Courses (with Teaching Lab component)

Engineering Sciences

ES-1, ES-50, ES-53, ES-96, ES-100, ES-120, ES-122, ES-123, ES-125, ES-128, ES-130, ES-145, ES-151, ES-154, ES-159, ES-167, ES-174, ES-181, ES-190

Engineering Sciences 1: Introduction to Engineering Sciences

ES1 is a new course that introduces wide variety of topics that span the disciplines of electrical, mechanical, and tissue engineering. It provides theoretical background for technologies that are changing the ways in which we share information, manipulate the human body, and power the world. The electrical lab exercises designed for this course include analysis and modeling using Matlab, basic flashlight circuit assembling, soldering techniques and practices. The biological activities include introduction to the science of electrophoresis and DNA separation, the study of protein and DNA degradation, and a brief introduction to cancer cell screening.

Engineering Sciences 50: Introduction to Electrical Engineering

Many of ES50 lab experiments have been enhanced by the introduction of upgraded equipment and/or new approaches. New image acquisition and analysis experiment was added as well.

Engineering Sciences 53: Quantitative Physiology as a Basis for Bioengineering

This course explores the foundation of human organ systems physiology, including cardiac, respiratory, renal, gastrointestinal, and neural systems. It offers quantitative description of organ systems function and control in terms of physical principles and physiologic mechanisms. Hands-on lab studies include neural sensory systems (visual system and anatomy, peripheral vision, blind spot), neurophysiology (frequency analysis, auditory system -interaural time delay), galvanic skin response and the polygraph, Pulmonary System (volumes, capacities, and flow rates), aerobic exercise physiology, and glomerular filtration simulation.

Engineering Sciences 96 and Engineering Sciences 100: Junior/Senior Design Projects

Both courses are project-based student activities that require great level of teaching lab support. In the past five years, many sensors and remote data loggers have been upgraded and added for both courses. Some wireless communication devices have been purchased for the university campus connection and virtual classroom studies. Additionally, a new lab room for the EE/CS area projects (MD-room B128) has been dedicated for use by ES100 students.

Engineering Sciences 120: Introduction to the Mechanics of Solids

The following experiments have been introduced/upgraded in the ES120 lab:

Tensile test and Poissons ratio: Standard tensile tests are performed with the new Instron 3369 machine. In a typical test, Young’s modulus, yield stress, and several other material properties are recorded. In addition, Poisson’s ratio is measured by attaching strain gage rosettes to the tested samples.

Beam bending: Beam bending analysis is performed on an aluminum I-beam (15 feet long), equipped with strain gages and loaded with random weights.  Another experiment is done by using strain gages attached to metasamples loaded in a new 4-point bending fixture.

Trusses and column buckling: This lab consists of five different experiments: the first group of four experiments uses Pasco Structures System Truss Bridge set components. These truss experiments allow students to investigate member loading in a variety of configurations. The Pasco sets are used by ES120 students to build trusses with attached 100 N load cells and amplifier units. The assembled structures are connected to Pasco Xplorer GLX Graphing Data logger devices for direct load-cell readout. The last experiment of this Lab investigates Euler column buckling.  Students determine the load to failure as the length of a long thin ‘flagpole’ is reduced.

CAD Truss Design Competition: Using SolidWorks software, ES120 students work in groups of 4-5 to design structures that need to satisfy a number of requirements in terms of dimensions, load-bearing capabilities, and weight. The structures designed by the students are fabricated using the 3-dimensional (Dimension) rapid prototyping machine and tested with the Instron.

Engineering Sciences 122: Cellular Engineering/Engineering Sciences 222: Advanced Cellular Engineering

This course provides students with a solid background of the physical laws governing cellular homeostasis and the effect of tissue microenvironment on cell life, death, and differentiation. Hands-on lab activates explore the control of cellular function and genetic programs by adhesion to specified substrates.  Signal transduction pathways, cellular metabolic control, and cell motility are among the covered topics.

Engineering Sciences 123: Introduction to Fluid Mechanics & Transport Processes)

Investigating of the performance of a computer CPU cooling system.The goal of this experiment is to investigate the performance of the CPU of a computer as function of heat loss. A main computer “the observer” uses LabVIEW data acquisition software to monitor a second computer “the target”. The target unit is equipped with a water jacket cooling mechanism for removing heat from the CPU. The steady-state heat loss is investigated using parameters acquired through the data acquisition system and the Intel active monitor software. This program is used to evaluate the unit temperature and voltage changes during loading of the CPU. Students also use the Hotshot thermal-imaging camera to photographically investigation radiation heat loss and to illustrate the location of hotspots.

Engineering Sciences 125: Mechanical Systems

The following experiments have been introduced/upgraded to ES125 labs:

Response of First-Order Systems: LabVIEW software is used as a data acquisition tool to obtain an FFT of a signal from a function generator and from a choice of oscillating spring mass first-order systems.

Response of a Second-Order System: LabVIEW software is used to investigate the natural resonate frequency of a second-order system (the shaky table system) and corresponding damping frequency harmonics using the FFT methods learned in lab 1.

Air Damping Pendulum: LabVIEW software is used to investigate a pendulum with large angular motion and extreme air resistance using methods from previous labs.  Other demos for coupled pendulums, precession, and chaos analysis are available throughout the semester.

The Quanser Active Mass Damper Experiment: This experiment simulates active mass dampers used to suppress vibrations in tall structures to protect against earthquakes and wind. The aim of this exercise is to design a feedback controller that measures the cart position and the acceleration of the "roof" to dampen the vibrations of the structure effectively. The building-like structure is instrumented with an accelerometer to measure the acceleration of the "roof" relative to earth. Exercises in the analytical modeling and analysis using Matlab have been added and enhanced during the past years.

Engineering Sciences 128: Computational Solid and Structural Mechanics)

ABAQUS has been added for the class finite-element analysis exercises and class projects.

Engineering Sciences 130: Tissue Engineering/Engineering Sciences 230: Advanced Tissue Engineering

This course explores the fundamental engineering and biological principles underlying field of tissue engineering. Hands-on examples and strategies to engineer specific tissues for clinical use are offered. Lab experiments introduce students to 3-dimentional (3D) cell culture, a major technique used in the field of Tissue Engineering. Critical differences between 3D and more traditional 2D cell culture are presented, and students learn and use methods to fabricate materials and prepare 3-D cell culture to investigate variables that affect the spouting capability of endothelial cells.

Engineering Sciences 145: Physiological System Analysis

Many laboratory experiments and simulation exercises have been enhanced. During the past 2 years, the exercises’ focus had shifted to simulations and modeling using Simulink and Matlab.

Engineering Sciences 154: Electrical Devices and Circuits

Many laboratories experiments and simulation exercises have been enhanced between year 2003 and 2007.  In the fall of 2008, the exercises focus had been shifted to simulations and analysis.

Engineering Sciences 151: Electromagnetic Engineering

This course has been revamped this year, four class demos have been added (charge/discharge phenomena of a capacitor, transient (via switch and inductor) and steady (via resistors) electrical energy dissipation, RF signal transmission line characteristics).

Engineering Sciences 159: Introduction to Robotics

This newly added course contains state-of-the-art lab exercises, including industrial robot programming, simulation and control, as well as vision incorporation.

Engineering Sciences 167: Environmental Assessment

The analysis exercises of large datasets and their modeling using certain analytical tools have been added and enhanced.

Engineering Sciences 174: Photonic and Electronic Device Laboratory

The following set-ups have been introduced to ES174 labs:

Laser diode setup: Using Fabry-Perot and VCSEL, laser diodes characteristics are investigated and compared.
Focusing a Laser beam and beam confinement: Effects of beam spreading are investigated.

Single optical fibers: Studies coupling light from a diode laser into a single-mode optical fiber.

These experiment use set-ups consisting of the following components: Thorlabs LDC 205B 500mA Laser Diode Controllers, Thorlabs TED 200 Temperature Controllers, Newport 460P High-Performance Modular Ball Bearing linear stages, New Focus 9091, five-Axis Fiber Aligners, and Newport 1815-C Power Meters with 818-IR filters. 

Engineering Sciences 181: Engineering Thermodynamics

The following experiment has been introduced to ES181 labs, The Refrigeration cycle:  Students investigate the cooling characteristics of the ozone friendly refrigerant 134a used in a LabVolt refrigeration training system.  This Lab-Volt Refrigeration Training System Model 3431 teaches students the basics of refrigeration and thermodynamics. It features a 22-bit resolution data acquisition system that allows real-time monitoring of the temperature and pressure at critical points in the system. The system connects to a computer that runs Lab-Volt HVAC software to calculate system variables automatically. Parameters such as refrigeration capacity, COP, and superheat are studied.  A plotting function displays a real-time pressure-enthalpy diagram, and a trend recorder graphs the data acquired over time at the critical points.

Engineering Sciences 190: Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering

The following lab experiments have been introduced to course ES190:

Bragg bubble raft and dislocation theory: Dislocation theory of crystals and grain boundaries are investigated.

Tensile test of metals: State-of-the-art Instron machine is used to perform standard tensile tests on a variety of metal and metal alloy specimens.  Load and deflection data as well as material properties, elastic modulus and yield, are collected and analyzed.

Tensile test of plastics: The Instron machine is used to perform standard tensile tests on a selection of biodegradable plastic specimens.  Examined plastic samples are incubated in a controlled compost environment, and their material properties are recorded and compared to untreated control samples.

Applied Mathematics

AM 298r

Computer Science

CS-141, CS-143, CS-148

Computer Science 141: Computing Hardward

The 1,000,000-gate FPGAs with prototyping boards and interfaces have been in place with the new version of the software introduced. The related exercises have been revamped to work with the new hardware.

Computer Science 143: Computer Networks

A 50-mini-computer array rack has been added for the CPU clustering, network, and performance lab exercises. The array rack is also used for the networks design projects in CS144r (Networks design projects).

Computer Science 148: Design of VLSI Circuits and Systems

Upgraded and new CAD tools have been introduced over the past years (e.g. Cadence, Synopsys, and Mentor suite); the simulation exercises have been revamped and enhanced. The custom chip testing and analysis exercises along with the equipment have been upgraded.   

Workshops

• Mechanical Engineering: Introduction to Rapid Prototyping, 3-axis Milling & 3D Printing (past)