Research Projects and Lessons Learned from Research Experiences for Undergraduates' Program in Automated System Design

American Society for Engineering Education, 2016. Automated systems affect the way we do things and impact our daily lives. Designing and building automated systems is complex and requires an integrated skill set. The knowledge needed cuts across multiple disciplines of mechanical engineering, control/electrical engineering, and manufacturing engineering. U.S. manufacturers are still looking to hire highly skilled workers in industrial automation and control and there is a need to invest in research to maintain America's leadership in these areas. This paper describes research projects and lessons learned from a summer program designed to provide a research environment for undergraduate students to learn about mechatronics, robotics, and automated system design, including how the program helps participants to understand the research process, acquire laboratory skills, and expand their perspectives on engineering research. Survey data suggests that overall, participants had a positive experience. Participants also made suggestions for enhancing the program experience in the future.

Research Projects and Lessons Learned from Research Experiences for Undergraduates' Program in Automated System Design Conference Paper