Engineering Commons^™

Immersive Japanese Language Learning Web Application Using Spaced Repetition, Active Recall, And An Artificial Intelligent Conversational Chat Agent Both In Voice And In Text, Marc Butler

MS in Computer Science Project Reports

In the last two decades various human language learning applications, spaced repetition software, online dictionaries, and artificial intelligent chat agents have been developed. However, there is no solution to cohesively combine these technologies into a comprehensive language learning application including skills such as speaking, typing, listening, and reading. Our contribution is to provide an immersive language learning web application to the end user which combines spaced repetition, a study technique used to review information at systematic intervals, and active recall, the process of purposely retrieving information from memory during a review session, with an artificial intelligent conversational chat agent both …

Game Based Learning: Engaging Students And Measuring Their Progress, Jonathan Stover, Siegwart Mayr

Campus Research Day

Digital natives are constantly surrounded by technology. Therefore, traditional methods of teaching are becoming obsolete and increasingly creative solutions are required to keep students engaged. Among these solutions is a concept called game based learning. Game based learning is a unique educational experience that incorporates the engagement factors of video games with education. Even though it is still in an early stage of adoption, game based learning has been proven to be a surprisingly effective tool for providing students with a valuable educational experience. Even with this evidence in mind, current game based learning programs still hold the potential to …

Improving Network Security For High Schools In Carolina, Southeastern, And South Central Conference, Eden Sampson

Campus Research Day

Cybersecurity is a very important factor that is often overlooked until one becomes a victim of hackers and viruses. One of the main institutions that are caught off guard by cyber issues are high schools. Adventist high schools often fall into this issue as well. It is very dangerous because of the sensitive information handled on school networks as well as the financial loss that cyber security attacks may cause. Moreover, just a few Adventist high schools have IT staff who are qualified to protect the school from cyberattacks or to help with recovery. Therefore, our contribution is to create …

Introducing Normal Forms To Students: A Comparison Of Theory-First Vs. Project-First Educational Approaches, Dakota C. Cookenmaster, Jacob A. Bahn

Campus Research Day

One of the primary challenges instructors face when educating scientists and engineers is the introduction of important theory, both to show its essential nature in research as well as its practicality. This paper analyzes two pedagogical methods for the instruction of database normal forms. The first of these methods is a theory-based approach that relies on written works and practices to introduce the concept. The second of these focuses on a project-based approach which aligns with normal form standards as students implement a database schema. This paper compares these in a small study and advises an appropriate method for educators.

A Robotics Framework For Simulation And Control Of A Robotic Arm For Use In Higher Education, Craig Christensen

MS in Computer Science Project Reports

Robotic arms have been in common use for a several decades now in many areas from manufacturing and industrial uses to hobby projects and amusement park rides. However, there have been very few attempts to make an inexpensive robot arm with a software stack for use in higher education. This paper will outline a control and interfacing software stack built on the Robot Operating System (ROS) and a simulation of the 5 degree of freedom (DoF) robotic arm.

The Development Of Project Grade-Up, Dalin Glenn Williams

MS in Computer Science Theses

The university classroom has greatly evolved from a simple syllabus and in class discussion to the modern online documentation and virtual classrooms. These developments have changed the way students review their grades and balance their workloads. With the plethora of new technologies, students are often burdened with a full school schedule, work, and social events, with few tools to help them effectively understand their grades or manage their time. Current solutions addressing this issue do not present data in an organized way that allows the student to easily comprehend their past performance or up coming work load. Our solution builds …

Integrating Robotics Into First-Year Experience Courses, Tyson S. Hall, P. Willard Munger

Faculty Works

Robotics are a popular component of many introductory engineering and computer science courses. At Southern Adventist University, the School of Computing faculty decided to integrate robotics into a discipline-specific section of the University’s first-year experience course. The integration of robotics into a first-year experience course has created a hands-on introduction to college life within the Computing discipline while introducing students to the problem-solving process. This paper will introduce a very low-cost robotic platform kit ($50-75) that has been developed for the first-year experience course. Student assessment data from the first offering of this course with the SouthernBot 2.0 kit shows …

Work In Progress: Rfid Sports Timing System, James Johnston

Senior Research Projects

Timing plays a critical role in most sporting events. RFID-based timing solutions offer a high level of automation. Current timing solutions are high in cost and frequently do not offer live results to spectators. Existing RFID hardware is evaluated for suitability in a new timing solution. An architecture for an open source timing solution is then evaluated. The new solution offers a novel combination of features making ownership feasible for smaller sporting events.

Using System-On-A-Programmable-Chip Technology To Design Embedded Systems, Tyson S. Hall, James O. Hamblen

Faculty Works

This paper describes the tools, techniques, and devices used to design embedded products with system–on-a-chip (SoC) type solutions using a large Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) with an internal processor core. This new FPGA-based approach is called system-on-a-programmable-chip (SoPC ). The performance tradeoffs present in SoPC systems is compared to more traditional design approaches. Commercial devices, processor cores, and CAD tool flows are described.

The issues in SoPC hardware/software design tradeoffs are examined and three example SoPC designs are presented as case studies.

Large–Scale Field–Programmable Analog Arrays For Analog Signal Processing, Tyson S. Hall, Christopher M. Twigg, Jordan D. Gray, Paul Hasler, David V. Anderson

Faculty Works

Field-programmable analog arrays (FPAAs) providea method for rapidly prototyping analog systems. Currently available commercial and academic FPAAs are typically based on operational amplifiers (or other similar analog primitives) with only a few computational elements per chip. While their specific architectures vary, their small sizes and often restrictive interconnect designs leave current FPAAs limited in functionality and flexibility. For FPAAs to enter the realm of large-scale reconfigurable devices such as modern field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs),new technologies must be explored to provide area-efficient accurately programmable analog circuitry that can be easily integrated into a larger digital/mixed-signal system. Recent advances in the area …

A Framework For Teaching Real–Time Digital Signal Processing With Field–Programmable Gate Arrays, Tyson S. Hall, David V. Anderson

Faculty Works

Many curricula include separate classes in both digital signal processing (DSP) theory and very high-speed integrated circuit hardware description language (VHDL) modeling; however, there are few opportunities given to students to combine these two skills into a working knowledge of DSP hardware design. A pedagogical framework has been developed whereby students can leverage their previous knowledge of DSP theory and VHDL hardware design techniques to design, simulate, synthesize, and test digital signal processing systems. The synthesized hardware is implemented on field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), which provide a fast and cost-effective way of prototyping hardware systems in a laboratory environment. This …

Developing Large-Scale Field-Programmable Analog Arrays For Rapid Prototyping, Tyson S. Hall, Christopher M. Twigg, Paul Hasler, David V. Anderson

Faculty Works

Field-programmable analog arrays (FPAAs) provide a method for rapidly prototyping analog systems. While currently available FPAAs vary in architecture and interconnect design, they are often limited in size and flexibility. For FPAAs to be as useful and marketable as modern digital reconfigurable devices, new technologies must be explored to provide area efficient, accurately programmable analog circuitry that can be easily integrated into a larger digital/mixed signal system. By leveraging recent advances in floating gate transistors, a new generation of FPAAs are achievable that will dramatically advance the current state of the art in terms of size, functionality, and flexibility.

System–On–A–Programmable–Chip Development Platforms In The Classroom, Tyson S. Hall, James O. Hamblen

Faculty Works

This paper describes the authors’ experiences using a system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) approach to support the development of design projects for upper-level undergraduate students in their electrical and computer engineering curriculum. Commercial field-programmable gate-array (FPGA)-based SOPC development boards with reduced instruction set computer (RISC) processor cores are used to support a wide variety of student design projects. A top-down rapid prototyping approach with commercial FPGA computer-aided design tools, a C compiler targeted for the RISC soft-processor core, and a large FPGA with memory is used and reused to support a wide variety of student projects.

Field-Programmable Analog Arrays: A Floating-Gate Approach, Tyson S. Hall

Faculty Works

Field-programmable analog arrays (FPAAs) provide a method for rapidly pro- totyping analog systems. Currently available commercial and academic FPAAs are typically based on operational amplifiers (or other similar analog primitives) with only a few computational elements per chip. While their specific architectures vary, their small sizes and often restrictive interconnect designs leave current FPAAs limited in functionality, flexibility, and usefulness. Recent advances in the area of floating-gate transistors have led to an analog technology that is very small, accurately programmable, and extremely low in power consumption. By leveraging the advantages of floating-gate devices, a large-scale FPAA is designed that dramatically …

An Introductory Digital Design Course Using A Low–Cost Autonomous Robot, Tyson S. Hall, Kimberly E. Newman, James O. Hamblen

Faculty Works

This paper describes a new digital design laboratory developed for undergraduate students in this electrical and computer engineering curriculum. A top-down rapid prototyping approach with commercial computer-aided design tools and field-programmable logic devices (FPLDs) is used for laboratory projects. Students begin with traditional transistor–transistor logic-based projects containing a few gates and progress to designing a simple 16-bit computer, using very high-speed integrated circuits hardware description language (VHDL) synthesis tools and an FPLD. To help motivate students, the simple computer design is programmed to control a small autonomous robot with two servo drive motors and several sensors. The laboratory concludes with …