Conference Session

Instrumentation and Measurements: Innovative Course Development

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Hong Zhang, Rowan University; Courtney Richmond, Rowan University; Ying Tang, Rowan University; Patricia Mosto, Rowan University

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

, often limiting their use to a handful of researchinstitutes who can afford the associated costs. Although these organizations alwaysencouraged external participation, the time and level of involvement required can beprohibitive for individuals or groups from smaller institutions. It is therefore desirable forsmaller or less soluble educational institutions to have their own robotic probing andsurveillance system if they intend to conduct these types of scientific studies in the field. In this multidisciplinary project, we designed and built a low cost, low maintenance,easy to operate Interactive Mobile Aqua Probe & Surveillance (IMAPS) system forschools, researchers, and environmental and biological workers. The robotic sensor

Conference Session

Instrumentation and Measurements: Innovative Course Development

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

David Beams, University of Texas-Tyler

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

2006-1813: PROJECT TUNA II - BODE ANALYZER AND TEACHING TOOLDavid Beams, University of Texas-Tyler DAVID M. BEAMS is an Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Texas at Tyler. He received his BS and MS degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in and the Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has had over 16 years of industrial experience in addition to his 8 years with UT-Tyler. He is a licensed professional engineer in Wisconsin and Texas and holds or shares four patents. Page 11.1045.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2006

Conference Session

Developing New Instrumentation

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jahangir Ansari, Virginia State University; Yoon Kim, Virginia State University

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

Engineering Education, 2006 Instrumentation for Vibration and Modal Testing - A Senior Design ProjectAbstractThis project was designed for senior students to enhance their hands-on experience withtechnical instruments and computer based simulations.Throughout this project, senior students constructed an instrumental set-up to experimentallyidentify modal characteristics of a bell-shaped structure. Impact excitation method was used toidentify the first five resonance frequencies and a commercial FEA package was used to verifythe validity of the set up for further applications.IntroductionAt Virginia State University, senior project is a three credit elective course that engineeringstudents can take in their

Conference Session

Modern Software Measurement Techniques

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Tracey Windley, University of Idaho; Jasper Nance, University of Idaho; Kevin Buck, University of Idaho; Herbert Hess, University of Idaho

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

acquisition, data processing, and presentation, especially in a universitysetting. Memory fades and what may have made sense two months ago may have no meaningnow. Also the person processing the data or presenting it may not be the same person whorecorded it. Even worse, the person who recorded it may no longer be part of the project. Thesetime lapses and researcher discontinuities often result in situations where data could become lost,non-credible, or incomprehensible to other researchers. In university research this is a realproblem due the high turnover rate of researchers and inexperience in data acquisition. In summary, the three main problems encountered during data acquisition with

Conference Session

Developing New Instrumentation

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Radian Belu, Wayne State University

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

-oriented, analytical techniques, maintaining a close relationship betweentheory and practice by incorporating hands-on laboratories in the most of courses. WSU-DET houses dedicated laboratories for all if its programs, including the Circuit Lab, theControl System Lab, the Microprocessor Lab, the Electric Machines and InstrumentationLab, the Computer Lab, and the EET/MCT Projects Labs for the EET/MCT courses. Thisproposed project would utilize WSU-DET I&M laboratory, as well as the Focus:HOPEindustrial facilities to develop and house the new, restructured cooperative/distributedI&M laboratory. Focus:HOPE - The Coalition for New Manufacturing Education, alsocalled the Greenfield Coalition is made up of Focus: Hope’s Center for

Conference Session

Developing New Instrumentation

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Bobbie Meredith, Middle Tennessee State University; Saleh Sbenaty, Middle Tennessee State University; Jason Thurmond, Schneider Electric, Power Monitoring and Control

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

Education, 2006 Designing, Building, and Testing an Advanced Industrial-Grade Three-Phase Digital Power MeterI. AbstractThe current paper describes the design, construction, and testing of an advanced digital three-phase power meter for industrial applications. The project is the result of a very closecollaboration between the author, a senior Computer Engineering Technology major, her facultyadvisor at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), and the design engineers at the PowerLogic Group of Square-D, a Division of Schneider Electric in LaVergne, Tennessee. At the timeof writing this paper, the author was completing her Internship at Square-D, where she wasgaining the hands-on experience necessary for a successful

Conference Session

Novel Measurement Experiments

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Richard Hoehn, Middle Tennessee State University; Saleh Sbenaty, Middle Tennessee State University; William Day, Middle Tennessee State University

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

the current CCSI project at the graduate level. The authors believe to have found aninexpensive way that allows scientists to monitor the growth of living cells under themicroscope. Similar systems are not readily available on the market or are far too expensivewhen custom made for smaller research facilities. This paper describes the process of designing,building, and testing of a Closed Compartment Stage Incubator. The paper also discusses theimportance of a close collaboration, which ensures a high quality and successful research project,between two departments at MTSU; despite the fact that they are very different in nature.II. The CCSI Design ProcessThe design of the CCSI project involved five stages. These were

Conference Session

Novel Measurement Experiments

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Terrance Lovell, Pennsylvania State University-Berks; Dale Litwhiler, Pennsylvania State University-Berks

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

the equipment is not a viable option in many applications. With the lowcost of USB digital cameras and the availability of LabVIEW™ VISION, a cost-effectivemethod of reading multiple meters of assorted types can be created. Duplicating the process thata human performs while reading a meter display is daunting. However, this process is simplifiedby using virtual instruments (VIs), which perform essential functions such as edge, pattern androtation detection. As part of an undergraduate research project, a computer, using LabVIEW™Vision, together with a USB digital camera is used to read a digital multimeter (DMM) and ananalog watt-hour meter. Circular edge detection, pattern searches, and rotation detection areused to locate dials and segments

Conference Session

Contemporary Instrumentation

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Seyed Allameh, Northern Kentucky University; Morteza Sadat-Hossieny, Northern Kentucky University; Paul Cooper, Northern Kentucky University

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

build bio-mimicked layered composites. Labview™ virtualinstruments (VIs) were developed to guide the robots, to actuate injectors, and to analyzeimages. The implications of this work for the projects assigned at the undergraduate levelas well as students’ capstone project will also be discussed.IntroductionIn the aftermath of the major disasters that claimed human lives and caused extensivefinancial losses, it is necessary to develop materials that resistant to powerful forces ofnature. Most buildings, especially in the third world countries are built from manuallylaid clay bricks (unfired or fired) in layered structures with mud or gypsum mortarinterlayers. In the event of an earthquake or other disasters that exert dynamic shearforces on

Conference Session

Novel Measurement Experiments

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jun Kondo, University of Hartford; Santiago Noriega, University of Hartford; Devdas Shetty, University of Hartford

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

performed. These tests tend to be expensive and timeconsuming. With customers pushing for lower cost and products been developedat very fast pace; companies in many cases can not afford the cost or timeassociated with these test.This has forced companies to look elsewhere to find other types of tests that canprovide them with the necessary accuracy to measure vibration at a lower costwithin a shorter period of time. These test methods include the use ofpiezoelectric accelerometers, strain gauges and laser measuring equipment.ANALYSIS:Of all methods used to measure vibration; the use of lasers is the most appealingsince the equipment has minimum or no contact with the object to be measured.The purpose of this project is to develop a non contact

Conference Session

Instrumentation and Measurements: Innovative Course Development

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sri Kolla, Bowling Green State University; Joseph Mainoo, Bowling Green State University

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

alsooffered in the Master of Industrial Technology program of the College of Technology. All ofthese courses have a laboratory component integrated with the lectures. The laboratory activitiesin these courses emphasize industrial sensors, actuators and data acquisition to investigate thebehavior of the measurement and control systems. National Instrument’s NI-ELVIS station withLabVIEW software is used in these laboratory activities. Students do mini-projects using thePC-based laboratory workstations that integrate NI-ELVIS shown in Figure 1. These projectsenable the students to analyze, design, build and test complete instrumentation and processcontrol systems. Through this approach, students obtain exposure to many real problemsassociated with

Conference Session

Developing New Instrumentation

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Narciso Macia, Arizona State University

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

Electronics and Computer Engineering Technology department. He has served as the Associate Chair in charge of electronics-related academic programs. He organized two technical sessions for ASME’s IMECE (formerly known as the Winter Annual Meeting): one on fluidic sensors and the other one on respiratory mechanics. For several years he was the secretary and newsletter editor of the Fluid Control Panel (a technical panel of the Dynamics Systems and Control Division of ASME). He has also served as a reviewer for several ASME journals. He participated in an interdisciplinary, project whose goal was to design and build a cart that would autonomously paint the stripes in a

Conference Session

Instrumentation and Measurements: Innovative Course Development

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

David Farrow, University of Tennessee-Martin

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

concentration,Vibrations, Kinematics and Dynamics, and Machine Design for the mechanical concentration,and Automated Productions Systems for the mechanical and industrial concentrations. TheENGR 317 Instrumentation and Experimental Methods course described in this paper is intendedto be taken in the junior year, is the highest level common course in the program with alaboratory component, and is intended to help prepare students to specify, design, instrument,take data, and otherwise conduct their own experiments in much of their upper divisioncoursework, labs, and required senior capstone design projects. The prerequisites for the ENGR317 course are: ENGR 311 Engineering Probability and Statistics, and ENGR 232 CircuitAnalysis I. ENGR 315 Engineering

Conference Session

Modern Software Measurement Techniques

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Charles Neuman, Queensborough Community College; David Lieberman, Queensborough Community College; Don Engelberg, Queensborough Community College; Alex Flamholz, Queensborough Community College; Paul Marchese, Queensborough Community College; George Tremberger, Queensborough Community College; Tak Cheung, Queensborough Community College

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

well documented 1, 2, 3, 4 . Computation andprogramming for a lecture setting was also reported 5. Various independent projects usingLabVIEW were well documented in many publications 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. It is accepted that the useof LabVIEW is invaluable in general but is limited to hands-on intensive situations13. Ourexperience in using LabVIEW in our laser engineering technology program is consistent 14:LabVIEW’s virtual instrumentation and internet remote access features are not effective forhands-on intensive lab exercises.The teaching of introductory engineering physics lab exercises can be enhanced with LabVIEW.The virtual instrumentation and computational capabilities are incorporated into the laboratoryexercises. The virtual

Conference Session

Modern Software Measurement Techniques

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

El-Sayed Aziz, Stevens Institute of Technology; Sven Esche, Stevens Institute of Technology; Constantin Chassapis, Stevens Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

good substitute for realistic hands-onexperimentation and can provide educationally valuable features not available in hardware-basedexperiments. Students can perform experiments on simulated systems by means of specialsoftware provided by a server through the Web browser without downloading the source code.For example, a Virtual Engineering/Science Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University makes itpossible to simulate engineering and science laboratory projects on a remote computer7. Thisenvironment mainly focuses on experiments for demonstrating theoretical concepts and runswithout veritable experiment instruments. It provides interactive, Web-based experiences aimedat increasing the students’ understanding of the general principles involved in

Conference Session

Novel Measurement Experiments

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Henrik Åkesson, Blekinge Institute of Technology; Lars Hakansson, Blekinge Institute of Technology; Ingvar Gustavsson, Blekinge Institute of Technology; Ingvar Claesson, Blekinge Institute of Technology; Johan Zackrisson, Blekinge Institute of Technology; Thomas Lago, Acticut Inernational AB

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

also the simplicity and functionality of the remote controlledinstrument. The scheduling was successful, but also some constructive ideas how toenhance the reservation system was proposed by the students.AcknowledgmentThe project is sponsored by The Foundation for Knowledge and CompetenceDevelopment. Page 11.1428.14REFERENCES 1. I. Gustavsson. User-defined electrical experiments in a remote laboratory. In Proceedings of the 2003 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference and Exposition, 2003. 2. I. Gustavsson, J. Zackrisson, and T. Olsson. Traditional lab sessions in a remote laboratory for circuit analysis. May 27 - 29, 2004. 3