Name of Sponsoring Organization: Florida Power & Light (FPL)
Sponsor Point of Contact (name): Troy Lewis – Smart Grid & Innovation
Email Address:
Name of Technical Mentor (i.e. Subject Matter Expert): Faculty Advisor: Wilfrido Moreno
TM Email Address:
Project Title: Collision Detection Bucket Sensor
Required EE Area(s) of Expertise: Microprocessors, Sensors, Control
Brief Project Description: FPL has hundreds of line trucks which can prove to be large and complex to maneuver. These trucks have built in situational awareness sensors for driving (MobileEye) but nothing to warn them about hazards that are within proximity of the upper profile of the truck and/or bucket. This project will be to create a system that can integrate with existing FPL Bucket Trucks and alert drivers of imminent hazards to the vehicle such as trees, street signs, and overhangs. This will be a parallel effort in addition to an internal innovation campaign that FPL engineers will be participating in to come up with solutions for this problem and there will be opportunities for the students to meet, learn and integrate with these internal teams throughout the semester as an additional engagement opportunity.
Major system products expected from this project: A device that can interface with an FPL line truck that provides situational awareness to the operator to reduce driving related incidents with respect to trees and overhangs.
Parts of the project that “Engineering Design” is expected (e.g., mathematical calculations and/or verification simulations): Sensor Integration, Proximity and mathematical calculations, verification simulations, power calculations, etc.
The level of support (Time: technical guidance, materials, computing, financial, etc.) for the project. If no financial support will be provided, please offer an estimate of the Materials Cost: 30-minute weekly meeting with FPL SME’s (Fleet and Power Delivery Operations) and USF Team, Access to FPL bucket trucks and personnel for testing and verification, FPL Will supply additional funding for procuring sensors on a case by case basis. Final budget TBD; to be finalized and approved by FPL Liaison engineer. FPL Goal & Expectations: FPL intention is to hire as many students as possible from the project team upon graduation and the following expectations help FPL align with this goal: potential candidates need to know that FPL will require US Citizenship, a minimum 3.0 GPA as requirements for the hiring process. Approved students in the USF-Team need to be willing to sign the NDA/IP agreement under development between FPL and USF.