Congratulations to UBC engineering students Jenny Yang and Andrew Dworschak, Engineering Physics, and Connor McFadyen and Allan Ng, Mechanical Engineering, for a first place finish in the Junior Design component of the UBC Engineering Competition, held October 2015!
The challenge for Junior Design was to build a launcher that could launch medical supplies to the top of a mountain.
The win qualified the team to compete in the Western Engineering Competition held January 13 – 17, 2016 in Kelowna, B.C.
13 universities from Western Canada (BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba) competed in 7 events. The challenge for our UBC team was to create a device that could autonomously make noise to help stranded hikers. Again, a first place finish!
L to R: Spencer Bostock, Junior Design Director, with Western Competition Winners, UBC students Jenny Yang (Engineering Physics), Connor McFadyen (Mechanical Engineering), Andrew Dworschak (Engineering Physics) and Allan Ng (Mechanical Engineering).
The team competed in the Canadian Engineering Competition on March 3 – 6, 2016 in Montreal, Quebec. 150 undergraduate students from Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario and the Western regions competed in 7 events. Junior Design competitors had to build a retractable drawbridge that could extend over various gaps, then drive a remote controlled car over each gap.
Andrew Dworschak, 2nd year: “The Engineering Physics Program really helped to develop quick thinking skills that were essential for these timed competitions. But above all, it was having an amazing team that worked well together that really made us successful. Also, the robot we’re going to be building in the summer will be a huge help to prepare us for the senior design competition next year where hopefully we’ll get to participate in these great events again!”
Jenny Yang, 2nd year: “My experience at the engineering competitions was a great balance of hard work and fun! The competition exemplified the innovative nature of engineering, as we were challenged to use skills such as decision making, communication, teamwork and adaptability within our problem solving. It was also a very fun-spirited event, making it a great setting to meet people on both a professional and personal level. However, for me, the most rewarding part was being able to compete and travel with my friends, and be a part of an incredibly supportive and motivating UBC team.”
The UBC Junior Design team came 4th in the Canadian competition. Well done!
UBC team at the Canadian Engineering Competition in Montreal, March 2016