Bradley University: Dr. Gary L. Dempsey, Undergraduate Research

BRADLEY UNIVERSITY

ELECTRICAL & COMPUTER ENGINEERING

Dr. Gary L. Dempsey

University Position: Associate Professor of ECE
Campus Phone: (309) 677-2801
Campus Office: Jobst Hall, # 339

Undergraduate Research and Senior Projects

Mark Bright and Mike Donaldson. “Engine Control Workstation Using Simulink/DSP Platform,” 2008-2009.

Mark Bright: Mark graduated in May 2009 (BSEE). He is presently employed as an electrical engineer with Sargent & Lundy in Chicago.
Mike Donaldson: Mike graduated in May 2009 (BSEE). He is presently employed as an electrical engineer with SCADAware in Bloomington, IL.

Vishal Kumar. "Non-Linear Internal Model Controller Design for a Robot Arm," 2007-2008.
Marcus Fair. "Internal Model Control for DC Motor Using DSP Platform," 2007-2008.

Marcus Fair: Marcus graduated in May 2008 (BSEE). He is presently in the Direct Commission Engineering Program in the United States Coast Guard.

Simon Benik and Adam Olson. "DC Motor-Clutch-Generator Control Workstation," 2006-2007.

Simon Benik: Simon graduated in May 2008 (BSEE).
Adam Olson: Adam graduated in May 2007 (BSEE). He is presently employed as an electrical engineer with The Morey Corporation in Woodbridge, IL.

Adesegun Sun-basorun and Laith Slaton. "Design of Simulink-based Electromechanical Control Workstation for Load Disturbance Testing,” 2006-2007.

Adesegun Sun-basorun: Sunbash graduated in May 2008 (BSEE). He is presently employed with Les Memoires in Peoria. Sunbash was a member of the winning team for the 2008 Bradley Project Springboard competition. Project Springboard provided $15,000 in startup funds for Les Memoires.
Laith Slaton: Laith graduated in December 2007 (BSEE).

Chris Edwards and Emberly Smith. "Design of Simulink-Based 2-DOF Robot Arm Control Workstation," 2006-2007.

Chris Edwards: Chris graduated in December 2007 (BSEE). He is currently pursuing his graduate studies in our department for the MSEE degree.
Emberly Smith: Emberly graduated in May 2007 (BSEE). She is presently employed as an electrical engineer with Belcan Corporation in Peoria.

Caleb Anderson and Derek Carlson. "Self Guided Catheter,"2006-2007.

Caleb Anderson: Caleb graduated in May 2007 (BSEE). He is presently employed as an electrical engineer with Sargent & Lundy in Chicago.
Derek Carlson: Derek graduated in May 2007 (BSEE).

Adam Vaccari and Kain Osterholt. "Simulink-Based Robot Arm Control Workstation,"2004-2005.

Adam Vaccari: Adam graduated in May 2005 (BSEE). He is presently employed as an electrical engineer with Caterpillar Incorporated in Peoria.
Kain Osterholt: Kain graduated in May 2005 (BSEE). He is presently employed as an electrical engineer with Belcan Corporation in Peoria.
Design Team: 2005 Student EXPO: Adam, Kain

Joe Faivre and Matt Johnson. "PC-Based Control Workstation for Controller Algorithm Evaluation,"2003-2004.

Joe Faivre: Joe graduated in May 2004 (BSEE) and then pursued his graduate studies in our department (MSEE August 2005). He is presently employed with Caterpillar’s Systems and Controls Research Department in Peoria.
Matt Johnson: Matt graduated in May 2004 (BSEE). He is presently employed as an electrical engineer with Caterpillar’s Systems and Controls Research Department in Peoria.
Design Team: 2004 Student EXPO

Ben Lorentzen. "Low Cost Motor Speed Controller,"2003-2004.

Ben Lorentzen: Ben graduated in May 2004 (BSEE). He is presently employed as an electrical engineer with Belcan Corporation in Peoria.
Ben @ 2004 Student EXPO

Ben Boyle and Kitera Hayes. "Small Scale Robotic Arm,"2003-2004.

Ben Boyle: Ben graduated in May 2004 (BSEE). He is presently employed as an electrical engineer with Nexus Technical Services Corporation in Bloomingdale, IL.
Kitera Hayes: Kitera graduated in May 2004 (BSEE) and then pursued her graduate studies in Bradley’s Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Program. She graduated in December 2005 and is presently employed with Harris Corporation.
Design Team: 2004 Student EXPO

Aaron Mahaffey and Dave Tastsides. "Design of a Control Workstation for Controller Algorithm Testing,"2002-2003.

Aaron Mahaffey: Aaron graduated in May 2003 (BSEE). He is presently employed as an electrical engineer with Caterpillar Incorporated in Peoria.

Dave Tastsides: Dave graduated in May 2003 (BSEE). He is presently employed as an electrical engineer with Boeing in St. Louis.
Design Team: 2003 Student EXPO

Thuong Le. "Using a Neural Network Model for a Robot Arm to Design and Implement Conventional Controllers,"2002-2003.

Thuong Le: Thuong graduated in May 2003 (BSEE). ). She is presently employed as an electrical engineer with Caterpillar Incorporated in Peoria.
Thuong @2003 Student Expo

Matt Wagner and Nate Ennis. "Optimum Frequency Domain Design for a Robot Arm System,"2001-2002.

Matt Wagner: Matt graduated in December 2002 (BSEE).
Nate Ennis: Nate graduated in May 2002 (BSEE). He is presently employed as an electrical engineer with Caterpillar Incorporated in Peoria.
Design Team: 2002 Student EXPO

Paul Leisher and Chris Meyers. "FPGA Implementation of PID Controller with DC Motor Application,"2001-2002.

Paul Leisher: Paul graduated in May 2002 (BSEE). He completed his graduate studies in electrical engineering at the University of Illinois in Urbana (M.S. 2004, Ph.D. 2007). He is presently employed with nLight Corporation in Hillsboro, Oregon.
Chris Meyers: Chris graduated in May 2002 (BSEE) and May 2004 (MSEE). He is presently employed with Belcan Corporation in Peoria in the wireless communication area.
Design Team: 2002 Student EXPO

Matt Fuerst and Doug Patchin. "Digital Controller Design for Plants with a High Degree of Friction,"2000-2001.

Matt Fuerst: Matt graduated in May 2001 (BSEE). He is presently employed as an electrical engineer with The Boeing Company in St. Louis.
Doug Patchin: Doug graduated in May 2001 (BSEE). He is presently employed as an electrical engineer with The Boeing Company in St. Louis performing systems integration testing.
Design Team: 2001 Student EXPO

Manfred Meissner and Christopher Spevacek. "Implementation of Conventional and Neural Controllers Using Position and Velocity Feedback,"1999-2000.

Manfred Meissner: Manfred graduated in May 2000 (BSEE). He is presently employed as an electrical engineer at Caterpillar Incorporated in the Engine Systems Division in Peoria.
Christopher Spevacek: Chris graduated in May 2000 (BSEE). He is presently employed as an electrical engineer with General Motors in the Electro-motive Division in Woodridge, IL. He is currently writing control software.
Design Team: 2000 Student EXPO

Megan Bern and Ritesh Patel. "Microcontroller Implementation of a Small Robot Arm Controller,"1999-2000.

Megan Bern: Megan graduated in December 2000 (BSEE) and from our MSEE program in May 2002. She is currently employed with Caterpillar Incorporated in the Systems and Controls Research Department in Peoria.
Ritesh Patel: Ritesh graduated in May 2000 (BSEE).
Design Team: 2000 Student EXPO

Rebecca Erven and Jack Gilkerson. "Noise Cancellation Using Adaptive Signal Processing and Artificial Neural Networks,"1997-1998.

Rebecca Erven: Becky graduated in May 1998 (BSEE). She is presently employed as a design engineerwith Micro Switch (a division of Honeywell) in Freeport, IL. Becky is currently in the Industrial Group as part of the TOPs Program. Current work involves design of proximity sensors.
Jack Gilkerson:Jack graduated in May 1998 (BSEE). He is presently employed as an electrical engineerwith Micro Switch (a division of Honeywell) in Freeport, IL. Jack is currently in the Evaluation Department as part of the TOPs Program. Currently working on load switching for an automated test. He is upgrading several systems to allow the RPM to be programmed into a motor speed controller for quick and accurate control.
Design Team: Graduation Day

Brian Armknecht and David Malohn. "Investigation of Controller Design for a Small Robot Arm," 1996-1997.

Brian Armknecht: Brian graduated in May 1997 (BSEE). He is presently employed as an electrical engineer with WorldCom, a telecommunications company with local and long distance service in Washington, DC. Main responsibility is to analyze customer sites for telecommunication system expansion and upgrade. The primary configuration used is OC48 level systems which carry 48 T3 level circuits.
David Malohn: Dave graduated in May 1997 (BSEE). He is presently employed as an electrical engineer with Underwriters Laboratory in Chicago.

Peter Jones and Scott Tepavich. "Stabilization of an Inverted Robot Arm Using a Least-Mean-Squares Algorithm Adaptive Controller," 1996-1997.

Peter Jones: Peter graduated in May 1997 (BSEE). He is presently employed as an electrical engineer with Maxim Integrated Products in Beaverton, Oregon.His duties include hardware and software design and implementation of mixed-signal tests to ensure the quality and functionality of new IC's. Senior Project Report
Scott Tepavich: Scott graduated in December 1997 (BSEE). He is presently employed as an electrical engineer with Great Lakes Terminal Transport Corporation in Chicago.

Nathan Alt and Brad Olson. "Extending the Tracking Range of a Phase-Locked Loop with an 8051 Microcontroller-Based Artficial Neural Network," 1995- 1996.

Nathan Alt: Nathan graduated in May 1996 (BSEE). He is presently employed as a Development Engineer with Caterpillar Incorporated in the Information Products and Core Hardware Division in Peoria. Responsibilities include software development for off-board diagnostic tools.
Bradly Olson: Brad received the BSEE degree in May 1996. He is presently employed as a software engineer with McDonnell Douglas Aerospace in St. Louis, Missouri. Responsibilities include software design, development, and testing for the controls and displays on the mission computer in the F/A-18.
Design Team: Final EE-452 Presentation

Kent Ponton and David Tran. "Intensive Investigation of the Consequences Resulting from Compensator Manipulation in a Phase-Locked Loop System," 1995- 1996.
Babar Baig and Sean Middleton. "Linearization of a RF Amplifier," 1995-1996.

Babar Baig: Babar graduated in May 1996 (BSEE) and currently works at Transcrypt International in Waseca, Minnesota as an electrical engineer. His duties include design of RF and oscillator circuits, matching networks, and product test circuits.
Sean Middleton: Sean graduated in May 1996 (BSEE) and currently is employed with Illinois Rural Electric Co. in Winchester, IL as a Systems Engineer. The company is a rural electric distribution cooperative which provides power to just over 10,000 homes. Sean's responsibilities include design and analysis of a 7.2/12.47 KV distribution system, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system implementation, CAD based system mapping, and some surveying work staking new power lines.
Design Team: Final EE-452 Presentation

Mark DeCou and Jeff Nelson. " Controller Design for Small Component Ovens," 1994-1995.

Mark DeCou: Mark graduated in May 1995 (BSEE) and currently works at Harris RF Communications in Rochester, New York. His title is Electrical RF/Analog Engineer. His duties include analog circuit design, directing support staff, and parts cost analysis and procurement.
Jeff Nelson: Jeff graduated in May 1995 (BSEE) and currently is employed with Caterpillar Incorporated in the Hauling Units and Motor Grators Division in Peoria. He is a Development Engineer and is currently writing transmission control software.
Design Team at International Conference on Applications of Controls and Robotics- Orlando, Florida

Jeff Alig and David Redfield. "Design of A Neural Phase-Locked Loop," 1994-1995.

David Redfield: Dave graduated in May 1995 (BSEE) and is employed with Caterpillar Incorporated in the Engine Systems Division in Peoria. He is a Development Engineer. Responsibilities include software development and microcontroller interfacing for embedded controller applications.
Jeff Alig: Jeff graduated in December 1995 (BSEE), December 1997(MSEE). Jeff continued the neural phase-locked loop (PLL) research for his MSEE Thesis. He is employed with the Systems and Controls Research Department at Caterpillar Inc. in Peoria.

David Comisky and J. Michael Drake. "A Neural Analog-to-Digital Converter with Resolution Enhancement," 1993-1994.

David Comisky: Dave graduated in May 1994 (BSEE) and works for Texas Instruments in Houston, Texas. He is in the Systems Group of the TMS320C8x Applications Department. His reponsibilities include direct customer support, system architecture and design, high-speed digital signal processing, ASIC and FPGA design.
J. Michael Drake: J. Michael graduated in May 1994 (BSEE). He was employed with Texas Instruments from May 1994 through August 1995. He is currently employed with Caterpillar Incorporated in Peoria. His current project is an obstacle detection scheme for use on an autonomous mining truck which includes TMS320C40 DSP and 68040 microprocessor programming and hardware design.
Design Team at Bradley Research Exhibition

Michael Waldschmidt. "Investigation of Decreasing the Convergence Time of a Modified Hopfield Neuron," 1993-1994.

Michael Waldschimidt: Mike graduated in May 1994 (BSEE) and is currently employed with Toyota Motor Manufacture North America (TMMNA) as a project engineer. TMMNA designs equipment to handle car body changes in the four Toyota plants in North America. Mike's responsibilities are PLC program design for resistance weld machines, and electrical and mechanical design modifications of weld equipment.

Al Pintoy and Jonathan Wood. "A New Design Strategy for the Tank and Hopfield Neural Analog-to-Digital Converter," 1992-1993.

Al Pintoy: Al graduated in May 1993 (BSEE) and currently works at PC Quote in Chicago which provides real-time updates of all stock market data. The most popular feed is a 112K satellite link. He currently writes low level code for embedded 286 and 386 communication cards and device driver code for interfacing to OS/2, Windows, and DOS.
Jonathan Wood: Jon graduated in May 1993 (BSEE) and has been recently promoted to Senior Consultant with Andersen Consulting in Chicago. He is involved in the design and implementation of high-speed communication networks for Andersen's clients. The first nine months of the job was spent in Argentina.