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Engineering 450: Multidisciplinary Engineering Design* ENG 450 is a new multidisciplinary capstone design course at the University of Michigan. Teams of students from engineering and science departments work together on project design and prototype fabrication. Industry experts mentor design teams and give guest lectures. The team projects are part of larger research and development programs in government and industry. The winter 2006 course will include joint projects with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Aerospace Corporation, Astrobiology Institute, Cameron Balloons, Student Space Systems Fabrication Laboratory, Advanced Technology Center, and Lockheed Martin Space Systems. ENG 450 is a semester course. However, students are encouraged to continue their projects through summer research or summer internships. For example: One team project will be the design and fabrication of a laboratory simulator of the thrusters of Mars Phoenix Lander. This project is part of an upcoming Mars mission and selected students will be able to continue the research after the semester is over. The field of engineering still requires rigorous training in engineering specialties. However it also requires new engineers to jump right into complex projects working with teams from several disciplines. ENG 450 is providing Michigan students and the companies that hire them a head start on working together on multidisciplinary design projects. *EE students must receive approval from the EECS Curriculum Committee to receive MDE credit for ENG 450. For approval, please contact Professor Fred Terry (EE Chief Program Advisor) or Professor Greg Wakefield (EECS Curriculum Committee Chair). Winter 2007 Course Information Schedule: Tues/Thur 1:30 - 5:30 pm Lecture Notes ENG 450: Potential Projects (PDF File) Previous Course Information Project Descriptions: Pedestrian Safety System (Ford Motor Company) Currently, collisions involving pedestrians and motor vehicles results in thousands of pedestrians killed or injured across the world each year. International regulating bodies will soon be requiring that all new vehicles sold have active pedestrian protection system. There are generally two parts to any such system: first the detection of a pedestrian, which then triggers an active response based on whether the systems thinks a collision will happen. There are many systems that have been developed to reduce injury to the pedestrian such as deployable hoods, airbags, and assisted braking mechanisms. The more difficult part of the problem is the first step, the detection of the pedestrian, and this is what we are focusing on. There are many types of systems we can employ, from cameras to radar and GPS systems. We will focus on a simple short-range detection system paired with an algorithm to help the system decide whether or not to send a “deploy” signal to the active system within the vehicle.
Mars Science Laboratory Rover influence on Rover Environmental Monitoring Station The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) is a 2009 mission to Mars. The MSL rover has multiple environmental sensors (REMS) spread out over the rover. There is concern that these sensors will not be capable of making accurate measurements due to the wake of the mast and the radiation of the hot Radioisotope Thermal Generator. Thus, these perturbations need to be accurately studied. The large size of the rover as well as the low density of the Martian atmosphere makes wind tunnel testing costly and impractical. Therefore, we use numerical simulations to estimate the perturbation of the rover on the REMS data, and identify simple tests that could be used to verify the results. The effects of induced turbulence and thermal plumes on REMS wind, temperature, pressure, and UV sensors are being studied over a wide range of Martian atmospheric conditions in order to determine if the current placement of sensors is acceptable. 2007 Phoenix Mission Thruster Plume (NASA/JPL) The Phoenix Mars mission is the first scout mission designed to explore the history of water and the habitability potential of the Martian’s arctic ice-rich soil. Phoenix is scheduled for launch in August 2007 to land near 70 degrees north. Phoenix relies on powered descent to slow down the spacecraft before soft landing. As a result, the thruster will disturb the soil as spacecraft lands. The Phoenix Mars mission may face large plume impingement forces on Martian surface. Numerical studies indicate that each of the 12 descent engines is likely to produce crater of approximately 50 cm of diameter and 20 cm deep. Dust uplift, soil erosion and contamination poses major threats to the vitality of the Phoenix Mars mission. Thus, plume-soil interaction studies are essential to the perseveration of mission success and achieving science objectives. A thruster system has been fabricated and calibrated to carry out a suite of experimental tests. Simulations will be conducted at NASA Ames Research Center’s Mars Chamber. Mars Balloon Scout Mission: Breakthrough Surface Inflation Technology for Future Mars Balloon Mission (NASA/JPL & Cameron Balloons US) NASA has established the future vision of space exploration that will lead to human missions to the Moon, and eventually to Mars. In order to facilitate this, the Martian environment must be understood thoroughly to minimize the risk to humans. Although Mars rovers and orbiting satellites are able to gather a significant amount of planetary data, neither form of exploration has provided adequate information for risk assessment, nor have they provided a good balance between mobility and precise, in-situ measurements. However, these requirements can be fulfilled with a balloon system. This idea has driven our team at the University of Michigan to launch the Mars Balloon Scout (MBS) mission. The objectives of the MBS mission includes the detection of organic compounds and toxic elements in the atmosphere, measurement of ambient weather patterns, and detailed exploration of the local Mars geology to assist future robotic and human missions. The balloon system is ideal due to its simplicity, ability to survey both the atmosphere and surface, ability to perform in-situ measurements in the Martian atmosphere, and long mission life span. Aerial robots have not been utilized in a Mars mission yet. Consequently, the perception of risk is high, which has contributed to the selection of rovers and orbiters over balloons in recent mission cycles. The riskiest part of a Mars balloon mission is the entry, descent, and deployment (EDD) phase. Typical EDD phases of previous missions, such as the Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) mission, lasted approximately six minutes from entry to touchdown. In the past, various Mars Balloon Mission Concepts Studies have proposed the idea of inflating the balloon system during the entry-descent phase. This method was thought to be the best, minimizing the risk of rupturing the balloon envelope on the rocky Martian surface. Previous University of Michigan researchers had proposed a unique parachute system to assist the inflation of the balloon by increasing the time period before the spacecraft reaches the ground. Although balloon inflation during entry-descent was initially believed to be the best method, tests conducted by NASA Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) suggest that the technology has not reached the minimum Technology Readiness Level (TRL) required for a flight project. In addition, WFF is limited in its testing capabilities because of high costs and limited NASA funding. Because of the low TRL and the slow progression of enabling technologies for the midair balloon inflation system design, University of Michigan researchers are now reviewing the deployment strategy for future Mars balloon missions and proposing a revolutionary idea of inflating the balloon on the Martian surface after landing. This idea could be tested for a significantly lower cost compared to the conventional system, allowing the technology to be flight ready more quickly. The successful implementation of the new surface balloon inflation technology will allow for a low-risk balloon mission, which will ultimately advance NASA’s goal of sending humans to Mars. Lunar Base Mobility Systems (NASA/JPL) NASA has been working on the conceptual design a lunar base that fulfills the life support needs of four crewmembers for six months without re-supply. The base will allow long term experiments at the surface of the Moon and provide a site for the development of technology necessary for future exploration of other bodies of the solar system. In order to ensure the safety of both astronauts and instruments, we are developing a test to examine dust mitigation from lunar base mobility systems. The test will investigate the effects of tread patterns of lunar rover wheels on the kick-up of dust. In addition, we are developing a software sizing tool to assist with systems engineering mission design. It will help quantify tradeoffs in mechanical and power system design of the mobility systems. Hands-On Museum (Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum) The mission of the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum is to inspire people to discover the wonders of science, math and technology. The Ann Arbor Hands-on Museum’s vision is to be the leader in imaginative and interactive learning experiences. We are designing and fabricating an interactive child-proof space science exhibit prototype that coheres with the vision of the upcoming permanent space exploration display at the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum. Our design consists of a magnetized solar system model that will allow users to “feel” the gravitational pull and explore concept of comparative planetology. This exhibit aims to articulate the physical, cognitive and affective aspects of learning by exploiting verbiage, visual aids and providing an interactive environment. Formative evaluations will be conducted to ensure balance of all three learning aspects. |