Paper Session III-C - Development of a Limited Undergraduate and Graduate Space Studies Curricula

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) began developing a non-technical space studies curricula by introducing an undergraduate minor in 1990. Careful planning of the curriculum and favorable student interest in the space subjects assisted in the success of the nine-course program. The success of the minor has allowed the University to study the creation of broader undergraduate and graduate degree programs in space studies subjects. Developing a graduate program is more difficult than undergraduate programs because of the necessary ties to a strong undergraduate curriculum and because of the need for supporting courses and experienced faculty members. The structure and delivery of the graduate space studies curriculum at ERAU was developed within an already-existing program, the Masters of Aeronautical Science. Details of the needs study and both graduate and undergraduate curriculum are presented as examples of a limited and successful space curriculum development

ROPES : an expert system for condition analysis of winder ropes

Includes bibliographical references.This project was commissioned in order to provide engineers with the necessary knowledge of steel wire winder ropes so that they may make accurate decisions as to when a rope is near the end of its useful life. For this purpose, a knowledge base was compiled from the experience of experts in the field in order to create an expert system to aid the engineer in his task. The EXSYS expert system shell was used to construct a rule-based program which would be run on a personal computer. The program derived in this thesis is named ROPES, and provides information as to the forms of damage that may be present in a rope and the effect of any defects on rope strength and rope life. Advice is given as to the procedures that should be followed when damage is detected as well as the conditions which would necessitate rope discard and the urgency with which the replacement should take place. The expert system program will provide engineers with the necessary expertise and experience to assess, more accurately than at present, the condition of a winder rope. This should lead to longer rope life and improved safety with the associated cost savings. Rope assessment will also be more uniform with changes to policy being able to be implemented quickly and on an ongoing basis as technology and experience improves. The program ROPES, although compiled from expert knowledge, still requires the further input of personal opinions and inferences to some extent. For this reason, the program cannot be assumed infallible and must be used as an aid only