As previously mentioned in Eesti Elu, the Samueli School of Engineering at UCI uses project-based learning to promote career readiness for their engineering students. To develop and showcase student skills, the projects are often focused on international competitions. For example, the Legacy Robotics Mars Rover Project at this year’s design review involves building a rover for the University Rover Challenge (a global competition hosted annually by the Mars Society). The objectives include delivering a fully-autonomous rover capable of detecting life, identifying objects, navigating difficult terrain, and manipulating objects—all by the end of the 2025 spring quarter.
Another project (the “Ant Eat Air” cargo plane project) is earmarked to participate in the International SAE Aero Design West competition. Their goal is to build an aircraft that generates high lift at low speeds with a large payload in a small cargo bay. The robotic hand project was developed for potentially dangerous or otherwise inaccessible environments. The robotic hand movement is achieved through computer vision over wireless communication. The goal is for the hand to be able to grab various objects and have the strength not to warp under high pressure.
High-speed trains are an example of the use of magnetic levitation to suspend them without physical contact with the train track, allowing for high-speed transportation.
An example of a multi-year project is Hyperxite, whose goal is to produce a magnetic levitation device. High-speed trains are an example of the use of magnetic levitation to suspend them without physical contact with the train track, allowing for high-speed transportation. The Shanghai Maglev is the world’s first commercial high-speed train using this type of technology.
For Hyperxite, by “utilizing a combination of electrodynamic suspension methods and permanent magnets arranged in a Halbach formation, repulsive forces between the track and magnets can be generated which can lift and hold the pod off the surface.” One of the nicest surprises for Ontario residents is that you do not need to travel to California to see their project. The UCI Hyperxite team will be going to the Canadian Hyperloop Global Event in Kingston, Ontario in late May 2025. You can learn more about their project at hyperxite.com .
At the high school level, this year’s science fair projects have seen a dramatic increase in the use of artificial intelligence (AI). 3D printing of components is also now very widely used. As usual, advanced high school projects (such as those which win at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair) are often at the university level. For example, this year, both the UCI Engineering Design Review and the Orange County high school projects included development of wildfire detection drones, an important focus considering the recent Los Angeles fires.
What should a student do if their project has start-up potential?
At the University level, UCI has an entrepreneurship center for students who want to “launch their own startups, find funding, connect with mentors, and learn from experts on how to navigate starting and growing a business.” High school students would also benefit from having a school field trip with their teacher to such centres, as well as by inviting such experts to speak at their school science club.
Some of the most expensive and time-consuming startups involve clinical studies in human subjects. Clinical trials usually need a large number of participants, expensive drug manufacturing, and design, with rigorous and time-consuming safety and medical reviews in advance of the start of the project.
As usual, having a unique and much-needed product is often a key to future success, and winning a competition with your project will also be of great help.
