Multidisciplinary Projects for People with Disabilities
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a five-year $125,000 grant to Prof. Nadine Smith and Prof. Mary Frecker to support Learning Factory projects aimed at helping people with disabilities. The Spring 2009 semester featured nine of these multidisciplinary student projects, and brought together students from Mechanical Engineering, Bioengineering, and Industrial Engineering. The projects included devices such as a wheelchair stair climber, leg stretcher, bionic vest, bionic glove, and wheelchair lift, and focused on improving the daily lives of spinal cord injury patients. Other projects included a medication reminder tool, supportive garments for physical therapy, communication devices for stroke patients and diet monitoring software for diabetes management. In addition to the class project, students indicated that they enjoyed interacting with the patients and physicians in the development of these devices and systems.
The leg stretcher project, which aimed at providing more independence to spinal cord injury patient Keith Parsons, won the first place Best Project Award sponsored by Lockheed Martin as judged by a panel of industry experts at the Design Showcase.
Design Showcase - Spring 2009
Photo (from J. Lamancusa) of the Spring 2009 Design Showcase in the BJC's South Annex Gym
International Visitors
In Spring 2009, 11 deans and directors from nine of the top undergraduate universities in S. Korea visit Penn State for two days to learn about the Learning Factory and our Capstone Design Program - we also hosted faculty and visitors from universities in France, Croatia, and Spain in 2009
Bernard M. Gordon Learning Factory Dedication
Photo (from C. Chan) of Dean Wormely cutting the ribbon at the dedication
National Academy of Engineering - 2006 Gordon Prize
In 2006, the Learning Factory was awarded the National Academy of Engineering's Gordon Prize for innovation in engineering education - "for creating the Learning Factory, where multidisciplinary student teams develop engineering leadership skills by working with industry to solve real-world problems."
J. Jorgensen, J. Zayas-Castro, L. Morell, A. Soyster, and J. Lamancusa at the 2006 NAE Gordon Prize Award Ceremony in Washington, D.C.