UKZN students’ projects on display at open day
The day also provides a unique view into the discipline for those interested in pursuing a career in engineering.
UKZN’s Discipline of Mechanical Engineering is gearing up for the annual Mechanical Engineering Open Day, on Wednesday 16 October at the Unite School of Engineering building, Howard College Campus.
The event runs from noon to 4pm, with entrance to visitors from UKZN Gate 8 off Rick Turner Road.
On the day, the 20 teams, made up of between three to five students each, will be on hand to explain their project designs, which this year include a number of inventive solutions to challenges such as food technology and supply, manufacturing technology, hybrid rocket technology, crime fighting technology and innovative sport technology, among others.
Their designs have applications for the agricultural, sanitation, construction, airline, search and rescue, manufacturing, and transport sectors.
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This display of projects is part of the degree requirements of the final year Design and Research Project modules. Projects are allocated to project groups at the beginning of the year, and are supervised by academic and technical staff in the discipline.
The process of completing these design projects simulates a professional working environment in which students have to apply the engineering knowledge gained during their studies to achieve specified project objectives while keeping within predetermined budgets.
The technology demonstration prototypes that they produce within the nine-month period encompass a wide variety of engineering sub-disciplines, including vehicle design (electric, air, land, water), green energy technologies, renewable energy harvesting systems and industrial machines.
The day also provides a unique view into the discipline for those interested in its engineering activities. Discipline demonstrations and postgraduate research will be on show. There will be dynamic interactive displays that the public can participate in such as the UKZN pedal bus, electric trikes and the rally car simulator. There will be technology demonstrations throughout the day, including from the rocket display unit, the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a mobile robotic display.
Contact Dr Jared Padayachee on 031 260 3216 or padayacheej@ukzn.ac.za.
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