Identify needs that justify an electrical and computer engineering problem-solving effort:
There are many problems in the world for which solutions may be developed through engineering problem-solving efforts. Some examples some needs that justify problem-solving efforts pertaining to electrical and computer engineering include sustainability issues such as smart-grid optimization and electrical waste-management, as well as more day-to-day concerns such as improving traffic efficiency for high density urban areas or maximizing the efficiency of home energy use.
Develop a design proposal that justifies the need to develop a technical solution to a problem:
Objective (why?)
Improve reliability, performance, and safety for electric trains in Hoboken Light Rail stations.
Background (who? where?)
Light rails have emerged within walkable cities and other densely populated urban areas within recent decades, including the Hoboken PATH station. However, they are not entirely safe. In a horrific accident in the NJ Transit Light Rail, the conductor passed away and 23 passengers were injured when the train collided with a tree that had fallen across the tracks. Many such accidents occur, sometimes costing millions of dollars and weeks of work to repair, and sometimes even costing lives, We seek to optimize the Light Rail system in Hoboken with the use of AI in order to permit smoother, safer, and more reliable travel.
Methodology (how? when?)
Due to recent and rapid advancements in AI technology, the plan is to gather sensor data on the train's function utilising WSNs (wireless sensor networks) embedded in the tracks and train, and devise algorithms in order to develop a system that can effectively analyze the real-time properties of the train and tracks, as well as provide useful feedback on the status of its operation.
Expected results (what?)
The expected result of this design is a system that can scan for and predict potential failures and schedule maintenance accordingly while being completely automated through the sensor network. It shall end up being cost effective as well.
Costs (how much will it cost?)
The setup for a WSN can range anywhere from a few thousand to around $50-100K, based solely on the quantity and quality of the sensors used. To cover the entirety of the light rail, each sensor would realistically would cost around $150, resulting in around a $75K setup cost as well as around $1K to hire laborers to install the sensors and technologists to set up the network itself. Maintaining the network would be cheaper, under $1K a month.