Higher Education Course Development Programs

The NC Space Grant Higher Education Course Development Programs are designed to enhance the organization's capability to expand access to higher education programs that are based upon NASA's priorities. The primary focus of this program is the development of interdisciplinary and distance learning courses.

A Service-Learning Course Utilizing Mobile Robots PI: Dr. Jeffrey Forbes, Duke University

Since September 2004, undergraduate students from Duke University have mentored middle and high school students from Durham Public Schools as part of a project-oriented, team-based academic enrichment program centered around mobile robotics. A key aspect of the program is a sustained mentoring relationship between an undergraduate mentor and a group of 2-4 middle or high school students. The proposed new course, Teaching with Robots, will include both the technical material for an advanced undergraduate mobile robotics course and the pedagogical concepts that enable a mentor to use that knowledge to inspire younger students. Students in the course will design and implement algorithms for robot navigation under uncertainty. After taking this course, students should be able to reason about the core algorithms and challenges present in the field of autonomous mobile robotics; and effectively convey and formulate mobile robotics curricula for middle or high school students.

Development of Bio-inspired Robotics Program for Space Systems Senior Design Curriculum PI: Dr. Andre Mazzoleni, NC State University

Development of Afterglow: Strengthening and Expanding Skynet-Based Introductory Astronomy Laboratory Curriculum PI: Dr. Daniel Reichart, UNC - Chapel Hill

Implementing Biologically-Inspired Morphing Flight Senior Design Course PI: Dr. F.G. Yuan, NC State University

The aim of this proposal is to seek support for strengthening experimental facilities of a senior design class, Biologically Inspired Morphing Flight. The experimental part will include smart sensors, advanced machining, and system hardware/software. With the help of these experiments the course would greatly benefit by integrating the various fields, complementing the scientific tools with hands-on experience, thereby allowing the students to get a complete picture of the subject. The ultimate goal will be to design and build small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The course demands creative integration of traditionally disparate disciplines such as aerodynamics; controls; structural topology and design approaches; smart materials and structures; signal processing; circuit design and control electronics; wireless sensors and communications; systems integration.