YSU Student Showcases Master’s Thesis at Innovation Day

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Innovation Day 2024 was host to a variety of innovators and entrepreneurs, including Youngstown State University master’s student Joshua Porter.

Porter is a second-year electrical engineering master’s student, and for his master’s thesis, he has been working under the mentorship of YSU professors Vamsi Borra and Frank Li with Bluetooth Low Energy to enhance research and data collection capabilities across industries.

“Bluetooth Low Energy is [used] for smaller devices such as smartwatches or AirPods. … We’re reading data from sensors on a chip that was manufactured by other electrical engineering students, and this data gets sent to a smartphone app over a Bluetooth Low Energy connection,” Porter said.

Each chip hosts three separate sensors: one that measures temperature, pressure, humidity, and gas; one that serves as an accelerometer; and an impedance sensor. The chips grant the ability to take measurements from separate controlled environments at one time, expediting the data collection process.

Porter gave the example of temperature measurement: “If we want to isolate different environments, say, a hot room and a cold room, and record the temperature in those two rooms at one time, we can do that. … It would reduce the time it takes to get all this data.”

The project hasn’t come without its challenges. He mentioned there is a big learning curve for the coding and programming side. “In one project there could be hundreds of different program files, and you’re trying to make sure that all those files are working,” he said. 

Porter also experienced some challenges while getting accustomed to the chips’ hardware, and subsequently having to contact the manufacturer to address these issues.

Porter further credits those hurdles for the key takeaways from the project. He now has a deeper understanding of the sensors and how they work, as well as how the data they have recorded is being processed. He particularly values his learnings about Bluetooth functionality. 

“You don’t really think about how Bluetooth works. You just connect to your headphones or smartwatch. You don’t know how that process works,” he stated.

Introduced to the project about a year ago, Porter said his selection of this project for his master’s thesis was a two-pronged decision – equal parts interest and influence. 

“They wanted me to continue that research and try to make this thing work,” he explained. 

Porter was quick to credit his peer, alumni Brendan Kuzior, from whom he took over the project. 

Upon graduating, Porter wants to continue programming for a local company. He spent time as an intern at Davis Alloys Manufacturing in Sharpsville, Pa., over the summer, and he’d like to continue his work there. He is also open to other programming opportunities. 

“You know, doing this research has definitely benefited me, and I’d like to continue that when I go into the industry,” he said.

Pictured at top: YSU student Joshua Porter.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.