Projects John Ayers http:www'engr'uconn'edueceSeniorDesign

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ProjectsJohn Ayershttp//www.engr.uconn.edu/ec
e/SeniorDesign/

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Web-Based Interface for Modeling in Failure
Space

• Qualtech Systems, Inc. is sponsoring a senior
  design project for design and implementation of
  an easy to use, intuitive web-based modeling
  interface to capture fault-test relationships.
  The interface would have to capture such
  information as failure modes (faults), tests,
  resources, pre and post setups, references,
  advisories, and the relationships between tests
  and failure modes (which faults does a test
  detect) .
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• Project requires very good knowledge of Java,
  Java servlet, and database access using JDBC.
  Good knowledge of Flash MX is desirable.

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Elastomer Durability Tester

• Rogers Corporation is one of the world's leading
  suppliers of elastomercomponents for document
  handling machines, such as copiers, faxmachines,
  mail and check sorting equipment, and ATMs.  Many
  different elastomers are used in these
  components, based on the particular requirements
  of each application.  In applications involving a
  high degree of compression or a high ambient
  temperatures, the durability of any elastomer is
  limited by breakdown due to internal heating from
  hysteresis.   As we develop new materials for
  use in new document handlingapplications, we
  need an apparatus with which to subject samples
  (1 inch diameter disks of thickness 1/8 - 1/2
  inch) to automatically controlled abuse, in a
  compact benchtop testing machine with good
  flexibility for loads and speeds, keeping the
  noise level and the equipment cost within
  acceptable levels.  Costly, general-purpose
  servohydraulic test machines have been used for
  this sort of test.  We have heard of
  servopneumatic actuators which might be
  applicable to this sort of machine.  We are not
  familiar with this technology we would ask that
  it be evaluated against other possible approaches
  so that we may learn about its strengths and  
  limitations through this project.   We propose
  this as a joint ME / EE project.  ME challenges
  will include understanding and controlling noise
  and vibration and understanding how the
  compressibility of air translates into
  limitations on the capability of servopneumatic
  machinery.  EE challenges will include devising
  instrumentation and control which characterizes a
  mechanical hysteresis behavior, and cooperating
  with MEs in understanding whether or not the
  disadvantages of a compressible fluid outweigh
  the advantages in cost and cleanliness of
  servopneumatics over conventional
  servohydraulics.
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Elastomer Durability Tester

• Rogers Corporation is one of the world's leading
  suppliers of elastomer   components for document
  handling machines, such as copiers, fax  
  machines, mail and check sorting equipment, and
  ATMs.  Many different   elastomers are used in
  these components, based on the particular  
  requirements of each application.  In
  applications involving a high   degree of
  compression or a high ambient temperatures, the
  durability of   any elastomer is limited by
  breakdown due to internal heating from  
  hysteresis.  

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Elastomer Durability Tester (cont.)

•    As we develop new materials for use in new
  document handling   applications, we need an
  apparatus with which to subject samples (1
  inch   diameter disks of thickness 1/8 - 1/2
  inch) to automatically controlled   abuse, in a
  compact benchtop testing machine with good
  flexibility for   loads and speeds, keeping the
  noise level and the equipment cost within  
  acceptable levels.  Costly, general-purpose
  servohydraulic test machines   have been used
  for this sort of test.  We have heard of
  servopneumatic   actuators which might be
  applicable to this sort of machine.  We are
  not   familiar with this technology we would
  ask that it be evaluated against   other
  possible approaches so that we may learn about
  its strengths and   limitations through this
  project.   We propose this as a joint ME / EE
  project.  ME challenges will include  
  understanding and controlling noise and vibration
  and understanding how   the compressibility of
  air translates into limitations on the
  capability   of servopneumatic machinery.  EE
  challenges will include devising  
  instrumentation and control which characterizes a
  mechanical hysteresis   behavior, and
  cooperating with MEs in understanding whether or
  not the   disadvantages of a compressible fluid
  outweigh the advantages in cost   and
  cleanliness of servopneumatics over conventional
  servohydraulics.
•  

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Photovoltaic Power Interface

• Proton Energy Systems. This system would take
  energy from photovoltaics to run their smallest
  hydrogen generator, the HOGEN-GC.  Generated
  hydrogen would be stored for later use by a fuel
  cell.

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Fire Fighting Robot

• The goal is to design and build a fire-fighting
  robot to compete in the Trinity College
  competition in Spring 2005.
• http//www.trincoll.edu/events/robot/

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Impedance Matching Device

• My proposal is to create a low cost consumer
  impedance matching device. This would involve
  creating a circuit device that would be able to
  detect the impedance of the line in on a
  electronic device either dynamicly or through a
  permanent set. Then the device would dynamicly
  read the impedance of the line connecting the
  device to the signal source. The device would
  then match the two impedances at a tolerance
  better than the impedance tolerances of the
  device, that is to say if a TV has a factory spec
  of 50 ohms or - 5 the device would be able to
  provide a better matching then could be achieved
  through the use of higher tolerance cable. The
  matching would be done ether through analog
  circuit design or a digital design depending on
  which system provided the lowest cost to benefit
  ratio. The final aspect the of the project is the
  final product must be a low enough cost to be a
  "nessicary" to home theater enthusiasts. The
  project would at least work with coaxial cable,
  with the possibility of expanding to the S-video
  type of cable.

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Others?