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This paper describes radio frequency identification (RFID) projects, designed and implemented by students in the College of Engineering at the University of North Texas, as part of their senior-design project requirement. The paper also describes an RFID-based project implemented at Rice Middle School in Piano, TX, which went on to win multiple prizes both at the school and regional level. The goal of the RFID endeavor is to develop an RFID elective course that is current, industry-oriented, and methodically built to enable faculty to design, develop, and deliver the course to a diverse group of engineering students. The sequence of events through which the course evolved was as follows: 1) conduct an industry-supported workshop for students in the College of Engineering with funding received from the National Science Foundation (NSF); 2) assign an RFID-based design project for the senior students who attended the workshop; 3) use the first senior design project as a model to encourage subsequent senior students to create their own RFID projects or enable the students to contact companies seeking to accomplish RFID solutions to a problem; 4) involve middle school students in RFID-based projects by using the senior design projects as an enticement; 5) use the successful projects as the basis for practical laboratory experiences to be created in a new elective course on RFID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the problems experienced in estimating the actual current distribution among various silicon controlled rectifier switches in a converter at the University of Texas at Austin Center for Electromechanics. Importance of multiple switching devices in power converters; Results of the electromagnetic finite-element analysis of one leg of the converter; Role of differential reactance in determining the magnitude of the overload.

Presents a study which discussed a simulation and modeling package developed at Texas A&M University which facilitates analysis of electric vehicle (EV) and hybrid EV. Methodology; Design of vehicle drive trains; Conclusion.

Provides a preview of the Globecom 2001 telecommunication conference to be held in San Antonio, Texas on November 25-29, 2001. Description of San Antonio; Topics to be discussed in the conference; Overview of the technical papers submitted for the conference.

Reports on the 2001 International Electrical and Electronic Engineering Workshop on High Performance Switching and Routing in May 2001 in Dallas, Texas. Number of registrants; Papers presented in the workshop; Lecturers.

Provides an overview of the development and operational process of the information technology tools pertaining to the technical operations system of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). Description of the ERCOT operations; Details of the mock market process that was initiated prior to the opening of the wholesale energy market; Processes used to develop the ERCOT network model.

Details the artificial intelligence-related discussions at the Third International NASA Workshop on Planning and Scheduling for Space held in Houston, Texas in October 2002. Design of a planetary rover; Architecture of a Remote Agent control; Engineering resources needed in mission planning.

Describes a lightweight containment system for high-speed composite rotors developed at the University of Texas Center for Electromechanics in Austin. Uses of metallic flywheels; Failure modes and containment of flywheels; Purpose of the rotatable composite containment design.

Presents an overview of the evolution of compulsators (CPA) developed at the University of Texas at Austin Center for Electromechanics. Features of the CPA technology; Function of the CPA; Factors to be considered when designing a CPA.

Describes the sensors developed at the University of Texas at Austin Center for Electromechanics to monitor speed, sense rotor position and detect fault condition. Features of the sensors; Performance requirements for the sensor; Information on current viewing resistor.

Describes the design algorithm used to optimize the railgun bore and integrated launch package at the University of Texas at Austin Center for Electromechanics (UT-CEM) in Arlington. Features of the UT-CEM design code; Development of an electric gun system design code; Fundamental categories used in the gun system.

Deals with a study on three generations of iron-core and air-core compensated pulsed alternators (CPA) conducted at the Center for Electromechanics at the University of Texas in Austin. Assumptions used in the point designs and comparisons; CPA design and performance; Switch design and performance.

Presents an overview of the Cannon-Caliber Electromagnetic Gun (CCEMG) launcher design and describes the testing performed at University of Texas at Austin, Center for Electromechanics (UT-CEM) and U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL). Analysis on cannon-caliber design considerations; Discussion of testing the CCEMG by UT-CEM and ARL; Analysis on launcher performance and inspection; Conclusions.

Describes a decision support system (DSS) that assisted Texas Instruments Inc. in their printed wiring board assembly in Austin, Texas. Development of a management information system; Evaluation of the usefulness and the ease of use of the DSS; Use of the DSS for scheduling, planning and inventory management.