Ultrasonic field measurement / Skin contact recognition

Matthew

Experience Information

Employer: Amway
Job Title: Electrical Engineering Co-Op Student
Major: Engineering - Electrical
Received Credit?: Yes
Paid?: Yes

Description of the Organization

Amway is a global leader in direct selling, and has begun to extend their product categories to include durable consumer items. My team is part of a group that researches and develops new products within this division.

Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed

I was responsible for the development of two projects: (1) to design a system for measuring the intensity of a piezoelectric transducer and plotting its acoustic field and (2) developing a method of contact recognition in the presence of foreign materials.

Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience

I was able to reinforce what I learned last summer about time and project management. With two independent goals each needing its own testing apparatus, it was important to design and plan with consideration to material lead times and requirements of the teams constructing the testing models.

Favorite Part of the Experience

I was able to make decisions for myself and operate independently without being micromanaged as I assume a lot of employers would treat their interns. The proper execution of a complex task is a skill in itself, and I appreciate how Amway recognizes this.

How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals

My decision to pursue electrical engineering has again been reinforced by this experience. I'm looking forward to my third opportunity this fall.

All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of GVSU.