Dr. Eric R. Benson, Associate Professor, University of Delaware: Teaching

Maryland Sled Dog Adventures LLC, Central Maryland's only dog sledding operation. Maryland Sled Dog Adventures offers educational tours, programs, and programs for scouts.

Independent study is an opportunity for students to work closely with the faculty on a project that interests both. Typically, the project will involve a mixture of research into a problem, designing a solution, implementing (i.e. building or modifying a system), troubleshooting, and analyzing the results. Dr. Benson typically sponsors between two to six independent study students per semester.

Engineering Technology students are able to count up to six credits of independent study towards their degree program. Depending on the nature of the project, the project can be used to satisfy skills (BREG 166/BREG 266), technical support (BREG 266/ BREG 366) or technical specialization (BREG 366 / BREG 466).

Contact Dr. Eric Benson Maryland Sled Dog Adventures LLC by phone or email

Phone:
(302) 831-0256

Address:
242 Townsend Hall
Newark, DE 19716

Email:
ebenson@udel.edu

Teaching

Dr. Benson regularly teaches two regular courses:

EGTE / BREG 115: Introduction to Computer Based Problem Solving

EGTE / BREG 449: Applied Controls

In addition, Dr. Benson teaches an Emergency Poultry Disease Response short course for industry and provides support for extension

EGTE / BREG 115: Introduction to Computer Based Problem Solving

A foundation course in the application of computers and engineering principles for agriculture, industry and the environmental sciences. The course emphasizes the fundamentals of computer programming, problem solving and practical applications within the field. The course includes a project and laboratory.

Students must be comfortable with calculations, solving equations and similar. Students should be enrolled or completed college level precalculus (MATH 115 or equivalent) or higher. Students should be familiar with basic computer skills and standard software packages like Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint.

The course involves significant programming, both in class and outside of class. Students learn fundamentals of programming, variables, calculations , subroutines and functions in Visual Basic Applications. Visual Basic Applications is available within many applications, including Microsoft Excel. Students who can become adept with Visual Basic are able to make any computer an engineering tool. Students in the class also learn to use Microsoft Excel or PowerPoint to make planning flowcharts.

This class was offered as an experimental course (EGTE167) for Fall 2002 and was offered as a regular course (EGTE 115) in Fall 2003. The course is now taught every fall as BREG 115, with an in person and on line section

The majority of the information for the class is presented through Sakai.

EGTE/BREG 449: Applied Controls

Automated control systems show up in an increasing number of places from the automobile you drive to the heating system that keeps you comfortable. Automated control can add significant performance to a system and reduce long term operating costs. To understand how control systems work, one needs to understand the physical system that is being controlled, the sensors used to supply information, the actuation used to implement the control decisions and the electrical portions of the system that tie things together. There are a number of different types of control systems that are possible and the automation engineer needs to understand how selection and development of a control algorithm can change system operation.

The course introduces classical control measures, evaluation of control systems, and control system design. The course

Students enrolled in the course should have taken EGTE/BREG 115 Introduction to Computer Based Problem Solving or an equivalent programming course, EGTE/BREG 245 equivalent electronics course, and calculus (i.e. MATH 242/222). In addition, students enrolled in a 400-level, upper division course are assumed to have junior or senior status and taken the appropriate track courses for the major.

The majority of the information for the class is presented through Sakai.