Students showcase innovative projects
Final-year Mechanical Engineering students unveiled their innovative engineering projects to the public, parents, sponsors, evaluators, and the media.
THE University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) hosted its annual Mechanical Engineering Open Day on Friday, 19 October at Howard College Campus.
At the Open Day, final-year Mechanical Engineering students unveiled their innovative engineering projects to the public, parents, sponsors, evaluators, and the media.
Some of the very unique projects on display included the design of an archery device for use by quadriplegic athletes, a device that creates the illusion of fruit growing on trees, and an electric transporter, powered by solar energy.
The projects, which are part of the degree requirements of the final-year Design and Research Project modules have applications for the agricultural, sanitation, construction, airline, search and rescue, manufacturing, and transport sectors.
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.
ALSO READ: UKZN students develop quadriplegic archery system
The technology demonstration prototypes that they produce within a nine-month period incorporates a wide variety of engineering sub-disciplines, including vehicle design (electric, air, land, water), green energy technologies, renewable energy harvesting systems and industrial machines.
Assessment of the projects is structured in accordance with the engineering outcomes required by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA).
Academic Leader for Mechanical Engineering at UKZN, Professor Glen Bright said the focus of the Open Day is to highlight the hard work and technical achievements of the final-year students. “We want the public to experience and interact with these engineering projects,” he said.
In addition, some previous-year design projects were on display, with staff and students on hand to take the public for a ride on the UKZN pedal bus, electric trike and the rally car simulator. There were also technology demonstrations throughout the day, including the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a mobile robotic display.
Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 060 532 5535.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Berea Mail WhatsApp number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts
