Area I, Core area: 4 courses (12 credit hours)

AE 500: The Automobile - an Integrated System
Credits: 3.00

Factors external to engineering such as markets, financing, and sales; the customer and his/her perceptions as influenced by marketing and performance; volume markets; international aspects. An understanding of the engineering factors in all the components and sub-system areas and in the plant, labor, and supplier areas. Vehicle characteristics and dynamic interactions.

AE 502: Modeling of Automotive Systems
Credits: 3.00

This course will first introduce systems modeling approach and then develop mathematical models for ride, vibration, handling control, etc. of automobiles. The models will then be used to examine the design and performance of an automobile from a systems point of view.

AE 505: Digital Systems and Microprocessors
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite: ECE 305

Introduction to modern digital computer logic. Numbers and coding systems; Boolean algebra with applications to logic systems; combinational and sequential logic design; examples of digital logic circuits; simple machine language programming; microprocessors programming, input/output, interrupts, and system design. (Not open to students with EE degree.)

AE 510: Vehicle Electronics I
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite: ECE 305

Semiconductor Diodes, junction transistors, FETS, rectifiers and power supplies, small signal amplifiers, biasing considerations, gain-bandwidth limitations, circuit models, automotive applications and case studies. (Not open to students with EE degree.)

AE 534: Fundamentals of Thermal/Fluid Sciences
Credits: 3.00

Thermodynamics with emphasis on first and second laws; gas mixtures; introduction to cycles. Kinetics and dynamics of fluid flow; conservation laws of momentum and energy; flow and friction in conduits. Mechanism of heat transfer; introduction to convention and radiative heat transfer.(Not open to students with ME degree.)

AE 541: Introduction to Automotive Dynamics
Credits: 3.00

An introduction to dynamics and vibrations. Overview of dynamics and vibration of automotive components and suspension systems. Automotive maneuvering and vehicle response. (Not open to students with ME degree.)

AE 545: Vehicle Ergonomics I
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite: IMSE 442

Overview of driver characteristics, capabilities, and limitations. Human variability and driver demographics, driver performance measurements. Driver information processing models, driver errors and response time. Driver sensory capabilities: vision, audition, and other inputs. Vehicle controls and displays. Driver anthropometry, biomechanical considerations, seating comfort.

AE 547: Automotive Powertrains I
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite: ME 265

Topics in kinematics and dynamics including engine output and balance; mechanisms and machine theory. Force analysis and design of gears and shaft systems. Analysis of planetary gear trains. Design and analysis of automotive gear boxes.

AE 581: Materials Selection in Automotive Design
Credits: 3.00

This course develops an understanding of the properties of modern engineering materials and explains the role of the materials selection process in product design, development, and manufacturing. Materials selection/design problems and case studies involving automotive and other commercial products are discussed. The role of environmental regulations, societal pressures and customer wants on the selection of alternate materials is discussed.

AE 583: Project Management and Concurrent Engineering
Credits: 3.00

Project management emphasis including project scope management, time management, cost management, quality management, human resource management, risk management, etc. Concurrent engineering and project leadership. Applications to automotive projects.

AE 587: Automotive Manufacturing Processes
Credits: 3.00

Manufacturing processes, including casting, forging, forming, machining, molding, etc., are examined specifically in the context of their applications in the automotive industry. Quality control and techniques, process selection and methods are emphasized.

AE 596: Internal Combustion Engines I
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite: ME 330

Comparison of several forms of internal combustion engines including Otto and diesel-type piston engines; performance parameters and testing; thermodynamic cycles and fuel-air cycles; combustion in SI and Diesel engines; charge formation and handling; ignition; elements of exhaust emissions. (Not available to students with ME 496 or equivalent background.)

Area II, Concentration Area: 4 courses (12 credit hours)

IMSE 513: Robust Design
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite: IMSE 510 or equivalent

Students will learn models and methods in the context of overall strategies to empirically study the design of products and manufacturing processes to reduce variability and to reduce sensitivity to parameter variation. Topics include: process capability studies and measures, basic DOE concepts, factorial experiments, evaluating sources of variation, evolutionary operation and adaptive statistical process control.

IMSE 538: Intelligent Manufacturing Systems
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite: IMSE 317 or equivalent

A comprehensive and integrated approach to the topics associated with the science of artificial intelligence and their role in today's manufacturing environments. Design and management issues including information systems in an automated and integrated manufacturing environment are also covered.

IMSE 561: Total Quality Management and Six Sigma
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite: IMSE 510 or equivalent

This course covers implementing Total Quality Management (TQM), undertaking Six Sigma Projects, and applying Baldrige National Quality Award criteria and ISO 9000 principles to improve quality performance in an organization. Topics include Definitions and Importance of Quality, Quality Costs, Quality Function Deployment, Product Specification and Critical-to-quality Measures (CQM), Statistical Quality Control (SQC), Robustness Concepts, Quality System Design and Evaluation. Six Sigma and DMAIC Methodologies, Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) process and IDOV (Identify requirements, Design Alternatives, Optimize the design and Verify process capability) Methodology, and several other concepts and tools related to quality are also covered.

IMSE 593: Vehicle Package Engineering
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite: IMSE 442 or equivalent.

Vehicle package specifications related to exterior and interior design reference points, dimensions, and curb loadings. Benchmarking package studies, ergonomic tools and design practices used in automobile industry. Driver positioning considerations; seat height, heel points, hip points, steering wheel location, seat pan, and back angles. Pedal design issues, gear shift positioning. Visibility of instrument panel space. Armrest and console design considerations. Principles and considerations in selecting and location types and characteristics of controls and displays on instrument panels, doors, consoles, and headers. Engine compartment packaging issues. Perception of interior spaciousness and visibility of the road, over cowl and hood.

ECE 515: Vehicle Electronics II
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite: ECE 510 or equivalent.

CD Ignition, high speed switching, motor drive control, inverters, PWM controllers, active filters, signal conditioners, power electronics, voltage regulators. Selected topics: ASICS, RF amplifiers, battery chargers, solar cells. Project may be required.

ECE 531: Intelligent Vehicle Systems
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisites: ECE 371 or equivalent

The course covers important technologies relevant to intelligent vehicle systems including systems architecture, in-vehicle electronic sensors, traffic modeling and simulation. Students will design and implement algorithms and simulate driver-highway interactions.

ECE 532: Automotive Sensors and Actuators
Credits: 3.00

Prerequisites: graduate standing and permission of advisor/instructor.
Study of automotive sensor requirements; types of sensors; available sensors and future needs. Study of functions and types of actuators. Integrated smart sensors and actuators. Term project.

ECE 533: Active Automotive Safety Systems
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisites: graduate standing and permission of instructor.

Studies of the next generation of active automotive safety systems--intelligent cruise control, lane departure warning, virtual camber, and back-up and blind spot warning systems. Topics include active safety system architecture, enabling technologies for such systems, and future directions.

ECE 546: Electric Vehicles
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisites: graduate standing and permission of instructor.

Fundamental concepts and specifications; energy sources; motors for electric vehicles; controllers and power electronics; engineering impact of electric vehicles.

ECE 5462: Electric Aspects of Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Prerequisite: EE graduate stand; AE510 for non-EE students Credits: 3.00

Introduces fundamental concepts and the electrical aspects of HEV, including the fundamentals, design, control, modeling, battery and other energy storage, electric propulsion systems. It covers vehicle dynamics, energy sources, electric propulsion systems, regenerative braking, parallel and series HEV design, and practical design considerations, specifications of hybrid vehicles.

ECE 565: Digital Control Systems
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite: ECE 460 or equivalent.

Mathematical representation of digital control systems; z-transform and difference equations; classical and state space methods of analysis and design; direct digital control of industrial processes.

ME 537: Automotive Air Conditioning Systems
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite: AE 534 or equivalent.

Applications of HVAC fundamentals to analysis and design of automotive air conditioning systems. Topics include: psychometrics, passenger thermal comfort, refrigeration cycles and system design, heating system design, air flow circuits, air space diffusion, compact heat exchanger design, controls and instrumentation.

ME 543: Vehicle Dynamics
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite: AE 541 or equivalent and graduate standing.

A treatment of the response, ride, and maneuvering of motor vehicles. Road loads, suspension systems, mechanics of pneumatic tires.

ME 545: Acoustics and Noise Control Systems
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite: graduate standing or special permission. For Automotive Engineering students, AE 541 or equivalent.
Fundamentals of acoustical waves, sound propagation and intensity, instruments for vibration and noise, HVAC system noise, automobile and aircraft noise, noise control techniques.

ME 548: Automotive Powertrains II
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite: AE 547 or equivalent.
Simulation of vehicle performance, dynamics in gear shifting, engine balancing, fuel economy, and performance as applied to powertrains. Vehicle powertrain arrangement, manual and automatic transmissions, automotive axles, four-wheel and two-wheel drives, design and manufacturing of gearing systems.

ME 597: Internal Combustion Engines II
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite: AE 596 or ME 596.
Engine fuel requirements; conventional and alternative fuels; fuel handling systems for SI and CI engines; combustion chamber analysis and design for SI and CI engines. Characteristics of SI and CI engines; pollutant formation, emissions and their control; modeling of engine; heat release, combustion process, intake/exhaust.

AE 550: Design of Automotive Chassis and Body Systems
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite: None
This course provides a systems approach to the design of automotive chassis and body components and examines the influence of their design on the overall structural performance of the automobile. Design issues related to structural rigidity, ride comfort, safety and crashworthiness, durability and assembly are covered. Analytical tools used in automotive structural design are discussed. Applications of advanced materials and joining techniques are also discussed.

AE 551 - Application of Finite Element Method in Automotive Structure Design
Credits: 3.00
This course is designed to introduce the application of finite element method in automotive structure design. It includes specific design examples of vehicle NVH and durability with commercial pre-processor and FEA solver. The course also provides theoretical knowledge of finite element analysis and vehicle design.

AE 555 - Vehicle Stability and Control
Credits: 3.00
Introduction to static and dynamic stability characteristics of vehicles. Study on directional vehicle responses and stability in small disturbance maneuver. Design, numerical simulation, and analysis of vehicle control systems (ABS, active suspension, and yaw stability). Prerequisite: Dynamics (ME 345), Control Systems Design and Analysis (ME 442) or equivalents.

AE 565 –Vehicle Acoustic Interior System Design
Credits: 3 .00
This course presents the technology and methodology of vehicle acoustic interior system design. Design of five main interior subsystems, namely dash panel, floor panel, roof, door aperture, and trunk, as well as the whole vehicle will be covered. Both analytical and experimental methods for transmission loss analysis and validation testing will be discussed in detail. Statistical Energy Analysis (SEA) will be used to calculate the power distribution within the subsystems. Determination of damping loss factors and coupling loss factors will be covered. Acoustical material property and material testing will be discussed. Case studies of optimizing acoustic packages of subsystem and the whole vehicle will be presented. The course also includes computer simulation using commercial software and experimental demonstrations.

AE 598: Energy Systems for Automotive Vehicles
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite: None
This course will discuss the current and future energy systems for automotive vehicles. Topics include liquid and gaseous fuels, direct energy conversion systems and fuel cells. Characteristics of various energy systems are discussed with respect to their performance, cost, reliability and environmental concerns. Fuel cell analysis and design is covered in detail.

AE 584: Lightweight Automotive Alloys
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite: None
This course introduces structure-processing-property relationships in the lightweight automotive alloys that are candidates for automotive applications such as aluminum, titanium, and magnesium. Metal matrix composite and intermetallic materials are also discussed. Emphasis will be placed on the processing and design of these materials in future automotive applications.

AE 585: Powertrain Materials and Design
Credits: 3.00
This course will present the materials, processing and design issues related to engine, transmission and drivetrain components of automobiles. The material selection and design principles for powertrain applications will be discussed. In addition to traditional materials, such as cast iron, steel and aluminum alloys, ceramics, composites and lightweight alloys will be covered.

AE 586: Design and Manufacturing of Lightweight Automotive Materials
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite: None
This course will address the design issues and manufacturing considerations for various lightweight automotive structural materials. Design issues will include stiffness, fatigue, vibrations, dent resistance, crush resistance, etc. Methods of producing lightweight automotive structures are discussed. Design for manufacturing, assembly, disassembly and recycling are emphasized.

AE 588 Design and Manufacturing for Environment
Credits: 3.00
This course is focused on the effects of product design and manufacturing on the environment, with special emphasis on automobiles. The fundamental principles of life cycle engineering will be introduced. The importance of environmental improvement will be considered. Design and material selection for recycling, reuse and disposal will be illustrated. Furthermore, it will cover the elementary relationships between design and manufacturing for the development of future environmentally friendly vehicles.

ME 582: Injection Molding
Credit: 3.00
This is an in-depth course on injection molding processes, which include the conventional injection molding process, low pressure injection molding, structural sandwich molding, gas assisted injection molding etc. Material, process and tool design parameters are emphasized. The roles of rheology and flow modeling are discussed. Design issues for injection molded products are also discussed.

ME 584: Mechanical Behavior of Polymers
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite: None
Mechanical behavior of polymers and ceramics are considered in relation to their structures, processing and applications. Emphasis is given on their deformation, fatigue and fracture characteristics. Strengthening mechanisms for both materials are discussed. Graduate standing or special permission.

ME 587: Automotive Composites
Credits: 3.00
The emphasis in this course is on automotive composites, such as SMC, SRIM and RTM. In addition to properties and applications of these materials, this course covers manufacturing processes, design considerations, test methods and quality control techniques for automotive composites. The use of continuous fiber composites in automotive applications, such as leaf springs, drive shafts and energy absorbing structures, are also discussed.

ME 590: Degradation of Materials
Credits: 3.00
This course will introduce students to the fundamentals of corrosion and degradation behavior of materials. The degradation of metals, polymers, and composites will be discussed. Monitoring and life prediction techniques will be covered. Preventive measures, such as materials selection and design, protective coating, surface treatments, inhibitors and electrochemical techniques, will be introduced and how many of these measures can be combined to solve complex problems will be discussed.

Area III, Capstone Project/Thesis: 6 credit hours

AE 698: Capstone Project
Credits: 6.00
Prerequisite: Permission of advisor before registration.
Individual or team design or case study of interest to the students. Topics may be chosen from any of the areas of automotive engineering. The student (or the team) will submit a project report and give an oral presentation at the end of the second term. The project spans over two terms. Click here for more detailed information about capstone projects

AE 699: Master's Thesis
Credits: 6.00
Prerequisite: Permission of advisor required.
Research for master's thesis under direction of a faculty member.