Conference Session

Design Cognition II

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Don L. Dekker, University of South Florida; Rajiv Dubey, University of South Florida; Stephen Sundarrao, University of South Florida

Tagged Divisions

Design in Engineering Education

any of them? What time of year do you want the flowers to bloom? How much tenderloving care are you planning to spend? How hardy does the variety have to be? Do you wantannual plants or perennials?If you choose vegetables, what kinds do you like to eat? How much tender, loving care are youplanning to spend? Do you want to use herbicides and pesticides, or do you want to gardenorganically?Although the list of questions is long, people do get through it and plant gardens. The following is alist of things that are necessary for the successful production of vegetables or flowers: (1) fertileground, (2) sunshine, (3) tools, (4) weed control, and (5) water and fertilizer. Many people plantand grow successful gardens every year.As with gardening

Conference Session

Entrepreneurship Teaming and Collaboration

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Andrew L Gerhart, Lawrence Technological University; Donald D. Carpenter, Lawrence Technological University

Tagged Divisions

Entrepreneurship & Engineering Innovation

delivery techniques, and theformat.1. IntroductionLawrence Technological University (LTU) has offered engineering students entrepreneurialeducation programs for many years. Recognizing that graduates entering industry will requirebusiness and entrepreneurial skills, the College of Engineering developed an entrepreneurial Page 25.364.2certificate program and founded the Lear Entrepreneurial Center. The entrepreneurial certificateprogram develops student skills in communication and business components in the engineeringprofession and includes a multi-disciplinary capstone design experience for which teams areeligible for student venture grants

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching and Research in Physics or Engineering Physics I

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michael De Antonio, New Mexico State University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

review cycle and forward.1 The definition previously stated that ProgramEducational Objectives are broad statements that describe the career and professionalaccomplishments that the program is preparing the graduate to achieve. This definition is nowchanged to Program Educational Objectives are broad statements that describe what graduatesare expected to attain within a few years of graduation.2 In light of these changes, ABETsuggests that programs reassess their Program Educational Objectives to fit the new criteriondefinition.BackgroundWorkshops and papers have addressed the previous definition of Educational Objectives. Locke3in his ABET workshop at the 2010 ASEE Midwest Section Conference states that some of themost common pitfalls when

Conference Session

Leadership, Design, and Entrepreneurship

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Noel E. Bormann P.E., Gonzaga University; Mara London, Gonzaga University; Spencer Joseph Fry; Andrew Douglas Matsumoto, Gonzaga University; Melanie Ruth Walter

Tagged Divisions

Entrepreneurship & Engineering Innovation

understanding of the conditions in Kenya.1 IntroductionA classic definition of entrepreneurship is given by Stevenson, of the Harvard Business School,in 1983: “Entrepreneurship is the pursuit of opportunity without regard to resources currently controlled”.1How can we move those students interested in socially oriented responsibilities toward social Page 25.366.2entrepreneurship?It is now well understood that in order to ensure the sustainability and success of technology-based projects, acquisition and use of entrepreneurial skills for all stakeholders will be required.Currently, there are many well-organized efforts working to develop

Conference Session

Innovatiive Methods to Teach Engineering to URMs

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Armando A. Rodriguez, Arizona State University; Mary R. Anderson-Rowland, Arizona State University

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

%, but the number ofengineers that US colleges and universities send into the workforce annually has stayed the sameat around 120,000. The increase requested is 8.33% in engineering degrees. “By contrast,roughly 1 million engineers a year graduate from universities in India and China. This educationdisparity threatens to slow our economic recovery, stunts our long-term competitiveness, andleaves technology firms in a skills crisis.”1It is well known that about 40% of students enrolled in science, technology, engineering andmathematics leave their major after the first year. Less than 50% of the students who start inthese majors actually complete their degree. Although this percentage is about the same as theattrition for non-technical majors

Conference Session

Research in Engineering Education I

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sandra Loree Dika, University of North Carolina, Charlotte; Jae Hoon Lim, University of North Carolina, Charlotte

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

in engineering such aswomen and ethnic minority students. The authors suggest that future research should includethe re-development of the social engagement concept to reflect distinguishing characteristics ofengineering fields.Introduction During the last two decades, the retention and academic success of engineering studentshas emerged as a major topic for discussion among policy makers and researchers in highereducation. However, the current record of engineering student retention and graduation doesnot suggest a positive outlook. Based on the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statisticsprojections 1, the demand for qualified engineering graduates will grow 11% between 2008 and2018, yet the number of engineering graduates remained

Conference Session

Electrical and Computer Poster Session

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

James Graham, University of Louisville; Karla Conn Welch, University of Louisville; Jeffrey Lloyd Hieb, University of Louisville; Shamus McNamara, University of Louisville

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

statisticallysignificant improvement in critical thinking skills in ECE students who have been through thissequence.1 IntroductionThe Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) now requires all accredited schoolsto design and implement a quality enhancement program. In 2007 the University of Louisvilleadopted as its quality enhancement program (QEP) the requirement that all schools within theUniversity, including the school of engineering, develop and implement an ongoing and schoolwide program to “improving the critical thinking skills of undergraduate students and to moreeffectively prepare them to contribute to society”1. This program has been named ideas to action(i2a). The lack of explicit critical thinking outcomes and content in course

Conference Session

Tricks of the Trade I

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Robert M. Brooks, Temple University; Jyothsna Kavuturu; Mehmet Cetin, Temple University

Tagged Divisions

New Engineering Educators

average values were reported as the basevalues for all the categories in both surveys of the control groups. Upon reading the reviewer’scomment the authors agree that the exact values should be reported and hence the exact valuesare given as shown in Tables 4 and 5.Paper is revised by including more results and explanation and less background information. Thefollowing are some examples. (1) Exact values are reported for all the 7 categories of the performance indices on the controlgroups as explained above.(2) 7 critical thinking issues were removed from the background information, and(3) Table 3 (consisting several examples of critical thinking questions connected to the activitiesshowing the various components of the critical thinking issues

Conference Session

Identity and Culture

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Tiago R. Forin, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Robin Adams, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Kristen Hatten, Purdue University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

Nadine Undergraduate ExHum/Soc Octavio Undergraduate ExHum/Soc Queenie Undergraduate ExMgt Sebastian Undergraduate ExE Uma Undergraduate ExHum/Soc Vladimir Graduate ExE Wallace Graduate ExSci Xavier Graduate ExE Page 25.371.8 Yancy Post-doc ExHum/Soc Zoltan Graduate ExSci Table 1. Study participants

Conference Session

Design in Engineering Education Poster Session

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jingshan Wu, Zhejiang University; Xiaodong Zou, Zhejiang University; Hanbing Kong, Zhejiang University

Tagged Divisions

Design in Engineering Education

25.372.5quality as well. After unified general education in the first year, those students will be given extra engineering training besides their major studies for the next three years. According to ACEE training plan (Table 1), students who obtain full 28 credits are qualified to get a certificate from ACEE. Table1. Training Plan of ACEE in Zhejiang University (Zou et al., 2010) Items Training Plan Objective Innovative Engineering Talent Request Sophomores in background of science and engineering category Minor class Length Three years Credit 28=17 compulsory credits + 7 elective credits + 4 practice credits

Conference Session

Instructional Innovations and Global Issues in Architectural Engineering Education

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Suining Ding, Indiana University-Purdue University, Fort Wayne

Tagged Divisions

Architectural

design guidelines for future architectural design. This paper describes this newcase study that has been added to the Culture and Design course. Page 25.373.2Review of Literature There are five design elements in classical Chinese garden design. They are water, plants,architecture, rocks and tracery windows (borrowed views). An overview of images of designelements of classical Chinese garden can be found in Figure 1 in Appendix. All Chinese gardenscontain architecture. In addition, gardens are enclosed by pavilions, verandahs, halls and walls.The spaces in the garden are formed by architecture. The main difference between Western

Conference Session

Four Pillars of Manufacturing Engineering

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Hugh Jack P.Eng., Grand Valley State University; Robert L. Mott, University of Dayton; Mark J. Stratton, Society of Manufacturing Engineers; Phil Waldrop, Georgia Southern University; Karen Wosczyna-Birch, CT College of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Manufacturing

Pillars of Manufacturing EngineeringThe recommendations related to the Four Pillars of Manufacturing Engineering are listed inTable 1. The Four Pillars of Manufacturing Engineering model in Figure 1 is already being usedby many in academia and industry for describing manufacturing curricula. The initial model wasformed using the details from the SME Certified Manufacturing Technologist (CMfT) andCertified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfE) Body of Knowledge. The Body of Knowledge topicsare aligned with the ABET Inc. program criteria for Manufacturing Engineering programs. Insimple terms the model is meant to be descriptive, defining the body of manufacturingknowledge coupled with the manufacturing program criteria to create a model useful

Conference Session

Engineering Education Ties and Engineering Programs in the Middle East and Latin America

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Lourdes Gazca, Universidad de las Américas, Puebla; Aurelio Lopez-Malo, Universidad de las Américas, Puebla; Enrique Palou, Universidad de las Américas, Puebla

Tagged Divisions

International

the ten engineering programs that make up UDLAP’s ES.This research had the following objectives: 1. Evaluate the importance of the ES learning outcomes in different community groups. 2. Assess the progress made by students in achieving the ES learning outcomes by analyzing the perceptions of students, faculty, graduating seniors, alumni, and employers about the progress of students and alumni. 3. Develop a learning outcomes curricular mapping, to exhibit the perception of teachers about how they promote ES learning outcomes in the various courses they teach.Theoretical backgroundLearning outcomes assessmentThe continuous improvement model followed in the ES and UDLAP is based on modelsdeveloped in

Conference Session

Thinking About the Engineering Curriculum

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Judith A. Sunderman, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; Raymond L. Price, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

instructional design. Studentsvolunteer to participate by enrolling in an experimental course or program. Departments reviewproposed experimental curriculum, support faculty participation, and allow students to exchangeenrollment in experimental sections with credit for a similar course in the official curriculum. Page 25.376.2 1 Because the concept of curriculum incubation is a relatively recent outgrowth ofeducational improvement initiatives, the model is still evolving. Little research exists onincubator effectiveness at producing

Conference Session

Trends in Mechanical Engineering: Trends and Tools

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Timothy A. Doughty, University of Portland; Steven O'Halloran, University of Portland

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

’ “Introduction toLabVIEW” Hands-On guide7, which provides a very general framework. The created tutorialassumes that the student has access to the equipment listed below:  Laptop computer running National Instruments LabVIEW 2009 Software  NI cDAQ-9172 (USB data acquisition chassis)  NI-9215 (analog voltage input module for DAQ)  Fluke thermocouple module with probe, model 80TK (Quantity: 2)The tutorial is broken down into five main sections which are listed below. Along the way areseveral exercises in which the students create LabVIEW programs to accomplish certain tasks.The exercises build on each other throughout the tutorial. 1. The LabVIEW Environment  Students test the data acquisition hardware, ensuring

Conference Session

Stops and Starts in the Development of Cooperative Education Programs

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ilka M. Balk, University of Kentucky

Tagged Divisions

Cooperative & Experiential Education

models of career services. Every major universityrecognized the need to provide its students with career counseling and an infrastructure to accesspositions suited toward a student’s major. The majority of career services on US campuses arein a centralized office: About 88 percent, in 2009-10 versus 12 percent using a decentralizedmodel.1) In a centralized office, all career counseling and most employer development is handledin that particular office, with more or less contact with the academic units on campus. Theamount of contact varies from one campus to another, and might even, as it was the case at theauthor’s institution, vary based on the staff member that was assigned a certain major or college.The degree to which the career services

Conference Session

Research in Assessment

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Luanna B. Prevost, Michigan State University; Kevin C. Haudek, Michigan State University; John E. Merrill, Michigan State University; Mark Urban-Lurain, Michigan State University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

about key concepts in STEM disciplines and informassessment practicesIntroductionOver the past twenty years, there has been increasing focus on the development of initiatives toimprove STEM education 1–3.The use of formative assessment can help instructors gain betterunderstanding of student learning in STEM disciplines 4–6. Authentic and effective assessmentprovides students with the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding and allows instructorsto give feedback on students learning. However, the prevalence of large-enrollment STEMcourses, particularly at the introductory level, has led to the use of multiple-choice assessments,which are cheaper and less time-consuming to implement and grade.Multiple-choice assessments may not elicit

Conference Session

Middle School Programs

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Courtney A. Peckens, University of Michigan; Jerome Peter Lynch, University of Michigan

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

learned inmiddle school or would learn in high school, with engineering topics to highlight the importance Page 25.380.3of continual study of these subjects.The first day in the program provides an introduction to surveying. In this course module, thestudents create a theodolite (see Fig. 1) from basic supplies (i.e. cardboard, string, protractor).Using trigonometry fundamentals, the students determine the height of a building by measuringthe angle from the horizon to the top of the building and their horizontal distance from thebuilding (see Fig. 2). Through this activity the students discover trigonometric relationships byvarying the distance

Conference Session

Engineering and Technological Literacy: Past and Future

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John Krupczak, Hope College; John W. Blake P.E., Austin Peay State University; Kate A. Disney, Mission College; Carl O. Hilgarth, Shawnee State University; Randy Libros, Community College of Philadelphia; Mani Mina, Iowa State University; Steven R. Walk, Old Dominion University

Tagged Divisions

Technological and Engineering Literacy/Philosophy of Engineering

Standards forTechnological Literacy: Content for the Study of Technology.7 The ITEEA standards projectwas a broadly based effort that included more than 150 reviewers from K-12 education, thesciences, and the engineering disciplines. An intent of this effort was to encourage educationalcurricula that would provide technological literacy to K-12 students.The ITEEA 2000 Standards are comprehensive in scope. They are divided into five maincategories that sub-divide into 20 specific standards. The five main categories used to definetechnological understanding include: 1. Understanding the Nature of Technology, 2. Understanding of Technology and Society, 3. Understanding of Design, 4. Abilities for a Technological World, and 5

Conference Session

Systems Engineering Curriculum and Programs

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Alice F. Squires, Stevens Institute of Technology; Timothy L.J. Ferris, University of South Australia; Joseph J. Ekstrom, Brigham Young University; Mary D. VanLeer, Perceptive-Systems; Garry Roedler, Lockheed Martin

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Management, Industrial Engineering, Systems Engineering

assessing developedcurriculum. This paper is focused on the process that has been used to date to develop theCorBoK recommendations presented in GRCSE.IntroductionThe Body of Knowledge and Curriculum to Advance Systems Engineering (BKCASE™) projectis developing two major products for the systems engineering community: a Guide to theSystems Engineering Body of Knowledge (SEBoK)2 [see sebokwiki.org] and a GraduateReference Curriculum for Systems Engineering (GRCSE™)1. GRCSE is being developed toassist in improving existing or developing new graduate programs in systems engineering. Thegoal of GRCSE is to provide a curriculum framework to institutions for developing andcommunicating their system engineering graduate program content, leading to a more

Conference Session

Engineering and Public Policy I

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

J. Mendoza-Garcia, Purdue University and Pontificia Universidad Javeriana; Ida B. Ngambeki, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Lamis J. Behbehani, Purdue University; Demetra Evangelou, Purdue University, West Lafayette; P. Suresh C. Rao, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Monica Farmer Cox, Purdue University, West Lafayette

Tagged Divisions

Engineering and Public Policy

manage complex systems. He has worked on translation of research findings to development of practical solutions, and to inform policy development.Dr. Monica Farmer Cox, Purdue University, West Lafayette Page 25.383.1 c American Society for Engineering Education, 2012 Defining the knowledge and skills that enable engineers to participate in public policyAbstractThe role of engineers in public policy can be seen as a twofold endeavor: (1) to help createpublic policy related to the utilization of technology to solve public problems as well as monitorand

Conference Session

Learning and Assessment III

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Craig W. Somerton, Michigan State University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

AC 2012-3489: DEMONSTRATING STUDENT OUTCOMES: EVIDENCEBY SAMPLINGDr. Craig W. Somerton, Michigan State University Page 25.384.1 c American Society for Engineering Education, 2012 Demonstrating Student Outcomes: Evidence by SamplingIntroductionCriterion 4 of the ABET Criteria For Accrediting Engineering Programs states, “The programmust regularly use appropriate, documented processes for assessing and evaluating the extent towhich both the program educational objectives and the student outcomes are being attained.” [1]A key aspect of this criterion is that the program must provide evidence demonstrating that thestudent

Conference Session

Before and After: Matriculants and Alumni

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Helen L. Chen, Stanford University; Michelle Marie Grau, Stanford University; Samantha Ruth Brunhaver, Stanford University; Shannon Katherine Gilmartin, SKG Analysis; Sheri Sheppard, Stanford University; Michelle Warner, Stanford University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

of Engineering Alumni ResearchSurvey (PEARS) which was piloted with geographically distributed engineering alumni fromfour institutions in fall 2011. Designed in summer 2011 as part of the broader NSF-fundedEngineering Pathways Study, PEARS builds upon the prior work of the Academic Pathways ofPeople Learning Engineering Survey (APPLES) that was deployed to over 4,500 undergraduateengineering students at 21 institutions (Chen et al., 2008; Donaldson et al., 2007; Donaldson etal., 2008).The anticipated findings from PEARS will: 1) inform the field’s understanding about how the Page 25.385.2college experience advances engineering students

Conference Session

Laboratory Experiences with Thermal and Chemical Systems and Sensors

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Alexander Joseph Plotkowski, Grand Valley State University; Lihong (Heidi) Jiao, Grand Valley State University; Nael Barakat, Grand Valley State University

Tagged Divisions

Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

the designof pressure sensors with different sets of diaphragm geometries. The design and analysisprocedures were documented and followed by students enrolled in the Nanosystems Engineeringcourse to design and analyze the sensor type of their choice.Keywords: MEMS laboratory, Nanotechnology education, Pressure Sensors2.0 Introduction The purpose of this study was to develop the procedure and streamline the steps for adesign project within an undergraduate course, focusing on an introduction to Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS), combined with nanotechnology. The decisions concerning thecontent of this course faced numerous challenges characteristic of an introductory MEMScourse, as outlined by McAfee et al. [1]. These challenges

Conference Session

Instrumentation Applications

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Trieu V. Phung, University of Houston, Downtown; Vassilios Tzouanas, University of Houston, Downtown

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

considered is a coupled tank apparatus that consists of two acrylic containers withidentical dimensions (14.2 cm long, 12.8 cm wide and 30 cm high). The tanks are named tank 1and tank 2, and they are connected through a 0.5 in diameter PVC pipe with a valve used toregulate the flow between the two tanks. The two tanks are mounted above a reservoir whichstores water (Fig. 1). Tank 2 is drained out (back into the reservoir). Water is pumped from areservoir into the first tank by using a variable speed pump, which is driven by an electric motor.Water levels in the tanks are measured by using two ultrasonic level sensors that perform as anelectrical signal 4-20 mA, which is proportional to the height of water. The level controller intank 2 will adjust

Conference Session

Instrumentation Applications

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Corey Jamail Davis; Wayland L. Hickman; Vassilios Tzouanas, University of Houston, Downtown

Tagged Divisions

Instrumentation

, and profitably their manufacturing operations. To be able todesign and implement effective process control systems, we need to first understand what areand how the major components of a control system function. Process control includes a process,measuring devices (sensors), control algorithms (controller), and final control elements(controlled device). All these are combined in what is known as control loop. Different controlalgorithms and structures such as Feedback and Feed forward can be incorporated in a controlsystem. Likewise, different tuning methods can be employed. Ziegler Nichols and Cohen-Coonmethods. Different tuning methods result in different control performances.Project ObjectivesThe specific project objectives are: 1

Conference Session

NSF Grantees' Poster Session

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Hirak C. Patangia, University of Arkansas, Little Rock

Tagged Topics

NSF Grantees Poster Session

Copyright © 2012 American Society for Engineering EducationProject Goal:The overall goal of the project is to develop exemplary course materials on photovoltaicengineering to be supplemented by hands-on laboratory work. The course topics to be focusedare illustrated by the following block diagram: Fig.1 Block diagram showing various components of a solar photovoltaic systemThe laboratory activities will correspond to each or a combination of the topics and to beculminated by the design and testing of a stand-alone/grid connected PV system. Laboratoryactivities will include simulation, modeling, and experimentation using commercial size panels.The PV voltage of the panels mounted on building rooftop will be fed directly to the laboratory.This

Conference Session

Projects in Alternative Energy: Wind and Solar

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Reg Recayi Pecen, University of Northern Iowa; Faruk Yildiz, Sam Houston State University; Bekir Z. Yuksek, University of Northern Iowa; Ulan Dakeev, University of Northern Iowa; Kenan Baltaci, University of Northern Iowa

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

promote wind energy technologies since the major source of electrical power in the wind/solar hybrid power system is from the wind.Design and Construction Phases of the Wind Power System Page 25.390.3The unit contains 10 kW Bergey Excel-S wind turbine installed on a 100 ft tower at UNIcampus. It is connected and synchronized in parallel to the UNI power grid as part of laboratoryactivities on wind power systems and grid-tie interactions. The overall project block diagram ispresented in Figure 1. Building Control for 10 kW Bergey Excel –S Wind Turbine Figure 1. Proposed 10 kW wind

Conference Session

Laboratory Development in ECE I

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jae-do Park, University of Colorado, Denver

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

implementation of the instructional electric machine laboratory is describedin this paper. The objectives of this project are to upgrade 50-year old laboratory equipmentand to provide students with hands-on experience on up-to-date electric machines, drives andinstruments, as well as to improve their understanding of the theory learned from lectures.Instead of the systems especially designed for educational purpose, off-the-shelf industrialdevices have been selected for the experiments to make them more realistic and thus closer towork situations, as well as more cost effective. Experiments, hardware components,instruments and student feedback about the laboratory course offered are presented.1. IntroductionThe importance of power engineering education

Conference Session

Capstone and Design Projects

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Hassan Moghbelli, Texas A7M University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

energyconversion efficiency, and create innovative and efficient new products and applicationsbased on photovoltaic (PV) technology around the world.On the other hand, vehicular travel is increasing throughout the world, particularly in largeurban area. Traffic control systems have also increased in installation as a result. However itis still economically difficult to provide traffic control in country and rural areas, primary dueto cost of building power infrastructure over long distances. Solar traffic signs have manyuses. They can be used in manufacturing facilities, for pedestrian safety, stop and yield signs,vehicle directions, emergency instructions, parking and school zone safety1.A solar traffic light system as shown in Fig. 1 composed of the