Category: News

Q&A with Formula SAE

Michigan Tech’s Formula SAE Enterprise builds a competition vehicle based on the concept of an affordable race car geared toward the weekend autocrosser. The team competes in SAE Collegiate Design Series Formula SAE events held in various locations across the country. For competition, the team prepares a written design report, a cost analysis and a business case to present to a panel of judges. After passing a technical inspection, the vehicle competes in a series of dynamic events, including acceleration, skid pad, autocross, endurance, and efficiency.

Michigan Tech Formula SAE has a long history of top-performing cars and has gained a reputation for developing cutting-edge designs that help shape the future of racing. Recently I had a chance to catch up with two members of the Formula SAE Enterprise for a Q&A session to learn more about the team’s plans and efforts: Max Urquhart, Formula SAE President and Electrical Engineering student, and Nathan Sodini, an Engineering Management student who serves as Formula SAE’s Business Manager.

Q&A with Max Urquhart, Electrical Engineer (Left), President, and Nathan Sodini, Engineering Management (Right), Business Manager.

What is the focus of the Formula SAE?

The focus of Formula SAE is to continuously improve our cars, our members, and the enterprise program. We provide an environment that enables our members to grow into industry professionals.

What were some of Formula SAE’s goals for this academic year?

FSAE’s top goal for this year was to place in the top 30 overall in the SAE International Formula SAE competition. We also had many advanced projects that occurred this year, the largest being the electrification of our 2019 competition car the F-276, now becoming the e-276. This is the first electric formula SAE car Michigan Tech FSAE has produced. 

What are some of the projects FSAE worked on this year, or are planing to work on in the future?

We have a multitude of projects that were implemented this year! Our projects included electronic limited slip differential, active four-wheel steering, an active drag reduction system (DRS), and the construction and testing of the e-276, the team’s first electric formula SAE car. 

What competitions has FSAE participated in this year?

In April, FSAE participated in the Business Presentation which is the first step of the Formula SAE series competition. The Business Presentation is where teams are given a prompt to create a strategy to lead their companies (race teams). The Business Presentation encompasses engineering strategy, finances, accounting, forecasting, marketing, and management. Students then present to a panel of judges, pitching their projections using a slide show and supporting documents. 

What does this competition involve? What does your team have to do in order to compete?

Competition involves Static and Dynamic Events. The Business Presentation falls into the Static category. Statics Events include the Business Presentation, Technical Inspection, Design Review, and the Knowledge Event. Dynamic Events include, Acceleration, Endurance, Brake Testing, and Skid Pad, and Sound. 

The team placed 20th in the Business Presentation – what happens next?

Our team was very excited to place in the top 20 this year! We reviewed the feedback provided to us by the judges, and will use that to propel next year’s presentation. Next the Business Team has the Real Case Cost Scenario. The team will need to respond with a strategy that allows for the IPO of the team to raise capital to increase production of FSAE cars. 

In May, we participated in the Formula Knowledge Event and placed 21st out of 132 teams. The Business Presentation was just the first step to move forward in the Knowledge Event. The Knowledge Event includes a design paper, cost report, oral design and cost presentation, and educational online workshops. Find more information on the FSAE competition series here, as well as team results here.

What’s the general feeling among members as you conclude this academic year?

Team members were excited that we were able to build the car in person and that we’ve been able to accomplish our goals for the year. We are a very young team with 50% being brand new members, that excitement and passion is great fuel for our team! 

What can the Michigan Tech community do to support or cheer you on for future competitions?

The Michigan Tech community can continue their support by following us on social media! Instagram @mtuformula Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mtuformula and our website https://formulasae.mtu.edu/. Learn more about Enterprise and Advanced Motorsports Enterprise

Supermileage Systems Enterprise Earns 2nd Place Finish in 2021 SAE Supermileage Competition

For the second year in a row, Michigan Tech’s Supermileage Systems Enterprise (SSE) took 2nd place overall in the 42nd annual SAE Supermileage competition, held virtually on May 13th & 14th. Per  SAE’s website, the engineering design goal for SAE Supermileage is to develop and construct a single-person, fuel-efficient vehicle that complies with the competition rules. Vehicles run a specified course to obtain the highest combined kilometers per liter (miles per gallon) rating. Students also participate in a design segment consisting of a written report and verbal presentation. Like last year, competition was limited to a virtual knowledge event (report and presentation only) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

When asked about this year’s Supermileage experience, Rick Berkey, professor of practice in the Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology Dept. and faculty advisor for SSE since 2008, shared the following: “Our team was really looking forward to an in-person event, especially after logging nearly 6,500 hours on vehicle design, fabrication, assembly, and testing. SAE’s decision in late March to cancel the vehicle competition portion was disappointing, but understandable. I am extremely proud of the way SSE students took the news and maintained focus, pushing ahead to assemble and test their vehicle before the end of the semester. I am also impressed with the way they navigated pandemic-related restrictions and challenges all year. When the 2nd place result was announced, I was absolutely thrilled, but not surprised.

“Our design report scores have been the highest in three out of the last four competitions. And this year, SAE provided a new design ‘twist’, challenging teams to evaluate their ability to traverse the competition track in the opposite direction. This includes a steep 6% grade in one section, which has direct implications on powertrain decisions and fuel efficiency. Using vehicle simulation and road load analysis, we were able to justify our powertrain decisions and effectively communicate our understanding of these impacts, which contributed to our strong finish. In addition to congratulating all SSE student members, I would also like to thank SAE International, our AMS sponsors, SSE alumni, and several MTU colleagues who provided additional guidance and mentorship to SSE. This is a perfect example of what makes Michigan Tech’s Enterprise Program so impactful. What a great way to end a challenging year — and with back-to-back 2nd place finishes, SSE is even more eager to return in the Fall with our sights set on taking top honors in the 2022 competition!”

HIDE Upgrades Lab, Invests in Team Growth

By Rick Berkey, Professor of Practice and Director, The Enterprise Program

This year, the Humane Interface Design Enterprise (HIDE) used the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to implement needed upgrades to their lab in Rekhi Hall 116. Advised by Dr. Robert Pastel and hosted in the Department of Computer Science in the College of Computing, HIDE focuses on software development and usability research, with a goal to provide its student members a headstart in their careers by immersing them in a collaborative environment where they can gain real-world experience. HIDE was originally launched as a new enterprise in Fall 2011, partnering with Chrysler (now Stellantis) on usability projects for the U-Connect infotainment system used in vehicles from the Fiat 500 to the Dodge Challenger Hellcat. HIDE is highly interdisciplinary, attracting students majoring in Applied Cognitive Sciences and Human Factors, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, and Software Engineering. Over the past ten years, HIDE has conducted dozens of projects and continues to engage with external project sponsors. A new project this year with ArcelorMittal USA (now Cleveland-Cliffs) involves development of a web-based application and database to enhance the management of technical service organization based on territories. A continuing project with the U.S. Army’s Ground Vehicle Systems Center aims to develop and evaluate different user interfaces for a real-time strategy  game for commander training applications. Additionally, HIDE recently partnered with local non-profit Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly (LBFOE) to develop an easy-to-use transportation and scheduling system that allows LBFOE staff and volunteers to assist local elderly residents with medical appointments. In addition to the externally-sponsored projects, HIDE has six other development projects with multiple campus stakeholders.

All of this hands-on project work requires a functional lab with technology for collaboration and development. With physical distancing restrictions in place across campus this year, HIDE leveraged accumulated team funds to make a strategic investment in their lab. HIDE’s Treasurer and Computer Science Major Jason Holtrey led the project, specifying the needed hardware and coordinating purchases with the Enterprise Program Office and Michigan Tech IT. This included new computers and monitors, a large wall-mounted display, an iPad, an Android-based mobile device, a Vive Virtual Reality headset, and several Raspberry Pi microcomputers. After installing and configuring the new computers, the flat-screen display was mounted at the end of April, thus completing the project. When asked about the lab upgrade, Dr. Pastel stated, “HIDE membership is appreciative of the work that Jason spent building the lab and is eager to start development in the Fall.” With campus restrictions now easing and plans for a fully in-person Fall 2021 semester, HIDE members will return to a well-equipped lab that positions them for continued growth and hands-on development!

Advanced Motorsport Teams Succeed Across Multiple SAE International Competitions

Michigan Tech’s Enterprise vehicle competition teams, Blizzard Baja, Clean Snowmobile Challenge, Formula SAE, and Supermileage Systems, each competed in their respective annual SAE International competitions. The results are as follows:

Blizzard Baja took 18th overall out of 83 teams, and 15th out of 58 teams in the endurance event of the Baja SAE Baja Louisville – Validation Event. In Baja SAE, students are tasked with designing and building a single-seat, all-terrain sporting vehicle that is to be a prototype for a reliable, maintainable, ergonomic, and economic production vehicle that serves a recreational user market. For more information check out the results of the Baja SAE competition.

Competition held: May 20-23, 2021 in Louisville, Kentucky

Clean Snowmobile Challenge took 1st place overall, in both the Spark-Ignited Category and Compression Ignited Category. In the SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge students are tasked with building and enhancing their engineering design and project management skills by re-engineering an existing snowmobile to reduce emissions and noise. For more information, check out the results of the SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge competition.

Competition held: Virtually

Formula SAE took 21st out of 132 teams in the Formula SAE Knowledge Event – Combustion. The Formula SAE series competitions challenge student teams to conceive, design, fabricate, develop, and compete with small, formula-style vehicles. The competitions give teams the chance to demonstrate and prove both their creativity and engineering skills in comparison to teams from other universities around the world. For more information, about Formula SAE experience this year, check out this Q&A with members from the team, dive deeper into the results of the Formula SAE competition.

Competition held: Virtually

Finally, Supermileage Systems Enterprise took 2nd place overall, for a second year running in the SAE Supermileage competition. The engineering design goal of SAE Supermileage is to develop and construct a single-person, fuel-efficient vehicle that complies with the competition rules and is able to obtain the highest combined km/L (mpg) rating while running a specific course. To learn more of Supermileage System’s experience at competition this year, check out this extended article, or visit the SAE Supermileage competition results page.

Competition held: Virtually

Award Results for Design Expo 2021

As we’ve come to expect, the judging for Design Expo 2021 was very close, but the official results are in. More than 1,000 students in Enterprise and Senior Design showcased their hard work on April 15 at Michigan Tech’s second-ever, fully virtual Design Expo.

Teams competed for cash awards totaling nearly $4,000. Judges for the event included corporate representatives, community members and Michigan Tech staff and faculty. The Pavlis Honors College and the College of Engineering announced the award winners below on April 15, just after the competition. Congratulations and a huge thanks to all the teams for a very successful Design Expo 2021.

Last but not least, to the distinguished judges who gave their time and talents to help make Design Expo a success, and to the faculty advisors who generously and richly support Enterprise and Senior Design—thank you for your phenomenal dedication to our students.

Please check out the Design Expo booklet and all the team videos.

ENTERPRISE AWARDS

(Based on video submissions)

  • First Place—Husky Game Development (Team 115); Led by: Gabe Oetjens, Computer Science; Keira Houston, Civil Engineering; Advisor Scott Kuhl, (CC); Sponsored by: Michigan Technological University Pavlis Honors College’s Enterprise Program
  • Second Place—Aerospace Enterprise (Team 106); Led by: Nolan Pickett, Mechanical Engineering; Matthew Sietsema, Electrical Engineering; Advisor L. Brad King, (ME-EM); Sponsored by: Auris: Air Force Research Laboratory, Stratus: NASA
  • Third Place—Innovative Global Solutions (Team 116); Led by: Lynnsey Hooker and Kat Miller, Biomedical Engineering; Advisors Radheshyam Tewari (ME-EM) and Nathan Manser (GMES); Sponsored by: Tree Frog Aquagric LLC, Ford Fund–Collegiate Community Challenge, General Motors, Cleveland Cliffs
  • Honorable Mention—Consumer Product Manufacturing (Team 111); Led by: Samantha Appleyard, Engineering Management; Jacob Michaud, Chemical Engineering; Advisor Tony Rogers (ChE); Sponsored by: Sussex IM, Libbey, Mel and Gloria Visser, Kimberly Clark, General Motors, Doll n’ Burgers

SENIOR DESIGN AWARDS

(Based on video submissions)

  • First Place —Advanced PPE Filtration System (Team 240); Team Members: Matthew Johnson, Electrical Engineering; Bryce Hudson, Mary Repp, Carter Slunick, Mike Stinchcomb, Braeden Anex, Brandon Howard, Josh Albrecht, and Hannah Bekkala, Mechanical Engineering; Advised by: Jaclyn Johnson and Aneet Narendranath, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics Sponsored by: Stryker
  • Second Place—ITC Cell Signal Measurement Tool (Team 204); Team Members: Reed VandenBerg and Andrew Bratton, Electrical Engineering; Noah Guyette and Ben Kacynski, Computer Engineering; Advised by: John Lukowski, Electrical and Computer Engineering; Sponsored by: ITC Holdings Corp.
  • Third Place—Development of a Beta Brass Alloy for Co-Extrusion (Team 234); Team Members: Anna Isaacson, Sidney Feige, Lauren Bowling, and Maria Rochow, Materials Science and Engineering; Advised by: Paul Sanders, Materials Science and Engineering; Sponsored by: College of Engineering
  • Honorable Mention—EPS Ball Nut Degrees of Freedom Optimization (Team 236); Team Members: Brad Halonen, Rocket Hefferan, Luke Pietila, Peadar Richards, and David Rozinka, Mechanical Engineering; Advised by: James DeClerck, Mechanical Engineering- Engineering Mechanics; Sponsored by: Nexteer
  • Honorable Mention—Electric Tongue Jack Redesign (Team 230); Team Members: Jack Redesign and Brandon Tolsma, Mechanical Engineering; Collin Jandreski, Christian Fallon, Warren Falicki, and Andrew Keskimaki, Electrical Engineering; Advised by: Trever Hassell, Electrical and Computer Engineering; Sponsored by: Stromberg Carlson
  • Honorable Mention—Bone Access and Bone Analog Characterization (Team 212); Team Members: Sarah Hirsch, Mechanical Engineering; Elisabeth Miller and Christiana Strong, Biomedical Engineering; Morgan Duley, Electrical Engineering; Katelyn Ramthun, Biomedical Engineering; Advised by: Hyeun Joong Yoon and Orhan Soykan, Biomedical Engineering; Sponsored by: Stryker Interventional Spine Team
  • Honorable Mention—Blubber Only Implantable Satellite Tag Anchoring System (Team 221) Team Members: Quinn Murphy, Lidia Johnson, Joshua Robles, Katy Beesley, and Kyle Pike, Biomedical Engineering Advised by: Bruce Lee, Biomedical Engineering; Sponsored by: NOAA

DESIGN EXPO IMAGE CONTEST

(Based on image submitted by the team)

  • First Place—Blizzard Baja (Team 101): “Our current vehicle, Hornet, after a race.” Credit: Blizzard Baja team member
  • Second Place—WAAM Die Components (Team 237): “MIG welding robot printing a steel part.” Credit: Mike Groeneveld
  • Third Place—Aerospace Enterprise (Team 106): “Team photo, pre-Covid.” Credit: Aerospace Enterprise team member

DESIGN EXPO INNOVATION AWARDS

(Based on application)

  • First Place—Consumer Product Manufacturing Enterprise, Shareable Air project (Team 101) Advised by: Tony Rogers, (ChE)
  • Second Place—ITC Cell Signal Measurement Tool (Team 204) Advised by: John Lukowski (ECE) 
  • Third Place—Hospital Washer Autosampler Implementation (Team 218) Advised by: Sang Yoon Han and Houda Hatoum (BioMed)

DESIGN EXPO PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

(Based on receiving most text-in voting during Design Expo)

ENTERPRISE STUDENT AWARDS

  • Rookie Award—Jack Block, CFO – Supermileage Systems Enterprise
  • Innovative Solutions—Cody Rorick, Alternative Energy Enterprise
  • Outstanding Enterprise Leadership—Andy Lambert, CEO – Supermileage Systems Enterprise and Daniel Prada, Spark Ignition (SI)
  • Team Lead—Clean Snowmobile Enterprise

ENTERPRISE FACULTY/STAFF AWARDS

  • Behind the Scenes Award—Kelly Steelman, Associate Professor and Interim Chair, Dept. of Cognitive and Learning Sciences, nominated by Built World Enterprise.

Ford grant to support U.P. health resources hub

Michigan Technological University is one of seven universities to receive a $25,000 grant from this year’s Ford Fund College Community Challenge.
Michigan Tech Enterprise students, along with the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department, will create a publicly available, online health resources hub that can connect individuals, health care practitioners, caregivers and social service organizations to community resources to improve health and wellbeing in the region.

This project serves an unmet need for the five county region served by WUPHD, an exclusively rural population of approximately 67,700. The hub will also include community resources that support social determinants of health, helping our more vulnerable populations find services to address factors that adversely affect health, such as non-emergent medical transportation services or domestic violence services. Given the remote, rural population this project serves, the mobile platform will increase the reach of the hub for those with limited access to high-speed internet or computers.

“The Enterprise program is very excited to be participating with the Ford Motor Company Fund to promote health resource education, in our community and beyond,” said Chris Morgan, the Enterprise program’s assistant director for educational partnerships. “This project fits both the local population and Enterprise well, as there is a tangible outcome that is driven by a community need, where Michigan Tech students will excel at developing unique solutions.”

Learn more about the 2020 Ford College Community Challenge award winners

About Ford Motor Company Fund 

As the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, Ford Fund’s mission is to strengthen communities and help make people’s lives better. Working with dealers and nonprofit partners in more than 50 countries, Ford Fund provides access to opportunities and resources that help people reach their full potential. Since 1949, Ford Fund has invested more than $2 billion in programs that support education, promote safe driving, enrich community life and encourage employee volunteering. For more information, visit www.fordfund.org or join us at @FordFund on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram

GM awards $110,000 grant to Michigan Tech

General Motors, a long-time supporter of Michigan Technological University, has awarded the University a $110,000 grant through its University/Organization Partner Program, once again, supporting the critical needs of STEM Education here at MTU

A significant portion of the grant will be devoted to General Motors’ commitment to the Enterprise Manufacturing Initiative. The grant will also provide continuing support for a variety of student activities, including the Advanced Motorsports Enterprises, Education, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) outreach, underrepresented student groups and diversity programs through the Center for Educational Outreach and Center for Diversity and Inclusion, as well as support for the community-chosen Enterprise project working on an HVAC system that cleans viruses and other disease-causing particles from enclosed buildings.

Housed in the Pavlis Honors College, the Enterprise program consists of student-driven, multidisciplinary teams that work like companies on real-world client projects, whether the deliverable is an innovative product, a pioneering solution or a much-needed service. The hallmark of the Enterprise program is the experiential training it provides to students.  The manufacturing engineering initiative focuses on student projects to educate Michigan Tech Enterprise students that manufacturing engineering is a viable area of study and career path.

“Michigan Tech’s Enterprise program is thrilled to again partner with General Motors to develop Enterprise projects that highlight career opportunities available in manufacturing,” said Chris Morgan, assistant director for educational partnerships. “The Enterprise program’s hands-on and can-do attitude fits perfectly as the home for manufacturing project-based learning.”

Michigan Tech is pleased again to have GM as a “Creating the Future” Advanced Motorsports (AMS) sponsor.  As part of Michigan Tech’s signature Enterprise Program, AMS represents a consortium of four of the vehicle competition Enterprise teams—Blizzard Baja, Clean Snowmobile Challenge, Formula Car, and Supermileage Systems.  Each AMS team is an interdisciplinary organization of students whose goal is to develop a complete vehicle—from concept, through prototyping and testing, and on to final build and ‘delivery’ at the respective competitions.  While each team operates as a separate Enterprise entity, the AMS umbrella enables our teams to leverage the diverse talent, economies of scale, and synergistic opportunities afforded to the group as a whole.  Ultimately, this hands-on learning environment allows AMS members to develop critical business, engineering, communication, and leadership skills for a successful transition into the workforce.

Michigan Tech and General Motors have had a long-standing partnership dating back to at least 1940, supporting a wide range of activities across campus including scholarships, Senior Design and Enterprise projects, student organizations, sponsored research, recruiting support, youth programs, diversity initiatives and more.

For more information on the Enterprise Program, or GM’s partnership with Michigan Tech, please contact enterprise@mtu.edu.

Breathing Easier: Michigan Tech Enterprise to Study Safer Heating and Air Conditioning

The Enterprise Program at Michigan Technological University has a hot new project as the weather turns cooler—developing safer heating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Evidence suggests that transmission of the COVID-19 virus may increase as fresh air decreases, meaning indoor spaces with standard HVAC systems can be riskier than spaces with hospital-grade HVAC filtering. Classrooms, office spaces, and other venues around the world are trying to mitigate this with social distancing, masking protocols, and virtual gatherings. Michigan Tech’s Enterprise program—multidisciplinary student teams, led by faculty, that work on real-world projects for industry and government partners—will seek a more active solution. 

The Consumer Product Manufacturing (CPM) Enterprise has been selected to helm the project. The CPM team has a long history of improving, upgrading, and troubleshooting existing consumer products.

“This is just the type of problem CPM likes to tackle because it is tailor-made for a multi-disciplinary Enterprise,” said Tony Rogers, faculty advisor for the team. “The shared air filtration project is appealing and interesting to our members, and a solution will benefit the public. I am looking forward to brainstorming with the CPM students—their diversity of training in various disciplines almost always leads to creative, and often unexpected, solutions.”

“CPM is all about giving our members real-world project experiences while being on Michigan Tech’s campus,” said Kelsey Farrell, chemical engineering student and vice president of the CPM Enterprise. “Creating an HVAC system to reduce the spread of the virus will be an incredible experience for our members as it allows them to make a personal impact in the fight against this pandemic. I am excited to see what our team can produce to keep our communities safe!”

A clear winner and some intriguing potential projects

The shared air filtration project received nearly a third of the votes out of seven projects proposed over the summer and voted on by Enterprise students, alumni, industry sponsors, and the greater Michigan Tech community. Virus-resistant materials came in second place, with 15 percent of the vote.

The most interesting part of the poll? Voter-submitted suggestions for additional Enterprise COVID-19 projects. Suggestions ranged from applying LEAN methodologies to Michigan Tech’s testing process, to voice-activated elevators, to waste minimization techniques which would reduce the long-term environmental impact of disposables. The Enterprise program is trying to find funding for at least one of these additional projects.

How to help

The CPM team is very excited to start pursuing this project, but the team still needs your financial support, says Chris Morgan, assistant director of educational partnerships for Enterprise. “The team currently has enough funding to start purchasing preliminary materials, but your continued donations will help them build a complete prototype, and perhaps even allow for full testing of the developed system.”

Donations can be made online, or you can contact Chris Morgan at cjmorgan@mtu.edu or 906-487-2633.
Funding will go directly to the Enterprise program to support Enterprise’s response to COVID-19. Funding received beyond the cost of the safer HVAC project will be applied to additional student projects.

The Consumer Product Manufacturing Enterprise is very excited to work on the shared air filtration project! We are very excited to be able to provide new and innovative air filtration solutions that will benefit the community and also help combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

Jacob Michaud, chemical engineering student and president of the CPM Enterprise
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  • Members of the 2019 CPM team

    2020 Design Expo Goes Virtual!

    Design Expo 2020 - A showcase of Enterprise and Senior Design student projects

    Nothing can stop us from celebrating the 20th anniversary of Design Expo. More than 1,000 students in the Enterprise and Senior Design programs have come together to put on a virtual showcase of their work and compete for awards. This year, a panel of judges, made up of distinguished corporate representatives, alumni, community members, and Michigan Tech staff and faculty will critique videos of team projects, solutions and results. 

    Similar to past years, teams have a chance to earn cash awards along with well-deserved recognition among their peers. This year, total student awards have been increased to more than $3,500. As always, many projects are sponsored by industry, which allows students to gain valuable experience in solving real industrial problems. Additionally, many teams engage in student-initiated ideas that embody the innovative and the entrepreneurial spirit that comes with being a Husky.

    This event is free and open to the public. We encourage current and future students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, families of students. etc to help us celebrate our students and their achievement—register today to virtually attend Design Expo (see registration links below). 

    2020 Schedule of Events:

    Tuesday, April 14

    Noon: Remote Judging Opens 

    Thursday, April 16

    10:00 a.m.: Opening Remarks via live webinar

    10:15 a.m.: Virtual gallery open to public

    2:00 p.m.: Remote judging closes

    4:00 p.m.: Presentation of Awards via live webinar

    4:30 p.m.: 2020 Design Expo concludes

    Register to attend Design Expo live events today.

    Design Expo: Kickoff & Opening Remarks

    Design Expo: Presentation of Awards

    Text In Voting

    New this year, participants will have the chance to vote for their favorite student project. Using the number (919) 351-8683, participants can vote for as many competitors as they like but can only vote once for each competitor. Text in voting will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, April 16.

    To vote, a participant might text the following case sensitive message to the phone number above:
    101 to vote for Baja Blizzard or 201 to vote for Medical Device Ball Bearing Temperature Test Fixture

    Team numbers will be available on April 16 via the Design Expo website, and all who register for Live Webinars. 

    Interested in judging for the 20th annual Design Expo? 

    This year, judges will have the flexibility to vote anytime between noon on  April 14 through 2 p.m.  April 16. Judging should still take about an hour, depending on the number of volunteers. Please register to become a judge today.

    Check out all of the details of Design Expo here. For questions, please reach out to Briana Tucker.