Do you ever wonder why the battery in your cellphone runs out of juice so fast? There’s an algorithm for that and FAMU-FSU College of Engineering researchers may have discovered how to make your digital devices run more efficiently.

Norman Downey was presenting his research to visiting dignitaries at the Center for Advanced Power Systems (CAPS) when he noticed one of the visitor’s ties. It was a beautiful red and gold, and Downey was mesmerized.

“It was a really cool tie so I told our visitor how much I liked it,” Downey said. “He took his tie off and literally gave it to me, signed it and told me to wear it to the upcoming career fair, which I did. The visitor was Richard McCullough, president of Florida State University. Now it’s my lucky tie.”

This article was featured in the Annual Engineering Research Report (2019-2020).

This article was featured in the Annual Engineering Research report (2019-2020).

Rodney Roberts, Ph.D., received the 2018 Outstanding Contribution Award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in recognition of his time, contributions and leadership in the organization, including positions as section vice president, secretary, associate editor and more. Specifically, Roberts is a leader in the organization’s areas of robotics and automation.

This article was featured in the Annual Engineering Research Report (2019-2020).

Tim Lynch is the Space Segment Executive Director and Chief Mission Architect of L3Harris Technologies. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degree in electrical engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering through Florida State University in 2000 and graduated from the Pennsylvania-Wharton School of Business leadership program in 2017.

This article was featured in the Annual Engineering Research Report (2019-2020).

At CAPS, researchers like electrical and computer engineering chair Sastry Pamidi, Ph.D. and Peter Cheetham, Ph.D. provide undergraduate students quality research and other experimental learning opportunities with hands-on activities that complement what is taught in the classroom. These opportunities allow students to evolve into professional engineers by enhancing skills in problem-solving, communication and networking, as well as being part of a team.

This article was featured in the Annual Engineering Research Report (2019-2020).

During his undergraduate experience, Grant Steans balanced the worlds of band and coding. After joining Florida A&M’s Marching 100 during fall 2014 playing the trombone, he spent the next four years performing and gaining leadership, becoming the section leader and, eventually, band president.