AUK Students Present Exceptional Project at IEEE SECON Conference

AUK students have made a significant mark in the field of sensing, communications, and networking technologies by having their innovative project presented at the IEEE SECON conference. Over the course of two academic years, two capstone teams collaborated with dedicated instructors to develop PLIERS, a cutting-edge robotic solution for pipeline inspection.

Attending the conference to represent the teams that worked on the project was associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, Dr. Mounib Khanafer. The project team consisted of eight exceptional students: Ayman Kandil, Habib Badran, Maryam bin Jassem, Ossama Ahmed, Reem Qasem, Fatima Matook, Ahmad Younis, and Ali Darwiche. The project was in collaboration with professor of computer engineering, Dr. Mohamed El Abd; lab instructor, Mr. Ali Behiry; and Dr. Mounib. 

The PLIERS project uses robots to inspect pipelines by capturing images of their interiors. These images are sent to a control server that leverages a machine learning algorithm to identify possible cracks that are either shallow or severe. The project's main aim is to automate pipeline inspection, traditionally done manually, through using robotics, Internet of Things, and machine learning.

Dr. Mounib commented on the significance of this conference, “The PLIERS project provided our students with a unique opportunity to apply their engineering expertise and knowledge to develop a system urgently needed by various industries today. By automating the process of crack detection, the team addressed a pivotal safety and durability concern for pipeline grids, which are crucial for modern communities and industries. The acceptance of their paper at IEEE SECON stands as a clear testament to their outstanding caliber.” 

IEEE SECON is renowned as a flagship conference that brings together researchers from major universities and industries worldwide to showcase the latest advancements in sensing, communications, and networking technologies. 

The PLIERS project represents a remarkable achievement for AUK students, showcasing their dedication to solving real-world problems through innovative technology solutions. 

Dr. Mounib Khanafer at the IEEE SECON conference