Analysis of detailed electric vehicle data in electrical engineering education
There is a large quantity of data available on the CAN bus of the Chevrolet Volt that can be obtained through the OBD2 connectors on both the passenger and driver side of the vehicle. Although much of this is not available on the console of the vehicle to passengers, it can be logged and collected to analyse various vehicle performance measures and behaviours as well as charging characteristics. A set of pertinent data has been collected simultaneously for approximately 40 vehicle parameters for numerous trips and charging events for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt. Some of the key parameters are battery voltage, battery current, motor currents, state of charge, engine rpm, vehicle speed, longitude, latitude, altitude, battery power, motor power, etc. This data has been used as a learning tool in the electrical engineering classroom for senior students in both advanced machine courses and in sustainable energy courses. Through analysis the students develop a better understanding of general electric vehicle operation principles and energy useage and management. They also develop problem solving skills and experience with analysing large data sets (certain trips have over 15 million data points) and using appropriate tools to perform large but repetitive tasks.
Engineering And Technology Education For Electric Vehicle Development
During 2011 electric vehicles will be mass produced for the first time in history. Current engineering students will play key roles in the development of the Smart Grid and electric vehicles. Unfortunately many of these same students already fail to see a link between what they are currently learning in the classroom and their role as a professional engineer. The energy engineering community needs to determine topics and instructional techniques that will help students connect their classroom experiences with the future opportunities they will encounter in the unfolding development of the electric vehicle and its supporting infrastructure. This paper reviews electric vehicle development as well as examples of previous learning experiences and Economic Stimulus funded initiatives for electric vehicle course and curriculum development. The paper also provides an overview of the electric vehicle drive train and corresponding engineering roles and skills, and reviews recent employment descriptions of what industry expects. Prospective curriculum items are discussed including identifying major topical areas for electric vehicle courses and a specific topical outline for an introductory electric vehicle course. Finally, the paper forecasts the need for resources including facilities, laboratory equipment and faculty development in this area.
A Hopewellian Burial Site in the Lower Republican Valley, Kansas
The senior author has for a number of years worked on the problem of the numerous and virtually unknown burial sites on the bluffs bordering the valley of the Republican River in Geary and Clay Counties, Kansas. This work has been a matter of some urgency, owing to the prevalence of unsystematic amateur excavation on the more prominent stone cairns found in the area. Fortunately, the complete excavation of the larger cairns involves too much labor for the merely curious, and it has often been possible to salvage material and information despite disturbance.