies from industry. Each student will submit a design project consisting of a user friendly computer program capable of designing a practical mechanism subject to a set of given constraints, and a formal report. The methods of assessing students include homework assignments, quizzes, examinations, a design project, and a final exam/project.

ME 440 Senior Design Projects

A capstone design course that prepares students for entry-level positions.  In this course, each student works on an independent engineering project under the supervision of a faculty advisor.  Students apply the design process and communicate the results of their project work in both an oral and written form.  Oral reports are presented before an assembly of faculty and students.  Students apply engineering design principles either by working on a product, improving a product, or designing experiments to investigate causes of either an observed phenomenon or a problem in engineering.  Students are required to demonstrate their achievements using appropriate laboratory exhibits.  Students who select industry-sponsored projects have the opportunity of working with the industrial advisor in an actual engineering environment. The assessment in this course is based on the students’ level of commitment demonstrated throughout the semester, the level of achievement attained in the project, the recording of activities in a log book, and the quality of the written report and oral presentation.   Meeting hours by arrangement.

ME 480 Internship in Mechanical Engineering