Northern Illinois University
Department of Engineering Technology
College of Engineering and Engineering Technology

Externally Funded Projects

• Internet Accessible Remote Laboratories with Collaborative Design, National Science Foundation, $200,000, July 2012 to July 2015, PI.
• Universal Environment for Delivering Remote-Laboratories within the STEM Displines, National Science Foundation, $149,000, June 2009 to May 2013, PI.
• Design and Development of an Internet Based Physical Laboratory Course within an Undergraduate Program, National Science Foundation, $75,000, March 2005 to Febroary 2008, PI.
• Robovolc: A Robot for Volcano Exploration, European Union, EU, 1.7 M Euro, (Approximately £425,000), July 2000 to June 2003, Co-PI, one of the proposal writers, and project co-coordinator from the University of Portsmouth.
• Bio-robotic Walking Orthosis - Phase 1, Engineering and Physical Science Research Council, United Kingdom, £110,246, January 2001 to June 2003, Co-PI and the main proposal writer.

University Funded Projects

• Internet-based Teaching and Learning Environment with Embedded Assessment, Committee for the Improvement of Undergraduate Education, $4,000, May – December, 2009, The PI and the proposal writer;
• Revising Capstone Course Series, University Assessment Panel, $1,000, April 2007 to December 2007;
• Investigate the use of miniature cameras for micro-machining process, Rock Project, $4,000, May 2007– June 2007.
• Integration of Computer Based Technology to Improve Course Delivery and Learning Outcomes through Continuous Assessment, Committee for the Improvement of Undergraduate Education, $4,000, May 2007– May 2008.
• Redesign of the senior design project course, Vice Provost Office, $1000, January 2007 – December 2007.
• Design and Development of an Electronic Counter for Crowd Control in Public Spaces – A Competition Based Student Project Emerging from a Tripartite Faculty Collaboration, Committee for the Improvement of Undergraduate Education, $3,500, May – December, 2004, Co-PI and one of the proposal writer.
• Web-Based Physical Laboratory System with Vision Feedback, Opportunity Grant, NIU Foundation, $8,000, February 2003 to April 2004, PI and proposal writer.
• Design and Development of an Interfacing System for an Internet-Assisted Laboratory Facility, Omron Electronics Foundation, $3,000, May to July 2003, PI and proposal writer.
• Internet-Based Simulation and Control Environment for Flexible Manipulator Systems Along with the Development of Intelligent Modeling and Control Techniques, Graduate School (summer research appointment), $3,500, June to July 2004, PI and proposal writer.
• Artificial Intelligence Controller for Flexible Robot Manipulator Systems, Graduate School (summer research appointment), $7,000, May to June 2003, PI and proposal writer.
• Internet-Assisted Undergraduate Laboratory Facility with Remote Access, Omron Electronics Foundation, $7,540, May to July 2002, PI and proposal writer.
• Design of a Collaborative Interdisciplinary Simultaneous engineering Educational Project for the ET and IT Curriculum, Committee for the Improvement of Undergraduate Education, $10,500, May to December 2002, Co-PI and proposal writer.
• Advanced Controller for Flexible Robot Manipulator Systems with Real-time Implementation, Graduate School (summer research appointment), $10,000, May to June 2002, PI and proposal writer.
• University of Portsmouth Energy Efficiency Project, University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom, $100,00, January 1999 to December 2000, Co-PI, one of the proposal writers, and project co- coordinator.

Industry Donations

• Arm Cortex LaunchPad Evaluation Kit, $390, Texas Instruments, North America University Program, February 2013.
• DE2-115 FPGA Development and Education Boards, $1,190, Altera Corporation, 101 Innovation Drive, San Jose, CA 95134, October 2012.
• Software for FPGA and ASIC development and associated tools for laboratory development, $3,960, Synplicity Inc., 600 West California Avenue, Sunnyvale, California, CA-94086, August 2005.
• Stepper motors and drivers for senior design projects, $1,284, Lin Engineering, Santa Clara, California, CA-95054, November 2004.
• Servo motor, driver system, and associated software for laboratory development, $2,600, Yaskawa America, Waukegan, IL-60085 August 2003.

Laboratory Development

• During his tenure with NIU Professor Azad has developed a number of laboratory facilities with a total cost of around $400,000.