Cedarville University engineering students partner with Crown Equipment
The partnership evolved from a senior project developed by six engineering students and has resulted in the university’s engineering department’s first corporate partnership.
Several Cedarville University engineering students began their senior design project thinking it was just that, but it turned into one of the engineering department’s first corporate partnerships. Partnering with Crown Equipment, the students who worked on the project are helping the business’ lift trucks become safer for operators.
According to an article on Cedarville University’s website, Dr. Fred Harmon, who serves as a professor of electrical engineering and as one of the mentors on the project, explained the students’ project that uses neural networks and machine learning to improve lift truck safety. He is quoted as saying, “Cameras and sensors provide algorithm input to microprocessors that determine if a pallet is aligned correctly or if a load is present.” This will both improve safety for the operator and contribute to the potential for automation.
The team of recently-graduated computer and electrical engineering majors included Elijah Bolleddu, Braden Clark, Wyatt Fisher, Nayer Nagy, Avery Rair, and Luke Richardson. They were guided by Dr. Harmon and by Dr. Xiaowei Chen, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering.
While the first team of students who worked on this project is now graduated, through the partnership with Crown Equipment, the project will continue into the next academic year, with representatives from Crown Equipment serving as mentors for the new students who will continue the previous team’s work.
For more information about Cedarville University, visit the school’s website.