The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's 2009 Senior Design Fair will feature nearly 50 projects from various fields of engineering and science. The event, free and open to the public, will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 21 in the Surbeck Center Ballroom.
The traditional projects from the Center of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing and Production (CAMP) will be on display and includes many vehicles (Formula SAE, SAE Baja, human-powered vehicle, zero-emissions snowmobile, concrete canoe, aero design and unmanned aerial vehicle) as well as a steel bridge structure. The newest CAMP project, the Supermileage SAE, whose goal is to obtain fuel efficiency in excess of 1,000 mpg, will be displayed for the first time. A small sample of additional projects appearing at the design fair include a Mars rover mock-up, timber bridge, hydrogen production from ethanol, Rapid Creek flow assessment, Samurai Sword production, small-scale wind turbine, rock retrieving vehicles and several Black Hills Workshop projects aimed to assist individuals with cognitive and physical disabilities.
This campus-wide celebration of technical design showcases the achievements of approximately 200 students from most engineering and science programs. Some of the projects are sponsored by private industry and government agencies.
"This design fair provides a remarkable glimpse into the capabilities of both our students and the education received at the School of Mines," Jason Ash, Senior Design Fair coordinator and mechanical engineering instructor, said. "These students are extremely committed to applying what they have learned in pursuit of their team's design efforts. These efforts have resulted in truly innovative solutions to complex technical problems and placing at or near the top at regional, national and international competitions."
The design method is critical to technological advancement. It is the creative process used to develop a products and processes that address customer needs. Understanding and utilizing the design method are important components of engineering and science education. The ability to work on teams is also essential in this endeavor.
The Design Fair provides an opportunity for the general public to see the results of School of Mines students applying the creative process in engineering and science projects. Student designers will be on hand to explain their projects. Middle and high school students are particularly encouraged to attend.
For more information, contact Jason Ash at (605) 415-9723 or Jason.Ash@sdsmt.edu.
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