NGN110 - "Introduction to Engineering & Computing" Design Projects
The course is offered to all Freshman Engineering students at the American University of Sharjah (AUS). It introduces MS Office, Team Concepts, Problem Solving, Design Process, Written & Oral Communications, Engineering Ethics, and Sketching. To help students learn more about the Engineering disciplines at AUS, several presentations and labs are given that explain the responsibilities in the 6 Engineering disciplines available at AUS: Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Chemical Engineering.
The students are randomly split into multidisciplinary groups consisting of 5 members each and asked to work on a design project. A design competition is organized at the end of the semester to motivate student performance. Project descriptions for previous semesters are listed below:
Fall 2011 - Race Car Competition
Project Description:
A competition offered to 500 Freshman students as part of the NGN110 "Introduction to Engineering & Computing" Fall 2011 Course at the American University of Sharjah. The goal is to build a car made out of 0.5L water bottles, CDs, paper, card boards, pencils, straws, glue, tape and BBQ wood sticks. The car can be powered by rubber bands and balloons. The car has to cross a 10 meters track (1 meter wide) in the fastest time. The car cannot be motorized or pushed. The competition was organized by Dr. Fadi Aloul. The video was produced by Ameer Al-Attar (b00042988@aus.edu). Photography by: Bilal Ahmad Maarouf, Mohammed Ahmed, Mostafa Ajjawi, and Mohammed Hukan.
Video Trailer
Spring 2011 - Catapult Competition
Project Description:
A competition offered to 200 Freshman students as part of the NGN110 "Introduction to Engineering & Computing" Spring 2011 Course at the American University of Sharjah. The goal is to build a catapult made out of wooden Popsicle sticks or tongue depressors, tape, rubber bands, and paper clips. The catapult has to throw a table tennis ball for the furthest distance. The competition was organized by Dr. Fadi Aloul. The video was produced by Nihal Khunaizi and Nour Nour.
Fall 2010 - Toothpick Boat Competition
Project Description:
A competition offered to 500 Freshman students. The goal is to build a boat made out of toothpicks and glue only. The boat has to carry a 0.5L filled water bottle. As a challenge, the bottle will be dropped from 15cm from the highest point of the boat. The boat should sustain the drop and not sink or flip. The winner is the group with the lightest boat. The competition was organized by Dr. Fadi Aloul. The video was produced by Nihal Khunaizi and Nour Nour.
Spring 2010 - Paper Airplane Competition
Project Description:
A competition offered to 200 Freshman students. The goal is to build a paper airplane that can fly for the longest time. The plane must be made out of A4 white paper with a weight of 15-40 grams. It has to fly for a minimum of 6 seconds. Students can use glue or tape. The competition was organized by Dr. Fadi Aloul. The video was produced by Ibrahim Al-Midfa II.
Fall 2009 - Q-tips Bridge Competition
Project Description:
A competition offered to 400 Freshman students. The goal is to build an object out of Q-tips that can carry the maximum amount of books, yet have the lightest weight. The competition was organized by Dr. Fadi Aloul. The video was produced by Ibrahim Al-Midfa II.
Spring 2009 - Paper Bridge Competition
Project Description:
A competition offered to 300 Freshman students. The goal is to build an object out of A4 papers only that can carry the maximum amount of books, yet have the lightest weight. The competition was organized by Dr. Fadi Aloul. The video was produced by Ibrahim Al-Midfa II.
For more information, please contact Dr. Fadi Aloul (faloul@aus.edu).