A Proposal for Broadening the Education of Power System Engineers

Engineering education has placed its major emphasis on developing graduates with a high degree of technical competence in the traditional engineering disciplines. However, society's expectations for the role of an engineer now reflect the increased concern for inclusion of social policy considerations in engineering decision making. Engineering education must respond to these changes so that engineers will be better prepared to meet today's changes. The authors have focused their discussion on suggested modifications to the power system engineering curriculum as an example of the changing needs of a typical engineering program. The paper discusses some of the limitations the authors perceive in the present education of most power system engineers including a lack of study of nontraditional alternatives to central station power generation. Many of the suggested topics can be added to existing courses; for example, power system planning which could be expanded to cover topics such as load management systems and innovative rate designs which influence load patterns. The addition to the curriculum of a course which provides engineers with a broad overview of the laws affecting engineering decisions and the social policy these laws seek to implement is recommended. Such a course should broaden an engineer's perspective of his/her role in society. The authors feel that this overall proposal is responsive to the needs to be faced by many of the future power engineering graduates. The suggested curriculum changes and additions should aid power system engineers in understanding their role in solving society's energy-related problems.     

认知学方法及其在电力系统中的应用

认知科学是一门高度跨学科的新兴科学,它从不同层面和角度对心智和智能进行研究。认知学方法是以认知科学的研究成果为基础,用于解决实际问题的方法。首先总结了认知科学的发展、定义、基本假设和研究分类,然后讨论了认知学方法工程应用的目标,最后以工程开发流程为主线,提出了认知学方法的工程应用框架,并分析了认知学方法在电力系统中的应用现状和应用前景。     

Biology-inspired sensor design

Sensors are an integral part of many engineered products, systems, and manufacturing processes as they provide feedback, monitoring, safety, and other benefits. Utilizing concepts from a nonengineering domain such as biology has been shown to spark inspiration and innovation for a variety of technologies. Bacteria, plants, insects, mammals, reptiles, and the like have diverse forms solving a variety of engineering functions and may be considered adaptive systems with elegant methods of sensing and communication. Of particular interest are the sensing capabilities of biological systems, thus a biology-inspired branch of sensor research has emerged. Nature has developed and optimized an incredible variety of sensors that provide engineers new ideas for improvements to current technology, new sensor technology, and potential sensor miniaturization.     

Impacting the future of power engineering: a focus at thepre-college level

The power industry is undergoing many new and exciting challenges. It is expected that these challenges will continue to exist and new ones will arise as the systems are pushed for greater efficiencies and economics. Therefore, as the workforce evolves from one generation to the next, it will be of paramount importance to have a continuing flow of competent power engineers available for the industry. However, to accomplish this is no small matter. The power industry must compete for students among declining engineering enrollments and what some students may view as more “glamorous” engineering professions. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the power engineering educators to seek methods of ensuring that the flow of competent power engineers is there to meet the needs of the future power industry. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate an approach taken to start to attract students at the pre-college level (high school) to careers in electric power engineering. This paper summarizes the results of a workshop designed to work with science teachers to help them better understand electricity and magnetism, show them ways of teaching these basic sciences, and relate how these skills are used by practicing electrical power engineers     

Let's Drop Physics from the Curriculum

The historical fact that engineering programs emerged as options in physics departments has long influenced the first two years of our curriculum. For years, we have quietly tolerated duplication of subject matter between physics and engineering. It is about time that we should reexamine the traditions that all students take a year of physics before entering engineering. Modern physicists do research in astrophysics, black holes, new particles, high energy machines. None of this research relates directly to material in the first course. On the other hand, engineers do research in mechanics, electricity, circuits, solid-state devices, optics. The subjects of first-year physics couple directly with their research. Haven 't we claimed for years that such coupling always improves instruction? There are those who contend that engineers should learn how physicists think. This probably has its origins in the old days when physicists did fundamental research and engineers applied it. Things are different now. While physicists are worrying about black holes, Ph.D. engineers do our own fundamental research, and then work with other engineers in applications. There is another aspect of scheduling physics courses early in the program of engineering students. Such a course always serves as a filter, eliminating a significant fraction of those who enter engineering. Can we trust physicists to eliminate the right ones? After all, there is a difference in the functioning of the scientist and the engineer.     

A Course in Creative Problem Solving

This paper briefly describes a three credit-hour undergraduate senior-level course, Creative Problem Solving, which has been taught for four years in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Florida. Particular emphasis is placed on the techniques found successful for teaching a course in engineering creativity, since knowledge of such techniques has constituted a deterrent to many desiring to teach such a course. The purposes and typical examples of classroom and outside activities are presented. The activities deliberately contain strong student participation both individually and in small groups. The course described seeks to impart to students a workable approach to the technique of solving complex engineering problems. It simultaneously orients and develops the students' attitudes toward recognition of the role played by creativity in actual engineering problem solving. Though the present course is oriented toward electrical engineers, it is believed that the essential methodology used could, with some modifications, be adapted to other undergraduate engineering disciplines. An attempt is made to appraise the effectiveness of the overall course. Some of the unsolved teaching problems are also exposed.     

Is industrial experience necessary for teaching engineering?

The author examines the suggestion that all engineering faculty should have a substantial amount of industrial work experience. The arguments given to support the suggestion are classified into five categories, depending on the shortcoming that the suggestion is meant to correct. These shortcomings are: lack of practice in real-life problem solving among newly graduated engineers; inadequacy in curriculum for broad, management, and specialized work; a bias towards research in faculty selection; inability of academics to develop creativity and other attributes needed in industrial work; and lack of a strong sense of professionalism among engineers. Each of the sets of arguments is analyzed to: (1) isolate the source of the problem for which faculty industrial experience is being proposed as a solution; and (2) determine if, and how, that problem will be solved if the engineering faculty are indeed required to have industrial experience. The author concludes that some of the problems are the result of unrealistic expectations, and others are inherent in the nature of any limited-duration, university-based instruction. He feels that imposing an industrial experience requirement for faculty would address few of these problems. The author summarizes some suggested changes that address the problems identified     

Biotechnology for biomedical engineers

Biotechnology is poised to have a major impact on the delivery of health care, through the development of new drugs and products for diagnosis and monitoring. It is providing and will continue to provide new and exciting research opportunities for Biomedical Engineering. Biotechnology has grown into an important area in which many significant engineering and scientific challenges exist. Vital research in biotechnology is identified especially as they relate to areas in which biomedical engineers could contribute, i.e., in biosensing, control, signal analysis, and computer applications     

Optimal VAR control for real power loss minimization using differential evolution algorithm

Differential evolution algorithm (DEA) is an efficient and powerful population-based stochastic search technique for solving optimization problems over continuous space, which has been proved to be a promising evolutionary algorithm for solving the ORPD problem and many engineering problems. However, the success of DEA in solving a specific problem crucially depends on appropriately choosing trial vector generation strategies (mutation strategies) and their associated control parameter values. This paper presents a differential evolution technique with various trial vector generation strategies based on optimal reactive power dispatch for real power loss minimization in power system. The proposed methodology determines control variable settings such as generator terminal voltages, tap positions and the number of shunts compensator to be switched, for real power loss minimization in the transmission systems. The DE method has been examined and tested on the IEEE 14-bus, 30-bus and the equivalent Algerian electric 114-bus power system. The obtained results are compared with two other methods, namely, interior point method (IPM), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and other methods in the literature. The comparison study demonstrates the potential of the proposed approach and shows its effectiveness and robustness to solve the ORPD problem.     

Engineers as Problem-Solving Leaders: Embracing the Humanities

As you develop the concept of a new curriculum and new pedagogy, as you try to attract and interest students in nanoscale science, large complex systems, product development, sustainability, and business realities, don't be tempted to crowd the humanities, arts, and social sciences out of the curriculum. The integral role of these subjects in US engineering education differentiates us from much of the rest of the world. Using problem solving as a backdrop leads to insights about what it takes to move beyond engineering competence to engineering leadership.     

A wholesome ECE education

Fast advancing technologies will require a drastic transformation in the teaching of electrical and computer engineering (ECE). The current practice of compressing more and more materials into the four-year ECE curriculum must end. An ECE curriculum must be designed to provide students with solid fundamental knowledge and to teach them how to learn. It is more important to have a curriculum that teaches knowledge and skills that are long lasting and can be applied in new situations than one that teaches cutting-edge technology that may become obsolete in a few years. Electronic systems will be smaller, faster, smarter, and more complex. Most of the design work must be done using high-level abstractions. Besides being competent engineers, ECE graduates must be responsible and well-rounded citizens. After establishing a set of guiding principles, a liberal and broad-based curriculum with emphasis on a systematic approach to problem solving is suggested. An unconventional instructional approach is proposed and elaborated. Some of the nontechnology-related challenges facing ECE education are discussed.     

An Engineering Opportunity, Now That Freshman English is Dead

Attacks by segments of society upon technology indicate that engineers have not effectively communicated their contributions to human welfare. Lowered enrollments reflect drops in recruitment, at the very time that many more engineers are needed to solve the problems being publicly discussed. Environmental engineering, systems engineering, and long-range planning bring the engineer into new communication problems in a direct working relationship with sociologists, landscape architects, and many other classes of people he seldom encountered before. At this point in time, engineering colleges have a duty to call to attention and help solve engineering problems in effective human communication. An example is given of one specific course designed with these needs in mind.     

Integrative engineering program for modern converging technologies

The Chinese University of Hong Kong aims to produce a new breed of engineers who can adapt to the rapid development in high technology, particularly the modern converging technologies, by introducing an integrative engineering program which centers around electronics, computer science, information technology, and computer-aided engineering. The program was introduced in August 1988 and entered its second year with a first-year intake of 145. It is expected that the first-year intake will be doubled by 1994, and it is planned that in the near future, the integrative engineering program will include other disciplines, such as systems (manufacturing) engineering and materials engineering     

New partnerships in bioengineering education and research at theNSF

The world of the 21st century will be swifter, more complex, and more connected. Solutions to tomorrow's problems will require the contributions of many disciplines and points of view. There will be tremendous challenges and opportunities for engineers-all engineers-but especially those in the field of bioengineering. Consider the problem the nation now faces with respect to the health care system. Engineers can and must be part of the solution-but to be successful in this dynamic environment, engineering graduates will need more than first-rate technical skills. They must also be able to work in teams and communicate well. Equally important, they must be able to view their work from a systems approach-across disciplines-and within the context of ethical, political, international, environmental, and economic considerations. It is time that one addresses the adequacy of engineering education to meet these demands. To educate such graduates, engineering colleges must develop and strengthen partnerships with industry, government and the broader educational community. University leaders must provide vision and support for these efforts. Likewise, industry must become more involved in the education of their current and future engineers. NSF is and will continue to do its part to encourage partnerships and foster educational experimentation and innovation at every level. In sum, partnerships are the key to ensuring U.S. engineering education is relevant, attractive and connected to its clients and stakeholders and to the nation at large     

Communications engineering: a new discipline for the 21st century

Communications engineering, a new undergraduate degree program, is being introduced in the Department of Systems and Computer Engineering at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. At a time when increased specialization is questionable, the case is made that communications engineering, i.e., telecommunications and computers, is such a broad and fundamental area that a distinct degree is an appropriate approach to meet the requirements for engineering in this area. The objectives of the new program and the role that its graduates will play are discussed. The curriculum proposed for the new degree is presented. In the new degree, which is derived from the telecommunications stream in electrical engineering and from computer systems engineering, students will receive a comprehensive education ranging from a one and one-half gear common core, to communications theory, design and practice, with consideration of economic, regulatory, and social issues with a strong background in real-time computer systems. Graduates will participate in the engineering of a variety of private and public telecommunications systems, and be at home in many related areas of information technology and signal processing     

NASA's university engineering programs

While NASA has supported engineering research at universities for many years, much of it has been along prescribed paths of investigation. The author describes how the objective of a newly emerging element of the university engineering programs is to provide a more autonomous element that will enhance and broaden the capabilities in academia, enabling them to participate more effectively in the US civil space program. These programs are an integral part of national policy and the strategy to rebuild the United States space research and technology base; they propose to remedy the decline in qualified space engineers by making long-term commitments to universities aspiring to play a strong engineering role in the civil space program. These programs utilize technical monitors at NASA centers to foster collaborative arrangements, exchange of personnel, and the sharing of facilities between NASA and the universities     

Software Engineering Education

Recent trends have led to the expanded use of digital computers in large complex system applications. The major burden of meeting the requirements for these systems has fallen on the flexibility of software. This has placed many demands on all areas associated with digital systems development. A significant impact has been on the development of software personnel required to develop and manage these complex systems. The purpose of this paper is to present a three level program for software education of executives, managers, and engineers which is being offered at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT). The needs and approaches in satisfying software engineering education requirements are presented. Educational objectives for executives, managers, and engineers serve as the foundation of the curricula, courses, and topics presented.     

Ethical considerations in engineering design processes

Engineering ethics involves a broad range of (ethical) issues. In this article, we focus on the specific area of engineering ethics pertaining to engineering design. We believe that engineering design constitutes an interesting starting point for ethical issues in engineering, both for educational and research purposes. So far, there has not been much systematic research on ethical aspects in engineering design and on how engineers deal with such aspects. Engineering design is also an interesting topic to research from the point of view of engineering ethics because design is one of the main activities in which engineers are involved. Moreover, technology has social and ethical implications, mainly because of the kinds of products produced, which are the eventual outcomes of design processes. We focus on two ethical aspects of design processes: the formulation of design requirements and criteria, and the acceptance of tradeoffs between different design criteria. When calling an aspect of the design process “ethical”, we have used the following criteria: the aspect of the design process is connected to, or brings about possible negative consequences, for people other than the designers involved; more or less generally accepted values or norms are at stake; and the norms and values of the different engineers involved in the design clash with each other     

Electrical heat tracing: international harmonization-now and in thefuture

In the past, electrical heat tracing has been thought of as a minor addition to plant utilities. Today, it is recognized as a critical subsystem to be monitored and controlled. A marriage between process, mechanical, and electrical engineers must take place to ensure that optimum economic results are produced. The Internet, expert systems, and falling costs of instrumentation will all contribute to more reliable control systems and improved monitoring systems. There is a harmonization between Europe and North America that should facilitate design and installation using common components. The future holds many opportunities to optimize the design