2018 Class
Summary of the year
In our first year offering the course, 23 students participated in 5 project teams. We had projects from the Precourt Institute for Energy at Stanford, and the Dabiri Lab at Stanford. Projects were in two general categories - exploring Vertical Axis Wind Turbines with the Dabiri Lab, and exploring improving practices for farmers in India with the Precourt Institute.
5 Students traveled to India as part of the Precourt projects, and 4 students traveled to Lancaster California for real-time evaluation of their systems at a wind turbine farm.
The Inaugural class for ME170
Wind Turbine Projects
Design low-cost turbine blades to reduce the lifecycle costs of VAWTs in Igiugig, Alaska, and promote a viable, clean alternative to diesel fuel in the winter
Integrate a passive method for spin control to prevent damage to VAWTs during high wind speeds
Create an active braking system for vertical axis wind turbines using magnetorheological fluid, to prevent damage to VAWTs during high wind speeds
Improving Farming Practices in India
ECOGuavO!
Enable low-cost cold storage solutions that can preserve guavas for longer periods of time and reduce produce waste. Read project details
Spice to Meet You
Devise a faster and more effetive chili-drying system to lower food waste, reduce economic loss, and maintain affordability and sustainable practices. Read project details.