Krisztina Nemethy

Higher education in recent virtual engineering environments

Changed engineering activities from conventional methods in descriptive product representations to self adaptive contextual lifecycle configured product models needed continuous and relevant changes of higher education curriculums and programs. Currently, change between old and new generations of industrial engineering technology brings need for teaching of new problem solving process both structurally and thematically. The structural change is forced towards more project and virtual solution centered lectures and laboratories. Thematic changes must serve the integrated appearance and application of disciplines. This paper introduces a latest result in research for new approaches and concepts in order to change higher education engineering programs in accordance with the changes in theoretical, methodological, and systemic background of leading engineering technology. Including major advances from the area of lifecycle product engineering during the first decade of this new century in course programs is emphasized.

Human interactions in the context of K-MOOC, Óbuda University courses

People in their 30s-40s are already used to changes and they are open for retraining in order to be more market able. We are not introducing anything new by saying that in today sigh demanding jobs, the schools are not only providing the knowledge necessary to be able to carry out a particular jib, but schools are also responsible for developing skills which will help the students to face and solve issues on a daily basis as well as prepare students for independent learning. Could we call Moodle courses an independent learning facilitators? The answer is not clear, the courses are designed on a teaching and learning basis, the curriculum is chosen and planned within a given structure, however the teacher is not physically present for the learning process. Students do not receive immediate feedback, and in many occasions students have to do their own research in order to find the answers they are looking for. Our examination was the learning process happening in the on-line collaborative learning environment. We have analyzed the last four semesters course activity. Our goal is to examine the Moodle LMS in the context of the communication in K-MOOC online courses to detect and characterize the student community activity, participation, explore the operation mechanism of this knowledge community.

New education challenges in engineering course programs

Development of engineering systems brought great changes in lifecycle modeling of products. These changes widened the area of model definition, made engineering processes more conform to new demands at communication with engineers, enhanced representation of knowledge, and resulted smart functions of product model such as self adaptive characteristic. It is inevitable that development of model based engineering is new challenge for higher education of engineers. At the same time, the new convergence of theory and practice which is enforced by recent engineering modeling offers more university program conform integration of university courses and engineering systems. In this paper, new contributions are introduced to prepare this integration. After introduction of the relevant new methods in engineering, new model is outlined for course program. Following this, changes of course programs are introduced which are enforced by changes of model based engineering. Finally, new approaches are provided for communication between course and engineering object representations and course configuration.

New paradigm in engineering changes higher education courses

Implementation of the new paradigm product lifecycle management (PLM) essentially changed work of engineers. At the same time, engineering with multidisciplinary products demanded PLM. PLM brought experience and expertise based knowledge driven product representation. It integrated huge amount information about product objects, processes, activities, analyses, methodologies, equipment, devices, and communications in active knowledge driven complex model. This model supposed advanced computer system. Currently, inherent characteristics of PLM modeling give new chance for higher education to turn towards case study and project based course programs while save theoretical content. In this paper, analysis and explanation of the new world of virtual engineering is introduced and discussed in order to conceptualize a future vision of higher education in engineering. Main contribution of this paper is practice oriented concept and model of course where theory and practice is harmonized in integrated teaching content using advanced PLM environment. Affect of PLM on curriculum is other main issue in this contribution.

Integration of new equipment by advanced process optimization

Practice of modern industrial production is characterised by continuous development as well as optimizing of processes. Its tool is the world-wide Lean management method, which is suitable for offering such solutions for changing production environment that correspond to productivity increase and cost reduction expectations. After brief introduction we will discuss main features of Lean management, which is connected to further applied production modernization. We will introduce the development that beside increase of production establishes conditions for applicability of Lean methods. This design work, by observing characteristics of the selected new machine unit, established a special serving environment. Application of the new equipment and the performed modernisation required also transformation of the production process. We will close our publication with summarising of results of production optimizing accomplished by integration of the new equipment.

Effect of multidisciplinary engineering on university courses

One of the main challenges at definition methodology, planning, and configuration of an engineering course is recent dramatic change of engineering methodology at leading industrial industries. Engineering systems are applied to integrate all engineering activities for entire lifecycle of industrial products. At the same time, engineering was tailored to multidisciplinary structure of recent product components and units. This change demanded shifting product definition to higher level of abstraction. Increased knowledge content at development and operation of products required integration of research activities into product development process. This new situation is advantageous for university programs because it needs more abstract and research oriented practice at education and improves level and scientific content of courses. Authors of this paper published their former relevant results in modeling of internet-based engineering courses, as well as in new challenges at engineering education and course programs. In this paper, first the new situation at leading industrial engineering is outlined. Following this, connections and relations are revealed between the changed engineering and the future anticipated university course activities. Finally, effects on university courses are defined which are aimed as contribution to modeling and development of future university engineering programs.

Courses success in online environment

People in their 30s-40s are already used to changes and they are open for retraining in order to be more market able. We are not introducing anything new by saying that in today sigh demanding jobs, the schools are not only providing the knowledge necessary to be able to carry out a particular jib, but schools are also responsible for developing skills which will help the students to face and solve issues on a daily basis as well as prepare students for independent learning. The courses are designed on a teaching and learning basis, the curriculum is chosen and planned within a given structure, however the teacher is not physically present for the learning process. Students do not receive immediate feedback, and in many occasions students have to do their own research in order to find the answers they are looking for. Our examination was the learning process happening in the on-line collaborative learning environment. We have analyzed the last four semesters course activity. Our goal is to examine online courses to detect and characterize the student community activity, participation, explore the operation mechanism of this knowledge community.

Effects of new engineering paradigm on university education programs

The first decade of this century brought paradigm change in product centered engineering. As result of a long integration process, the new paradigm of product lifecycle management established modeling methodology which is suitable for robust and efficient management of product information for wide range of engineering activities. This paper introduces an analysis of the new paradigm from the point of view of teaching and learning processes in university programs. Following this, new education challenges are identified and discussed and new demanded features for course programs are analyzed. Practice orientation of education is emphasized in a theory and methodology enriched engineering environment.

The Hungarian NASA researcher in the field of space robotics — Life work of Antal K. Bejczy

Professor Antal K. Bejczy is a Hungarian-born physicist and lead researcher of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He is a professor at the California Institute of Technology, at Washington University in St. Louis and doctor honoris causa at the Óbuda University in Budapest; an internationally recognized expert in robotics and space research. His pioneering research in space robotics largely aided the success of the early Mars expeditions. Professor Bejczy was born near the village of Ercsi. He attended the Jesuit high school in Kalocsa, after which he applied for his first job in Budapest as a workman and a dispatch boy at the electrical rotating machine factory in Budapest. During this time, he studied as an electrical engineer at Budapest University of Technology and Economics, until he was forced to leave his country, due to the historical events surrounding November 4, 1956. From Hungary through Austria, he immigrated to Norway, where he started his physics studies at Oslo University. After receiving his diploma, he remained at the university for another three years, as an expert in nuclear reactors. In 1963, he received his doctorate in the field of applied physics. He met with Tódor Kármán, who encouraged him to extend his knowledge by traveling overseas. In 1966, he received the NATO/Fulbright scholarship and continued his studies at the California Institute of Technology (CALTECH), where the primary focus of his research was cybernetics. From 1969, until his retirement (32 years), he worked as a research fellow at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the well known research center, which was originally founded by Tódor Kármán. From 1971, research at JPL was primarily focused on designing robots that would be able to explore the surface of Mars. The news of Antal Bejczys results in the field of robot intelligence, reached the NASA Johnson Space Center. Soon, he was put in charge of designing the technology of a robot arm to be used on the space shuttle. Among many others, he designed the remote control system of the Pathfinder robot, the first Mars rover. His interests were extended to the use of robotics in musculoskeletal rehabilitation. His patents were tested by Christopher Reeve, the actor in the Superman films of the 70s and 80s. Antal Bejczy gave his name to the Center for Intelligent Robotics at Óbuda University in 2012. The Center was founded by Imre Rudas and is part of the University Research and Innovation Center. Its mission is to conduct robotics research and development, aid innovation and manage its results and fulfill educational needs in the field of robotics.

From exoskeleton to the Antal Bejczy center for intelligent robotics

Professor Dr. Antal K. Bejczy, the Hungarian born NASA researcher was one of the key founders the scientific society IEEE RAS (Robotics and Automation Society), which has more than 10.000 members and is part of the well-known, global organization, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE, which now has more than 300,000 members. He worked with the RAS Board of Directors for 14 years and also served as a President of the Robotic and Automation Council, guiding its transition to become the Robotics and Automation Society. He retired as IEEE Life Fellow and senior research scientist at JPL. The name Antal K. Bejczy was found on 7 patents and 43 NASA innovation awards. Furthermore, he wrote 160 scientific papers, contributed in 11 technical books and attended several dozen conferences as a keynote speaker. Antal K. Bejczy made unique and fundamental contributions to the understanding and use of robotic human-machine interfaces, including novel and important enhancing roles of automation. “During his career at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, he pioneered the development of several innovative robot components such as “smart hands” with “smart sensors” and a novel tele-robotic system using a general-purpose force-reflecting hand controller for remote robot arm control that also serve the medical field. His work also led to the design of a precise microsurgical system and the development of the first force feedback surgical system, the RAMS (Robot Assisted Microsurgical System) robot. He was principal investigator of a flight experiment using a force-moment sensor enhanced “hand” on the space shuttle arm of the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1994 and holds 43 NASA innovation awards.” (IEEE Global History Network) The Antal Bejczy Center for Intelligent Robotics was inaugurated at the Óbuda University in 2013, Budapest.