10/31

Personal
Halloween!

RP
A lot of technical difficulties with my computer today, but thats what the IT team is here for! Once the problems were so graciously fixed, I got to messing around with a Java-based pendulum physics simulator at myphysicslab.com. The cool thing about the site is that it lets you adjust the parameters of everything from the weight of the pendulum to length of the rope to the force of gravity. Scroll further down and it explains in mathematics and words what you saw simulated and documented (there is an optional graph for most simulated situations.)


However, the pendulum information is only half of the physics formula I need to conduct my research. The other formula I need to have realized is that of a generic human gait/walking pattern. Once i have both i must combine their formulas to align with my concept: generation of (really conversion of) electrical energy by (or from) human motion through the use of a small electromagnetic pendulum within an energy storage device.

10/30

Personal

Missed test, must re-apply...Cap and gown stuff due tomorrow, after that its all late fees!

RP

Made a lot of progress in PSpice today, started adding different components to my circuit design and tested for differentials of the voltage input and output. (see pictures)

Dr. Newcomb is stressing me getting a personal copy somewhere, but my home PCs are not fit to run such a powerful program. He said consider saving it to a secure school PC. I may decide to ask Mr. Dulce for such assistance...

10/26

Personal

ACT tomorrow at Dunbar.

RP

The final result of the last three days!

I accidentally stood up my PSpice tutor because:

rain
+
traffic
+
teen drivers
=
30 minutes late to internship.

10/25

Personal

It's Vasco's birthday!

RP

Today I worked more on PSpice and actually throughly completed an example! But then the actual system didnt work out so well so I'm going to have to badger Dr. Newcomb to help me fix it...

10/24

Personal

Still need more sleep. Need to work on shirt designs and Etcetera Mixtape as well.

RP

Today I jumped right into the SPICE program, with the coaxing of Dr. Newcomb at least...

10/23

Personal

Get more sleep.

RP

Today I visited UMD in order to get through with all the preliminary activities such as signing up with the school (and ECE specifically) directory so that I could have a university email and ID. Dr. Newcomb told me a little about how pedometers work (small magnetic pendulum switch) and wants me to apply the reverse to the energy saving mechanism I am to create. He also asked that I research Accutron watches, how magnets conduct electricity and electromagnetic coils. I've a large amount of learning to do because of my late start (and general under-information in my previous engineering courses, maybe I should have taken more rigorous coursework before this point.) I also took a book home by the name of of Simulating with Spice for some background.

10/15

Personal

Get Kallish work done!

RP

Mr. Rountree gave us our grades today, or should I say 'as of today', and I must get my work in or that 17% will never become the 88% I need and can attain. This is a funny situation, just not while I'm experiencing it first-hand.

10/13

Personal

First day of on-the-road driving school.

RP

The link was broken so I did some web surfing/searching to find the same program at a different source and sent this link to Dr. Newcomb. He has not replied yet with an opinion or anything so I am going to wait to download the version I found.

10/12

Personal

Last day of in-class driving school!

RP

After my reply to Dr. Newcomb's email, he sent me a link to a design/simulation program for circuit development to work with and learn until I can get them in person.

10/11

Personal

Wow, I just discovered that my friend Ashley is an artist!

RP

The Dean has confirmed my ID and UMD email account so that I've legal permission to be on campus. Specifically, they used language along the lines of 'being approved as an affiliate.' (!) I can pick up my ID card the next time I go there, which I informed Dr. Newcomb wouldn't be very immediate because of my need to complete Ch. 1/2.

10/6

Personal



RP

I met with Dr. Newcomb today and was very impressed with the atmosphere of his office and surrounding areas of research. We discussed a little about what the nature of my project would be and settled on kinetic energy's conversion into electrical energy. I also got signed up for a UMD ID and email account

10/5

Personal



RP

I initiated an email correspondence with Dr. Newcomb and he sounds very interested in meeting me in person.

10/4

Personal

My parents and I have come to the compromise of me going to UMD for at least two years befor making up my mind to move to Cornell or another school in NYC.

RP

Ms. Bell contacted me to inform me of a successful match with ECE Professor, Dr. Robert Newcomb! She says that he has a lot of experience with interns so I should feel right at home with him. Now I must get started on Chapters 1/2 even in spite of the little time left in this quarter.

10/2

Personal

I've joined FastWeb and the UMD Mailing List today.

RP

Nothing happened today. Besides Ms. Bell requesting a slight revision of the content in my resume for clarity.

10/1

Personal

Progrss Report is an all-time low! Bring it up.

RP

Fellow RP Intern, Vasco Mateus did me the service of showing the format with which he did his Chapters One and Two as we are both in the Engineering track and each track has slightly different parameters as far the information included goes.