A ‘domestic drying space using a heat recovery ventilation system’ and a ‘quadcopter for rapid response cardiac arrest rescue’ have won the Engineers Ireland West Project Awards at the inaugural GMIT Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Expo.
Among 45 projects exhibited
The two winning projects, by Philip Doyle from Ballygunin, Tuam, and Max Phelan from Oranmore, respectively, were among 45 projects described in poster format and exhibited in the GMIT Café Foyer from April 25 to May 2.
Max Phelan, Overall Mechanical winner for his project, 'The Mechanical Design and Manufacture of a Cost Effective Autonomous Drone from Rapid Cardiac Response Purposes', said: “Autonomous drones are used for both callous and humanitarian purposes.
"The aim of this project is to design and manufacture a prototype autonomous drone to rapidly deliver an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) for use in high density population areas.
"To realise this, I looked at the flight envelopes of existing drones to asses and critique their abilities, and thereafter used flight dynamics, aerodynamics, control and programming to design and manufacture a prototype quadcopter which is capable of delivering a concept AED for rapid response purposes.”
Provide a clean fresh air supply
Philip Doyle, Overall Energy winner for his project, 'Investigation, Specification and Design of a Domestic Dedicated Drying System using ProAir’s Heat Recovery Ventilation System', said: “Homes are ventilated for many reasons, but primarily to provide a clean fresh air supply.
"In Ireland, due to our maritime climate, many modern homes use a dedicated mechanical heat recovery system. The aim of the project was, therefore, to investigate the feasibility of using a mechanical heat recovery ventilation system to preheat the incoming air in a dedicated clothes-drying space.
"To realise this, I used ProAir’s Mechanical Ventilation system to preheat to investigate its efficacy in clothes drying in a dedicated area.”
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L to R: Gerard MacMichael, head of the School of Engineering; Dr Oliver Mulryan, chair of the Mechanical Engineering Programme; Dr Carine Gachon, head of Dept Mechanical & Industrial Engineering; Dr Fergal Barry, president of GMIT; Max Phelan, overall mechanical engineering winner; John Paul Butler, chairman of Engineers Ireland West Region, sponsor of the student awards. (Industry judges were: Donal Collins, R&D manager, McHale; Alan Heneghan, senior programme manager, Thermo King; and Brian Dowling, project engineer, Medtronic.)[/caption]
Deliver projects relevant to industry
John Paul Butler said: “As chairman of Engineers Ireland West Region, it was a tremendous honour to have the opportunity to participate in the judging process at the recent awards in the School of Engineering at GMIT.
"I was really impressed with the range of projects. They were well structured and superbly presented. They demonstrated how the students’ competencies had developed to deliver projects relevant to industry to a high standard.”
The expo was organised by the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and was sponsored by Engineers Ireland West Region. The event was also used to showcase project work from other years within the department, with student posters and projects on display during the event. The industry judges praised the high standards and the skillsets of GMIT Mechanical and Energy engineering students.
Dr Gabriel J Costello, lecturer in product design, chartered engineer and member of Engineers Ireland West Region committee, said: “I was delighted with the way the students demonstrated innovation in their designs, which ensures that they will bring creativity and design thinking into their future employments.
"The expo also strengthened the relationship between the undergraduates and Engineers Ireland which will provide international recognition for their engineering qualifications.”
For more information on the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering programmes, contact Dr Carine Gachon, head of department,
Carine.Gachon@gmit.ie