Engineering Technologies

Robot-Assisted Acoustic Technology: Broad-Use Engineering for the Future

emdecker — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 19:16:45 +0000

Robot-Assisted Acoustic Technology: Broad-Use Engineering for the Future emdecker July 1, 2024

Acoustic technology, in some forms, has been around for centuries. It is used in designing and improving musical instruments for optimal sound production, as well as limiting unwanted or harmful mechanical noise in the world around us. With new technological breakthroughs, this area of study is gaining momentum and driving innovation in a number of areas – especially healthcare and medicine. A new tool developed by a research team at Virginia Tech demonstrates how acoustic technology is leading to breakthroughs in biotechnology uses, creating a foundation for new discoveries across all industries.

Understanding Acoustic Technology

Acoustic technology involves creating, manipulating, and transmitting sound waves, often through musical instruments, speakers, and communication devices. It is built on the science of acoustics, which focuses on understanding how sound travels through air, water, and other media.

Acoustic technology has prominent uses in longstanding and common technologies like sonar for deep water exploration and forensics, and ultrasounds for internal body imaging. More recent uses have emerged in speech recognition and monitoring vibrations in physical structures, as well as biotechnology and medical advancements.

Robot-Assisted Acoustic Tweezers

A team of researchers at Virginia Tech recently developed a pair of “invisible tweezers,” which uses acoustic waves to manipulate tiny particles within the human body. This device works by penetrating bone and tissue with acoustic waves to capture micro- to millimeter-sized targets like cells and drug molecules without the need to make surgical incisions. Tiny acoustic energy emitters surround and trap particles, allowing the particle to be moved and rotated by essentially acting like tiny tweezers. Mounting the emitter to a robotic platform enables the acoustic beam to be controlled with incredible precision. This is much more precise and less damaging to the body than the use of acoustics to break up kidney stones, known as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL).

In today’s medical arena, nearly 20% of surgeries are assisted or fully performed by robots, providing an incredible opportunity for these invisible tweezers—and acoustic technology as a whole—to perform less invasive surgeries that limit patient discomfort, incur shorter hospital stays, and speed up recoveries.

Acoustic Engineering for the Future

The continued exploration of this engineering technology is driving innovation in a variety of industries. Similar to medicine, it’s pushing new frontiers in biology and chemistry, where acoustic tweezers are handling delicate biological samples like embryos or arranging nanoparticles for biomanufacturing.

Acoustic waves can enhance drug penetration through tissues to improve targeted drug delivery and sort and manipulate cells for research and medical purposes. Researchers are exploring how acoustic fields may be able to stimulate tissue repair and regeneration, be used in non-invasive procedures to treat neurological disorders, and support wearable devices that could monitor health metrics.

In additive manufacturing and 3-D printing of materials, acoustic technology can be used to identify anomalies like cracks and voids in a structural design, ensuring quality control through more precise monitoring and allowing for the building of more intricate structures. Combining acoustics with 3D printing can also help fabricate human tissues and organs. And the technology is being explored to improve sound quality performance venues by adapting their acoustics to individual listeners, manufacturing car tires that minimize vibrations from the road, creating immersive experiences for gaming and virtual reality applications, and developing visual representations of sound patterns that can help with noise pollution and architecture.

As researchers work further in acoustic engineering and technology, new innovations and use cases will continue to emerge as the applications of this specialty are seemingly endless across many fields of study.

Engineering and Technology Education at Capitol Tech

Capitol Technology University is a premier STEM university that offers programs in Engineering Technologies and Healthcare Technology to prepare the next generation of innovators to advance discoveries across a variety of in-demand industries. To learn more, contact our Admissions team or request more information.

Categories: Engineering Technologies

Control Engineers: The Masterminds Behind the Machines

bcook — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 19:49:08 +0000

Control Engineers: The Masterminds Behind the Machines bcook February 1, 2024

Control engineers are architects of automation. Enabling everything from smart home thermostats to complex flight controls for commercial aviation, they bring life to machines and keep the wheels of modern technologies turning smoothly.

As one of the fastest growing careers today, here’s a look at what control engineers do, where they work, and the outlook for the field.

What Is a Control Engineer?

Control engineers design, develop, implement, and maintain control systems, the intricate networks of sensors, actuators, and algorithms that drive electrical, mechanical, chemical, and computer systems. Their work aims to ensure the efficient and safe operation of machines and processes.

Control engineers leverage principles in mathematics, physics, and engineering to act as the bridge between physical processes and digital intelligence. Their expertise is required to regulate essential variables like temperature, pressure, flow, and speed to ensure optimal performance within strict quality and safety standards. Through constant analysis, optimization, and troubleshooting, they work toward the smooth and efficient operation of complex machinery and processes, ultimately driving increased productivity, enhanced precision, and improved safety within a wide range of applications.

Education and Training for Control Engineers

Control engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in engineering, with a focus on control systems, electrical engineering, or mechanical engineering. This degree provides the foundational knowledge in mathematics, physics, and computer science that's essential for understanding and designing control systems. Graduate degrees can enhance career opportunities, especially in research and development roles or more specialized positions, whereas professional certifications, such as the Certified Automation Professional and Certified Control Systems Technician certificates offered by the International Society of Automation, can help control engineers refine their skill set and advance in their careers.

Some of the most common skills required for control engineers include:

Strong understanding of mathematics and physics that underpin the concepts of control systems, such as modeling, dynamics, and signal processing.
Proficiency in programming languages to develop control algorithms and interact with software.
Knowledge of control system technologies, such as PLC programming, SCADA systems, PID controllers, and other specific technologies depending on the industry and application.
Analytical and problem-solving skills, which are critical to constantly analyze data, identify problems, and design solutions to optimize system performance.
Critical thinking to make informed decisions under pressure, balancing performance, safety, and cost considerations.
Communication and teamwork, as collaboration with other engineers, technicians, and stakeholders is essential for successful project execution.

Industry and Work Settings for Control Engineers

A control engineer’s work spans a variety of industries and sees them contributing to diverse projects in office spaces, research labs, and factory floors. They’ll create navigation systems for self-driving cars, temperature controls for chemical reactors, and motion controls for robotic surgery support machines.

In manufacturing, control engineers automate production lines, optimize processes, and ensure product quality.
In energy, they contribute to power generation, renewable energy systems, and efficient grid control.
In robotics, they design and implement control algorithms for industrial machinery and automated systems.
In aerospace, they create flight control systems, guidance systems, and autopilot systems.

Career Outlook for Control Engineers

Driven by increasing automation and the integration of advanced control systems across all industries, the job outlook for control engineers is excellent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 6% job growth rate for control engineers through 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations — and salaries typically reach six-figures early in the career. Continuous advancements in technology, particularly in areas like artificial intelligence and machine learning, are expected to offer new opportunities for control engineers to contribute to cutting-edge projects.

Taking Control at Capitol Tech

Control engineers keep our machines running smoothly and efficiently. Often operating in the background, they are in high demand for their ability to optimize efficiency, safety, and precision in various fields, making it a diverse, lucrative, and rewarding career path. Check out Capitol Tech’s degree programs in Engineering to see how you can take on the challenges of a career in control engineering. For more information, contact our Admissions team at admissions@captechu.edu.

Categories: Engineering, Engineering Technologies

International Women’s Day Celebration Today

emdecker — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 20:24:38 +0000

International Women’s Day Celebration Today emdecker March 8, 2022

Today, March 8^th, is the annual observance of International Women’s Day, a day celebrating the significant impact of women to all aspects of our society. In addition to this single day observance, the entire month of March is also dedicated to honoring the influential women who have contributed to the important societal, economic, political, and cultural changes seen throughout history. This year’s themes are: Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow and #BreaktheBias. On social media, many are posting photos of themselves with arms crossed, symbolizing an “X”, as in X-chromosome and also “stop” the bias.

Taking time to celebrate these contributions is important to the empowerment and encouragement of women to seize opportunities in historically male-dominated fields. Diversity in these fields notably increases creativity and cultural insight, ensuring representation and engagement of all genders, as well as drives the advancement of STEM areas.

Over the month of March, Capitol Tech invites you to partake in our retrospective honoring the many amazing women who have contributed to innovations in STEM. The following biographies outline the lives of women who redefined their fields. From programmers, engineers, hackers, and celebrities, click through the links below to learn more about these pioneering women:

Amanda Finnerty: Director of Internal Operations for Commodore Builders
Danielle Dy Buncio: Co-founder and CEO of VIATechnik, a Construction Technology Firm
Rebecca Clark: Operations Executive for Skanska, a Global Construction Firm
Dr. Nina Tandon: Co-Founder of the First Company to Grow Human Bones for Reconstruction
Ada Lovelace: The Mother of Computer Programming
Hedy Lamarr: Star of the Silver Screen and Inventor of a WWII Changing Communications Device
Edith Clarke: A Trailblazing Leader for Women and a Pioneer in Computing and Engineering
Katherine Johnson: In Commemoration of the Mathematician and Computer Scientist Responsible for the first U.S. Moon Landing
Ana Sol Gutierrez: "I wouldn’t follow the role they attributed to me"
Kimberly Bryant: Accomplished Electrical Engineer and Founder of Black Girls Code
Sabrina Gonzalez Pasterski: The Young Woman Dubbed the “Next Albert Einstein”
Velma P. Scantlebury, M.D.: the first black female transplant surgeon in the U.S.
Mae Jemison: Doctor, Teacher, Founder of Two Technology Companies, and the First African-American woman in Space

Judith Milhon: Programmer, Civil Rights Activist, Hacker

Judith Love Cohen: Aerospace Engineer, Feminist, Actor Jack Black’s Mother

To read about past Capitol Tech Women’s Day celebrations, click here.

Categories: Cyber and Information Security, Data Analytics, Engineering Technologies, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, Women in STEM

Eyes to the Universe | ALPHA Teaser Series #3

emdecker — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 17:40:47 +0000

Eyes to the Universe | ALPHA Teaser Series #3 emdecker February 25, 2022

When you imagine an observer using a telescope, you might think they use a conical eyepiece to obtain a zoomed view of the target of interest. However, since the human eye is only sensitive to objects with stellar magnitudes that are 6.5 or lower, a camera would need to be used to obtain such views. For instance, the brightest star in the night sky is Sirius, in the constellation Canis Major, at magnitude -1.46. On the visual magnitude scale, the lower the number, the brighter the object, while higher numbers represent dimmer objects. The dimmest star in the same constellation is SY Canis Major at magnitude 9.5. Thus, to detect fainter objects such as galaxies and asteroids, the ALPHA observatory will instead use a device called a “dedicated CMOS astronomy camera”. This type of device is similar to the cameras in our cell phones but geared towards astronomy applications. This week, the ALPHA observatory ZWO 1600MM cooled monochrome camera arrived and we will begin bench-testing in two weeks. On this teaser episode of the observatory, let’s discuss ALPHA’s “eyes to the universe”.

Above: Parts received so far for the new ALPHA telescope and Observatory – ZWO 1600MM Pro Cooled CMOS Camera and HyperStar Lens.

Capitol Tech Astronautical Engineering Professor Dr. Marcel Mabson demonstrates how camera and lens will be attached to the ALPHA telescope.

The ZWO 1600MM camera will be ALPHA’s “eyes to the universe” – this camera will enable operators to view objects as if they were looking through an eyepiece. One of the benefits of a CMOS camera is its ability to detect fainter objects. To assist with the detection of the object, the camera has a built-in cooler, which enables the CMOS chip to be cooled by -25 degrees, the current ambient temperature. The ability to cool the camera is essential – the colder you can make a device, the less thermal noise will be in the images. Due to faint objects, we need to capture multiple images and perform “stacking”. This procedure increases the signal/ratio and aids in pulling out data on the object. The image below demonstrates this. NGC7635, or by its famous name, the “bubble nebula”, is located in the constellation Cassiopeia. The first image is a 120-second image, the second is a 10-minute image, and the third is a 2.5-hour image. As we can see, the more data that is collected, the more detail that can be extracted from the object and less noise will be present in the images.

(Three images demonstrating “stacking” method of cooled CMOS camera to detect faint celestial objects. Left: 120-minute exposure, Center: 10-minute exposure, Right: 2.5-hour exposure)

Calibration Data:

While we are able to cool the camera to lower its thermal noise, we cannot eliminate all thermal noise from the device. To remove unwanted noise from the images, we create calibration data called “dark and bias” frames. A dark calibration frame allows us to create an image that contains remaining thermal noise at a given exposure and temperature. This dark frame is then subtracted from the image. In addition, a calibration frame called a “bias” frame is created. As the camera reads data from each pixel, they will introduce “read” noise. This read noise creates a pattern of various “shades” that can appear on the images. The final calibration data we create is a “flat” frame. As data is taken from the camera, imperfections can be detected, not from the camera device but from the telescope itself. Dust, hair, and other interfering artifacts can appear on the corrector plate of the telescope. At the beginning or end of an imaging session, we create a flat frame that captures the state of the main lens and we can remove any artifacts from the images. Below is an example, from M81 with and without calibration. Notice the image without any calibration added. It contains two small rings – this is dust that has collected on the optics lens and the image now contains bias noise (brighter areas around the center and upper right parts of the image), while the second image shows calibration with all artifacts removed.

(Left: M81 without Calibration data with artifacts intact, Right: M81 with Calibration data added with artifacts removed)

Why Monochrome?:

All images generated by ALPHA will be in monochrome (black and white). There are various camera configurations that allow a user to generate a color image – however, they have a drawback. ALPHA’s goal is to detect faint asteroid targets. In order for a color to be generated by the camera, each pixel of the device would have to be divided into a debayer matrix. This means that some pixels will have a green filter, and others will have red and blue. This, in turn, lowers the sensitivity of the camera. To allow maximum sensitivity, ALPHA will use a monochrome camera, which allows each pixel to use 100% of its area to capture light and maximize image captures and quality.

Above: Image of M33 Triangulum Galaxy

Asteroid detection:

ALPHA’s primary goal will be to detect and perform follow-up studies of asteroids and comets. To perform this, ALPHA will be configured in what is known as “F2 configuration”. The F ratio describes the total magnification of the optical system. In its native F10 configuration, ALPHA’s telescope will have over 2800mm of focal length available. While this may seem advantageous for the telescope, a major drawback with high focal length telescopes is the time required to collect enough light for a given object. Many of ALPHA’s objects are fast moving – thus, if an exposure is long enough, the target of interest would form a “streak” or line across the image. Another drawback of this configuration is the field of view (FOV) is small and thus, the telescope would need to be able to move with the object or else it will move out of the telescope’s view. To resolve this, ALPHA will use the Hyperstar system. The Hyperstar system replaces the telescopes secondary memory and transforms the telescope from a native F10, 2800mm system to a F2, 560mm system. This provides ALPHA with a FOV of ~3 degrees, meaning that in what a F10 system could do in 1 hour, the F2 configuration the system can accomplish in ~25 minutes. ALPHA will remain in the F2 configuration for the majority of its time during high lunar phases, and will switch to a F6.3 configuration for student projects and community outreach events.

Visit our website to learn more about astronautical engineering and Capitol Tech’s other aviation programs. Many of our courses are available both on-campus and online. For more information, contact The Capitol Tech Admissions Team .

Categories: Uncrewed Systems, Astronautical Engineering, Engineering Technologies

A President's Day Celebration of Our STEM Leaders

emdecker — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 15:27:09 +0000

A President's Day Celebration of Our STEM Leaders emdecker February 21, 2022

It’s President’s Day here in the United States, a time to celebrate the past leaders of this country and all they have done to further develop it. This year, the Capitol Technology blog would like to celebrate by highlighting a few Presidents’ contributions to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

According to reporter Christina P. Hooton of Fisher Scientific, there are plenty of presidents who contributed to what is commonly known today as STEM. John Adams, for example, made great medical strides during his presidency. “Perhaps one of his most lasting contributions is signing into law the Act for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen. This… led the way for the present-day Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other federal health programs.” Franklin Roosevelt spearheaded government-funded research for cancer treatment. “The National Cancer Act of 1937, signed into law by President Roosevelt, led to the creation of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and was the first time Congress provided funding for a non-communicable disease.” It is because of this act that chemotherapy exists, and that thousands of cancer treatment facilities across America get their funding.

One of the biggest leaps in the aerospace and astronomical fields is the moon landing of 1969, made possible by John F. Kennedy. He “set the goal of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth by the end of the 1960s. Although his dream wasn’t realized until after his death, President Kennedy’s leadership inspired an array of people — from aerospace engineers to production workers — and set the stage for a number of successful space expeditions.” Just after Kennedy’s time, the push for environmentalism grew, and Richard Nixon signed several laws into place to help with this movement. These laws “include[d] the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. He also proposed the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency.” The various Acts and the EPA helped to curb the drastic pollution encroaching the nation, and continue to serve as regulators today.

The pursuit for a better environment and the development of medical technology was further expanded by Barack Obama, who created the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN). “The Precision Medicine Initiative aims to improve disease treatments by tailoring them to the unique characteristics of each individual’s genes, environment, and lifestyle. To further this work, the All of Us research program seeks to build a diverse health database with the help of one million U.S. citizens.”

The modern age of STEM would not be what it is without the effort of past American presidents. This President’s Day, take some time to learn about the countless other contributions our leaders have made, and reflect on what can be done to improve upon their actions.

Capitol Tech offers many opportunities in all STEM fields, where you can pursue careers to help pave the way to further science and technological development. To learn more about these programs, visit our website and peruse the various courses and degrees offered. Many courses are available both on campus and online. For more information, contact the Capitol Tech Admissions team.

Categories: Engineering Technologies, Astronautical Engineering, Cyber and Information Security

Orbiting the Unknown │ ALPHA Teaser Series #2

emdecker — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 20:49:26 +0000

Orbiting the Unknown │ ALPHA Teaser Series #2 emdecker February 11, 2022

Photo Credit: Prof. Marcel Mabson, Capitol Technology University, Phase diagram graph of eclipsing variable star V0915_Per orbital period

While we await the arrival of Capitol Tech’s new ALPHA Observatory, we would like to share another example of the type of data that high-powered telescopes can produce. The above image shows output captured and evaluated by Capitol Tech Astronautical Engineering student and designated ALPHA intern, Ainsley Fitzhugh. Ainsley was selected as the head intern to work with ALPHA, and in preparation, is learning more about translating the type of data that ALPHA will produce. Ainsley was able to successfully compute the orbital period of a paired star known as the eclipsing variable star V0915_Per. These two stars orbit each other and once every 6.5 hours they eclipse, resulting in a drop in brightness visible to the eye. In the graph above, a large drop in magnitude can be seen from the primary star passing in front of the secondary star, and the smaller drop is seen from the secondary star passing in front of the primary. This graph is called a “phase diagram” graph, where the x-axis indicates star brightness (magnitude) and y-axis indicates phase. This is an example of what is known as a “contact binary star system,” or a system with two stars so close together that they either touch or share gaseous envelopes. This data was also retrieved using the telescope of Astronautical Engineering Professor Marcel Mabson, similarly to the image of comet C/2019 L3 ATLAS captured last month. The ALPHA observatory will be able to produce images like these and generate data on near-earth objects (NEOs) of interest such as comets and asteroids.

We will continue to share more information about the preparations being made for the arrival of ALPHA. Stay in the loop by following our blog and social media!

Written by Erica Decker

Categories: Astronautical Engineering, Engineering Technologies

Public Radio Broadcasting Day - A Glimpse at Capitol History

emdecker — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 19:58:17 +0000

Public Radio Broadcasting Day - A Glimpse at Capitol History emdecker January 13, 2022

Capitol Radio Engineering Institute (CREI) 1927

January 13^th marks the celebration of Public Radio Broadcasting Day, a day honoring the invention of the radio and the significant role it has played throughout history. Many people helped make the radio possible, contributing to its creation and evolution over the decades. Guglielmo Marconi is credited as the inventor of the first radio to transmit long distance morse code signals across the Atlantic Ocean in 1901, although Nikolai Tesla was also working on radio technology at the time and is often argued to be the true inventor of the radio. Tesla’s studies started in 1886 when he proved the existence of radio waves and this led to the invention of his Tesla coil, which Marconi would later use in his radio demonstration. Lee de Forest is considered the “Father of Radio” as he expanded on Marconi’s radio device to produce faster, more reliable signals, and transmitted the first public broadcast in 1910. Advancements in radio technology would eventually lead to the invention of many other devices like televisions, satellites, cell phones, and the internet. The radio and its ability to broadcast has had lasting impacts on global communication, culture, and society as a whole.

Some may not realize that Capitol Technology University has a strong connection with the radio, as the University was founded by a U.S. Navy Radioman named Eugene H. Rietzke. In his lifetime (during World War I and in the early 1900s), radios were initially used as a way for military forces to communicate with each other, rather than as a means of entertainment. Radio technology was still rudimentary despite a desperate need for reliable communications systems during wartime. Limitations of radio use were due to issues with shorter waves of frequency, cumbersome and heavy equipment, transmission and signal unreliability, and personnel training.

Rietzke recognized the need for better radio technology and education. Thus, he founded Capitol Radio Engineering Institute (CREI) in 1927, which would later become Capitol Technology University. It began as a trade school, which is a technical school designed to train students in a specific trade career. When he started his school, he only had 40 students, but he worked tirelessly to provide a curriculum, hands-on experience, and even wrote his own textbook to address the shortage of a specialized workforce in the field of radio. His students were able to learn from a field professional and study in laboratories with real equipment like vacuum tube radios, analog computers, and other electronics of the time. By the start of WWII, radio technology had vastly improved and CREI was ready with not 40, but now 3,000 well-trained technicians prepared for this new era of radio. And Capitol has grown ever since.

Although starting from small beginnings and with limited resources, Rietzke saw a need for advancement and strove for better. Rietzke once said “if you have imagination and if you have the willingness…I don’t see how you could fail,” (Jarrell, 2002). This ideal remains a part of Capitol today as students are always encouraged to find new ways to approach society’s needs, explore evolving technology, acquire hands-on laboratory experience, and learn from field professionals through the University’s many undergraduate and graduate programs.

For more information on Capitol history, visit the University’s website here.

CREI Residence Students in Vacuum Tube Radio Lab

References:

Golden Age of Radio in the US. (2022). Digital Public Library of America. Retrieved from https://dp.la/exhibitions/radio-golden-age/radio-frontlines

Jarrell, H. J. (2002). The Evolution of Capitol College: An Oral History. Capitol College.

Smith, J. Y. (1983). Eugene H. Rietzke, 85, Dies. Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1983/01/05/eugene-h-rietzke-85-dies/bd1ee86d-56db-408a-ab2d-6362ed271c7d/

Birth of public radio broadcasting. (2022, Jan 11). In Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birth_of_public_radio_broadcasting

Photo Credits:

Jarrell, H. J. (2002). The Evolution of Capitol College: An Oral History. Capitol College.

Categories: Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, Engineering Technologies

National Science Fiction Day: A History of Science and Technology in Fiction

emdecker — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 20:12:48 +0000

National Science Fiction Day: A History of Science and Technology in Fiction emdecker January 4, 2022

January 2 marked the annual celebration of National Science Fiction Day. By no coincidence, this date is also the birthday of Isaac Asimov, a famous science fiction writer and professor of biochemistry. This day of celebration was chosen to honor Asimov (author of “I, Robot”) who, along with Robert A. Heinlein (“Starship Troopers”) and Arthur C. Clarke (“2001: A Space Odyssey”), is considered one of the three most influential sci-fi writers of the all time.

Science fiction, or “sci-fi”, is a broad term used to define the genre and it is often categorized as any fictional narrative that involves science and technology. More specifically, it is “fiction based on imagined future scientific or technological advances”, but can also be defined as “the literature of the human species encountering change or societal shifts”. Sci-fi is not only a genre of literature, but also refers to movies, TV shows, comics, and other media.

Science fiction has a played a surprisingly important role in our culture over the centuries, with a long history that dates back to the BCE era. Translated texts from ancient Mesopotamia, India, and Greece give depictions of space and air travel, advanced weaponry and technology, other worlds, and man’s search for meaning. Japanese tales from 720 CE are seen to detail time travel and humans living under the sea. Middle Eastern folklore of the 10^th century feature cosmic and intergalactic travels, as well as usage of submarine-like vessels. Themes during the European Middle Ages (12^th century) included robots, self-operating machinery, and advanced biology. The Age of Enlightenment in the 17^th century gave rise to an interest in scientific discovery, and thus many works of science fiction developed during this time. But Mary Shelley in the 19^th century truly defined the genre with her famous work “Frankenstein” which explored themes of science, technology, and the moral aspects implicit in their use. The genre has never looked back since, with artists in every field finding ways to express their sci-fi ideas to this very day.

There is a reason why science fiction has been so important for so long - because it gives voice to mankind’s imagination and search for meaning. It is often called the “literature of ideas”; ideas that can encourage advancement in areas of study, like those offered at Capitol Technology University in Astronautical Engineering, Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering Technology, and Unmanned and Autonomous Systems, to name just a few. Sci-fi ideas have breathed life into real technologies used today, like cell phones, credit cards, robotics, atomic energy, artificial intelligence (AI), avatars, and many other inventions. Sci-fi not only allows for technological advancements, but for us to look at aspects of society, like equality and morality, and gives us a platform to ask the hard questions and come up with creative answers. It provides insight into viewpoints outside our own. It allows us to explore the potential consequences and outcomes of our imagination, to pave new ways into the unknown. It makes us think about the future and the “what-if” scenarios, to see what is possible or impossible. Sci-fi is certainly a genre to be celebrated, as it has had great influence on our lives and will continue to impact our future.

Notable Moments in Sci-fi History:

2000 BCE – Ancient mythology and texts in the Hindu, Greek, and Mesopotamian cultures are seen to feature sci-fi elements.

17^th Century – The Age of Enlightenment begins, with works by Shakespeare, Chaucer, and Francis Bacon providing templates for future sci-fi themes.

19^th Century – Mary Shelley writes “Frankenstein”, a novel that introduces advanced science and technology themes, as well as the morality of such advancements.

1902 – First science fiction film “Le Voyage dans la Lune” by George Méliès debuted.

1928 – First sci-fi comic strip “Buck Rogers” was published in pulp magazine.

1937 – John W. Campbell became editor of sci-fi pulp magazine “Astounding Science Fiction”, sparking great advancements for the genre.

1938 - "The War of the Worlds" aired on American radio, causing panic to those who believed it was a real invasion and not a sci-fi drama.

1938 to 1946 – The Golden Age of Science Fiction.

1939 – Robert A. Heinlein began his career writing stories for Astounding Science Fiction magazine, and his impact on the genre was immediately felt.

1939 – The First World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) was held during the New York World's Fair.

1950 – Isaac Asimov wrote first sci-fi novel “Pebble in the Sky”.

1954 – Journalist Forrest J. Ackerman, founder of the science fiction fandom, coined the term “sci-fi”.

1955 – “Tomorrowland”, an exhibition of futuristic technology-based attractions, debuted with Disneyland’s Park opening.

1960s – The New Wave era began, with works like Frank Herbert’s “Dune” marking this era.

1968 – Author Arthur C. Clarke and Film Director Stanley Kubrick released “2001: A Space Odyssey”, a film noted for its realistic depiction of space travel and its futuristic special effects.

1980s to 2022 – Cyberpunk era redefines the genre with its unique style, persisting through to modern times today with releases like “The Matrix” movie and similar works.

Notable Works of Sci-fi:

Novels and Novellas

Frankenstein – Mary Shelley (1818)

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas – Jules Verne (1872)

The Time Machine – H.G. Wells (1895)

At the Mountains of Madness – H.P. Lovecraft (1936)

The Martian Chronicles – Ray Bradbury (1950)

Dune – Frank Herbert (1965)

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? – Philip K. Dick (1968)

The Left Hand of Darkness – Ursula K. Le Guin (1969)

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams (1979)

Contact – Carl Sagan (1985)

Watchers – Dean Koontz (1987)

Prey – Michael Crichton (2002)

Leviathan Wakes – James S. A. Corey (2011)

Film and Television

Le Voyage dans la Lune (1902)

Doctor Who (1963)

Star Trek: The Original Series (1966)

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Star Wars Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)

Alien (1979)

Blade Runner (1982)

The Thing (1982)

Terminator (1984)

Aeon Flux (1991)

Stargate (1994)

Gattaca (1997)

The X Files (1998)

The Matrix (1999)

Sunshine (2007)

District 9 (2009)

References:

History of science fiction. (2022, Jan 3). Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_science_fiction

Reasons why science fiction is a great genre of films. (2020, Sep 5). Scified. Retrieved from https://www.scified.com/news/reasons-why-science-fiction-is-a-great-genre-films

Strauss, M. (2012, Mar 15). Ten inventions inspired by science fiction. Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/ten-inventions-inspired-by-science-fiction-128080674/

Written by Erica Decker

Categories: Engineering Technologies, Artificial Intelligence, Astronautical Engineering

The Evolution of Mechatronics Engineering

Anonymous — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 13:06:04 +0000

The Evolution of Mechatronics Engineering Anonymous (not verified) September 21, 2018

If you’re exploring the study of engineering, you may have stumbled across a field called mechatronics. What is mechatronics engineering and what exactly do mechatronics engineers do?

Mechatronics began as an A to Z kind of engineering for a new technological age. It has caught on with students who want to learn all of the skill sets required to build a whole machine by themselves.

Mechatronics is a crossover form of engineering born out of the need for engineers with both electrical and mechanical knowledge. Before the 1970s, most household products relied on mechanical engineering alone in their design. Even large manufacturing plants were powered by people controlling mechanically driven devices. The early 1970s saw a shift towards incorporating electrical power with mechanical features into our tools and machines.

Think of all of the items in your home that move and are powered by electricity: your washing machine, your ceiling fan, your food processor, your power drill. Designing and building all of the moving parts in your washing machine required mechanical know-how, someone who could make the parts spin just right. But to power the device, that engineer also had to have electrical skills too.

In the 1980s, with the boom in microprocessors, mechatronics grew more popular. By the 90s, the field began to incorporate aspects of computer science and programming, creating almost endless possibilities to the usefulness of mechatronics engineering.

With all of that crossover knowledge, mechatronics engineers have brought amazing features into the products they work on. Cars are a great example. Backup cameras, sensors, and anti-lock breaks all required crossover engineering skills to design and implement. Areas like automation and robotics are also full of mechatronics engineers.

“If you build a mechanical thing that is controlled by electrical components that needs software to make it work, then you need mechatronics,” says Capitol’s dean of academics and chair of electrical engineering, Dr. Nayef Abu-Ageel.

Capitol Technology University recently developed two new bachelors of science programs in mechatronics and mechatronics and robotics.

“Our mechatronics programs integrate electrical and mechanical engineering with computer science,” Dr. Abu-Ageel explains, “to give students the capability to build, innovate, and maintain products that span a wide range of things that we see in everyday life.”

“Computer drives, a washer, it can be anything that has moving parts in it – cars, electronics systems control, antilock brakes, anything. Wherever you go there are things made using mechatronics. The manufacturing sector itself needs mechatronics engineers. It has machinery that needs to be developed and maintained.”

Capitol already has a robotics club, but we are currently planning a lab exclusively designed for mechatronics students to get more of the hands-on skills they need.

Says Dr. Abu-Ageel: “We have a strong computer science program. We have a strong electrical engineering program. Adding in the mechanical aspect to create mechatronics programs makes sense for us. The field is really exploding with the growth of automation and we want to open up those opportunities to our students.”

Thinking about Capitol? Check out our array of engineering programs here. We want you to learn, build, and succeed.

Categories: Engineering Technologies

It’s science, not magic: Capitol researchers harness brainpower to control devices

raherschbach2 — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 16:29:32 +0000

It’s science, not magic: Capitol researchers harness brainpower to control devices raherschbach2 March 16, 2018

Being able to use your thoughts – no mouse or joystick required – to control computerized devices may once have sounded like sci-fi fantasy, but a research team at Capitol is working on projects that demonstrate such capabilities are very real.

Drs. Jason M. Pittman and Garima Bajwa are co-leading the Brain-Machine Interface program at Capitol, with a lab on campus providing space and equipment for experimentation. Currently on the agenda: enabling humans to fly drones using just their thoughts.

“You think ‘drone go up, drone go down, drone go left, drone go right – there’s no joystick,” Pittman explained. “You fly it and think it. We have a team of four students who are working with Dr. Bajwa on this.”

In addition to the Capitol community, opportunities are available for students at area community colleges to visit the university and see this technology in action. Capitol will be holding a special BMI workshop on Saturday (March 24) for community college and high school students.

“We’ll have activities for them that involve interacting with the drone, or using your brain to interact with a piece of software and control an object moving on a screen – like playing a game of Pong using only your thoughts,” Pittman said. “It’s some pretty cool stuff.”

And the potential applications are boundless. Human activities are increasingly linked to a variety of computerized, networked devices that, together, constitute what many refer to as the Internet of Things. Tools like the “personal assistants” Alexa or Siri allow humans to control these devices with voice commands.

The technology being explored at Capitol takes the process a step further – one day, Pittman says, we may not need to utter a voiced command to control our devices. They will respond to our thoughts.

“It’s exciting and scary,” he says. “Exciting because of the benefits – for instance, people with certain kinds of disabilities or impairments will have access in a way that they didn’t have before. Scary because of the security aspect. A nefarious actor could theoretically get between you and your devices. The lights turn on, leaving you to wonder ‘did I think that?’” There is the potential to mess seriously with people’s minds and sense of agency.”

As a cybersecurity expert, it’s part of Pittman’s job to consider such risks and devise ways of mitigating them. For now, though, the BMI workshop’s main focus is to explore the technological possibilities – in ways that are educational and excitement.

“We’re having a blast,” Pittman says. “And we hope area students will join us on the 24^th to join in the fun.”

Categories: Faculty, Engineering Technologies