All workstations have network complete internet connection access. External connectivity includes to the Ohio Supercomputer Center, as well as the National Science Foundation (NSF) Supercomputers through local area networks and NSF net backbone. The College of Engineering network backbone is scheduled for a major hardware upgrade at the end of the Fall ’02 term. This upgrade will facilitate the existing network configuration with an additional 16-port gigabit (twisted pair) module. The research systems supporting the high speed hardware will be connected to this new module. This network hardware upgrade will establish a 10-gigabit connection speed with the Universities network system.

DEC Tru64 Unix, IBM AIX 4.14, Sun Solaris 5.8 , Redhat Linux 8.0 and Windows XP comprise the respective operating system software. FORTRAN, C, C++ compilers encompass the development software resident on these systems together with the MIT X11R6 window environment, either directly through the unix/linux platforms or with the Exceed softare resident on the Windows XP systems..

In addition, numerous versions of large-scale software such as ABAQUS, CFX, MSC PATRAN, LS-DYNA, and FLUENT are made available. With this computing capability, the Computational Mechanics Lab provides the College of Engineering faculty with enhanced abilities to produce scholarly research as well as train graduate students in computational engineering.


VLSI and Real-Time Computation Laboratory
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This laboratory is used for research at the Masters and Ph.D. level. It is also used for undergraduate senior design projects, and classes in very large scale integration (VLSI) and computer architecture. Research projects in progress focus on the implementation of computationally intensive digital systems that require real or near-real time response. These projects include work that uses field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) to implement digital control systems with high bandwidth requirements, wavelet-based image compression, and signal de-noising applications. The laboratory houses commercial computer-aided design software for VLSI and FPGA-based systems, and equipment for building and testing digital hardware systems.


Applied Magnetics and Nondestructive Testing Laboratory

A unique laboratory that combines computer modeling with electromagnetic fields work and nondestructive testing. The laboratory is equipped with workstations for local processing of graphics data and computation of fields. These workstations are connected via fast fiber optics link to the University Computer Center and from there to the supercomputing facilities of Cleveland, Columbus, Pittsburgh and Washington D.C. Other equipment include magnetic measurement equipment, X-Y positioners, an optical bench for accurate measurements, eddy current measuring instruments, and fast A/D and data acquisition equipment. Ultrasonic research for medical applications and nondestructive testing are also conducted in this laboratory.


Controls Research Laboratory
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The control research lab is equipped for control system simulation and design computations. The main software and hardware tools provide capability for real-time code generation and control.

Power Electronics and Motion Controls Laboratory
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The power electronics and motion controls laboratory is well equipped with instruments, components and test facilities for experimental prototype development of power electronic circuits, converters and drives for motor control. The laboratory has ample computers and application packages for simulation of novel research ideas prior to prototype development. The laboratory has power capabilities of 220/115Vac, 3-phase, 38kW supply from Ohio Edison, capabilities of dc and ac generation, and 400Hz and 1000Hz three-phase generators. The laboratory has various dc, synchronous, induction, permanent magnet and switched reluctance machines ranging from fractional hp to 10kW for testing of control schemes and inverter drives. Load testing is made possible with the help of 5kW and 3kW dynamometers. The laboratory is equipped with state-of the art digital oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, data acquisition systems, DSP developmental tools, and a large selection of digital meters, signal generators, power supplies, and torque, position, speed and acceleration transducers.


Speech Processing Laboratory

Equipped with specialized measuring instruments, it is a laboratory for research in speech recognition and processing. Among others, it features a sonograph and a number of personal computers with special speech boards, a vocoder, and an audio equipment for recording and processing of speech data.


Computing Facilities

In addition to the computing facilities in the department, which includes a wide variety of personal computers and workstations, the University Computer Cluster is available for graduate research work. The center maintains an IBM 9672-R41 and a Dec Alpha system. The IBM 9672-R41, which is commonly known as the megaserver, can work as a server or as a mainframe. The computing facilities in the department on campus are connected to the computer center through a fiber-optic link at 56K baud. A gateway from the computer center connects to the Ohio Supercomputer Center (OSC) in Columbus at 56K baud. The OSC has five mid-range supercomputers for use by the consortium state universities of Ohio which includes the University of Akron. These machines include Cray Y-MP8/8128, Cray T3D, Convex SP1200/EX 16, IBM SP2, and C3PO. Of particular importance to our research program is the Engineering Computer and Networking Services (ECNS). This is a specialized facility maintained by the College of Engineering and includes a networked cluster of HP9000 workstations running on Unix.


Optical Research Laboratory
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SERCOS Research
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Pervasive Automation Lab

The Pervasive Automation Laboratory is a state of the art laboratory that is used to explore architectures, communication protocols, software infrastructures, and security mechanisms for future generations of automation systems. This laboratory hosts a comprehensive Mircrofactory for discrete automation and a collection of drive-motor sets for work in motion control. Discrete and Motion control applications are controlled using traditional industrial controllers. We are exploring mechanisms to control these applications using an emerging wireless network of sensors and actuators.

Undergraduate Facilities