News release from IPFW:
IPFW Engineering Student Published in Top-Tier Research Journals
McIntosh began working on research as a freshman(November 5, 2015) — Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) senior Charles McIntosh has always had a love of STEM (science, technology, engineering, math). Growing up in nearby Paulding County, Ohio, McIntosh, a Chancellor’s Distinguished Scholarship recipient pursuing a degree in electrical engineering, was the oldest of 11 kids. McIntosh’s mother is the person he credits with fostering his love of engineering and computer science. One of the reasons he chose to attend IPFW was the opportunity to explore varied opportunities, along with small class sizes and affordability.
“I’ve enjoyed my time at IPFW,” said McIntosh, who will graduate May 2016. “The professors the most,” he added. “This is a school with top-notch faculty.”
As McIntosh took different engineering classes he discovered that he had a keen interest in learning about electrical engineering because of the number of opportunities in that discipline.
“The sky’s the limit when it comes to electrical engineering,” said McIntosh. “There’s software, power, RF (radio frequency)—any number of areas to work and do research in.”
McIntosh began doing research in the spring of his freshman year when a research class took him to Harris (formerly Exelis). There he teamed up with IPFW professors Elizabeth Thompson and James Isaacs and two Harris engineers to work on the wireless link of a teleoperated robot. Their research was submitted at the end of 2013 and published this summer in the Journal of Network and Computer Applications. The article, titled “Robot communication link using 802.11n or 900 MHz OFDM,” explores using wireless bandwidth to communicate with robots, especially when they are used in settings too dangerous for humans.
“That opportunity really opened my eyes to research,” says McIntosh, who interned for Harris this summer.
McIntosh also began working on wireless spectrum monitoring research with Todor Cooklev, ITT Associate Professor of Wireless Communication and Applied Research, a leader in the wireless field and director of the IPFW Wireless Technology Center.
“Wireless spectrum monitoring is a huge area of current research because we are running out of lateral space,” said McIntosh. “We look at monitoring frequencies and having secondary users access those bands.”
The research paper analyzed industry opinions and gave recommendations that could be implemented at the federal level. The paper, “A cloud-based approach to spectrum monitoring,” was published in The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Instrumentation & Measurement.
“Charles’ quality and amount of research as an undergraduate student has been outstanding,” said Carlos Pomalaza-Ráez, interim dean of the College of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science (ETCS). “Having students like him has been very important for the growth in quality of the engineering programs at IPFW.”
Due to his hard work, McIntosh has already been offered a job as an electrical engineer for Harris when he graduates next May. There he will continue his work and consider a graduate degree.
McIntosh will also present a paper along with several IPFW students and Abdullah Eroglu, professor of electrical engineering, at the 2015 Society for Design and Process Science Conference in Dallas later this week. The group worked on an electric vehicle and was accepted for the prestigious conference.
“I’m so grateful for all the opportunities that have come from being at IPFW,” said McIntosh.
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