2009 Senior Design Expo and Projects

“The expo is always an high-energy event,” said Dr. Bill Heybruck, director of the UNC Charlotte Industrial Senior Design Program. “The students have worked hard all year to get to this point, and they’re excited to get a chance to show what they’ve done.”

Providing an innovative, hands-on learning experience, Industrial Senior Design teaches students how to apply their years of math, science and engineering knowledge to solve engineering problems presented by professional companies. The Lee College of Engineering encourages multi-disciplinary projects that involve engineering and technology solutions in the disciplines of mechanical, electrical, computer, environmental and civil engineering.

“An example of one of this year’s success stories this is a light-rail system for transporting materials at a nuclear power plant,” Dr. Heybruck said. “The project is being implemented by its sponsor, AREVA, who estimates that working with the student team saved it more than $100,000 in engineering expenses.”

Student projects are judged for both their actual design solutions and their presentation of those solutions at the Expo. The winning teams for 2009 were:

Industry-Sponsored category

First Place: Carolinas Medical Center Sternum Simulator and Study
Second Place: Defense Technologies Emergency Stop for UGV
Third Place: Schweitzer Engineering Labs Synchrophasers

Department-Sponsored category

First Place: IEEE Robot
Second Place: Friction Stir Welding
Third Place: Super Nova