Collection

1999 Annual Conference

Authors

Jim Henry

Session 1526 WEB OPERATION OF REAL, PHYSICAL, ENGINEERING LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS --WORLD WIDE RESOURCE CENTER Jim Henry University of Tennessee at ChattanoogaAbstractEngineering laboratory experiments have been made available for students to use via the WorldWide Web, from remote sites, anywhere in the world. This paper describes the hardware andsoftware that is used for this facility, describes the development of a resource center forengineering laboratories on the web and discusses new paradigms for engineering laboratoryexperimentation that

Collection

1999 Annual Conference

Authors

Walter J., III Gomes; Cameron Wright; Michael Morrow; Thad Welch

Session 1320 Teaching Real-World DSP Using MATLAB and the TMS320C31 DSK Cameron H. G. Wright Department of Electrical Engineering U.S. Air Force Academy, CO Thad B. Welch, Michael G. Morrow Department of Electrical Engineering U.S. Naval Academy, MD Walter J. Gomes III Naval Undersea Warfare Center Newport

Collection

1999 Annual Conference

Authors

William A., Jr. Russell

Session Number: 2649 Real-Time DSP Signal Application In An Engineering Technology Laboratory Course Using An Analog Devices’ SHARC ADSP-21061 Processor William A. Russell, Jr. Electronics Engineering Technology University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg MS 39406AbstractThe objective of our "Real-Time Digital Signal Processing Applications" course is to enhancethe students understanding and retention by presenting hands-on design, and implementation ofreal-time DSP applications. Each

Collection

1999 Annual Conference

Authors

Ann D. Christy; Marybeth Lima

beforestarting class, and setting up procedures for meeting and communicating that are presented tostudents at the beginning of the project. A teaching assistant is ideal for scheduling meetings andmediating communication. D. Group learning. Deliberate instruction on how to learn and work in a group setting isbeneficial, as students had much more success working in groups when this instruction wasprovided than when it was not. While there is a wealth of literature on this subject, readers areencouraged to consult Wankat and Oreovicz12 to start, and to share this information with theirstudents.IV. ConclusionsThere are a number of benefits for students, instructors, and clients. The first benefit is studententhusiasm. Working on real world problems is an

Collection

1999 Annual Conference

Authors

Rudy Wojtecki; Charles P. Wentz

faced a world of intense international competition. To confront this challenge, there needs to be a focus on partnerships. #2 $ Partnerships must build closer ties to industry. #3The many advantages of cooperative education are well established. It provides notonly an almost essential link between theory and real-world application, but also itoffers an income opportunity to assist the student in funding his or her education. Forthe traditional student co-op is a program of either alternating terms of course work andprofessional experience or part-time of both. For the non-traditional student it istypically a repeatable course with specific objectives, frequently tailored to the needs ofboth employer and student. Nevertheless

Collection

1999 Annual Conference

Authors

Peter Kwok; Eron Flory; Javed Alam, Youngstown State University; Joseph Rencis, University of Arkansas

linear algebra, single degree of freedomspring, bar element, beam element and industrial applications of FEM. These modules can beaccessed by students and engineers twenty-four hours a day since they reside on a World-WideWeb server. This paper will review the format of the bar and beam element learning modulesand the experiences of the first author in integrating all five modules into the introductoryundergraduate finite element course at WPI. The issue of student feedback is also addressed.1. IntroductionThe Internet/World-Wide Web (WWW) is emerging as a new medium for transmittinginformation globally, created in multimedia form. Engineering educators have been using theWeb the past few academic years in courses, for posting course guidelines

Collection

1999 Annual Conference

Authors

Donald Mahoney; Brent Young; William Svrcek

this paperwe will outline our real time approach to process control instruction. The methodology is thenillustrated by application to the feedback control of liquid level in a separator. Finally, theresults of student subject evaluations from two years of implementation at the University ofCalgary are presented.I. IntroductionThe classical approach to process control education of chemical engineers1-3 has been to employthe frequency response methods of process control that were originally developed as pen andpaper methods for the modeling of process systems. It has been evident for some time that theway process control is taught to chemical engineers needs to be updated4-6.There is an academic requirement that the fundamentals of process

Collection

1999 Annual Conference

Authors

Oscar D. Crisalle; Haniph A. Latchman; Denis Gillet; Christophe Salzmann

load. To overcome this lack of determinism, the real-time control applications need toconstantly adapt to the available channel. A measurement of the network load can be obtained by quantifying the percentage of packetloss. This information is fed back by the client to the server which in turn adapts thetransmission of its various streams of information based on specific requirements, priorities, andspecifications 4. The streams involved in the process are classified into four groups, namely, aparameter stream, a data stream, an administrative stream, and an audio/video (A/V) stream. TheA/V stream takes most of the bandwidth (up to 90 %) and therefore is the one to be adapteddownward at first. To lower the bandwidth needs, the video images

Collection

1999 Annual Conference

Authors

Ronald A. Lessard

low level softwareconcepts needed are introduced in laboratories 2,3 and 4. Laboratory 5 has the studentsdesign their own software to be added to the robot command set. This allows simulationof the Sojourner Rover operation on the surface of Mars. Other real world applicationsare also discussed. Later laboratories introduce the issues critical to using the MCX11deterministic event-driven multitasking Real Time Executive. The design is pushedbeyond system limits and the consequences of failure analyzed. Finally, the interfacebetween the assembly and the ‘C’ code is presented so that the students can implementand test the flood fill maze solving algorithm on the robot. A final project as a seconddesign experience has students apply the

Collection

1999 Annual Conference

Authors

Robin Lovgren; M. Racer

Session 2366 Statistics Projects – Three Examples to Relate Theory and Application Robin Lovgren, Michael Racer University of MemphisAbstractThe application of statistical concepts can play an important role in an engineering analysis ordesign. These concepts and their applications are sometimes difficult to convey to engineeringstudents in a typical classroom setting. To aid the students in making the connection betweenlecture and real world applications, a series of projects was developed, and assigned to thestudents. This paper provides three

Collection

1999 Annual Conference

Authors

Thomas Zickel; Russell A. Aubrey

performance byreducing the time lost and confusion caused by having to refer back and forth between theschematic and the table.A second area that will be addressed is to allow more up front time for the circuit analysis andsimulation of the circuit so that any differences between theoretical answers and experimentalmeasurements can be successfully addressed. Coverage of component tolerances, transistormodel deficiencies and the accuracy of assumptions normally used in an EET program will beexpanded.ConclusionsTroubleshooting is a hands-on application of engineering theory and practice. Usinginstructional tools such as previously described, provides students with real world activities inthe laboratory that apply principle and theory previously

Collection

1999 Annual Conference

Authors

Z. Chambers; Terry H. Walker; M. B. Taylor; A. J. Baker

and boundaryvalues that define the problem are then introduced. This allows the student a flexibleapproach towards the ultimate goals of the course, to learn the finite element method and,most importantly, to apply the method to real-world problems. With emphasis placed on thisproblem, the students tend to better envision a useful end result that accompanies the basicelements of the course. The practical knowledge obtained by learning the finite elementmethod may then be applied to computational analysis aspects of the student’s thesis,dissertation or related topic. The remaining laboratory topics in the course begin with a given problem that thesolution is obtained from a MATLAB® template. The students alter the given template

Collection

1999 Annual Conference

Authors

Mahmood Nahvi

engineering students. The goal ofthe courses is to teach digital signal processing for applications. Therefore, emphasis is placed onteaching and learning DSP through real-time, real-world examples. The approach is to “learnDSP by doing,” with synthesis and design as the main vehicle.The course integrates classical DSP theory, structured experiments, and design projects. Itrequires prior knowledge of continuous and discrete-time signals and systems analysis, andfamiliarity with concepts and techniques such as linear time-invariant systems, convolution,correlation, and Fourier transforms. The course runs for a quarter of the academic year andincludes three hours of lecture presentations, eight experiments and a design project. In all of theabove

Collection

1999 Annual Conference

Authors

Richard Shiavi

database of actual measurements.Signals measured from real-world applications are used as much as possible. Students enjoylearning in this environment because it helps them visualize immediately the results of themathematical manipulations and enables them to explore interactively.I. IntroductionSignal processing is now being used in many in many phases of engineering because of itsproven usefulness and it has become an essential component in the curricula for electrical andcomputer engineering1. The omnipresence of desktop computers and sophisticated applicationenvironments have made it possible for almost anyone to implement the techniques. The loweredcost of laptop computers is now making the possibility of using them in any classroom

Collection

1999 Annual Conference

Authors

Kurt C. Gramoll; Karthik Ranga

view them from allpossible angles and directions.The VRML environment is viewed on the Internet using web browsers. This paperdescribes the application of VRML and the Internet in imparting design education toengineering students. The VRML based design environment is a real time designenvironment i.e. the students can experiment by changing the values of design parametersand get the feedback immediately as the design model updates on the computer screen.This design environment also allows the user to conduct design analysis of the model.Since this method uses the Internet as the collaboration medium, it allows multiple usersto log on to the VRML design world at the same time from different locations. Thus teamprojects and collaborative efforts

Collection

1999 Annual Conference

Authors

Shahen Akelyan; Rupa Purasinghe; Javed Alam

documents the successful implementation of Virtual Learning Community Model ina Freshman Engineering Design course at California State University at Los Angeles (CSLA)and its parallel implementation as a communication tool at Youngstown State University. Avirtual learning community software based on client/server computing model was installed atCSLA. It allowed group of students to collaborate in real time through a graphics based chatfacility. These were accessible round the clock since they reside on a World Wide Web server.As CSLA is predominantly a commuting campus this model was instrumental in bringingstudents together in their project when they are not on campus.1. IntroductionThe World Wide Web is emerging as a new medium for transmitting

Collection

1999 Annual Conference

Authors

Matthew Dettman

and Construction Managementand get their view of having practitioners in the classroom. More specifically, students’ viewsof the importance or value of having professors who actively engage in professional practice inaddition to their teaching duties were explored. The questions were few and straightforwardwith a chance for general comments as the last question. This study was used to determine thestudents understanding of the need for real world knowledge on the part of the faculty. If theunderstanding was there, responses to the questions could be used to refine this practice with thestudents interests in mind. If the understanding was not there, steps would be taken to clarifythis point to the students early in their educational career

Collection

1999 Annual Conference

Authors

Hamid Khan

Page 4.261.3the world to bring their designing technology to the class room. Following lesson plans weredeveloped and deployed over the internet.First Lesson: Here, learning emphasizes the importance of Computer Aided Design (CAD) forManufacturing Automation. CAD is considered as the building block of automation. It plays apivotal role in manufacturing. In fact, CAD is first in line of automation initiatives for paper lessmanufacturing practices. The complete cycle of automation CAD-->CAM--> CAE--> and RapidPrototyping was enunciated for “Concurrent Engineering concept to implementation”.Applications of Concurrent Engineering concept in design engineering was emphasized via theweb.Students are connected to CAD world through the world

Collection

1999 Annual Conference

Authors

Prawat Nagvajara

Session 2532 Virtual Experiments for Digital Controller Design Projects Prawat Nagvajara Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Drexel UniversityAbstractWe are developing a set of software applications that simulate and animate physical systemssuch as traffic at an intersection, and monorail and elevator systems. We call the softwareapplications “virtual experiments,” and use them to teach digital controller design. Thesesoftware applications run on a PC or a Macintosh to provide real-time

Collection

1999 Annual Conference

Authors

Tze-Leong Yew; Kian-Huat Tan; Kurt C. Gramoll

, companies, research laboratories, homes and government offices.The World Wide Web is the graphical user interface to the Internet. One can access theInternet using a wide variety of applications; the most common of which are the Webbrowsers.The amount of data that can be transmitted increases as the bandwidth of the Internetgrows. This allows for more 3D-model visualization over the Internet that can be CPUintensive in addition to accommodating large file sizes. For example, even in VRML, acommon 3D file format for web use, the files are generally designed to be small but eventhese files can quickly become complex when trying to realistically model an actualobject or system. Thus, it is expected that the increase in bandwidth will be offset bymore

Collection

1999 Annual Conference

Authors

Paul P. Mathisen

numberof these topics were developed from actual projects, and all projects were found to be extremelyvaluable in demonstrating real-world applications to both undergraduate and graduate students.7. Summary and ConclusionsThe hydrology course described in this paper illustrates one approach for using distance learningtechnologies to enhance both undergraduate and graduate education. The contributions of theprofessionals and graduate students (most of whom took the graduate course remotely viavideotape) enhanced the learning experience of undergraduates (who took the course on-site atWPI) by demonstrating practical applications of course subject matter. These applicationsincluded presentations describing on-going projects and research, as well as

Collection

1999 Annual Conference

Authors

Chotchai Charoenngam; Abdul Samad Kazi

hencetime and space were not a hindrance. Page 4.143.5Where possible, attempts were made to create virtual classrooms online. This enabled faculty topost and teach material through the local intranet and allowed the students flexibility as to whenthey wanted to attend the class. One special finding from this initiative was that now more timewas available to address more serious issues and focus on specific topics during traditional inclass hours.Practical Perspective: CCSTVSUEIT provided a strong foundation for the students to preparefor entry into the real world. Some of the basics with which the students were equipped afterCCSTVSUEIT were the

Collection

1999 Annual Conference

Authors

Raffaello D'Andrea

, performinga control design based on reduced order models (for example), verifying the control design on the simula-tion model, altering the design until the required level of performance is achieved, and then testing out thedesign on the physical system. A typical example of this process is flight control design. In fact, for theseapplications there are often different levels of simulation employed, since obtaining simulation time on highfidelity simulators is relatively expensive. It should be stressed, however, that simulation is only a tool in the design process, and that extensiveexperimental verification should always be the end result of the design process; the real world is simply toocomplex to be fully simulated. Thus, an important goal in

Collection

1999 Annual Conference

Authors

Biwu Yang

learned. With lab activities, they can practice the applicationof their knowledge to a situation that is close to the real world in some extent.There have been several efforts to develop web based “virtual lab” to enhance the learningexperiences 2-4. These lab activities use simulation approach to let students apply the knowledgethey learned to problems and from practice students understand the theories and theirapplications.This paper describes a “Virtual Lab” that has been implemented to support online course in thearea of computer networking technology. While the theory and concepts of computernetworking are delivered with asynchronous tools such as web, FTP, mailing list, andnewsgroup, the online lab gives students the opportunity to practice

Collection

1999 Annual Conference

Authors

John Wiggins

negativeaspects and impacts of running an internship program.IntroductionThe link between the classroom and the real world is an essential one for any student.This is particularly true for those students studying construction engineering technologywhere the focus of the curriculum as well as the interest of the student is on theapplication rather than theory.For the past 15 years, the New Jersey Building Contractors Association (NJBCA) and theNew Jersey Institute of technology (NJIT) have acted as partners in an endeavor toaddress the needs of the students as well as the needs of the local construction industry.This has been accomplished through the implementation of a summer intern program,enabling students in the construction Engineering Technology

Collection

1999 Annual Conference

Authors

Lucy C. Morse

mail, web forums, and the World Wide Web) offer enhancements to the currenteducators’ delivery system. These courses are delivered in an asynchronous manner, whichgives the convenience of students being able to work when and where they wish and the studentscan also control somewhat the pacing of instruction. Traditionally in the FEEDS modelinteraction between teacher and student has not been considered. Yet interaction is considered tobe the key to effective learning and information exchange. Some of the interaction techniquesnow included with the course materials are: • Electronic mail • World Wide Web • Scavenger hunt • Delphi Process • Virtual teams • World Wide Web Forum discussionsThe basic

Collection

1999 Annual Conference

Authors

Joseph Cecere

industrial world. Over aperiod of time, techniques and content which are included in a successful program become oldand need revisions.A method often undertaken by universities is a follow-up study of their alumni. This data is usedto measure the success of the program’s graduates as well as the program’s curriculum content.But it is also important to receive other input from potential employers of the program’sgraduates and the industrial world itself. Considerable information can be obtained from theemployers regarding the value they placed upon the graduate’s educational training, theirperception of the ideal construction curriculum, and possible other course selections. A study ofthese people could provide a program with what areas are more

Collection

1999 Annual Conference

Authors

David Phillips; C. Richard Helps

manufacturers’application notes. The Internet provides data sheets, example code, application notes,development tools and other materials. These are freely available from nearly everymanufacturer and from other interested parties.We also felt that students would be more motivated if the class and development system had aclear and useful goal. Therefore the lab exercises were all steps in developing a serial portcontrolled, multitasking, real-time data acquisition system with onboard LCD display. Inteaching some real-time and higher-current interfacing techniques a stepper motor controller wasalso developed.Figure 1 Development system PCB layout showing principal featuresThe development hardware consists of a double-sided PCB that is socketed to accept

Collection

1999 Annual Conference

Authors

Muniram Budhu

summary ofhis or her results and is prompted to apply them to a practical situation. For example, Figure 7shows the screen of the working model for settlement calculations using the results obtained fromthe virtual consolidation test. The student uses the calculator from the pull down menu andcomputes the settlement. If the settlement value is incorrect, he or she is given three tries beforebeing directed to remedial actions. A set of interactions is developed to test each studentunderstanding of the test and its application to real world problems. Page 4.24.7Figure 7 Screen illustrating how a student would use the results to calculate settlement

Collection

1999 Annual Conference

Authors

Gary P. Langenfeld; David Wells

current reality is that industry perceives a shortfall in the undergraduate preparation ofengineers. The recent landmark study by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers collected datafrom dozens of engineering managers in six major industries. The vast majority believed thatfreshly graduated engineers were not well-prepared for “... real world engineering applications”.Gaps in competencies were identified in a very wide array of topical areas. These coalesced intofive general groupings: skills in communications and teamwork; abilities to apply statisticalthinking and scientific first-principles to specific real engineering problems; deep and detailedunderstanding of the principles, processes and tools of modern manufacturing; appreciation