This thesis presents the development of a sensor fusion framework that integrates ultrasonic sensors with a rotating Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) system to generate an occupancy grid map. The objective is to improve spatial awareness for autonomous navigation by employing an adaptive LiDAR approach, wherein ultrasonic sensors are used to identify regions of interest for focused scanning.

The design and implementation of a test system are described, along with the development of an occupancy grid map capable of representing data from both LiDAR and ultrasonic sensors. To enhance the accuracy and reliability of the environmental representation, the occupancy grid map incorporates an inverse sensor model in combination with Bayesian statistical methods.

Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) color centers in diamond are a promising and powerful tech-
nology for sensing small magnetic fields in the order of μT. One of its applications is
the use in magnetic biosensing to identify cells marked with magnetic nanoparticles.
These nanoparticles can target cells linked to malignant tissue, which can subsequently
be identified with great spatial resolution using the NV centers. Therefore promising a
less invasive procedure and more accurate identification. Such a system using NV cen-
ters as detectors requires small and effective photon detection hardware in order to be
used in practice. In this bachelor graduation project Single Photon Avalanche Diodes
(SPADs) are characterized, simulated and validated, to be integrated in a SPAD imaging
sensor designed for magnetic bioimaging using NV centers.
A 3D model of the SPAD is created in TCAD Sentaurus to verify whether the designed
SPAD performs as intended. To this end, the I-V and C-V curves are simulated. These
graphs show that a proposed SPAD design works as intended whilst the previously im-
plemented design does not. Furthermore, the simulation results can later be compared
to the behavior of a physical SPAD. During the physical analysis of the stray SPADs on
a previous IC, a design flaw was identified. To verify this a test circuit was built and
the device was retested. The results confirm an error in the SPAD design. The SPAD is
missing an N-well resulting in standard diode behavior and preventing it from detecting
photons. Furthermore, to enhance single-photon detection, we explored a new analog-
to-digital converter (ADC) circuit that employs a Schmitt trigger in place of a standard
comparator. Our results show that this ADC delivers predictable behavior and achieves
a more precise and efficient conversion to a digital signal.

In the rapidly advancing field of industrial technology, the demand for enhanced accuracy in environmental Particulate Matter (PM) monitoring has intensified. The Background Section explores the potential of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology in developing high-resolution, sensitive, and portable devices for PM mass and size detection. The Second and Third Sections provide an overview of the working principles of various acoustic devices and discuss both conventional and advanced PM sensing methodologies. The Piezoelectric Material Alternatives Section concludes with a comparative analysis of different piezoelectric materials.

Design parameters were determined through simulations, as discussed in Section Five, leading to the successful fabrication of a 95 MHz-412 MHz cross-structure SAW resonator in the TUDelft Else Kooi Laboratory cleanroom, detailed in the Fabrication Section. The change in resonant frequency of the device was measured using a Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) probe station, as outlined in the Measurement Results and Discussion Section. The results demonstrate that the device can effectively detect mass loading surface perturbations generated by a 40 μm diameter, 200 nm  high aluminium column in the detection region, despite its inability to sense actual 15 µm SiO2 particle clusters. Finally, the Reflection and Recommendations Section summarizes the project and offers suggestions for future development.

In recent years, there has been growing interest in the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) which is a magneto-thermodynamic phenomenon observed in certain magnetic materials. MCE materials undergo temperature changes when subjected to magnetic fields. Researchers are now exploring the possibilities of utilizing this material in biomedical application technologies, as they offer the potential for non-invasive control of their properties through external magnetic fields. However, there is a lack of research on suitable magnetic compositions that exhibit desired magnetic properties for medical purposes, while ensuring no adverse effects on the cells.

This master project explores the potential of a magnetocaloric (Mn,Fe)2(P,Si)-based compound as a biodegradable membrane for multi-cell separation in organ-on-chip platforms. Mn0.65Fe1.30Si0.37P0.65 compound was selected due to its sharp phase transition characteristics and tunable Curie temperature (Tc), which enable self-regulation of temperature within the therapeutic range, thus preventing potential damage to living cells. The synthesized Mn0.65Fe1.30Si0.37P0.65 compound exhibited a transition temperature of 316 K (43°C) with particle sizes ranging from 1-5 µm. A magnetocaloric wax-based composite was synthesized by integrating these particles with a wax component. Characterization under alternating magnetic fields (AMF) showed a significant temperature rise with higher magnetic concentrations and field amplitudes. At an applied AMF of 9 mT and a frequency of 244 kHz, a sample containing 15 vol.% magnetic particles stabilized at 44°C, effectively maintaining controlled temperatures within the therapeutic range (42-47°C) and efficiently melting the wax without harming living cells. Water absorption tests and SEM imaging further demonstrated the composite's low water permeability and minimal development of microcracks over time. These findings validate the potential of magnetocaloric materials with adjustable Curie temperatures for precise self-regulation of temperature in biomedical applications. The observed high heating efficiency and prevention of overheating offer promising opportunities for controlled thermal activation processes across various biomedical fields.

Introduction:
High impact respiratory conditions are common amongst preterm infants. Measuring the electromyogram of the diaphragm (dEMG) is a very promising technique to accurately measure respiratory state. However, the currently used Ag/AgCl electrodes are reported to be big and thick, making them less suitable to measure dEMG in preterm infants. Therefore, the aim of this study was to create a prototype for a thin, flexible electrode that could measure dEMG in preterm infants with at least the same signal quality as the currently used Ag/AgCl electrode.
Methods:
To do so, design requirements and wishes were set. Literature and three tests were used to assess whether a certain prototype met the design requirements. If one of the design requirements was not met, an iteration cycle was started and the prototype was redesigned. With the final version of the prototype, a proof of principle test was performed, where dEMG measurements were conducted on a healthy female adult using the prototype and the standard Ag/AgCl electrodes simultaneously.
Results:
The final design was created from two layers of Shieldit conductive fabric ironed onto cotton and one insulating layer of TPU. These layers were connected to a shielded cable by weaving the copper wire through the fabric.
Ultimately, not all design requirements were met. The frequency plot of the final prototype still showed a peak at 50 Hz, indicating insufficient shielding from electromagnetic interference. However, the final prototype was indeed dry, thinner, and more flexible than the Ag/AgCl electrode. The RMSE value for the prototype (0,5984 mV) was smaller than that for the Ag/AgCl electrode (0,5998 mV), although the opposite was true for the SD (prototype: 0,1031 mV, Ag/AgCl: 0,0316 mV). In addition, it was proven that the final prototype could be used to measure dEMG in healthy adults. The breathing frequency measured by the final prototype was equal to the breathing frequency measured by the Ag/AgCl electrode, whilst showing no significant difference in amplitude of the peaks of the breathing curve (p = 0,0830).
Discussion:
Design improvements could be made by eliminating the 50 Hz peak, decreasing diameter even further, creating a new version where the cable could pivot around the electrode or exploring wireless options.
Conclusion:
In this paper, it has been proven that a textile prototype is well capable of measuring dEMG in humans and offers several improvements over the Ag/AgCl electrode.

The thesis explores an innovative technique for enhancing the precision of short-term weather forecasts, particularly in predicting extreme weather phenomena, which present a notable challenge for existing models such as PySTEPS due to their volatile behavior. Leveraging precipitation and meteorological data sourced from the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), the research innovates through the development of a physics-informed neural network. Central to this approach is the implementation of a Physics-Informed Discriminator GAN (PID-GAN), a method that embeds physical principles directly into the adversarial training regime. The architecture is marked by the integration of a Vector Quantization Generative Adversarial Network (VQ-GAN) and a Transformer as the generator, complemented by a temporal discriminator as the discriminator component. Results from this study indicate a notable advancement over traditional numerical weather prediction and cutting-edge deep learning models, underscoring the PID-GAN model's superiority in delivering accurate precipitation nowcasting metrics.

As 5G is rapidly growing, wireless communication systems require wideband, compact and highly efficient power amplifier modules (PA) to drive the base station antenna arrays. Doherty PAs are implemented in most base stations. The final stage in these power amplifier modules has high supply voltages (28-50 V) to generate a high output power of >20 W at reasonable output impedance levels. This work replaces the ‘classical’ single-ended cascode PA to drive the Doherty PA, with a series push-pull (or totem-pole) PA to increase the efficiency and bandwidth of the driver. The series push pull designs can reach peak efficiencies of 70.7%, which is about 10 percentage points higher than the efficiency of the single-ended PA. To ensure that a fair comparison is made between the designs, the series push-pull designs operate at 5 V and 10 V supply, in order to generate an output voltage swing of 5 V and 10 V respectively. This is compared to the single-ended PA with a 5 V supply and 10 V output swing. Simulation results show that the series push-pull design does indeed increase the efficiency of the driver whilst having minimal AM-AM distortion (<1 dB) at the design frequency of 3.6 GHz.

Purpose
The main purpose of this report is to find out whether the OpenBCI "Ultracortex Mark IV" Electroencephalogram (EEG) headset is capable of differentiating EEG-signals of motor execution from neutral state with recorded data and to find out whether it can differ motor executions between left and right hand. Next to that, it is to be determined whether the OpenBCI headset was the optimal one for this purpose.

Method
First, the specifications of different headsets were compared. Afterwards, a montage of the electrodes was designed to detect motor execution and motor imagery, mainly centered around the locations C3, Cz and C4, on the top of the scalp. The software "Openvibe" was used to extract data from the headset during experiments and to record it in a csv file. A subject was asked to follow a video with a sound cue followed by a visual cue instructing to move either its left hand or right hand.


Result
Merging the left and right hand trial data together, the result is that the headset shows in the alpha band (7-12 Hz) mostly a decrease (ERD) in magnitude around the visual cue, sometimes followed by a bigger increase in magnitude (ERS). Looking at the extremes after the cue, it is seen that mostly the difference in magnitude is around a factor 1.5 compared to the average magnitude of before the visual cue. Splitting the trial data between left and right hand, similar results can be seen, but one hand produces slightly more ERD or ERS than the other hand depending on the position of the electrode on the left or right hemisphere of the brain.

Conclusion
The OpenBCI headset can in fact detect a difference between movement of the hands and the neutral state. Differentiating between the movements of left and right hands seems possible from the results, but the difference in the signal of left and right hand is minimal. It is recommended to repeat the experiment with more trials and different subjects to get a more solid conclusion.

The goal of this project was to develop a sensor system that detects Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behaviour Disorder (RBD) episodes in an early stage and brings the patient to a lighter sleep stage at the episode onset. This project was completed in close collaboration with Momo Medical, a fast-growing start-up and developer of the BedSense - a device placed under mattresses that tracks the bed posture and restlessness of residents in nursing homes. To detect RBD episodes, the BedSense was used in combination with a sock that houses the biosensors EDA, PPG and an accelerometer. The sock also contains a vibrator module, that can bring the patient to a lighter sleep stage in case of an episode.

The outcomes of this project are promising, data has been recorded from both non-RBD test subjects and an RBD patient, and the vibration module has been tested.

The results of this project were integrated with another project seeking to develop an algorithm to detect RBD episodes in an early stage. This project used data from the Momo BedSense and from the sock that has been created in this project.