Electrical Engineering

Methanol Fuel Safety - A Practical Guide

Art MacCarley — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:31:06 PDT

This guide was written initially for the students at Cal Poly engaged in the conversion of IC engines to methanol fuel, especially my students working on methanol projects in my course “Automotive Technologies for a Sustainable Future”. It may be of interest to anyone considering the conversion or operation of an engine on methanol, or to those that handle methanol for other purposes. One of many Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for methanol that can be found online is: http://www.midi-inc.com/pdf/MSDS_Methanol.pdf.

Structural Damage Detection Using Artificial Neural Networks and Wavelet Transform

Arthur Shi et al. — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 09:52:29 PST

With the ever-increasing demand for the safety and functionality of civil infrastructures, structure health monitoring (SHM) has now become more and more important.

Recent developments in computational intelligence and digital signal processing offer great potentials to develop a more efficient, reliable, and robust structure damage identification system. In this paper, the application of artificial neural networks and wavelet analysis is investigated to develop an intelligent and adaptive structural damage detection system. The proposed approach is tested on an IASC (International Association for Structural Control)-ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) SHM benchmark problem. Satisfactory computer simulation results are obtained.

Traffic Signal Optimization Using Ant Colony Algorithm

David Renfrew et al. — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 09:52:27 PST

Traffic signal control is an effective way to improve the efficiency of traffic networks and reduce users’ delays. Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) is a meta-heuristic algorithm based on the behavior of ant colonies searching for food. ACO has successfully been employed to solve many complicated combinatorial optimization problems and its stochastic and decentralized nature fits well with traffic networks. This research investigates the application of the ant colony algorithm to minimize user delay at traffic intersections. Various ACO algorithms are discussed and a rolling horizon approach is also employed to achieve real-time adaptive control. Computer simulation results show that this new approach outperforms conventional fully actuated control, especially under the condition of high traffic demand.

NSF Sponsored Innovation in Engineering and Cornputer Science

Jacob Abel et al. — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 08:35:13 PST

Model for the Infrastructure of Engineering Education

James G. Harris et al. — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 08:34:59 PST

There are many ways to describe and model physical systems. The infrastructure of engineering education in the United States is an example of such a system, and it is the intent of this report to describe and model this infratructure. The means for doing this starts with the graduation statistics for the year 1989 given by the Computer Aided Science Policy Analysis & Research Database System (CASPAR) developed for the National Science Foundation by Quantum Research Corporation [1], and uses a simple categorization for the institutions that contribute to those statistics. This categorization sorts the post -secondary institutions in the United States which enroll engineering students into three types: community colleges (or two year institutions), non-PhD granting institutions (Bachelors and/or Masters engineering degree granting), and PhD engineering degree granting institutions. The intent is to ascertain the contribution of each type of institution to the infrastructure of engineering education.

In-Class Lecture Recording: What Lecture Capture has to Offer to the Instructor

Vladimir I. Prodanov — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 14:38:00 PDT

The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of lecture recording upon the instructional faculty. The following aspects are explored: 1) impact on class enrollment; 2) impact on class attendance; 3) usefulness of obtained statistical results for course improvement. The study is based upon data collected in a junior-level Electrical Engineering class with enrollment of 76 students. The data was collected using anonymous surveys and Blackboard’s statistical tracking utility. The results from the survey show that providing lecture recordings does not have significant impact upon students’ decision to attend lectures, but it has pronounced impact upon their enrollment decisions. Sections where video capture is used are likely to attract more students resulting in a larger class size compared to sections where no recordings are provided. Collected statistics of video usage were found useful in identifying the topics that students had most difficulty with. Video usage statistics seems to provide also a glimpse into the self-efficacy of students completing the course.

Student Perception of Lecture Video Use as a Means to Increase Time for in Class Problem Solving Applications

Dale Dolan et al. — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 14:37:58 PDT

The purpose of this study is to examine student perceptions of lecture video use as a means to increase available time for in class problem solving in a teaching and learning context. A portion of face to face lectures was replaced with prerecorded lecture video whose viewing was assigned for homework. The freed lecture period was used for additional in class problem solving development, without sacrificing the theory and background that is fundamental. In order to assess the effectiveness of the change in format, student perception was assessed through an anonymous online survey. The survey was given at the completion of a course. The data was collected in two electrical engineering courses. The first was a required sophomore level circuits course and the second was a senior technical elective power electronics course. The survey is a tool to both determine the value of the additional face to face problem solving time and the effectiveness of the video lecture as seen by the student. Students will be asked if they enjoyed the class more than a traditional lecture course and also if they feel they were able to perform at a higher level due to the format. They will also be surveyed to determine if full use was made of both the video lecture and the in class problem solving sessions. The responses showed strong student support for the format and students perceived that they were able to learn material more effectively. There was little difference in the proportions of responses from the different courses despite the different level of students and different instructors. Only student perception was measured and actual student performance data was not assessed as a fair control group could not be established without imposing a perceived disadvantage on one group of students. In total there were 90 students surveyed across the two courses.

Empirical Model for the Transconductance-Current Dependence of Short-Channel MOSFETs

Vladimir I. Prodanov — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 14:37:56 PDT

This work is concerned with the g_m-I dependence of sub-micrometer MOSFETs. The transconductance-current expression given by the Advanced Compact Model (ACM) is reviewed and simple modification is proposed. The modification yields an expression which (with proper parametrization) captures the g_m-I dependence of short-channel MOSFETs. The proposed expression is “universal” in the sense that it is capable of modeling the g_m-I dependence of long-channel MOSFETs, short-channel MOSFETs, and resistively-degenerated BJTs.

Design and Assembly of an Antenna Demonstration System

Alexander J. Hempy et al. — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 11:07:50 PDT

This paper describes the design, assembly, and operation of a self-contained wireless demonstration system that required only dc power supplies. The system demonstrated polarization effects, radiation patterns, gain, directivity, and signal interference from environmental barriers from dipole, corner reflector (simulated antenna array), Quagi, and embedded patch antennas. The system included an RF oscillator, high-frequency amplifiers,RF bandpass filters, a signal-strength indicator, and multiple adjustable antenna-mounting platforms.

Use of technology for undergraduate engineering education

B. A. Black et al. — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 11:07:46 PDT

California Polytechnic State University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute have formed a consortium to develop an alternative learning environment centered around a workstation comprised of a personal computer interfaced to a video disk and laboratory instrumentation. The first phase in their collective effort has involved the development of four instructional modules in the fundamentals of electrical engineering. The results of the first phase efforts are presented. They demonstrate how four different universities can work together to agree on standards, and to prepare instructional material that can be shared. The second phase will continue the development of instructional modules. The consortium plans to share its expertise and experience through a series of regional workshops for which funding is being sought from private sources. A national association of universities involved in creating modules will be developed to serve as a focal point through which new modules will be subject to peer review and existing modules distributed. Issues involving organizational form, marketing, distribution and other concerns will be addressed during the project with the goal of making the association a self-sustaining organization

National Engineering Education Delivery System (NEEDs)

Alice M. Agogino et al. — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 11:07:44 PDT

The Synthesis Coalition, supported by the National Science Foundation and industrial partners, is comprised of the following eight educational institutions: California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, Comell, Hampton, Iowa State, Southern, Stanford, and Tuskegee Universities, and the University of California at Berkeley (1].

The National Engineering Education Delivery System (NEEDS) is an entirely new courseware development and distribution system which will provide Widespread, rapid, electronic access to an almost arbitrarily large number of diverse instructional modules (2-4). Curricular material in the NEEDS database are organized by a diverse range of indices. Links across disciplines are provided in the form of "curricular paths" though the elements in the database. This year, NEEDS will be available not only to this Coalition but to at engineering schools, both ~~ a library/database and a broad distribution channel for the results of their work in developing new concepts, methods, curricula and tools.

Local NEEDS Implementation for All Programs

James G. Harris et al. — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 11:07:42 PDT

SYNTHESIS is one of four ex1sting NSF Engineering Education Coalitions (there are apparently plans to add two others this year to bring the total number to six). SYNTHESIS consists of eight universities: Cal Poly, Cornell. Hampton, Iowa State, Southern, Stanford, Tuskgekee, and UC-Berkeley. It has been supported by NSF for over three years, being one of the first two-the other being ECSEL. The other two existing coalitions are GATEVI/AY and SUCCEED. One 9f the main goals of the 'SYNTHESIS coalition is the development of the National Engineering Education Dehvery System (NEEDS). After giving a brief overv1ew of the NEEDS, we give a description of our local implementation of the NEEDS concept, an implementation that can be used by all engineering programs to share curricular material.n digital form.

Journal of Engineering Education Round Table: Reflections on the Grinter Report

James G. Harris et al. — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 11:07:38 PDT

The Round Table is a new presentation format for the Journal of Engineering Education. The purpose of the Round Table is to present the comments of several distinguished individuals about a topic as well as their responses to the comments offered by their colleagues. For the initial Journal of Engineering Education Round Table we asked for reflections about the Grinter Report, published in September 1955.

After a brief introduction to the topic of discussion, the invited participants present their views, and, then, respond to the remarks of their colleagues. The goal is two-fold: to present a spectrum of views on the topic, and to provoke a discussion of the topic by the community.

Profiling the Performance of TCP/IP on Windows NT

P. Xie et al. — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 11:07:35 PDT

This paper presents detailed network performance measurements of a prototype implementation of the TCP/IP network software on Windows NT. The measurements include latency, throughput, and CPU utilization of the protocol stack and for some key operations within the stack

Preliminary assessment of experimental sophomore EE courses

James G. Harris et al. — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 11:07:33 PDT

In academic year 2001-2002, an experimental yearlong sequence of courses was taught to EE and CPE majors that replaced the traditional circuits and electronics sequence of required courses. The experimental sequence consisted of three quarters, with the first quarter devoted to digital signal processing, and the next two quarters formed from an integrated approach to circuits and electronics. The two sections of students who took the experimental course now are taking the junior year required courses in their major. An assessment is being made to compare the experimental students with a cohort of traditional students. Preliminary results are given for retention rates and for their respective performance in the required junior year courses.

Finding Lips in Unconstrained Imagery for Improved Automatic Speech Recognition

Jane Zhang et al. — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:44:48 PDT

Lip movement of a speaker conveys important visual speech information and can be exploited for Automatic Speech Recognition. While previous research demonstrated that visual modality is a viable tool for identifying speech, the visual information has yet to become utilized in mainstream ASR systems. One obstacle is the difficulty in building a robust visual front end that tracks lips accurately in a real-world condition. In this paper we present our current progress in addressing the issue. We examine the use of color information in detecting the lip region and report our results on the statistical analysis and modeling of lip hue images by examining hundreds of manually extracted lip images obtained from several databases. In addition to hue color, we also explore spatial and edge information derived from intensity and saturation images to improve the robustness of the lip detection. Successful application of this algorithm is demonstrated over imagery collected in visually challenging environments.

Face and Lip Localization in Unconstrained Imagery

Brandon Crow et al. — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:44:40 PDT

When combined with acoustical speech information, visual speech information (lip movement) significantly improves Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) in acoustically noisy environments. Previous research has demonstrated that visual modality is a viable tool for identifying speech. However, the visual information has yet to become utilized in mainstream ASR systems due to the difficulty in accurately tracking lips in real-world conditions. This paper presents our current progress in addressing this issue. We derive several algorithms based on a modified HSI color space to successfully locate the face, eyes, and lips. These algorithms are then tested over imagery collected in visually challenging environments.

Face and Lip Tracking in Unconstrained Imagery for Improved Automatic Speech Recognition

Brandon Crow et al. — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:44:31 PDT

When combined with acoustical speech information, visual speech information (lip movement) significantly improves Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) in acoustically noisy environments. Previous research has demonstrated that visual modality is a viable tool for identifying speech. However, the visual information has yet to become utilized in mainstream ASR systems due to the difficulty in accurately tracking lips in real-world conditions. This paper presents our current progress in tracking face and lips in visually challenging environments. Findings suggest the mean shift algorithm performs poorly for small regions, in this case the lips, but it achieves near 80% accuracy for facial tracking.

2D Motion Detection Bounded Hand 3D Trajectory Tracking and Gesture Recognition under Complex Background

Shuangqing Wu et al. — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:44:22 PDT

In this paper, a 2D motion detection bounded hand 3D trajectory tracking and gesture recognition system is proposed for virtual reality interactions. First, the Bayes decision rule for classification of background and foreground is utilized to automatically locate the hand that bounded within a rectangle, and then the trajectory of the hand in 3D space is tracked by mean shift particle filter and stereo imaging. The skin color feature is exploited for image matting that effectively segment the hand contour in video sequence automatically. Finally the hand gesture is recognized by the connected component analysis and line approximation.

Real-Time 3D Markerless Multiple Hand Detection and Tracking for Human Computer Interaction Applications

Soumita Ghosh et al. — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:44:13 PDT

In this paper we present a purely vision based implementation of markerless hand detection and tracking system which effectively detects and tracks the hand positions irrespective of hand orientation. A shape based detection algorithm using a new line approximation technique followed by an adaptive minimum distance classifier based tracking technique is implemented. The technique is very generic and can be practically used in all types of immersive and semi-immersive environments like simulations, three-dimensional (3D) games, visually assisted medical surgery and other humancomputer interactive applications.