photo credit: JHU HUB
Each year, students in the Freshman Experiences in Mechanical Engineering course are presented with a challenge to close the fall semester: use one mousetrap, two rubber bands, and $15 worth of materials to design and construct a small vehicle that performs a certain task. This year’s task was to roll across the Shriver Hall stage before launching a small Hacky Sack about 100 feet into Row M (for “mechanical”) of the auditorium’s seating area. The energy used to move the devices across the stage was provided by duckpin bowling balls, which rolled down a steep ramp and rammed into them.
“This turned out to be a much more challenging challenge than I expected,” said Steven Marra, associate teaching professor, instructor for the course, and mastermind behind each year’s challenge.
To view more photos and learn more about the fun-but-fierce competition, click here.