Last updated: August 27, 2002
To all ECE students:
LTU's Open House this year was:
April 27 and April 28 - noon - 5 p.m.
The theme was "Design Your Future".
What is Open House?
Hundreds of special displays and demonstrations by students
in architecture and design, arts andsciences, engineering,
management, and technology.
Complete with:
Campus Tours
Performances
Concept Cars
Admissions and financial aid information
Everyone is invited and admission is free!
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In addition, LTU's seniors will display their Senior Projects.
The Senior Project is an ECE two course requirement,
EEE 4812 and EEE 4822. The following is the first part of the
recent syllabus for EEE 4812, Senior Projects 1 for ECE students:
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Lawrence Technological University
Electrical & Computer Engineering Department
_____________________________________________________________________________
Course : EEE4812, EE Projects 1
Instructor : Dr. Lisa Anneberg, or TBD
Office : E 215 - Ext. 2539
Office Hours : To Be Announced
_____________________________________________________________________________
Introduction
The EE Projects for Electrical Engineers consists of two-course sequence,
EEE4812 EE Projects 1 (two credit hours course) and EEE4822 EE Projects
2 (two credit hours course). This is a description of the first course in this
sequence.
Objective & Philosophy
The objective of EE Projects 1 is learning how to apply the theories
learned in the classroom to solve real word design problems. This learning
experience will expose students to practical design process, methodology,
and teamwork environment that are applied in the industry. As students are
progressing in their projects, they will practice program management, and
timing constraints in finishing the project efficiently.
During the course students will complete the initial planning, research, and
design for the project. At the end of the term students must have the detailed
circuit of their design, and must have a complete list of the components
needed to construct the design. Here, students are encouraged practicing
creativity, learning how to obtain information related to their project, selecting
components, and communicating with suppliers. The actual
hardware /software will be constructed and debugged in the second
course EE Projects 2.
EE Department Requirements:
It is expected that the EE Project will represent a significant challenge,
and include an amount of design and construction effort commensurate
with the four credit hours given for these courses. Students are required
to work in-groups of two or more, with a group size limit of four. Note
that a project for a group of four must be considerably more challenging
than a project done by a group of two students. In addition to the actual
EE project, both written and oral reports will be required for both courses.
EE Projects 1 Outline:
The first session of the course will be devoted to give
students general information regarding their responsibilities
throughout the term concerning the project’s requirements,
selection, research, design, construction, and debugging of a
major engineering project.
However, there are certain reporting requirements that must
be met by each (group) student. The project requirements are
organized in a timely fashion. The deadline of each requirement
is very important and essential in the continuation of the project.
These deadlines are scheduled in advance, and it is expected from
all students to follow them accordingly. Any delay must be reported
immediately.
1. Initial Project Requirements
A. Selection of Advisors
* Every faculty in the Electrical Engineering Department (full-time
and part-time faculty) is involved in EE Projects.
* Each EE project group will select an advisor they wish to work with
as soon as possible.
* In order to maintain a relatively even distribution of students, each
advisor will have limited number of students. Because of that limitation,
it may not be possible to obtain the advisor selected. In this situation,
try another faculty for an advisor.
* If some groups are working with a M.E. group on a joint M.E.-E.E.
project, an E.E. advisor must still be selected even though there is a M.E.
advisor already assigned to the project.
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In addition, the following list was a partial list of ideas that Senior Project 1
students in Spring 2001 had available. You may consider a large group
project, a competition, or a unique project with two students. Projects
at Open House may give you ideas and direction.
Each semester, different project suggestions become available.
If you have any further questions about
Senior Projects, please do not hesistate to email me, Dr. Anneberg, at
anneberg@ltu.edu.
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The following are interesting websites for organized projects:
http://www.sae.org/students/walkrules.pdf
SAE Walking Machine Decathalon
to promote familiarity with, and technological advancement of, the construction
and development of robots and other complex intelligence machines
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Microprogramming contest
http://www.circuitcellar.com//
The deadline is typically in the Fall, but you could work on your project
and submit it either in the Fall or when you are ready.
• Every entry must contain an abstract and either a block diagram or
a schematic (see sample) in digital format (for hardcopy submissions,
please include a disk that contains the abstract and diagram). If the
publishable abstract of any entry does not contain a block diagram,
then the project schematic will be deemed part of the abstract when
used for publication purposes.
• To be eligible, a minimum of one processor used in the Driven to
Design entry must be a Zilog-manufactured component. Simulated
versions of Z180-family devices or other instruction-compatible processors
are not eligible.
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http://www.ewh.ieee.org/r6/lac/students/robo.htm
This new contest "Robo Transport 2000" is for the Engineering
Departments to assign four engineering students from various
departments to work together as a team to learn, have fun, and
compete using robotics.
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Hello Dr. Anneberg:
I am seeking assistance with the
hardware/software design of a new type of Internet
terminal. I did some "digging" around the Internet
and discovered a open-source device that may suit my
initial requirements. I will be ordering a built unit
tomorrow.
I will however need assistance with the design of the
software. I would like to build a GUI for, what I
believe to be, a "text" device. I am confirming with
the vendor and will have more information tomorrow.
Ultimately, the device will be running uCLinux (a
subset of Linux). I would like to make contact with
the "programming types" that have the GUI
design/programming skills for this exciting project.
If you know anybody that is interested, please pass
along my email address.
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http://www.ieee.org/organizations/committee/lmc/Stud-Paper.html
Student Paper Prize Contest
This award was established in 1964. It is an opportunity for
Student authors of top papers in Region Contests to be recognized
for their outstanding work. Each Region conducts its own contest.
Prizes are awarded for the top three papers in each Region, $550 for
first place, $300 for second and $150 for third. In addition, the top
winning papers in each of the 10 Region contests are published in
a special volume.
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Dear Dr. Anneberg,
Would this be the right time to add another possible senior project to
the list? Everything starts with a need. The need I have identified is
that it is hard to read the legends on hi-fi equipment in the home. An
invention of a system of lighting that fixes this is needed. Most living
rooms/family rooms don't have high light level, so one has to get down close
in the semi-darkness to be able to see the fine print on the front of the
receiver, CD player, etc.
I picture a device selling for $9.95 per module as a price point, that
can be daisy-chained for multiple hi-fi boxes, 120VAC power. Each device
would be placed on the shelf underneath a hi-fi box. The essence of the
project is to choose the lighting method, the control method (lots of
possibilities here), and come up with an attractive industrial design, and
an eye-catching display packaging concept for the store. Quite a few
acquaintances have expressed an interest in buying something like this is
the price, appearance, and function are attractive.
If a team wants to take on this project, something marketable might
result. Of course, going from a prototype to finding a company to make it is
a long road! If it is not an appropriate senior project, so be it - no
problem here.
Dean Johnston - email: lejohnston@ltu.edu
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OTHER RESOURCES
www.pcbexpress.com 'Printed Circuit Board assistance
www.mpja.com 'Interesting electronics site
www.digikey.com ' Digikey: enough said!
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Another contest:
WHAT'S THE EASIEST WAY FOR AN ANALOG DESIGNER TO WIN
$100,000?
Use your imagination!!
www.ti.com/sc/tianalogdesignchallenge1
Texas Instruments is awarding $100,000 (US) for the design that most
inventively uses our analog and mixed-signal products to address a
real-world design challenge. Why? TI is as serious about analog as
you are. Our goal is to provide you with the product performance and
ease of design you'd expect from a technology leader. Between the
accelerated development of our own portfolio and the addition of
products from recent acquisitions like Burr-Brown, Unitrode and Power
Trends, TI is creating an industry-leading catalog of data converter,
amplifier, power management and interface products.
The $100,000 Analog Design Challenge is open to any designer with a
great idea. Enter today and you'll experience firsthand the
best-in-class analog products and support that will allow you to fully
realize your design objectives and improve your time to market. Log
on to the Web site below to get started. The only way you can lose is
by not entering.
Register to receive an Official Entry Form along with the Rules &
Regulations needed to start on a design path that could lead you to
$100,000.
www.ti.com/sc/tianalogdesignchallenge1
The Analog Design Challenge is being conducted by CMP Media, Inc., and
exclusively sponsored by Texas Instruments.
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Design a motor controller to allow digital control of toy trains. Normally these
items cost $300 but lower cost supplier of toy train parts is:
http://www.nmra.org/standards/consist.html#standards-DCC
Also, the BEAM style robots have an official competition each year. The rules
give
ideas & goals for building various projects, including an underwater robot:
http://www.robotgames.com/
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Notice to interested students regarding contact info:
Contact numbers for LTU group projects:
Future Car/Truck farrah@ltu.edu
SAE Competition car jawad@ltu.edu
ME projects: shamamy@ltu.edu
GM LTU/ECE project: asik@ltu.edu