#RobotDelta: UTEC Award to the best undergraduate school project of 2014 Semester II

José Magallanes, Christian Monterrey and Frank Salazar from Electronic Engineering and Juan Toribio from Mechanical Engineering, undergraduate students supervised by Dr. Emir Vela, won the award for the best project in the 2014 II semester received this award from Pablo Moreno, Academic Quality and Innovation Coordinator, and Verónica Lunga, Student Services Coordinator.  Both expressed words of praise for the effort and work of these students who represent the best of the ingenuity that characterizes the students of Universidad de Ingeniería y Tecnología (UTEC).What is #RobotDelta?A very fast and accurate robot. The prototype of a Delta Robot combines knowledge of mechanics in design and of electronics in control, which makes it unique. In addition, this robot will be platform for learning and teaching para future Control courses, and it may have the potential for its technology to be applied in devices such as an industrial embroidery machine, a 3D printer, a delta robot that draws, etc.   But, Jose, Christian, Frank and Juan have selected the industrial embroidery machine for future implementation with this project. Undoubtedly, the interdisciplinary team work and ingenuity between Electronic and Mechanical Engineering students will continue to put up a good fight in the challenge to finding real world solutions to real world problems.  Other projectsLast December 3rd, students gave presentations to a group of teachers.  In addition, Pablo Moreno highlighted the level that project presentations are beginning to acquire each semester, the great sacrifices and the interaction that exists between students of different disciplines.  59 projects, 5 of them multi-disciplinary, 20 teachers and 220 students have together achieved these results.What other solutions have the students selected to pursue in their projects?Nano particles for water purification, a  hydrostatic pressure module on flat surfaces, a speed gear box, a solar powered stove targeted to introduce affected families to an efficient alternative and built with readily available materials, an educational card for ATLYS, a cacao oil extractor, the production of rectennas to make maximum use of the microwave energy that is emitted and lost, a wheel chair with a folding backrest,  scooters optimized for storing or using after using them, a system that reduces wear and tear of a machine caused by the phenomena of dynamic imbalance with a number of variable revolutions, a relatively quieter, vibration-free Stirling engine that does not pollute, among others.   Description of some projects

• The design of a mill and press used to obtain cocoa oil 

Team Members: Jefferson Arias, Lessly Minaya, Allison Sancho, Kiara Valverde, Pilar Dueñas, Paul Gutierrez, Jhonny Lozada, Piero Donayre, under the supervision of Professor Rosa María SayánCan you imagine a machine that extracts cocoa oil from cocoa seeds through the use of heat pressure exerted by a mill press?  Well this is what happens in this project.  The machine is heated by creating a resistance seeking to soften the seed and its fat content turns into liquid. In effect, this is an economic alternative to small scale extraction and can be used to drive small businesses. Totalmente #IngenioEnAcción [Absolutely#ingenuity in action] 

• Rectenna

Team Members: Brando Escalante Guerrero and Enzo Ochoa Montes.The efficient use of energy is one of the top concerns of our era. This project seeks to enhance this very precept.  When data are transmitted in the form of waves, such as the case of antennas, there is a good probability that not all the waves are captured by the receiver. Because of this, many waves are squandered, which could be used for other ends.  Rectenna is more than an antenna that captures these wasted waves, it converts them into energy that can be reused more efficiently. 

• Wheel chair reclining accessory

Team Members: Carolina Renteros Lima, Jhandira Tumialán Esteban, Iris Verde Prado, Jenny Yalico VeraUsing the #DesignThinking method, this group of students placed emphasis on the user and through interviews it was able to redesign wheel chair user needs, people with some type of disability, and present their own solution.Generally, wheel chairs develop inconvenience, discomfort, pain and malformations of the spinal column, and other body parts.  What is the best proposal?  An accessory that can be placed on the wheel chair and help the back rest to recline in order to avoid cramping, poor posture and fixed  positions.  Our user is first!  

• Mechanical design for a folding scooter

Team Members: Victor Bonifaz, Gabriel de Romaña, Julio San Martín, Mauricio Silva from Mechanical EngineeringFor any father in a car, this option will seem useful and innovative for this Christmas.  Standard scooters tend to be too large and cumbersome to transport or store.  Wouldn’t it be great to be able to store your scooter in your shoulder bag with your things?  The solution proposed by Víctor, Gabriel, Julio and Mauricio was to add three concentric tubes each with a diameter smaller than the other to reduce the size of the scooter below the steering bar.  They also added a mechanism to fold the wheels below the scooter board and keep them parallel to it in such a way that it reduced the total size.  Further still, they designed the steering handle bars with handles that are foldable by triggering a cable to make it easier to fold the scooter.  

• Controlling Fugitive Dust on Mine Haulage Roads in Open Pit Mines. 

Team Members: Daniel Niño Sánchez, Jenny Yalico Vera, Bill Ferrer Fabián, Omar Cipriano Castro and Joseline Martel OrtizWith a desire to give consideration to users or reduce environmental impacts generated by industries, this group of students set out to solve one of the main problems that every mining operation faces: the generation of fugitive dust. This problem presents itself most frequently along the haulage roads in open pit mines.  Given its stealthy nature, the dust threatens human health and operational safety by causing accidents.These future engineers have improved the water sprinkling system through the use of a monitoring system that assesses the road conditions and activates before dust is emitted. 

• The design of a mechanical model for industrial equipment cement foundation slabs. 

Team Members: Alex Atamari, Erick Bisso, Luis Callupe,  Erich Correa,  Mikel Dávila, Alejandro Del Castillo, Yordan Guerra,  Joel Guizado, Alexander Huertas, Joao Monge, Alberto Reymundo, Jared Torrejón and Danny Yucra. What happens when by a device or engine’s own force it begins to show flaws, because the parts wear down, the joints break or the machinery fails?  This equipment displayed a mechanical model to study the interaction between a rotating machine and the environmental setting: the rotating machine simulates the phenomenon of dynamic imbalance with agitation using a number of variable revolutions. Their solution: a spring system that reduces the impact of the imbalanced movement and optimizes its operation. 

• The Structural Design of a cardboard compactor through force measurement. 

Team Members: José Medina H. under the supervision of J.L. Mantari, PhDRecycling is the new religion of the post-industrial era. Facing the need for space and better working and lighter machinery, this group of students has designed a machine that managers to reduce and optimize spaces to accumulate recyclable waste.  A functional and versatile compacting machine used to easily compact cardboard, transport it store it.  What is the difference between this machine and other machines?  This machine is lighter because it is made of aluminum. 

• Engine

Team Members: Diego Cavani, Juan and Guillermo Hinostroza under the supervision of J.L. Mantari, PhDAn external combustion engine, superior to other engines. It is relatively quieter, vibration free and does not cause any pollution problems.  Heat is applied externally and there are no smoke fumes or contaminants generated in the process.  It could therefore be considered to be environmentally friendly.  This is another initiative that takes the environmental setting under consideration.