Review of Development Stages in the Conceptual Design of an Electro Hydrostatic Actuator for Robotics

The design of modern robotic devices faces numerous requirements and limitations which are related to optimization and robustness. Consequently, these stringent requirements have caused improvements in many engineering areas and lead to development of new optimization methods which better handle new complex products designed for application in industrial robots. One of the newly developed methods used in industrial robotics is the concept of a self-contained power device, an Electro-Hydrostatic Actuator (EHA). EHA devices were designed with a central idea, to avoid the possible drawbacks which were present in other types of actuators that are currently used in robotic systems. This paper is a review of the development phases of an EHA device for robotic applications. An overview of the advantages and disadvantages related to current EHA designs are presented, and finally possible ideas for future developments are suggested

A Comparative Analysis of Spatial Visualization Ability and Drafting Models for Industrial and Technology Education Students

The article presents the comparative study on the drafting models and spatial visualization ability of industrial and technology education students in the U.S. It discusses how the study was conducted which examined the issue based on technical drawings and with regards to the impacts of model types. The results reportedly revealed three-dimensional models are effective for promoting learning, however more studies have to be conducted

Using RFID Technology in Collaborative Design of the Assembly Systems

Modern production conditions require the application of the concept of distributing production. This approach means coordinative production in a number of small and middle size companies. Multiplex products, consisting of a number of parts, components, and modules are assembled in one function unit in one company, but they may not be manufactured in one place. Huge factory and production complex, which existed in our country, comprised all phases of product lifecycle, from the development of a concept solution to the assembly. Technology of product manufacturing, resource logistics, quality control, product testing and verification of product function characteristics all represented activities performed by specified departments. Designing and technology documentation was created on the basis of information given by the above mentioned departments. Today companies are specialized in partial technology processes. Hundreds, sometimes thousands of collaborative processes depend on workers interactions and communication in the product assembly phase. With an intensive coordination, all the manufacturing phases of one product design and technology documentation are produced, in digital form, on CAx workstation. The Product Lifecycle Management can be achieved by using specialized software solutions. Some of the solutions for the Product Lifecycle Management offer integrated portfolio for engineering design and production of products and services, which enables companies to create their own digital e-business projects

RFID Technology Use in Assembly and Disassembly Processes

Modern production conditions demand the application of the concept of distributed production. Today companies are specialized for partial technology processes. Hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of collaborative processes depend on workers’ interaction and communication in product assembly and disassembly phases. RFID technologies can be really helpful in identifying objects in terms of sustainable development, regarding disassembly, recycling and reuse. In this paper we presented VCDE system architecture and the realization method of RFID technology as well as the data acquisition using RFID technology during the product lifecycle from the design process, production, assembly, usage, and an special example is given regard- ing disassembly and recycling process

Analysis of Possible Use of Identification Technologies in Disassembly

The barcodes and Radio Frequency Identification tags that are being used during manufacturing, assembly, warehousing, and distribution could also be reused at the end of the product lifecycle for an identification of the correct disassembly process that would result in recycling of its components. The barcodes or RFID tags can be helpful in identifying objects in terms of sustainable development, regarding disassembly, recycling and reuse. In this paper, the analysis of the current applications of RFID Technology in the final phase of the product lifecycle will be presented. The simulation of the disassembly process supported by both barcode and RFID-enabled product sorting in Rockwell simulation Software Arena

A Pilot Course as a Step Towards New Academic Programs in Renewable Energies

The challenges arising from climate change have never before in human history been more pressing for solutions. Addressing pollution and the transition to clean energies are essential problems to solve in the upcoming decades. The process of transitioning to renewable energies has started already, with some states leading the process. As the development of industries sees a fast growth, the supply of qualified engineers and technicians to support these industries needs to keep up. At the community college level, some efforts have already started to introduce courses on renewable energies as well as boot camps or certifications to prepare the workforce to install and operate renewable energy systems. Four-year universities are catching up with these initiatives, but at a much slower pace, and at the graduate level the pace is even slower than the training initiatives at the undergraduate level. With the development of a major renewable energy industry in the area, the XXX University plans to develop more specific programs in renewable energies and to incorporate along with technical courses some coverage of the business and geopolitical aspects of the renewable energy subject. In anticipation of the actual development of new programs for either undergraduate or graduate students, a pilot course in renewable energies was conducted during the summer of 2021. The course was offered for junior/senior undergraduate students and had a broad presentation of renewable energies, theories, and practices associated with each. For this pilot course, a series of invited speaker lectures were offered. Experts in the field covered technical aspects of solar, wind, and bioenergy, as well as business, legislative and geopolitical aspects. Students taking the course participated in an end-of-semester survey about their perception of renewable energies, the associated industries, and their interest in pursuing jobs related to them. This paper will present the details of the course and the specifics of the pilot conducted this summer, as well as the analysis of the student feedback

NSF S-STEM Project Update: A Pathway to Completion for Pursuing Engineering and Engineering Technology Degrees

This poster showcases the progress of students who are receiving scholarships from the National Science Foundation S-STEM project: A Pathway to Completion for Pursuing Engineering and Engineering Technology Degrees. Thus far, 20 academically high-achieving students who demonstrate financial need have participated in the project. Thirty-six scholarships have been awarded to date, in which a maximum of twelve scholarships are awarded per semester; some students have received scholarships multiple times. Students are from electrical engineering, computer engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, civil engineering technology, and modeling and simulation majors. As part of this S-STEM project, students also receive academic support, mentorship related to the development of professional workforce skills, career search skills, and opportunities to participate in industry-related field trips. Role models, many of whom are practicing engineers with STEM degrees and are military veterans, serve as presenters and share their personal career pathways and answer students’ questions in the required one-hour weekly seminar. Although the students participating in this project meet the strenuous academic criteria set by the project (3.0/4.0), many of the students struggle financially, due to having expended their G.I. benefits, which can impede their academic performance and graduation. While many student success programs focus on freshman and sophomore students, what makes this project unique is its focus on enabling student success at the junior and senior years. This project provides a portfolio of different activities for the more mature student, e.g. financial aid through scholarships, community-based learning opportunities, and academic success strategies that enable stronger retention and student completion rates. Project activities are tailored to veterans and adult learners as this group of students is particularly vulnerable given their need to simultaneously juggle academic, family, and financial obligations

Facilitating Veteran and Adult Students\u27 Learning and Retention in Engineering: Faculty-Student Partnership - A Model of an Evidence-Based Practice

With the growing number of adult and military veterans entering higher education, it is important to understand and incorporate the basics of andragogy in curriculum, course development, and the learning environment to facilitate learning and degree completion. Researchers in this S-STEM project funded by the NSF share observations of a student-faculty partnership that resulted from the development of a formal learning community. A series of targeted seminars were conducted that appear to have increased adult and military veteran engineering and technology students’ levels of connectedness and self-efficacy. Results of this pilot study are shared as an evidence-based practice to enhance adult and military veteran students’ learning and degree completion

Digital Educational Modules Development For The Career and Technical Cybersecurity Pathways During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Virtual learning has been used now for several decades, but it has never had a bigger impact on student learning than in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. Universities and schools faced shutdowns all around the world, and teachers had to adapt rapidly to online mode of instruction. Many educators were faced with a triage approach with no previous experience in distance learning, a lack of resources for professional development, and already existing shortages of current educational modules that could assist them in their day-to-day jobs. This gap was especially evident in areas such as career and technical education (CTE) in which there was a gap in the training and educational materials available for K-12 teachers in emerging technology fields such as computer science and cybersecurity. These problems are related to various issues, such as the lack of teacher preparation, constant changes in technology, curriculum and educational framework developments led by the various institutions dictating the nature of education, and moreover, the vast growth in the demand for such instruction, which presents challenges in meeting those growing demands. In this paper, the authors present one curriculum development effort for CTE high school programs focused on computer science and cybersecurity via a grant by the Perkins Innovation Project funded by the U.S. Department of Education and supported by engineering technology, electrical engineering, and industrial technology educators

Exposing Students to STEM Careers through Hands-on Activities with Drones and Robots

Autonomous robots have been used in a variety of ways from collecting specimen in hazardous environments to space exploration. These robots can be found in various manufacturing systems as Autonomous Guided Vehicles (AGVs) to transport parts and assemblies throughout the manufacturing system. They have also been used as a vehicle to convey design thinking and other STEM-related concepts in mechanical engineering/mechanical engineering technology, electrical engineering/electrical engineering technology, computer science, and computer engineering. Various outreach events have included robotics based activities that engage students in building and programming autonomous robots for the purpose of achieving a specific task. These events are often found in schools in a form of STEM outreach, career days, robotic competitions, or during residential on-campus programs. This paper focuses on three robotics related sessions conducted during a three-day summer residential program for high school students offered at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia during the summer educational program named ODU BLAST. ODU BLAST is part of a Virginia Space Grant Consortium initiative called Building Leaders for Advancing Science and Technology (BLAST), offered at three different universities in the Commonwealth of Virginia