Innovations by tomorrow's engineers

Engineers play an important role in bringing scientific knowledge to beneficial use for mankind. With the enhancement of our scientific understanding, the limits of technology are continually being pushed further.

Engineering technologies and innovations developed by the next generation of engineers will significantly advance the lifestyle we lead, and consequently influence the future of mankind and our planet.

Towards the end of the academic year, the Faculty of Engineering holds an exhibition of all final year engineering projects, which, showcase the knowledge and experience students have acquired during their years of study.

The quality and ability shown by these fresh engineering graduates surpasses the requirements of other European universities and leaps forward towards engineering excellence.

Typical projects conducted under the supervision of academic staff from the faculty's six departments include alternative energy design and development, biomechanics and proactive condition-based monitoring.

The drive towards more efficiency and environmental friendliness in the use of energy resources can be seen in a number of projects. Many focused on the design and development of offshore wind turbines. Others dealt with the sustainable use of electrical energy and energy efficiency improvements in buildings, while some projects investigated commercial appliances to establish optimal and efficient operation characteristics.

Proactive condition-based monitoring that detects machine faults at an early stage in the design of machine components was also investigated through vibration spectral analysis.

In particular, dynamically unbalanced rotary machines can give rise to excessive dynamic loading, and consequently a dynamic balancing machine was designed, built and commissioned to address this problem. Non-traditional machining processes such as laser forming and electric discharge machining were also examined.

Biomechanics is another key research area looked into by engineering students. Projects such as automated ball-balancing systems, robotic fingers, robotic manipulators and human strength amplification will be exhibited. A project that investigates the use of brain signals to identify people as well as to classify left and right hand movement offers the possibility of increased mobility to disabled people.

The structural behaviour of the spine subject to day-to-day human movement loading was also studied through a series of numerical models. Other projects looked at the development of a novel root-end filling dental material and evaluation of the degradation resistance of materials used for implants in the human body.

The public is invited to experience the students' collective contribution to engineering excellence by visiting the undergraduate engineering project exhibition on Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. and on Friday from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. at the Faculty of Engineering. Entry is from Car Park 2.

The exhibition will also enable prospective students to get a taster of the environment at the Faculty and thereby make a more informed career choice.

An information seminar regarding undergraduate courses offered by the faculty will be held on Thursday from 4 to 5 p.m. at Sir Temi Zammit Hall on campus. For more information visit the website at www.um.edu.mt/eng/exhibition.

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If you wish to contribute an article or would like a particular subject to be tackled in the Education section, call Davinia Hamilton on 2559 4513 or e-mail dhamilton@timesofmalta.com.

Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Malta.