Conference Session

Instrumentation Technical Session I

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Rafic Bachnak, Texas A&M International University; Sofía Carolina Maldonado, Texas A&M International University; Fernando Garcia Gonzalez, Texas A&M International University

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

Department of the University of Central Florida. Before joining Texas A&M International University he was a Researcher at Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Page 23.528.1 c American Society for Engineering Education, 2013 Enhancements to a Propulsion DemonstratorAbstractThis paper presents enhancements to a propulsion demonstrator that illustrates how a rocketworks. The operation of the original system is manual and collection and display of useful datais not possible. The updated system consists of the following major components: (1) a computer

Conference Session

Instrumentation Technical Session

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Andrew Hoff, University of South Florida; Richard Gilbert, University of South Florida

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

, and generate data or response signals. Compared to the earlier labs using the LabTutorinterface, the training wheels were completely off in the LabChart instrumentation case and thestudents very much enjoyed the challenge posed to develop their own content.The following is an excerpt from the EMG laboratory3: Learning Objectives-By the end oftoday's laboratory you will be able to; 1) Record EMG during voluntary muscle contractions, andinvestigate how contractile force changes with increasing demand. 2) Examine the activity ofantagonist muscles and the phenomenon of coactivation. 3) Record EMG responses evoked bystimulating the median nerve at the wrist. And 4) measure nerve conduction velocity from thedifference in latencies between responses

Conference Session

Instrumentation Technical Session III

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Wesley B. Williams P.E., University of North Carolina, Charlotte

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

students at the University of NorthCarolina at Charlotte. The versatility and capability of many industrial PLCs though comes at theexpense of accessibility, with a programming environment that can be intimidating for studentswith limited programming experience (Figure 1) or students accustomed to languages like C++and Python1. To overcome this intimidation with students from mechanical engineering orfacilities management backgrounds, students were led through a common task using a selectionof software and hardware that was believed to be more accessible, to build their skills andconfidence prior to programming with RSLogix 5000. Page 23.846.3Figure

Conference Session

Instrumentation Technical Session I

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Alireza Rahrooh, Daytona State College; Walter W. Buchanan P.E., Texas A&M University; Remzi Seker, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

Jacobianmatrices using a recursive identification technique3. In what follows, the Jacobianestimation is discussed. Page 23.870.2Estimation of Jacobians Let us represent a nonlinear system by the following vector-matrix state equations: ̇ = f[x(t), u(t), t], and y(t) = g[x(t), u(t), t] (1)Where x(t) represents the 1 state vector, u(t) is the 1 input vector, f[x(t), u(t), t]denotes an 1 function and the output, y(t), is 1 vector. In general f is a function ofstate vector and the input vector. It should be clear that no single linear model canaccurately represent the system because of its wide operating

Conference Session

Instrumentation Technical Session

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Xiaojing Yuan, University of Houston (CoT); Xiaohui Yuan, University of North Texas; David Adam Harden; Yang Lu

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

Fellowship in 2011 and 2012. He is a member of IEEE and SPIE.Mr. David Adam HardenMr. Yang Lu Page 23.353.1 c American Society for Engineering Education, 2013 Cross-Domain Integration of home automation, entertainment, and e-Health using Wireless Sensor and Actuator Network Xiaojing Yuan1, Ardavan Moinzadeh1, Yang Lu1, David Harden1, Xiaohui Yuan2 1. University of Houston 2. University of North TexasAbstractRecent advances in wireless sensor and actuator network (WSAN) and other emerging technologies arepromoting a paradigm shift in the way that

Conference Session

Instrumentation Technical Session III

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Herbert L. Hess, University of Idaho, Moscow

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

renewableenergy course at the United States Air Force Academy.Four Solar PanelsWith four different small photovoltaic panels, a lab section of eight electrical engineeringstudents can investigate a remarkable wealth of introductory topics. The panels for thisinvestigation are composed of the following closely related types: monocrystalline cells,polycrystalline cells, and two different thin film cells, one on a rigid, foldable backing and oneon a flexible backing. These are easy to find on-line, including their prices, in small quantities.For example, all four types in a low wattage size, are available on amazon.com for less than afew hundred dollars total. 1The first panel is composed of monocrystalline cells. An example cell is shown in Figure 1.The

Conference Session

Instrumentation Technical Session

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mohammad Rafiq Muqri, DeVry University, Pomona; Robert Alfaro

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

.” Theoretically, the ZigBee-enabled refrigerator, washingmachine, coffee maker, toaster, toys and other kitchen/home appliances can freely communicatewith each other. ZigBee applications include but are not limited to home and office automation,industrial automation, medical monitoring, HVAC control, security, and seismologic monitoring.ZigBee targets the application domain of low power, low duty cycle and low data rate requirementdevices. Figure 1 shown below is a block diagram of a ZigBee network with five nodes. Figure 1 ZigBee Based Sensor NetworkTypically a wireless communication system comprises of transmitters, receivers, antennas, and thepath between the transmitter and the receiver. In summary, the transmitter feeds a

Conference Session

Instrumentation Technical Session II

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mohammad Rafiq Muqri, DeVry University, Pomona; Furqan Muqri, UT Southwestern Medical School; Shih Ek Chng, DeVry University

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

theimportant biological information is contained in the small fluctuating voltages associated withsynaptic events rather than absolute potential distance from ground. To allow sufficientamplification to see these fluctuating potentials without magnifying the absolute potentials onwhich they ride, the logical choice is to use a low-frequency filter to eliminate the direct currentpotentials. With low frequency filters, one can select Low Frequency Filter (LFF) cutofffrequencies of 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, or 10 Hz, corresponding to time constants of 1.6, 5.3, 0.16, 0.05, or0.016 second. Even with modern digital equipment, the same LFF values work well withstandard scalp EEG frequencies. The most common setting is 1 Hz (τ = 0.16 s), which nicelypreserves most low

Conference Session

Instrumentation Technical Session I

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kenneth E. Dudeck, Pennsylvania State University, Hazleton Campus; Wieslaw Grebski, Pennsylvania State University, Hazleton Campus

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

conservation as well asdevelopment of renewable energy resources must be vigorously pursued in order to find asolution to this dilemma. The entire public must be vested towards making a transition from afossil fuel based society to one that utilizes a far greater amount of renewable energy resources.According to Elder (2009) “Higher education has a critical role to play in this transition, much asit did during the space race of the 1960s. Our colleges can - and must - help students understandthe complex connections and interdependencies among our environment, energy sources, andeconomy - all of which underpin the green movement.”[1]The present situation is very similar to the 1960’s when the entire country was unified towardsplacing a man on the moon

Conference Session

Instrumentation Technical Session II

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John Marshall, University of Southern Maine

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

the individualcomponents and fabricate the PLC modules themselves.This manuscript discusses the need for including PLCs into the curriculum, and how thePLC modus modules discussed here are used in a course entitled Applied Process ControlEngineering which can briefly be described as a study of the fundamental concepts,devices, and applications of electronic components and controllers utilized on industrialequipment. Laboratory sessions focus on instrumentation, programming, downloading,and wiring discrete input / output devices.Specific Course Competencies of the course include the ability to: 1. Identify major applications of programmable logic controllers in industry, transportation, construction, and environmental

Conference Session

Instrumentation Technical Session III

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Asad Yousuf, Savannah State University; Alex Wong, Digilent Inc.; Derek W. Edens

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

. Page 23.1033.1 c American Society for Engineering Education, 2013 Remote Circuit Design Labs with Analog DiscoveryAbstractThe limited resources in the traditional labs have restricted the effective and innovative circuitdesign projects from freshmen Circuits 1 class to Capstone ideas. The limited number ofmeasuring and signal-generating instruments makes it difficult for students to engage in theseprojects when they need to share these instruments or schedule to use them at a specific time.Furthermore, it is a challenge for students to learn how to use various instruments includingpower supplies, multi-meters, oscilloscopes, and function-generators if not used in conjunctionwith each other. Likewise

Conference Session

Instrumentation Technical Session I

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Akram Hossain, Purdue University, Calumet (Tech); Mohammad A. Zahraee, Purdue University, Calumet (Tech)

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

University Calumet has 150 students, the second largest enrollment for such degree. Page 23.1034.1 c American Society for Engineering Education, 2013 Page 1 of 13 REMOTE DEMONSTRATION OF PACKAGING MACHINERY & MECHATRONICS SYSTEMS VIA PUBLIC NETWORKABSTRACTThe ability of remotely operating and visually demonstrating a packaging machine is quiteattractive to an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer). Currently, the customer needs to cometo the OEM

Conference Session

Instrumentation Technical Session

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Thiruparan Balachandran, Middle Tennessee State University; Saleh M. Sbenaty, Middle Tennessee State University; Jeffrey Walck, Middle Tennessee State University

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

translate physical parameters into electrical signals [1]. Inearly days, these sensors were normally coupled with complex digital systems or with computersin order to monitor and control the physical parameters of interest. Those systems were complex,expensive, and large in size. Advancement in technology grew rapidly with the introduction ofmicrocontrollers. The fast developments of these devices have made it possible to replacecomplex electronic systems with simple and cost effective platforms to interface sensors andprovide the necessary measurements. A microcontroller is a device that may have a CentralProcessing Unit, random access memory, read only memory, timers, counters, Analog to Digital(A/D) converters, Input/Output (I/O) ports and/or

Conference Session

Instrumentation Technical Session II

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Akram Hossain, Purdue University, Calumet (Tech); Tanima Zaman, Ivy Tech Community College, Northwest

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

23.1275.2Introduction:Robotics has become one of the essential segments of modern automation systems. Autonomousmobile robots are noticeably being used in various industrial and non-industrial applicationsnowadays. The purpose of this project was to study the National Instrument’s Robotic StarterKit 1.0 (DaNI) and to develop a graphical programming model in LabVIEW Robotics Module2011 for combining mobile robot path planning and collision avoidance concepts. The LabVIEWprogram enables the mobile robot to travel from a user defined starting point A to a destinationpoint B through avoiding undefined obstacle on its route. The LabVIEW program is based on the“Sense, Think and Act”1 concept where the robot senses for obstacles in its route by anultrasonic sensor, makes a

Conference Session

Instrumentation Technical Session II

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mingshao Zhang, Stevens Institute of Technology; ZHOU ZHANG, Stevens Institute of Technology (School of Engineering and Science); Sven K. Esche, Stevens Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

single-point tracking) to calculate the positions anddeformations of objects, which results in low drifting error. Taking advantage of these desirablecharacteristics, Kinect is believed to have the potential for becoming an economical and versatiletool for adoption in a wide variety of educational laboratories.1. IntroductionA data acquisition system is usually defined as an electronic instrument or group of interconnectedelectronic hardware apparatus used for the measurement and quantization of analog signals fordigital analysis or processing of certain physical phenomena [1]. Compared to traditional hands-ononly laboratories, experiments equipped with a DAQ system can hold considerable value for thestudents’ learning outcomes. The students

Conference Session

Instrumentation Technical Session III

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Hugh Jack, Grand Valley State University

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

set xinfreq = 5_000_000 ‘ the clock to 80MHz VAR long SqStack[6] ‘ Stack space for Pulse cog Page 23.1343.4 long X ‘ timer flag PUB Main ‘ A program to set output 16 with a counter X X := 0 ‘ Initialize X dira[16] := 1 ‘ Pin 16 is set as an output cognew(Pulse(), @SqStack) 'Launch Pulse cog repeat ‘ and endless loop if X == 1 ‘ Switch the output pin to match X outa[16] := 1 ‘ Turn on pin 16 else outa[16] := 0 ‘ Turn

Conference Session

Instrumentation Technical Session I

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Asad Yousuf, Savannah State University; Jarvis Brewer T, Savannah State University; Mohamad A. Mustafa, Savannah State University; Alberto G De La Cruz, Savannah State University; Faraz Muhammad Yousuf, 3D Imaging Developer

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

several waysthrough high school Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses, byproviding career counseling, and through the guidance of parents 1. It is important to reach out tohigh school students to inform them about engineering concepts and how they connect to themath and science they are learning in high school. Career talks that guide high school studentsthrough the career path of an engineer, including the skills, education, and motivations involvedare another facet of the outreach process. In addition, it is vital to provide a Project BasedLearning in Electrical Engineering Technology/Electrical Engineering that builds on high schoolmath and science and provides students with a strong view of the nature of engineering2