Electrical and Computer Engineering Commons^™

The Development Of A Cost-Effective And Optimized Dp-Spiv System For Fluid Turbulence Researches, Yu-Chi Chang, Yi-Hung Chang, Yaw-Huei Lee, Yi-Chih Chow

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Turbulent flows and issues of turbulence modeling have long been intriguing and important in fluid researches and practices. The mean or instantaneous velocity gradient tensors with six independent components, or other tensorial variables involving gradients, play a key role in turbulence dynamics and models. The advancement of the knowledge of these parameters relies on measurement systems built on sophisticated flow diagnostic techniques that enable both detailed and complete measurements. However, such systems seem inevitably complicated to operate and costly to build and maintain. Therefore, we develop and optimize a dual-plane stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (DP-SPIV) system that is much more …

Numerical Modeling Of Wave-Induced Rotations Of A Bottom-Hinged Flapper With A Sph Model, Da-Wei Chen, Shiaw-Yih Tzang, Chih-Min Hsieh, Yi-Chih Chow, Jiahn-Horng Chen, Chen-Chou Lin, Robert Rong-Jiann Hwang

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

In this study, a Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics model for simulating wave-induced rotations of a bottom-hinged flapper was established in a 2-D numerical wave flume. The simulated rotating angles illustrated that the flapper could swing back and forth following harmonic wave loadings. The simulations were also seen to be in good agreement with experimental data, confirming the applicability of the present numerical model. The simulated hydrodynamic behaviors at different phases showed that the flapper moved downstream under the wave crest and upstream under the wave trough following the elliptical form of water particle trajectory. The energy conversions of a flapper during …

Application Of Adaptive Variable Speed Back-Stepping Sliding Mode Controller For Pmlsm Position Control, Mei-Yung Chen, Jian-Shiun Lu

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

In this research, an adaptive variable speed back-stepping sliding mode controller (AVSBSMC) is proposed to control the permanent magnet linear synchronous motor (PMLSM) on high-precision positioning servo system platform. This controller combines the dynamic features of variable speed control (VSC) and the positioning characteristics of adaptive back-stepping sliding mode control (ABSMC). Firstly, the detailed dynamic machine model of PMLSM is established. Secondly, the proportional-integral-derivative (PID) and ABSMC controllers are proposed to compensate the uncertainties in position control. Then, the one provides the better servo performances is the position controller in the motor system. Thirdly, the variable speed controller (VSC) and …

Adaptive Teaching: An Effective Approach For Learner-Centric Classrooms, Rami J. Haddad, Youakim Kalaani

Electrical & Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

Adaptive Teaching: An Effective Approach for Learner-Centered Classrooms ABSTRACTWith the recent focus on student achievement, teachers are striving to improve the quality oftheir instruction methods to achieve a learner-centered environment in their classrooms. Thedifference in the students’ level of achievement in any specific course is mainly due to thedifference in the students’ aptitude for learning “Learning Style”. Unfortunately, the statictraditional teaching style “Chalk-&-Talk” which is still being used in engineering schools doesnot adapt to the changes in the cognitive profile of the student cohorts which reflects negativelyon the students’ achievement and performance, especially in engineering.In this paper, we discuss our …

Effect Of Z1/2, Eh5, And Ci1 Deep Defects On The Performance Of N-Type 4h-Sic Epitaxial Layers Schottky Detectors: Alpha Spectroscopy And Deep Level Transient Spectroscopy Studies, M. A. Mannan, S. K. Chaudhuri, K. V. Nguyen, K. C. Mandal

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Target Motion Estimation Techniques For Single-Channel Sar, Mark T. Crockett

Theses and Dissertations

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems are versatile, high-resolution radar imagers useful for providing detailed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, especially when atmospheric conditions are non-ideal for optical imagers. However, moving targets in SAR images are smeared. Along-track interferometry is a commonly-used method for extracting the motion parameters of moving targets but requires a dual-aperture SAR system, which may be power- size- or cost-prohibitive. This thesis presents a method of estimating target motion parameters in single-channel SAR data given geometric target motion constraints. I test this method on both simulated and actual SAR data. This estimation method includes an initial estimate, computation …

The Application Of Boundary Layer Climatology And Urban Wind Power Potential In Smarter Electricity Networks, Keith Sunderland, Gerald Mills

Other resources

Smart electricity networks that address energy demand, efficiency and sustainability concerns are predicated on the ability to capture renewable energy in a controllable manner. Such networks will have a particular role in cities, where increasing demand is inevitable but this requires that primary (renewable) energy resources, including that of wind, is better understood. In this paper, the role of wind energy systems, as integral components of a smarter urban electricity network, is considered using a model of the urban wind resourcein Dublin, Ireland that is based on boundary layer theory and meteorological observations. This model is used in conjunction with …

The Development Of Synthetic Wind Series Based On Gaussian And Non Gaussian Statistics, Thomas Woolmington, Keith Sunderland, Jonathan Blackledge

Conference papers

The ability to summarise the characteristics of turbulence into classical statistical models has long been a cause of intrigue for the wind energy industry. Currently, in the context of wind energy systems, a representation of turbulence is by a singular numerical value, turbulence intensity (TI), but the question is whether a classical statistic has the ability to accurately quantify the turbulence characteristic in question.

A 3.6 Ghz Doherty Power Amplifier With A 40 Dbm Saturated Output Power Using Gan On Sic Hemt Devices, Bryant Baker

Dissertations and Theses

This manuscript describes the design, development, and implementation of a linear high efficiency power amplifier. The symmetrical Doherty power amplifier utilizes TriQuint's 2nd Generation Gallium Nitride (GaN) on Silicon Carbide (SiC) High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) devices (T1G6001032-SM) for a specified design frequency of 3.6 GHz and saturated output power of 40 dBm. Advanced Design Systems (ADS) simulation software, in conjunction with Modelithic's active and passive device models, were used during the design process and will be evaluated against the final measured results. The use of these device models demonstrate a successful first-pass design, putting less dependence on classical load …

Broadband, Non-Destructive Characterisation Of Pec-Backed Materials Using A Dual-Ridged-Waveguide Probe, Milo W. Hyde Iv, Michael J. Havrilla

Faculty Publications

A new probe which utilises a dual-ridged waveguide to provide broadband, non-destructive (ND) material characterisation measurements of a perfect electric conductor (PEC)-backed material is introduced. The new probe possesses a bandwidth similar to existing coaxial probes and is structurally robust like rectangular waveguide probes. The combinations of these two qualities make it especially attractive for ND inspection/evaluation applications in the field. The theoretical development of the dual-ridged-waveguide probe is discussed. A magnetic field integral equation is derived by applying Love’s equivalence theorem and enforcing the continuity of transverse fields at the dual-ridged-waveguide aperture. The magnetic field integral equation is then …

Road Profile Sensor: A Detection Method For Active Suspension Systems, Matthew Edel

Honors Projects

Abstract—Active suspension systems adjust the suspension components of an automobile to adapt to bumps or potholes that are encountered in the road as the vehicle is driving. These systems have the potential to improve safety, performance, and ride comfort in automobiles. An integral part of active suspension systems is a device to detect irregularities in the road. Current detection systems that are available lack either in precision, resolution, or speed. A senior design project, Dynamic Automatic Adjusting Suspension (DAAS), at Seattle Pacific University expressed a need for a high-performance road scanner that could be paired with their suspension system. The …

Pb: Project Battery - A Portable In-Home Power System, Devin Blaney, Brian Fahey, Amanda Tran

Electrical and Computer Engineering Senior Theses

Renewable energy resources are abundant in most developing countries. These sources include solar energy, wind power, geothermal energy, and biomass. Even though these sources are readily available, most villages in these developing countries do not have access to power in their homes because electricity grid extensions are often not affordable. This leaves the people in developing countries lacking resources that most of us take for granted here in the US. They don't have access to electrical power and light. This forces the people of these areas to use toxic kerosene lamps, which pollute the environment and increase health issues. This …

Greenmission: An Off-Grid Energy System, Richard Dobbins, Andrew Izawa, Tyler Marting, John Nolan

Electrical and Computer Engineering Senior Theses

In alignment with Santa Clara University's sustainability ideology, the outdoor science school WaldenWest desired to further its students' education through a greenhouse with working electricity. Following greenhouse purchase and assembly, underground wiring for AC, DC and Ethernet lines were sized and installed. A substation was then designed and built in a designated shed, integrating wind turbines and photovoltaics rom past capstone projects. New charge controllers, batteries and circuit breakers were urchased and configured for the system. Worst-case electrical load and solar shading analyses also revealed that these older energy sources were collectively inadequate, so a secondary solar array was designed …

Solution Processable Novel Organic Electronic Devices For New Generation Biomedical Applications, Munish Puri

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The following dissertation addresses a novel low cost process developed to fabricate a Vertical Organic Field Effect Transistor (VOFET). The solution processable VOFET is designed, fabricated and tested in the context of bioengineering domains. The scope of distinct biomedical applications has also been explored.

Organic thin-film transistors are gathering industrial attention as a potential candidate for future electronics analogous to silicon technology. Low fabrication cost, structural miniaturization and low operational voltage are the challenges for fabricating an Organic Field Effect Transistor (OFET). To create these devices, OFETs require new design paradigms and wet processing routes. However, conventional lateral OFET geometry …

Distributed Smart Camera Network For Safety And Security, Nathan Fox, Matthew Kelley, Christopher Rapa, Christopher Yarp

Interdisciplinary Design Senior Theses

Current CCTV surveillance solutions are generally retrospective tools. Because real time use of CCTV requires human monitors to view a potentially exorbitant number of video feeds, CCTV is usually only useful after an incident has occurred. However, new technologies are making it possible for machines to perform some tasks that previously required a human monitor. The proposed project seeks to augment existing CCTV systems with behavioral analytics. The system uses a series of cameras, FPGAs, and computers to track object movement throughout a facility. This information is used to build a model of normal movement. Object movements are compared against …

Footwear And Wrist Communication Links Using 2.4 Ghz And Uwb Antennas, Domenico Gaetano, Patrick Mcevoy, Max Ammann, Colm Brannigan, Louise Keating, Frances Horgan

Articles

It is reported that wearable electronic devices are to be used extensively in the next generation of sensors for sports and health monitoring. The information obtained from sensors on the human body depends on the biological parameters, the measurement rate and the number of sensors. The choice of the wireless protocol depends on the required data rates and on system configurations. The communication link quality is achieved with narrowband technologies such as Bluetooth or Zigbee, provided that the number of sensors is small and data rates are low. However, real-time measurements using wideband channels may also be necessary. This paper …

High Energy Battery Team Capstone Project Report, Evan Bowen, Brandon Cash, John Edinger, Matt Muller

James Madison Undergraduate Research Journal (JMURJ)

James Madison University’s High Energy Battery Team was commissioned in Fall 2011 to conceptualize, design, prototype, test, and construct a high voltage, high amperage battery pack capable of powering an all-electric motorcycle at a speed of 70 miles per hour for a minimum of 150 miles. Key design goals were to minimize volume and weight and to maximize power output, reliability, and serviceability. This project report details the Team’s work to develop a battery “sub-pack” using 18650-type lithium ion cells which could be used (in a full-size battery pack) to power a future version of the motorcycle. The ultimate project …

Moisture Sensors On Conductive Substrates, Zhi David Chen, Ibrahim Yucedag

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Patents

A moisture sensor includes a first electrode (a conductive substrate) having a first sensor portion and a first terminal portion as well as a second electrode having a second sensor portion and a second terminal portion. The moisture sensor also includes a layer of porous dielectric material sandwiched between the first sensor portion and the second sensor portion. Further the moisture sensor includes a layer of dense insulating material sandwiched between the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion. Leads are then connected to the two terminal portions.

Arsenic Detection Project: Electronics, Anthony Clemetson, John Barth

Interdisciplinary Design Senior Theses

This project is a collaboration with a team of bioengineers to adapt the functionality of laboratory equipment onto a platform which could be used in the field to determine the concentration levels of toxins in ground water. To this end, using a set of printed electrodes, a device was designed and fabricated with the constraints of field use in mind: low power, low cost, with a mobile user interface. An Android phone served as the mobile user interface, and also as the power supply for the circuit and microcontroller that performed the test. This circuit applied a stimulus voltage across …

An Assessment Model For Energy Efficiency Program Planning In Electric Utilities: Case Of The Pacific Of Northwest U.S.A., Ibrahim Iskin

Dissertations and Theses

Energy efficiency stands out with its potential to address a number of challenges that today's electric utilities face, including increasing and changing electricity demand, shrinking operating capacity, and decreasing system reliability and flexibility. Being the least cost and least risky alternative, the share of energy efficiency programs in utilities' energy portfolios has been on the rise since the 1980s, and their increasing importance is expected to continue in the future. Despite holding great promise, the ability to determine and invest in only the most promising program alternatives plays a key role in the successful use of energy efficiency as a …

Impact Of Net Metering On Customers Saving, Abdullah F. Albaker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of net metering on customers engagement. Brief discussions about net metering, its purpose, its challenges and benefits, and the history of net metering in the United States are included within the thesis. The thesis illustrates the net-metering rules, regulations and policies in the United States, and it shows that they are applied in 43 states plus the District of Columbia. Nevertheless, It has clearly seen that they are not similar in all states.

The thesis then identifies the impacts of net metering on utilities and solar power owners in particular. …

Application Of Energy Storage In Power Systems, Khalid M. Alqunun

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to determine the advantages of using energy storage systems. This study presents a model for energy storage in electric power systems. The model involves methods of reducing the operation cost of a power network and the calculation of capital cost of energy storage systems. Two test systems have been considered, the IEEE six-bus system and the IEEE 118-bus system, to analyze the impact of energy storage on power system economic operation. Properties of energy storage have been considered such as rated power investment cost and rated energy investment cost. Mixed integer programming has been …

Fort-Nocs: Mitigating The Threat Of A Compromised Noc, Dean Michael Ancajas, Koushik Chakraborty, Sanghamitra Roy

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

In this paper, we uncover a novel and imminent threat to an emerging computing paradigm: MPSoCs built with 3rd party IP NoCs. We demonstrate that a compromised NoC (C-NoC) can enable a range of security attacks with an accomplice software component. To counteract these threats, we propose Fort-NoCs, a series of techniques that work together to provide protection from a C-NoC in an MPSoC. Fort-NoCs's foolproof protection disables covert backdoor activation, and reduces the chance of a successful side-channel attack by "clouding" the information obtained by an attacker. Compared to recently proposed techniques, Fort-NoCs offers a substantially better protection with …

Sparsity-Based Edge Noise Removal From Bilevel Graphical Document Images, Thai V. Hoang, Elisa H. Barney Smith, Salvatore Tabbone

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper presents a new method to remove edge noise from graphical document images using geometrical regularities of the graphics contours that exist in the images. Denoising is understood as a recovery problem and is accomplished by employing a sparse representation framework in the form of a basis pursuit denoising algorithm. Directional information of the graphics contours is encoded by atoms in an overcomplete dictionary which is designed to match the input data. The optimal precision parameter used in this framework is shown to have a linear relationship with the level of the noise that exists in the image. Experimental …

Phase Control And Fast Start-Up Of A Magnetron Using Modulation Of An Addressable Faceted Cathode, J. Browning, S. Fernandez-Gutierrez, M. C. Lin, D. N. Smithe, J. Watrous

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The use of an addressable, faceted cathode has been proposed as a method of modulating current injection in a magnetron to improve performance and control phase. To implement the controllable electron emission, five-sided and ten-sided faceted planar cathodes employing gated field emitters are considered as these emitters could be fabricated on flat substrates. For demonstration, the conformal finite-difference time-domain particle-in-cell simulation, as implemented in VORPAL, has been used to model a ten-cavity, rising sun magnetron using the modulated current sources and benchmarked against a typical continuous current source. For the modulated, ten-sided faceted cathode case, the electrons are injected from …

Nondestructive Evaluation Of Mechanically Stabilized Earth Walls With Frequency-Modulated Continuous Wave (Fm-Cw) Radar, Mohammad Tayeb Ahmad Ghasr, Yi Bao, Kuang Ying, K. M. Combs, R. Zoughi, Genda Chen

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Effective techniques for a nondestructive evaluation of mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls during normal operation or immediately after an earthquake event are yet to be developed. MSE walls often have a rough surface finishing for the purpose of decoration and are reinforced with both horizontal and vertical steel bars. Two wide-band microwave inspection approaches were investigated for detecting and evaluating characteristics of materials behind an MSE wall section. The first approach used spot measurements with a wide-band frequency-modulated continuous wave (FM-CW) radar system. While effective to penetrate through mortar blocks in the laboratory, the radar system was found to have …

Ultraviolet Led Biofouling Mitigation, Andrew Lam

Computer Engineering

The goal is to determine if low-cost UV LEDs can mitigate marine biofouling on small glass or acrylic camera lenses. A microprocessor-controlled experimental setup to control the illumination of low-cost UV LEDs of various wavelength and packaging was fashioned. The system consists of a programmed microcontroller, a manufactured LED breakout interface, and a submergible UV LED array enclosed in a borosilicate glass tube. A preliminary qualitative assessment of four different UV LEDs was conducted during a three-week deployment of the experimental setup in the raw seawater system at the Cal Poly Center for Costal and Marine Sciences in Avila Beach, …

Smart Wall Outlet Design And Implementation For The Dc House Project, Kevin Roy Mendoza

Master's Theses

Most everyday AC appliances are designed to operate off of 120V coming from the wall outlet in our homes. This voltage is a standard set from our established infrastructure. Unlike AC devices, DC devices do not have any set standard of voltage they all will run off of. This presents a problem for the DC house as the various loads that will be used will have different required input voltages. One set voltage for a wall outlet will not suffice for the DC House. This Smart Wall Outlet is designed with a DC-DC converter that will have its output voltage …

A Frequency-Domain Method For Active Acoustic Cancellation Of Known Audio Sources, Ryan D. Rocha

Master's Theses

Active noise control (ANC) is a real-time process in which a system measures an external, unwanted sound source and produces a canceling waveform. The cancellation is due to destructive interference by a perfect copy of the received signal phase-shifted by 180 degrees. Existing active noise control systems process the incoming and outgoing audio on a sample-by-sample basis, requiring a high-speed digital signal processor (DSP) and analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) with strict timing requirements on the order of tens of microseconds. These timing requirements determine the maximum sample rate and bit size as well as the maximum attenuation that the system can …

Crotale Sample Library, Ryan Waczek

Music

This report will discuss the process of creating a digital sample based library for musical applications. Topics such as recording, microphone placement, and mixing will be addressed; as well as elements of design in Adobe Photoshop, and computer scripting in the language of the computer program Komplete 5 by Native Instruments. The instrument sampled is the crotales, an orchestral, melodic percussion instrument.