Erik Cheever

Project ideas and information for engineering students

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I use this blog to post information that might be of use for students seeking project ideas. Many of the posts have links to interesting new technologies or products that might be useful for a project. Some of the posts are simply project ideas to prompt student interest. You can easily pare down the selections using the categories and/or tags below.
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Category Archives: E12

Determine location of guitar pluck from the sound created

Posted on August 8, 2016 by Erik Cheever | Leave a reply

See file here  The file links to a paper entitled “Extracting the fingering and the plucking points on a guitar string from a recording”.  Either explore the process (E12 project), or implement it (E71) in real time (E90)

Posted in Course Project Ideas, E12, E90.

Research Bond graphs and write a paper

Posted on March 4, 2016 by Erik Cheever | Leave a reply

Research Bond graphs – a technique developed for handling linear systems (mechanical, electrical…) under a single framework. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bond_graph

Posted in Course Project Ideas, E12.

Model a nerve action potential using the Hodgkin-Huxley model

Posted on March 1, 2016 by Erik Cheever | Leave a reply

The dynamics of the voltage across a nerve membrane are well defined by a set of three coupled non-linear equations.  MATLAB (or another tool) can be used to model these equations and accurately predict the dynamics of a nerve firing.

Posted in biomed, Course Project Ideas, E12.

Make an animation of inner ear demo from class

Posted on March 1, 2016 by Erik Cheever

Make an animation (either MATLAB or web-based) of the inner ear example from class.  This involved some simulation and some relatively simple graphics programming.  You could also update and expand this web page (http://www.swarthmore.edu/NatSci/echeeve1/Ref/InEar/InnerEar.html) to include the animation.

Posted in biomed, Course Project Ideas, E12.

Modes on a drumhead

Posted on March 29, 2015 by Erik Cheever | Leave a reply

Explore modes on a drumhead – similar to modes on a guitar string, but in 2 dimensions.

Posted in Course Project Ideas, E12.

Cloth modeling

Posted on March 29, 2015 by Erik Cheever | Leave a reply

Cloth modeling – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Or – do a search for cloth physics.

This is very similar to the spider on a web project idea.

Posted in Course Project Ideas, E12.

Model a non-linear pendulum that has magnets.

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Erik Cheever | Leave a reply

Check the video below.  It is a simple pendulum, but reacts to magnets near the base.  A non-linear problem to be modeled with RK – but not too difficult.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_between_magnets#Magnetic_dipole-dipole_interaction

https://blogs.swarthmore.edu/cheever/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/magpend.mp4
Posted in Course Project Ideas, E12.

Implement an adjustable step-size RK algorithm for animations

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Erik Cheever | Leave a reply

The animation system at http://lpsa.swarthmore.edu/Animations/ uses a fixed step size animation.  Alter the code to use a variable step size.

Posted in Course Project Ideas, E12.

Use an animation system (see below) to develop animations for homework problems.

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Erik Cheever | Leave a reply

Use the animation system (http://lpsa.swarthmore.edu/Animations/) developed by a student a few years ago to develop animations for some of the homework problems.

Posted in Course Project Ideas, E12.

Use simulink and MATLAB together to simulate a system (and animate it).

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Erik Cheever | Leave a reply

Use simulink and MATLAB together to simulate a system (and animate it).  You could also do it all in MATLAB.  The coupled pendulum system comes to mind.

Posted in Course Project Ideas, E12.

Simulate this non-linear system with spinning magnets.

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Erik Cheever | Leave a reply

Simulate the system shown using Runge-Kutta (it is nonlinear, but not too complex).  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_between_magnets#Magnetic_dipole-dipole_interaction

https://blogs.swarthmore.edu/cheever/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/spinners.mp4

 

Posted in Course Project Ideas, E12.

Explore Z-Transforms

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Erik Cheever | Leave a reply

Z-Transforms are related to the Laplace Transform, but are used for discrete time systems (i.e., when a computer is used to sample a signal).  This would be more research then physical.

Posted in Course Project Ideas, E12.

Javascript tool for demonstrating some principal from class.

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Erik Cheever | Leave a reply

Develop an interactive JavaScript tool for demonstrating some principal from class.  … pole locations and step response?  pole locations and Bode Plot?  animating the Runge-Kutta process?

 

Posted in Course Project Ideas, E12.

Javascript tool for visualizing convolutions

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Erik Cheever | Leave a reply

Use JavaScript to develop a tool for visualizing convolutions.  Something like “The Joy of Convolution” from Johns Hopkins, or the MATLAB tool ConvolveGUI that I demoed in class.

Posted in Course Project Ideas, E12, Uncategorized.

The Pi Machine – NYTimes.com – Calculate pi

Posted on March 16, 2015 by Erik Cheever | Leave a reply

Use this method to make an animation (web-based?) that calculate pi.  The Pi Machine – NYTimes.com.

Posted in Course Project Ideas, E12, Uncategorized.

Use Audio Analyzer to Demonstrate Convolution

Posted on March 12, 2015 by Erik Cheever | Leave a reply

It would be very nice to have a MATLAB gui that makes the audio analyzer output a series of impulses to a circuit and then have software that would add up the delayed and shifted impulse responses to create the output due to an arbitrary input.  This is ambitious, but if you want a very software (MATLAB) intensive project – this might be it.

Posted in Course Project Ideas, E12.

Recreating the THX Deep Note – Earslap

Posted on February 23, 2015 by Erik Cheever | Leave a reply

Recreating the THX Deep Note – Earslap.  Read this blog post on how to create the THX Deep Note (the sound at the beginning of movies using THX).  It involves some signal processing – see if you can do it in MATLAB.  Here is professor Zucker’s implementation in shadertoy https://www.shadertoy.com/view/Mtf3zs.

Posted in Course Project Ideas, E12.

Add code to Fourier Series Lab so Function Generator makes Sawtooth and Triangle wave

Posted on February 20, 2015 by Erik Cheever | Leave a reply

Right now, the signal generator is only configured to create sine waves and square waves.  Code could be added to the U8903a GUI to enable the generation of triangle and Sawtooth waves.

Posted in Course Project Ideas, E12.

Explore Fourier Transform and Filtering in 2 dimensions.

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Erik Cheever | Leave a reply

Explore Fourier Transform and Filtering in 2 dimensions (i.e., images).

Posted in Course Project Ideas, E12.

The hot rod.

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Erik Cheever | Leave a reply

Put a heater on one end of a metal rod, and measure, predict and model the temperature along the length of the rod.

Posted in Course Project Ideas, E12.

Compartmental modeling (physiological systems)

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Erik Cheever | Leave a reply

Read up on compartmental modeling and model some physiological system (e.g., glucose metabolism…)

Posted in Course Project Ideas, E12.

Analyze and simulate the double pendulum without the small angle approximation.

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Erik Cheever | Leave a reply

Analyze and simulate the double pendulum without the small angle approximation.  Include an animation.

Posted in Course Project Ideas, E12.

Build an analog computer.

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Erik Cheever | Leave a reply

Build an electronic analog computer (a circuit analog to Simulink) using integrators and summers….

Posted in Course Project Ideas, E12.

Try to model the friction of the double pendulum experiment.

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Erik Cheever | Leave a reply

Try to model the friction of the double pendulum experiment.  The friction is closer to kinetic than viscous, so you’ll need a non-linear model (either your R-K, or simulink).  This has some interesting aspects to it (as friction often does).

 

Posted in Course Project Ideas, E12.

Develop a thermal model for a hot box.

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Erik Cheever | Leave a reply

Put a heater in a box and try modeling the temperature in the box over time.

Posted in Course Project Ideas, E12.

Develop a system to measure hand position and develop a model.

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Erik Cheever | Leave a reply

Build a small dial with a pointer and measure the transfer function of your hand as you try to follow a moving target.

 

Posted in Course Project Ideas, E12, E72.

Model a spider on a spider’s web.

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Erik Cheever | Leave a reply

Try to predict the deformation of a spider’s web with a spider sitting on it – you could model the web as springs and dashpots.

Posted in Course Project Ideas, E12.

Explore the audio impulse response of various areas around campus.

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Erik Cheever | Leave a reply

Record the audio impulse response (pop a balloon) and record the audio impulse response of various locations around campus.  Play various sounds through the impulse response and explore the results.

Posted in Course Project Ideas, E12.

Explore a triple pendulum system

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Erik Cheever | Leave a reply

We have a triple pendulum system – explore the modes of oscillation of this sixth order system, experimentally and in simulation.

 

Posted in Course Project Ideas, E12.

Get data from double pendulum using a vision capture system.

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Erik Cheever | Leave a reply

Get data from double pendulum using a vision capture system.

Posted in Course Project Ideas, E12.
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  • Design an I2S to SPI bridge (electronics / audio / microcontroller)

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