Dale E. Calkins

A 3-D vision system model for automatic object surface sensing

The development of a noncontact “light striping” (structured light) based three-dimensional, six-degrees-of-freedom vision system for automatic object surface sensing is reported. The system modeling and world-point reconstruction methodology involve homogeneous-coordinate system transformations applied in two independent stages: the video imaging stage using three-dimensional perspective transformations and the mechanical scanning stage using three-dimensional affine transformations. Concatenation of the two independent matrix models leads to a robust four-by-four, six-degrees-of-freedom system model. The reconstructed sectional contours are registered automatically in real time with respect to a common world-coordinate system as a control net for Non-Uniform Rational B-spline (NURBS) surface approximation. The reconstruction process is demonstrated by measuring the surface of a 19.5×2 ft rowing shell. A detailed statistical accuracy and precision analysis shows an average error of 0.2% (0.002) of the cameras field-of-view. System sensitivity analysis reveals a nonlinear increase of sensitivity for angles higher than 45° between the normals of the image and laser planes.

An automated computational method for planing hull form definition in concept design

This paper describes the development of a computer-based method for producing chined planing boat hull forms adequate to be applied in concept design. The method is based on a principle where the designer specifies a small set of critical parameters he/she wishes obtain or keep preserved and generates a complete hull form, without the traditional skilled recourse of giving stations point by point. From this set of parameters a detailed and faired drawing with offsets is generated very quickly. The method allows, in its execution mode, the flexibility to modify, adjust and enlarge the input set of parameters. The method was created to allow both (1) automated hull form definitions when integrated to an existing computer system and (2) quick but detailed preliminary calculations of stability, lift and drag, volumes and internal space allocations, sea-keeping estimates, etc., all with very reasonable precision. As application examples some planing boat hull forms are generated. Some are typical and others less usual. The later ones are defined to show the methods limits, in order to validate it.

An engineering design summer camp for a diverse group of high school students

Engineering design is fundamental to all areas of engineering education. It takes shape as project-based learning. As a facts-based approach becomes integrated with a hands-on, learning-to-solve-problems approach, engineering design is a perfect vehicle for this integration. TIDEE (Transferable Integrated Design in Engineering Education) is an NSF grant involving Washington State University, the University of Washington, Tacoma Community College, and the Washington Council for Engineering and Related Technical Education (WCERTE). TIDEE aims to establish a flexible engineering design structure, prepare faculty to use and develop new engineering design materials, and increase the diversity of engineering enrollment. The TIDEE summer science camp is funded by both the NSF (National Science Foundation), as part of the TIDEE coalition, and the Boeing Company. The camp is funded for four annual summer sessions. The TIDEE summer science camp introduces a group of high school students to engineering design. The TIDEE camp works well. The team-based, cooperative, hands-on activities appeal to the campers. The activities are planned for success in a safe supportive environment. Teaching assistants, graduate students, instructors, and professors are good role models in engineering, tours expand their career horizons and campers acquire competencies in all aspects of engineering design. The awards banquet brings campers and their families together to understand and appreciate what is gained from the TIDEE camp.

Assessing students design capabilities in an introductory design class

Through the TIDEE (Transferable Integrated Design Engineering Education) project, assessment tools and performance criteria have been developed to quantify student achievement in the engineering design process, teamwork skills and design communication skills. A seven-point scale describes performance levels spanning from entering engineering students to professional design engineers. Mid-program assessment tools were used to assess student achievement of engineering design capabilities during introductory classes in engineering design. Assessment results describe the level of a typical entering students knowledge and performance in engineering design. These results also indicate that students can reach engineering design achievement targets set for the mid-point of an engineering degree program when the preparatory learning environment is a well-structured outcomes-based design curriculum.

A metamodel-based towed system simulation

Abstract The objective of this exercise was the development of a computer simulation of a US Navy towed system (towed body and line array) capable of near real-time predictive capabilities. The purpose of the computer simulation was to be able to determine the lateral motion of the towed body in response to ship maneuvers. The theoretical approach was to develop a spatial-domain computer simulation of each of the towed system components treated as a system, and then develop a “metamodel” of the response by using simple algebraic expressions. At-sea trials were conducted aboard US Navy vessels to verify the simulation and fine-tune its performance.

TIDEE: the first year of a design engineering educational partnership for Washington State

TIDEE (Transferable Integrated Design Engineering Education) is an NSF sponsored partnership of four year universities and community colleges in the state of Washington. TIDEEs focus is to develop a unified vision of design competencies required for first and second year university students. This competency based design education will be shared by all of the community colleges and four year universities in the state of Washington. The competencies have been developed through workshops and then assigned to categories and levels of achievement.

Statewide endorsement of design in Washington

The statewide organization of engineering programs in Washington, Washington Council for Engineering and Related Technical Education (WCERTE) has endorsed the incorporation of design education into the first two years of engineering and engineering technology curricula. This design education includes the development of competence in communication, teamwork and the creative problem solving or engineering design process. Each institution is to determine for itself in which class or classes the desired educational outcomes for design education are to be achieved. This paper discusses the categories of competencies for design and to what level each competency is to be achieved by the end of the first two years of the program. It also discusses how faculty from a variety of institutions helped to define the competencies and levels of achievement which have been accepted. The endorsement will help to ensure that students who transfer within the state will enter the junior year with some design background upon which to build additional competence in the final two years of their engineering program. The effort to seek the endorsement was led by the PIs for the Transferable Integrated Design Engineering Education (TIDEE) project which is funded by NSF, Division of Undergraduate Education.

AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF ELASTOHYDRODYNAMICS OF TOWED FLEXIBLE CYLINDERS AIDED BY VIDEO IMAGE PROCESSING

Abstract Experimental studies of the elastohydrodynamics of towed flexible cylinders aided by video image processing are reported. A scale model of a prototype hydrophone array has been designed, fabricated, and tested in a speed range of 1.0 to 4.5 m/sec. The experiments were conducted in a 67-m long towing tank. The instrumented flexible member, 12.7 mm in diameter and 13.55 m long, was fixed at the one end and free at the other and was slightly lighter than neutrally bouyant. Three tail drogue configurations were employed. An integral part of the physical model tests was the development and utilization of a microcomputer based video image processing system for model configuration reconstitution. Instability characteristics, tail acceleration spectral densities, lift force due to curvature, and drag coefficients are quantified and discussed.

Analytical and physical modeling of a free-fall oceanographic vehicle

Abstract Free-fall vehicles have gained widespread acceptance as a means by which small scale fluctuations in ocean characteristics such as the temperature and salinity gradients can be accurately profiled. Although these vehicles are used by a large number of programs doing basic and applied research for the Navy, the dynamic characteristics of their free-fall descent are not well understood. This makes the interpretation of some aspects of the recorded data uncertain. Also, there is no framework to guide the preliminary design of new vehicles to optimize their performance. In this work, a numerical time domain solution of the equations of motion for predicting the fall dynamics of a free-fall vehicle is developed, and a correlation study based on experimental data obtained from physical model wind tunnel tests, limited insitu data, and the analytical model are presented.

Transportation interface facilities design using interactive high-level computer graphics

Abstract A prototype pedestrian facilities design system is described. The design system exploits the capabilities of an intelligent high-resolution vector graphics workstation which features a highly interactive computer graphics environment. A summary of historical developments in pedestrian facility design and graphics workstation architecture is presented, followed by a discussion of the stochastic model and interactive computer graphics features utilized by a prototype facilities design system. Potential applications of such a design system are discussed, and promising areas of future development are outlined.