Power Flow Modelling of Dynamic Systems - Introduction to Modern Teaching Tools

As tools for dynamic system modelling both conventional methods such as transfer function or state space representation and modern power flow based methods are available. The latter methods do not depend on energy domain, are able to preserve physical system structures, visualize power conversion or coupling or split, identify power losses or storage, run on conventional software and emphasize the relevance of energy as basic principle of known physical domains. Nevertheless common control structures as well as analysis and design tools may still be applied. Furthermore the generalization of power flow methods as pseudo-power flow provides with a universal tool for any dynamic modelling. The phenomenon of power flow constitutes an up to date education methodology. Thus the paper summarizes fundamentals of selected power flow oriented modelling methods, presents a Bond Graph block library for teaching power oriented modelling as compact menu-driven freeware, introduces selected examples and discusses special features.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures, 4 table

A Survey of Digital Systems Curriculum and Pedagogy in Electrical and Computer Engineering Programs

Digital Systems is one of the basic foundational courses in Electrical and Computer Engineering. One of the challenges in designing and modifying the curriculum for the course is the fast pace of technology change in the area. TTL chips that were in vogue with students building physical circuits, have given way to new paradigms like FPGA based synthesis with hardware description languages such as VHDL. However, updating a course is not as simple as just changing the book, and changing the syllabus. A large amount of work needs to be done in terms of selecting the book that will accommodate the course, the device that should be used, the laboratory content, and even how much time needs to be dedicated for every topic. All these issues, and many more makes it hard to take the decision of updating the course. For that reason, this paper surveys the pedagogy and methodology that is used to teach the digital systems curriculum at different universities. The goal is that it will serve as a resource for faculty looking to update or revamp their digital systems curricula. Within the document they will find a comparative study by electrical and computer engineering program, a list of textbooks, and the devices most commonly used.Cockrell School of Engineerin

Design of a 3 GHz fine resolution LC DCO

In this thesis, the design of a fine resolution LC digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) is introduced. Two NMOS varactor banks are used to achieve 12 bits medium and fine frequency tuning. Both delta-sigma modulator and capacitive divider circuit are implemented to achieve a finer resolution and a larger dynamic range. The LC-oscillator has a coarse tuning range from 3.05 GHz to 3.85 GHz and a fine tuning range of 50MHz. It features a phase noise level of -115dBc/Hz at 1MHz frequency offset and consumes 5.4mW. Efficient simulation methodology is explored. Finally, this DCO is simulated in an All-Digital Phase Locked Loop (ADPLL) with other ideal behavior blocks implemented using Verilog-A, and the performance of the DCO is evaluated.Electrical and Computer Engineerin

Principles of Modeling in Information Communication Systems and Networks

The authors present in this entry chapter the basic rubrics of models, modeling, and simulation, an un- derstanding of which is indispensible for the comprehension of subsequent chapters of this text on the all-important topic of modeling and simulation in Information Communication Systems and Networks (ICSN). A good example is the case of analyzing simulation results of traffic models as a tool for investigat- ing network behavioral pattarns as it affects the transmitted content (Atayero, et al., 2013). The various classifications of models are discussed, for example classification based on the degree of semblance to the original object (i.e. isomorphism). Various fundamental terminologies without the knowledge of which the concepts and models and modeling cannot be properly understood are explained. Model stuctures are highlighted and discussed. The methodological basis of formalizing complex system structures is presented. The concept of componential approach to modeling is presented and the necessary stages of mathematical model formation are examined and explained. The chapter concludes with a presentation of the concept of simulation vis-à-vis information communication systems and networks

SciTech News Volume 70, No. 4 (2016)

Columns and Reports From the Editor 3 Division News Science-Technology Division 4 SLA Annual Meeting 2016 Report (S. Kirk Cabeen Travel Stipend Award recipient) 6 Reflections on SLA Annual Meeting (Diane K. Foster International Student Travel Award recipient) 8 SLA Annual Meeting Report (Bonnie Hilditch International Librarian Award recipient)10 Chemistry Division 12 Engineering Division 15 Reflections from the 2016 SLA Conference (SPIE Digital Library Student Travel Stipend recipient)15 Fundamentals of Knowledge Management and Knowledge Services (IEEE Continuing Education Stipend recipient) 17 Makerspaces in Libraries: The Big Table, the Art Studio or Something Else? (by Jeremy Cusker) 19 Aerospace Section of the Engineering Division 21 Reviews Sci-Tech Book News Reviews 22 Advertisements IEEE 17 WeBuyBooks.net 2

Innovative teaching of IC design and manufacture using the Superchip platform

In this paper we describe how an intelligent chip architecture has allowed a large cohort of undergraduate students to be given effective practical insight into IC design by designing and manufacturing their own ICs. To achieve this, an efficient chip architecture, the “Superchip”, has been developed, which allows multiple student designs to be fabricated on a single IC, and encapsulated in a standard package without excessive cost in terms of time or resources. We demonstrate how the practical process has been tightly coupled with theoretical aspects of the degree course and how transferable skills are incorporated into the design exercise. Furthermore, the students are introduced at an early stage to the key concepts of team working, exposure to real deadlines and collaborative report writing. This paper provides details of the teaching rationale, design exercise overview, design process, chip architecture and test regime

Terrain Database Correlation Assessment Using an Open Source Tool

Configuring networked simulators for training military teams in a distributed environment requires the usage of a set of terrain databases to represent the same training area. The results of simulation exercises can be degraded if the terrain databases are poorly correlated. A number of methodologies for determining the correlation between terrain databaHowever, there are few computational tools for this task and most of them were developed to address government needs, have limited availability, and handle specific digital formats. The goal of this paper is thus to present a novel open source tool developed as part of an academic research project.Comment: 12 pages, I/ITSEC 201

Using a Conformal Water Bolus to Adjust Heating Patterns of Microwave Waveguide Applicators

Background: Hyperthermia, i.e., raising tissue temperature to 40-45°C for 60 min, has been demonstrated to increase the effectiveness of radiation and chemotherapy for cancer. Although multi-element conformal heat applicators are under development to provide more adjustable heating of contoured anatomy, to date the most often used applicator to heat superficial disease is the simple microwave waveguide. With only a single power input, the operator must be resourceful to adjust heat treatment to accommodate variable size and shape tumors spreading across contoured anatomy. Methods: We used multiphysics simulation software that couples electromagnetic, thermal and fluid dynamics physics to simulate heating patterns in superficial tumors from commercially available microwave waveguide applicators. Temperature distributions were calculated inside homogenous muscle and layered skin-fat-muscle-tumor-bone tissue loads for a typical range of applicator coupling configurations and size of waterbolus. Variable thickness waterbolus was simulated as necessary to accommodate contoured anatomy. Physical models of several treatment configurations were constructed for comparison of simulation results with experimental specific absorption rate (SAR) measurements in homogenous muscle phantom. Results: Accuracy of the simulation model was confirmed with experimental SAR measurements of three unique applicator setups. Simulations demonstrated the ability to generate a wide range of power deposition patterns with commercially available waveguide antennas by controllably varying size and thickness of the waterbolus layer. Conclusion: Heating characteristics of 915 MHz waveguide antennas can be varied over a wide range by controlled adjustment of microwave power, coupling configuration, and waterbolus lateral size and thickness. The uniformity of thermal dose delivered to superficial tumors can be improved by cyclic switching of waterbolus thickness during treatment to proactively shift heat peaks and nulls around under the aperture, thereby reducing patient pain while increasing minimum thermal dose by end of treatment. © (2017) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)