Electrical & Computer Engineering News:

UA Receives $541,000 for Systems Engineering Research

Dec. 7, 2007 — The University of Akron's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering has received three grants totaling more than $541,000 to fund research in secure data aggregation and next-generation automation systems

In collaboration with Rockwell Automation, an award of $235,000 will be used to advance research of reusable software components to address data aggregation in a variety of application domains.

“This research drives innovations in typed data aggregation to support condition monitoring, health assessment, and prognostics, and decision-support,” explains Dr. Shiva Sastry, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering.

Two additional grants — $280,000 from the National Science Foundation and $25,000 from the Ohio Board of Regents — were awarded to Sastry for research in sensor-actuator systems for automation systems in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University.

“Significant pieces of our nation's critical infrastructures depend on automation systems that satisfy tight safety and timing requirements,” says Sastry. “This research addresses issues that are critical for leveraging advances in networked embedded computing for next-generation automation systems.”   return

UA ECE Department Joins WCSSE's WENSSE

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Akron is now part of the Wright Center for Sensor Systems Engineering (WCSSE), which was recently funded by the state of Ohio.  The Wright Center is a consortium of several universities and industries. The University of Akron component of WCSSE is the Wireless Embedded Networked Sensor System Engineering Center (WENSSE) which will comprise several facilities including:

• The Sensor and Actuator Integration Facility

• The Embedded Computing Facility

• The Power Electronics Facility including the Battery Lab and Hybrid Vehicle Lab

• The Communications Facility

• The integrated circuit design Clean Room Facility

• The Coupled-conveyor Facility 

The department has allocated over 5000 ft² to WENSSE.  All of the WENSSE facilities are located in the Auburn Science and Engineering Center.  return

American Society of Civil Engineers Earth and Space Conference

Every two years, the Aerospace Division of the ASCE holds the Earth and Space Conference.  At this conference, there is a student robotics competition related to space exploration.  We have competed in 2006 and 2008.

Lunar Construction Robot

March, 2006 — A team of ECE Seniors competed in the Earth and Space Conference competition for the first time.  The task was to build a robot that would remotely drive around a lunar surface, find a buried lava tube which possibly held geothermal energy, clean sand off the lava tube, drill a hole in the lava tube, reseal the lava tube, disconnect from the lava tube, and drive away.  Our Seniors did very well, and won first place in the competition.  They did so well, in fact, that the particular lava tube problem was retired after that.

Space Tether Robot 

March, 2008 — A team of six ECE freshmen and two ECE sophomores returned to compete in the Earth and Space Conference competition.  The task was to build a robot that would climb a twenty foot tether.  There were three separate events, speed with batteries, speed with weight, and speed using beamed power.  Our students did very well, and had the strongest robot at the competition.  Our team of eight young students tied for first place in the competition with a group of seniors from the University of California Santa Cruz.   return

Trinity College Firefighting Robot Competition

Every year, Trinity College in Connecticut holds a Firefighting Robot Competition.  The essential task is to create an autonomous robot that will detect a fire in a house, navigate through the house around obstacles, find the fire, extinguish the fire, and return to its base.

In 2008, a team of ECE Seniors constructed a robot for this competition.  The robot contained an array of sensors, including ultraviolet flame detectors, ultrasonic rangers, infrared rangers, an on-board compass, and optical encoders for the wheels.  Our students got first place in the poster competition, and won an iRobot.  return

International Ground Vehicle Competition

Oakland University in Michigan hosts the annual Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition.  The task is to construct an autonomous vehicle smaller than a golf cart that will traverse a quarter mile course on the campus.  The course is bounded by white lines, and contains several types of obstacles.  Waypoints may be provided. 

In 2008, a team of ECE Seniors constructed a robot for this competition.  The robot was constructed on a donated wheel-chair base and contained an array of sensors, including a vision system, and on-board compass, and a 10cm GPS system.  Our students finished in the top 20 of the 47 teams competing.   return

National Robotics Challenge

The National Robotics Challenge is sponsored by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and held every year in Marion, OH.  There are roughly 15 events every year, with the highlight being the 150 lb. Sumo-bots.

Top of the Hill Lunar Robot

In 2007, a team of freshmen participated in The National Robotics Challenge: Top of the Hill Competition, which required a remote controlled robot to drive around a lunar surface (which was wood chips that year), pick up ping-pong balls, and place the balls on a platform at the top of a wood chip hill.  Our freshmen did very well in finishing third place and receiving a Bronze Award.

Robo-Hockey

In 2008, a team of four freshmen participated in The National Robotics Challenge: Robo-Hockey Competition, which required the construction of two remote controlled vehicles that played hockey against other teams.  Even though they scored the first goal of the day, our team finished with a Bronze Award, and spent a lovely evening snowed-in afterward.   return

ChallengeX and EcoCar

ChallengeX has been a four year competition to hybridize an SUV.  The University of Akron’s team has included over 100 students from ECE, ME, and Business.  The University provided a building and a machine shop with a high lift was donated.  GM and DOE provided a Chevy Equinox, which has now been thoroughly transformed into a series-parallel hybrid vehicle.  A unique feature of the vehicle is its ultracapacitor electrical energy storage bank.  Even though the competition has ended, the ChallengeX facility will continue to be used for other ongoing hybrid-electric vehicle projects.  return

NATCAR

NATCAR is an electronic slot-car race sponsored by the University of California-Davis.  The task is to design an autonomous vehicle that will track a wire which transmits a 75 kHz signal and is covered with reflective tape.  The track has some nearly right angled curves, and also crosses itself several times. 

In 2007, a team of ECE Seniors constructed a car for the competition.  The car had two main sensors, the RF sensor for the wire, and an array of optical sensors for the reflective tape.  The car also used a sophisticated control design, controlling both the car’s speed and front wheel heading.  Our students finished four at the competition.  return

The Future Energy Challenge

Every few years, the DOE sponsors the Future Energy Challenge, which has about five separate competitions.

In 2003, a team of ECE Seniors competed in an energy conversion competition.  The task was to create a 5kW power electronic converter for use with a fuel cell.  Our students finished sixth place in the world.  return

College of Engineering to Honor Distinguished ECE Alumni

April 3, 2008 — A graduate of The University of Akron's College of Engineering, ECE department will be honored at the college's annual Distinguished Alumni Awards Breakfast on Thursday, April 24.

Akron native Louis J. Ciraldo Sr. of Cuyahoga Falls graduated from North High School in 1944. Following graduation, he joined the U.S. Navy, serving in World War II. After the war, he enrolled at The University of Akron, graduating with a degree in electrical engineering.

He was subsequently hired by Goodyear, working there for 38 years in engineering and construction during the company's greatest expansion period, in which it built 21 domestic and 17 foreign plants. Since his retirement in 1987, Ciraldo has remained active in engineering, working in construction with his sons.   return