An Introduction to Smart Structure and Its Application in Nanotechnology

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui-Ru Shih ◽  
Wilbur L. Walters ◽  
Wei Zheng
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Smart Materials ◽  
Smart Structure ◽  
State University ◽  
Jackson State University ◽  
Laboratory Activities ◽  
Engineering And Technology ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Core Concepts ◽  
Technology Educators

The use of smart materials for the control of shape, vibration, and stability of structural systems has become more prevalent in recent years. Nanotechnology is regarded worldwide as the technology of the 21st century. As nanotechnology begins to unfold, smart materials will also play a key role in revolutionizing the productivity of emerging nano applications. To ensure the progress and success of smart-structure technology, engineering and technology educators need to make strong efforts to educate the students. At Jackson State University (JSU), two course modules have been developed and added to existing technology course that have helped undergraduate students develop hands-on experience as well as strengthen students’ foundation in smart materials and structures. The modules consist of lectures and laboratory activities. The lecture materials cover core concepts. The laboratory activities give students hands-on skills with observing, measuring and controlling the behavior of smart structures. The effectiveness of these modules has been assessed. Responses and feedback from students who have taken these modules are very positive.

Modeling, Control and Application of Piezoelectric Actuators

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui-Ru Shih ◽  
Wilbur L. Walters
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Smart Materials ◽  
Piezoelectric Actuators ◽  
Student Feedback ◽  
State University ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Technology Students ◽  
Atomic Force ◽  
Jackson State University ◽  
Engineering And Technology

Nanotechnology is a growing area that educators are interested in attracting students to. Smart materials have become the workhorse in a multitude of nanotechnology. One example is the piezoelectric actuators which are used for nano-positioning in Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The majority of today’s engineering and technology students are unaware of the remarkable properties of smart materials as well as their applications in nanotechnology. Therefore, providing students with the knowledge and experience of piezoelectric actuators is the crucial step in integrating nanotechnology into engineering and technology education. One course module has been developed for introducing modeling, control, and application of piezoelectric actuators to undergraduate students at Jackson State University. This module includes classroom lectures, demonstrations, and actual exercises. This paper discusses the development and implementation of the teaching module and provides some initial student feedback. The course module description and covered topics are presented in detailed. The course module presented in this paper can easily and seamlessly be integrated to the existing engineering and technology courses.

scholarly journals Integrating Drone Technology with GPS Data Collection to Enhance Forestry Students Interactive Hands-On Field Experiences

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Unger ◽  
I-Kuai Hung ◽  
Yanli Zhang ◽  
David Kulhavy
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
State University ◽  
Geospatial Technologies ◽  
Field Methods ◽  
Field Station ◽  
Bachelor Of Science ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Point To Point ◽  
Point Line ◽  
Cognitive Retention

Undergraduate students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Forestry (BSF) at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) within the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture (ATCOFA) attend an intensive 6-week hands-on instruction in applied field methods. The second week of field station is focused on land measurement activities to introduce students to practical, hands-on, and technology based ways to survey forest boundaries. On Monday of the second week students are introduced to the concepts of how to use a handheld compass to navigate from point to point, use a consumer-grade handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) unit for collecting the geographic coordinates of given locations, use a GPS unit to calculate the area of a forest opening, use a GPS unit to walk and record a forest hiking trail, and evaluate the accuracy of their GPS derived locations via a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) analysis. RMSE analysis between a students collected geographic coordinates and the instructors collected geographic coordinates indicated that the students were sufficient in correctly recording the geographic coordinates of point, line, and polygon features identified in the field. Grades on the student submitted reports summarizing Monday’s activities resulted in 33 of 56 students (59.0%) receiving a high A, 14 of 56 students (25.0%) receiving a low A, and 9 of 56 students (16.0%) receiving a high B indicating that the interactive hands-on nature of ATCOFA’s field station is effective at providing students with real-world applications whereby they will be ready to make a difference the day after graduation. Interactive drone imagery and video integrated into the daily activities in the field to enhance a student’s understanding of their specific objectives provided the students in the field with a bird’s eye perspective of the landscape to aid their understanding and planning of the field tasks assigned. In conclusion, employers can have confidence that when hiring recent BSF graduates from ATCOFA that the students have been introduced to geospatial technologies within a proven one-on-one instruction methodology designed to increase cognitive retention and can traverse from location to location accurately and record the geographic coordinates of earth surface features correctly.

Natural Antibiotics: A Hands-on Activity on Garlic's Antibiotic Properties

2011 ◽  
Vol 73 (6) ◽  
pp. 342-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria João Fonseca ◽  
Fernando Tavares
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Bioactive Substances ◽  
Laboratory Activities ◽  
Limited Experience ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Procedural Instructions

This work details a science experiment on garlic's antibiotic properties designed to acquaint high school and introductory-level undergraduate students with concepts such as natural antibiotics, bioactive substances, and biosafety. This activity is optimized to be implemented by teachers with limited experience in laboratory activities and/or in poorly equipped schools. A list of materials is provided, along with safety and procedural instructions, discussion topics, and assessment suggestions.

scholarly journals Evaluating Interactive Transect Area Assessments Hands-On Instruction for Natural Resource Undergraduate Students

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 90
Author(s):  
Daniel Unger ◽  
Sarah Schwab ◽  
Ryan Jacques ◽  
Yanli Zhang ◽  
I-Kuai Hung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Aerial Image ◽  
State University ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Bachelor Of Science ◽  
Transect Line ◽  
Science Degree ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Assessment Techniques ◽  
Computer Based

<p>Undergraduate students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Spatial Science degree at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU) receive instruction in the spatial sciences with a focus on hands-on applications. All undergraduate students take the course Introduction to Spatial Science which includes a comprehensive overview of spatial science incorporating a comparison of standard inexpensive area assessment techniques with high-end computer based area assessment methodologies. Students within this course were instructed how to assess the area of a surface feature on an aerial image with a ruler applying the transect method. Student’s average Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) between a student’s transect derived area and surveyed area was 0.45, 0.13, 0.07, and 0.02 acres for 5, 10, 15, and 20 transect lines, respectfully. An ANOVA analysis of area assessment and area error assessment indicated that mean area and mean absolute area error were statistically different between transect line groups. In addition, the accuracy of area measured increased significantly as the number of transect lines increased which: (1) indicates students receiving hands-on instruction in estimating area using the transect method can record accurate area measurements after only a limited 2 hour introduction; (2) reveals the accuracy of the transect method is not user dependent; (3) shows area accuracy increases as the number of transects increases; and, (4) validates the interactive hands-on instruction methodology employed at SFASU.</p>

Development, Management, and Evaluation of Undergraduate Experiential Learning: Recommendations for Best Practices

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 339-344
Author(s):  
Melissa Pangelinan ◽  
Marc Norcross ◽  
Megan MacDonald ◽  
Mary Rudisill ◽  
Danielle Wadsworth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Experiential Learning ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Systematic Evaluation ◽  
National Society ◽  
State University ◽  
Development Management ◽  
Learning Programs ◽  
Core Concepts

Experiential learning provides undergraduate students rich opportunities to enhance their knowledge of core concepts in kinesiology. Beyond these outcomes, it enables students to gain exposure to, build empathy for, and affect the lives of individuals from diverse populations. However, the development, management, and systematic evaluation of experiential learning vary drastically across programs. Thus, the purpose of this review was to critically evaluate the experiential-learning programs at Auburn University and Oregon State University with respect to best practices outlined by the National Society for Experiential Education. The authors provide examples of lessons learned from these two programs to help others improve the implementation and impact of undergraduate experiential learning.

Applications of Smart Materials in Structural Health Monitoring

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui-Ru Shih ◽  
Wei Zheng ◽  
Wilbur L. Walters
Keyword(s):  
Structural Health Monitoring ◽  
Data Acquisition ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Health Monitoring ◽  
Smart Materials ◽  
Emerging Technology ◽  
Wide Field ◽  
Sensors And Actuators ◽  
Structural Health ◽  
Hands On

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is an emerging technology devoted to monitoring and assessing of structural health. SHM emerged from the wide field of smart structures and laterally encompasses disciplines such as structural dynamics, materials and structures, non-destructive testing, sensors and actuators, data acquisition, signal processing and possibly much more. To stimulate students’ desire for pursing advanced technologies and prepare them well for their future careers, engineering and technology educators need to dedicate their efforts to educate the students with this emerging technology. At Jackson State University (JSU), three course modules (Smart Materials and Structures, Signals & Data Acquisition Systems, and Lamb Waves Generation & Detection) have been added to the existing courses to help undergraduate students develop hands-on experience for understanding this technology. The course modules do not assume prior knowledge of software and hardware, and they all follow an applied, hands-on approach. These three course modules allow students to gain insight into the SHM as well as to become knowledgeable users of the instrumentation.

Course Module on Precision Control of Piezoelectric Actuators

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui-Ru Shih ◽  
Wilbur L. Walters
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Piezoelectric Materials ◽  
Piezoelectric Actuators ◽  
Pedagogical Tools ◽  
Precision Control ◽  
Engineering And Technology ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Piezoelectric Devices ◽  
Mechanical Actuation ◽  
Lecture Experiment

Conventional mechanical actuation mechanisms, which have been used to drive nanoscale devices, have the drawback of requiring high power for operation. However, the piezoelectric actuation mechanism offers the advantages of extremely low power consumption. As piezoelectric materials change the practice of engineering and technology, providing undergraduate students with experiences with these materials has become necessary. This paper presents the design of a course module on precision control of piezoelectric actuators for undergraduate students. The course module incorporates lecture, experiment, and problem-based learning as pedagogical tools. Students are given opportunities to work directly with piezoelectric actuators to gain hands-on experience. Students can learn about actuation advantages of the piezoelectric materials along with their control problems. This course module can improve the knowledge of the students on how to design and analyze piezoelectric devices.

Combined Sensing and Actuation: A New Control Laboratory Experiment

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad H. Elahinia
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Smart Materials ◽  
Mechanical Engineering ◽  
Control Experiment ◽  
Robotic Arm ◽  
Control Problems ◽  
Engineering Systems ◽  
Not Given ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Undergraduate Laboratory

This paper describes a new control experiment developed for Mechanical Engineering undergraduate students. The experiment with a Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) actuated robotic arm is designed for the senior undergraduate laboratory (ME4006) in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech. ME4006 is designed to provide the students with experience in experimental investigation of mechanical engineering systems. In designing this control experiment it was intended for the students to have a hands-on experiment with smart materials. Furthermore, students learn about control problems and limitations of theses materials along with sensing and actuation advantages of the SMAs. The experiment uses a problem solving approach; students are not given a procedure to follow for conducting the experiment. The problem is described in a memorandum to the students from a supervisor, who defines the purpose of the problem and defines the audience for the report.

The Instructional SEM Laboratory at Iowa State University

1996 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
pp. 396-397
Author(s):  
L. S. Chumbley ◽  
M. Meyer ◽  
K. Fredrickson ◽  
F.C. Laabs
Keyword(s):  
Materials Science ◽  
Computer Network ◽  
Energy Dispersive Spectrometer ◽  
Computer Control ◽  
State University ◽  
Iowa State University ◽  
Internet Server ◽  
Schematic Layout ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Improve Instruction

The Materials Science Department at Iowa State University has developed a laboratory designed to improve instruction in the use of the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The laboratory makes use of a computer network and a series of remote workstations in a classroom setting to provide students with increased hands-on access to the SEM. The laboratory has also been equipped such that distance learning via the internet can be achieved.A view of the laboratory is shown in Figure 1. The laboratory consists of a JEOL 6100 SEM, a Macintosh Quadra computer that acts as a server for the network and controls the energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), four Macintosh computers that act as remote workstations, and a fifth Macintosh that acts as an internet server. A schematic layout of the classroom is shown in Figure 2. The workstations are connected directly to the SEM to allow joystick and computer control of the microscope. An ethernet connection between the Quadra and the workstations allows students seated there to operate the EDS. Control of the microscope and joystick is passed between the workstations by a switch-box assembly that resides at the microscope console. When the switch-box assembly is activated a direct serial line is established between the specified workstation and the microscope via the SEM’s RS-232.

Integrating Disciplines in a Plant Chemistry Laboratory Module to Enhance Interdisciplinary and Scientific Thinking in Undergraduate Students

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas Busta ◽  
Sabrina E. Russo
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Medicinal Plant ◽  
Systems Thinking ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Core Competencies ◽  
Chemistry Laboratory ◽  
Scientific Thinking ◽  
Written Communication ◽  
Plant Chemistry ◽  
Hands On

Here, we describe a hands-on medicinal plant chemistry laboratory module (Phytochemical Laboratory Activities for iNtegrative Thinking and Enhanced Competencies; PLANTEC) for undergraduates that targets the development of core competencies in (i) critical thinking and analysis of text and data, (ii) interdisciplinary and systems thinking, (iii) oral and written communication of science, and (iv) teamwork and collaboration.<br>

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document