My name is Andrew Brumfield and I am a Graduate student at Elizabeth City State University(ECSU). I recieved my Undergraduate degree in Engineering Technology with a concentration in Mechanical & Automation. Having experience with computers, cars, and recent scientific breakthroughs in the last decade, has inspired my curiosity for how tools used in everyday projects came to be. I decided to pursue a degree in Engineering because I truly have a passion for being creative. Math, physics, electrical, robotics, and machine design are the main focuses in the curriculum which I find alluring.
I have had extensive training in Linux, C++ programing, TeraScan, and Computer Aided Design (CAD) through class research projects and research projects with the Center of Excellence for Remote Sensing Education and Research (CERSER). At ECSU I have completed a research project for walking directions on the campus of ECSU. Our mentor Mr. Je'aime Powell (ECSU GRID Manager) and group members Justin M. Deloatch, Nyema Barmore, and Michael Austin created a web application for walking directions that can be obtained via mobile devices. The team used Google mapmaker to produce walking paths. The project includes HTML5 programming which referenced a database that housed information such as location, building establishment date, academic departments, and academic programs. The information was then compiled using a PHP Hypertext Processor (PHP) form to populate a MySQL database. HTML5 coupled with PHP programming was then used to render a mobile web page with both map and database information. The Google Maps Application Programming Interface was then used to generate Uniform Resource Locator's to both retrieve user Global Positioning System coordinates and create walking directions to selected locations. This was a fun project and I learned how to perform professional research and programing.
I was ecstatic when another opportunity for research was offered to me in the summer of 2012. Autumn Luke and I spent two weeks in Poway, California to receive training on SeaSpace's corporations TeraScan system and develop a research topic Titled "Analyze Long-Term Summer Drought Effects Using Aqua-1 Satellite Data". My mentors Mr. Je'aime Powell and Karen Friedman Dubey (Staff Scientist / Business Development at SeaSpace) have been of great importance. The skills obtained were applied to create both Land-Surface Temperature (LST) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) products and see if there is a correlation between the two in the Northeastern plains of Pasquotank and Gates counties.
February 7, 2012 a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) and Seaspace Corporation. The memorandum led to the installation of three direct-broadcast satellite receiving ground stations and a training site at ECSU. The receiving stations included a 3.6m X/L band system, a 3.7m C-band system, and a 5.0m L band system. The MOU defined that once the installation of the various systems completed, ECSU would in turn provide an east-coast training and data center for Seaspace products.in Spring of 2013 a project was initiated to document the installation requirements and internal processes at ECSU for the ground stations, as well as; generate a report of training site physical requirements. This project team members were Shehee Jackson, Derek Morris Jr., Michael Koch, my advisor Je'aime Powell, and myself.
In the Engineering department at ECSU, with Akbaras Eslami (Professor) as mentor, I developed a strength analysis of an AC-130 engine dolly was conducted using standard techniques and CAD software. This project is in conjunction with U.S Coast Guard. They have provided specifications for the dolly to be designed to be able to support the weight of the plane engine to allow technicians to perform maintenance. The dolly frame must be designed with a certain type of material to insure it holds the engine at the required safety factor. Our plan is to use traditional methods of stress analysis, and compare those calculations to the CAD simulation and present the best design.
In early February I began to work at HockMeyer Equipment Corporation performing Computer Aidded Drafting (CAD) and Design. I was recomended for the job as I was completing my Senior project for graduation by my Professor Dr. Esliami. My project was to take a bracket from the Coast Gaurd Base and Manufacture a plastic version of the part by utilizing solidworks and Computer Numerated Coded machining (CNC). The title of the project was Utilizing Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) in a Manufacturing Setting. The first step taken in the project was developing a CAD model of the part we wished to produce. In our case we had a physical object we inteded to manufacture with CNC machining. The original CAD model was developed using Parametric Pro/Engineering software, which was then imported into SolidWorks in order to use the MasterCam software.
Using the MasterCam software, we started the process necessary to develop G-codes for importation into CNC machine to program and interpret efficient tool paths.
At undergraduate level, my interests became more focused. Although computer sciences, business and economic came easy to me, it was Engineering and robotics that really captured my interest. At ECSU we are fortunate to have excellent laboratories, equipment, engineering software, and up to date Computer Numerical Control machines(CNC) at the ready for my curiosity to expand. My professors became very close with me during my undergrad career, helping me nurture my ideas and pursuits but also building a strong and broad mathematical foundation. This interdisciplinary aspect of subjects suits my abilities well and has already gotten me offers for employment with Shipyard engineers and local engineers in the area. I have always performed well as a student in and out of the classroom, staying in classrooms long after class and even when the faculty has left home for the day. My dedication is that deep for me to strengthen my weaknesses and fine tune my strengths. I believe that I will be able to contribute to and excel in learning from the academically challenging environment at ECSU Graduate program.
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