STEM Research?

What is Research?

• Research is the systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.

• Research is the creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge.

What is Scientific Research?

• Scientific research is proposing hypotheses as explanations of phenomena and designing experimental studies to test these hypotheses via predictions which can be derived from them.

• Scientific research is performing a methodical study in order to prove a hypothesis or answer a specific question. Finding a definitive answer is the central goal of any experimental process.

What is Basic Research?• Basic research is defined as systematic study directed toward fuller

knowledge or understanding of the fundamental aspects of phenomena and of observable facts without specific applications towards processes or products in mind.

• Basic research is driven purely by curiosity and a desire to expand our knowledge. This type of research tends not to be directly applicable to the real world in a direct way, but enhances our understanding of the world around us.

What is Applied Research?• Applied research is one type of research that is used to answer a

specific question that has direct applications to the world. This is the type of research that solves a problem.

• Applied research is a form of systematic inquiry involving the practical application of science. It accesses and uses some part of the research communities’ accumulated theories, knowledge, methods, and techniques, for a specific, often state-, business-, or client-driven purpose.

What is Engineering Research?• Engineering research often deals with areas in which the basic

science is well understood, but the problems themselves are too complex to solve in an exact manner.

• Engineering research is yielding knowledge essential to translating scientific advances into technologies that affect everyday life.

STEM Research

• STEM research is research in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.

Advanced STEM Research Course

• Advanced STEM Research course is a yearlong project-based course to provide students an opportunity for firsthand, supervised research in STEM fields. It is mentored, but self-directed, work that enables individual students or a small group of students in collaboration with faculty members to explore a problem of interest to them, to conduct the in-depth investigation/experiments/design, and to communicate their results to others.

Course Goals

• Develop and Integrate your knowledge in Math, Science, and Technology.

• Use Engineering Methods to find innovative solutions for complex real-world problems.

STEM Research Projects

• A scientific research in one or more of the STEM fields,

• An engineering design project to create a complex product, and

• An innovative, patentable, solution to solve a practical problem.

The interdisciplinary researches and researches with applications to the non-STEM fields are strongly encouraged.

Three Levels of Problem Solving

• Level 1—

• Level 2—

• Level 3—

Starting Point

Starting Point

Starting Point

Destination

Destination

Destination?

Path

Path?

Path?

e.g. plug into quadratic formula to solve equations

e.g. geometric proof or trigonometric identity proof

Destination?Destination?

e.g. resolve rush hour traffic problem in NYC

Nature of Research

Research Problems

• Ambiguity

• Evolving understanding

• Open-ended

Research Process

• Risk-taking

• Objective and logical

• Original contribution

Problems of Interest• Problems of Interest

– Major problems, issues, needs you have encountered in your life and our society which might be possible to be solved by STEM methods and skills.

– Interesting and innovative ideas, something having potential to impact our society, or improving people's lives in a dramatic way.

THINK BIG!!!

Research Fields

• Team 1: Autonomous Drone Navigation System in Indoor Environment

• Team 2: Drone Defense System: Vision System

• Team 3: Drone Defense System: Intercepting System

• Team 4: Brainwave Controlled Games/Devices: OpenVIBE

• Team 5: Brainwave Controlled Games/Devices: NeuroSky Mindwave

• Team 6: Brainwave Controlled Games/Devices: Emotiv Insight

• Team 7: Hand-to-Hand Communication

• Team 8: Educational Mobile Apps for the Visually Impaired

• Team 9: General Mobile Apps for the Visually Impaired

• Team 10: 2D Tactile Display Based on Electrovibration

Problems of Interest• Project 1: Autonomous Drone Navigation System in Indoor

Environment– Description: Processing video from the front camera of the drone to

recognize and locate the guiding marks, and navigating the drone autonomously from starting point to destiny based on these sensor information.

– Core technology: drone navigation, drone video image processing, laptop/desktop application

– Platforms/Tools: Linux, AR Drone 2.0, AR Drone 2.0 SDK, Nodecopter, OpenCV

THINK B

IG!!!

Problems of Interest• Project 2 & 3: Drone Defense System: Vision & Intercepting

System– Developing and designing a proof-of-concept prototype of a projectile-

based anti-drone system which can be used to protect the building/property from drone invasion.

– Core technology: Sensors, stereo vision, image processing, computer vision, iOS app programming, projectile launching system, robot design, robotic programming, embedded design

– Platforms/Tools: Linux, OpenCV, Video4Linux, Beaglebone Black, FLIR ONE, FLIR ONE SDK, RobotC, Arduino, Vex Robotics System

THINK B

IG!!!

Problems of Interest• Project 4, 5 & 6: Brainwave Controlled Games/Devices:

OpenVIBE, NeuroSky Mindwave & Emotiv Insight

– Description: Using signal processing techniques to analyze and classify brainwaves of different mental activities, and controlling games or devices accordingly.

– Core technology: Electroencephalogram (EEG) signal processing, classification, mobile programming

– Platforms/Tools: OpenVIBE, NeuroSky Mindwave, NeuroSky SDK, Emotiv Insight, Emotiv SDK, iOS/Android app programming

THINK B

IG!!!

Problems of Interest• Project 7: Hand-to-Hand Communication

– Description: Using hand gestures and movements of one person to determine those of another person. Detecting the neural signals from the first person, processing and amplifying the neural signals, and stimulating the muscle/ nerves of the hand of another person.

– Core technology: Electromyography (EMG) signal processing, classification, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), PossessedHand

– Platforms/Tools: Backyard Brains Human-Human-Interface

THINK B

IG!!!

Problems of Interest• Project 8, 9 & 10: 2D Tactile Display Based on Electrovibration

& Mobile Apps for the Visually Impaired

– Description: Developing a low-cost 2D tactile display system based on electrovibration for the visually impaired & designing general/educational mobile apps using Senseg FeelScreen Technology.

– Core technology: Electrovibration, image processing, mobile app programming, low-power DC-to-DC converter, signal amplification, tablet technology, FeelScreen with haptic-feedback

– Platforms/Tools: Platforms/Tools: iPad, XCode, Swift, analog circuit design tools, Java, Android Studio, Senseg SDK

THINK B

IG!!!

Aspects of a ProjectConsumer

UserResearcher

Designer

Computer Resource

Name Macbook Air Name Macbook Air

Theo A1 Lithu A11

Owen A2 Julian A12

Noah A3 Lola A13

Adnan A4 Gabriela A14

Eduardo A5 Leslie A15

Henry A6 Katherine A16

Sarah A7 Aaron A17

Brian A8 Vivian A18

Ty A9 Ruyof A19

Isabelle A10

*** WINDOWS LAPTOPS WILL BE ASSIGNED BASED ON PROJECT NEEDS ***

Computer Rules• Only use your computer and the STEM account assigned to you. Never share your

username and password. If you notice any damage when you retrieve it from the

computer cart, report to the teacher promptly before using it.

• Never change, delete anything from other students’ accounts or computers.

• Internet use is limited to teacher assigned activities or classwork. Personal Internet use

for chat rooms, instant messaging (IM), YouTube Videos, email or gaming is strictly

prohibited.

• Use earphones when accessing video tutorials in the lab sessions.

• Do not personalize the computer settings. (This includes desktop, screen saver, etc.)

• Never download or install any programs, updates, games, or music without the

permission of instructor.

• Backup your work daily in a flash drive or in the cloud.

• Ask special permission to take laptop outside the classroom, and never transfer the

laptop to other students.

• Always reshelf the laptop to the designated location with proper power cable

connection.

Team Presentation09/17 (Thu) 09/22 (Tue)

Group 3 Group 7

Group 10 Group 4

Group 5 & 6 Group 8 & 9

Group 2 Group 1

Initial Project Planning/Coordination• Project Description & Merits

Describe the project in your own words and list the possible contribution your project can have to advance the field of STEM or solve societal problems

• Group/Team CommunicationWho will be involved in your project and relevant projects? How to communicate effectively with each other? What are the tools for project collaboration?

• Prior Work/Resource InventoryGo to the Project Resource website to review the current resource and prior work. Update the page.

• Technology AnalysisIdentify the scientific and technical knowledge/skills involved in your project

• CompetenceIdentify skill sets, technical competence in your group, and list the missing ones which need to be acquired

• SafetyIdentify any safety issues regarding the build, use, store, and dispose of materials and tools

• Equipment, materials & budgetList the key materials and equipment required for your projectIdentify the key items needed to be purchased and their prices

• ScheduleWhat are the goals/milestones/plans of your project in the next week? What are the task assignments for each team member?

• Post your Initial Project Planning/Coordination unto the team blog by Sunday