This paper presents a basic method of probabilistic transmission planning used in BC Hydro. The method is based on transmission system reliability evaluation and an overall economic analysis including damage cost due to system unreliability. Four alternatives for the Vancouver South Metro system of BC Hydro have been evaluated using the method. The first one is addition of a 230 kV line, the second one local configuration changes ("cuts and ties") in the 69 kV subsystem, the third one operational manipulation and the fourth one curtailable industrial load management. The third and the fourth alternatives can be considered as non-investment reinforcements. The results indicate that the cut-and-tie alternative in the 69 kv subsystem can provide the same reliability level as the 230 kV line addition but with much lower investment and therefore the initial 230 kV line addition could be deferred by 10 years. This deferral allows a major capital expenditure of $ 26.4 million (1997 $) to be avoided. The studies show that the application of quantitative transmission reliability assessment in power system planning can provide utilities with significant economic benefits.

This paper presents the research has been undertaken, to design and develop a micro actuator using electro rheological fluid technology, for visually impaired tactile display information technology, access applications. The micro actuator consists of a small cylinder made of ABS plastic material with 1.5 mm diameter and 10 mm long. The inner surface of the cylinder is coated by nickel using electroless coating process. A coaxial conducting rod of 1.02 mm diameter and 10 mm long is fitted vertically in the centre of the cylinder. The coated surface is used as first electrode and the coaxial conducting rod used as a second electrode, to form the micro actuation high voltage area. The microactuator structure has been used to develop a tactile display of a large scale in a matrix form of 124×4 actuators. An advanced software tools and embedded system based on voltage matrix manipulation has been developed to provide the display the near real time control. The new micro actuator development process, software control tools and actual developed prototype is presented in this paper. Prototype size 124×4 micro actuators, on a matrix form, with a separation distance of 2.54 mm, was manufactured. The experimental tests carried out into the prototype showed that each micro actuator was able to provide a vertical movement of 0.7 mm and a vertical holding force of 100 to 200mN. These results meet the necessary standard requirement of Braille applications. Stroke and dynamic response test showed the practicability of the developed micro actuator for electronic refreshable high resolution graphical tactile display, for visually impaired and blind information technology access applications.

The TRIADS engine is a powerful set of Authorware ProfessionalTM routines, which allow rapid and easy production of multimedia computer-delivered assessments through the use of question templates and proformas. TRIADS is currently being evaluated at 25 UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in 18 disciplines. Its potential use in electrical engineering is discussed. Introduction to the TRIADS projectUniversity teaching has changed over the past years: because of increased student numbers, an emphasis on quality provision, and to take advantage of new methods, for example courseware delivered by computer. Assessment, and its role in the learning-teaching process, has been similarly scrutinised so that assessment strategies and methods have also evolved. Computer-based assessment is a natural outcome of a need to process more assignments and provide more feedback to more students, while maintaining better records of student progress and outcomes.The TRIADS project evolved from an initial Teaching and Learning Technology Programme (TLTP)1 courseware collaboration, into a Fund for the Development of Teaching and Learning (FDTL)2-funded project to develop further and disseminate a computer-based assessment system already in use at the University of Derby. The principal partners in the collaboration are the University of Liverpool ( lead site), the University of Derby and the Open University. TRIADS is more than just the assessment software that forms the core of the system. The Open University had been using paper-based, machineread testing for 25 years and has considerable expertise in the curriculum context, design and analysis of objective tests. The TRIADS team has put emphasis on making explicit the academic decisions that have led to the incorporation of computer-based testing within a learning, teaching and assessment strategy. Further, the scheme encourages a careful specification of cover-

A rotary standing wave ultrasonic motor using single flexural ring transducer is developed and presented in this paper. The motor consists of three main components, the stator, rotor and housing unit. The stator is a piezoelectric transducer ring. The rotor is designed of a compact driving wheel and the shaft. The housing unit is made of a transparent thermoplastic Perspex material and is part of the motor working mechanism. The motor design, structure, working principles and modelling using finite element analysis is discussed and presented in this paper. The simulation and modelling using finite element analysis for the motor is used in the motor design development process. Finite element has been used to examine the motor structure by performing an algebraic solution of a set of equations, describing an ideal model structure, with a finite number of variables. The established simulation and modelling for ultrasonic motor using finite element analysis enabled to select the material of the flexural transducer ring, investigate the material deformation, defining the operating parameters for the motor and establish the principles of motion. The motor working principles is based on creating travelling waves vibration modes, of oscillating structures that are superimposed in the stator, generating elliptical micro motions at the stator tips. Pressing the rotor against the stator tips, using an elastic spring, the micro motions are converted into a rotary motion via the friction between the tips of the stator and the rotor. A prototype of the motor was fabricated and its characteristics measured. Experimental tests showed that the electrical working parameters are: Current: 100 m-amp’s, Voltage: 100 volts, Frequency: 41.7kHz, typical speed of movement: 32 revolutions per minute, a resolution of less than 50μm and maximum load of 1.5 Newton.

Engineering design is a knowledge intensive process which encompasses detailed conceptual analysis and evaluation, involving various areas of knowledge and experience. The sharing between these tasks is critical if the capacity for new product development is to be increased whilst its quality is maintained. Design technologies describe the use of a wide range of computer-based tools designed to assist engineers in their activities. The rapid growth of such technologies in engineering design industry is considerable and it is important that education moves into this area of work without delay. As the industry evolves, students in higher education seek to learn technologies that can best serve their future careers. Teaching design technologies in the traditional way may involve presenting in front of an audience and explaining instructions step-by-step. One of the main tasks of competent teaching is to provide a wide diversity of problems and supporting activities. This paper presents the design, development, implementation and evaluation of an online system for teaching design technologies to engineering students. The system was designed to guide students according to their abilities, offering progression through an individual learning plan that contained various educational methods. The fully developed system was evaluated as an educational tool for year one engineering students at the University of Derby.