properly calculate the percentage of cer- required to enter a remote area that is not The students who worked as a team with
tain traits in a given population. Take, for safe for a human being. the professor have since graduated, but
instance, Asia. Traditionally, the average were able to gain real life experiences.
Asian person is smaller than the average As one of the world’s leading aerospace They participated in research meetings,
American; therefore, if China wanted companies, Boeing has donated unused testing of the tool, and the preparation
to buy an American-made aircraft, the patents to over 20 Historically Black Col- of the user manual. Onyebueke says the
percentage of the Chinese population that leges and Universities, including Howard experience proves that cluster programs
would be able to fly in the aircraft com- University, Spelman College, and now are essential to students’ growth as profes-
fortably would be a relevant concern. TSU, as part of an initiative to develop sionals.
effective relationships that aid in research
projects and business opportunities.
“Most opportunities
“It makes them be-
Most opportunities are granted through
are granted through cluster programs, which provide students
lieve that what they
with access to internships, co-ops, equip-
cluster programs, ment, and hands-on experience at leading
are taught in class
engineering companies. The impact of
which provide stu- such business partnerships has produced
has real life appli-
tremendous growth in the university over
dents with access to the last 15 years.
cation. In fact, the
internships, co-ops, Between 1991 and 2001, funding for
process involved in
research has increased from $9 million to
equipment, and $31 million---a 24 percent boost in the
developing the es-
university’s economic growth.
hands-on experience
timation tool is a
Last November, Boeing filed a joint pat-
at leading engineer- ent with TSU. The collaboration is now a
carbon copy of what
part of the curriculum at several institu-
ing companies.” tions, in part because of the direction
goes on in the
of Edward Winker, technical fellow for
Human Systems Integration at Phantom
industry.”
“The software we have developed,” Works, the advanced research and devel-
Onyebueke said, “will be able to answer opment unit at Boeing.
that question because, prior to the EAAT, “It makes them believe that what they are
there was no accuracy in determining While collaborating on research projects taught in class has real life application. In
percentage accommodation,” in the initial with professors at the Massachusetts In- fact, the process involved in developing
stages of aircraft design. stitution of Technology and Embry-Rid- the estimation tool is a carbon copy of
dle Aeronautical University in Daytona what goes on in the industry.”
Therefore, the use of computer-aided de- Beach, Winkler discovered their interest
sign/computer-aided manufacturing soft- in the EAAT as a teaching tool, and, with Although the professor remains humble
ware, which, some might presume, is the Boeing’s approval, they have incorporated about TSU’s achievements, he is still
only tool needed for gauging the number it into their human factors courses. surprised by how successful the outcome
of people that can fit inside small spaces, has been.
was now only useful after engineers first Although the formal celebration is over,
determined the size of the cockpit. Onyebueke is still excited that the EAAT Onyebueke said that it is not common
has benchmarked yet another achieve- for universities to participate in research
The EAAT has other uses, such as in ment for the university and its engineer- projects that result in receiving a US
the DHS division of the Transporta- ing department. patent. “When you start these projects,
tion Safety Administration. Onyebueke you never know how far it will go.” He
says that in combat aircraft design, the In June, he was awarded the prestigious chuckles, “I am just very happy, and ap-
tool ensures that pilots have a clearer Boeing Silver Phantom Award. preciative.”
view of their environment, better reach
of the control panel, and the ability to “It has been delightful working with —By Josette Compton
eject themselves if and when there is an Dr. Onyebueke and the students at TSU,”
emergency. Furthermore, the system can Derenski said.
determine the exact size of a robot that is
http:www.blackengineer.com
USBE & Information Technology I January/February 2007 61
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68