FAU Receives Grant from the Florida Engineering Foundation
Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science received a $1,000 grant from the Florida Engineering Foundation (FEF) to support students competing in professional, society-sponsored design competitions.
Don Goddeau, P.E., F.N.S.P.E., FEF trustee presented the check to FAU student representatives from the following clubs: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), Human Powered Submarine (HPS) and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).
The ASCE FAU Student Chapter is one of five FAU teams to receive funds from FEF. Members of this team participate in the Southeast Student Conference Concrete Canoe Competition. The competition provides students with practical experience in applying engineering principles from the classroom to the real world. The event teaches students important leadership and project management skills, and showcases the versatility and durability of concrete as a building material. It is a contest of knowledge, creativity and stamina.
The FEF grant will help the Human Powered Vehicle team as they design and build a vehicle for everyday use, using engineering design principles to compete in the ASME International Human Powered Vehicle Challenge. Information gained from the competition is used to develop efficient human-powered transportation options in underdeveloped areas of the world.
FEF funds will also help the AUVSI team as they participate in the annual Roboboat competition held by the AUVSI Foundation in July 2013 at the Founders Inn and Spa, Virginia Beach, Virginia. The RoboBoat competition is a student robotics challenge in which teams race Autonomous Surface Vehicles (ASVs) of their own design through an aquatic obstacle course.
The HPS team will benefit from the FEF grant as they design and race submersibles that are propelled by the students themselves. With the competition taking place underwater, these races are a challenge of human "pedaling" strength and endurance, as well as a test of putting academic theory into practice. The next competition is the 12th International Submarine race, held June 24 to 28, 2013 at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderrock Division in West Bethesda Maryland.
The funds will help the FAU Owls Racing Team when they race the vehicle they designed and built at the 2013 Formula SAE® competition sponsored by the SAE, May 8 to 11 at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan. Over 100 university teams from around the world attend the annual race. Students are asked to conceive, design, fabricate and race small formula-style race cars in this competition.
August 8, 2013