AIRNAUTILUS
Airnautilus
Imagine a V.I.P. kept hostage behind enemy lines with no help what so ever. As a result we would like to send a team of Navy Seals, but how are we going to deploy this team?
If we approach our target by air we can easily be picked up by Integrated Air Defenses (IAD), if we use any other media we will simply take too long. DARPA came up with a possible way to accomplish this mission. Airnautilus, a submersible aircraft that will travel as fast as an airplane and submerge like a submarine. It will approach its target covertly and successfully.
This project is related to electrical engineering and aviation, and this is why I chose it. I was interested in learning multi system design, system engineering and mostly how to communicate and work with different disciplines. My role was to support the team with my electrical engineering knowledge, to advice the team on the electrical constraints involved in our design, as well as to aid the team with new ideas.
If we approach our target by air we can easily be picked up by Integrated Air Defenses (IAD), if we use any other media we will simply take too long. DARPA came up with a possible way to accomplish this mission. Airnautilus, a submersible aircraft that will travel as fast as an airplane and submerge like a submarine. It will approach its target covertly and successfully.
This project is related to electrical engineering and aviation, and this is why I chose it. I was interested in learning multi system design, system engineering and mostly how to communicate and work with different disciplines. My role was to support the team with my electrical engineering knowledge, to advice the team on the electrical constraints involved in our design, as well as to aid the team with new ideas.
Draft Plan
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Mid Semester Presentation
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Final Presentation
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Perimeter Security and Predator Control Device
Senior Design
This is my senior design project.
I am currently the project manager of this team. I have learned project planning and time management skills. I also understand more about optoelectronics, embedded systems and deer behavior. The reason why I chose this project is to be exposed to areas I do not have experience in, so I can learn.
Abstract:
Security and protection systems often involve devices that trigger a response when a line of sight is interrupted. Common uses of such systems are in detectors that prevent garage doors from closing on objects, in perimeter monitors that check if a property line is crossed and in light curtains on industrial machines that turn off the machine if hands enter an area of vulnerability.
Seemingly unrelated, predators such as deer cause considerable damage to agricultural crops and even to expensive vegetation in urban settings when grazing for food. Intimidation methods such as light, sound, smell, and movement are effective at preventing damage when the intimidation strategically occurs but is generally ineffective if the intimidation is continuous and repetitive.
This project will focus on the development of an optical monitor that can detect if a line of sight is interrupted and in the use of such a system as a predator control device. The device should have use in both predator control applications as well as in perimeter detection for safety or security purposes. In the predator control application, different intimidation signals will be generated when the optical line of sight is interrupted and records of the interruption patterns will be maintained to help the users of these systems develop effective predator control methods.
Emphasis will be placed on using laser diodes for the light beam that may provide reliable monitoring at distances of up to 100 meters.
I am currently the project manager of this team. I have learned project planning and time management skills. I also understand more about optoelectronics, embedded systems and deer behavior. The reason why I chose this project is to be exposed to areas I do not have experience in, so I can learn.
Abstract:
Security and protection systems often involve devices that trigger a response when a line of sight is interrupted. Common uses of such systems are in detectors that prevent garage doors from closing on objects, in perimeter monitors that check if a property line is crossed and in light curtains on industrial machines that turn off the machine if hands enter an area of vulnerability.
Seemingly unrelated, predators such as deer cause considerable damage to agricultural crops and even to expensive vegetation in urban settings when grazing for food. Intimidation methods such as light, sound, smell, and movement are effective at preventing damage when the intimidation strategically occurs but is generally ineffective if the intimidation is continuous and repetitive.
This project will focus on the development of an optical monitor that can detect if a line of sight is interrupted and in the use of such a system as a predator control device. The device should have use in both predator control applications as well as in perimeter detection for safety or security purposes. In the predator control application, different intimidation signals will be generated when the optical line of sight is interrupted and records of the interruption patterns will be maintained to help the users of these systems develop effective predator control methods.
Emphasis will be placed on using laser diodes for the light beam that may provide reliable monitoring at distances of up to 100 meters.
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Omaha Public Power District
Fort Calhoun Station
At OPPD I have had different projects assigned to me. Fort Calhoun Station is a nuclear power plant located in Blair Nebraska. I worked here as a Co-op. My role was to support Engineering Fix it Now (EFIN). I was part of a great team working on electrical and mechanical engineering problems.
One of the projects I was assigned to work on, was a warning strobe light placement outside the maintenance shop. This strobe light would prevent operators from accessing the maintenance shop when the crane was in operation. There was an existing strobe light mounted on the crane already.
The project was divided into three phases, hardware research, process planning, and implementation. I was involved in all three phases with my supervisor, the system engineering department and the electricians. The project was difficult due to the location of the new strobe light. The requirements were to be placed outside the maintenance shop, to be visible at any time of the day, to prevent operators from entering the maintenance shop.
During our design phase we had three main options on how to place the strobe light, such that when the crane was operational the strobe light would turn on. Our first idea was to use wireless technology to turn on the strobe light. Our main issue here was interference with other RF sensitive devices. The second idea was to run a retractable wire from the crane’s existing strobe light and place it outside the maintenance shop. The risk of the wire tangling and potentially breaking loose was a major concern. Finally, the placement of the strobe light outside the maintenance shop was the best idea. The strobe light would be powered off the 120VAC and it would be attached to a switch. In our procedure we specified that the switch would have to be turned on before operating the crane. This is how we potentially prevented major damage due to operators walking into the maintenance shop when the crane was active.
My experience with OPPD did not end there. I was involved in other projects of importance to EFIN and the plant. I performed my best and tried to be as efficient as possible. Always considering safety as the number one priority.
One of the projects I was assigned to work on, was a warning strobe light placement outside the maintenance shop. This strobe light would prevent operators from accessing the maintenance shop when the crane was in operation. There was an existing strobe light mounted on the crane already.
The project was divided into three phases, hardware research, process planning, and implementation. I was involved in all three phases with my supervisor, the system engineering department and the electricians. The project was difficult due to the location of the new strobe light. The requirements were to be placed outside the maintenance shop, to be visible at any time of the day, to prevent operators from entering the maintenance shop.
During our design phase we had three main options on how to place the strobe light, such that when the crane was operational the strobe light would turn on. Our first idea was to use wireless technology to turn on the strobe light. Our main issue here was interference with other RF sensitive devices. The second idea was to run a retractable wire from the crane’s existing strobe light and place it outside the maintenance shop. The risk of the wire tangling and potentially breaking loose was a major concern. Finally, the placement of the strobe light outside the maintenance shop was the best idea. The strobe light would be powered off the 120VAC and it would be attached to a switch. In our procedure we specified that the switch would have to be turned on before operating the crane. This is how we potentially prevented major damage due to operators walking into the maintenance shop when the crane was active.
My experience with OPPD did not end there. I was involved in other projects of importance to EFIN and the plant. I performed my best and tried to be as efficient as possible. Always considering safety as the number one priority.