Final Project Notebook

  • Due Dec 11, 2020 by 11:59pm
  • Points 100
  • Submitting a file upload

Final Project Notebook

For your final project, you are being asked to basically create an in-class project notebook on a topic of your choice related to electromagnetics (transmission lines, wave propagation, and/or antennas).  Keep in mind, you don't have to discover something new or solve an existing problem that has never been solved.  It is OK for you to use this opportunity to learn about something that already exists and has been solved already.  After all, this is what we did for the six design challenges in this course!

Here is a grading rubric for you to consider as you complete your final project: Download Grading rubric final project notebook.xls

I'm not picky about the length of your final project notebook.  Use your best judgement.  Content is more important than the length.

Questions

If you have any questions, add a message to the Final Project Notebook Discussions (preferred if you are OK with a written response, so that other students can contribute and view responses), or you can directly ask Prof. Simpson.

Simplify!

Real world problems are often highly complex in terms of geometry and physics.  Start simple!  Consider a simplified scenario for your topic / problem at first, just as we did in our design challenges throughout the semester.  Once you've come up with a simple geometry / design, you can always improve it / make it more realistic in steps later (or if you take ECE 5340/6340 later, you can learn how to program a computer to help you solve more realistic problems than we are able to solve analytically).

Check Your Sources

Be careful about what sources you use for information and data.  Make sure you are obtaining good information and data from reliable sources with a good history of providing useful and quality content.  Include references and citations to your sources in your notebook.

Brainstorming Help

Aside from topics relating to the six design challenges we discussed throughout the semester:

  1. Finding faults in aircraft wiring
  2. Broken antenna on the Millennium Falcon
  3. Effect of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) on the operation of an airplane
  4. Satellite defense and communications
  5. Tumor-destroying system
  6. Fixed wireless link for providing internet to inhabitants on small remote islands

Here are some topics you can consider:

  1. Electromagnetic compatibility
  2. Electromagnetic interference
  3. Space weather effects on the operation of power grids (prevent blackouts);  possible keyword starting point:  "Carrington event telegraph," "space weather power grid"
  4. Submarine communications
  5. Radar and Lidar (airplanes, car speeds, etc.)
  6. Detection of improved explosive devices (IEDs)
  7. Remote sensing of the Earth (finding buried tunnels, oil fields, oil spills, etc.)
  8. LED lighting, smart lighting (but focus on the topics relating to this course, not other courses)
  9. Antenna arrays
  10. Solar cells (but focus on the topics relating to this course, not other courses)
  11. RFID systems
  12. Bar code readers
  13. Liquid Crystal Displays (but focus on the topics relating to this course, not other courses)
  14. Wireless interconnects inside next-generation computers, optical interconnects
  15. TSA airport screening

Lastly, here are some articles I collected for an unrelated assignment if you need more help finding a topic:

  1. Cell Phones and Health
    1. Safety Risk from Cell Phones Needs Review, 2013, IEEE Microwave Magazine:   Download 2013 cell phones need review.pdf
    2. Cell phones are a "Carcinogenic Hazard", says the World Health Organization, 2011,IEEE Spectrum:   Download 2011 Cellphones Are a _Carcinogenic Hazard_, Says the World Health Organization.pdf
    3. Your Brain on Cell Phones, 2011,IEEE Spectrum:   Download 2011 Your Brain On Cell Phones - IEEE Spectrum.pdf
    4. Cell Phone Radiation Leads to Hyperactive Offspring in Mice, 2012, IEEE Spectrum:   Download 2012 Cell Phone Radiation Leads to Hyperactive Offspring in Mice - IEEE Spectrum.pdf
  2. Cell Phones and Airplanes
    1. Electronic Devices, Airplanes and Interference:  Significant Danger or Not?, 2011,IEEE Spectrum:   Download Electronic Devices, Airplanes and Interference_ Significant Danger or Not_ - IEEE Spectrum.pdf
    2. Do Mobile Electronics Really Interfere with Flight?  They Could, 2011,IEEE Spectrum:   Download Do Mobile Electronics Really Interfere With Flight_ They Could - IEEE Spectrum.pdf
    3. New FAA Rules to Permit More Electronic Device Usage on Planes, 2013,IEEE Spectrum:   Download New FAA Rules to Permit More Electronic Device Usage on Planes - IEEE Spectrum.pdf
  3. Power Lines, Wireless Power, and Health
    1. Exposure of pregnant dairy heifers to high-tension power lines, 2007,IEEE Microwave Magazine:   Download 2007 Pregnant Dairy Heifers.pdf
    2. A critical look at wireless power, 2010,IEEE Spectrum:   Download A Critical Look at Wireless Power - IEEE Spectrum.pdf
    3. Are Power Lines Unsafe?, 2000,IEEE Spectrum:   Download Are power lines unsafe 2000.pdf
    4. Don't be Shocked:  power lines are safe!, 2000, IEEE Spectrum:   Download Don't be Shocked, Power Lines Safe.pdf

 

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