Undergraduate Service Course Research Infusion

This study presents a hands-on research experience for an undergraduate junior-level service course, i.e., Circuits and Electromagnetics Devices, for non-Electrical Engineering students and its goal is to demonstrate major research methodologies as well as technical writing principles. The students have learned and investigated scientific research process, literature review sources as well as approaches, technical writing and blind-review principles, and conducted hands-on research on electrical circuit characterization and analysis for an autonomous/electric vehicle operation and a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system operations to investigate the contemporary engineering as well as social trends such as smart/green homes or vehicles. In addition, a practical autonomous vehicle set was utilized to explore the team research outcomes. The final student team outcomes as well as feedback and the corresponding surveys, evaluated by the project administrators, indicate the success of the effective research component inclusion in an undergraduate service course.