SHPE - Conference 2008 - (Page 96)

COMPETITIONS Please refer to updated signage at the conference site. Schedule & Welcome SPONSORED BY NASA AHETEMS Design Competition THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2008 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. PCC: 211A Competitions Professionals Speakers & Advisors & Networking The AHETEMS Design Competition was developed to stimulate a creative, intellectual and entrepreneurial spirit; develop technical presentation skills; engender a team spirit; and instill the cooperation essential in a design project. This competition demonstrates to industry the technical and business capabilities of Hispanic engineering and science students and illustrates that a successful idea need not be expensive to design and build. This year, with the sponsorship of NASA, design teams were formed to construct a lunar surface system. Within the next 20 years, NASA will build a permanent outpost on the lunar surface to conduct scientific research, learn to live off the land and test new technologies for future missions to Mars and beyond. These technologies will rely on a solar-powered system to store energy for use by the outpost during the lunar night. It will require technology to develop components for an advanced extravehicular activity (EVA) suit, mobile systems and rovers as well as thermal control systems. Lunar surface systems such as habitats will also be necessary along with technologies for regolith (loose rock layer on moon’s surface) excavation and handling, producing oxygen from regolith and collecting and processing lunar ice and other volatiles (substances that readily change from solid or liquid to a vapor). Consequently, student teams were challenged not only with fabricating a design concept but also writing a concise abstract and technical paper to articulate their critical design rationale and process. The paper included an introduction, background information, intent of design, statement of prob- lem, and proposed or actual design testing and evaluation. Teams were encouraged to include detailed illustrations of the dimensions, scale, orthographic projection (top, side, front views), 3-D view of the design and a developmental/production cost analysis. A panel of engineering professionals from industry, government and academe selected team finalists from the pool of qualified entries. Finalists received up to $1,000 for their design project along with complimentary conference registration and up to $100 in travel stipends for each team member. The finalists will present the working prototype or process for their design and compete for a chance to win an additional $5,000 to patent their design for potential use by NASA. The following abstracts represent the design competition finalists. Awards UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY Bear Pulse Daisy Carrillo, Xioranny Linares, Rachel Mellinger, David Rodriguez and Sara Valdez Pre-College & Teachers CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY, SAN LUIS OBISPO Lunar Emergency Protective Shelter (LEPS) Armando Lagunas, Ricardo David Garcia, Veronica Cuevas, Manuel Velasco, Rolando Rodriguez, Jeovany Vega and Oscar Luis Vargas Orozco CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY, SAN LUIS OBISPO StirTech Victor M. Sanchez, Luis Dominguez, Llanet Gomez, Nolberto Marroquin, Robert Peralta, Jaime Salazar and Oscar Vargas In order to battle the effects of the elements of outer space that are detrimental to the human body, and in particular to prevent muscle atrophy, astronauts must be able to regularly and efficiently exercise their bodies. To battle this problem, astronauts may use the Bear Pulse, which uses Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) to simulate exercise and help repair muscle damage. The Bear Pulse suit, which is fitted for each astronaut, is equipped with EMS pads that are placed in specific areas such as around the biceps and triceps, abdominals, pectorals, quadriceps and hamstrings. The EMS in the Bear Pulse works by sending out electric impulses that regularly contract and relax the muscles in order to simulate exercise. The EMS pads are flat and round and stick to the suit in the places that are targeted by the astronaut. Instead of replacing exercise, the Bear Pulse enhances its benefit, especially when time for exercise may be limited. The suit is portable and can use two different power sources, either a small battery attachment or a direct connection to a power outlet on the ship. The Bear Pulse is intended to increase the quality of life for the astronauts while on the moon and once they return to earth. 96 Various types of equipment are necessary in order to make possible future colonization of the moon and other planets. In 2020, NASA plans to send an astronaut crew to the lunar surface for a week to collect information and explore the possibilities of colonization. During exploration in the harsh lunar environment, astronauts will be exposed to solar radiation, space debris and extreme thermal conditions. The Lunar Emergency Protective Shelter (LEPS) provides immediate and temporary protection from these potentially hazardous conditions on the moon. Scientists have used current technology to develop a portable shelter for extended lunar exploration, but it is very large and costly and also requires separate transportation to and on the moon. The LEPS is a smaller and more costeffective alternative, and since it is compact, it is easily attached to any space suit. Another convenience of the LEPS is that its internal supports are made of round-spring, steel, zinc-plated poles which support the structure and provide a “quick pop-out” setup, therefore making it ideal during emergency situations. The purpose of this design is to use a selfsustainable, renewable energy source that is independent of foreign civilizations to aid the colonization of unmanned territory: the Moon. Our group decided to use the most abundant source of energy, the sun, and to generate electrical energy to sustain life on the Moon. A stirling engine applies the laws of thermodynamics to generate energy through external combustion. Although common in the early 20th century, stirling engines were overshadowed by the internal combustion motor. Since gasoline and other fossil fuels are not known to exist on the Moon, external combustion is a more desirable, self-sustainable method to permit life on the Moon. In addition, a generator will produce electrical power, which will aid in the process of colonization. The first step includes the cylinder and piston arrangement. Two of the main driving parameters are the bore of the cylinder and the stroke of the piston. Working from the inside out will ensure consistency with the calculations and prototype. Using these fundamentals, the group will show how this can be accomplished and which parameters will have a more significant effect on the overall outcome of the design. SHPE ❘ Conference 2008 Career Fair & Sponsors Undergrads & MUST Graduates & Deans Tours

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SHPE - Conference 2008 President’s Letter From the Vice President News of Particular Interest to Society Members Calendar Making the Most of the Career Fair Grupos de Afinidad Phoenix Rising Advancing Hispanic Excellence in Technology, Engineering, Math and Science (AHETEMS) 2008 SHPE Conference Program Guide Welcome Letters Highlights Conference Schedule STAR Awards Company of the Year Chapter of the Year Awards Speakers Entertainment Hospitality Suites Advisor Program Professional Program Quick Guide Business Proposal Competition Professional Workshop Descriptions Technical Paper and Poster Competitions AHETEMS Design Competition Extreme Engineering Challenge National Academic Olympiad AHETEMS Teacher Program AHETEMS Pre-College Symposia Corporate Tours AHETEMS Graduate Program AHETEMS Distinguished Lecture Series AHETEMS Deans’ Summit Undergraduate Workshops Quick Guide Undergraduate Workshops Descriptions MUST Scholars Symposium Career Fair Exhibitors Sponsors Hotel and Convention Center Maps Regional Roundup Inner Circle Employer Profiles Advertisers Index

SHPE - Conference 2008

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