Skill-Based Teaching For Undergraduate STEM Majors

This article presents a case study that illustrates the paradigmatic shift in higher education from content-centered teaching to learning-centered academic programs. This pragmatic change, triggered by the STEM movement, calls for the introduction of success measures in the course development process. The course described in this paper illustrates such a goal-driven approach to the development of an entire multidisciplinary curriculum in mechanical engineering and mechatronics. The effectiveness of this new curriculum was confirmed by findings of a survey of graduates of the first six graduating classes who studied on the basis of this curriculum.

Stochastic resonance in a suspension of magnetic dipoles under shear flow

We show that a magnetic dipole in a shear flow under the action of an oscillating magnetic field displays stochastic resonance in the linear response regime. To this end, we compute the classical quantifiers of stochastic resonance, i.e. the signal to noise ratio, the escape time distribution, and the mean first passage time. We also discuss limitations and role of the linear response theory in its applications to the theory of stochastic resonance.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figures, approved for publication in PR

Optimization Tools For Automated Vehicle Systems

This work focuses on computing time-optimal maneuvers which might be used to develop strategies for emergency maneuvers and establishing the vehicle' s performance envelope. The problem of emergency maneuvers is addressed in the context of time optimal control. Time optimal trajectories are computed along specified paths for a nonlinear vehicle model, which considers both lateral and longitudinal motions

Optimization Tools For Automated Vehicle Systems

This work focuses on computing time-optimal maneuvers which might be used to develop strategies for emergency maneuvers and establishing the vehicle' s performance envelope. The problem of emergency maneuvers is addressed in the context of time optimal control. Time optimal trajectories are computed along specified paths for a nonlinear vehicle model, which considers both lateral and longitudinal motions

Motion Planning for Mars Rover

This paper presents an global-optimal motion planner for Mars Rover. It accounts for traversability and dynamic stability due to vehicle dynamics and terrain topography. A given path is traversable if along it the vehicle is statically stable. The vehicle is dynamically stable if its velocity does not exceed the velocity limit, determined from tip-over, sliding, and contact constraints. The cost function for the optimization consists of the path distance divided by the lowest velocity limit along the path. It produces paths that are traversable #and are hence dynamically stable# at the widest speed range. 1 Introduction Future exploratory missions to Mars, planned for the years 2003, 2005, and 2007, will incorporate autonomous Rovers, capable of long range navigation in the order of 100 m or more per communication cycle #1#. The #rst Rover to reach Mars, Sojourner, was guided remotely from Earth by an operator who selected traversable paths over images returned from the lander. Its r..