UI Engineering Students Dazzle EXPO Visitors
Tuesday, May 4 2004
May 4, 2004^MOSCOW - Professional engineering and educator judges picked the following standouts of the 80-some student projects and exhibits at the 2004 Engineering Design EXPO at the University of Idaho April 30:^Top Exhibits:^The Chemical Engineering Model Car, a shoe-box size model powered by hydrogen fuel cell. Teammates are:^BOISE Andrew Bussey, Andrew Tong^BOISE and NAMPA Leif Elgethun^MOSCOW James Russell, Meng Tan^VIOLA John Aston^EAGLE RIVER, ALASKA Ryan Weaver^Formula SAE Racer – an autocross race car with a new suspension system and custom body that can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds. It will compete against more than 100 other teams May 19-23 in Pontiac, Mich. Team members are: ^BOISE Nick Aleksich, Scott Anderson, Greg Oden^GRANGEVILLE Luke Thompson^LEWISTON Kameron McKeehan^MOSCOW Scott Secrist^NAMPA Mike Harper, Mike Henscheid^POST FALLS Sam Zimmerman^RATHDRUM Brian Auer^SANDPOINT Sam Golbuff, Kurt Winkelmann^SANDPOINT and IDAHO FALLS Nick Jochum^SPIRIT LAKE Rory Olson^TWIN FALLS Kris Henna^EAGLE RIVER, ALASKA Tammy Tucker^TUCSON, ARIZONA Steve Kudrna^SPOKANE, WASH. Scott Nance^MAPLE GROVE, MINN. Ray Flint^OCHEYEDAN, IOWA Corey Runia^HILLSBORO, ORE. Lyda Stephen^The Autogami Airbag Folder -- a new way to fold passenger side airbags for more efficient manufacturing. Exhibitors were:^HAYDEN LAKE John Benscheidt, Jonathan Richards^MOSCOW and BOISE Chris Vair^SANDPOINT Andrew DuBuisson^SHELLEY Justin Johnson^The People's Choice (based on votes from attendees): ^Advanced Vehicle Concepts team with two hybrid vehicles -- the electric hybrid FutureTruck and the hydraulic hybrid tow vehicle. Teammates were: ^ARCO Josh Roy^HANSEN Richard Statler^MOUNTAIN HOME Jeremy Forbes^WEISER Jeremy Boles^Top Poster Presentations: ^WaveRay Optical Ray Tracer -- to simulate optics such as lenses, mirrors, beam splitters and more. WaveRay generates optical systems such as a Michelson Interferometer, telescope and microscope. It is written in Java and comes with a 3D graphical interface. Exhibitors were: ^BOISE Nathan Riskey^IDAHO FALLS Caleb Case^PRINCETON Joel Teeter^GLASGOW, MONT. Danny Browning^Semiconductor Polishing Waste Cost Reduction -- to reduce the costs in semiconductor chemical mechanical polishing processes through ultrasonic atomization and cyclonic separation. Exhibitors were: ^BOISE and NEW PLYMOUTH Sam Moore^MIDDLETON Scott Kahre^CHENEY, WASH. James Moberly^Top Technical Presentations^Synchronizing Power Operations -- via computer and math, the team created a procedure to determine machine parameters to help the power industry lower costs, and more effectively synchronize their generators, specifically for use in power protection. Exhibitors were: ^CALDWELL Michael Bitsch^AUKE BAY, ALASKA Nathan Fletcher^Touch Screen Tester -- an automated machine tests four to five wire touch screens up to 20 inches across. The machine is precise, provides error analysis, gives position feedback, and analyzes touch screen input and output data in Excel. Presenters were: ^CALDWELL Caroline Kawaguchi^JEROME Tim Matthews^LEWISTON Jason Stevens^MIDDLETON Brock Schroeder^POST FALLS Sam Zimmerman^TOWNSEND, MONT. Rick Engstrom.^RIDGEWAY, SC Keith Ballenger^Trout Drying -- using mathematical simulation and cost analysis, the team compared intermittent drying to continuous steady temperature drying of trout to achieve equilibrium and uniform moisture content. Presenters were: ^BOISE Sarah Francisco^MOSCOW Katia Hristova^ACCRA-NORTH, GHANA Oriana Obiri^Visual Communication System- Technical Session of Biological and Agricultural Engineering -- A new product created to automate communication between harvester and truck operators in a potato or sugar beat harvesting operation. Members were:^ABERDEEN Ian Toevs^MOSCOW Seth Elkington^Contact: Barbara Smith, EXPO manager, (208) 885-6183, bsmith@uidaho.edu; or Nancy Hilliard, University Communications, (208) 885-6567, hilliard@uidaho.edu^Editors: For photos, see www.today.uidaho.edu/photo_list.asp^-30-^NH/BS-5-3-04/ENGR^
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