NEWS to ME
Mechanical Engineering Department • Cal Poly College of Engineering • Summer 2018
Message from the Chair —————————————————
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Jim Widmann
elcome to the summer issue of News to ME, the Cal Poly Mechanical Engineering Department newsletter. Reflecting at the end of my first full academic year as department chair, I marvel at how many Learn by Doing activities our students, faculty and staff participate in each year. From project-based pedagogies to extra-curricular club activities, our students learn how their ideas and theory translate to the real world of practical engineering. To support our handson approach, we continue to re-imagine and improve our laboratory facilities and machine shops to make our unique educational approach possible. Student club activities continue to increase, from the ever-popular Cal Poly Racing to growing areas in humanitarian engineering. Enrollment in Mechanical Engineering has also increased by 30 percent over the last six years, and we now have more than 1,200 undergraduate students — making us the largest department on campus. This spring we celebrated See CHAIR’S MESSAGE on Page 2
Clockwise from left: Mechanical Engineering students Jacob Rardin, Julia Trenkle, Ricky Tan and Patrick Granier work in the Mechatronics Lab.
Mechatronics Teaches Students to Use Multiple Facets of Engineering Growing field is more than robotics, professor says
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urrounded by his peers, Nick Walker allows himself a quick, proud smile as his classmates reward him with a round of applause. After all, the machine he created with lab partner Carmelo Furlan has just used a Sharpie marker to draw a picture of a sailboat. And that picture, drawn on a piece of white paper, is a tangible product of mechatronics, a multidisciplinary field of science that combines mechanics, computer science, electrical engineering, and controls. “It’s cool to get to apply all the programming we do to a physical system,” said Walker, a computer engineering student from Seattle. The word “mechatronics” was coined by a Japanese engineer in 1969. But the field has
gained popularity more recently, leading to a concentration in the ME Department. In John Ridgely’s lab, students have been tasked with creating a mechatronics device that will actually achieve a goal – like drawing a sailboat. “The idea with mechanical engineering, and in mechatronics in particular, is that somebody understands the design of most of the system – not just one little piece,” Ridgely said. While mechatronics is currently a popular concentration, courses are likely to become required in the ME curriculum, Ridgely said. As Ridgely’s students tests their creations, Erin Clark, a mechanical engineering student from Glendora, works on a machine featuring an inverted pendulum. The pendulum is supposed to move back and forth on a track, but right now the pendulum starts to move, then beSee MECHATRONICS on Page 2
NEWS to ME CHAIR’S MESSAGE
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more than 250 graduates who are in very high demand for careers in engineering and for graduate school. People are the strength of the ME department, and this last year we have celebrated the retirements of Saeed Niku, Jim Meagher and George Leone and welcomed new faculty Rick Emberley and Jacques Belanger (PG&E Professor of Nuclear and Renewable Energy) to the department. We also welcomed Jim Cullins as our new lead technician for the Aero Hanger machine shop. The shop continues to be the epicenter of hands-on activity in the department and is open to all students on campus who are interested in building their ideas. Looking ahead to the fall, we will welcome our most accomplished incoming class ever — more than 180 freshmen and 35 transfer students — along with Lauren Cooper and Ben Lutz, two new professors, to strengthen our department in design. They will add to the growing areas of exciting research activities in the department, which include innovative in-flight flow measurement, human motion biomechanics, advanced vehicle safety systems, design and manufacturing of composite materials, renewable energy production and innovative engineering education, to name a few. These research experiences are captivating undergraduate and graduate students alike. Please enjoy this update from the department and let us know if you are ever in SLO, as we would love to catch up and show you the exciting new activities in the department. Cal Poly College of Engineering Mechanical Engineering Dept. Building 13, Room 254 Phone: 805-756-1334 me.calpoly.edu
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“Having some people around who know many pieces of the system helps to produce an integrated design.” MECHATRONICS From Page 1 gins to stutter before stopping in its track. Clark adjusts the horizontal and angular velocity. But the pendulum is not yet cooperating. “It’s quite a learning curve, for sure,” Clark says. “But I get to see what the code does.” Her project partner, Sam Malicoat, a computer engineering major from Auburn, CA, is wearing a T-shirt that proclaims, “The Engineer’s Motto: If it ain’t broke, take it apart and fix it.” It’s easy to see why he’s a fan of mechatronics. “I’ve always been interested in robotics,” said Malicoat, who was on his high school robotics team. That’s where much interest in today’s mechatronics begins, Ridgely said – high school robotics clubs. But while mechatronics often conjures images of robots, drones, and autonomous vehicles, those are the high-profile uses. “Mechatronics is vastly broader than that,” Ridgely said, noting that products such as phones and microwaves entail mechatronics. “There are dozens of computers in every modern car.” Mechatronics engineers might design antilock brakes, copy machines, or other devices remotely operated by a computer. According to BusinessWire, research in the field of mechatronics is increasing, which will increase the need for skilled labor force. In the past, specialists might be hired to work on individual tasks. But that’s not always practical – or the best way to operate, Ridgely said.
Mechanical engineering student Kevin Marshall watches his Sharpie-wielding autonomous robot attempt to draw a circle. Below, ME students Tomy Tran and Ahmed Shorab worked on a autonomous painting project.
“If you’ve got a smaller company, you can’t afford to hire too many specialists,” he said. “And if you’ve got a larger one, having some people around who know many pieces of the system helps to produce an integrated design.” For students, mechatronics challenges them to do things they’ve never done before. Furlan, a computer engineering student from Los Angeles, is used to working with software, which doesn’t typically require trips to Home Depot. But he and Walker had to figure out what pieces would hold a Sharpie in place and make it move. “We had no clue where to get parts,” he said. “We never had to find mechanical parts.”
Mechanical engineering students Sarah De Rosier, Paul Rothammer-Ruiz and Dominic Riccoboni test their autonomous car in Engineering Plaza.
Autonomous Car Project Could Lead to New Course I
n the Engineering Plaza, a tiny autonomous car developed by students lurches forward, begins driving in a circle, then abruptly stops. Even though multiple waves of students have worked on this car as a senior project, it’s still a work in progress. But Professor Charles Birdsong eventually wants to have an entire class working on a fleet of these cars. His idea — a course titled Intel-
ligent Vehicles — would represent a zippy example of mechatronics at work. “You can learn about signal processing in Electrical Engineering. You can learn about microcontrollers in the Computer Engineering department. And you can learn about vehicle dynamics in the Mechanical Engineering department,” said Birdsong, whose specialties include vehicle safety. “But there’s no one class that mixes all that stuff together.” The car project has served as a prototype for an undergraduate tech elective. Most of the students involved in the project have a mechatronics concentration. “They have the ability to do the programming and electronics as well as the mechanical side,” Birdsong said. “It’s a rare thing to have students with the capability to put all those things together.” The car looks like a remote controlled toy. But its technology can be applied to life-sized vehicles.
“The big picture is that it’s a small-scale intelligent vehicle, and we’re trying to use it to teach intelligent vehicle control systems and technologies,” said Dominic Riccoboni, from Fresno. The cars safety features include a camera, range finder and ultrasonic sensor. It gets orders through wi-fi, and students can look on a laptop to see a live display of turning speeds, demands and results. “Everything that it’s doing is going to be because of the control algorithm that was written for this specific application,” said Sarah De Rosier, of San Diego. The project represents a rare opportunity for the undergrads. This type of experience is typically only available to students pursuing doctorate work. “I really appreciate that we at Cal Poly have professors interested in this,” said Paul Rothammer-Ruiz, of San Leandro. “You see these really cool technologies coming out – artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, spaceships. That seems really cool, but I never thought I’d have the opportunity to actually learn anything about that.”
“You can learn about signal processing in Electrical Engineering. You can learn about microcontrollers in the Computer Engineering department. And you can learn about vehicle dynamics in the Mechanical Engineering department. But there’s no one class that mixes all that stuff together.” 3
NEWS to ME
ASME Offers Students Connections and Fun
Cal Poly ASME Serves as Bridge to a Professional Future
The Cal Poly ASME chapter makes an annual trip to Hoover Dam.
“I have developed a priceless network of friends, department faculty, and industry connections in my time in ASME.” Eric Zhong Cal Poly ASME President
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his spring, the Cal Poly chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) hosted its first Engineering Perspective and Impact Conference, providing yet another vehicle for students to learn about their field and forge key connections. The local ASME, which was founded in 1951, organizes and hosts events like the conference, plus engineering design competitions, and social events — including barbecues, Frisbee and movie nights — that encourage networking and fun. “I have developed a priceless network of friends, department faculty, and industry connections in my time in ASME,” chapter president Eric Zhong said. “ASME has helped me become comfortable with taking initiative, working with others and networking with new people and connections.” His summer internship, in fact, came as a result of an ASME networking session last fall. The ASME’s activities also include events off campus. Every year members visit the
Hoover Dam, where students get a behindthe-scenes tour with engineers who work at the facility. The have also toured companies, such as Tesla, Diablo Canyon, Stryker, and Mars Candy Factory. “Beyond these events, we also forward hiring opportunities from our company contacts,” Zhong said. The Engineering Perspective and Impact Conference is a new event, similar to the Ted Talks series, featuring faculty and professional engineers discussing a variety of issues relevant to today’s engineering field. “The motivations behind putting together the EPIC event was to try to find a way to bridge the gap between students’ academic perspective of engineering and that of professionals in the industry,” said Thomas Headland, ASME’s secretary. Since 1880, the national ASME has been a major source of information, education and professional development and currently has 122,000 members worldwide, including 23,000 student members.
Talking Shop with Jim Cullins I
f you need Jim Cullins on a weekday, you might have to peek inside a cage or peer behind a machine. But, chances are, he’ll be somewhere in the old metal aero hangar, where he has served as shop manager since January. Cullins, who replaced long-timer George Leone, supervises the 50 sponsored student technicians and student clubs, making sure procedures are followed and equipment is used safely. Having recently built an addition to his home, he’s also a pretty handy guy to have around.
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve seen here so far?
I’d say the team projects. It’s fascinating how many hours go into that and what they can do.
When you see the students working as a team, what’s happening?
I think that’s one of the main reasons I’m here — to see all that energy and passion and drive going into something students don’t even get class credit for. They truly want to be here.
What’s it like when it’s really busy here?
It’s extremely hectic. We’re trying to alleviate that. We really pick up on evenings and weekends, particularly in club activity, culminating in our Build Week, which is our busiest week of the year. It’s not uncommon for us to have about 120 students up here, working. We actually have club activity until midnight.
When they knock this building down, is it going to be a sad day or a happy day?
I think it will be mixed. A lot of people that have worked here . . . this is some of their fondest memories. And I don’t think you can replace that – the nostalgia we have here. When we do take it apart, there are people who want to take pieces of it as collectibles.
If you had endless time to make anything in this hangar, what would you make?
One of the draws of having a shop like this is that it’s a limitless work environment. You can build anything you can dream of.
So I’ll put you down for “motorcycle?”
I’m kind of a nerd. I really like building machine tools.
What have you built?
I built a few cars. Lots of 3-D printers. Some CNC mills. A CO2 laser.
What sort of things did you make as a kid?
Mostly automotive and motorcycle stuff. I do a lot of dirt biking. A few years back, I rode cross-country on dirt roads – from Virginia Beach to Oregon. We did a 7,000-mile trip, and about 4,300 of it was on dirt trails. What’s the weirdest thing you saw on that cross-country trip?
Probably the most interesting and unique experience is when you’re riding through Utah. They have roads where you can go through Monument Valley. It’s all dirt roads. And you go through beautiful arches and vistas. Everybody else that’s traveling (on highways) gets a microscopic view, and you’re in it.
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NEWS to ME
ME Clubs Soar C
al Poly clubs fared well recently, with several top ten competition finishes across the country. Highlights include: • The Supermileage team finished fourth in the Internal Combustion category during the Shell Eco-marathon Americas 2018, with a car that achieved 1294.8 miles per gallon. The event took place at the Sonoma Raceway in April. • The Cal Poly Baja race team took fifth place overall in Oregon at the end of May. The Baja team also cracked the top ten in several categories. • The formula race team finished 13th overall for both their combustion and electric cars during its June competition in Nebraska. The combustion engine car won third place in the design category while the electric car tied for fifth. • The Fluid Power Challenge team finished second in the endurance challenge last April at the NFPA Fluid Power Challenge in Ames, Iowa.
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ME @ Project Expo
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NEWS to ME
A Dreamer Looks Back on Her Struggles Mechanical Engineering grad Silvia Aguilar is an undocumented success story
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ooking back, Silvia Aguilar (ME ‘13) says her experience as What is your status now? an undocumented student was worth the struggle, though her I have a green card. So within five years, I should be eligible to journey was more challenging than most. Aguilar, who came to apply for citizenship. America from Mexico at age 6, was able to attend college with inIn 2012, you said, “I think my biggest accomplishment has yet to come.” state tuition under a California law, but she couldn’t get financial Has it happened yet? aid, work or travel outside the country. I think something big is coming, but it hasn’t come yet. Since Once a fixture of the Dean’s List, an active student, and one of I got the green card, I got this feeling of, “I don’t want to waste six “Great Grads,” she now works at Lam it.” There’s thousands and thousands of Research Corporation in Fremont as a people that don’t have green cards right mechanical design engineer, a job she was “By all means, I shouldn’t have now that could. I have a duty and a allowed to get under Deferred Action made it past the second quarter. responsibility to be involved in my comfor Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which munity and make the best of it. allows those brought to the country ilBut I did because certain Cal Poly I’ve never been able to go out of the legally to defer deportation and become community members took an country, so as soon as I got the green eligible for a work permit. card, right away, I went to India for three interest in making sure that weeks. I went to Mexico for a weekend. As an undocumented student, you faced many I made it to the end.” I just got back from Haiti. And I’ll be in challenges. What do you think about those now? Brazil in August. It’s difficult for me to say this. But if I had to do it all over again, I don’t think I would change anything. I discovered humanity in a What kinds of things are you designing now? In layman’s terms, I make the machines that make computer way that you wouldn’t unless you’re going through the struggle. chips. It made me who I am today, and what I want the most is to not have that be a thing for other people. That must have been hard because you couldn’t get financial aid and couldn’t work.
I ran out of money. A lot of times I couldn’t afford on-campus housing and meal plans. By all means, I shouldn’t have made it past the second quarter. But I did because certain Cal Poly community members took an interest in making sure that I made it to the end.
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What has surprised you most about the real world?
You don’t have as much time as when you’re a student.
As a kid did you take toasters apart? Did you play with Legos?
I actually thought I was going to be an architect for the longest time. . . It wasn’t until my high school physics teachers had us do a project where we had to build a little robot, and my teacher saw me and said, “You should be an engineer.”
Retirement Won’t Stop Saeed Niku From Teaching A
fter 36 years at Cal Poly, Saeed Niku is retiring – but he’s not leaving. “I will still teach,” he said. “Just less.” While he will continue to share his wisdom half-time through the Faculty in Early Retirement Program, Niku plans to use his newfound free time to continue his favorite hobbies. “I make things out of wood, leather, glass metal,” he said. “A lot of furniture, wall hangings, and decor.” Niku, who has written four textbooks (two of which were translated to Chinese, Korean, and Portuguese), also plans to continue writing. Since starting his career at Cal Poly, Niku has taught as many as 15 different classes, ranging from mechanics to
design and more — including two that he created himself: Philosophy of Design and Robotics. He also served as the coordinator of the graduate program Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering program for the past 24 years, and he was the faculty advisor for the Hillel Club, the student organization that celebrates Jewish heritage, for 16 years. Looking back, he has fond memories of students, colleagues and faculty. “I came here as a very young man,” he said. “We have tried to maintain the value of the degree of mechanical engineering doing what we think is right. Sometimes, we had to fight for it but we have been pretty successful.”
Saeed Niku
“We have tried to maintain the value of the degree of mechanical engineering doing what we think is right.”
Getting to Know ME — New Faculty Jacques Belanger
Rick Emberley
Jacques Belanger got into engineering because it would allow him to create things that could make life better for people. “I also liked the fact that engineering is governed by a set of laws – thermodynanics, elasticity, etc. – that apply all the time the same way,” he said. “So you can always go back to the fundamental principles and build a solid solution when exposed to a new problem.” Belanger grew up in a small town roughly 60 miles from Montreal with interests in architecture and how buildings, bridges, and roads were made. Belanger, who has a master’s degree in mechanical engineering, also loved airplanes, leading to his doctorate in aerospace. A former assistant professor at the University of Minnesota, he also served as managing engineer at Exponent in Menlo Park and vice-president of technology and engineering at Cool Earth Solar in Livermore. His first year at Cal Poly, he said, Jacques Belanger has been smooth, thanks to support from staff and faculty. “It has been nice working with the students,” he said. “They have been very supportive of my transition back to teaching.”
Growing up in New Hampshire, Rick Emberley’s love of Legos and rock walls fueled his passion for building. “I was always helping my father build and repair things around our house and at his work as a water and wastewater treatment plant operator,” Emberley said. After earning undergraduate and master’s degrees in Massachusetts, he moved to Brisbane, Australia, where he earned his Ph.D. in civil engineering, with a focus on structural fire safety engineering. In January of 2017, he started at Rick Emberley Cal Poly as a dual appointment in the Mechanical Engineering Department and Fire Protection Engineering Program. At Cal Poly, he has been actively involved in establishing a fire research program, the construction of a fire laboratory space and the installation of fire testing equipment. A professional with many interests, (Emberley minored in music as an undergrad) he said every engineering project requires a myriad of skills that are not contained in one field and collaboration from multiple people. “One lone musician cannot play an entire symphony, and the same is true in engineering,” he said.
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