Engineering Design and Development Students Present Capstone Projects
PCA’s Engineering Academy is a challenging four-course program that culminates in a year-long project where Engineering Design and Development (EDD) students bring new products to life! Students aim to solve real-world problems by conceptualizing, designing, and building solutions in the Academy’s capstone course.
As one of the final assignments of their high school career, 15 engineering students, the largest EDD class since the Academy’s inception in 2013, presented a finished prototype of the product they’ve worked to perfect to a room of school administrators, faculty, staff, and industry professionals.
Solar-Powered Golf Trolley
Alyssa Birchmeier, Maddy Jeffery, and Jamie Johnson
Golf may be a fun sport, but lugging a golf bag around without the help of a cart or caddy doesn’t make for an enjoyable round of golf. The female-only group made it their mission to research and build a solar-powered trolley with a battery that could keep up with even the most avid golfers. Their solution continuously charges, even during overcast days, weighed less than battery-powered competitors, and estimated pricing was similar to products already on the market.
Surround Bark
Tatyanna Howard, Brady Hughes, Leighton Johnson, and Emory McNider
Most dog owners can recall a time when a leisurely walk around the neighborhood turned into a comedic sideshow from getting tangled up in the animal’s leash. This group of students created a 360-degree retractable leash – a practical solution that any pet owner can use to walk hands-free! This wearable product may feel silly at first by strapping it around the waist, but it would quickly become a staple in any pet household.
Portable Hoist System
Alexander Echols, Austin Jeffery, Chase Gay, and Drew Stephenson
Why work harder when you can create a product that allows for smarter work? The portable hoist system is a quick attachment to any towing hitch and can lift up to 400 pounds. Once secured in the vehicle’s towing hitch, the electric winch allows for ease of lifting to various heights.
Magnet with One-Handed Release
Andrew Allen, Logan Davies, Jackson Reed, and Cole Thompson
The best invention is the mother of necessity, and this group understood that by enhancing an existing product with features not currently found in the market. While there are many heavy-duty magnets, this group’s research concluded that none of them offered a one-handed release for ease of usability and increased efficiency.
“This is one of the most hands-on courses on campus,” said David Dean, PCA’s Engineering Academy instructor. “I’m always amazed at how much is accomplished by this class and the students who’ve journeyed through this program since their freshman year. The capstone project seemed daunting to many of the students when the school year began, but by the spring semester, every group finds their stride and is chipping away at new inventions.”
More than two-thirds of this year’s class are pursuing engineering in college. Many have earned multiple scholarships based on their academic achievements and interest in various engineering disciplines. Regardless of the career path these students choose, the problem-solving skills and design thinking required to be successful in PCA’s Engineering Academy translates into every facet of life.
