Electrical Engineering Projects

Key Objective:
The First Year Program at the University of Arkansas teaches Excel by using spreadsheet problems. The students are given a problem, and they must work as a group to calculate the answer using Excel. To make the task more interesting there needs to be a device that operates like an escape room lock. The instructor will program the lock with the correct answers. When the answers are entered correctly the lock will move or rotate indicating the answer has been entered and it is correct. After some number of answers, the lock will open.
Expected Deliverables:
1. Development of an engineering man-hour budget and schedule for the project with tracking of hours spent on each task (for comparison to actual budgeted engineering man-hours, presented a each design review).
2. Research and analyze methods currently used to perform the task. Analysis should include performance, adaptability, efficiency, cost, ease of use a practical limits on manufacturing (part size and cost).
3. Based on research determine/develop specifications for a prototype.
4. Biweekly meetings with Dr. Silke Spiesshoefer or Mr. Robert Saunders to mentor and review progress.
5. Project design reviews (to be identified in project schedule).
6. End-of-semester report must include research analysis, final product description, complete schematics, PCB artwork, program flow chart, mechanical drawings, parts list, workflow plan for spring and projected cost. (Budget determined by Dr. Spiesshoefer and Robert Saunders).

Key Objectives:
Customer has a prototype of an improved levee-based irrigation system and needs design changes for long-term operation and lower production costs. He would also like to add power assist with wireless operation and monitoring as an option. Based on previous years’ work this team will be tasked to cut costs, enhance features, and deliver a working prototype.  Working with CSCE and MEEG students the design must be fit, form, and function of previous work.
Expected Deliverables:
1. Development of an engineering man-hour budget and schedule for the project with tracking of hours spent on each task (for comparison to actual budgeted engineering man-hours, presented a each design review).
2. Research and analyze methods currently used to perform the task. Analysis should include performance, adaptability, efficiency, cost, ease of use a practical limits on manufacturing (part size and cost).
3. Based on research determine/develop specifications for a prototype.
4. Biweekly meetings with Dr. Silke Spiesshoefer or Mr. Robert Saunders to mentor and review progress.
5. Project design reviews (to be identified in project schedule).
6. End-of-semester report must include research analysis, final product description, complete schematics, PCB artwork, program flow chart, mechanical drawings, parts list, workflow plan for spring and projected cost. (Budget determined by Dr. Spiesshoefer and Robert Saunders).

Key Objective:
This is a device separates under tension to prevent patient injury.  There needs to be an extremely low cost method to determine if the device is fully engaged. Working with the MEEG students and the company devise a method that will be integrated into the IV plug that will alert the clinical professional if the plug is not fully engaged.
Expected Deliverables:
1. Development of an engineering man-hour budget and schedule for the project with tracking of hours spent on each task (for comparison to actual budgeted engineering man-hours, presented a each design review).
2. Research and analyze methods currently used to perform the task. Analysis should include performance, adaptability, efficiency, cost, ease of use a practical limits on manufacturing (part size and cost).
3. Based on research determine/develop specifications for a prototype.
4. Biweekly meetings with Dr. Silke Spiesshoefer or Mr. Robert Saunders to mentor and review progress.
5. Project design reviews (to be identified in project schedule).
6. End-of-semester report must include research analysis, final product description, complete schematics, PCB artwork, program flow chart, mechanical drawings, parts list, workflow plan for spring and projected cost. (Budget determined by Dr. Spiesshoefer and Robert Saunders).

Key Objective:
Local Northwest Arkansas Pathology Associate Dr. Philip Ferguson seeks to provide access to tissue processing services alongside partners Samaritan’s Purse and Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons (PAACS) to improve disease diagnosis in lower-income countries. Commercial tissue processing units cost upwards of $100,000 but this project provides an alternative, costing less than $2,000 while being built from off-the-shelf parts and shipped via a footlocker. 
Expected Deliverables:
1. Development of an engineering man-hour budget and schedule for the project with tracking of hours spent on each task (for comparison to actual budgeted engineering man-hours, presented a each design review).
2. Research and analyze methods currently used to perform the task. Analysis should include performance, adaptability, efficiency, cost, ease of use a practical limits on manufacturing (part size and cost).
3. Based on research determine/develop specifications for a prototype.
4. Biweekly meetings with Dr. Silke Spiesshoefer or Mr. Robert Saunders to mentor and review progress.
5. Project design reviews (to be identified in project schedule).
6. End-of-semester report must include research analysis, final product description, complete schematics, PCB artwork, program flow chart, mechanical drawings, parts list, workflow plan for spring and projected cost. (Budget determined by Dr. Spiesshoefer and Robert Saunders).

Key Objective:
Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation (AECC) is inviting a select group of Electrical Engineering students from the University of Arkansas to develop a protective relaying and control design for a 69-13.2kV distribution substation and 69kV transmission line and prepare relay coordination and setting calculations of the completed design.
Expected Deliverables:
1. Detailed project schedule identifying milestones that must be achieved to meet substation energization. This includes updating the schedule as needed.
2. Regular status reports and design review meetings (using Teams, Skype, Google Hangout, or in person). AECC prefers using Microsoft Teams if it is available for the students.
3. Full drawing set as detailed above in AutoCAD .dwg format using AECC’s drawing templates.
4. Comprehensive design report covering design process, assumptions, calculations, short circuit and coordination results, limitations, and other relevant information.
5. Final presentation to AECC Engineering and U of A members – “lessons learned” and future recommendations section are required.
6. AeCC may periodically require the project team to complete oral quizzes conducted by AECC. These quizzes are helpful to AECC in determining the level of knowledge and understanding acquired by individual team members about technical concepts.

Key Objective:
Students will design and build a device that will monitor, record, and analyze data that leads up to a transistor latch-up.  A physical set-up must be designed to allow devices to be electrically exercised to the point where the device will latch-up occur.  Enough data must be recorded to allow the user to determine the conditions of the latch-up.  This data must be transferred to a device for graphical display and analysis. This design will be based on last year’s design. The device will be updated to be more flexible and will be redesigned to external components.
Expected Deliverables:
1. Development of an engineering man-hour budget and schedule for the project with tracking of hours spent on each task (for comparison to actual budgeted engineering man-hours, presented a each design review).
2. Research and analyze methods currently used to perform the task. Analysis should include performance, adaptability, efficiency, cost, ease of use a practical limits on manufacturing (part size and cost).
3. Based on research determine/develop specifications for a prototype.
4. Biweekly meetings with Dr. Silke Spiesshoefer or Mr. Robert Saunders to mentor and review progress.
5. Project design reviews (to be identified in project schedule).
6. End-of-semester report must include research analysis, final product description, complete schematics, PCB artwork, program flow chart, mechanical drawings, parts list, workflow plan for spring and projected cost. (Budget determined by Dr. Spiesshoefer and Robert Saunders).

Key Objective:
This system is intended to create a fan curve for the shaft-mounted cooling device. To create a fan curve, speed, and torque must be measured at various points. Fan power can then be calculated from these two measured values. Automation of the test is required. A control program must be written that will have an input of start speed, end speed, and increments. It will then control the VFD, through either serial communication or analog output, to operate at a specific speed. Once the speed is reached and the system reaches a steady state, RPM and torque measurements will be taken.
Expected Deliverables:
1. Development of an engineering man-hour budget and schedule for the project with tracking of hours spent on each task (for comparison to actual budgeted engineering man-hours, presented a each design review).
2. Research and analyze methods currently used to perform the task. Analysis should include performance, adaptability, efficiency, cost, ease of use a practical limits on manufacturing (part size and cost).
3. Based on research determine/develop specifications for a prototype.
4. Biweekly meetings with Dr. Silke Spiesshoefer or Mr. Robert Saunders to mentor and review progress.
5. Project design reviews (to be identified in project schedule).
6. End-of-semester report must include research analysis, final product description, complete schematics, PCB artwork, program flow chart, mechanical drawings, parts list, workflow plan for spring and projected cost. (Budget determined by Dr. Spiesshoefer and Robert Saunders).

Key Objective:
Each year as communities continue to develop, the load demand from customers to respective utilities gradually increases. This year, students at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville will need to develop a design for a 69/13.2kV Modular Substation. It should be noted that the senior design team will have slightly modified first and second-semester deliverables with respect to other senior design projects. The first will be project development and the second semester will be project execution. During each semester month, the design team must document their progress for review by the sponsor to aid with the deliverables set forth by the University in this course.  
Expected Deliverables:
1. Development of an engineering man-hour budget and schedule for the project with tracking of hours spent on each task (for comparison to actual budgeted engineering man-hours, presented a each design review).
2. Research and analyze methods currently used to perform the task. Analysis should include performance, adaptability, efficiency, cost, ease of use a practical limits on manufacturing (part size and cost).
3. Based on research determine/develop specifications for a prototype.
4. Biweekly meetings with Dr. Silke Spiesshoefer or Mr. Robert Saunders to mentor and review progress.
5. Project design reviews (to be identified in project schedule).
6. End-of-semester report must include research analysis, final product description, complete schematics, PCB artwork, program flow chart, mechanical drawings, parts list, workflow plan for spring and projected cost. (Budget determined by Dr. Spiesshoefer and Robert Saunders).

Key Objective:
The device described uses 360-degree 3D lidar and 3D vision/night cameras to monitor the surroundings of a 3D-printed Faraday structure, which consists of three chambers in a tower design.

1. Top chamber: A Faraday chamber equipped with temperature sensors and a laser grid to detect movement. The external temperature will also be monitored for comparison with internal temperatures. A low-cost electromagnetic sensor will detect changes outside, similar to a RIM POD.

2. Middle chamber: Open, with holographic displays visible from all sides. The displays feature two figures: one representing external detections (changing size and color based on proximity and temperature changes) and another for internal detections (growing larger with detected movement inside and changing color based on temperature). Temperature values will be displayed on the holographic screen, and the device will play music based on detected external or internal activity.

3. Bottom chamber: Another Faraday chamber to house electronics and computer components, with shielding to prevent external interference. The device can send signals to a mobile app, which will allow users to adjust its features.

Expected Deliverables:
1. Development of an engineering man-hour budget and schedule for the project with tracking of hours spent on each task (for comparison to actual budgeted engineering man-hours, presented a each design review).
2. Research and analyze methods currently used to perform the task. Analysis should include performance, adaptability, efficiency, cost, ease of use a practical limits on manufacturing (part size and cost).
3. Based on research determine/develop specifications for a prototype.
4. Biweekly meetings with Dr. Silke Spiesshoefer or Mr. Robert Saunders to mentor and review progress.
5. Project design reviews (to be identified in project schedule).
6. End-of-semester report must include research analysis, final product description, complete schematics, PCB artwork, program flow chart, mechanical drawings, parts list, workflow plan for spring and projected cost. (Budget determined by Dr. Spiesshoefer and Robert Saunders).

Key Objectives:
1. Optimize Performance: Enhance the efficiency and accuracy of the current
2. Electrical Discharge Machining prototype.
Innovate with Automation: Integrate control systems for autonomous operation.
Expected Deliverables:
1. Development of an engineering man-hour budget and schedule for the project with tracking of hours spent on each task (for comparison to actual budgeted engineering man-hours, presented a each design review).
2. Research and analyze methods currently used to perform the task. Analysis should include performance, adaptability, efficiency, cost, ease of use a practical limits on manufacturing (part size and cost).
3. Based on research determine/develop specifications for a prototype.
4. Biweekly meetings with Dr. Silke Spiesshoefer or Mr. Robert Saunders to mentor and review progress.
5. Project design reviews (to be identified in project schedule).
6. End-of-semester report must include research analysis, final product description, complete schematics, PCB artwork, program flow chart, mechanical drawings, parts list, workflow plan for spring and projected cost. (Budget determined by Dr. Spiesshoefer and Robert Saunders).

Key Objective:
Create a power supply that meets the following requirements:
1. Unisolated DC/DC
2. Input: 12 VDC
3. Output: 0 to 2000 VDC at 60-100 mA
4. Pinout same as part from Ultravolt power supply
Expected Deliverables:
1. Development of an engineering man-hour budget and schedule for the project with tracking of hours spent on each task (for comparison to actual budgeted engineering man-hours, presented a each design review).
2. Research and analyze methods currently used to perform the task. Analysis should include performance, adaptability, efficiency, cost, ease of use a practical limits on manufacturing (part size and cost).
3. Based on research determine/develop specifications for a prototype.
4. Biweekly meetings with Dr. Silke Spiesshoefer or Mr. Robert Saunders to mentor and review progress.
5. Project design reviews (to be identified in project schedule).
6. End-of-semester report must include research analysis, final product description, complete schematics, PCB artwork, program flow chart, mechanical drawings, parts list, workflow plan for spring and projected cost. (Budget determined by Dr. Spiesshoefer and Robert Saunders).