2022 IEEE Canada A.G.L. McNaughton Award
Prix A.G.L. McNaughton de l’IEEE Canada 2022
For pioneering contributions to free space and optical fiber transmission systems spanning multiple length scales, and their enabling silicon photonic technologies.
Pour contributions pionnières aux systèmes de transmission optique et en espace libre s’étendant sur de multiples échelles de longueur, et les technologies de photonique sur silicium ainsi habilitées.
McNaughton Award Description
IEEE Canada remembers, through the A.G.L. McNaughton Gold Medal, General McNaughton’s contributions to the engineering profession in Canada. Recipients of this medal are outstanding Canadian engineers recognized for their exemplary contributions to the engineering profession. Award established in 1969. Sponsored by IEEE Canada.
David Plant, Montréal, QC
David V. Plant (F): Ph.D., Brown University (89); Research Engineering – UCLA (89-93); Professor (93 – present), and Chair (06 – 11), Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McGill University. James McGill Professor (01 – 19). Tier 1 Canada Research Chair (19 – present). Currently Dr. Plant researches optical fiber transmission systems spanning multiple length scales, and their enabling optoelectronic technologies. These activities include researching digital signal processing algorithms to increase capacity and reach as well as new transceiver architectures for coherent and direct detection
based systems. Dr. Plant has received the following awards and recognitions: IEEE Photonics Society Engineering Achievement Award (17); Fellow, Royal Society of Canada (16); IEEE Montreal Chapter Gold Medal Achievement Award (16); Refined Manufacturing Acceleration Process Business Led National Center of Excellence Commercialization Award (15, 16); Killam Research Fellowship (13 – 15); IEEE Photonics Society Distinguished Service Award (15); Christophe Pierre Award for Research Excellence
(14); IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society Microwave Award (09); Fellow Canadian Academy of Engineering (09); Fellow Engineering Institute of Canada (09); Outstanding Engineering Educator Award from IEEE Canada (07); NSERC Synergy Award for Innovation (06); Fellow of the Optica (06); R.A. Fessenden Medal from IEEE Canada (06); IEEE Photonics Society Distinguished Lecturer (05-07).
David V. Plant (F) : Ph.D., Université Brown (89) ; Ingénieur de Recherche – UCLA (89 – 93) ; Professeur (93 – présent) et Directeur (06 – 11), Département de génie électrique et informatique, Université McGill. Professeur James McGill (01 – 19). Chaire de recherche du Canada de niveau 1 (19 – prés.). Actuellement, Dr. Plant étudie les systèmes de transmission par fibre optique couvrant plusieurs échelles de longueur et
leurs technologies optoélectroniques sous-jacentes. Ces activités comprennent la recherche d’algorithmes de traitement numérique du signal pour augmenter la capacité et la portée ainsi que de nouvelles architectures d’émetteur-récepteur pour les systèmes basés sur la détection cohérente et directe. Dr. Plant a reçu les récompenses et distinctions suivantes : Prix d’excellence en ingénierie de la société de photonique de l’IEEE (17) ; membre, Société royale du Canada (16); Médaille d’or de la section IEEE Montréal (16); Prix de commercialisation des Centres d’excellence en commercialisation et en recherche (15, 16); Bourse de recherche Killam (13 – 15); Prix du service distingué de la société de photonique de l’IEEE (15); Prix d’excellence en recherche Christophe Pierre (14) ; Prix micro-ondes de la société de théorie et techniques des micro-ondes de l’IEEE (09); Fellow de l’Académie canadienne du génie (09); Fellow de l’Institut canadien des ingénieurs (09); Prix du meilleur éducateur en ingénierie de l’IEEE Canada (07); Prix Synergie pour l’innovation du CRSNG (06); Fellow de l’Optica (06) ; Médaille R. A. Fessenden de l’IEEE Canada (06); Conférencier émérite de la société de photonique de l’IEEE (05-07).
Dr. Signe Redfield
Director, US NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research
Researcher, Patient-Led Research Collaborative
Keynote Presentation: Assistive Robots for Long COVID and ME/CFS Support
Abstract
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic represents one of the largest mass-disabling events in modern history. Many people continue to experience debilitating symptoms years after their original infection. Robotics and machine learning have the potential to substantially improve quality of life for Long COVID patients and potentially help them recover. A description of what Long COVID entails and the key challenges that people with Long COVID face will provide context to understand the support that these patients need. A brief excursion into the history of post-viral illness and recent developments in diagnostic testing and treatment development will highlight alternative uses for this type of in-home robotic assistant in establishing the effectiveness of different treatment approaches and providing necessary information to researchers about the baseline benefit of extended convalescence as they attempt to determine what potential treatments are most effective. Together, these motivate an exploration of potential robotic and machine learning supports, addressing patient feedback on possible challenges to their development.
Biography
Signe Redfield is the Director of the US Naval Research Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research and a researcher for the Patient-Led Research Collaborative. She received her Diploma and Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL. Her research interests include patient-centered research into long Covid and ME/CFS, specification of autonomous system capabilities, and verification of autonomous systems. She is a co-chair of the IEEE RAS technical committees on Performance Evaluation and Benchmarking for Robotic and Automation Systems and on Verification of Autonomous Systems, and leads the IEEE Standards Development Working Group P2817, “Guide for Verification of Autonomous Systems”. She was selected as one of Robohub’s 2019 “30 Women in Robotics You Need to Know About” and selected by the Naval Engineers Journal as One to Watch in their 2020 special issue on women in naval engineering.
Dr. Sreeraman Rajan
Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (Advanced Sensor Systems and Signal Processing)
Professor, Department of Systems and Computer Engineering at Carleton University
Keynote Presentation: Advanced Sensing and Signal Processing in Monitoring Applications
Abstract
Sensing and sensor signal data processing have been undergoing changes due to the recent ongoing pandemic. Smart sensing and non-contact sensing using advanced sensors and internet of things (IoT) sensors have become relevant in these interesting times. Signal quality has improved through advanced improved sensor design. As internet of things (IoT) sensors are designed to be less costly, smaller, quick to sense and communicate on demand, signal/data quality is often compromised. As low cost sensors may not provide data of high quality, new signal processing approaches may be needed to extract reliable information. Advanced signal processing techniques are needed to extract relevant information from limited amount of data as large amount of data may not be readily available for processing on demand. Further, the need for processing larger amount of data from the low cost distributed sensors has led to outsourcing of the data for processing. Issues of privacy and security have become an issue of concern. These have led to interesting approaches to signal processing in various monitoring application areas.
Biography
Prof. Sreeraman Rajan is a Canada Research Chair in Sensor Systems in the Department of Systems and Computer Engineering in Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada since 2015. Before joining Carleton University, he was with Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) Ottawa, Canada as a Senior Defence Scientist. He has worked in the areas of nuclear science and engineering, control, electronic warfare, communication and biomedical engineering while in industry. He is a co-inventor of two patents and two disclosures of invention. He has co-authored more than 200 journal articles and conference papers. He is a Senior Member of IEEE, a member of IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement, Engineering in Medicine and Biology, Signal Processing and Aerospace and Electronic Systems Societies. He is the North America Regional Director for IEEE Consumer Technology Society since 2021. He has served IEEE Canada as its board member (2010-2018). He was awarded the IEEE MGA Achievement Award in 2012 and recognized for his IEEE contributions with Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. IEEE Canada recognized his outstanding service through 2016 W.S. Read Outstanding Service Award. IEEE Ottawa Section recognized him as an outstanding engineer in 2018 and an outstanding educator in 2019 while Carleton University recognized him with Faculty Graduate Mentoring award in 2018 and CUASA Teaching Excellence Award in 2019 . He has been involved in organizing several successful IEEE conferences and has been a reviewer for several IEEE journals and conferences.