Explore Engineering Module Options

Aero Design for Wind Turbines

Wind energy generated by wind turbines is the largest renewable energy source in the United States. Engineers apply their knowledge of mechanical and aerospace engineering to understand how to design wind turbine blades. In this module, you will get to perform wind tunnel experiments on different wind turbine blades to understand the impact of design variables on performance.

Biomedical Sensors

Biomedical engineering uses engineering design principles in fields of medicine and biology. Understand anatomy and physiology is key to the successful design of sensors and instrumentation used for health care diagnosis and preventative care. In this module, you’ll learn about cardiac electrophysiology and biomechanics of the human heart. You’ll build an electronic circuit to monitor heart rate using photoplethysmography, an optical technique used in wearable health monitors and fitness trackers.

Building Safer with Virtual Reality

Virtual reality is a perfect tool to help civil engineers determine if their building plans are safe, before construction begins. In this module, use virtual reality to walk through building plans and locate safety obstacles or determine if building elements need looked at before plans are finalized.

Control and Chemistry: Crafting Efficiency in Industrial Processes

Processes are key to chemical engineering. In this module, you’ll be introduced to the principles and practices used to monitor and manage industrial processes. You’ll use and code sensors and controllers to regulate variables such as temperature, pressure, and flow rate, ensuring that processes operate within desired parameters. Step into the exciting world where technology meets chemistry to optimize a system for maximum efficiency. Just like in baking where you need to monitor temperature, process controls monitors the variables used in larger scale reactions!

Digital Electronics: From Space to Nightlights

Digital electronics are key to almost all modern technology — cars, planes, refrigerators, medical equipment and nearly any high-tech device you can think of. But what does “digital” really mean? In this hands-on module, students will learn how information is represented with voltages in electronic circuits and how these circuits are used to process information. Students will wire digital electronic circuits that perform important logic functions, like controlling a hatch on a space station and adding numbers. Students will also build and test a night light using a digital logic circuit.

Industrial Mechatronics and Robots

As less people work in manufacturing and other factories, robots and other forms of industrial mechatronics are used to automate production to keep up with demand. Engineers help design manufacturing and assembly processes that these robots follow. Join us as we assemble the end gripper that allows a robot to grab parts and tune the pneumatic air supply to power the gripper.

Lighting the Way: Explore LEDs and Build a Flashlight

Light Emitting Diodes (LED) are used in traffic lights, domestic lighting, remote controls and many other everyday products. Are you curious about how LEDs work? Are you interested in building your own flashlight with LEDs? In this module, you will use soldering (a process using heat to join two metal surfaces together) to build a functioning flashlight with electrical components such as resistors, light emitting diodes (LED) and a switch.

Mastering the Queue: How Industrial Engineers Optimize Wait Times

Are you curious about how industrial engineers optimize waiting lines at Disney World to ensure you do not miss your ride? Are you interested in knowing how queuing models are used to minimize COVID-19 vaccine wait times? This module will expose you to how industrial engineers use queuing models to design effective workflows at places such as amusement parks and restaurants to minimize wait time.

Mechatronics: From Sensors to Systems

Today's engineers often need to understand how products' mechanical designs, electrical circuits and programmed functions interact- like the Mars Rover, autonomous cars, prostheses or drones. Build a system that links sensors and controllers to generate a physical response.

Planning Dayton's Highways

Imagine you’re a civil engineer in Dayton in the 1950’s. You’re tasked with specifying the location of the “new” Interstate 75 and Interstate 70. In this module, you’ll work together to determine the best location for the new interstates that impact the most citizens — without impacting already existing towns and infrastructure.

Sustainable Water Solutions for Global Communities

Clean water is essential, but many underserved communities around the world don't have access to high-tech solutions. Design and test your own water filtration system using local and sustainable materials that are within your budget and are available to these communities. Projects like these are solved each year by engineering students who travel to breakout and immersion programs through our Ethos Center.

Unlocking Your Creativity for Design Solutions

Ever wonder how to turn one good idea into a hundred possibilities? When generating new ideas for products and services, most people rely on brainstorming alone. Brainstorming is a good way to start — but there are other techniques that are more fun and creative, and that greatly increase the quantity and quality of novel ideas. Explore three additional techniques to generate ideas for an everyday medical device — stethoscopes.