Showing papers on "Project engineering published in 2001"

Open robot control software: the OROCOS project

Abstract: This paper introduces the OROCOS project that aims at becoming a general-purpose and open robot control software package. OROCOS follows the open source development model that has been proven to work in many other general-purpose software packages, such as Linux, Apache, Perl or LATEX. The paper focuses on the long-term vision of this start-up project, motivates which strategic and innovative design decisions are to be taken (a CORBA-like component architecture being the most important one), and lists other projects on which OROCOS could build. The success of OROCOS depends critically on how many researchers and engineers can be motivated to contribute code, documentation and feedback to the project.

The Strategic Management of Large Engineering Projects: Shaping Institutions, Risks, and Governance

Abstract: As the number, complexity, and scope of large engineering projects (LEPs) increase worldwide, the huge stakes may endanger the survival of corporations and threaten the stability of countries that approach these projects unprepared. According to the authors, the "front-end" engineering of institutional arrangements and strategic systems is a far greater determinant of an LEP's success than are the more tangible aspects of project engineering and management.The book is based on an international research project that analyzed sixty LEPs, among them the Boston Harbor cleanup; the first phase of subway construction in Ankara, Turkey; a hydro dam on the Caroni River in Venezuela; and the construction of offshore oil platforms west of Flor, Norway. The authors use the research results to develop an experience-based theoretical framework that will allow managers to understand and respond to the complexity and uncertainty inherent in all LEPs. In addition to managers and scholars of large-scale projects, the book will be of interest to those studying the relationship between institutions and strategy, risk management, and corporate governance in general.Contributors Bjorn Andersen, Richard Brealey, Ian Cooper, Serghei Floricel, Michel Habib, Brian Hobbs, Donald R. Lessard, Pascale Michaud, Roger Miller, Xavier Olleros.

EPICS: documenting service-learning to meet EC 2000

Abstract: Engineering Projects in Community Service-EPICS-is a service-learning program that was initiated at Purdue University (USA) in the Fall of 1995. Under this program, undergraduate students in engineering earn academic credit for long-term team projects that solve technology-based problems for local community service organizations. The program has grown to include 20 project teams with approximately 300 students participating each semester during the 2000-01 academic year. With its emphasis on start-to-finish design of significant projects that will be deployed by the community customers, EPICS addresses many of the program outcomes mandated for ABET accreditation. In this paper, the authors outline the procedures and documentation that have been developed to assess and track student outcomes in the EPICS courses.

Computing travel time estimates from GSM signalling messages: the STRIP project

Abstract: The STRIP project computes travel time estimates by processing GSM signalling messages extracted by special probes. The output is also the positioning of mobile originated calls sorted from the dialled number, e.g. 112.

It's all about process: project-oriented teaching of software engineering

Abstract: Process considerations are a central part of the material for a software engineering course; they are also central to accomplishing full-lifecycle, team-based systems development projects in such a course. This paper discusses the ways in which we have achieved an effective process structure within an academic context of full-year project courses. The key features are a kernel project plan and a process management mechanism. The project plan is a schedule including eight milestones with fixed due dates and quite explicit deliverables. The management is accomplished through an advanced full-year course, whose participants guide the project teams through the process.

Incorporating project engineering and professional practice into the major design experience

Abstract: The culminating major design experience is a critical element in students' preparation for professional practice. Large, diverse programs face significant challenges in providing sufficient and appropriate design opportunities that incorporate a wide range of issues and constraints, as required by Engineering Criteria 2000. With the switch from quarters to semesters in 1999, the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Georgia Tech introduced a new, major design experience that addresses these limitations. All electrical engineering and computer engineering seniors complete a new course, Project Engineering and Professional Practice, followed by a specialized team-based design project. This new course, using a combination of lectures and interactive recitations, includes topics related to design methods, project management, teaming, engineering economics, ethics, risks, and professional issues. A formal paper and multiple presentations develop communication skills and provide a lead-in to the team project in the follow-on course. This paper describes the new course, emphasizing the unique elements, and summarizes initial assessment results.

Optimizing power distribution networks

Abstract: The development of optimization strategies for distribution networks is the subject of the innovative Edison project, which is being supported by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. There are 16 partners from industry and research working together on the project, and real distribution networks are being used as examples. This article reports on the progress achieved so far by the Edison project. By 2003, it is expected that new concepts for distributed network structures, including communication systems and the economic use of distributed power generation, will have been developed and tested on actual networks.

Process-oriented assembly system concepts: the Mark IV approach

Abstract: The assembly systems unit at the Royal Institute of Technology-IVF has developed several flexible automatic assembly (FAA) cell solutions over the years. Current industrial trends, however, clearly point out that the basic notions of flexibility must be extended and be enhanced without increasing the complexity. The key lies in the creation of modular assembly systems with interfaces based on open standards. It must be possible to adopt equipment from different suppliers to the system. To reach these objectives, the research group has established a development project of both suppliers, users and universities on a European level, called SHARC (standardised hybrid assembly with reactive capacity). This project runs parallel to, and in conjunction with, the national hyper FAA project. These projects will attempt to create a system concept which can be easily adapted to a very large range of products, variants, and their associated volume fluctuations. The paper also describes and discusses our engineering platform, the Mark IV application.

An autonomous race car design competition

Abstract: This paper describes an innovative collaboration between industry and academia in creating a meaningful design experience for undergraduate electrical engineering students. The design project involves designing, building and testing an autonomous model racecar. The course culminates in a competition. A primary goal of the competition is to provide undergraduates with a meaningful design experience with an emphasis on electronic circuits. This contest has a different flavor from the well-established IEEE Micromouse competition in the sense that it places the emphasis on the design and construction of an electronic sensing and control system without the microprogramming necessary to solve a maze (although a microprocessor can certainly be used). It is hoped that by placing the emphasis on the circuitry, the course will encourage more undergraduates to go into the field of electronic circuit design. The learning experience offered by the competition is shaped by, among other things, the format and rules of the competition, the students preparation in terms of circuit and control system theory and practice, and by the format of the design project course. This paper describes the competition in detail and discuss factors affecting the educational experience.

Student teams and jigsaw techniques in an undergraduate CSE project course

Abstract: The use of jigsaw techniques in a multidisciplinary, project-oriented, introductory computational science and engineering course is described. The course revolves around the study and completion of four projects, each devised and taught by a team of faculty drawn from several departments. This paper discusses the execution of a single project in the course and the use of a jigsaw team structure in its execution. Jigsaw techniques are implemented by forming project teams composed of members with designated areas of expertise. Project team members with common areas of expertise are then formed into secondary expert teams. The project team maintains responsibility for completion of the project while the expert teams are responsible for mastering their designated areas as well as developing a strategy for teaching the members of their project team what they have learned. All students are evaluated equally in each area of expertise. The effectiveness of the jigsaw technique is determined through the use of peer, group, and individual assessment.

Infinity project: a high school engineering curriculum, one year later

Abstract: This work-in progress paper presents an update to The INFINITY Project (http://www.infinity-project.org/), a joint effort between university educators, industrial partners, and high school teachers to introduce an engineering curriculum at the high school level. The initial pilot program (2000-2001) involved nearly 500 students at 14 different Texas (USA) high schools. Responses to the effort from teachers and students at the different high schools have been highly positive. The presentation discusses the further expansion of the program into over 40 schools during the 2001-2002 school year. An overview of the project was presented at FIE 2000. This presentation expounds findings after the first year of running the project and initial findings in the second year.

Drivers of project delivery capability: an empirical study

Abstract: Cycle times, customer satisfaction, quality differentiation and cost leadership in project delivery are competitive factors. They make the project delivery capability (PDC) at least as important as traditional sources of competitive advantage including economies of scale, knowledgeable human resources, know how and financial capital. Given the utmost importance of PDC, what strategies could organizations deploy in order to enhance their PDC? The authors' quest to answer this question began with a literature search that identified a set of factors frequently deployed in the industry. They termed this set project delivery factors. The expectation is that the factors should be able to enhance PDC measured in terms of project effectiveness-the degree of accomplishment of schedule, cost, quality and customer satisfaction goals for the project. They embarked on an exploratory research study to examine how project delivery factors could be used to increase PDC in companies. With this intent in mind, they proceeded to define PDC and project delivery factors, describe hypotheses, explain their methodology and discuss results and implications for project managers.

Status report of the CMS superconducting coil project

Abstract: The CMS superconducting coil is designed for one of the two large experiments of LHC at CERN. This coil 12.5 m long, 6 m diameter and 2.7 GJ stored energy is a common project of the CMS Collaboration. It is a four-layer coil, equipped with a self-supporting conductor capable of carrying 20 kA to reach the maximum potential field of 4 T. It has been designed with a considerable contribution from CEA-Saclay for the engineering, ETH-Zurich for the conductor, INFN-Genova for the winding and CERN for the general coordination and construction of the ancillaries. The project entered the construction phase one year ago. The civil engineering is well advanced and ready to accept part of the yoke components already built. The coil itself has finished the pre-industrialization phase and the construction is beginning in industry. Most of the important contracts have been awarded and the foreseen schedule is now based on contractual engagements. A quick overview of the features of the project as well as a status report of the main activities are given.

Forensic ECBS: the way forward

Abstract: Forensic systems engineering is the discipline investigating the history of IT failures. It therefore focuses on the post-mortem analysis and study of project disasters. This focus group report explains the context and rationale for forensic engineering, highlighting the need for a professional discipline of ECBS (engineering of computer-based systems). It makes a case for the dissemination of failure histories by drawing on the accompanying case report of the Melbourne Ambulance Service despatch system.

The project OSSA and the concept of interoperable simulation

Abstract: The OSSA project addresses the need to produce a user-friendly and meaningful traffic simulator to end-users. This can be achieved by the development of a standard OPEN simulation framework that will provide interconnectivity with other simulators and systems: UTC systems, dynamic O/D matrix, co-simulators (emissions), data sources, GIS, traffic data, etc.

Which project-execution approach is best for you?

Abstract: The author examines the advantages and disadvantages of turnkey and multiple contracting options for project management. He details how, between these two project management extremes, there are a number of other execution approaches used in which the risks are shared between the owner and the contractors in varying proportions.

Senior design projects: a design example from concept to finished product

Abstract: By providing a senior, capstone project that extends from project definition and design to the fabrication of a prototype project, students experience a range of responsibilities typical to those that would be found in many industrial settings. This paper describes one such project involving the design of an expansion board for a field programmable gate array, FPGA, device that resulted in a prototype product appropriate for manufacturing. The project moves beyond the proof-of-concept result of many projects and requires that a student master a complex set of skills not typically covered in an undergraduate engineering curriculum.

On performance benchmarking voltage control in a power transmission network

Abstract: The Rank Xerox Company initiated the benchmarking of business processes in 1979. In this paper, this new methodology is described and applied to the hierarchical voltage control of a transmission network. This assessment arises from a European THERMIE project to install secondary voltage regulation in particular regions of the Spanish and Italian transmission networks. The industrial benchmarking procedure uses a set of global and local performance metrics that measure how the transmission system performs with respect to the objectives of quality, economy and security. There are four phases: 1) analysis; 2) recommendations for data collection; 3) performance metric calculation; and 4) performance assessment. In the THERMIE project, power system simulations were first used to demonstrate the value of the approach. The project contains a monitoring stage. It is proposed to use the new approach with field data. The monitoring stage is currently active and the first results from the field may be available.