Introduction

The goal of this project is not only to win the race, but to do it by modifying an autonomous car using all the knowledge we have accrued in our time at MSU. There are 5 teams that are each modifying the autonomous car used in Electrical Engineering 101 and will be competing against each other at the end of this class. The way we go about doing this has been left mostly up to us. We have been given the kit and the manual for the car that is currently in use and have a budget of $125 plus $125 we can spend out of pocket to make this car as fast and as smart as possible. The high level goal of this project is to have an autonomous car that can follow a winding black line across a race track and will be able to accelerate when it detects a straight line, slow down when it detects a curved line, stop when it detects a horizontal line, and search for the line if it runs off the track.

Motivation

Not only is this project a perfect chance to compete against our peers, but it gives us a great opportunity to show what we have learned in the Electrical and Computer Engineering curriculums. This project involves in-depth calculations regarding power systems, motor control, sensor implementation, and software control that allow us to know what our system is going to do without ever putting it together. This project is a great example of what professional engineering design can be.

 Advisor Information

Prof. Wataru Nakagawa | College of Engineering

Dr. Nakagawa holds a B.S. degree in Physics and a B.A. degree in Urban Studies, both from Stanford University. His M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering were earned at the University of California, San Diego, where he studied with Prof. Yeshaiahu Fainman.

Dr. Nakagawa teaches a variety of courses in the optics, electromagnetics, and electronics fields. His research group focuses on the design, fabrication, characterizations and applications of novel optical devices based on micro- and nano-structures in silicon and other materials.

Office: 529 Cobleigh Hall
Tel: (406) 994-5956
Email: Wataru.Nakagawa@ece.montana.edu 

Prof. Hongwei Gao | College of Engineering

Dr. Gao joined the Montana State ECE faculty in August of 2002. He received his Ph.D. from Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, in December of 2001. Gao' research and teaching interests are in the area of electric machines, advanced motor drives, power electronics, electric and hybrid electric vehicles, and renewable source power systems. 

Prior to coming to MSU, Dr. Gao worked as an research associate in Electrical Engineering Department at Texas A&M University from January 2002 to July 2002. He also has five years industry experience in design of soft-switched power supplies and power factor correction circuits. 

Dr. Gao received his MS and BS from Tshinghua University, Beijing, China in 1993 and 1990, respectively. He has published numerous papers in the area of motor temperature estimatioin, sensorless motor drives, electric and hybrid electric vehicles, and power converters for fuel cell power systems. Dr. Gao is a senior member of IEEE and a member of IEEE Industry Applications Society, IEEE Power Electronics Society, and IEEE Industrial Electronics Society.

Office: 610 Cobleigh Hall

Tel: (406) 994-5973
Email: Hongwei.Gao@ece.montana.edu