Service Achievements

Experiential Learning: I consider this endeavor to be a blend of teaching and service component of my job. Students are encouraged to pursue design projects outside the framework of courses to enhance their design and system building skills. While I work with students to identify their preference of research area, I like to concentrate design projects on developing teaching tools for imparting EE/CpE concepts to all including K-12 students. Following is a list, with brief description, of completed and in-progress Experiential Learning projects:

Experiential Learning Projects:

  • SP 2023: 2023-2024 OURE planning and recruitment: 12 applications ($12,000 scholarship funds for students): 7 planned projects
  • Morse Code to Text Translator (MCTT): OURE 2022-2023 grant recipient. Morse Code to Text Translator – YouTube
  • Constant Current Battery Discharger and Tester: OURE 2022-2023 grant recipient. OURE Constant Current Battery Load Discharger and Tester – YouTube
  • FPGA-based Digital FM Music Synthesizer: OURE Fellows 2020-2021 grant recipient.
  • WIMP-AVR Processor Design: OURE 2019-2020 grant recipient. The processor is being used to teach basic processor design and working in the new version of CpE 3150 course starting SP 2020 semester (WIMPAVR Introduction – YouTube)
  • Wavelet Analysis of 1D and 2D Signals for Feature Extraction: OURE 2019-2020 grant recipient.
  • Signal Processing Application: OURE 2019-2020 grant recipient,
  • Custom DAQ Board Design: USB based Oscilloscope.
  • MEGA-WIMP51: Perhaps the largest, in-terms of deconstructed size, processor in the state of Missouri, perhaps the USA, but not in the world. The goal of this project is to create a demonstration, and interactive tool, which allows users to learn about the inner workings of a typical microprocessor. A mini-processor, based on the 8051-based microcontroller core, was deconstructed so that the inner workings of the processor can be understood in detail. Features include varying clock speeds, with the option of manual switching, machine code entry of program, and deconstructed versions of some of the system components all the way down to transistor level. More information can be found in:
  • DC-DC Converters: Understanding Power Electronics via Design: The goal of this project was to design the three basic DC-DC converters, Buck, Boost and Buck-Boost converters using 555 timers, which provide the switching signal, and Op-Amps, to create a PID controller. More information can be found at:
  • Binary-To-Decimal Conversion Emulator: A Learning Tool for Kids and Adults: This project aims to teach undergraduate, kids and adults about how computers store unsigned and signed integers via an interactive tool. (8-bit Binary-To-Decimal Emulator – YouTube)
    • More information can be found at: https://peer.asee.org/board-88-interactive-digital-logic-laboratory-for-k-12-students-work-in-progress
    • Sample video demo can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfWLywdCl0U
    • This project was presented at:
      • R. Dua, “Interactive Digital Logic Laboratory for K-12 Students (Work-In-Progress),” Proceedings of the 2017 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Columbus Ohio.
      • N. Kelly, K. Brown, and R. Dua, “Work-In-Progress: Interactive Digital Logic Laboratory for Kids: Decimal-to-Binary Conversion Emulator – An Experiential Learning Project,” 2015 ASEE Zone III Conference: Student poster paper, Springfield, Missouri. Winner 1st place Undergraduate student poster paper competition!

  • Basic Digital Logic Gates Emulator: A Learning Tool for Kids and Adults: This project aims to teach kids and adults about basic logic gates and their functioning using an interactive and fun tool.
  • Service to Education via Heavy Course Load: On an ad-hoc basis, I teach heavy course loads to serve students’ learning desires. Using this platform, I have created project-based elective courses, which allow curious students to build skills in embedded systems. Even though this activity mostly falls under teaching, providing this facility is a service to education. Recently, I taught 4 lecture courses in FS 2022 and 5 lecture courses in SP 2023 semester. I plan to teach 6 courses in FS 2023 semester. An example of a new course, created in FS 2022, was Fun With Electronics (FWE). The course was taught via EE 4099 course to allow students to use the course as Elective E for their EE degree program. Based on demand and available EE program inclusion, the plan is to apply for a permanent EE course number for the new course. FWE is a 3-credit hour laboratory course which concentrates on creating practical electronic applications, which are fun to create and are a platform for learning important practical circuit creation. Here are video links to some of the fun projects implemented in the course:
  • Service to ASEE: I have been actively involved in the current and last two ASEE Midwest conferences. I am the program chair for the 2023 conference and was the program chair for the 2022 conference. I was in the program committee for the 2021 conference involved in virtual conference management.