Open Access
Analog electronics projects to encourage active learning
(IEEE, 2024-08-01) Escribano Simón, Leyre; Tainta Ausejo, Santiago; Erro Betrán, María José; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa, PINNE2022-UPNA
In this work we present a proposal to include Project Based Learning (PBL) in an Analog Electronics course. For this purpose, several projects have been developed to be implemented in an advanced degree course, covering advanced concepts related to amplifiers, oscillators, and active filters. The results obtained after the rollout of one of these projects in an Industrial Engineering degree course are reported.
Open Access
Electromagnetic vibrational harvester based on U-shaped ferromagnetic cantilever: a novel two-magnet configuration
(Elsevier, 2024-10-01) Gandía Aguado, David; Garayo Urabayen, Eneko; Beato López, Juan Jesús; Royo Silvestre, Isaac; Cruz Blas, Carlos Aristóteles de la; Tainta Ausejo, Santiago; Gómez Polo, Cristina; Ciencias; Zientziak; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Estadística, Informática y Matemáticas; Estatistika, Informatika eta Matematika; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC
Electromagnetic vibrational harvesters are low-cost devices featuring high-power densities and robust structures, often used for capturing the energy of environmental vibrations (civil infrastructures, transportation, human motion, etc.,). Based on Faraday’s law, energy generation relies on the modification of the magnetic field distribution within a magnetic element caused by mechanical vibrations inducing an electromotive force (EMF) in a pick-up coil. However, the practical implementation of this type of vibrational harvester is currently limited due to the reduced generated power under low-frequency vibrations. In this work, an electromagnetic vibrational harvester is experimentally characterized and analyzed employing magnetic circuit analysis. The harvester consists of a ferromagnetic U-shaped cantilever, a NdFeB magnet and a ferrite magnet used as “magnetic tip mass” to enhance the magnetic flux changes under vibrations of frequency < 100 Hz. For this configuration, an experimental voltage of ∼ 1.2 V peak-to-peak (open circuit) was obtained at a resonant frequency of 77 Hz, enabling the subsequent electronic rectification stage. Additionally, Finite Element Method (FEM) is used to explore different design possibilities including the modeling of complex geometries, mechanical properties and non-linear magnetic materials, enabling the tuning of the resonance frequency from 51 to 77 Hz, keeping constant the induced voltage.
Open Access
Labescape and breakout: gamification for photonics students
(IATED, 2021) Pérez Herrera, Rosa Ana; Tainta Ausejo, Santiago; Elosúa Aguado, César; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Nowadays, the idea of using game mechanisms in non-gaming environments has become of great interest in different fields such as education or training. Not only for primary school but also in higher formal education, game-based learning appears to be an emerging trend in wide-ranging knowledge areas such as health, social policy, or engineering, among others. By employing this methodology, the process of learning becomes more motivating while reaching, in some cases, a competitive level. Game-based learning has been widely adopted in many engineering learning areas, such as for example electronics thanks to the ready availability of low-cost electronic equipment. The authors' extensive teaching experience in subjects related to electronics and photonics has led us to consider its implementation in more ambitious teaching fields. For instance, and despite the broad acceptance, its use in the field of photonics is still very scarce. The high cost of required equipment has hindered the expansion of these strategies, taking its implementation longer than desired and being too expensive at times. In the present work, the authors propose a planning and design scheme for a new gamification strategy based on an escape-room in which, all the tests to be passed will be related to the field of optics and photonics using low-cost equipment. The main field of application of this novel teaching strategy will be in the practical section of the subjects that is usually carried out in a laboratory and will be aimed at both undergraduate and master's degree students. The resolution of tests in different game sequences of the escape room is proposed, that is, linear, open, or multi-linear paths, adapting the degree of difficulty of the tests to the level of the group of students. Additionally, a co-evaluation method is suggested where the rest of the students will provide a valuable feedback to each one of their colleagues.
Open Access
Experimental teaching of digital PID controllers
(IEEE, 2024-08-01) Tainta Ausejo, Santiago; Cruz Blas, Carlos Aristóteles de la; Cid Monjaraz, Jaime; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza
PID controllers are a fundamental building block of industrial control systems. In this paper we present a simple demonstrator that can be assembled using basic electronic components and an Arduino UNO development board as plant and digital controller, respectively. The complete system can be easily built using components that are often available in a basic electronic lab, avoiding mechanical or electromechanical systems. The proposed system is open and flexible, allowing the study of digital PID control systems and the experimental evaluation of different tuning methods.
Open Access
Gamification for photonics students: labescape
(MDPI, 2021) Pérez Herrera, Rosa Ana; Tainta Ausejo, Santiago; Elosúa Aguado, César; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
The idea of utilizing game elements in non-gaming situations has sparked a lot of attention in recent years, especially in topics such as education and training. Game-based techniques appear to be an increasing trend in a wide range of learning areas, including health, social policy, and engineering, among others, not only in primary school but also in higher formal education. Using this methodology, the learning process becomes more stimulating while also reaching a competitive level in some circumstances. In the present work, the authors propose a new gamification strategy based on an escape-room in which all the puzzles to be passed are related to the area of optics and photonics and use readily available or low-cost equipment. The major field of application of this novel teaching strategy will be the practical section of a course, that is usually carried out in a laboratory, and will be aimed at both undergraduate and master's degree students. A coevaluation method is also proposed where the rest of the students will provide valuable feedback to each one of their colleagues and to the instructor.
Open Access
Optimized pattern design of a light guide using 2D ray-tracing simulation
(SPIE, 2023) Medrano Gurrea, Mario; Jiménez Martínez, Unai; Tainta Ausejo, Santiago; Erro Betrán, María José; Arnedo Gil, Israel; Beato López, Juan Jesús; Izura, J.; Zabala, Silvia; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC
We propose the use of a simplified model for the analysis of the scattering elements used in edge-lit systems. By modelling their behaviour as lambertian light sources whose properties depend on the size and geometry of the scatterer and LGP, it is possible to simulate the illuminance map of the edge-lit structure using only 2D ray-traced simulation. This reduces the computational complexity in the optimisation process used to calculate the scatterers distribution to achieve maximum uniformity in light extraction. The results obtained by comparison between the proposed algorithm and a commercial software demonstrate the validity of the proposal.