Atlanta, Georgia
June 23, 2013
June 23, 2013
June 26, 2013
2153-5965
Electrical and Computer
14
23.469.1 - 23.469.14
10.18260/1-2--19483
https://peer.asee.org/19483
849
Dr. Steven G. Northrup earned a BSEE from the University of Michigan and an MSEE & Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University. He worked in the defense industry in Whites Sands, NM and in the automotive electronics industry for designing climate control systems for Ford Motor Company. He is an associate professor at Western New England University where he teaches senior lab, circuits, and embedded controls courses. His research interests are robotics and embedded control systems.
Abstract – As part of a multidisciplinary team, computer, electrical, and mechanical engineers worktogether to create a small-scale electric vehicle. The major tasks of the team are design andperformance prediction; fabrication of the vehicle, control circuits, and computer data acquisitionboard; system integration and testing; racing the vehicles against other teams; and comparing theirperformance data to their predictions. The project has enhanced student learning and provides apractical approach to multidisciplinary teamwork. The electrical engineers also create a hybridbattery charging system that relies on solar energy and a diesel generator to store electrical energy atthe vehicle charging station. In addition to the design, build, evaluate process typical of theengineering design process, students learn about Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA) and how todesign circuits to provide for safe outcomes when portions of the system fail. The paper describes theproject, the learning objectives, the circuits and computer systems, and FMEA process, and thecourse assessment.
Northrup, S. G. (2013, June), Electric Vehicle Circuit and Electrical System Senior Lab Project Paper presented at 2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Atlanta, Georgia. 10.18260/1-2--19483
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