Engineering Commons^™

Ece Senior Design Project - Cost-Effective Diy Electrometer, Benjamin Hahn

Honors Theses

An electrometer is a critical electrophysiology instrument used to generate minuscule currents for intracellular stimulation of biological neurons. An electrometer also enables simultaneous measurement of the neuron membrane voltage response. This device is necessary to perform accurate stimulation of neurons. However, the cost of commercial electrometers, around $5000, is prohibitive to many researchers, particularly at the high-school or introductory college level. A recent Western Michigan University graduate student, Lucas Essenburg, designed a basic electrometer for $210. His thesis proved that quality electrometers can be constructed for a fraction of the price of commercial-grade equipment.

This project focused on the improvement …

Music Keyboard Based On Flexible Hybrid Electronics, Anthony Hanson

Honors Theses

With the idea of creating a product using flexible hybrid electronics, the group decided to create a musical keyboard like a synthesizer. This is implemented using a printing technique called screen printing. This allowed the group to make several copies of the same sensors with a consistent thickness, roughness, and size. These keys, made of silver, are used as capacitive proximity sensors. When another conductive material comes within range of the key to change the polled capacitance by 2.7 pF, the note corresponding with that key is outputted.

In the interest of making this project a useful tool for someone …

Sensory Interfaces: Intelligent Surgical Box Trainer, Krystal York

Honors Theses

The Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) box trainer currently offers medical students the opportunity to practice their dexterity with laparoscopic surgical tools and accustom themselves to the disconnect between their actions and their visible frame of reference. However, at this stage the box trainer offers few ways to test, practice, or improve upon important factors in laparoscopic surgery including disturbance of and pressure applied to patient tissue. The purpose of this project was to add sensory interfaces to the FLS box trainer to offer more concrete feedback for medical students practicing the required tasks, consolidate the information gathered by the …

Solar Tracking And Lighting Design For A Multimedia Sculpture, Alexandra Ferguson

Honors Theses

A lighting system utilizing solar energy was built to illuminate a wireframe multimedia sculpture. Increased power generation from the solar cells was achieved using a solar tracking mechanism. Color-selectable light emitting diodes were used to provide the user with unlimited customization options. A digital control system was designed using an Arduino® microcontroller to configure the color of the lights and the positioning of the solar panel. The sculpture will create a sense of community and sustainability among students at the school.

Industrial Wireless Communication System For Notification, Jolica Dias, Devin Semrau, Jumana Abukabbos

Honors Theses

An industrial wireless communication system for short structured messages was needed to support lean manufacturing environments. While first generation prototypes of end devices were previously constructed for the network, it lacked the range, robustness and battery operation desired. The advances made in the new system incorporate multiple small rechargeable user modules that communicate with and through one or more higher powered fixed location message router stations. This configuration ensures that wireless signal integrity is maintained throughout an industrial facility, and that the messages are successfully sent and received. XBee wireless transceivers were imbedded onto the router to enable communication between …

Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle (Phev) Component Pre-Heater, Ria Pereira

Honors Theses

In plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, the optimum temperatures of the cabin and various fluids are achieved through the dissipating heat of the internal combustion engine. In colder climates the initial warm-up of components requires the internal combustion engine to run causing unnecessary consumption of fuel. This project improved the pre-heating system formerly in place. It uses a variety of electric heaters along with the positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater and blower motor already installed on the vehicle. A system utilizing a microcontroller turns the heaters on and off based on the inputs from the temperature sensors installed on the vehicle. …