No abstract

Kenneth Connor is a professor in the Department of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering (ECSE) where he teaches courses on electromagnetics, electronics and instrumentation, plasma physics, electric power, and general engineering. His research involves plasma physics, electromagnetics, photonics, biomedical sensors, engineering education, diversity in the engineering workforce, and technology enhanced learning. He learned problem solving from his father (ran a gray iron foundry), his mother (a nurse) and grandparents (dairy farmers). He has had the great good fortune to always work with amazing people, most recently professors teaching circuits and electronics from 13 HBCU ECE programs and the faculty, staff and students of the SMART LIGHTING ERC, where he is Education Director. He teaches courses in both analog and digital electronic circuit design and instrumentation, with a focus on wireless communication. He has more than 15 years experience in the development and delivery of synchronous and asynchronous web-based course supplements for electrical engineering courses. Dr. Astatke played a leading role in the development and implementation of the first completely online undergraduate ECE program in the State of Maryland. He has published over 50 papers and presented his research work at regional, national and international conferences. He also runs several exciting summer camps geared towards middle school, high school, and community college students to expose and increase their interest in pursuing Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. Dr. Astatke travels to Ethiopia every summer to provide training and guest lectures related to the use of the mobile laboratory technology and pedagogy to enhance the ECE curriculum at five different universities. Dr. Charles J. Kim, Howard UniversityCharles Kim is a professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Howard University. He received a Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University in 1989, and worked as a researcher at Texas A&M University before he took an assistant professor at the University of Suwon in 1994. Since 1999, he is with Howard University. Dr. Kim's research interests include energy systems, fault detection and anticipation, embedded computing, safety-critical computer systems, and intelligent systems application. Dr. Kim is active in practicing experiential learning in engineering education with personal instrumentation such as mobile studio. Dr. Mohamed F. Chouikha, Howard UniversityDr. Mohamed Chouikha is a professor and chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Howard University. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado-Boulder. Dr. Chouikha's research interests include machine learning, intelligent control, and multimedia signal processing communications for secure networks, among other areas. He also focuses on enhancing recruitment and retention of underrepresented minorities in the STEM areas in general, engineering in...

Scientific Visualization is the representation of data graphcally as a means of gaining understanding and insight into the data. People in general, understand visual stimuli more easily than complex amounts of data. An excellent place to start learning Scientific Visualization is in the field of Image Processing, since it involves algorithms that help convert data into images. In today's technology-oriented world, the term 'Image Processing generally refers to the processing of a two-dimensional data set using a computer. This was the main reason that the initial research was completed in the implementation of image processing techtuques using a software called Advanced Visual Systems Express (AVS Express). There is a definite need to show how that would benefit instruction as a teaching aid, and also how it helps optimize the time taken to implement these different techniques using this software. It also increases user understandmg of these techniques. It is possible to hlly implement many of the different image processing techniques such as edge extraction, gradient operators, convolution, compression and extraction, as well as many others in a relatively short time. In comparison to previous attempts with other popular software such as MATLAB, the time difference proved to be immense. The main advantage of AVS software is that it provides a visual programming environment which allows the user to see the flow of information of the lfferent algorithms as they are being implemented. Since no time is spent writing and correcting code, the understanding of the image processing techniques becomes much clearer in a shorter period of time, and thus in depth study is possible. We have developed a number of techmques and are in the process of integrating AVS Express into the curriculum for the Digital Image Processing (EE523) course at Tennessee State University as a teaching and study aid. We believe it will enhance the understanding and implementation of image processing techniques using Visualization methods.

No abstract

Cogene stion and Thermal Energy Storage (TES) systems have been successfully applied in industrial, institutional and commercial facilities throughout the United States. Both of these are proven technologies offering attractive rates of return on initial investments in most cases. In the past, cogeneration and TES were generally viewed as mutually exclusive system alternatives. However, the application of both TES and cogeneration in a coordinated system can result in exceptional savings in most cases.