Call For Judges for the Alabama Regional Future City Competition!

The Alabama Regional Future City Competition (ARFCC) will be held on Saturday, January 18th 2014 at the Shelby Center on the campus of UAH in Huntsville, Alabama.  The ARFCC Planning Committee is requesting judges for this event.

Competition Date:

Saturday, January 18th, 2014!!!

7:30am – 5:00pm

University of Alabama in Huntsville

Shelby Center

Call for Judges, Mentors & Volunteers for the 2014 Future City Competition – National Engineers Week, in conjunction with the IEEE Huntsville Section, sponsors the Future City Competition nationwide for 6th – 8th graders to foster interest in math, science and engineering through hands-on, real world applications.  This 5 month competition, in which the students design and build models of future urban centers, encourages students to learn about engineering in a challenging and interesting way.  The students use SimCity Software to design a computer model of their futuristic city.  This competition has grown to 38 regions in across the nation.

There are opportunities for judges, engineering mentors to local teams, and volunteers for the Alabama Regional Future City Competition.  If you are interested in in becoming a Judge (see below), Engineering Mentor, or a Competition Day Volunteer, please email Sonya Dillard at sonya.dillard@nasa.gov

Judging Opportunities (select one category and your 2nd choice):

Email sonya.dillard@nasa.gov with your judging preference.

*     Software Judges (8 needed) – virtual online judging using SimCity Software from Nov. 20th – Dec. 31st

*     Essay Judge (8 needed) – virtual online judging from December 20th – January 10th

*     Model Judge (8 needed) – Competition Day, must be present from 7:30am – 12:30pm

*     Presentation Judges (8 needed) – Competition Day, must be present from 7:30am – 4:00pm

A Tentative schedule of events is below, so that you may plan accordingly.

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Tentative Schedule of Events:

7:30 – 8:00 AM            Team Check-In & Judges Instructions

8:00 – 8:30AM             Welcome & Competition Announcements

8:30 AM – 12:30PM       Preliminary Round Judging:

Model, Presentation and Special Awards

12:30 – 1:30PM            Lunch & Judges Collaboration

1:30PM                        Announcement of Top 6 Finalists

2:00 – 3:00PM              Final Round of Judging (Presentations)

3:00 – 4:15PM              Group Activity & Judges Collaboration

4:15 – 5:00PM              Awards Ceremony

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For more information about the National Engineer’s Week Future City Competition, please go to:  www.futurecity.org

IEEE Huntsville Section Tour – GE Intelligent Systems (Oct. 24th, 2013)

This will be a joint meeting with the Technology Management Council (TMC).  All societies and members are welcomed to join us as we visit different businesses in the area, to learn more about their latest technologies.

This Tour is open to U.S. Citizens only, and limited to the first 20 people to register. You do not have to be an IEEE member to attend.  We will be visiting the manufacturing area, test chambers, and some future expansion areas.

Date:  Thursday, October 24th 2013

 

Time: 11:15am – 12:30pm

 

Location:  GE Intelligent Systems
Building: # 4
12090 S Memorial Parkway
Huntsville,  Alabama
United States 35803

  


Go online to Register by 10/23/2013 (or until space is filled).

Meeting Agenda:

11:15am – 11:25am (Meet in the lobby area to sign in)

11:30am – 12:30pm (Tour Facility & Q/A)

(*NOTE*)

First/Last Name, and U.S. Citizenship, email and physical address need to be turned in the tour guide. Please fill in this information on your registration. You do not have to be an IEEE member to attend.

Please, no opened-toed shoes allowed on this tour!

Please, be careful around construction areas!

Directions: On Memorial Parkway, go South just past Hobbs Road (turn right).

This will be between buildings 2 and 1. Take the first left on property, and go straight and park near Building 4. If you have difficulty finding the building, contact Sonya Dillard’s cell phone at 256-665-4433.

IEEE JRACS Upcoming Event: Arduino Robotics Workshops

Dear IEEE Members,

This is an announcement for an IEEE JRACS Chapter Event.

Event:         IEEE JRACS Arduino Robotics Workshop
Date/Time:   November 14, 2013 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Registration: Starts October 28, 2013 – Limited to 20 participants.
Priority registration, for IEEE Members only, will be open until Oct 31.
Registration Link: https://meetings.vtools.ieee.org/meeting_view/list_meeting/21589

Registration Costs & Schedule:
$20 for IEEE JRACS Members, starts Oct 28,
IEEE non-JRACS members can join RAS for additional $9 @ieee.org
$10 for IEEE Students & Graduate Students Members, starts Oct 30
$40 for Other IEEE Members (if not wanting to save $11 by joining RAS instead), starts Nov 1
$50 for Non-IEEE participants, starts Nov 1

 

Location:
Dynetics, Inc.,
Solutions Complex, Main Conference Room
1004 Explorer Blvd., Huntsville AL

The IEEE Arduino Robotics Workshops aim to train chapter members and the community at large in the use of open-source low-cost robotic platforms. We are planning to deliver basic and advanced Arduino-Based Robotics Workshops to introduce novice and experienced users to low-cost commercial-of-the-shelf (COTS) robotic modules to foster wide-spread development of robotics applications. The format of this event will be a hands-on experience and not a classroom/lecture type event. During the workshop, every team of two participants will be able to use one of our IEEE JRACS Arduino Robotics Kits (featuring over 30 different sensors/actuators and powered by an Arduino Mega ADK board). Participants should bring a laptop computer for code development and download. Required software (Arduino 1.0.5) is available here, and must be pre-installed if possible. Language reference is available here.

 

The IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS) provided a $2000.00 grant to purchase the hardware kits used in these workshops. These kits will remain with the IEEE JRACS chapter for use in future basic and advanced robotics workshops. Registration fees cover the cost of consumables and printed materials.


IEEE JRACS Arduino Robotics Workshop Kit

 

Given that the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society provided financial support for purchasing all hardware to be used in this workshop, priority registration will be given to IEEE JRACS members. IEEE members that are not JRACS members can join the Robotics and Automation Society for only $9 to receive a significant discount in the registration fee. After about a week of priority registration for IEEE members, event registration will be opened to the public.

These are open events, so please feel free to forward this information to your colleagues or anyone that could be interested in the topic.

Workshop Agenda:

4:30pm Networking & Registration
5:00pm Workshop Session 1 (Modules 1 & 2)
6:45pm Break
7:00pm Workshop Session 2 (Modules 3 & 4)
8:30pm Robotic Demos
9:00pm Adjourn

Best,

IEEE Huntsville, Joint Robotics & Automation – Controls Systems (JRACS) Chapter



Workshop Details

For curriculum preparation, we are planning to rely heavily in already well developed Arduino training resources including but not limited to:

  1. http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/HomePage (Arduino Homepage)
  2. http://tronixstuff.com/tutorials/ (50 Tutorials)
  3. http://www.ladyada.net/learn/arduino/
  4. http://communityofrobots.com/tutorial/kawal/how-make-your-first-robot-using-arduino

The workshops will deliver 4 training modules for basic and advanced levels. The workshop hardware is comprised of 10 Custom IEEE JRACS Arduino Robotics Workshop Kit that will provide a physical platform for members to learn how to use software and hardware functionality readily available today and in this way foster their interest in robotics applications in all areas. Each workshop will be 4 hours long and will enable the participant to have hands on robotics applications by using a variety of sensors and actuators in combination with Arduino based micro-controllers.

The outline of the Basic Level Workshop is as follows:

Module 1

  1. Introduction to Arduino
  2. Setting up your system
  3. Basic digital input/outputs

Module 2

  1. Serial Communications
  2. Pulse-width modulation
  3. Reading analogue inputs

Module 3

  1. Using LCD screens
  2. Controlling relays
  3. Infra-red remote control

Module 4

  1. Controlling servo motors
  2. Using I2C protocol
  3. Using temperature, magnetic, vibration and tilt sensors

To be added or removed from the IEEE Huntsville Section email list, just send an email to L.G.Barajas@ieee.org with ADDor REMOVE as the subject line.

IEEE Day is October 1st 2013!

On October 1st, IEEE members from all over the world will celebrate what motivates and excites them about IEEE!  IEEE is the platform for ideas to thrive, for like-minded people to connect, help shape the world, and leave it BETTER than they found it.

If you create and tinker with technical equipment, navigate the seas of professional development, invest your time on humanitarian actions; then you have the IEEE Day Spirit!

Wherever you are, join us in this celebration and create what you think will benefit human-kind.  You can learn a technical subject and teach it to other people. You can organize a gathering between students and professionals of your industry.  Or you can help a school or institution that would benefit from your knowledge, expertiese and motivation. 

Whatever you choose to do, keep 3 things in mind….

Check our Website at: IEEE.org

Check our Facebook page at: IEEEDay

Share what you are planning on doing with everyone and do it with enthusiasm!

Also remember, you’re not alone.  The rest of the world will be celebrating with you.  🙂

Don’t forget to submit your pictures for our photo contest and grab the opportunity to win up to $750, just for showing how AWESOME your activities were.  Let’s start moving the world forward.  Join IEEE Day and help us leverage technology for a better tomorrow!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHJydSz-lCs&feature=youtu.be

Watch this video and share it with others!

IEEE Huntsville Section Tours – Straight To Ale Brewery!!! Sept. 27th, 2013

IEEE Huntsville Section

“Section Tours”

All societies and members are welcomed to join us as we visit different businesses in the area, to learn more about their latest technologies.

Straight To Ale – Brewery Tour

3200 Leeman Ferry Road

Huntsville, AL 35801

Friday, September 27th, 2013

6:30pm – 8:30pm

Agenda:

6:30 pm – 6:45pm (Meet & Greet)

6:45pm – 7:30pm (Brewery Tour)

7:30pm – 8:30pm (Food, Beverages & Ale available for purchase – Social Hour)

Yes, this Section Tour is a little bit unconventional….   We are just about to celebrate our 60th Year Anniversary for the IEEE Huntsville Section, so we need to do something FUN to kick off this celebration.  The Section Tour will be limited to the first 100 guests to respond.  You do not have to be an IEEE member to attend, so bring a friend.  The more, the merrier!

Please click here by 9/24/13 to REGISTER: https://meetings.vtools.ieee.org/meeting_view/list_meeting/20407

We look forward to seeing you there!  🙂

About Straight To Ale:

Your friendly tour guide Rich will give you a guided tour of the brewery, followed by some beer samples in our tasting room.  After the Tour, Earth and Stone Wood Fired Pizza vendor will be there for you to purchase food/beverages.  Stay awhile for social hour and hang out in the taproom or brewery proper, enjoying a beer, playing pinball or arcade games or mingling with friends.  The facility closes at 10pm, so you can hang out until then,

The Tap Room is open seven days per week from 3 PM until 10 PM. Enter through the side door. We currently offer tastings out of 10 taps. Snacks are available.

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Upcoming Section Tours/Dates:

Thursday, Oct. 24th, 2013 – GE Intelligent Platforms, 11:30am – 12:30pm (No Lunch)

Thursday, Nov. 21st, 2013 – Q-Track, 11:00 – 12:45pm (Pizza Lunch Provided)

Thursday, Dec. 19th, 2013 – Benchmark Electronics, 11:00 – 12:45pm (Cafeteria Lunch)

Thursday, January 23rd, 2014 – TBE Engineering, 11:00 – 12:45pm (TBD)

Thursday, February 20th, 2014 – Engineer’s Week Banquet, 6:00pm (TBD)