Conference Session

Innovative Teaching Methods and Learning Models

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Yasser M. Al Hamidi, Texas A&M University, Qatar; Reza Tafreshi, Texas A&M University, Qatar; Mahmoud Hammad El Zamli, Texas A&M University, Qatar

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Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

22.766.2Introduction:  Sophomore mechanical engineering students at Texas A&M University at Qatar takeMechanical Measurements Course (MEEN 260) as the first course to provide a practicalfoundation for designing and conducting engineering experiments. The topics studied in thiscourse (Figure 1) are: understanding and comparing sensor technologies, designing andanalyzing signal processing circuits, understanding the process and potential problems of dataacquisition and digital filters, and quantifying measurement uncertainty using statistical dataanalysis. Developing technical writing skills is a significant part of the course as well. The finalobjective of this course is to enable students to properly design, conduct an engineeringexperiment, report

Conference Session

Electrical and Computer Engineering Laboratories

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Seunghyun Chun, University of Texas, Austin, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Bruce McCann, University of Texas, Austin; Ariane L. Beck, University of Texas, Austin; Eric Dean, National Instruments; Alexis Kwasinski, University of Texas at Austin

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Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

circuit schematic and accurately measure currents and voltages from this circuit.NI myDAQ: Mobile Personal Instrumentation Device NI myDAQ is a low-cost portable data acquisition (DAQ) device that uses NI LabVIEW-based software instruments, allowing students to measure and analyze real-world signals(Fig. 1).NI myDAQ is ideal for exploring electronics and taking sensor measurements. Combined withNI LabVIEW on the PC, students can analyze and process acquired signals and control simpleprocesses anytime, anywhere. Page 22.852.3 Figure 1:NI myDAQ being used to probe the output of a Solar Cell With an affordable, student

Conference Session

Pedagogical Innovations in Laboratory Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Alyn Marie Turner, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Sandra Shaw Courter, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Shirley Dyke, Purdue University

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Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

impact on student learning, of an innovative virtuallaboratory experience employed in 12 undergraduate civil engineering courses at 5 universitiesacross the United States over a period of 4 years (2007-2010). This laboratory experience isdesigned to integrate the fundamental concepts of hazard mitigation into undergraduate civilengineering education by providing students with remote access to bench scale shake table labstations.1-3 The goal of the evaluation estimate the impact of virtual experiments on studentlearning, including understanding of course content and development of civil engineering skills,and to describe associations between student characteristics and patterns in student learning. Weare particularly concerned with this second

Conference Session

Innovative Teaching Methods and Learning Models

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ross B Kaplan, Wentworth Institute of Technology; Timothy M Johnson P.E., Wentworth Institute of Technology; Ralf Oliver Schneider, Wentworth Institute of Technology ; Shankar Muthu Krishnan, Wentworth Institute of Technology

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Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

heat radiated from theperson by reading the frequency of the heat. This is considered a fast method as readings areavailable in microseconds.1 Additional information about the science of temperaturemeasurement is given in the Appendix.Overview of proposed fever screening systemA medical-grade infrared sensor is connected to a low-cost microcontroller to detect temperaturereadings. The microcontroller is capable of wireless communications. A wireless networkconnects all the sensors (via their wireless microcontroller) into a star network where one masternode maintains a connection table that is transparent to the users. One node is used for thedisplay of temperature readings via a wireless, programmable watch display which would beworn by the

Conference Session

ELOS Poster Session

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Brennan T. Ashton, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Paul Malmsten, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Gautam Vallabha, MathWorks; Sergey N. Makarov, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

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Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

also stimulate further long-term interest in ECE andRobotics. On the other hand, the systematic study of digital fundamentals in the intro class maynot be possible as it would require a significant extension of an already tight syllabus. Whatcould be done to resolve this dilemma?This paper reports on our pedagogic method of introducing the microprocessor material on oneparticular class laboratory in an engaging yet technically correct way that is particularlyappealing to non-major students. The laboratory syllabus includes the following steps: 1. The base circuit is a single power MOSFET connected in series with a small DC motor and a protection diode. 2. A PIC microcontroller is the source of control signals for the power MOSFET

Conference Session

Mechanical and Architectural Engineering Laboratories

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

A. Simionescu, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi; Mehrube Mehrubeoglu, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi; Korinne Caruso, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi; Gregory R. Reuter, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi

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Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

Materials and Manufacturing. Even if produced elsewhere, the cost,quality and speed to market are not guaranteed unless products are designed for bothfunctionality and manufacturability by engineers trained to work in a team environment1,2.This paper describes one of the laboratory experiments developed for the ManufacturingProcesses class in the Mechanical Engineering Program at Texas A&M University-CorpusChristi. This four-credit-hour junior-level course is offered along with the following fourlaboratory experiments:1) Aluminum casting of multiple parts shaped as tensile testing specimens: Students evaluate thequality of these parts through visual inspection and destructive testing. This is the most involvedexperiment of all four and the main

Conference Session

Pedagogical Innovations in Laboratory Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Brian P. Sangeorzan, Oakland University; Matthew Nathaniel Bruer, Oakland University; Laila Guessous, Oakland University; Xia Wang, Oakland University

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Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

energy in a gallon of gasoline (Table 1), and Page 22.92.3asked to estimate the maximum fuel flow rate required, and the period or frequency of injectionsat rated speed. These calculations would be done prior to conducting the lab experiments. Table 1. Approximate Properties of Gasoline1 Density 760 kg/m3 Lower Heating Value (LHV) 44.0 MJ/kgAs an example of some fuel flow estimates and timing requirements, consider the followingexample of a 3.5 L, V6 engine found in a 2011 sport utility vehicle. This particular engine israted at 290 hp, at 6500

Conference Session

Mechanical and Architectural Engineering Laboratories

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Richard Chiou, Drexel University; Robin Kizirian, Drexel University; Brittany Killen, Drexel University

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Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

drivers, opening a worksheet andrecording the collected data in it. In order to effectively demonstrate this program, many testsusing different variable types had been run to show the accuracy and repeatability of the robotthrough offsets6-13. This test is very useful for calibrating the robot on an Internet basis and beingable to record data in real-time without having to be in the same location as the robot or theMP2000 Readout Controller. Furthermore, it helps with the improvement of Internet-basedcontrols with the Yamaha Robot (Figure 1). This project enhances the students’ programmingcapabilities and understanding of the accuracy parameters in the Robotics and Mechatronicsfields. The students learned the basic steps of connection-oriented

Conference Session

ELOS Best Paper Nominations

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Bijan Sepahpour, College of New Jersey

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Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

Castor Level Adjustment ScrewFigure 1. Setup for the “Torsion Experiment” Using “Optical Measurement System” aτ = T.r / J (1) 2φ 1 2φ = Tan― ( b/ a)φ = T.L / G.J (2) c b Where: τ = Shear Stress, T= Torque, J = Polar Moment of Inertia, r = radius of the round bar, φ

Conference Session

Mechanical and Architectural Engineering Laboratories

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Robert McMasters, Virginia Military Institute; Ryan Taylor, Virginia Military Institute

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Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

1involving the model rocketry work is the “project” segment of the course, encompassing the finalfive weeks of the semester. By this time, the students have had previous exposure to all of themeasurement tools needed to perform the model rocketry experiment and, at this point, are askedto design their own experiments to accomplish the goal of predicting the maximum height of arocket.Previous work in this area has been done by Boyer et al. [1] which dealt primarily with anintroduction to aerospace engineering, using model rocketry as part of this introductory course,including the concept of impulse. Suchora and Pierson [2] use model rocketry as part of afreshman introductory course, primarily in order to generate interest among first-yearengineering

Conference Session

Pedagogical Innovations in Laboratory Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Murthy Kasi, North Dakota State University; Yaping Chi, North Dakota State University; G. Padmanabhan, North Dakota State University

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Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

Lines LinesFigure 1. An example of a flownet(a)(b) Dam Cutoff Stream wall lines Equipotential linesFigure 2. Flow nets showing stream lines and potential lines for (a) a discharging well in anaquifer bounded by a stream parallel to an impermeable barrier (plan view) (slightly modified1), Page 22.1392.3and (b) groundwater flow beneath a dam with a cutoff wall (sectional view).Laboratory courseThe flownet experiment was

Conference Session

Electrical and Computer Engineering Laboratories

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Chiu Choi, University of North Florida

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Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

number of references[1] through [11].  The reference designs described in this paper include an accelerometer, a digital compass, aninfrared distance sensor, an ultrasonic distance sensor, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor,and a Hall Effect sensor. Provided in each reference design are the description of the sensor,hardware interfacing techniques, circuit and wiring diagrams, code snippets in C language, andordering information.A website was developed for hosting the reference designs for students to download. Theinformation for the reference designs in the website is presented in a way that the students needto do extra work in order to use them in their projects. This prevents the students from copyingthem straight into their projects

Conference Session

ELOS Best Paper Nominations

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Li Tan, Purdue University, North Central; Jean Jiang, Purdue University North Central

Tagged Divisions

Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

in many DSPapplications. For example, a low sampling rate (100 Hz) is fast enough to process temperaturesignal, light intensity, air pressure, mechanical strain, or seismic signal. Meanwhile, a lowanalog-to-digital (ADC) resolution (8-bit data) in these applications may be sufficient. Hence, anadoption of a low-cost microcontroller instead of a digital signal processor with full capability isa cost effective choice. Considering these facts, using a microcontroller for a DSP course in thejunior year could offer the following benefits to ECET students: (1) a microcontroller can be analternative and cost effective solution when a DSP processor such as TMS320C67xx is notavailable; (2) students can save a significant amount of time for learning

Conference Session

Electrical and Computer Engineering Laboratories

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

William Graff, LeTourneau University; Paul R. Leiffer, LeTourneau University; Matthew G. Green, LeTourneau University; Joel Koblich, LeTourneau University

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Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

they get as areward, and are motivated instead in proportion to the large amount of learning they accomplish.Camaraderie is generated, and the night before the public presentation a large number of studentsspend all night in the lab adding last-minute details, drinking energy beverages, and eating pizza.The comment “if Professor Graff doesn’t teach Lab 3 [with Rube Goldberg] anymore, there’s noreason to come to [this] University” has been overheard on campus.The open-ended Rube Goldberg design project has six very intentional learning goals. Thesegoals include providing students with hands-on experience with: (1) teamwork, (2) publicpresentation, (3) creativity & innovation, (4) systems thinking, (5) energy transfer andconversions, (6

Conference Session

Pedagogical Innovations in Laboratory Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Roger A. Beardsley, Central Washington University; Charles O. Pringle, Central Washington University

Tagged Divisions

Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

activities. Two of the lab activities analyze automotive transmissions. The twotransmission labs utilize a three-speed manual shift transmission and a planetary transmission.The three-speed transmission illustrates the operation of manual shift transmissions (withsynchros, sliding gears and collars, and dry plate clutch) while the planetary transmissionillustrates a simplified version of the operation of automatic transmissions (shifting using brakebands and a wet plate clutch). By "reverse engineering" these transmissions, many gear designconcepts make better intuitive sense to students.Gear design jargon can be complex. Over 80 terms are used to define gear geometry 1. Inanalyzing the transmissions in our lab, a number of the terms take on deeper

Conference Session

Pedagogical Innovations in Laboratory Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Richard Chiou, Drexel University; Yongjin (James) Kwon, Ajou University; Robin Kizirian, Drexel University; Matthew Dordai; Bret Alan Davis, Drexel University

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Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

the PLC ladder logic in a virtualenvironment before it is run on a physical PLC. PLCStudio’s design process can be broken downinto three main steps; the component model, logical I/O model and cell model. These three stepsare performed in hierarchical phases to produce the final virtual model. Page 22.1073.3 Figure 1: Component ModelComponent 3D ModelThe first step in building a virtual cell is to design 3D solids to be used in a component model.The 3D solids can either be generated with PLCStudio’s CAD tools or imported from other CADapplications such as AutoCAD or SolidWorks. For devices with movable parts

Conference Session

ELOS Best Paper Nominations

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Loren Limberis, East Carolina University; Jason Yao, East Carolina University

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Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

program outcomes is based on: 1) How well the studentscommunicate specific design aspects in the formal report; 2) How well they communicate theirlinearization methods using MATLAB; 3) A survey on how well the students believe they aremeeting the course objectives associated with the laboratory project; and, 4) the successfulcompletion of embedded questions in quizzes the final exam associated with the design project.IntroductionThe general engineering program at East Carolina University was started in 2004 to help supportthe need of broadly-skilled, general engineers for the regional industries and business located Page 22.1420.2among the small

Conference Session

ELOS Best Paper Nominations

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John Ridgely, California Polytechnic State University; Brian P. Self, California Polytechnic State University

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Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

tooptimize financial results for the institution rather than learning outcomes for the students.Model Eliciting Activities, or MEA's, provide a framework which assists the design of projectswhich ensure that students meet learning outcomes associated with professional competence aswell as problem-solving and communication skills3. Projects designed as MEA's share many ofthe same characteristics as other Problem- and Project-Based Learning activities, such as theassignment of open-ended problems which are (or closely resemble) tasks performed inprofessional practice. However, MEA's are built upon six guiding principles that differentiatethem from PBL. The guiding principles of MEA's are as follows: 1) The Reality Principle: The task provided to

Conference Session

Innovative Teaching Methods and Learning Models

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Douglas Sugg, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona Division; John V Fishell, Science and Technology Education Partnership (STEP) ; Arman Hovakemian, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona Division

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Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

for Engineering Education, 2011 Navy Metrology Engineering Center STEM Outreach through the STEP Program: Challenges, Lessons Learned and Application to DoD StrategyBackground:The United States and especially the Department of Defense (DoD) has historically reliedheavily upon scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians to innovate, design, produceand maintain a technically superior capability to defend and advance the interests of the UnitedStates, both at home and globally. The United States maintained a leading edge technologicadvantage through and beyond World War II until it was stunned by the Soviet Union‟s launchof Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957. Sputnik 1 was the first artificial

Conference Session

ELOS Best Paper Nominations

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Debra J. Mascaro, University of Utah; Stacy Bamberg, University of Utah; R. Roemer, University of Utah

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Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

-basedrobotic/mechatronic design projects. We expect that the integrated laboratory experiences in ourfirst-year mechanical engineering classes will improve the students’ understanding and retentionof fundamental engineering principles through the coupling of hands-on laboratory learning withdesign-based learning. We will assess this outcome by comparing final exam scores acrosssemesters (i.e., before and after the curricular changes). We also anticipate increased studentretention, which will be assessed by tracking which students eventually register for theMechatronics course in the junior year of the program.1. IntroductionOur overall curriculum has a very strong “hands-on” component at all levels with semester-longdesign projects in both semesters

Conference Session

Electrical and Computer Engineering Laboratories

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mustafa G. Guvench, University of Southern Maine; Derek Richardson, Fairchild Semiconductor

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Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

rotary vane vacuum pump capable of reaching milliTorr ultimate vacuum.The system built is portable on wheels, and employs two Rotameter flow meters with fine needlevalves to control gas pressure and composition fed into the process chamber. Pressure ismonitored with a digital thermocouple vacuum gauge. Uniform plasma is obtained at operatingpressures of 100-1000 milliTorr range.Currently the microwave plasma system built is being used to plasma treat the gold bonding padsof package and MEMS chips to facilitate organics free surfaces and improve the quality in wirebonding. However, such a system can easily be adapted to serve as plasma assisted dry etcher.1. IntroductionThe project reported here comprises the design and development of a microwave

Conference Session

ELOS Poster Session

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Curtis Brackett, Bradley University; David Zietlow, Bradley University

Tagged Divisions

Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

model using the system curve developedexperimentally. This design project incorporates many goals that an educator wants to accomplish in alab-based class. Involving engineering economics in this project is a great way to bring the realworld into the class room. The optimal design of a pump and piping system lab is a great way toincorporate numerous classes into one piece of work.Pump and Pipe Apparatus For this project it is necessary to build a system that is capable of allowing students tochoose from a variety of pump and piping sizes and allow the students to demonstrate their finaldesign for the commissioning. A system schematic is contained in Figure 1. T F

Conference Session

Mechanical and Architectural Engineering Laboratories

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Hamadou Saliah-Hassane, University of Quebec, Montreal; Maarouf Saad, Ecole de Technologie Superieure; Willie K. Ofosu, Pennsylvania State University, Wilkes-Barre; Karimou Djibo, LICEF Research Center; Hassane Alzouma Mayaki, UCAD and LICEF Research Center, Montreal, Canada.; Mamane Moustapha Dodo Amadou ing., École de technologie supérieure

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Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

, has become a major issue for education and research institutions.It is therefore necessary to manage all the constraints to delocalized learners. In thiscontext, distance education is an asset that has already proven itself. Consideringengineering education, the constraints are even greater. Learning resources are no longerlimited to electronic files or electronic multimedia documents. In many laboratories,students carry out practical work with very expensive equipment. For over a decade, wehave proposed and demonstrated the validity of remote laboratories in ElectricalEngineering [1], an approach that has since made its way into numerous educationalinstitutions and research centers.The goal was to create a positive learning environment that

Conference Session

Innovative Teaching Methods and Learning Models

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jean-Claude Thomassian, State University of New York, Maritime College; Risa Kumazawa, Duquesne University

Tagged Divisions

Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

the outcome of a survey and the feedback concluded by students thatsupported their outlook toward a media-based tutorial used in the instruction of Electronics andNetwork Analysis. The paper also presents an educational effort to improve student retention byengaging them in their studies. The assessment of this paper is in agreement with othercomparable studies done on media- based instruction and student engagement. For example,Chen et al.1 found that enhancing student engagement is an important step to increase studentretention, accomplishment and outcomes. Cohen et al.2 also found that students learned morefrom media based instruction compared to traditional modes of instruction. Likewise, Powell etal.3 explored this topic further and

Conference Session

ELOS Best Paper Nominations

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Gene Liao, Wayne State University; D. Fu, Wayne State University

Tagged Divisions

Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

-electric and series-hybrid electric. The developed bench unit is capable ofdemonstrating, illustrating and displaying the multiple energy flows in the electric-drive vehiclebased on its configuration and driving conditions. The integrated unit serves as a hands-onexperience workstation for multidiscipline students enrolled in the electric-drive vehicletechnology courses. The hands-on experience not only enhances the vehicle electrificationtraining and education, but also inspires students’ interest in the green movement oftransportation.1. IntroductionWorld competition and stringent United States fuel economy goals and emission regulations forthe 21st Century vehicle have pressured the automotive industry to design and evaluate advancedautomobiles

Conference Session

Electrical and Computer Engineering Laboratories

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Charles Lu, University of Kentucky

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Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

AC 2011-37: ENHANCING THE STUDENTS’ ABILITIES IN EXPERI-MENTAL DESIGNS THROUGH DESIGN-EXPERTY Charles Lu, University of Kentucky Y. Charles Lu is an Assistant Professor at Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Kentucky, Paducah. His research interests include: (1) micromechanics and nanomechanics, (2) poly- mers, elastomers, composites, and advanced materials, (3) finite element analysis and mechanical design. Dr. Lu received the 2010 SAE International Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award for his contributions to mobility-related research, teaching and student development. He was also the recipient of the Outstanding Mechanical Engineering Faculty Award (2009), Paducah Outstanding Faculty Award

Conference Session

Pedagogical Innovations in Laboratory Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mysore Narayanan, Miami University

Tagged Divisions

Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

: Characteristic # 1: Emphasizes Content and Delivery of Instruction Characteristic # 5: Develops appropriate learning experiences Page 22.250.5 Two other characteristics have recorded an unacceptable mode value of 2 indicating thatthere is plenty of effort is needed. One should take a closer look as to why these two show suchpoor values. Consulting with other colleagues may be of help in this case. These twocharacteristics are: Characteristic # 3: Integrates across disciplines Characteristic # 6: Incorporates Diverse Strategies In conclusion, the data provides the instructor with ideas that may necessitate changes

Conference Session

Mechanical and Architectural Engineering Laboratories

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Nancy K Lape, Harvey Mudd College; David L Harris, Harvey Mudd College; Matthew Joseph Keeter, Harvey Mudd College; Madeleine S Ong, Harvey Mudd College; Zachary Dodds, Harvey Mudd College

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Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

. Page 22.271.3Course OrganizationThe E11 syllabus is shown in Table 1. E11, like most other HMC courses, is offered for 3 unitsof credit. Students attend two 50-minute weekly lectures in a large group and a 3-hour labsession in a group of 10. Most work takes place during the lab sessions, but students completeseven relatively short problem sets on their own time and work outside of class to optimize theirrobot for the final competition. First-semester freshmen receive pass/fail grading. Table 1: E11 SyllabusWeek Mon Wed Lab Problem Set0: 8/30 Big Picture, Energy Shop safety briefing1: 9/6 Arduino

Conference Session

Innovative Teaching Methods and Learning Models

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Rupa Purasinghe, California State University, Los Angeles; Peter Dusicka, Portland State University; Jeffrey W Berman, University of Washington; Edgar Bautista, California State University, Los Angeles; Michael Noddings, Portland State University; Linda My Hanh Nguyen; San Yu Aung, California State University of Los Angeles; Lang Anh Dam

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Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

modeling and componenttesting.Students learning initiatives in earthquake engineering have been pursued by many academicssuch as Einde[1]. Parallel to these, research is continually working on advancing the state ofearthquake engineering knowledge and applications through cutting edge research. One suchinitiative is the research in Linked Column Frame (LCF) system [2, 3] as an alternative to thetraditional moment frame system for lateral resisting frames for earthquake loads. Currently,there is a tremendous demand for bringing civil engineering research results to undergraduateclassrooms. This paper addresses the initiative associated with the LCF research project. TheNSF/NEES funded research project focuses on the development of a new structural

Conference Session

Electrical and Computer Engineering Laboratories

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mohammad N. Amin, National University; Ronald P. Uhlig, National University; Pradip Peter Dey, National University; Bhaskar Raj Sinha, National University

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Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

apart is thefact that the very low cost of the system and its ease of implementation make it feasible for short-term deployment by local governments, despite very severe budget constraints. The Working System DiagramThe system consists of fire sensing units, a command and control unit, and mobile units. The firesensing units communicate with the control unit using Radio Frequency (RF), and the controlunit communicates with the mobile units using GSM. Figure-1 shows a high level diagram ofthis wildfire detection system5. Figure-1: Wildfire Detecting System3The overall operational method of the wildfire detection and monitoring system is as follows: Temperature sensor detects temperature fluctuations