Akram Abu-aisheh

The application of PSIM & Matlab/ Simulink in power electronics courses

This paper presents a comparison analysis between two engineering software platforms, Matlab/Simulink & PSIM, which are used as major educational tools in the teaching of power electronics and electrical drive courses, in additional to conducted research in these fields. The comparison analysis is based on studying the design simplicity of the module, time consumed in building of the module, accuracy, functionality, simulation time, and the acceptability of obtained results. Various power electronic simulation circuits are illustrated and the results are processed and displayed. The simulation results states that Matlab/Simulink is a suitable platform for control and regulation of the simulation processes, in additional to its dominant role in conducting research tasks. Conversely, PSIM is dedicated to power electronic circuits and machine simulation tasks with fast and robust algorithms and suitable for educational purposes. It is recommended that both packages be used in teaching power electronics courses.

Remote laboratory collaboration plan in communications engineering

Communications laboratories for electrical engineering undergraduates typically require that students perform practical experiments and document findings as part of their knowledge and skills development. Laboratory experiments are usually designed to support and reinforce theories presented in the classroom and foster independent thinking; however, the capital cost of equipment needed to sustain a viable laboratory environment is large and ongoing maintenance is an annual expense. Consequently, there is a need to identify and validate more economic solutions for engineering laboratories. This paper presents a remote laboratory collaboration plan for use in an electrical engineering communications course.

Implementation of a Remote Analog and Digital Communications Laboratory for e-Learning

Rapid changes in the field of engineering technology have increased the need for universities to provide engineering and engineering technology students with meaningful and relevant practical experiences; however, limited available resources in the provision of laboratory hardware and infrastructure have been the principal impediment in achieving this objective. Such hardware limitations have been increasingly marginalizing the quality of engineering and engineering technology education. E-learning can be used to help universities and technical colleges overcome this problem. One approach that can be implemented to overcome this problem is to expand e-learning activities in programs with limited resources to take advantage of online computer-based technology. In this model, remote instrumentation technology and the internet are merged to interface students with the physical world

Implementation of dual use fiber optic communications laboratories

Given the wide use of fiber optic technology in industry and high-end consumer electronics, the use of optical fiber should be more widely taught; however, limited available resources in the provision of laboratory hardware has increasingly marginalized the educational quality of fiber optic communications courses. This paper presents two models for implementing fiber optic communications laboratories for both on-site and distance learning environments. The dual use of these set-ups allows for a highly cost effective and pedagogically rigorous mechanism of instruction for students.

A case study of designed an e-learning course for electrical engineering students

This paper presents a case study of designing an e-learning course in the field of electrical engineering-Industrial automation program at Palestine Polytechnic University. The applied methodology consisting of few stages starting with formulating the major course objectives, extracting topics outcomes, design the appropriate teaching tools and storyboard, and as final stage the evaluation system is designed.

Implementation of a remote analog and digital communications lab for e-learning

A remote instrumentation model used to perform modern RF and digital communications experiments over the internet is presented. The setup allows for highly cost effective and pedagogically rigorous mechanism of instructions for students in situations where traditional laboratory equipment is either unavailable or at a premium cost. In the model, a switch matrix is used to eliminate the need for students to be present in the laboratory.

Sustainable PV-powered FPGA-controlled high brightness LED illumination systems

This paper presents a road map for the design and development of sustainable hybrid Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) controlled High Brightness Light Emitting Diode (HB LED) illumination systems. The proposed hybrid system design presents the foundation for future sustainable high efficiency illumination systems. In this system design, an FPGA is used to individually control an array of HB LEDs. Each HB LED can operate in a different mode defined by the user. Photovoltaic (PV) panels-based systems are used as the primary source of energy in this system while the electric grid is used as the backup source that supplies power to the HB LEDs only when the power of the PV system is not sufficient to supply all the system HB LEDs and the PV system batteries are depleted below the minimum level set in the system design. This new hybrid design should serve as an important link between the current AC-based illumination systems and future sustainable DC-based solar illumination systems. Since computer simulation is an important tool for future illumination system design and analysis, it is presented to assist designers in studying different designs and in optimizing the one to be implemented.

Successful integration of informal learning in engineering education

Research suggests that an emerging environment of ubiquitous information technology affords seamless movement between formal learning, informal learning, and the workplace. This paper reviews research data from one successful teaching and learning methodology that leverages seamless movements between informal and formal learning in engineering education. The research is an ongoing pilot study at the University of Hartford using data from selected technical mathematics and communication electronics courses. The research data suggests that clearly defined academic jurisdictions have a positive correlation with successful integration of formal learning, informal learning, and the workplace. However, themes from the data also suggest that crossing academic boundaries involves more than technology issues and could raise the specter of unintended social-dramas. One theme suggests that, in a seamless environment without clearly defined academic jurisdictions, opportunities for collaboration could be misinterpreted as encroachments. To mitigate issues of competing jurisdictional interests this study employs Learner Agent Objects (LAO) individual portfolios. LAO portfolios are collections of evidence-based artifacts representing a learners academic experience that independently moves with the learner as data network nodes between jurisdictions in engineering education and the workplace.

Design of RISC Processor Using VHDL and Cadence

The project deals about development of a basic RISC processor. The processor is designed with basic architecture consisting of internal modules like clock generator, memory, program counter, instruction register, accumulator, arithmetic and logic unit and decoder. This processor is mainly used for simple general purpose like arithmetic operations and which can be further developed for general purpose processor by increasing the size of the instruction register. The processor is designed in VHDL by using Xilinx 8.1i version. The present project also serves as an application of the knowledge gained from past studies of the PSPICE program. The study will show how PSPICE can be used to simplify massive complex circuits designed in VHDL Synthesis. The purpose of the project is to explore the designed RISC model piece by piece, examine and understand the Input/ Output pins, and to show how the VHDL synthesis code can be converted to a simplified PSPICE model. The project will also serve as a collection of various research materials about the pieces of the circuit.

Preparing engineering students for the global sourcing environment

Rapid changes in modern product development and realization and the move towards globalization are creating gaps in engineering education systems around the world. The global economy has changed the way that engineering firms design, develop, and produce their products. The new global business realities mandate that all firms should evaluate many options available worldwide, not just locally. The current trends are only likely to continue as the world economy becomes more competitive, interdependent, and characterized by global relationships among supply chain partners. This paper presents a plan for preparing engineering students for the new global sourcing environments and product realization processes.