Paper Authors

Abstract

NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract

Session 2793

DESIGN OF A ROBUST AND LOW COST SOLAR LANTERN AS A ONE SEMESTER PROJECT

Authors: Linda M. Head2, Gay Canough1 and Ravi P. Ramachandran2 Affiliations: 1. ETM Solar Works Inc. 2. Faculty of Engineering, Rowan University

Abstract - The purpose of this project was to develop a rugged and efficient solar lantern. The lantern was designed to meet the requirements of persons who reside in areas where access to the electrical grid is limited and whose resources do not permit import of electrical generation capabilities. A representative of a missionary organization operating in Africa developed the original set of specifications for the solar lantern that will be used by the local school children for doing homework in the evening. These specifications prioritized reliability, ease of operation, rugged construction, portability and low cost. The resulting design was realized in a single prototype. The design and construction of the prototype was completed as a student/faculty project in the Junior Engineering Clinic course at Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ. It was funded and directed by ETM Solar Works, a NY based corporation. Introduction Rowan University’s College of Engineering is committed to providing their students with significant laboratory and design experiences throughout their full four years as engineering students. In the Freshman year they are given an opportunity in the first semester to explore all four of the disciplines taught at Rowan (Electrical & Computer, Civil & Environmental, Mechanical, and Chemical) while learning about engineering measurement techniques. Then that same year in the second semester the principles of design are introduced through the use of an experience in competitive assessment. Small groups of students work on the investigation of a single product during the full semester. Along the way they are introduced to new analysis techniques and computer tools while learning in a “hands-on / minds-on” method the multidisciplinary nature of product design. By the sophomore year these students are ready for the next stage – actual design assignments in a well supervised but open environment. In the sophomore year the students are given a design assignment and, again in small (4-6 students) groups they all work on a single design project. We maintain the multidisciplinary nature of the

• Citation

• Format
  • APA
  • APA - LaTeX bibitem
  • MLA
  • MLA - LaTeX bibitem
  • Bibtex
  • EndNote - RIS

Canough, G., & Head, L. M., & Ramachandran, R. (2000, June), Design Of A Robust And Low Cost Solar Lantern As A One Semester Project Paper presented at 2000 Annual Conference, St. Louis, Missouri. 10.18260/1-2--8271