(Bluefield)—Several Engineering Technology student teams have invested hundreds of hours in combining technology and innovation. The systems, vehicles, and robots they created were spotlighted during a recent series of project presentations at the College.

“The senior project presentations are a highlight of the semester,” noted Dr. Bob Riggins, BSC Professor of Electrical Engineering Technology. “The projects provide an opportunity for the students to apply theory to ‘real world-type’ challenges. These initiatives challenged the students to ‘think outside the box,’ refining and enhancing their knowledge. Ultimately, they will be better equipped for careers that are technology-reliant.”

The student teams designed and built:

1-A PC-controlled traffic light system. Using a personal computer as the controller, they tested and demonstrated the system, incorporating a home-built model of an intersection complete with lights and trip switches.

2-“Anassa” Ground Robotic Vehicle. The “Anassa” team is designing, building, and testing a “next generation ground robotic vehicle (GRV).” This robot will be able to improve on the control, dynamics, and stability of “Vasilius,” the BSC student team GRV that has won four world titles (2002-2003) at the Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition in Oakland, MI.

3-Robot Battery Monitoring System. This team is building a battery monitoring system for “Anassa.” The next generation GRV utilizes four large batteries. This project gives the robot the ability to monitor its battery power and provide a warning when such power becomes dangerously low.

4-Defense Advance Research Project Agency (DARPA) Grand Challenge Test Vehicle. With very little budget and donations, this team is building a vehicle designed to “fly by wire” in a computer-controlled fashion. The team is preparing for the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge in the Mojave Desert.

Team 5—Autonomous Lawnmower. This team is building an autonomous lawnmower that is controlled by a personal computer and guided by differential global positioning system (GPS). They plan to enter the autonomous lawnmower competition in June, 2005.

Team 6—PLC-Controlled Robot. This team is building a GRV using vision with an embedded processor for guidance computations and an industrial PLC to control the motors.

Team 7—Rhino Robot Control—This team addressed and solved problems that developed with the “Rhino” robot arm used for demonstration purposes in a BSC engineering technology classroom. They have established a foundation for connecting this robot arm to a mobile autonomous vehicle in the future. “The sophistication of these projects is remarkable, especially in light of the time and budget constraints these student teams have encountered,” Riggins said. “The exercise has provided a ‘living laboratory’ that has been stimulating and rewarding for each of the teams.”

December 9, 2004