Introduction of Optics and Fiber Optics into the Undergraduate Engineering Experimentation Experience

光学技术，特别是光纤技术正在给电信行业带来革命性的变化，并有望在过程控制和制造、航空航天、军事和民用结构的健康监测以及医学科学的应用方面取得实质性进展。然而，我们即将毕业的工程师在光学和光纤技术的概念和应用方面缺乏。目前以实验室为导向的课程，如制造概论、机械测量、热流体科学、机械振动和机械工程设计I&A；II，都没有涉及到这些重要的研究领域。通过这项建议，我们致力于在课堂上介绍这些概念，并通过实践经验在实验室中演示它们的应用。进一步的设想是，学生将利用这些知识在他们的顶峰设计项目中创造更好、更具创新性的设计，这些项目通常涉及产品设计、制造、测试、传感和控制。通过这项建议，我们寻求采购所需的设备，以帮助实现上述目标，即在机械工程课程的各种课程中引入光学技术和光纤技术。

Optical techniques and especially fiber optics are revolutionizing the telecommunications industry and are expected to make substantial advances in their application to process control and manufacturing, health monitoring of aerospace, military, and civil structures and medical science. However, our graduating engineers are lacking in the concepts and application of optics and fiber optic technology. None of the present lab oriented courses such as Introduction to Manufacturing Mechanical Measurements, Thermo-fluid Science, Mechanical Vibrations and Mechanical Engineering Design I & II, touch on these important fields of study. Through this proposal, it is our endeavor to introduce such concepts in the class room and demonstrate their applications in the laboratories through a hands-on experience. It is further envisaged the students will use this knowledge in creating better and more innovative designs in their capstone design projects, which typically deal with product design, manufacturing, testing, sensing, and control. With this proposal, we seek to procure the necessary equipment to help achieve the above mentioned goal of introducing optical techniques and fiber optic technology in a wide range of courses across the mechanical engineering curriculum.