Project-Based Learning: Wireless Sensor Node Project for 2nd-Year ECE Students

Abstract

Today's student must be able to combine theoretical and hands-on design skills to create and test effective engineering designs. Project-based learning experiences are especially important to engineering students because they require students to combine theoretical knowledge with practical design skills not typically covered in most undergraduate engineering courses. By developing design skills in an engineering undergraduate program, students can be better prepared to meet the needs as they enter the workforce. This paper explores a wireless sensor node design project implemented in an ECE sophomore-level project-based learning course. This course is the first project-based learning class offered in the ECE department at Virginia Tech. The students enrolled in the course are typically in their second semester of their second year and have taken or are finishing their core ECE coursework so they have a basic knowledge of circuits, digital systems, embedded systems, and signals and systems. All project options are open-ended, and each project contains both hardware and software designs and is inspired to address real-world issues. The wireless sensor node is one project designed as an option for students in this course. This project considers a fire detection system that can be used to prevent forest fires that has been a major concern to society. Students working on this project need to tackle several design problems both in the transmitter side (a battery charging circuit that can charge a 9V battery from a solar panel, a thermistor and a wireless communication device handled by a microcontroller to transmit temperature data, and a power save implementation on the microcontroller) and in the receiver side (a custom-made GUI for displaying the temperature information). This paper will discuss the details of the project and how it was designed, tested, and implemented in this course to help improve students' understanding of technical skills and ability to create real-world engineering designs.