Engineering Projects

If you missed the first projects meeting, you can catch up by viewing the presentation file.


September 10, 2009

Attention SWE members and other interested students:

The Society of Women Engineers will be holding its first Engineering Projects meeting on Wednesday, September 16, at 5PM in Bonner 414. We will discuss our two current projects: the LED sign and the R/C robot. Since this is our first projects meeting, there will be a presentation about the projects, including a crash-course in all the basic electronics knowledge you will need to participate!

We are making a special effort to include freshmen in these projects so we will teach you everything you need to know! We can't stress this enough: even if you are a freshman, you will be able to participate.

Amy Wu and Stephen Pfetsch
Project Organizers

The LED Sign: Our Name in Lights

The LED sign will be a bright, colorful "SWE" logo made out of LED lights. Check out these links to get an idea of what it might look like:

http://www.hobbyprojects.com/cosy_products/images/led-signs-design.jpg

http://best4smoke.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/website_led_open_sign_flyer_copy.361174919.PNG

We will start by designing our sign on paper, deciding what colors to work with and where to place each light-emitting diode (LED). The layout will be recreated in a computer program that will help generate an electrical circuit board. We will etch this circuit onto a real copper board, drill holes for the LEDs, and solder each LED into place. Once completed, we will place our sign in the window of the SWE office to advertise the club. If you participate in this project, you will learn how the electrical circuit in the sign works, how to design and build a printed circuit board (PCB), and you will get plenty of soldering practice.

Battlebots

Our remote-control robot project will give SWE members an opportunity to learn how a battlebot is designed and built. In the spring semester, engineering clubs will compete in a battlebots tournament, in which remote control robots use saws, spikes, and other weapons to rip each other apart.

During the meeting we will give a SIMPLE overview of the electronics that make a battlebot work. Our goal is to demystify the electronics so SWE members of all experience levels can get involved. Later in the semester, we will design and build a basic remote control robot without any weapons. SWE members are encouraged to brainstorm ideas for the robot's purpose.

Copyright © 2009 by SWE at UB. All Rights reserved.