Project: Twipolitico

Twipolitico

Twipolitico is a web-based application working to capture Twitter’s feelings towards the two, 2012 Presidental Candidate nominess, Barack Obama (Democrat) and Mitt Romney (Republican). Using the data we collect from Twitter and our own ranking algorithm, we look to get our own twist on the candidate’s “approval score”. We are using real-time sentiment analysis and influence analysis to calculate the scores. You can visit us at www.twipolitico.com.

 Chris Nixon: Chris is attending the University of Cincinnati majoring in Computer Engineering with minors in Computer Science and Mathematics. His main fields of interest are data mining, machine learning, algorithms and computer programming. Has been doing web development for the past two years and loves Ruby on Rails! Will be working at Tapjoy, a San Francisco mobile gaming company, upon graduation.

Jorge Moscat: Jorge is attending the University of Cincinnati majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics. His main fields of interest are data mining, artificial intelligence, algorithms, machine learning, and computer programming. Hails from the beautiful country of Spain and is an all around programming beast. Will be working at Deloitte in Madrid Spain upon graduation.

Yemi Oyediran: Yemi is attending the University of Cincinnati getting a BS and Masters in Computer Science. His main fields of interest are algorithms, complexity (algorithms), graphs, data mining, and computer programming. He is a full time Dad, the head of ACM at UC, is a full time developer and a drummer extraordinaire. 

Swimming Fitness Counter

The swimming fitness counter is a pedometer device for swimmers, counting the number of laps and distance swam. Unlike regular pedometers, the device uses an accelerometer and algorithms to overcome a variety of constraints such as the need for a completely waterproof design and the need to adapt to complex motions involved in swimming.

 Jim Chen is a fifth year electrical engineering major at UC, having co-oped at The Modal Shop, based in Cincinnati, and at Mozilla, based in Mountain View, California. After graduation, Jim will continue to work on a masters degree in electrical engineering at UC. 

 Project: UCpp

UCpp

UCpp is a submission system that will be used for introductory computer science classes. Its main purpose is to allow a singe professor to easily manage a class of 200 students. Students will submit their code to the system, which will then be automatically compiled and ran against inputs/outputs predetermined by the professor. The results are then recorded for professors to review. This system will save hours of time wasted compiling and running code..

 Rachna is a fifth year computer engineering student at the University of Cincinnati. She is graduating in June 2012 and will be going to Purdue graduate school in August. She is currently working at Duke Energy in downtown Cincinnati as an application developer. In her spare time, she is an active participant in many organizations such as: Tau Beta Pi, Eta Kappa Nu, Golden Key, Alpha Lambda Delta, UC Tennis Club, and UC Bridge Club. Outside of school related activities, she plays bridge with her father. She is nationally ranked in bridge as she has been invited to national bridge tournaments with her dad several times. Overall, she is a computer engineer with many different interests.

Josh is a fifth year Computer Engineer at UC. After graduation, he is going to attend Purdue University to pursue his Master’s degree in computer science. He is currently working for Xetron in northern Cincinnati as a software engineer. He is involved in organizations such as Eta Kappa Nu, Tau Beta Pi, and UC Bridge Club. In his non-academic spare time, he likes to involve himself in personal projects such as building a UC Coffee table out of coke bottle caps and a Van der Graaf generator.

 Project: Discrete Programmable Logic Controller

Students: Eric Schwieterman (EET) and Nathan Petts (EET)

Advisor: Dr. Frank  Zhou

Discrete Programmable Logic Controller (DPLC)

This project was developed in conjunction with the Division of Neurology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in support of a National Institute of Health (NIH) R01- ADHD grant to study ADHD disorder and its effects on motor control in the pediatric population.  Trans-Cranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) effects and stimulus are the main focus of the grant.  Using these methods, researchers have optimized a TMS measure called SICI (short interval cortical inhibition) as a meaningful biomarker of behavior and motor system development in ADHD children.  Timing and system integration are critical components of TMS research. 

This starts with a clinician scientist configuring a trial by specifying the timing between the TMS and specific Audio/Visual stimulus.  A specialized Windows program – Presentation presents visual stimulus coupled with audio stimulus in a randomized order over a PC.  The subject watches video and listens to audio in individual slides segments and physically responds through a game controller with a button press if there is not an audible tone present.  A TMS pulse is administered non-invasively to the scalp of the patient at specific times throughout the session slides.

The problem being addressed is to accurately interface the Presentation with the bio data acquisition system – CAE Signal, and two TMS systems – Magstims, concurrently.  In operation, the ability to administer random defined pulsing, random/null pulsing, and dual mode pulsing, all in a paired configuration is lacking as Presentation can only provide a single clock edge output.  The ongoing direction of TMS research demands this capability to continue its progress.

The developed solution is a precision clinical timing interface with one input, and up to three discrete outputs with edge configurable pulsing in a professional, usable package.  In use, the device manages the CAE Signal sweep input, all single and paired pulse TMS triggering, and clock edge output within the system after receiving a start pulse from Presentation.  This device enables programmable output configurations through a Windows management application and USB interface, making the setup of the system for different parameters and stimuli much more efficient and capable. Without the device’s randomized event timing, selectable output triggering, and input/output clock edge configurability, the present TMS studies would not be possible in the current capacity. 

Project: Inventory Receiving Project

Students: Maria Suarez (CET), Steve Newland (EET) and Jamie Rupe (EET)

Advisor: Dr. Max Rabiee

 Inventory Receiving Project

In today’s competitive business environment, automating and computerizing essential business functions help to reduce costs.  Businesses today continually are seeking to improve efficiency, accuracy and speed by implementing computerized solutions tailored to their specific needs. 

 Through one of our team members, we learned of the needs of Distribuidora Ramos Arvelo (Distrasa), a growing distribution company located in the east region of Venezuela.  With a shared interest to devote our senior design project to the areas of Database and PLC controls, a business case was generated to design and recommend a cost effective computerized MS Access Database/PLC inventory tracking and distribution solution to the company.

 Jameson Rupe was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and graduated from Anderson High School in 2004.  His interest in electrical engineering grew out of repairing and modifying guitars, amplifiers, vehicles and computers.  While in the University of Cincinnati EET program, Jameson interned at Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing in Erlanger, Kentucky where he held various responsibilities involving new vehicles as well as an assignment with Toyota’s Partner Robot Division.  Jameson also interned with Duke Energy, performing electrical design work for local power plants.  He looks forward to his new position with Duke Energy at their Belews Creek power station in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Maria Suarez

Born in Venezuela, Maria came to the United States in 2007 as an exchange student. She decided to go to the University of Cincinnati to study Computer Engineering Technology.  As a student at the University of Cincinnati she developed technical and interpersonal skills. She participated in student organizations such as Latinos en Accion and the Society of Women Engineers. For almost two years she was an intern at Chiquita Brands International and because of her professional performance she obtained an Outstanding Senior Award in the University’s cooperative education program. Her interests include but are not limited to the development of new technology in the data service and automation fields. Maria’s ultimate goal is to obtain a full-time job in an international company in which she can demonstrate her technical skills and grow as a professional.

Steve Newland was born in Cincinnati, Ohio.  After achieving an Associate of Applied Business programming degree in 1998 from Cincinnati State Technical and Community College with honors, he worked as a mainframe programmer for Mercantile and Systems Analyst for Convergys working off-site with CBT supporting their Exchange Carrier billing system.   With an interest and opportunity to study electrical engineering, he entered the Electrical Engineering B.S.E.E.T. program at The University of Cincinnati in 2007.  While in the cooperative education program, Steve worked at KLH Engineering where he served as the student KLH representative on several jobs with clients and while at L-3 Fuzing & Ordnance, enjoyed the challenges of making contributions to several national defense projects.

This coming June 2012, he is anticipating his B.S.E.E.T. degree from the University of Cincinnati.  With a background in programming and studying electrical engineering, Steve has considerable interest in a number of career potentials including controls and controls programming. Outside of his studies, Steve enjoys acting in plays, staying fit and spending time with family.