Electrical and Computer Engineering Senior Design Presentations
ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING-A
Session Chair ~ Massood Atashbar, Ph.D.
LOW COST E-FIELD METER
All electrical devices leak some energy while operating. The radiated power of electronic devices must be measured to ensure that they remain at safe levels for human exposure and to limit unwanted interference with nearby equipment. A handheld E-field measurement device was designed to measure the strength of electric fields radiating at frequencies used by common consumer electronics. By limiting the measurement to a narrower frequency range, such devices can be made more economically than commercially available broadband sensing devices of this type.
SELF-IMPLEMENTING AUDIO FILTER
A real-time speaker equalization system has been developed that improves sound quality in any environment. All speakers are imperfect and have irregularities in their audio reproduction that reduce sound quality. Objects and materials in a room with the speaker also further impact sound quality. These effects can be compensated for by using acoustic room treatment, but this imposes a high cost. The system will dramatically lower costs by using a microphone to measure a speaker’s performance coupled with computer processing to dynamically adjust the audio being played. This compensates for the inaccuracies of the speaker and effects of the environment, increasing audio quality.
VRDUINO CLASSROOM
A virtual electrical engineering lab is visualized by employing a custom VR headset that is designed to improve the learning process of potential engineering students. The goal of this project was to create a VR classroom using a “VRduino” based headset to make the process of keeping the high barrier-to-entry relatively smooth for electrical engineering freshmen. Virtual laboratory environments were created using a software modeling program called LiveMaker. Some virtual laboratory instrumentation was also created, which can be manipulated in the virtual environment.
MULTICHANNEL PPG SYSTEM FOR MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
Peripheral arterial disease and atherosclerosis affect millions of Americans through the reduction of blood flow to the extremities and precipitate cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. A multichannel Photoplethysmogramy (PPG) sensor system was developed for monitoring and assessment of the subject’s local extremity health factors with a focus on blood flow transient analysis. The utilization of multiple PPG sensors enables improved feature extraction and motion artifact filtering. Development of the modular PPG sensor system could lead to millions of saved dollars on healthcare through active monitoring and assessment of localized health factors.
SUNSEEKER DISPLAY AND DRIVER CONTROLLER
Digital dashboard displays with critical driver information are found in all modern vehicles. The 2020 Sunseeker solar car required a next generation driver display that supports strict power, weight, and space considerations. The new Display and Driver Control (DDC) unit integrates in a single subsystem driver switches, controls, accelerator measurements, and CAN bus communications with interfacing for a 7-inch fullcolor LCD touch-screen display. CAN bus data and software programming allow multiple screens of customized vehicle information to be available to the driver. A custom-printed circuit board and housing has been designed, developed, and tested, resulting in a DDC with fewer electronic modules, fewer wires and cables, and significantly greater capability than before.
PARKVIEW VR
A virtual visit of elements of the Parkview Engineering Campus was developed using a custom headset that could view virtual environments created using LiveMaker, a 3-D content creation tool. Users can interact and manipulate the virtual 3D environment by using hand gestures enabled by flex sensors. The Parkview virtual model will support Virtual tours to assist potential tenants to view a range of properties, enhancing both digital and human dialogue with clients. The completed model provides tools that will aid in the future development of VR application such as in the residential and commercial real estate markets.
SMART PARKING LOT
A prototype Smart Parking Lot (SPL) which can help park up to four vehicles at any given time is presented. The SPL is based on lo T based cloud integrated smart parking system that is used to monitor and notify the state of availability of each single parking space. The SPL consists of a control unit and sensors that will help drivers find an empty parking spot in outdoor as well as indoor parking environments. The SPL will be a mobile application that can show the status of a parking lot.
A PROTOTYPE MODEL OF THE 500 MW SOLAR FIELD FOR SHAYBAH OIL FIELD, SAUDI ARABIA
A prototype of the Shaybah oil field solar system was designed and developed. The PSPV solar field that will generate stable power under various loads. Modeling and simulation were done of the solar inverter with Simulink and Simscape. Applied the simulation model to emulate the PV panel and designed the boost converter stage of the inverter. The model helped this design project to tune the controller to adjust the boost converter duty cycle to adjust voltage for changing loads. The main feature of the PSPV will be a boost converter that will contribute a stable power output, ultimately helping the future energy plan for Saudi Arabia.
ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING-B
Session Chair ~ Bradley Bazuin, Ph.D.
LASER SPOT EMULATOR (LSE)
A common visual aid tool used to enhance presentations and lectures is a laser pointer; however, these are limited when used in a large space that contains multiple projectors. The Laser Spot Emulator (LSE) is a device that utilizes a USB webcam and a laser turret to detect a laser spot on one projector screen and precisely reproduce the laser location on the other screen. The emulation of a laser spot is not only important for the entire audience, but it can also improve the delivery of the presenter’s message.
UAV AUTONOMOUS LANDING ON MOVING PLATFORM
Increasing shipping efficiency using a sustainable approach is increasingly a goal. A drone has been created that can autonomously fly itself toward a moving platform that it can continuously track. Once the drone has reached the moving platform, it will start the landing sequence. Computer aided engineering software such as Simulink, MATLAB simulated the mathematical models. Sensors such as global position system (GPS) and a camera are used to locate the platform. The drone to moving platform, representing a drone to delivery truck, could change the way delivery routes are used in the shipping process.
COST-EFFECTIVE DIY ELECTROMETER
An electrometer is used to generate minuscule currents for intracellular stimulation of biological neurons. An electrometer also enables simultaneous measurement of the neuron membrane voltage response. The cost of commercial electrometers may be prohibitive, particularly at the high school or introductory college level. Graduate student Lucas Essenburg designed a basic electrometer for $210. This project focused on improving his design and developing a complete kit that can be consumer-built. The kit includes three printed circuit boards, electronic components, other hardware, and detailed assembly procedures.
IV CURVE TRACER
Solar cell, panel, and array expected efficiency and maximum power point can be determined by measuring the current-voltage (IV) curve. The IV Curve Tracer has been constructed for the Sunseeker Solar Car Team to support the manufacturing and testing of current and future solar panels for the car and determine car solar array performance. The battery operated, portable system uses an embedded processor to vary an electronic load and take voltage and current readings. The collected data are transmitted by the system using Bluetooth to allow a smart phone or tablet computer to relay the information for cloud storage or provide immediate visual feedback of the data collected.
THERAPEUTIC VIRTUAL REALITY
A variety of 3-D models have been produced and programmed for use with a custom-built VR headset which can monitor the heartbeat of the user from an infrared pulse sensing glove. This is an effort to explore the new field of Therapeutic Virtual Reality, an alternative medical practice that provides a unique and personalized experience to the user that may have health benefits in the areas of PTSD, anxiety, or even personal phobias.
SMALL SCALE SOLAR TRACKING SYSTEM
Photovoltaic systems are becoming increasingly prevalent in today’s society as a clean, emission-free alternative to generate electricity. Solar tracking is a type of technology used to increase the amount of energy produced by a photovoltaic generation system. In this project, a solar tracking system has been implemented into a previously built small-scale solar generation station using Arduino circuit boards programmed via MATLAB Simulink, as well as 3-D printing technologies. The solar tracking system will show how the addition of this technology to a solar farm can greatly improve its efficiency. It will also support further improvements to the ongoing project of a small-scale solar generation station for research and demonstration purposes.