Photo by Emily Kishler, MQ Magazine

Last January, computer science student Matt Hodges and Professor Bo Brinkman began working on an augmented reality application called ShelvAR.  Its purpose is to assist in the sorting of library books by indicating which books are not in the correct position, and which direction on the shelf they need to be moved.  “The idea of the app is to combine what humans are good at, which is visual identification, with what computers are good at, which is very fast sorting…and we are doing this through technology called augmented reality” explains Hodges.

The ShelvAR app is designed to be used with an android phone’s camera, which reads special codes placed on the spine of each book.  Although the app has not yet been released, great interest surrounding it has already been expressed.  Brinkman and Hodges have even been approached for several major interview opportunities, including one from CNN.

Recently, a few other students have joined the project as their capstone.  One of these students, senior Eliot Fowler, says that “[Hodges] has the ability to take on any task he wants and that makes him great to work with.”  With a bright future ahead of him, Hodges plans to graduate this Spring.

Original story by Devon Barnhard, MQ Magazine, October 2011 Edition

For more information, visit the ShelvAR website.

Video by Molly Shanks, MQ Magazine:

Commitment creates SEAS Lockheed Martin Leadership Institute – Miami University announces the formation of its Lockheed Martin Leadership Institute within the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS). The institute brings about a visionary approach to preparing engineering leaders who possess high ethical standards and who are committed to creative and effective leadership.

Lockheed Martin's Preview Event for the USA Science & Engineering Festival

“This is a transformational moment for the School of Engineering and Applied Science,” said SEAS Dean Marek Dollár. “Not only is this the largest gift to the School, it is the first institute of its kind funded by Lockheed Martin. The institute will be one of only a handful of major undergraduate leadership initiatives housed in American colleges of engineering. Through the shared values of our two institutions and our common vision for developing tomorrow’s technical workforce, we are creating a national model for undergraduate engineering and computing education.”

The SEAS Lockheed Martin Leadership Institute, which will enroll its first cohort in January 2012, includes new curricular and co-curricular programming that provides an intensive leadership development experience for select Miami engineering and applied science students. The interdisciplinary programming, which engages departments and faculty throughout Miami’s campus, aims to produce well-rounded graduates who are especially prepared in the areas of technical/ innovative leadership, business acumen, people leadership and personal/ethical leadership.  By connecting with a broader community of partners in industry, government, and health care, the institute will foster a culture of positive leadership that is sensitive to real-world forces.

“Lockheed Martin is proud to partner with Miami University on this visionary engineering institute, which will develop business leaders with the technical knowledge needed to address our most difficult global security challenges” says Dr. Ray O Johnson, Lockheed Martin Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. “These challenges will require both technical and business innovation, and this institute will prepare its graduates for that future.”

Inspired by the National Academy of Engineering’s challenge to envision what engineering would/should look like in 2020, the SEAS Lockheed Martin Leadership Institute seeks to have a national impact through sharing its vision and ideas with business, government and educational entities throughout the country. The institute is made possible through an innovative partnership that merges the respective academic and industry strengths of Miami University and Lockheed Martin.

A Lockheed Martin engineer checks out a GPS IIR spacecraft

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 126,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s 2010 sales from continuing operations were $45.7 billion.   “That Lockheed Martin, a true American industry leader, has chosen to partner with Miami University on such an important and groundbreaking institute is a glowing endorsement of our School of Engineering and Applied Science and an outstanding recognition of the exceptional caliber of our students,” said Miami President David Hodge. “The SEAS Lockheed Martin Leadership Institute will provide an amazing high impact, experiential learning opportunity that combines the best of engineering education and a liberal arts and sciences foundation.  It will produce engineering leaders fully prepared for the challenges of a rapidly changing 21^st century.”

The second geosynchronous orbit SBIRS satellite undergoes baseline integration system testing

Miami University, which was recently ranked No. 3 nationally by U.S. News and World Report for its commitment to teaching, is the nation’s 10th oldest public university. Its Oxford campus enrolls 14,872 undergraduates and 2,395 graduate students while offering bachelor degree programs in more than 100 areas of study, master’s degree programs in more than 50 areas and a number of doctoral programs. Miami’s School of Engineering and Applied Science is tied at 21st among more than 300 engineering colleges in the U.S. in the category of Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs where the highest degree is a bachelor’s or master’s  by U.S. News and World Report.  Lockheed Martin’s commitment counts toward the Miami University Campaign For Love and Honor, a $500 million campaign that calls on all Miamians to honor the past by envisioning and supporting the possibilities of Miami’s third century.

Lockheed Martin's Preview Event for the USA Science & Engineering Festival

The Year-At-The-Edge (YATE) program with Miami University allows students to work with Miami faculty and AFRL mentors Gannod, Williams, Jamieson, and Hodgson.  Computer science/software engineering professor and director of Miami’s Mobile Learning Center Gerald C. Gannod explains “Students will investigate how social networks and other emerging technologies can be integrated to provide up-to-date information that facilitates just-in-time decision making.”

This program aims to increase the number of students doing research, especially in mobile computing, to recruit the next generation of scientists and engineers into graduate schools.  It also focuses on potential career paths at the Air Force Research Laboratory or in supporting industries.

Congratulations to the following inaugural scholarship recipients for 2011-2012: computer science majors Daniel Bray, Robert Smayda, Matthew Weber and Taylor White; software engineering majors Jordan Komnick, Alex Meyer and Keith Batesole, double major with computer science; computer engineering major Brian Breitsch; and electrical engineering and computer engineering double major Tyler Maschino. Two additional scholarships are being reserved for interactive media studies/graphic design majors.

Entering its 75th season, the Miami Marching Band is made up of members from nearly all fields of study, with music majors making up less than 25% of its current members.  This Thanksgiving, twelve SEAS students joined the band in New York.    

Steve Angles (right)

Trombone player Steven Angles says “This is the largest setting in which I have performed, it will be an awesome experience to perform for millions!”    

Ryan Cook

“It will be a little stressful being on TV for a national event that is being broadcasted to millions of people, but I am going to go there and have a fun time living a dream!” says trombone player Ryan Cook.   

Noah Holman

“It’s a lot of work being in the marching band and it’s even more work with a demanding major like engineering. I’m really glad that I have been able to do both while at Miami,” says trumpet player Noah Holman.  “The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade is something all marching bands dream to be a part of.  It will be a great end to my senior year of marching band. I don’t think I could have asked for anything better.”    

• Steven W. Angles, Computer Science
• Daniel J. Bray, Computer Science
• Ryan W. Cook, Mechanical Engineering
• Logan R. Gabriel, Computer Science
• Stephen M. Hartman, Chemical Engineering
• Noah B. Holman, Mechanical Engineering
• Matthew R. Hurd, Software Engineering
• Jasmine N. Johnson, Chemical Engineering
• Kathleen L. Miller, Chemical Engineering
• Michael W. Paige, Computer Engineering
• Andrew J. Somers, Computer Science
• Stephen J. Weber, Manufacturing Engineering

]]> http://seasnews.eas.muohio.edu/2011/11/seas-students-to-march-in-macys-parade/feed/ 0 http://seasnews.eas.muohio.edu/2011/11/miamis-new-air-force-research-laboratory-scholarship/ http://seasnews.eas.muohio.edu/2011/11/miamis-new-air-force-research-laboratory-scholarship/#comments Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:38:06 +0000 hutchip2 http://seasnews.eas.muohio.edu/?p=6461 The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) in collaboration with Miami University’s Mobile learning Center will provide $6,500 for 11 Miami students.  These students will conduct research during the academic year at Miami, as well as during the following summer at the AFRL Discovery Lab.

“Students will investigate how social networks and other emerging technologies can be integrated to provide up-to-date information that facilitates just-in-time decision making. As part of this research, students will interact with researchers and other student scholars from around the country using real-time virtual reality environments similar to Second Life as part of the AFRL’s Virtual Discovery Center,” explains computer science professor and director of Miami’s Mobile Learning Center, Gerald C. Gannod.

Congratulations to the following inaugural scholarship recipients for 2011-2012: computer science majors Daniel Bray, Robert Smayda, Matthew Weber and Taylor White; software engineering majors Jordan Komnick, Alex Myer and Keith Batesole, double major with computer science; computer engineering major Brian Breitsch; and electrical engineering and computer engineering double major Tyler Maschino. Two additional scholarships are being reserved for interactive media studies/graphic design majors. 

For more information

Professor Anna Dollár speaking at the ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

The theme of the 2011 plenary was the symbiotic relationship between teaching practice in engineering classrooms and research in engineering education. Six topics were selected for their broad appeal across established, evolving, and emerging practices in engineering education.

Dr. Dollár was invited to talk about Systematic Formative Assessment and asked to illustrate it with a highly innovative web-based interactive course in Engineering Statics that she had co-authored with Professor Paul S. Steif from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). This open and free resource (part of CMU Open Learning Initiative) includes over 300 interactive exercises with individualized hints, and feedback for students and instructors. The plenary’s organizers recognized many cutting edge approaches to engineering education that the authors had used in the course and their compelling research results on students’ learning outcomes, and had asked Dr. Dollár to provide opportunities for the audience to identify what they can use in their courses and how they can take these approaches back to their institution. 

Recently, Professor Dollár was invited by the President of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) to be a panel speaker at the NAE’s Third Frontiers of Engineering Education (FOEE) symposium to be held in Irvine, CA, November 13-16, 2011. The FOEE brings together innovative engineering educators to facilitate their further development, broaden collaboration, and promote dissemination of good practice. Dr. Dollár was invited to speak to this group of faculty about Active and Self-Directed Learning.

Larry Montague (right), President of TAPPI, presenting the Division Technical Award to Dr. Coffin (left)

Dr. Douglas W. Coffin of the SEAS Chemical and Paper Engineering department was awarded the Corrugated Packaging Division Technical Award and Harry J. Bettendorf Prize by TAPPI on September 26, 2011.   The ceremony took place at TAPPI’s CorrExpo2011 in Fort Worth, Texas.   

TAPPI is the leading association for the worldwide pulp, paper, packaging, and converting industries.  It is a registered non-governmental organization comprised of thousands of engineers, scientists, managers, academics and others from all around the world, dedicated to providing solutions that lead to better, faster, and more cost-effective ways of doing business.   

Dr. Coffin was presented this award by the President of TAPPI, Larry Montague, for his outstanding accomplishments and contributions to the advancement of technology to the Corrugated Packaging Industry. 

Please RSVP by Monday, October 31, 2011.  Cancellation deadline is Friday, November 4, 2011.

Please RSVP by Monday, October 31, 2011.  Cancellation deadline is Friday, November 4, 2011.