Bob Z
- Research Program Mentor
PhD Doctor of Philosophy candidate
Expertise
Circuit design, circuit applications, electrical engineering, computer engineering
Project ideas
Amplifier Circuit Design
In this project, you will start from the basics of electrical circuits and build up core ideas in analog circuits design. You will study different applications of the humble amplifier, from audio amplification, to radio sensors and computation. This will culminate in a thesis-style report on the different applications and design techniques specific to those applications. Requirements: - High school physics (for intro. electrical circuits) and basic calculus (can you take a derivative?) are recommended. - Basic coding skills (Arduino coding) is recommended.
Microcontroller Exploration and Embedded Systems
Microcontrollers are the heart of modern technology. They live inside everything from giant servers to smart devices. In this project, you will gain exposure to microcontrollers and embedded systems. You will learn about the various hardware and components in the systems, programming models, applications, wireless protocols (Bluetooth, ZigBee, etc.), and more. The final product will be either (1) a complete design project using microcontrollers (robot car. smart lock, etc.) or (2) a thesis-style report describing an application case study. Requirements: - Exposure to basic coding skills is helpful. - May need to purchase materials ($50-100 for electronics, up to the student) - Excitement to learn about a broad technology application!
Electrical Engineering - Systems Exploration (data / energy)
Ever wonder clicking a button on your mouse turns into an action on the computer screen? How we start with wind turbines and arrive at your cell phone or computer battery? In this project, you will explore an application from top to bottom and understand the entire electronic ecosystem. You will get to see all the complex parts and systems involved and gain appreciation for the diverse skills. You will learn parts of the engineering process and about tradeoffs and decisions made. The final project will include a survey of the learnings as well as a more detailed case study about one segment of the stack. This is a great exploration for an aspiring electrical engineer! Requirements - High school algebra - High school physics preferred - Calculus optional