AERO

The SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) sponsors an annual competition at the University level for students to design, build and compete with a remote controlled airplane. The aircraft should lift as much weight as possible. Accurately predicting the lifting capacity of the aircraft is an important part of the exercise. The UNH Aero Team was formed in academic year 2007-2008, and ME/ECE seniors designed and built a remote controlled airplane for their senior project. For more information about this project, please contact Tracey Harvey at tracey.harvey@unh.edu.

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

There is an active student section of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) in the department. Each year a program of invited speakers, films, and field trips is organized by the student officers. All students are encouraged to join ASME as student members and to upgrade their status to full membership upon graduation. Upon joining, students receive the monthly Mechanical Engineering magazine which contains articles of interest in many of the branches of contemporary mechanical engineering. ASME also sponsors many conferences and workshops nationally each year that are valuable learning experiences.

Please contact faculty advisor, Yannis Korkolis at yannis.korkolis@unh.edu or student president, William Holmes at wko2@cisunix.unh.edu more information.

Here is a link to the Northern New England ASME website. http://sections.asme.org/NNE/index.html.

FSAE

A student team designs, builds and competes with mini-Formula-1 racing cars. Over 140 universities were involved in last year's competition. The cars have to meet several requirements specified by the SAE, such as a maximum engine displacement (610 cc). Strict safety requirements are established by the SAE and are enforced in the design and the competition.

FSAE Website »

Mini Baja Vehicle

Each year, the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) sponsors a Mini Baja competition for undergraduate engineering students throughout the United States and Canada. The vehicle must be safe, fun to drive, easily maintained and be capable of negotiating rough terrain and deep water without damage. Each vehicle will be judged on the engineering design, safety and cost. The performance of the vehicle is demonstrated at the annual competition, where the vehicle is evaluated in such areas as acceleration, land maneuverability, water maneuverability, strength and endurance. Such events as slalom, chain pulling and braking may also be used to evaluate the vehicle. Following these events, each vehicle is entered into a four-hour endurance race. In the past years, ME students at UNH have participated in the annual Mini Baja competition as part of the ME senior design project course.

Hovercats Classic

A hovercraft is a vehicle capable of traveling on all types of terrain while remaining maneuverable, compact, affordable, and easy to maintain. Hovercrafts ride and are propelled by a cushion of air supplied by one or two engine and fan assemblies. The goal of this project is to design and fabricate a competitive, race worthy hovercraft for the June Hover Club of America's Collegiate Competition held in Chillicothe, Ohio each year. This contest will test the ME team's skills in many ways such as teamwork, financial management, design, time management, safety and performance. The hovercraft is an interesting project for those students geared more towards thermodynamics and fluid flow.

Hovercats Website »

M.E. Student Advisory Board

The department established its first Student Advisory Board (SAB) in the spring 2005 semester. The purpose of the Student Advisory Board is to document feedback from students for accreditation purposes as well as for the department, and to try and integrate the different classes (freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors). Board convenes once per semester.

M.E. Student Advisory Board link »

Robotics Club

The mission of the UNH Robotics Club is to provide an educational and inspirational experience for UNH students by using FIRST programs as an outlet for students to apply their classroom knowledge and gain real-world experiences, and to provide a service to the community. The members of the UNH Robotics Club engage in FIRST programs by acting as positive role models, sharing their appreciation of science and technology with 9-18 year olds. This allows the middle and high school students to experience science and technological fields and envision these fields in their future.

Those students who wish to find out more information about this club should contact the faculty advisor, Prof. Brad Kinsey at bkinsey@unh.edu.

Robotics Club Website »

Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

The UNH Chapter of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) provides students with an opportunity to explore the fields of transportation and aerospace engineering with others who share similar interests. This is a student organization which works closely with a faculty advisor to arrange tours, guest speakers, and student projects related to these fields. Student members also receive a monthly magazine and newsletter published by SAE as well as notifications of conferences and publications related to the transportation industry. The cornerstones of the UNH SAE Chapter are the annual Mini-Baja and the Formula SAE projects.

Society of Women Engineers (SWE)

The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) maintains an active student section on campus. Outreach programs to local high schools and seminars by outside speakers are included in their yearly activities.

Please contact faculty advisor, Prof. May-Win Thein, at mthein@unh.edu for more information.

SWE Website »

Students Without Borders

Several of our students are actively involved in the Students without Borders organization. Students without Borders is a multi-disciplinary organization. Its mission is to encourage, support and implement environmentally and economically sustainable technical projects in disadvantaged communities nationally and internationally, while developing globally responsible and knowledgeable students. Three ME students traveled to Thailand to build an irrigation bridge to meet the needs of a farming village located in Santisuk. In 2007, students from ME, Environmental and other interdisciplinary majors helped design, build and implement the water extraction system depicted above in Niger, Africa.

SWB Website »

Tau Beta Pi

There is an active chapter of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society, in the college. Outstanding students from all four engineering departments who meet the rigorous academic standards are eligible. The society performs a number of community outreach projects each year. They have also established the Outstanding Engineering Teacher's Award which is given to one faculty member in each engineering department on an annual basis.

Please contact faculty advisor, Prof. Mike Carter, at mike.carter@unh.edu for more information.