Resources Available to Undergraduates

To support classroom and project work, WPI makes every effort to provide students with hands-on experience with state-of-the-art research and support facilities. Below are a few of the facilities available to WPI undergraduates:

Computer Resources

Resources In Fuller Laboratories

WPI's newest academic building, Fuller Laboratories, is designed to provide dedicated space for faculty, staff and students working in the information sciences. The Computing and Communications Center (CCC) is located in this building, along with the Computer Science Department and the Academic Technology Center.

CCC provides a wide range of services and access to computer resources for the WPI community and manages an array of powerful UNIX, Linux and Windows servers. All WPI students, faculty and staff may obtain a login ID from the CCC for academic course works, research and self-education. The ID will remain in force as long as the person continues to be registered as a student or to be employed by WPI. The systems have been configured so that the user will see the same familiar environment no matter which CCC workstation is used. CCC facilities are accessible from a wide variety of locations on campus or from around the world via the campus connection to the Internet. CCC operates the campus data network and Internet connectivity, including a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to access internal resources remotely. Computer systems operated by academic departments are also on the same CCC communications infrastructure, so they are accessible just as easily.

The CCC facilities offer x-terminals with Linux servers, as well as high-end PCs and several Macs. In addition to several computer classrooms and specialized labs, the CCC supports open access labs in every academic building totaling hundreds of stations across the campus. Each of these labs offers the same user interface, software profile, and network access to personal files as does the CCC lab. PC file servers drive laser printers in the CCC facilities and other locations across campus. Also accessible in the CCC are a color postscript laser printer and scanning devices. Since the campus network distributes computing services across the campus, network-attached PCs in other buildings can use the CCC print service to generate high-quality output for reports and resumes. The servers also provide file service for many software packages including PC-based desktop publishing, spread sheets, databases, programming languages, and department courseware.

CCC supports the residence and fraternity network services. Using their personal PCs, students in residence halls can access the same software and interface available in CCC PC labs across campus. A wireless network is available in all academic buildings as well as primary residence centers. Wireless laptops are available on loan for use in the library and campus center. In addition to supporting the academic computing system on campus, CCC operates the administrative system that provides data processing services to WPI administrative offices. The WPI information system provides ready access to important registration information. Students update their biographical information, check grades and drop/add courses over the network via the web interface to the administrative system.

CCC manages a computer help desk to answer users' questions on any of the computer platforms and to provide technical support for endorsed software packages. CCC also provides instruction sessions on supported software in the state-of-the-art computer-training classroom that the CCC maintains in the Gordon Library.

General Computer Science Department Facilities

Fuller 2nd Floor

The department is housed in the specially designed Fuller Laboratories building, providing substantial office and laboratory space. A wide variety of computing equipment is available for course work, project work, and research in computer science.

The department has multiple Sun UltraSPARC, SGI, and Intel machines running Solaris, IRIX, Linux, and other operating systems, for interactive use. These may be accessed via roughly 70 PC's located in department offices, as well as from any of CCC's publicly available computers.

Every classroom, laboratory and office in Fuller Labs is connected to the campus-wide high speed communications network. The network provides access to other computing resources, including the Computing and Communications Center, and the Internet.

Resources In Higgins Laboratories

Keck Design Center

Mechanical Engineering

The Computer Classroom

2nd Floor

The Keck Design Center contains computer workstations with state-of-the-art computer-aided design software for mechanical devices and is primarily used to support entry- level CAD courses. The software also allows the modeled geometry to be transported to other analysis packages available in the Center.

Laboratory lectures are held in this room which allows the instructor to lecture and the students have hands-on availability of the material being presented.

The Design Studio

2nd Floor

The Design Studio provides an environment linked by computational equipment and networks to outside manufacturing facilities. High-end Sun Workstations, with software support for video-picture-within-the-monitor teleconferencing, provide two-way communication of audio, video, and data between the Design Studio and to offcampus sites.

In the computationally equipped studio, students have clustered seating around multiple workstations. Design work can be done on the workstations and discussed or analyzed with off-campus sponsors or collaborators in real time as changes are made. Part files can be ported to rapid prototyping machines or lithography units within the Design Studio and beyond. Video cameras at the prototyping stations show the real-time fabrication within a window on the workstations.

Resources In The Washburn Laboratories

HAAS Technical Center For Computer-Controlled Machining

Mechanical Engineering
First Floor

The center is primarily for undergraduate teaching and projects. The eight new CNC machine tools include a lathe with live tooling and a barfeeder, as well as two vertical machining centers with four, and more, axes. They are used in ME 1800, ME 3820, and ES 3323. The machine tools provide for the fabrication, i.e., realization, of parts, especially those designed on computers. The machine tools are important for supporting WPI's project basededucation. The machine tools are also used in graduate education and manufacturing engineering research, as well as to produce apparatus to support research efforts in other fields. The center is part of a network of over 30 other colleges and universites in North America which also have Haas Technical Centers designed by Haas Automation, Oxnard, CA.

Management Microcomputer Laboratory

Management
Second Floor

The Management Microcomputer Lab contains fourteen personal computers that are networked to the University backbone. Spreadsheet, word processing, and database management packages are accessible from the lab, as well as software for simulation, quality control, and management science analyses. Students use the lab for course work and projects. The lab is open during normal business hours for the Department of Management and until 10 pm weekdays only.

The Manufacturing Design Studio

Mechanical Engineering
First Floor

The eight (8) Sun workstations and 10 PCs, with CAD and CAM software, in the Manufacturing Design Studio are linked through WPI's computer network to the CNC machine tools in the Haas Technical Center. This provides a modern multi-user design and prototype production facility for student use for projects, research and class/lab work.

Manufacturing Engineering Research Center

Mechanical Engineering
First Floor

This consists of six laboratories: Haas Technical Center, Manufacturing Laboratory, Computer-aided Manufacturing Lab, Machining Dynamics Lab, Surface Metrology Lab, and the Robotics Lab. These include a wide variety of instrumentation, measurement and computational and facilities for the control and monitoring, modeling and design of manufacturing tools, products and processes. The center also has access to external machine shop facilities.

These labs combine a large machinery bay area with an attached air-conditioned computer laboratory. Equipment in the Robotics Lab includes a number of industrial robots, a Coordinate Measurement Machine (CMM), a machining area with CNC machine tools, and specialized automation equipment interfaced to PLC's. The Surface Metrology Laboratory has scanning laser microscopes, conventional profilers, specialized software for analyzing measured surface fixtures, including fractal analysis. The CAM Lab includes several Unix-based engineering graphics workstations used for CAD, solid modeling, kinematics analysis, FEA, CIM and expert system development, and a number of computers set up for data acquisition and realtime control. Cooperative research is frequently done with faculty in many areas.

MIS/OIE ORACLE/LEAN Lab

Management
Second Floor

The Department of Management is a participating member in Oracle Corporation's Oracle Academic Initiative. OAI participants integrate Oracle products in a number of their courses to provide students with real-world experience working with enterprise systems. The MIS/OIE Oracle/Lean Lab is located in WB228. In addition to 24 high-end desktop computers with flat panel screens, the lab houses numerous servers as well as specialized equipment and servers used for test purposes. Each computer is wired to the university backbone through a 100 megabit connection. Additionally, there is an internal network that is used with the Department's servers.

In addition to the computing resources available in the MIS/OIE Oracle/Lean Lab, moveable tables support process-oriented laboratories associated with lean design and the OIE program.

Project And Educational Facilities

Advanced Casting Research Center

(See full description under Research Centers and Institutes.)

Center For Heat Treating Excellence (CHTE)

(See full description under Research Centers and Institutes.)

Morris (Butch) Boorky Powder Metallurgy Research Center (PMRC)

(See full description under Research Centers and Institutes.)

Computer Science Project Laboratories

Fuller

Because project work is a significant part of a WPI education, the Computer Science Department has several laboratories devoted to undergraduate and graduate project work. These laboratories have a wide variety of computer equipment available for student use.

Discovery Classroom

Mechanical Engineering
Higgins: Second Floor

This state-of-the-art classroom provides a non-traditional, discovery-based learning environment that supports learning modules which unify the analytical, computa- tional, and experimental engineering approaches. The room seats 90 and features experimental facilities that allow students to examine the details of physical phenomena during interactive class exercises. A multi-purpose laboratory adjacent to the classroom permits small-group exercises and design work.

Engineering Experimentation Laboratory

Mechanical Engineering
Higgins: Basement

The Experimental Laboratory provides the support for undergraduate courses designed to develop analytical and experimental skills in modern engineering methods based on current electronic instrumentation and computer- based data acquisition systems. Engineering analysis and design, and the principles of instrumentation are emphasized. The laboratory affords the student an opportunity to use modern devices in actual experiments in areas such as heat transfer, flow measurement and visualization, force/torque/strain measurements, motion and vibration measurements, and laser applications.

HAAS Technical Center For Computer-Controlled Machining

See full description under Resources in Washburn Laboratories.

Mechanical Engineering Project Laboratory

Mechanical Engineering
Higgins: Basement

The Project Lab is a dedicated multipurpose laboratory for Major Qualifying Projects, which need construction and storage space. This lab includes a fully staffed machine shop to assist the students in the design, layout and fabrication of components needed for students' experiments.

Research Centers And Institutes

A number of faculty members have formed multi-disciplinary research centers and institutes at WPI. These active research centers and programs provide excellent and unique interdisciplinary research opportunities. All of these centers and groups conduct outstanding state-of-the-art research sponsored by governmental and industrial agencies. The centers listed and described below offer opportunities to undergraduates to work with ongoing research activities through MQPs, industrial internships, coop opportunities, summer employment and international project activities.

Center For Holographic Studies And Laser Technology (CHLST)

Mechanical Engineering
Higgins: First Floor

The CHSLT was founded in 1978 and is furnished with state-of-the-art facilities which are used for research and educational activities. These activities range from fundamental studies of laser light interaction with materials to sophisticated applications in metrology.

The CHSLT research is in areas relating to microelectronics, radar technology, microtechnology, micromechanics, submarine technology, jet engine technology, avionics, biomedicine, modem powder materials, ceramics, composites, energy systems, micro-scale material science and engineering, interconnection technology, and computational modeling. The strength of the CHSLT lies in a comprehensive utilization of laser technology, optics, computational methods, mechanical engineering, materials science and engineering, and computer data acquisition and processing. Building on these strengths, greatly diversified projects in a number of areas of current interest are being conducted using the Center's own technique and innovative methods.

The CHSLT develops and maintains cooperative and exchange programs with leading teaching and research institutions in the United States and abroad.

Metal Processing Institute (MPI)

Mechanical Engineering
Washburn: Third Floor

The Metal Processing Institute (MPI) is an industry-university alliance. Its mission is to design and carry out research projects identified in collaboration with MPI's industrial partners in the field of near and net shape manufacturing. MPI creates knowledge that will help enhance the productivity and competitiveness of the metal processing industry, and develops the industry's human resource base through the education of WPI students and the dissemination of new knowledge. More than 100 private manufacturers participate in the institute and their support helps fund fundamental and applied research that addresses technological barriers facing the industry. The MPI researchers also develop and demonstrate best practices and state-of-the-art processing techniques. MPI offers educational opportunities and corporate resources to both undergraduate and graduate students. Specifically,

For further details visit the MPI office on the third floor of Washburn, Room 326, or the MPI website. MPI's research programs are carried out by three distinct research consortia. These are described below:

Advanced Casting Research Center (ACRC)

Mechanical Engineering
Washburn: Basement

The laboratory provides experimental facilities for course laboratories and for undergraduate and graduate projects. The laboratory is equipped with extensive melting and casting facilities, computerized data acquisition systems for solidification studies, thermal analysis units, liquid metal filtration apparatus, rheocasting machines and a variety of heat treating furnaces. The laboratory has strong collaborations with industry and students work directly with professional engineers from sponsoring companies. Fifty-five corporate members participate in and support the casting research programs. Student scholarships offered by the Foundry Education Foundation (FEF) are available through the laboratory. The ACRC conducts workshops, seminars, and technical symposiums for national and local industries. The laboratory is available throughout the year for project activity and thesis work as well as summer employment. Project opportunities at international sites are also available through ACRC/MPI.

Center For Heat Treating Excellence (CHTE)

Mechanical Engineering
Washburn: Third Floor

The center is an alliance between the industrial sector and researchers to collaboratively address short-term and longterm needs of the heat treating industry. It is the center's intent to enhance the position of the heat treating industry by applying research to solve industrial problems and to advance heat treatment technology. The center's objective is to advance the frontiers of thermal processing through fundamental research and development.

Specifically, the center will pursue research to develop innovative processes to:

Over thirty-five corporate members participate and support the CHTE research programs. MPI project opportunities, industrial internship, and summer employment are available through CHTE/MPI.

Morris (Butch) Boorky Powder Metallurgy Research Center (PMRC)

Mechanical Engineering
Washburn: Third Floor

The center addresses the scientific, engineering, and managerial problems of the powder metallurgy industry. By integrating facilities from different disciplines, the center has developed research programs in engineering and management, addressing new technologies as well as methodologies for their implementation, i.e., valve creation and management issues in a small fragmented industry.

The objectives of the PMRC are as follows:

Eighteen corporate members participate and support the PMRC research programs. MQP project opportunities, industrial internships, and summer employment are available through PMRC/MPI.

Research Laboratories And Facilities

These labs are MQP and research activity opportunities.

Aerospace Laboratory

Mechanical Engineering
Higgins: Basement

These experimental facilities provide support for courses, major qualifying projects, faculty and graduate student research. The facilities and instrumentation include a closed-return, high quality 2'x2' wind tunnel, a subsonic open-return wind tunnel with a 18"x24" test section, a supersonic flow facility, laser Doppler velocimeter, hotwire anemometry system, laser diagnostics, an intensified camera system, and computer data acquisition systems, and an ultrasonic measurement system.

Analog/Mixed Signal Microelectronics Laboratory

Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
Atwater Kent

The Analog/Mixed Signal Microelectronics Research Laboratory comprises instrumentation, workstations, and software for the complete integrated circuit design and verification process. Full CAD software tools are available for schematic capture, simulation, layout, parasitic extraction, and layout-vs.-schematic verification. Fabrication facilities are available through MOSIS and industry partners. The equipment required to test the fabricated circuits (thereby verifying the design principles and completing the design process) has been purchased with a grant awarded by the National Science Foundation under the CISE Research Instrumentation Grant program. Undergraduate projects and graduate research are ongoing in the areas of system-on-a-chip design for biomedical applications, self-calibrating analog-to-digital converters, and low-jitter phase-locked-loop systems.

Antenna Laboratory

Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
Atwater Kent

The antenna laboratory focuses on the design and development of some basic and specialized antennas and antenna systems for measurement and testing purposes, including the Microwave Nondestructive Evaluation (Microwave NDE).

The antenna laboratory is equipped with the state-of the-art measurement devices including Agilent8722 Network Analyzer (0.5-40 GHz), numerous signal sources, power meters, RF power amplifiers, and a full set of standard- gain horns covering the range from 1 to 30 GHz. The laboratory has been particularly active in the area of patch antenna design and in the UHF antenna design. The laboratory contains numerous facilities for the numerical simulation of diverse RF and radiating systems including 25 Ansoft HFSS v. 10.0 on site licenses and in-house Method-of-Moments software.

Biomechanical Engineering Laboratories

Mechanical Engineering
Higgins: First Floor

This complex provides experimental and computational facilities for the laboratory component of courses, major qualifying projects, and graduate research. The Biomechanical Engineering Laboratory complex includes the following:

The Biomechanics/Biofluids Laboratory: provides experimental facilities in the areas of biomechanics and biofluids. The laboratory has equipment for measuring force, deformation and kinematic variables as well as fluid flow, pressure and velocity. The laboratory contains PC-based computational and data acquisition facilities. The Biomaterials Laboratory: is equipped for the evaluation of biological tissues, biomedical materials and surgical constructs with a focus on orthopedic and dental applications. The laboratory contains a computer controlled biaxial testing machine for use in these studies. The Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory: provides experimental facilities for the design, development and testing of electro-mechanical assistive devices. The Assistive Technology Resource Center is a part of the laboratory.

Bioprocess Laboratory

Biology and Biotechnology
Salisbury

The Department of Biology and Biotechnology has a 1600 square foot laboratory for courses, projects and research in bioprocess, which is the application of biotechnology and engineering principles to produce valuable products. This lab houses state-of-the-art equipment for fermentation, centrifugation, tangential flow filtration, rheometry, spectrophotometry, and high performance liquid chromatography.

The lab is used for courses in Fermentation, Separation of Biological Molecules, Downstream Processing, and a course in Scale-Up that enables students to gain experience in bioprocessing at the 50 liter scale. This combination of facilities and courses gives WPI students experience unmatched by any other university in the country.

Center For Sensory And Physiologic Signal Processing - C(SP)2

Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
Atwater Kent

Researchers within the C(SP)2 apply signal processing, mathematical modeling, and other electrical and computer engineering skills to study applications involving electromyography (EMG - the electrical activity of skeletal muscle).

We are improving the detection and interpretation of EMG for such uses as the control of powered prosthetic limbs, restoration of gait after stroke or traumatic brain injury, musculoskeletal modeling and clinical/scientific assessment of neurologic function.

Center Of Comparative Neuroimaging (CCNI)

Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
Atwater Kent

CCNI operates two high-performance superconducting magnetic resonance (MR) scanners at field strengths of 4.7 T and 9.4 T. Both systems are used for imaging rodents and rhesus monkeys. The lab designs and develops custom- tailored gradient and RF coil technology and switching electronics to conduct leading-edge functional imaging of fully awake animals.

CCNI occupies approximately 1200 sq. ft. floor space in AK014 - 018 and is equipped with high-end computer systems, network analyzers, LCR meters, frequency sweepers, gradient amplifiers, power supplies and other dedicated magnetic resonance imaging equipment. A number of powerful custom-developed numerical analysis tools (Method of Moments and Multi-Transmission Line models) are available to simulate the behavior of low and high-frequency coils in the presence of biological loads for a wide-range of imaging applications. Single and multi-coil RF systems for high and ultra-high fields suitable for cranial imaging of mice, rats, marmosets, and rhesus monkeys have been designed and implemented. The lab also develops multi-channel human head coils in clinical 3T and experimental 7T MR scanners.

Another focus of CCNI is the development of RF coils for high resolution breast imaging for early stage cancer detection. The lab is presently developing anatomically correct multi-mode and array coil configurations for deployment in commercial MR scanners.

Center For Wireless Information Networking Studies (CWINS)

Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
Atwater Kent

The Center for Wireless Information Network Studies is a renowned compact wireless research laboratory with a successful history of research alliances with other industrial and academic groups. The center has performed research for government agencies and has close ties with the world-leading organizations in the wireless industry. The core competence of the center is in indoor radio channel propagation measurement modeling and in the development of testbeds and tools for design and performance monitoring of wireless indoor networks.

Ceramic Processing Laboratory

Mechanical Engineering
Washburn: Third Floor

This facility serves the Materials Science and Engineering Program, the Manufacturing Engineering Program, and other departments. The laboratory contains a variety of powder processing and characterization equipment, as well as equipment for green body consolidation and sintering. A specially equipped room houses the electric discharge-machining laboratory.

City Lab

Interdisciplinary and Global Studies Division Project Center
In collaboration with: Electrical and Computer Engineering Department (Atwater Kent)
Computer Science Department (Fuller)

City Lab is an interdisciplinary laboratory dedicated to the study of cities and to the development of urban information technologies - both soft and hard - to assist municipalities in their maintenance, management and planning activities. The lab focuses on the collection, archival, manipulation and analysis of municipal information that can be used for urban and environmental maintenance, management and planning. The lab assists project teams that complete urban and environmental Interactive Qualifying Projects at WPI Project Centers. Major Qualifying Projects with the Computer Science department foster the creation of web-based urban information systems that are incubated on City Lab servers to facilitate the dissemination and utilization of the accumulated city knowledge resulting from WPI's interdisciplinary and global studies. Innovative urban technologies are developed, through Major Qualifying Projects in City Lab's hardware laboratory located in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department, to automate the collection of urban information. City Lab also promotes a number of urban initiatives in a variety of service-learning contexts. Current initiatives include: the Hometown Initiative, the E-campus Initiative and the City Sounds Initiative.

Computational Gas And Plasma Dynamics Laboratory (CGPL)

Mechanical Engineering
Higgins: Second Floor

The mission of CGPL is to develop and apply advanced computational methodologies in the modeling of complex gas and plasma flows. Research studies in CGPL are focused on aerospace systems and technologies that include: electric propulsion, spacecraft-induced environment interactions, small thruster internal and plume flows, rarefied gas dynamics, magnetogasdynamics, and crystal growth in microgravity. Strong emphasis is placed in CGPL's participation in space programs and missions. CGPL is equipped with several UNIX and personal workstations, data storage devices and printers.

Convergent Technologies Center (CTC)

Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
Atwater Kent

The laboratories in this center combine diverse expertise for the exploration of the emerging and converging technologies of computing, communications and cognition. The Polaroid Machine Vision Laboratory (PMVL) and the Network Computing Applications and Multimedia (NETCAM) laboratory focus on the development of new algorithms and moving emergent technologies into commercial, medical and defense related applications for its sponsors.

Research in the NETCAM lab derives from the technologies generated by the success of the Internet, digital multimedia and distributed objects and middleware. Current projects explore the optimization of network protocols for multimedia, and other QoS (Quality of Service) dependent internet traffic, especially in satellite based and other extreme network architectures. Research in the PMVL lab has resulted in the development of highly efficient algorithms and new theoretical performance bounds for machine vision, automatic target recognition and image fusion for optical, Radar IR, SAR, and SONAR data.

Cryptography And Information Security (CRIS) Laboratory

Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
Atwater Kent

The CRIS Laboratory conducts research and development in cryptography and its applications. One research focus are fast implementations of the next generation of publickey algorithms such as elliptic and hyperelliptic curve schemes. We work on fast software algorithms and efficient hardware architectures. The lab is equipped with industry-standard development tools for ASIC and FPGA target hardware. We also apply Xilinx FPGAs and Altera EPLDs to a new type of crypto systems which allow for a fast switch of private-key encryption algorithms ("algorithm agility").

Another research focus is the integration of cryptography and data security into new communication networks. We work on the design and implementation of security protocols for wireless networks, with an emphasis on wireless LANs. Another network type of interest are highspeed Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) networks. We investigate system design and algorithmic issues.

Data/Knowledge Base Research Laboratory

Computer Science
Fuller

The Data/Knowledge Base Research Laboratory supports research in very large data and knowledge base systems. Current research covers three topics:

  1. distributed warehousing;
  2. XML data management; and
  3. continuous query processing systems.

The laboratory is equipped with a number of Intel-based PCs.

Distributed Processing Laboratory

Computer Science
Fuller

The Distributed Systems Laboratory supports research and project work in distributed processing and distributed systems. The laboratory is equipped with a number of Intel-based PCs.

Fire Science Laboratory

Fire Protection Engineering
Higgins: Basement

The Fire Science Laboratory supports small-scale and medium-scale experimentation in fire dynamics, combustion/explosion phenomena, detection, and fire and explosion suppression.

Serving as both a teaching and research facility, the lab accommodates undergraduate projects as well as graduate students in fire protection engineering, mechanical engineering, and related disciplines.

Fluid Dynamics Laboratory

Mechanical Engineering
Higgins: Third Floor

This laboratory provides experimental facilities and instrumentation for experimental activities in the area of fluid dynamics. A small, open-return subsonic wind tunnel is available for use, and small experiments may be set up as required. Separate areas are provided for model preparation and small-scale experiments on space experiment packages.

Hydrodynamics Laboratory

Mechanical Engineering
Higgins: Basement

This laboratory provides experimental facilities and instrumentation for character-ization of liquid flow phenomena. A free surface water tunnel with a 2x2-foot test section and vertical water tank are available. These facilities allow for flow visualization and are supported by data acquisition systems and various flow measurement devices.

Laser Laboratories

Mechanical Engineering
Higgins: First Floor

The laser laboratories are used for both research and educational activities. The labs are equipped with several systems utilizing He-Ne, Arion, and Nd:TAG Lasers. The labs are supported by a self-contained network of computers and peripheral facilities, as well as supporting instrumentation systems. The lasers, computers and supporting instrumentation are used in studies of fundamental phenomena governing high-energy- density interactions in thin film imaging, with powder metal materials, plastics, ceramics and composites, micromachining, underwater propagation, holography, displacement and strain measurement, vibrations, fracture mechanics, mathematical modeling, numerical computations and applications to other problems of modern science, engineering and technology.

Manufacturing Laboratory

Manufacturing Engineering
Washburn: First Floor

A range of manufacturing processes (sawing, drilling, grinding, bending, MIG and spot welding, and a large selection of manual and Haas CNC machine tools and eight (8) workstations and 10 PCs with CAD/CAM software) are available to support the academic programs in Manufacturing Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. Students can also draw on many other resources available, including a wide variety of robots, a coordinate measuring machine, and CAD/CAM systems.

See the Manufacturing Design Studio and Haas Technical Center for computer-controlled machining, under Resources.

Mathematics Laboratories

Mathematical Sciences

To complement WPI's math classes, the department has two computer laboratories: The Statistics Multimedia Classroom, an interactive classroom with PCs; The Math Lab with X-terminals. The labs are also supported by a full time Computer Operations Manager and Instructors' Associates who assist students with their mathematical computer needs.

Mechanical Testing Laboratories

Mechanical Engineering
Washburn: First Floor

Experimental mechanical testing laboratories are available for teaching and research related to mechanical properties and deformation of metals, ceramics, and composite materials. Equipment available includes: two computercontrolled Instron 8502 Servo-Hydraulic Tension-Compression Systems with supporting grips, environmental chambers, and furnaces; an Instron Model 4201 computerized tensile tester for high-accuracy, low-load testing of ceramic materials; an ASCERA hydraulic tensile tester for brittle materials; two high-temperature and three roomtemperature stress-rupture systems.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Imaging Facility

Biomedical Engineering

A Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Imaging facility is located at the Central Massachusetts Magnetic Imaging Center (CMMIC) and is part of a joint research program between the Biomedical Engineering Department and the Department of Radiology at UMass Memorial Health Care. This facility houses a General Electric (GE) 2.0 Tesla (T) imaging spectrometer as well as a chemistry/electronics laboratory for sample preparation and radio frequency coil research. In addition to the 2.0 T instrument, two GE 1.5 T clinical imaging instruments are also available at CMMIC for suitable research projects.

Optical And Electron Microscopy Laboratories

Mechanical Engineering
Washburn: Second Floor

One scanning electron microscopes (SEM), an analytical scanning transmission electron microscope (AEM), optical reflection and transmission microscopes, and supporting sample preparation and photographic equipment are the major facilities available for microstructural analysis. The JSM840 (SEM) is equipped with stage-automated digital image analysis, a light element (Uranium down to Boron) Quantum X-Ray detector with a Kevex Delta system, and a wavelength dispersive X-ray analyzer. The JEOL 100C (AEM) is equipped with a Devex 8000 EDX system. These facilities are used primarily for micro-structural analysis and determination of crystal structures of fine phases present in metals and ceramics.

Pavement Research Laboratory

Civil and Environmental Engineering
Kaven: Basement

The pavement research laboratory provides support for research and courses, major qualifying projects, faculty and graduate student. It is well equipped to conduct complete characterization of pavement materials. The state of the art array of equipment includes compactor, moisture susceptibility testing equipment, loaded wheel tester and extraction and recovery equipment. The laboratory contains some of the most advanced testing equipment - most notable of these are the material testing system (capable of conducting a wide range of tests, including stress-strain tests, indirect tensile strength, repeated uniaxial loading, Quality Control/Quality Assurance (QC/QA) frequency sweep, resilient modulus, and triaxial shear strength), the Model Mobile Load Simulator (use of this equipment enables the simulation of a large amount of traffic within a short period of time and evaluation of long-term performance of pavement materials), and an array of Non Destructive Testing equipment consisting of the Portable Seismic Property Analyzer, Falling Weight Deflectometer and Ground Penetrating Radar. In addition, WPI researchers will have access to field instrumentation available from the Maine DOT full-scale pavement loading and testing program. A major focus of the pavement engineering program is on integration of undergraduate and graduate curriculum with research projects funded by Maine Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, New England Transportation Consortium and National Science Foundation.

Satellite Navigation Laboratory

Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
Atwater Kent

This laboratory provides facilities for work on civilian uses of satellite systems, especially the Global Positioning System. Receivers, signal processors and computers are provided for work on the utilization of the DOD BPS system for civilian purposes, especially aircraft navigation and landing.

Signal Processing And Information Networking Laboratory (SPINLAB)

Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
Atwater Kent

The Signal Processing and Information Networking Laboratory (spinlab) provides test equipment and computational resources for MQPs and directed research projects in the areas of digital signal processing, wireless communication systems, software radio, and networking. Recent project sponsors include Bose Inc., General Electric Inc., DARPA, and NSF.

Software Engineering Research Laboratory

Computer Science
Fuller

The Software Engineering Research Lab houses the various software engineering projects led by Prof. George Heineman. The coordinating theme behind the projects is a strong emphasis on developing component-based software systems (CBSE) and providing tools and technologies to support CBSE. Professor Heineman actively pursues research in component-based software engineering, refactoring legacy systems to extract reusable software components, and approaches to monitor complex component-based systems.

Surface Metrology Laboratory (SURF MET LAB)

Mechanical Engineering
Washburn Second Floor

The Surf Met Lab is dedicated to supporting product and process design by advancing the understanding of surface topographies (i.e.; roughness) and the processes which make them. Topographic characterization methods are developed for the reduction of large topographic data sets, such as those acquired by atomic probe microscopy, confocal microscopy, scanning interferometric microscopes, and conventional profilers. The Surf Met Lab has: two scanning laser profilers, a scatterometer (ARS), and a conventional profiler. In addition, the Surf Met Lab has access to AFMs and other equipment through collaborations in the US, and Europe. The Surf Met Lab also has the use of sophisticated analysis software which employs fractal geometry principles.

Ultrasound Research Laboratory

Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
Atwater Kent

The Ultrasound Research Laboratory is a 1200 sq. ft. facility, with office space for 5 graduate students and research space for ultrasound experiments, numerical modeling work, and development of electronic circuits. An experienced electronic technician is also part of the lab. The lab is set up for a wide variety of medical ultrasound development work, including 3D ultrasound hardware and software, development of custom ultrasound systems, and development of ultrasound phantoms. The lab is equipped with medical ultrasound scanners modified for research purposes, such as the HP ImagePoint digital ultrasound system. Ultrasound pulser/receivers and measurement tanks are available, including a scanning tank with stepper motor controlled positioning system for the ultrasound measurements. General instrumentation includes LeCroy digital oscilloscopes, a LeCroy arbitrary function generator, a 350 MHz Tektronix oscilloscope, a HP 3585A Spectrum Analyzer, frequency synthesizers, and plotters.

Vibrations/Control/Dynamics Laboratory

Mechanical Engineering
Higgins: Basement

The Vibrations Laboratory supports educational, project, and research activities in the areas of vibrations and controls. The equipment housed in this lab includes signal analyzers, a 100-lb. shaker table, and computational hardware and software for various vibrations and controls applications.

Visualization And Image Science Laboratory

Computer Science
Fuller

The VIS Laboratory is used for research in visualization, graphics, image processing, and computer vision. Current projects include large-scale multivariate data visualization, volume visualization, multiple object recognition, and model-based vision. The Lab contains an Intel-based server, several SGI workstations (an Octane, 2 O2's, an Indy, and an Indigo 2), and a Pentium 2 PC.

VlSI Design Laboratory

Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
Atwater Kent

The VLSI laboratory supports state of the art design facilities based on both PC and workstation systems. These systems and software are available for the design, testing, simulation, layout and generation of analog, digital and mixed signal integrated circuits.

The software available is based on Tanner Tools for undergraduate and graduate course work, and on Tanner Tools or Cadence Design Systems EDA tools for project and thesis work. Both sets of tools support analog and digital design work. Additionally, the Tanner tools can be used for basic MEMS design work.

Integrated circuits can be fabricated through the MOSIS facility.

X-Ray Diffraction Laboratory

Mechanical Engineering
Washburn: Second Floor

Two fully-automated and computerized x-ray diffractometers are available for teaching and research. In addition, a variety of software has been developed to utilize these instruments effectively. Currently, background modeling, peak searching, and curve fitting with deconvolution, are in use for quantitative phase analysis and residual stress analysis. Search of the JCPDS Powder Diffraction File is available. A variety of x-ray cameras and goniometers are available along with the choice of xray tubes targets to provide a wide x-ray diffraction capability. Additional support software is shared with the Electron Microscopy Facility to generate diffraction patterns for any crystal system in any desired orientation.

Music And Theatre Facilities

Computer Music Laboratories

Daniels Hall

These laboratories support creative and research activity in a variety of music- and sound-related applications including real-time virtual orchestra design and production techniques. The lab contains hardware and software for multi-track digital recording and editing, signal processing, algorithmic composition, sound synthesis, MIDI sequencing, music notation, and music programming.

Great Hall Of Alden

Alden Memorial: First Floor

The Great Hall is used for major productions in Theatre and Music. It is the venue for the Masque Theatre performances. The Hall is sometimes used, in addition, for festive and gala campus functions.

The Little Theatre

Sanford-Riley, Lower Level

Made possible with a major gift from the George I. Alden Trust, this intimate, a 99-seat black-box style theatre is the university's first dedicated theatre facility. With its flexible layout and moveable seating, permanent lighting grid and sound system, control booth, greenroom/ dressing room, and handicapped accessibility, the Little Theatre, a new home for the university's diverse theatre programs, is well suited for a wide range of dramatic presentations. For more information, see the website.

Green Room

Alden Memorial: First Floor

Alden Hall houses many of the theatre activities at WPI, both academic and extra-curricular. The Green Room serves as the laboratory for Department of Humanities and Arts, Division of Drama Theatre Performance projects and Sufficiencies, MQPs and IQPs. The subbasement contains the scene shop and props-storage area and also holds a major work room for Lens and Lights. Students interested in theatre performance and Lens and Lights activities have many resources in Alden Hall.

Spaulding Recital Hall And Other Rooms For Rehearsal And Performance

Alden Memorial: Lower Level

Alden Center for the Performing Arts houses the Spaulding Recital Hall, Perreault Chamber Rehearsal Room, the Janet Earle Choral Rehearsal Room, three practice rooms, and the Knight Lecture Room. Available for practice are Steinway grand pianos and the Three Manual Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ in the main Concert Hall. There are three concert grand pianos for recitals, ensemble work and concerts. WPI has some instruments that can be made available to students upon request.

Other Music Facilities

Music facilities also include The Janet Earle Room, The Perreault Chamber Rehearsal Room, the music classroom, practice rooms, computer music labs and storage facilities.

Drama/Theatre Resource Library

The Department of Humanities and Arts Drama/Theatre Resource Library, housed in Salisbury Labs Room 20 and available as posted, contains publications, magazines, published scripts, and other information to assist students working on projects (MQP, IQP, Sufficiency, ISP) in Drama/Theatre. Scripts for current productions can usually be found nearby the Resource Library on the table in the center of the main Humanities and Arts area. Most resource items and display scripts must be used in the immediate area, and this service is not per se a lending library.

George C. Gordon Library

The George C. Gordon Library invites all WPI students to take advantage of the services and resources that the library offers. The library is open over one hundred hours each week during the academic year and offers a stimulating atmosphere for study. Technology infused work spaces are available for individual or group work, and scholarly resources in all formats are provided. Media and popular reading collections for recreational purposes are also available.

The library's Web site is the focal point for library resources and services. The library catalog, electronic journals and books collections, databases, course-specific information, and many other resources are available from it. Access to WPI users who are off-campus is available through the proxy server.

The library collection supports the curriculum and research needs of the WPI community. Currently the library holds 25,000+ electronic journals, 2900+ print journals, 29,000+ electronic books,181,000+ print books, and 150+ research databases. The library collection also includes undergraduate project reports, graduate theses and dissertations, the WPI Archives and Special Collections, most notably the Robert Fellman Dickens Collection. WPI students also have access to the collections of other academic libraries within Central Massachusetts thanks to the library's membership in the Academic and Research Collaborative (ARC). You can find out which libraries participate in this program or acquire an ARC crossborrowing card by visiting Gordon library. Students can also request materials not held in Gordon Library through the Interlibrary Loan Office and Document Delivery service. Students will find that the Gordon Library staff is both knowledgeable in the use of library resources and ready to assist them with their information needs. The Reference Department helps students with research problems and questions, offers library instruction and orientation sessions, and provides research consultations to individuals and to project groups. Members of the staff will be happy to provide students with additional information about library services and resources.

Academic Technology Center

The main office of the Academic Technology Center (ATC) is located in the southwest corner on the 1st floor of Fuller Laboratories. The ATC provides a wide variety of technology-based services in support of the teaching and learning needs of students, faculty and staff, and serves as the central coordinating and distribution hub for most of the audio/visual equipment utilized on campus. The ATC supports all of the technology available in WPI's electronic classrooms and conference rooms. In addition, instructional technology and audio/visual equipment can be reserved and signed out for short periods of time to support educational needs. Equipment loans are for valid WPI projects and classes only, and are not for personal use. The ATC's inventory of loan-out equipment includes laptop PCs, video/data projection systems, digital cameras, digital voice recorders, portable video equipment, TVs, VCRs, DVD players, overhead projectors, small and large screens, and other miscellaneous items such as portable storage, laser pointers, tripods, cables, etc.

In addition, the ATC offers graphic production services to faculty, staff and students. These include large format poster printing, image scanning and printing and converting 35mm slide to digital images. Workshops on using multimedia and presentation graphics software, as well as covering effective design techniques are offered throughout the year.

Extensive multimedia development tools are available in the multimedia resource lab located in the Gordon Library, Room 208 (next to the Circulation Desk). The multimedia resource lab (a.k.a. the Movie Lab) contains 15 Multimedia PCs, DVD/RWs, two flatbed scanners, a PDF scanner, and an instructor station for workshops and classes. Each computer is fully loaded with popular multimedia software, including Photoshop, Premiere, Publisher, 3D Studio Max for animation as well as the Microsoft Office Suite and the full version of Acrobat. Students, faculty and staff have the option of producing their own materials with or without the assistance of ATC staff.

The ATC is also responsible for myWPI, the university's learning and information portal. The myWPI portal is used in support of WPI's academic programs, but also services the communication and collaboration needs of student organizations, faculty/staff committees, and other campus-wide initiatives. The myWPI portal is accessed through the internet. For the fastest assistance, please email the myWPI support team at myhelp@wpi.edu.

A state-of-the-art instructional television classroom/ studio and two adjacent control rooms are also available and are used primarily in support of WPI's distance learning program - the Advanced Distance Learning Network (ADLN). Members of the WPI community who wish to produce a video in support of an educational activity can obtain professional assistance from the ATC (advanced notice is required). Production costs are usually covered by the ATC. On-location production using portable equipment can also be arranged but require additional preparation and planning.

The head end of the WPI cable TV network is located in the ATC. Announcements pertaining to campus events can be shown on the WPI Video Bulletin Board (submissions can be made from the ATC website). In addition, the ATC operates and maintains WPI's satellite receiver, capable of receiving both Ku and C-based transmissions and ISDN/IP-based videoconferencing systems. For more information about the services available from the ATC, please refer to the department's website.

Student Services

Student Development And Counseling Center

The WPI Student Development and Counseling Center (SDCC) provides a wide range of services that are FREE of charge to all students enrolled in classes at WPI. The primary purpose of the SDCC is to provide counseling, educational programming and training, referral, and crisis intervention services to the entire WPI student community focusing on 1) assisting students in their full and complete development as they go through the process of becoming adults so that they may achieve greater levels of personal, academic, and professional success, and 2) assisting students in becoming aware of, and effective in, their roles, relationships, and responsibilities as members of an ever burgeoning global society. The professional staff are trained to help students deal with a variety of issues including:

The SDCC staff can also provide referral services for psychiatric evaluation, psychological and learning disability assessment, or other treatment.

The services of the SDCC are confidential. The mental health professionals and support staff are highly trained and sensitive to students' privacy and personal concerns. The SDCC is located at West Street House, 157 West Street, near the corner of Institute Road. Appointments may be made during the academic year (A through E terms) in person or by calling (508) 831-5540. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. June to mid-August).

Major Selection Program, A Service Of The Career Development Center

Choosing a college major and its associated careers is one of the most important decisions you will make. The Major/ Career Selection Program, or MSP, provides you the means to make that decision in an informed manner. Why? We know that if you are in the "right major" and knowledgeable about the career paths available to you, you will enjoy your coursework, do better academically, and have a passion for your chosen work following graduation.

How can you select a major or learn more about a particular career path that leads to satisfaction? The answer is easy, through the information and experiences the MSP offers.

Contrary to what most people think, the MSP is not just for first-year students. It can help any WPI student to explore, identify and select a major and/or career field. MSP activities include, but are not limited to:

The CDC is located in the lower level of the Project Center. Appointments may be made in person or by calling (508) 831-5260. Office hours are 8:30am.-5:00pm.

MASH (Math And Science Help) Program

MASH is an academic support program for first-year students in mathematics and science courses. Offered to all students enrolled in a supported course, MASH provides assistance in regularly-scheduled study sessions beginning the first week of the term.

MASH review sessions are offered for a limited number of courses which students and faculty have identified as difficult. These courses may have heavy homework assignments or they may require understanding of new and difficult concepts. Whatever the reason, some courses are more challenging than others. MASH helps students meet that challenge.

Each study group is guided by a MASH leader, an undergraduate student who has taken the course before and who, therefore, understands the course material and what the instructor expects. MASH leaders attend all class lectures, take notes, complete assigned readings and other assignments, and conduct three or four 50-minute MASH sessions each week. By attending class and demonstrating effective student behavior, MASH leaders can assist students with the language of the discipline, the integration of lecture and readings, and the development of good study habits.

Through the MASH program, students become actively involved with the content material in a supportive environment. Studies show students who attend MASH sessions regularly earn higher grades than students electing not to participate. But even more important, MASH participants master new concepts, learn to put ideas into perspective, and develop a better way to study. MASH is offered by the Office of Academic Advising.

Academic Resources Center

WPI's Academic Resources Center (ARC) provides academic support services that are designed to enrich and enhance the learning experience of all WPI undergraduate students. Its student-based collaborative learning environment offers individualized assistance in a variety of subjects, as well as a comprehensive peer tutoring program, seminars and workshops.

Students may obtain individual counseling in such areas as learning styles, effective study strategies, problem solving and critical thinking skills, and time management. Appointments may be set up with staff members to develop individualized Academic Success Plans which help students set their academic goals, discover their learning strengths and weaknesses, and design the appropriate learning and study strategies that work best for them. Students may call (508) 831-5281 for an appointment. Periodically, students may find that they need some individual assistance with a particular subject or topic. The ARC peer tutors, who are certified by the College of Reading and Learning Association, help students one-onone in a variety of academic subjects. Tutors are available on a walk-in basis Monday through Thursday. See the up to date tutor schedule. The Academic Resources Center is located in Daniels Hall.

Student Disability Services Office

The mission of the Student Disability Service Office is to ensure that all students with disabilities can freely and actively participate in all facets of University life; to provide and coordinate support services that enable students with disabilities to maximize their educational potential and to increase the level of awareness among members of the University so that students with disabilities are able to perform at a level limited only by their abilities, not their disabilities.

By law, it is the student's responsibility to identify himself/ herself to the Student Disability Services Office (DSO) and to provide documentation of the disability by a licensed professional. (Please note that the documentation for students with learning differences and ADD/ADHD must be dated within the last three years.) All students who have been admitted to WPI have the opportunity to self-identify their disability (physical and/or learning) by filling out the bottom portion of the Voluntary Disclosure form which is enclosed in the New Student Orientation Package. Students should send this form, along with the supporting documentation, to the DSO. Students with disabilities, who are diagnosed after their admission to WPI, must also provide appropriate documentation to the DSO, if they wish to receive accommodations. For further information please visit the Disability Services web page. The Disability Services office, located in Daniels Hall, is open Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Students may drop in or call (508) 831-5235 for an appointment.

Writing Workshop

A Division of the Center for Communication Across The Curriculum (CCAC)

The Writing Workshop offers all WPI students tutorial assistance on writing of any type: course assignments, project work, oral presentations, laboratory reports, proposals, resumes, and letters of application. The workshop is directed by a member of the Humanities and Arts Department faculty and staffed by student peer tutors, all of whom have been trained in a special course on tutoring writing. Students may be referred to the Workshop by faculty, or students may make appointments on their own initiative. The workshop is open according to posted schedules, and its tutorial services are available at no cost. For more information, visit the CCAC website or drop in at the Project Center.

Writing Courses And Advisors

For information on WPI's writing programs, see Humanities and Arts faculty as follows:

Students for whom English is the native language can consult Prof. J. Trimbur (39 Dean St., Room 258) about these programs.

The WPI advisor for undergraduate students whose native language is not English is Prof. J. Forgeng (SL 08).

World Wide Web

The WPI World Wide Web server is the campus information system. It contains a great deal of useful information about people and programs at the university, and is updated frequently. In addition, by using the Web, students gain access to a vast universe of information on any subject imaginable. This is why the Web is such a useful research tool for both faculty and students.

WPI's Web address, or URL, is: www.wpi.edu. Questions about WPI's Web site should be directed to the Web Development Office, webmaster@wpi.edu.

Maintained by webmaster@wpi.edu
Last modified: April 20, 2007 13:36:24