As part of their senior design course in aviation, three students undertook a project to design an electronic personal restraint system for NASA astronauts to use in microgravity environments. The design, created by Kevin Tait, Justin Lewis and Justin Hickel, would allow an astronaut to walk along a surface while being electromagnetically restrained to it. The system would also release the user in the event of power failure.
Tech Ventures, Facebook’s Open Compute Project to spark student ingenuity
In its first sponsored competition with a university, Facebook has partnered with Tech Ventures, a technology commercialization program in Purdue University’s College of Technology, to sponsor a student challenge through the Open Compute Project.
The Open Compute Challenge asks students to combine efficiency (minimizing the cost of waste and recycling) with sustainability. Participants will be charged with designing a biodegradable server chassis, which is the shell that holds all of the server components. Servers are typically replaced every four years.
In the News: new tool gives structural strength to 3-D printed works
Objects created using 3-D printing have a common flaw: They are fragile and often fall apart or lose their shape.
“I have an entire zoo of broken 3-D printed objects in my office,” said Bedrich Benes, associate professor of computer graphics technology at Purdue University.
The printed fabrications often fail at points of high stress.
Meet Troy Davis, computer and information technology major
Troy Davis, Janesville, Wisc.
Major: Computer and information technology (CIT) with a network engineering technology concentration, a certificate in entrepreneurship and innovation, and a minor in communications
Meet Chad Kingsolver, mechanical engineering technology major
Chad Kingsolver, Frankfort, Ind.
Major: Mechanical Engineering Technology
Activities
Intramural sports
Tau Alpha Pi honor society, engineering technology honor society
Meet Lonald Howard, computer graphics technology major
Lonald Howard, Indianapolis, Ind.
Major: Computer Graphics Technology with minors in psychology and building construction management and a certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Activities
Resident assistant
Spring Break Challenge participant
National Society of Black Engineers
Phoenix Club at Hillenbrand Hall
Emily Mauzy Vogel Sophomore Leadership Development Conference
Boiler League of Tag’s Humans vs. Zombies
Meet Colin Tancredi, manufacturing engineering technology major
Colin Tancredi, Wallingford, Penn.
Major: Manufacturing Engineering Technology
Activities
Sigma Alpha Lambda leadership organization
Golden Key international academic honor society
Philosophy Club
Tarkington Hall staff
Wiley Hall community
Meet Amanda Keck, professional flight major
Amanda Keck, Crown Point, Ind.
Major: Professional Flight
Activities
Air Race Classic ground crew, co-pilot, captain
Meet Rachel Kennedy, industrial distribution major
Rachel Kennedy, Schaumburg, Ill.
Major: Industrial Distribution/Industrial Technology
Activities
Women in Technology, president
Meet Amber Lloyd, aviation management major
Amber Lloyd, Indianapolis, Ind.
Major: Aviation Management, with private and commercial pilot certificates
Activities
CoT Ambassadors
Science Bound Student Support Organization, president 2011-2012
Tutor for Hope Chapel
Peer Mentor in Science Bound
Undergraduate researcher