Explore Engineering Module Options

Aerospace

Have you ever wondered how: planes fly, rockets carry enormous loads to space, wind tunnels produce supersonic flows, weather works, blood flows, wind turbines harvest energy, boats float, etc.? Well, the answer is magic . . . just kidding! The answer has to do with the study of how fluids move and behave (i.e., aerospace engineering). This topic of study has a lot of overlap with mechanical engineering but takes more time diving into the physics of fluid movement in the world.

Amplify your Creativity!

Ever wonder how to turn one good idea into a hundred possibilities? When generating new ideas for products and services, most people rely on brainstorming alone. Brainstorming is a good way to start — but there are other techniques that are more fun and creative, and that greatly increase the quantity and quality of novel ideas. Explore three additional techniques to generate ideas for an everyday medical device — stethoscopes.

Can Building Materials Pass the Test? 

Materials used in civil engineering projects can be man made — such as concrete — or natural — such as soil and rock. Various properties of these materials are needed for the design of projects. What kind of tests are done to find the properties of these materials? Let’s find out...

Concrete Inspection Using Structured Light and VR

Civil engineers test the materials they create — but not all materials pass. Engineers determine what can be improved in the materials before they are used to create buildings and other structures. Utilize virtual reality (VR) to scan, visualize and analyze failed concrete samples.

Digital Electronics

Digital electronics are key to almost all modern technology — cars, planes, refrigerators, medical equipment and nearly any high-tech device you can think of. But what does “digital” really mean? In this hands-on module, students will learn how information is represented with voltages in electronic circuits and how these circuits are used to process information. Students will wire digital electronic circuits that perform important logic functions, like controlling a hatch on a space station and adding numbers. Students will also build and test a night light using a digital logic circuit.

Move Heat from Fluid to Fluid

Chemical engineering processes include many different pieces with various temperature and energy requirements. Heat exchangers are used to move heat from one fluid to another fluid with a different temperature. In this hands-on module, you’ll assemble and run your own heat exchanger and learn the basics of one of the most common chemical process units.

Flyer Flashlight

Light Emitting Diodes (LED) are used in traffic lights, domestic lighting, remote controls and many other everyday products. Are you curious about how LEDs work? Are you interested in building your own flashlight with LEDs? In this module, you will use soldering (a process using heat to join two metal surfaces together) to build a functioning flashlight with electrical components such as resistors, light emitting diodes (LED) and a switch.

Industrial Manufacturing: Ready-Set-Fire - Piston Power

Explore how to build the components needed to trigger a piston. Cut, strip, wire and fire a pneumatic cylinder system – a mechanical device that produces force by using energy from pressurized air. Students will assemble a working electromagnetic solenoid air control valve, a fundamental component of many of today's automated manufacturing lines.

How Long Until I Get My Fries?

Are you curious about how industrial engineers optimize waiting lines at Disney World to ensure you do not miss your ride? Are you interested in knowing how queuing models are used to minimize COVID-19 vaccine wait times? This module will expose you to how Industrial engineers use queuing models to design effective workflows at places such as amusement parks and restaurants to minimize wait time. 

Mechatronics I 

It's important for engineers to understand mechatronics and how a product's mechanical design, electrical circuits and programmed functions interact — like the Mars Rover, autonomous cars, prostheses or drones. Mechatronics combines mechanical engineering and electrical engineering to make things move. In this activity, you'll build a system that links electrical sensors and controllers to generate a physical response.

Mechatronics II 

This module is the same concept as Mechatronics I, but intended for students who have previously worked with microcontrollers such as Arduinos or have other robotics experience. The hands-on activity will dive deeper into the technology and require more independence from the students to create a functional design.

Stay the Course: Control Systems in Chemical Processes

Chemical plants are complex and can often be dangerous places. Chemical engineers must understand how plant processes work and how to control them to maintain quality and safety standards. View short demonstrations of basic control implementations through simulations and real equipment. We will also discuss non-traditional chemical processes such as polymer encapsulation — the same process food manufacturers use to create flavored popping boba.