June 20, 2002

High Schoolers to Demo Robots, Roamer, Other Projects at NCSU

- from NC State University News Services

Robots, roaming vehicles, airplanes, and other engineering projects - all developed by high school students attending summer programs at North Carolina State University - will be demonstrated June 20-21 and June 27-28 at several locations around campus. The programs and the demonstrations are hosted by the College of Engineering.

The public is invited to attend, and media participation is encouraged. Members of the media planning to attend may call for directions or for more information.

All program participants are high school students, juniors and seniors, from around the country. Students spend a week on the NC State campus engaged in hands-on activities and research in various engineering departments that offer weeklong opportunities. They gain experience in engineering problem-solving techniques, both individually and in teams, and they become familiar with the engineering profession, the College of Engineering and the university. The following activities are scheduled:

Aerospace Workshop

Friday, June 28

10:30 a.m. - 1333 Broughton Hall. Students who have spent the week in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering will discuss the planes they have built and demonstrate the various techniques they have learned such as aeronautics, mechanical systems and electronic controls, followed by:

11:00 a.m. (weather permitting) - Intramural Field behind Carmichael Gymnasium. Students will fly the planes they have built.

Civil Engineering/Construction Management Workshop

Thursday, June 27 only

9:30-11:30 a.m. - 100 Mann Hall, Construction Automation and Robotics Laboratory (CARL). Students will demonstrate remote control of robotic construction equipment.

2:30 p.m. - Constructed Facilities Laboratory (CFL) on Centennial Campus, students will test and break concrete structures that were made earlier in the week.

Mechatronics Workshop

Friday, June 21 and 28

10:30 a.m. -1331 Broughton Hall. Students have fabricated a self-propelled roaming vehicle with an electromechanical system and software to operate it, conducted in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. They will demonstrate and compete with their vehicles.

Autonomous Robotics Workshop

Friday, June 21 and 28

10:30 a.m. - 346 Daniels Hall. This workshop has been conducted in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Students have learned basic programming and electronics, how to use a microcontroller and circuit construction techniques to build roving vehicles. They will demonstrate their completed vehicles in a competition.

On-Track Wolfpack Motorsports

Friday, June 21 and 28

10:30 a.m. - 2106 Broughton Hall. Students will show the various aspects of the "Legends" car they have been working on. (Their week included a trip to Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C.) This is a new car that will remain in the Wolfpack Motorsports program following the summer workshop. Students will demonstrate vehicle dynamics, suspension geometry and chassis tuning.

Media Contacts: Kay P. Leager, Director of Enrollment Management, 919/515-9669, leager@eos.ncsu.edu
Linda E. Rudd, Engineering Publications, 919/515-3848, linda_rudd@ncsu.edu

-- rudd --

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