Current Projects

CODES - Computational models in product life cycle
The project studies how semantic modeling techniques and simulation can be applied in industrial engineering processes and integrating computational models in digital product processes. The concept of a product life cycle simulator and related service application business processes are also studied.

ECNANOMAN - European and Chinese Platform for Nano Handling, Assembly and Manufacturing
The goal of this Marie Curie IRSES project is to establish a long-term research cooperation platform in nano handling, assembly and manufacturing technologies by staff exchange between Europe and China.

EFFNET (WP7&9) - Efficient Networking towards Novel Products and Processes
Research program of Forestcluster Ltd, one of the Strategic Centres for Science Technology and Innovation (SCSTI). ASE is responsible for scientific coordination of WPs 5-10 on Sustainable and Resource Efficient Design and Manufacturing of Paper and Board, WP7 manager on “Management of web uniformity based on imaging measurements” and WP9 manager on “Optimizing structures and operation of entire production systems”. The program is expected continue for 2012 - 2013.

FIBAM - Autonomous Microrobotic System for Manipulation, Stimulation and Characterization of Fibrous Materials
The objective of the project is to develop new methods to better understand the properties of paper fibers and muscle fibers in a human heart. Our approach is to use microrobotic characterization, i.e automatic instruments which can precisely handle and measure properties of individual microscopic objects. The project is funded by the Academy of Finland.

Human Spare Parts (Actuators)
The project is a part of a strategic Tekes project “Human Spare Parts” of BioMediTech. We develop microfluidic cell cultivation environments for neural, cardiac and retinal cells and an electro-mechanical stimulation system for cardiac cells.

INTERSYNC - Distributed systems and wireless technologies for industrial applications
implements new solutions for global networking of production systems and machinery improving capacity, energy efficiency and material usage. Real-time multi-sensory information collected by distributed wireless sensor networks will create novel opportunities for industrial maintenance and safety critical applications. The work carried out in ASE consists of determining efficient signal analysis methods for condition monitoring problems to be implemented in self-powered, wireless sensor.

INTO - Human and machine - Performance by human-oriented automation
The project concentrates on the systematic analysis and development of the human-process/machine-interaction. The aim is also the overall optimization of a work or process chain consisting of several individual machines or industrial processes. Generic theoretical background and practical tools for managing the human-machine combination will be developed in the project.

KIKAMA - Modelling of CFB boilers
The subject of the project is dynamic modelling of steam power plants. The focus area is circulating fluidized bed boilers (CFBs). The process models of supercritical Benson type once-through utility (OTU) and natural circulation drum boilers have been developed. The water sides of the boilers are modelled using a generalized water model block. The developed model block can be to handle thermodynamics and pressure changes of water, water-steam mixture, steam and supercritical water. The process models consist also of the air-flue gas side. In this project, models of process components, as pumps, valves, turbines, fans, etc., are also widely developed.

KUMO - Kompressiopaineen ja sen kudosvaikutusten monitorointi
This project is a follow-up for the earlier Presens project and the aims and topics are the same to a great extent. An external pressure against body due compression garments or different clothing accessories like bandages has increasing number of applications in physiological and medical therapies, more and more also in sports wear. The controllability of the pressure against body tissue and the facts about the amount of pressure plays very important role in these applications. Knowing and controlling the pressure is important also in many intelligent clothing applications where different sensors and electrodes are on skin contact measuring medical variables from the wearer.
This research project merges methods and technologies of measurement and information technology, biomedical engineering and also materials and textile technologies. The project utilizes the technological improvements made in the earlier projects and adjacent research [1]. The main R&D topics are the following:
• inductively coupled pressure sensors for the compression garment application
• pressure effects on body tissues and the measurement technologies associated
• the pressure related behavior of electrode-skin interface

MCDA-MIS - Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis in Measurement Information Systems
A postdoctoral researcher project funded by Academy of Finland in 2009-2012. The project focuses on studying the application of multicriteria decision analytical methods within measurement information system framework. The aim is to develop approaches to support the making of optimal measurements in cases involving multiple criteria.

MITSyDe - Measurement Information Theory for Systems Design
An Academy of Finland Senior Scientist project for 8/2010-12/2011 that compiles an integrated theory on the optimal operation and design of measurement subsystems based on the research carried out by the Measurement Information research group at Tampere University of Technology, led by the proposer, over 2003-2009 and identifies the next challenges of basic research in further development of the theory.

METRIXPRO - Hakkuupään prosessiointimittausten kehittäminen
is a research project concentrating on using measurements based on image in forest harvester. The project is funded by TEKES (total volume 551 k€/ASE 202 k€). The task of ASE is to develop diameter measurement and quality measurements based on images of the cutting surface of log end. Our partner and leader of the project is Automation Technology from Aalto-university. All major forest harvester companies are involved. The project will complete the work started in Metrix-project (2006 - 2010, 1214k€/373k€) where basis for the methods was developed. The development of wood quality measurement based on images was started in PUULA-project (2003-2005, 740k€/190k€)

MOTOSD - Monitoring and Treatment of Obesity-related Sleeping Disorders
The main goal of the project is to generate novel strategies for diagnosis and treatment of sleep obesity-related disorders, obesity and associated illnesses. New biomarkers of the risk cluster for sleep disorder as well as a compact, mobile sensor set for in-home monitoring are developed in the project.

NANOFLOW - Enhancement of in vitro Diagnostics using Nanoparticle Labels, Nanophotonics and Microfluidics
The objective of the project is to develop a new approach for patient diagnostics which combines dyed surface-bound nanoparticle labels, nanophotonics and microfluidics. The project also develops general micro- and nanofluidic technologies for sample pre-processing.

NUCKLEOTRACKER - Tracking Nucleic Acid Containing Compounds in Water Environment
The objective of the project is to develop methods for measuring nucleic acid containing analytes in water resources. The analytes can be either biological organisms or synthetic compounds added advisedly to water. ASE develops disposable microfluidic chips for liquid handling.

PäTeVä / PäTeVä II - Decision making analysis and process intelligence
was a privately funded project carried out in conjunction with EffTech program. In PäTeVä ASE and other partners merged decision analytic approach and knowledge based reasoning approach and applied that to process management based on large industrial database in board production.

REDIA - Ready-to-use Microfluidic Cartridges for Affordable Point-of-care Diagnostics
The objective of this collaborative Finnish-Indian project is to develop rapid tests for the detection of heart infraction and tuberculosis. ASE develops automatic microfluidic technologies for on-chip liquid handling.

SAFESOFT - Safety Critical Software in Machine Systems
The topics of the project are: concept and technology survey, functional safety and security as components of overall safety, safety requirements of software development phases, architectures of control systems and control, development of an operations model for software engineering, customer cases and coordination and reporting.

SGEM - Smart grid for energy market
The project is part of Cleen SHOK and its objectives include creating an innovation foundation for new solutions, products and services to enable the implementation of the Smart Grids vision. Our department is participating to SGEM project Task 6.2 (Information security) which target is to ensure the dependability, integrity, confidentiality and trust of the new ICT architectures and solutions for Smart Grid.

SMARTFIBRE - Surface Engineering of Pulp Fibres: New Functionalisation Concepts for Smart Fibre Products
The objectives of the ERA-NET project are to develop new concepts for i) the functionalization of paper fibres and ii) the characterization of the functionalization effects. ASE develops a microrobotic platform for characterizing strength properties of individual fibres and fibre bonds.

STEMFUNC - Biomimetic Active Environment for Maturing and Differentiating Stem Cells
The projective is a collaborative effort between TUT / ASE, TUT / BME and Regea. At TUT / ASE, the Micro- and Nanosystems Research group develops microactuation technologies for mechanical stimulation of cardiac cells and microfluidic technologies for automatic cell cultivation.

WOODMAT - Wood Behavior in Mechanical Pulping
The consortium project studies wood fatigue physics. The origins of fatigue and how to efficiently generate it in fresh wood are still uncertain and these are the main issue to be solved in the project. This part project concentrates on wood deformation properties under industrial defibration circumstances i.e. high strain rate loading at high temperatures.