| Faculty Advisor |
Renato Amorim Torres
|
|---|---|
| Contact Email | rtorres10@unl.edu |
| Website | |
| Advisor College: |
Engineering
|
| Potential Student Tasks |
Students will work on a well-defined project with an existing draft design that will serve as a starting point for their work. Required software licenses, reference schematics, part numbers, and technical documentation will be provided. Ideally, at least two students will participate in the project, allowing responsibilities to be divided between mechanical and electrical tasks while working together toward a common goal. Mechanical Tasks: Responsibilities include reviewing drawings, developing and modifying CAD models, assembling mechanical components, and supporting fabrication and mechanical integration of the dynamometer system. Electrical Tasks: Responsibilities include reviewing electrical schematics and technical documentation, wiring electrical components, integrating sensors and instrumentation, assisting with system commissioning, testing, and troubleshooting. All students will attend regular project meetings, collaborate with teammates to achieve project milestones, document their work, and contribute to presentations or demonstrations of the project at the end of the semester. |
| Student Qualifications |
The project is intended for motivated first-year students who are interested in learning through hands-on engineering activities. Students should be curious, dependable, willing to learn new skills, and comfortable working as part of a team. An interest in engineering design, building things, electronics, manufacturing, or similar technical areas is desirable. Previous experience with activities such as assembling DIY projects, woodworking, makerspaces, wiring, or other hands-on technical hobbies will be helpful but is not required. Tasks align better for mechanical and electrical engineering students. However, students from all engineering disciplines, as well as other STEM fields with an interest in engineering and technology, are encouraged to apply. |
| Training, Mentoring, and Workplace Community |
Regular weekly meetings will be held to review progress, discuss challenges, and provide guidance throughout the project. Students who develop an interest in the topic will be welcome to continue collaborating with the research group beyond the FYRE program on related projects and research activities. While some meetings may be conducted remotely when appropriate, the hands-on nature of the project means that certain activities, such as assembly, integration, and testing, will require in-person participation. Student schedules will be accommodated whenever possible. |
| Available Positions |
2
|
Electric motors are at the heart of technologies such as electric vehicles, robotics, advanced manufacturing, renewable energy systems, and drones. To evaluate their performance, engineers use a device called a dynamometer, which can apply controlled mechanical load while measuring speed, torque, power, and efficiency.
More importantly, a dynamometer can emulate the behavior of real-world systems in a laboratory environment. By reproducing the mechanical dynamics of applications such as electric vehicles, robots, drones, industrial machinery, or energy systems, engineers can safely develop and test new technologies before deploying them in the field.
In this project, a team of first-year students will design, fabricate, assemble, and commission a small-scale dynamometer prototype for testing electric motors. Students will work as part of a multidisciplinary team, contributing to CAD (Computer Aided Design), mechanical assembly, electrical wiring and system testing.
The project is designed to be accessible to motivated first-year students. The faculty mentor will provide key component selections, part numbers, reference schematics, assembly instructions, and technical guidance, allowing students to focus on learning, problem solving, and project execution while still taking ownership of the project. Previous experience with hands-on activities such as assembling projects, woodworking, basic wiring, 3D printing, or similar activities will be helpful, but is not required. The most important qualifications are curiosity, enthusiasm, and a willingness to learn.
By the end of the semester, students will have developed a functional engineering system that can support future educational and research activities, while gaining practical skills and firsthand experience in how engineers transform ideas into real-world technology.