Experience Matters - Grand Valley State University

Network Engineering for an ISP

Chad
Major: Computer Engineering My job has been to help support both the internal network for HBPW use as well as the external network for customers. I have done a lot of work in bringing up the network at the new power plant in Holland. I have also worked on upgrading current network infrastructure to provide resiliency. I also have done work with setting up the network monitoring and alert system.

Steelcase Summer

Janelle
Major: Computer Engineering Each week, I was required to update software for the plant system. Each section in the plant had a "Golf ball" HMI. The plant user had to choose certain components on the screen and the program shows if the part in front of them matches what components it is supposed to have. In other words, says if the part was built correctly. I also wrote new parameters for barcode scanners as a creative new input method. I also changed C++ based code that creates the labels for reports which incorporates SQL language. The biggest part of my impact was when I led a project that creates shipping boxes. The boxes are built so that there is minimal waste. Through code, I had to analyze the size of our products and calculate which size of boxes would fit the most products as well as create minimal waste. In addition, I gained experience working with RFID barcodes and TCP connections.

Cyber-security Co-Op

Evan
Major: Computer Engineering I worked on performing a variety of security assessments for companies around the country. This included direct penetration attempts (Hacking) from both external and internal connections as well as performing deep dives into corporate systems and policies to ensure the company's security.

Gentex: Production Support

Zachary
Major: Computer Engineering Initially, my role as a production support engineer was to learn all about the layout and flow of our production lines. I was tasked with debugging and fixing any problems on these lines (especially software-related ones). If I couldn't solve the issue, then I would escalate the problem to the appropriate support personnel. I also dealt with some of the aspects of managing the production team members who worked on the lines. As the semester progressed, I transitioned more to focus on my main project - a live dashboard that monitors the status of the production lines and detects any ongoing problems (downtime, scrapped parts, etc.). I designed this dashboard from scratch, although many of the events I needed to monitor already had code set up to provide a means of tracking each line's performance. My final task of the semester focused on distributing this dashboard and dealing with the issues that arose on its deployment, as well as tweaking the code to work well with the varying structure of our production lines between buildings.

X-Rite Co-op Experience

David
Major: Computer Engineering Over the course of the semester I was assigned tasks to help develop a system test library that ensured the functionality of X-Rites products. I was also able to help with the testing and manufacturing of certain prototype products.

Second Co-op - L3 Technologies

Mike
Major: Computer Engineering The majority of this semester was spent coding on various projects. I fixed many bugs in software while also implementing new features into certain software. I did also spend time developing my own programs/features. For example, I created a feature that helped to track test cable and station usage. I also had exposure to the python language. I developed a program to help mine through a large amount of data and extract needed information. I wrote a piece of software to help troubleshoot a hardware device that was causing software programs to crash. This problem has been going on for a while, and hopefully with my software the cause can be found. The biggest project I worked on was to create a tool to help check if the relays on a relay board were functioning properly. I wrote the software to turn each specific relay on or off while also helping with the hardware design and implementation. The hardware and software were merged to create a functional and helpful device.

Computer Engineering Co-op at JR Automation

Ethan
Major: Computer Engineering I've primarily worked on programming projects in C# and C++ for industrial robotics applications. The majority of my time was on three projects: In the first, I worked to create an embedded device to act as an internet gateway for diagnostics of machines. In the second, I spent time developing a library on which much of the department's future projects will be based. Finally, I spent time working on a system for flashing data to a particular microcontroller when triggered by a PLC.

Co-op 3

Allison
Major: Computer Engineering I continued some work on a prototype that I designed in my second co-op. The prototype is a stepper motor controller with universal software made backward compatible with a current product in development. The application is an irrigation pump device that receives commands and runs the motor accordingly. Sourcing issues arose with the original hardware chosen for the project, so I was asked to find a different stepper driver and microcontroller, and move my software onto the new hardware. This also was an opportunity for me to refactor my software, so I implemented a more versatile communication protocol. Flow rate tests confirmed that my prototype works effectively. I also designed and wrote software for some test boxes that simulate control devices used with another product in development. These test boxes had boards that were made, but were not programmed yet, so I took initiative to complete them and verify that they worked with the product.

Part of the team at DornerWorks

Nicholas
Major: Computer Engineering I worked on making a virtualization software compliant to an aerospace specification for use on satellites. I programmed in C in an ARM environment.

Hands On

Michael
Major: Computer Engineering My tasks involved validating a new product line of Limelight.

Experience of a lifetime

Sarah
Major: Computer Engineering Throughout six weeks as an intern, I have completed 5 projects : - Update GVSU It Department's Wiki page - Implement bootstrap to web pages - Detect illegal characters from file names and alert the user - transfer data from XML files to an Oracle Database - Apply JQuery and JQuery Ajax to JavaScript functions.

Dornerworks Second Rotation

Nicholas
Major: Computer Engineering I work on an industrial appliance project . We designed the hardware and software for a module system for over 40 machines. I mainly did unit testing and making tools for future use. I also modified the source code where necessary.

Hardware Testing & Software

Michael
Major: Computer Engineering My two main tasks were to validate prototype hardware of the next generation of Limelight; as well as develop software utilities to help improve the overall system.

Software at Dornerworks

Nicholas
Major: Computer Engineering I work on the Dexter Laundry project. We designed the hardware and software for a module system for over 40 washers and dryers. I mainly did unit testing and making tools for future use. I also modified the source code where necessary.

Co-Op

Recodeo
Major: Computer Engineering As a Co-op software developer at SalesPad, I participate in the development of a real-world software; a software that will actually be used by businesses in the USA and around the world. My tasks went from fixing software issues to develop completely new features for the last born web app from SalesPad.

Computer Engineering Co-op

Ethan
Major: Computer Engineering I've primarily worked on programming projects in C# and Java for industrial robotics applications. The majority of my time has been spent on three projects: in the first, I was working on a system for dynamically creating and displaying operator instructions along an assembly line based on input from a PLC. In the second project, where I've spent the most time, I worked on creating a dynamic programming platform and several demonstration programs for a collaborative industrial robot. Finally, I've been working on an image processing application in which I will be creating a robot path based on an image captured from a camera.

Getting Embedded in Holland

Billy
Major: Computer Engineering As a third semester co-op, I was given a chance to take part in tasks and experiences with other full time engineers. I found myself working on embedded software alongside others, at times forgetting that I was still a college student. I had exposure to customer interaction by assisting with support calls, but most importantly I refined my skills of developing software on a team.

Co-op at DornerWorks

David
Major: Computer Engineering I worked on a variety of tasks, including testing, software development, and PR materials.

The Co-op is the best part of Engineering at GV

James
Major: Computer Engineering Most of my time here has been spent designing an end of line testing circuit for some of the handles we manufacture. This PCB reads the voltages in the handle and converts them into a byte. This data contains information on different states of the handle, such as lock/unlock and an open handle, as well as an error message.

Computer Engineering Co-op at Performance

Jacob
Major: Computer Engineering I worked on the automated verification and validation team for GE's aircraft health monitoring system. We used an agile software development strategy with daily meetings called scrums. I was responsible for developing JUnit tests that send requests to the system and verify the responses. Test cases and test procedures were written that utilized the unit tests to cover high level software requirements.

ICS, First Co-op

Jaden
Major: Computer Engineering The tasks assigned were programming in CODESYS and RSLogix software and using these to program PLCs for various projects throughout the US and Canada. I was also given a project to implement a QR code into one of their visualization solutions. Through this project I learned a great deal about Linux and the workings of the CODESYS program.

Computer Engineering Co-op at JR Automation

Ethan
Major: Computer Engineering I have been involved in quite a few project which I am not able to discuss in depth. For most of these, I've been doing a lot of programming, mostly in C#, in addition to quite a bit of R&D style work (such as testing and evaluating different hardware). I've also spent a good deal of time on some internal software projects. The one which I have spent the most time on throughout the semester is a program to allow users to change the IP address on multiple network cards at once, and to track their various settings. I've also spent some time on a set of add-ons to our CAD software which will allow controls engineers to be more efficient and uniform in their work. In addition to these, I've had several chances to meet with vendors and customers. I've also attended an industry conference about combining industrial and corporate networks on behalf of the company.

Computer Engineering at Active Inspection

Michael
Major: Computer Engineering I worked on writing unit tests for various parts of our surface inspection application. I wrote a couple console applications to further test a couple more difficult algorithms, such as detecting repeating defects in a material. I added features to our application using WPF and C#. I tested our application from the UI perspective. I did a lot of debugging when I found errors to locate and fix them.

Driven to make Healthcare Better

Allison
Major: Computer Engineering I worked as an intern in Advanced Quality Engineering for this co-op. I supported two different teams in reviewing, executing, and correcting software scripts. For one team, I received official training to execute the scripts in test lab and sign my name off on everything. I also worked on two other projects independently. I designed an excel macro/app for my mentor, which automatically sorts through thousands of lines of complaint data he previously had to manually organize for days. This will aid him in completing Risk Management Forms, which is a common process for AQEs. My program will be used by multiple engineers. I also did some work with an engineer involved in the design of surgical power tools. Stryker receives runtime data during surgery for every drill currently out in the field. I organized and performed statistical analysis on the data, and gave him an estimate of life-use, and single-use metrics for the tools. He could then use this information to communicate to customers on how to use the tools properly.

The best company to work for!

Kyle
Major: Computer Engineering I wrote documentation for a software tool that my team was working on developing and releasing. I worked in Visual Basic Excel to create a few tools for senior level engineers. I wrote code in C# for a metrics dashboard. I worked in a Gypsum mine cataloging data that we have stored there.