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School of

Engineering & Technology650 W. Easterday Avenue Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783 | http://engineering.lssu.edu | (906) 635-2207 | engineering@lssu.edu | Summer 2007

Lake Superior State University

WHATS INSIDE...

Ne Scholarships increase

opportunities ........................ 2

Senior project earns

international recognition ..... 3

Alum has dream jo ............. 4

Senior projects 2006-07

CCPD .............................. 5

RCS ................................. 5

STS .................................. 6

USR ................................. 6

SDS & TORC .................. 7

(Laker Racing)

Congratations are in order

Well, the summer has certainly arrived inthe Soo. With temperatures in the high 80s andlow 90s for several days it feels more like LowerMichigan than the Upper Peninsula! At least Ivebeen able to get out and enjoy some downtimeat the beachthe cold water of Lake Superior isreally refreshing on these hot summer days.

I hope the summer is going well for you alsoand that youve been able to nd time to enjoy lifeand the fruits of your labor. While youre relax-ing this weekend you can look through the latestSchool of Engineering and Technology Newslet-ter. In this issue weve included news of recentfaculty promotions, a new scholarship, somestudent competition results, and highlighted arecent graduate (Tom Waligora) and his work withNASA. Weve moved to a full-color online versionof the newsletter and wed love to have your com-ments. If youd still like a printed version mailedto you, just contact me at mwalworth@lssu.eduand Ill see that one is mailed to you from now on.

Over the past year weve substantially increasedthe number of scholarships offered to engineer-ing students and we have been working moreclosely with admissions to increase enrollmentin our programs. We created a new website andexpanded its functionality. Weve just started workon a $580,000 grant funded prototype develop-ment center (PDC) to help entrepreneurs andsmall businesses throughout Michigan, and werecontinuing to see good job opportunities andsalaries for our graduates.

As far as accreditation goes, we had our ABETvisit for Computer Engineering, Electrical En-gineering, and Mechanical Engineering this year.The visit went very well and were expecting tohear a positive report on all three programs laterthis year.

Well, thats a quick summary from the north.Wed love to hear from you so please send us anemail or call and let us know how youre doing. Sofor now, sit back, relax and enjoy the articles.

Prof. James DevaprasadProf. David Bamann, Ph.D.

This springs academic

promotions included two ofthe Schools own. Both receivedpromotions from Associate

Professor to Full Professor.James Devaprasad, Co-

ordinator of ManufacturingEngineering Technology and

Director of the Robotics &

Automation Laboratory waspromoted from Associate toFull Professor. Jim has been

with the School since August1986 when he was hired as an

instructor. He received tenure in1992 and was promoted to As-sociate Professor in 1996.

Dr. David Baumann, chairof Electrical and Computer

Engineering also moved from

the rank of Associate to FullProfessor. David came to LSSU

from Oral Roberts Universityin August 1999. He received histenure in 2004, and has been a

department chair since August2005. He also holds a profes-

sional registration for Michigan.Both have also served as

Senior Project Coordinators.

Schoo receives

21st-CentrGrant

A 21st Century Jobs FundGrant proposal submitted byJim Devaprasad and MorrieWalworth was recently ap-proved. The $580,000 grantwas reviewed by the MichiganEconomic DevelopmentCorporation (MEDC), theAmerican Association forthe Advancement of Science

(AAAS) and the Strategic Eco-nomic Investment and Com-mercialization (SEIC) Board.

The grant will providefunding for the creation of aprototype development center(PDC) to be housed at LakeSuperior State University. Asa collaboration between LSSUand the Michigan Small Busi-ness and Technology Devel-opment Centers (MI-SBTDC),the PDC will help entrepre-

neurs and small businessesadvance their ideas by provid-ing assistance in all areas ofproduct development. LSSUand the MI-SBTDC will pro-vide product design assistance,prototype development andtesting facilities, patent searchresources, assistance withbuilding viable business plans,help in creating practical mar-keting approaches, assistancein generating realistic nancial

goals, along with several otherservices.

LSSU is currently seekingtwo full-time employees torun the PDC and has alreadypurchased a 3D printer (rapidprototyping machine). If youhave any ideas for the PDCor would like more informa-tion please contact MorrieWalworth at: mwalworth@lssu.edu.

Fro the Dean...

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Lake Superior State University | Summer 007

New Scholarships increase opportunities forengineering students and robotics campers

Fiscal year 2006-07 brought several newscholarships to the School of Engineering

and Technology. Funds were in the formof awards and established scholarships. To-

gether, they provided more than $20,000 ofassistance to both summer robotics campersas well as incoming and returning engineer-

ing and technology students.The three most recent gifts came from

J.C. Huizenga of Grand Rapids, Mich.; Preci-sion Edge Surgical Products of Sault Ste.Marie, Mich.; and Dorothy Bell of Pickford,

Mich.

J.C. HUIZENGA SCHOLARSHIP

J.C. Huizenga, a Michigan-based indus-trialist and strong supporter of engineer-

ing programs at LSSU, has given a gift of$15,000 to provide scholarships for students

attending engineering summer camps as wellas incoming freshmen.

Mr. Huizenga is a strong supporter ofeducation and actively promotes talentedyoung men and women seeking a higher

education, said Morrie Walworth, Dean ofthe School of Engineering and Technology.

In a recent visit to campus, Mr. Huizengaexpressed his admiration of the accredited

PRECISION SCHOLARSHIP LSSU President Betty Youngblood and David Pelizzon, managingdirector of Precision Edge Holdings, sign documents to create the Precision Edge SurgicalProducts Company Engineering Scholarship. The fund underwrites an engineering studentstuition and fees for one academic year. Looking on from the left are Morrie Walworth, Dean ofthe School of Engineering and Technology; and alums Larry Hagen (96), engineer; Chris Swailes(99), engineer; Katie Pepin (88), accounting manager; Brian Knowles (86), engineer; and DukePepin (87), engineering manager, all of Precision Edge.

engineering and engineering technologyprograms offered at LSSU.

Huizenga owns JR Automation inHolland, Mich. which designs and builds

manufacturing systems and speciaizes in ro-botics welding and assembly solutions. Thecompany has hired nine LSSU engineering

graduates over the past six years, includingits vice president for engineering.

Were grateful for Mr. Huizengas dona-tion and for others like him who take aninterest in helping students, Walworth said.

PRECISION EDGE SCHOLARSHIP

The University has entered into a major

scholarship agreement with a Sault Ste. Ma-rie, Mich.-based medical instrument manu-

facturer, Precision Edge Surgical ProductsCompany. The scholarship will cover a full

years tuition and fees at LSSU for one engi-neering student beginning fall 2007.

Precision Edge, a subsidiary of ColsonAssociates, makes orthopedic surgical toolsand medical instruments for clients all over

the world.Precision Edge has evolved a close

relationship with LSSU over the past tenyears. The company employs dozens of the

universitys students and graduates, mainlyfrom the mechanical engineering and manu-

facturing engineering technology elds.

Precision Edge also offers LSSU

students internship opportunities throughco-ops, where a student gets course creditwhile working on assorted design and man-

ufacturing projects. The company securesLSSU engineering expertise by sponsoring

student senior project teams.There are two reasons why Robert

Pritzker, President and CEO of Colson

Associates, and I think the scholarship isimportant, says David Pelizzon, managing

director of the Precision Edge operation.First, it shows our support to the Univer-

sity, which is a vital institution to the local

community. Secondly, we are concernedabout the decreasing number of engineering

students in the US. The scholarship sup-ports reversing that trend.

This scholarship is a great opportunityfor students in the School of Engineering

and Technology, says Walworth. It alsoshows the great commitment PrecisionEdge has to higher education, especially to

EUP students.

LAwRENCE ROy JACObSON

AND DOROTHy M. bELL

ENGINEERING SCHOLARSHIPThe Lawrence Roy Jacobson and Doro-

thy M. Bell Engineering Scholarship is the

Schools most recent gift. It will benet a

Sault High graduate who is currently en-

rolled full-time in an engineering program aLSSU with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Dorothy Bell bequeathed the endowed

scholarship to LSSU in memory of her son,Lawrence Roy. The Pickford native received

her certicate in Cosmetology from the

Marquette Beauty Academy in Marquette,

Mich. Dorothy owned and operated a

beauty shop in Sault Ste. Marie on SeymourAvenue for over 27 years.

Bells son, Lawrence, was a graduateof Sault Area High School. He received a

mechcanical engineering degree from Michigan Technological and Central Michigan

universities. Lawrence worked for the DowCorning Corporation for 25 years as anengineering specialist in the electromechani-

cal design group until his death at the ageof 47.

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Summer 007 | Engineering and Technology Newsletter

An effort to take the robotics

lab into school classrooms andnational competitions and con-ferences has earned recognition

for the team of Lake SuperiorState University engineering

students who were behind thedesign.

The group of six studentswas recognized this past yearat two competitions held at

professional conferences whenit presented Mobile Robotics

Workcell Using Robotics toLure Young Minds to Manufac-

turing Engineering.Under the direction of Prof.

Jim Devaprasad, the seniorproject team Automated Pro-motional Engineering Systesm

(APES) designed and built amobile robotics workcell that

showcases various automationtechnologies.

Given the national need

to encourage young minds toseek careers in math and science

elds, we hope to entice young

individuals to the exciting op-

portunities in engineering and

technology by demonstratingthis mobile robotic workcell,said Devaprasad. It has alreadybeen showcased many times at

LSSU in the summer engineer-ing camps and for visitors in the

engineering departments.The workcells robot demon-

strates two projects: automaticsolving of a user-scrambledRubiks cube, and the automated

assembly of an automotive dis-tributor. The unit can be taken

into classrooms and exhibi-tions to showcase engineering

and the manufacturing process.Devaprasad said it demonstratestechnologies such as automated

system control, machine vision,robotic tool change and manu-

facturing sensors, all of whichare taught to students enrolled

in the robotics and automationoption.

Team member Kate Kuusk-

man, mechanical engineering,from Sault, Ont., and Leith

Nader, also mechanical engi-neering, from Milford, Mich.

(now an applications engineerwith Kawasaki Robotics inWixom, Mich.), presented a pa-

per on the project that receivedhonorable mention at the Pan

American Federation of Engi-neering Societies Convention in

Atlanta, Ga., last fall. LSSU was

one of ve universities invited

to make presentations, along

with Cornell, Michigan Tech,U.S. Air Force Academy and

University of Puerto Rico.Fellow teammate and

alumnus Brad Bertels of Iron-wood, Mich. (now working for

RoboTek in Brighton, Mich.)presented the project at theAmerican Society of Mechani-

cal Engineers InternationalConference of Manufacturing

Science and Engineering in Yp-silanti, Mich. Again, LSSU was

one of only ve nalists invited

to participate and present a

TEAMWORK LSSU Engineering professors Morrie Walworth, far left, and Jim Devaprasad, far right, posewith members of the 2006 senior project team Automated Professional Engineering Systems (APES) who

designed and built a mobile robotic workcell. Left to right are: Kate Kuuskman, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.; John

Benjamin, Owosso, Mich.; Brad Bertels, Ironwood, Mich.; Leith Nader, Milford, Mich.; Greg Johnson, SaultSte. Marie, Mich.; and Ben Mitchell, Kalkaska, Mich.

technical paper. The

project took secondplace in the ASMEStudent Design

Competition behindUniversity of Florida

Gainesville, andahead of University

of Michigan AnnArbor, RensselaerPolytechnic Institute

and University ofNew Hampshire.

The remainderof the LSSU team

included John Ben-jamin of Owosso,

Mich., now workingas a robotics engi-neer for ABB Inc.,

in Auburn Hills,Mich.; Greg Johnson

of Sault Ste. Marie,Mich., currently amanufacturing engineer with

Hydro Automotive Structures inHolland, Mich.; and Ben Mitch-

ell of Kalkaska who is workingfor the Peace Corps. in Tansila,

Burkina Faso, Africa.

MOTOMAN ON AuTO PILOT The workcells

robot demonstrates two projects: automaticsolving of a user-scrambled Rubiks cube, and

the automated assembly of an automotive

distributor. The workcell makes use of a visionsystem to capture images of the objects.

Interested in sponsoring a

senior project? Contact the

School of Engineering &

Technolog at 906-635-2207

or engineering@lssu.edu

Senior project earns recognition at internationalprofessional conferences

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Lake Superior State University | Summer 007

Tom Waligoras creativity has

launched satellites into Earthorbit and may someday helphumans explore the Moon and

Mars. If that is not cool enough,the 2003 electrical engineering

graduate has even mingled withthe likes of Steven W. Hawking,

the famous physicist. However,Waligora knows when its time towipe the stars from his eyes and

return to a world that runs ondeadlines.

Right now I am working ona next-generation 5,800-pound

rover through NASAs R&Drobotics group, says Waligora.

The plan is to build threevehicles, the last of which mustbe ready for desert tests this

November at Meteor Crater,Arizona.

The prototype rover shakesout the technology required forremotely controlled or com-

pletely autonomous rovers that

will follow astronauts around on

walks around other worlds carry-ing gear and essential supplies.

The rst rover is approxi-

mately 90% complete and is a

simplied version that will be

used as a test bed for subsystemssuch as motor drivers and active

suspension, says Waligora. Thesecond rover is a more completevehicle for verifying that the

systems can work together.Its the latest in a series

of projects that Waligora hasthrown himself into since be-

ing hired two years ago by thespace systems division (OSS)

of Houston-based OceaneeringAdvanced Technologies.

His rst company project

was a microsatellite deploymentsystem for the Department of

Defenses Space Test Program,

designed to y in the Space Shut-tles cargo bay. It was successfully

tested during last Decembers

Shuttle Discovery ight to the

Space Station.

In a stunning display of

grace, uidity and agility, the

system deployed two satellitessimultaneously, says Waligora.My project responsibilities

ranged from proposal develop-

ment and schematic/circuit de-sign, to nal testing and product

delivery. Its very exciting to have

something that I helped designget launched into space aboardthe Shuttle.

Waligora was also recentlyinvolved in a more down-to-

Earth endeavor: the companysTerabot creation, a robotic

arm that clips onto a variety ofstationary or mobile platforms,depending on how it is going to

be used. Its dexterity is ideal forinvestigating and manipulating

explosives without endangeringan operator.

The system has ve degrees

of freedom, a 25-pound lift

capacity with a dust and waterseal, says Waligora. Its beenused by law enforcement and

military inspection vehicles, aswell as by astronauts as a training

tool during NASA Mars explora-

tion exercises in Arizona.However, these days Waligo-

ras pride and joy is his currentassignment, the big rover and its

milestone test this fall.Most of the people I am

working with have advanced

degrees from Purdue, MIT, andCarnegie, Waligora says. I feel

very fortunate that I was askedto join the team on this build.

Waligoras new teammatesformed the core group thatdeveloped Robonaut, a human-

oid robot that functions as avirtual EVA astronaut. A human

operators hands and eyes, evenhis sense of touch, networks

through Robonaut via a telepres-ence control system.

Waligora had a famous visitorto the Robonaut lab not longafter he joined the crew. Steven

W. Hawking came to check outRobonaut, and I helped set up

his demo, he beams.Visiting relativistic physicists,

plug-and-play robots, giant robo-

mules . . . all the stuff of dreams.I have the ultimate job for an

engineer, says Waligora.

FINAL MILESTONE CLEARED Space Shuttle Discovery clears smokeand steam as it heads into orbit on a Space Station assembly mission

last December. A satellite-deployment tool on board that LSSU electrica

engineering alum Tom Waligora 03 helped build will later work awlesslyduring the mission. (NASA)

Electrical engineering alumnus dream job involvesrobonauts and rovers

Every year, engineeringsummer programs are offeredfor boys and girls ages 12-18.This summer there were twoRobotics Camps, two Womenin Technology programs, anda Charter School engineeringcamp. Continental Automotiveand J.C. Huizenga were this

summers corporate sponsorsfor the programs, providingseveral scholarships fortalented students interestedin engineering careers. Ifyoud like to help sponsor acamp or a student contact JimDevaprasad at: jdevaprasad@lssu.edu for more information.

DELICATE TOuCH David Vander Zee of Grand Rapids, Mich., netunes a radio circuit in electronics lab during LSSUs annual robotics

camp. Gifted and talented teens showed up for one-week sessions

to work on projects ranging from materials testing to programming

an automated assembly line. A total of ve robotics camps with morethan 75 students took place this summer.

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Summer 007 | Engineering and Technology Newsletter

Team Memers:

Steve Gilbert (MfgET), Greg Robertson (CE), Manar Wadi (CE),and Daniel Wagner (ME)

Facult Advisor: Keith SchwidersonProject Sponsor: Lake Superior State University

Industrial Customer Contact: Jon Coullard

Team Memers:

Justin Darga (EE), Erik Fredericks (CE, co-op student), Jordan Grawbarger (ME),

Tim Hay (ME), and Andy VanSickle (EE)

Facult Advisor: Paul Duesing Project Sponsor: Continental Automotive Systems

Industrial Customer Contacts: Bob Andersen, Justin Zilke, and Dan DuPuis

Team CCPD implemented the necessary hardware and softwareinterfacing to incorporate a CNC controller into an existing plasma cutter.

The nal product is a fully-automated machine capable of cutting through

conductive material to create precise 2-dimensional shapes.

Team RCS designed and built two service

test stands for Continental AutomotiveSystems (CAS). The stands will be usedto calibrate and troubleshoot the Sprint

3 Programmable Steering Machine,manufactured by Heitz Automotive, which

CAS uses in applications related to vehiclesafety systems.

2006-2007 SENIOR PROJECTS

RObOTIC CAlIbRATION SySTEmSRObOTIC CAlIbRATION SySTEmS

COmPuTER

CONTROllEDPlASmA DESIGNS

COmPuTER

CONTROllEDPlASmA DESIGNS

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Lake Superior State University | Summer 007

Team Memers:Chance Jacoby (MfgET), Amber Kardes (EE/ME), Michael Lane (EngMgmt),

Matthew Rajala (CE), and Tyler Skowronek (ME)

Facult Advisor: Jon Coullard

Project Sponsor:Algoma Steel Industrial Customer Contact: Rani Lottey

Team USR designed and manufactured circuit

boards to enhance Delphis steering columntesting procedure. The design is used to routesignals between the steering column and Delphis

testing machine to ensure safety and reliability.A computer program will allow for Delphis

engineers to route test signals via software to thecorrect location on the steering column.

2006-2007 SENIOR PROJECTS

Team STS designed and built a beam-testing machine for Algoma Steel of Sault

Ste. Marie, Ont. to collect data on thecapabilities of semi-trailer cross memberbeams. The machine will measure the

effects of various vertical, torsional andcyclical loads that are applied to the cross

member beams.

Team Memers:

Natalie Buffone (EE), Victor Grzeda (CE), Dale Minkler (EE),Jonathan Nolff (EE), Justin Shaulis (CE), and Adam Staber

(EE ,co-op student)

Facult Advisor: David Baumann

Project Sponsor: Delphi Steering SystemsIndustrial Customer Contact:Tim Bennett

SPECIAlIZED TESTING SySTEmSSPECIAlIZED TESTING SySTEmS

uNIVERSAlSIGNAl ROuTING

uNIVERSAlSIGNAl ROuTING

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Summer 007 | Engineering and Technology Newsletter 7

Seven students, two fac-ulty advisors, the industrial

customer and the mechani-cal engineering lab engineer

prepared the Baja vehicle forthe trip to Rochester, NY. The

Midwest Regional Competitionhosted by Rochester Instituteof Technology was held June

7-10.Vehicles were judged in static and

dynamic events. In the static design category

which included a report and evaluation,

Laker Racing ranked 51 of 138.

The next category was the Dynamic

Events consisting of Speed - acceleration,

Traction - hill climb or pulling, Maneuver-

ability, Specialty - suspension and traction,and Durability which was a 4-hour endur-

ance run. Laker Racing completed 39 laps

and nished in 57th place.

The team was pleased with its rst entry

in the SAE Mini Baja Competition nishing

every event and returning home with the

vehicle still in one piece. Laker Racings nal

overall ranking was 76 of 138 with a total of

542.41 points of a possible 1000 and they

received a trophy for the heaviest vehicle.

ON SITE IN ROCHESTER: Team Laker Racing

on site in Rochester: Pictured from left, back rowChris Valinski, Tom MacMillan, Cliff Chip Cook

front row: Matt Slaght, Price McAllister and Jim

Dilworth. Not pictured: Jon Paul LaFave.

LAKER RACINg 2007: Teams Superior Drivetrain Solutions

(STS) and Twisted Off Road Chassis (TORC) combined to createLaker Racing. Shown above in the group photo from left to right,back (standing): Matt Slaght, Tom MacMillan, Chris Valinski, CliffChip Cook, Jim Dilworth, Chris Winkler and Derek DeRossett;front row (seated): Jon Paul JP LaFave, Jeremy Jensen, PriceMcAllister, Andrew Kissick and Orlan Euale.

The Society of Automo-

tive Engineers (SAE) Mini-Baja

Competition has been a long-

standing collegiate contest that

challenges the skills of bothgraduate and undergraduate

students.

LSSUs School of Engineer-

ing and Technology, in conjunc-

tion with the local SAE student

chapter, assembled design teams

to prepare for the summer 2007

event under the umbrella of

Laker Racing.

The project was broken into

two main tasks: drivetrain and

chassis. Superior Drivetrain

Solutions (SDS) handled the

drivetrain responsibilities while

its sister team, Twisted Off

Road Chassis (TORC), was

responsible for the chassis. To

2006-2007 SENIOR PROJECTS

Twisted Off-Road Chassis and

Sperior Drivetrain Sotionsensure durability of the vehicle,

all analyses were based on de-

manding off-road conditions.

Employees of Continental

Automotives Brimley locationserved as adjunct faculty for

courses in Vehicle Dynamics

and Vehicle Development and

Testing. The adjuncts were Steve

Bryan and LSSU alums Ryan

Greene and Sven Heikkinen.

Through Svens efforts, the

team was able to get in some

intense testing at the Brimley

locations off-road trail.

During the nal stage of

prepping the vehicle and trailer

for competition departure, SvenHeikkinen, unexpectedly passed

away. A decal dedicating the

vehicle in Svens memory was

added to the drivers backboard.

READY TO ROLL: Price McAllister took the

drivers seat at the Baja. A decal featuring Svenon his Laker snowmobile #906 was placed on

the vehicle (yellow sticker), and a dedicated wrap

with Sven 906 was on the front left post.

Facult Advisors:Robert Hildebrand and Wael Mokhtar

Project Sponsor:

Lake Superior State University

Industrial Customer Contacts:

Paul Duesing & Ray Adams

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SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

LAKE SUPERIOR STATE UNIVERSITY

650 W. EASTERDAY AVE.SAULT STE. MARIE, MI 49783

USA

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