Grant: Applied Research Tools and Instruments Grants

Solar power has tremendous potential to light, heat and power homes, offices and vehicles. This potential stands out when we consider the small utility vehicles used at airports, in warehouses, on golf courses and at other recreational facilities. Some of these vehicles are battery powered and some of these vehicles currently run on fossil fuels. Their constant stop-start use can lead to higher levels of fuel consumption. So, extending the range of these vehicles or powering these short-distance vehicles with energy from the sun makes sense, and would save millions of dollars annually. Due to the nature of motor control electronics, the controllers can be a source of airborne electromagnetic emissions, which have been known to interfere with cell phone reception, emergency communications systems and medical equipment. Fanshawe College's request for EMC measurement equipment will help us ensure that the prototypes we develop in the course of our projects do not disrupt other electronic systems or present a hazard to persons dependent on medical electronics such as pacemakers. Acquisition of this equipment also will allow the college to engage in future projects with other manufacturers. Companies will benefit from access to college expertise and resources. Faculty will gain new knowledge and insights to bring back to students via classroom teaching. College students will play an important role in this applied research, and will benefit from a real world, hands-on learning experience that complements their conventional learning experiences.