Send email to PI for more informaton (yqchen@ieee.org). Past REU Site information can be found here. Youtube channel
NSF REU Site: “Networked and Embedded Mechatronics for Sustainability (NEMS)”
(This site is now pending)
Project Summary:
This is an NSF REU new site proposal. The PI was NSF REU Site Director on “Mobile Actuator and Sensor Networks (MAS-net)” from 2006-2012. The PI has experienced increasing passion and joy of working with REU participants and wishes to continue. The goal of this new REU Site program in “Networked and Embedded Mechatronics for Sustainability (NEMS)” is to provide eight undergraduates an opportunity to participate in the ongoing research activities of faculty members in the School of Engineering, University of California, Merced. This is a ten-week program starting from early June to mid-August. This early exposure to research activities will substantially further the undergraduates’ learning process, significantly enhance their research experience, actively promote their interests in NEMS related research, and quickly develop their research skills.
Intellectual Merit: The proposed work will emphasize on several NEMS related techniques and their important utilities in some interesting and crucial applications that the REU participants will easily identify with. The main intellectual merit of this research is that it addresses the broad spectrums and the challenging issues in the field of NEMS using the hands-on stimulating research projects such as:
1. Development of cognitive lighting control systems in smart energy-efficient buildings,
2. Development of concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) systems with servoed receivers,
3. Development of smart networked crop-dusting drones for optimal crop pest management,
4. Development of low cost vegetation mapping (NDVI) drones for precision agriculture.
We will also apply an intellectual approach to encourage REU students in active learning, free and open exchange of ideas, team spirit, and recognition and rewards for achievements. In addition to the research, the REU students will participate in weekly individual meetings, weekly research group meetings, biweekly REU group meetings, bi-weekly “expanding your horizon” seminars, research ethics round-table discussions and social events. They will have opportunities to learn to assimilate latest research, assess their own research, present their own work and experimental results, prepare publications, and prepare for admission to graduate school (GRE prep tutorials).
Broader Impacts: This research will directly help undergraduate students in:
1. Exposing to the intellectual excitement involved in research and professional meetings;
2. Thinking creatively and independently in a “learn by doing” research environment;
3. Empowering themselves with general research methods, specific NEMS skills;
4. Developing abilities to gain hands-on experience in real world applications and apply NEMS related technologies to real-world problems;
5. Learning to effectively assimilate latest research, critically assess their own research, cogently present experimental results, and effectively prepare publications; and
6. Establishing a sense of self-assurance and team-spirit.
The broader impacts of the proposed research will be:
1. Attract a diverse student population to the field of NEMS.
2. Kindle students’ interests and increase future professionals in the area of NEMS.
3. Stimulate enrollments in graduate studies and collaborative ties between students’ home institutions and UC Merced.
4. Provide shadowing experience opportunities for local high school students and teachers.
5. Teamwith Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESWusa.org) for amplified impacts;
This research will ensure at least four of the eight participants are underrepresented students and ensure at least four students are from other institutions, especially those institutions where research programs are limited. This active national and regional recruitment plan will especially help underrepresented students and the students who are limited exposed to research to be acquainted with interesting research projects and gain confidence in them in pursuing their degrees, seeking industrial technology related jobs, and continuing pursuing an advanced degree in graduate schools.
