Conference Session

Multidisciplinary Course Innovation

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

William Michalson, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Gregory Fischer, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Taskin Padir, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Gary Pollice, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

material was “poured in,” allowing us to show them what thematerial was “good for.”Over the course of 7 weeks, students in the ECE Design course perform market analysis, developsystem requirements, design, implement and demonstrate electronic system which satisfies theirderived requirements. Classroom lectures focus on the process and methods of engineeringdesign, while the laboratory associated with the course focuses on design reviews and individualdesigns.4 This class is extremely time-consuming for the students (typically 15-20 hours perweek), but consistently receives very positive student reviews. Subsequent outcomesassessments both internally and through ABET have confirmed improvements in the abilities ofstudents to perform design

Conference Session

Multidisciplinary Curriculum Innovation

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Helen McNally, Purdue University

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

session of basicinformation can be conducted to provide all students with the necessary backgroundinformation. Laboratory or hands-on experiences are difficult to provide due to the largecost of the nanotech instrumentation, environmental conditions necessary and biohazardsassociated with nanomaterials. This report will present our efforts to develop ananotechnology curriculum within the Department of Electrical and ComputerEngineering Technology at Purdue University.Introduction The interdisciplinary field of nanotechnology provides many exciting challengesin curriculum development. A number of courses1,2 and curriculums3,4 are beingintroduced at this time. Books on the subject have been published5-7 although few withthe feel of a

Conference Session

Multidisciplinary Course Innovation

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michael Ciaraldi, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Eben Cobb, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Fred Looft, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Robert Norton, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Taskin Padir, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

, pneumatics, circuits, electric motors, sensors, signalprocessing and embedded system programming. The junior level courses, RBE 3001 and RBE3002, build on this foundation to ensure that students understand the analysis of selectedcomponents and learn system-level design and development of a robotic system includingembedded design.This paper discusses the development of a two-course sequence in undergraduate roboticseducation, Unified Robotics I and II, in detail. Learning outcomes and sample schedulesillustrating our approach to designing a new robotics engineering program at the undergraduatelevel are presented. The paper exemplifies the robotics systems designed by the students withinthe scope of laboratory experiences and course projects. Finally

Conference Session

Multidisciplinary Curriculum Innovation

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Salah Badjou, Wentworth Institute of Technology; Loutfallah Georges Chedid, Wentworth Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

Page 14.691.4required sophomore-level core course, but at a higher, fifth-year level. We believe thatWentworth’s biomedical systems concentration is not only competitive with Tufts’ program, butis stronger in terms of the classroom and laboratory experience in biomedical subjects providedto the students.Boston University:Boston University has an older and larger biomedical engineering undergraduate program.Boston University5 requires courses of signals and systems, control systems, and an electivechosen among biomechanics and fluid mechanics. These courses have the same theoreticalcontent as the corresponding electromechanical courses at Wentworth, in addition to applicationsin biology. The Wentworth biomedical concentration provides the same

Conference Session

Multidisciplinary Curriculum Innovation

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Richard Ruhala, University of Southern Indiana; Paul Kuban, University of Southern Indiana

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

earliest peer-reviewed journal, IEEE/ASMETransactions on Mechatronics, appearing in March 1996 1. This journal defines mechatronics as"The synergistic integration of mechanical engineering with electronics and intelligent computercontrol in the design and manufacturing of industrial products and processes." Many universitiesare beginning to embrace the idea of mechatronics programs, due to the ever-increasingintegration of electrical and mechanical systems, especially in the areas of industrial control andautomation. Several noteworthy programs are discussed here.The University of California, Berkeley, houses the Robotics and Motion Control Laboratory, amechatronics research center within the Department of Mechanical Engineering2. Thelaboratory's

Conference Session

Multidisciplinary Curriculum Innovation

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michael Ciaraldi, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Eben Cobb, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; David Cyganski, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Michael Demetriou; Greg Fischer; Michael Gennert, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Fred Looft, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; William Michalson, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Bradley Miller, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Taskin Padir, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Yiming Rong, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Kenneth Stafford, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Gretar Tryggvason, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; James Van de Ven, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

pneumatic actuators, power transmission, materialsand static force analysis, controls and programmable embedded computer systems, systemintegration and robotic applications. Laboratory sessions consist of hands-on exercises andteam projects where students design and build mobile robots.RBE 2001. Unified Robotics I.First of a four-course sequence introducing foundational theory and practice of roboticsengineering from the fields of computer science, electrical engineering and mechanicalengineering. The focus of this course is the effective conversion of electrical power tomechanical power, and power transmission for purposes of locomotion, and of payloadmanipulation and delivery. Concepts of energy, power and kinematics will be applied.Concepts from

Conference Session

Multidisciplinary Course Innovation

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Robert Rabb, United States Military Academy; Andrew Biaglow, United States Military Academy; David Chang, United States Military Academy

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

engineering curriculum necessitated incorporation of controls engineeringcoursework in their program of study. An existing dynamic modeling and controls courseexisted between two departments: electrical engineering and mechanical engineering. With theintroduction of chemical engineers in the course, the chemical engineering specific lessons aretaught by a chemical engineering instructor. This organizational structure is important, allowingthe multidisciplinary faculty team to synchronize their efforts, bringing their individual strengthsand resources together for the course to promote student learning. The instructors engage inmeaningful dialogue concerning their assignments, lesson preparations, laboratory exercises, andtheir results. The

Conference Session

Multidisciplinary Capstone Design Projects

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sarel Lavy, Texas A&M University

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

has 235acute-care beds, and a 61-bed rehabilitation and skilled nursing facility. The hospital owns threerural hospitals and two long-term care facilities. This case study focuses on the AdministrationWing, which is part of the main building complex.Areas and Organizational StructureThe Administration Wing, built in 1991 with an area of approximately 63,000 sq-ft, is part of themain building complex and it houses offices, laboratories, education centers, and meeting rooms.The building is comprised of a basement and three floors. The Education Center of the hospital islocated in the basement of this building. The first floor, also known as the main floor, containsthe main hospital entrance, a gift shop, cafeteria and some offices. Laboratories

Conference Session

Multidisciplinary Capstone Design Projects

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Josef Rojter, Victoria University of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

Profession andEducation chaired by Professor Johnson2 .The two semester-long materials science subject was taught to second year undergraduates inBuilding, Civil and Mechanical Engineering courses. The relative high pass and low attritionrates in this subject ensured its victim-hood subject when it was swapped in 2003 in thecourse curricula with a less performing first year subject. In 2006 the subject becameProblem-based learning (PBL) designated and was transferred back to the second year level.PBL designation significantly altered the course delivery. Initially the subject organizationwhich consisted of 2 hours of lectures for 2semesters supplemented by 1 hour tutorial perweek in the first semester and a 2 hour laboratory session per fortnight in

Conference Session

Multidisciplinary Design Constituents

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Phillip Wankat, Purdue University; Kamyar Haghighi, Purdue University

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

experience mustbe taken because extensive assessments are done and each student is tracked individually. Theengineering selectives ensure that students have a sufficient amount of design, laboratory, andcoverage of materials.Tailoring of the individual concentrations is mainly done in the engineering area and the area,and to a lesser extent in the general education program. The flexibility of the MDE program isillustrated in Table 2. For the student developed concentration up to 43.5% of the course creditscan be elective (although they must be chosen in the appropriate categories) and up to 50% of thecourse credits are either elective or selective. This flexibility allows the program to offer studentsthe opportunity to study almost any engineering

Conference Session

Multidisciplinary Curriculum Innovation

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Moderick Greenfield, Eastern Michigan University

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

many currently developed courses is an added advantage of the proposed program;no additional faculty is needed. The courses will be taught by faculty with degrees inengineering and physics. The Physics Department offers sufficient laboratory space fortraining engineers.Moreover, the program should attract local 2+2 transferees from several communitycolleges that are offering pre-engineering two-year degrees. These programs are expectedto have completed two courses of calculus and calculus-based physics.The future proposed program is expected to meet EAC/ABET accreditation. Studentscompleting the program are expected to meet all requirements need to obtain jobs withinthe state and federal government agencies. Many engineering jobs in

Conference Session

Sustainability and Environmental Issues

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Bradley Striebig, James Madison University; Susan Norwood, Gonzaga University

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

AC 2009-83: PARTNERSHIPS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ANDINTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONBradley Striebig, James Madison University Dr. Bradley A. Striebig is an associate professor of Engineering at James Madison University. He has a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from Penn State University, where he was the head of the Environmental Technology Group at the Applied research Laboratory. Prior to accepting a position to develop the engineering program at James Madison University, Brad was a faculty member in the Civil Engineering department at Gonzaga University. He has worked on various water projects throughout the US and in Benin and Rwanda.Susan Norwood, Gonzaga University Susan Norwood

Conference Session

Engineering and Other Disciplines

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John Weese, Texas A&M University

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

objective of EI courses is to enhance the critical ability of citizens tocomprehend technological systems, to improve their abilities to make intelligent choices.The EI courses should include most of the following characteristics: ≠ Contain well-founded engineering principles; ≠ Relate to engineered systems with which students readily identify, ≠ Involve good science, introductory-level analysis, economics, societal/environmental impact, and such topics as global engagement, ethics, and cultural aspects; ≠ Provide, as appropriate, hands-on laboratory experiences; ≠ Require well-conceived reports based on literature and database searches that include critical assessments and elements of analysis; and ≠ Include basic

Conference Session

Engineering and Other Disciplines

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Carlotta Berry, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; Matthew Boutell, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; Steve Chenoweth, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; David Fisher, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

of Outcome 5, 100 students enrolled inRobotics Programming over three years. Fifty-four students enrolled in the first year alone, andwe have scheduled additional sections for next year, based upon student interest.Future WorkThe first stages in the development of an undergraduate multidisciplinary robotics certificatehave proven to be very successful and beneficial to the institution and the student body. In thefuture, the PIs will seek federal and corporate grants to expand the certificate programming toinsure institutionalization and long term sustainability. This funding will be used to develop orrevise courses in the curriculum and to develop an integrated robotics research laboratory. Thislaboratory will be directed by the PIs of the

Conference Session

Engineering and Other Disciplines

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

David Chang, United States Military Academy; Peter Hanlon, United States Military Academy; Kirk Ingold, United States Military Academy; Robert Rabb, United States Military Academy

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

AC 2009-750: EDUCATING GENERATION Y IN ROBOTICSDavid Chang, United States Military AcademyPeter Hanlon, United States Military AcademyKirk Ingold, United States Military AcademyRobert Rabb, United States Military Academy Page 14.510.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2009 Educating Generation ‘Y’ In RoboticsAbstractWe present our approach to educating the new Generation ‘Y’ using robotics in undergraduateeducation. This course is a laboratory based education for life-long learners through a look at anew course for non engineering majors in the senior year. As the centerpiece of this course, weuse a robotics platform to integrate introductory