Dec. 2018 Senior Design Expo
The William States Lee College of Engineering held its fall-semester Senior Design Expo on Dec. 7th, 2018. Teams who started in spring 2018 presented their completed two-semester projects, while teams who started in fall 2018 presented their first-semester design-concept posters. In total there were 445 students working on 78 projects, which were supported by 45 different industry supporters. There were also 40 civil engineering students who worked on nine projects.
The three completed projects judged the best were:
First Place – Conversion of a Gas Powered ZTR Mower to Battery Power, supported by Husqvarna
Project Overview – Currently, all ride-on lawnmowers and zero turn mowers (ZTR) in Husqvarna’s Consumer Brand Division are powered by a petrol engine. The project was for the senior design team to convert an existing petrol ZTR into a battery powered ZTR and develop the algorithm for the steering and feedback to perform like the petrol version.
Second Place – Safety Kill Switch Design, supported by Hantover
Project Overview – The objective of this project was to design and prototype a safety kill switch device modification for a circular cutting device used in meat processing. The modification was to stop the blade when the trimmer is set down or when it is accidently dropped.
Third Place – Drum Cooling Apparatus, supported by General Steel Drum
Project Overview – The project was to design a cooling booth that reduces the temperature of drums coming out of painting by 300 degrees F in less than 20 seconds with continuous throughput of 600 drum per hour.
The awards for teams presenting the best final Senior Design project videos went to:
First place – Drum Cooling Apparatus
Second Place – Automated Cleaning Device for 5-axis Machining Centers
Third Place – Design of a STEM Exhibit of Rail Propulsion for the NC Transportation Museum
Providing students with an innovative, hands-on learning experience, the Senior Design Program at UNC Charlotte is educating engineering students, supporting industry partners and benefiting the State of North Carolina. The program teaches students how to apply their years of math, science, and engineering knowledge to solve the unique problems presented by many progressive North Carolina companies. The William States Lee College of Engineering encourages multi-disciplinary projects that involve engineering and technology solutions in the disciplines of mechanical, electrical, computer, systems, environmental and civil engineering.