Last updated: August 27, 2002

To all ECE students:


NEW!!!
Interesting PIC projects
New project: Ron the 'Pinball Wizard' needs an ECE student or two to make a board to work in a classic antique pinball machine. FUN PROJECT!
BATTLEBOTS!

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.

-----------------------------------

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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NEW IDEA!! BREAK FREE OF YOUR CHAINS!!
The HYDRA 2X2 - Law Enforcement Cycle
------------

CONTACT: K. Michael at: phone 419-356-3773
fax: 419-698-3826
Motorola 68HC11 and Music or ART application projects
These projects would involve working along a local artist, Ed Weiss.
The group is called 'InterArts Associates', in Dearborn Heights on
Warren Ave.
For more info, contact Ed at 313-791-1101

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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


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