Engineering-Mechanical (56) This project is a collaborative project between the University of Houston at Clear Lake and the University of Houston to develop multifunctional Labs-to-Go (LTG) kits that would enable undergraduate engineering students to engage in take-home hands-on experiments. The LTG kits include a set of components that can be easily configured to perform a range of experiments. The kits will be used in combination with course modules on the topics of systems dynamics, vibrations, controls, smart materials, active vibration damping, and sensors. The LTG kits provide students with an experimental and experiential component to help them better understand the associated physical concepts and theories. The project engages seven instructors from two universities. The LTG kits will be integrated into 16 courses with an anticipated impact on 525 engineering and technology students. Due to the diverse nature of the student populations at the institutions, the project aims to impact approximately 260 minority students. The LTG kits will target student learning of structures, dynamics, control, and electronics technology in multiple disciplines including civil engineering, mechanical engineering, and electronics technology. The project includes outreach efforts such as an exhibition at the Children's Museum of Houston and performing demos at local high schools.
The Labs-to-Go (LTG) project was a joint effort between the University of Houston Smart Materials and Structures Lab and the University of Houston – Clear Lake (UHCL) Systems Engineering Lab. The overall goal of the LTG project is to develop a set of take-home laboratory kits which will enable students to complete engineering lab exercises at home and on their own schedule. This goal is motivated by the needs of students, many of whom commute long distances, and the needs of the university, which faces increasing demands on limited lab space. The UHCL contribution to the project has been development and testing of lab modules and extensions to the LTG kits. The LTG kits consist of smart beam elements, interface circuitry, and preconfigured software interfaces to allow students to perform laboratory experiments at home and on their own schedule. The key element of the LTG kits is the smart beam, which is an aluminum beam approximately 12" long, 2" wide, and 0.050" thick. The standard configuration of the smart beam includes one piezoelectric patch sensor and one larger piezoelectric actuator. Other sensors such as strain gages can also be easily installed. An LTG kit consists of smart beams, mechanical mounting and assembly components, and electronic subsystems including signal conditioning and LabView modules. The smart beams may be assembled in a variety of configurations including a simple cantilever beam, pole-like structures, and one or more story building models. The UHCL contribution to the project was development of lab modules for the computer engineering design class including a new module using an enhancement to the LTG apparatus incorporating strain gage sensors. The UHCL computer engineering lab consists of a semester long series of small design projects in which the students design and implement a variety of circuits and interfaces using the LabView environment and Multisim simulations. The strain gage extension was developed by a senior design project team as their capstone project. For both labs (piezoelectric sensor and strain gage sensor), lab manuals were written, providing detailed instructions for experiment setup, operation, and documentation. The LTG lab experiment prototypes were used for two sections of the computer engineering lab. Students were successful in setting up the experiments with little instructor assistance, operating the apparatus, developing filter circuits and software, and preparing lab reports. The senior design group presented their design and the class results at the annual UHCL senior design projects symposium. This work was documented in a technical paper at the 2012 Earth and Space Conference.
