Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics(STEM) are simple when there is enough interest and understanding on the subject matter.   To emphasize this key message which is an eminent noble task, Charles Lord will talk about and walkthrough effective methods of using LEGO mindstorms robots for STEM motivational education in every level of academic institutions.  Rodney Radford will be helping on the demonstration part of the talk.  It is interesting to note, Lego Mindstom Nxt has opensource components abstracting a simple but efficient embedded systems - providing easy to use SDK(Software Development Kit), HDK(Hardware Development Kit) and BDK(Bluetooth Development kit) along with multiple programming languages including C, Python, Matlab, Ada, Lua & graphical NXT-G. Dr. Paul MacDougal will present about Jetbot robot using NVIDIA Jetson Nano.  NVIDIA Jetson Nano is an affordable System On Modue(SOM) with CPU, GPU, Power Management IC, DRAM & Flash - a Maxwell architecture with 128 NVIDIA CUDA cores for performance and power efficiency to run autonomous machines, faster with less power. It is interesting to note, Jetbot has a Robot Operating System(ROS) port along with a model for Gazebo Robotics Simulator. https://github.com/NVIDIA-AI-IOT/jetbot/wiki Speaker Information: Charles Lord PE is the Chair of Western North Carolina section, a veteran serving for the technology community through IEEE holding multiple positions in past few decades. Charles has also led several IEEE SouthEastCon conferences and the General Co-Chair of IEEE SouthEastCon 2020.  Rodney Radford is an expert senior embedded software developer and maker, Chair of IEEE NC Council and past IEEE RA24 chair.  Rodney also leads the Student and hardware competition programs in IEEE SouthEastcon 2020. Dr. Paul MacDougal is a Design Engineer in the architecture team of NVIDIA designing and profiling advanced graphics architectures.  Paul holds a PhD in computer science from Ohio state university. Parking Information: Plenty of free parking available at following locations adjacent to EB1 Building. 911 Partners Way, Raleigh NC 27606 (EB1 entry) 890 Oval Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606   (EB2 entry) 1070 Partners Way, Raleigh, NC 27606 (Hunts library 0.2m away) Agenda: 6:30-7:00pm Networking with pizza and soda The times below are approximate and are given just as a guideline: 7:00-7:10pm News and Announcements 7:10-7:40pm  Use of LEGO Mindstorm Robots for STEM Education by Charles Lord PE & Rodney Radford, IEEE  7:40-8:10pm Jetbot Robot Using NVIDIA Jetson Nano by Dr. Paul MacDougal 8:10-8:30pm Show & tell by interested hobbyists Location: Room: 1005 Bldg: Engineering Building 1 (EB1) 911 Partners Way Raleigh, North Carolina 27606

Project Management for Continuous Innovation – Management by Project Mapping by Dr. Kern Peng. Abstract: No single project management method is suitable all projects and if innovation is a desired outcome, we cannot require every project to be successful. Mainstream project management including Traditional Project Management and Agile Project Management overwhelmingly focuses on techniques and processes for planning and controlling. These create a framework to confine project team members to operate within a set of processes and measurements. However, most projects require project team members to be innovative and creative. It is difficult to ask engineers to think outside of the box while using a "box" style system to manage projects. In addition, much of the focus of that type of system is to achieve a success result in every project. Such emphasis discourages risk taking because employees may not want to initiate projects unless they feel the chance of success is high. Inhibited risk taking constrains learning opportunities and innovation. This webinar introduces a new approach called "Management by Project Mapping" (MBPM). Strategically, it utilizes projects to transform a company's organizational system, culture, and capability, creating a foundation upon which to achieve long-term sustainable innovation. It categorizes projects first then applies different management approaches to different types of projects. Tactically, it redefines project management with emphasize on employee initiative and participation. It introduces many practices that utilize the cultural approach to drive performance rather than use management control. Overall, this model enables employees to be innovative not only on the results of the projects but also on how the projects are conducting.  Speaker(s): Dr Kern Peng, Agenda: 12:00   Gathering with some refreshments 12:45   Introduction of TEMS (Technology and Engineering Management chapter)             Discussion of future meetings, propose topics 1:00PM Dr Kern Peng's resentation 2:00 PM Questions and discussion Location: Bldg: Building on left The Forge Initiative 3300 Green Level West Cary, North Carolina 27519

Power flow control techniques have been practiced, from using inductors, capacitors, transformers and load tap changers in the earlier days of electrical engineering to power electronics-based solutions in recent years. Even though the costs and complexities of the available solutions vary widely, the basic underlying theory of power flow control is still the same as it always has been. The question is which solution one should employ. The answer depends on knowing what the true need is. The power industry’s pressing need for the most economical ways to transfer bulk power along a desired path may be met by building new transmission lines, which is a long and costly process. Alternately, it may be quicker and cheaper to utilize the existing transmission lines more efficiently. The key is to identify the underutilized transmission lines and harness their dormant capacity to increase the power flows to the lines’ thermal limits.   Since the commissioning of the first commercial power electronics-based Flexible Alternating Current Transmission Systems (FACTS) controller two decades ago, a great deal has been learned about the true needs of a utility for its everyday use and they are high reliability, high efficiency, low installation and operating costs, component non-obsolescence, fast enough response for utility applications, high power density, interoperability, and easy relocation to adapt to changing power system’s needs while providing the optimal power flow control capability. This was the motivation to develop a SMART Power Flow Controller (SPFC) that enhances the controllability in an electric power transmission system by using functional requirements and cost-effective solutions.   The presentation is designed to provide the basic principles of power flow control theory, an overview of the most commonly used power flow controllers, and future trends. The presentation will be of particular interest to all utility power engineering professionals. The required background is an equivalent of an Electrical Engineering degree with familiarity in power engineering terminology. In this lecture the audience will hear from Dr. Kalyan Sen who is an expert in this field and has actually designed and commissioned a number of power electronics-based FACTS controllers since its inception in the 1990s. Speaker(s): Dr. Kalyan Sen, Agenda: 2:30 - 3.00PM Networking  3:00 - 4.00PM Lecture 4.00 - 4:30PM Q&A Location: Room: 1226 Bldg: EB2 890 Oval Dr. Raleigh, North Carolina 27606

"Capacitive Touch Design for Commodity Applications: Replace That Old Mechanical Switch!"  Topics to be covered include: 1.  Design related topics such as: how such a device operates, and the components that make up a capacitive touch system.  2.  User feedback, highlighting how simple things like driving multiple LEDs off of an unregulated supply, or leaving LED traces floating could negative effect system performance.  3.  System level testing to pass IEC 61000 series testing. Problems related to obtaining the coveted CE mark are centered on conducted susceptibility, or how the sensor interface reacts when introducing noise to the system. 4.  A Design checklist. Speaker(s): Chris Semanson, Agenda: Food and networking at 5:30, general chapter business at 6, talk beginning around 6:30, followed by discussion. Location: Bldg: UL University 12 Laboratory Drive Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709

We are excited to have Dr. Helen Li from Florida State University to give us a technical lecture on modulation and control strategies for DC/DC converter in MVDC systems. Presentation Title: Modulation, Control and Fault Protection of Current-fed Modular Bidirectional DC-DC Converter for Shipboard MVDC System Abstract: Current-fed bidirectional dc-dc converters have gained increasing popularity in a shipboard MVDC system due to their superior current control and fault performance.  This presentation will introduce different modulation methods of current-fed modular bidirectional converters applied in a shipboard MVDC system. The corresponding dynamic models as well as control system development for each modulation method will be presented and compared. Finally, the fault ride through operation of this type of converter will be also introduced.   Speaker(s): Dr. Helen Li, Agenda: 6:00 - 6:30 PM  Food and networking 6:30 - 7:30 PM  Lecture 7:30 - 8:00 PM  Q&A Location: Room: 1005 Bldg: EB1 911 Partners Way Raleigh, North Carolina 27606