Department of Electrical Engineering leads the way with robots
6/2/2008
Lamar University’s Department of Electrical Engineering brings a different spin to classroom learning as students build sleek, computerized robots and competed in numerous robotics competitions. The department’s hands-on teaching style and practical training allow students to prepare for careers in numerous areas of electrical engineering.
Lamar’s electrical engineering students have participated in robotics competitions since 2003. The robots are part of the capstone activity for senior electrical engineering students. Along with building working robots, students also create display boards to explain their designs.
One well-received project this year was the Eye Shoe. Four Lamar University engineering students designed and built a robotic shoe to help visually impaired individuals in negotiate their environments without assistance from others. The device resulted from the collaboration of the College of Engineering and College of Business.
Engineering students Sead Dajdzic of Bosnia, Adonrum Die of Nederland, Allen Onwuchekwa of Houston and Dale Van Dorn of Lumberton spent two semesters researching and building the one-of-a-kind sneaker. A business-student team led by Jamie Aucoin of Nederland and Wade Pettis of Beaumont developed a business plan that could be followed to manufacture and market the shoe. Through the collaboration, engineering students were able to build a project that, because of the business student involvement, has the potential to be marketed to a mass audience.
While the engineering students focused mainly on the design and construction of the shoe, the business students were responsible for creating a business plan for marketing the device.
The shoe features obstacle detectors and vibration devices that notify the wearer of potential hazards. The Eye Shoe is able to turn itself off when not needed and recharge without the need to be plugged in.
The project occurred as a result of a collaboration between Harley Myler, professor and chair of electrical engineering, and Jeff Dyson, a Beaumont businessman who taught the entrepreneurship class in Lamar’s College of Business. It was the first time the two programs came together in this way.
“In our program, teamwork is strongly emphasized, and we hope to continue this partnership in the future,” Myler said. Next fall, engineering students will be ready to design new projects, and new teams of business students will be eager to build businesses around them.
“Working on the Eye Shoe will help students in their future endeavors and will give an example of how to get a bank to finance it,” said Van Dorn, electrical engineering senior.
Other robot projects that electrical engineering students completed this year include S.L.A.B, Cardinal B.E.A.S.T., Cardinal Direction, Cardinal D.E.E.P. and Squirt.
Squirt is an autonomous computer-controlled robot able to navigate through an arena that represents a house, find a lit candle that represents a fire in the house and extinguish the fire in a short period of time with a blast of carbon dioxide gas.
Squirt was one of many robots competing at the Trinity College Firefighting Competition Home Robot Contest held April 12-13 in Hartford, Conn. This was Lamar’s first appearance at the competition.
The team, consisting of Randi Parker of Crystal Beach, Barry Chinn of Del Valle, Melanie Griffith of Santa Fe, Texas, Patrick Cobb of Webster and Bryant McGallion of Lumberton, finished in first place in the Engineering Olympiad portion of the competition, which was a written exam. In the Fire Fighting Robot competition Squirt placed 13th in the event out of more than 30 finalists.
The competition, which included students from China, Israel and from throughout the United States, allows students to advance robot technology and knowledge while using robotics as an educational tool.
This was a big win for Lamar because the team was one of the few to build their robots completely from scratch, without the assistance of a kit.
“This type of competition is important for engineering students because it stresses team communication and design,” said Griffith, senior electrical engineering major.
Electrical engineering is one of more than 100 fields of undergraduate study at Lamar University. The university also offers 47 master’s programs and nine doctoral degrees.
Registration is continuing for summer session II (classes begin July 11) and summer session IV (classes begin June 13). Fall enrollment and registration are ongoing. Fall classes begin August 25. For more information on enrolling at Lamar University, call (409) 880-8888 or visit lamar.edu.
