Undergraduate Design Teams and Student Organizations

Design Teams

Aerobrick
Aggie Micro Aeronautics Team (AMAT)
Aerobrick and AMAT are two separate teams that apply different design philosophies to the same competition. Students design and build heavy-lift radio-controlled airplanes. Each year these two teams compete in the International SAE Aero Design West competition. The goal of the competition is to lift the most weight given constraints of wingspan, engine size, and required take off distance.

Aerobrick faculty advisor:
Nesrin Sarigul-Klijn nsarigulklijn@ucdavis.edu

AMAT faculty advisor:
Jean-Jacques Chattot jjchattot@ucdavis.edu

MicroPhoenix
The MicroPhoenix project is similar to the Aerobrick and AMAT projects, but the airplane is smaller in dimensions. This team is represented each year at the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Aero Design West competition.

Faculty advisor:
Nesrin Sarigul-Klijn nsarigulklijn@ucdavis.edu

Formula SAE
Formula SAE is an international collegiate design competition organized by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Students complete the entire process of design and construction of a prototype race car. Students are asked to organize, finance, and manage every aspect of the effort that is required to build an entirely new vehicle.

Faculty advisor:
Don Margolis dlmargolis@ucdavis.edu

Kinetic Sculpture
The Kinetic Sculpture Race is an open event held each year in Arcada, California. The objective of the race is to build and design a working human-powered vehicle that can move through miles of sand dunes, paved road and water in the fastest elapsed time.

Faculty advisor:
Cristina Davis cedavis@ucdavis.edu

Team Aggie Deep
An international competition sponsored by the Marine Advanced Technology Center and the Marine Technology Society. Teams must design and build an underwater remotely operated vehicle that has to perform certain tasks in a deep water environment.

Faculty advisor:
Roger Davis davisrl@ucdavis.edu

MAE Design Clinic
The Design Clinic is a forum for teams of students to work on projects provided by industry. Recent projects have included a thrust vector control system for rockets, a rescue helicopter winch system, a design for a hybrid vehicle, an elevator position system, a hostage situation vehicle, a CD jukebox, a pavement crack sealer, a bottle measurer, and a torque tester. Mechanical Engineering students participate in the Design Clinic through the required capstone design course sequence (EME 185A/B). Students from other programs may be able to obtain independent study/design units. Lectures on design methodology and team management are provided by Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering faculty.

Faculty advisor:
Jim Schaaf jas@ucdavis.edu

Chemical (Chem-E) Car
The Chemical Car Challenge is a competition between universities, sponsored by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. The objective is for students to design and construct a small chemical powered model car with a chemical energy source that will carry a specified load over a given distance and stop. The load and distance is unknown ahead of time, and is given to the teams at the time of the event.

Faculty advisor:
Tonya Kuhl tlkuhl@ucdavis.edu

Concrete Canoe
The National Concrete Canoe Competition is sponsored by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The goals of the competition are to provide civil engineering students an opportunity to gain hands-on experience and to promote an awareness of the versatility and durability of concrete as a construction material. Students make a canoe out of concrete, and then race the canoe over a specified course.

Faculty advisor:
Dawn Cheng dawcheng@ucdavis.edu

Steel Bridge
The National Student Steel Bridge Competition is co-sponsored by the American Institute of Steel Construction and the American Society of Civil Engineers. Students design and build a scaled-down steel bridge to specifications. The bridge is designed to carry a specified load, and is judged on speed of assembly, strength, lightness, design, appearance, and efficiency.

Faculty advisor:
Dawn Cheng dawcheng@ucdavis.edu

Environmental Engineering Competition
The Environmental Engineering Competition is an inter-collegiate challenge sponsored by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The competition requires students to design and construct a water treatment system that will contain, treat, and discharge a sample of water contaminated with organic and inorganic matter.

Faculty advisor:
Jeannie Darby jdarby@ucdavis.edu

People, Prosperity, and the Planet (P3): A National Student Design Competition
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sponsors a competition among universities proposing to research, develop, and design solutions to real world challenges involving the overall sustainability of human society. The competition highlights the use of scientific principles in creating innovative projects focused on sustainability.

Faculty advisor:
Frank Loge fjloge@ucdavis.edu

Micro Mouse
The Micro mouse project is a student-directed design project aimed at designing a robotic mouse to compete in the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (IEEE) Micromouse competition. This project is offered as an undergraduate course elective (ECE 194 A/B/C).

Natcar
Natcar is a design contest created and sponsored by National Semiconductor. Teams design, build and race autonomous cars on a track marked by white floor tape. The objective of the competition is to design and construct an autonomous race car that can negotiate a preset course in the shortest time possible.

Faculty advisor:
Richard Spencer spencer@ece.ucdavis.edu

Applied Science Organizations

Optics Club, Optical Society of America (OSA), and The International Society of Optical Engineering (SPIE)
The Optical Club and Optical Societies promote the discipline of Optical Science and Engineering through the organized efforts of its members on campus and in the community.

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Organizations

Antique Mechanics Club
The Antique Mechanics Club collects, restores, and displays vintage agricultural equipment found on campus.

Biomedical Engineering Organizations

Biomedical Engineering Association (BMES)
The BMES student chapter introduces students to the profession, social role, and obligations of a biomedical engineer.

Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Organizations

American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
AIChE introduces chemical engineering students to the professional world while acting as a social focal point to increase cooperation and communications between students and faculty.

International Society of Life Sciences & Engineering (ISPE)
The UC Davis chapter of ISPE caters to all majors with an emphasis on the life science industry.

The Materials Society (TMS)
TMS serves to stimulate student interest in the latest scientific and engineering developments in engineering materials and materials research and production.

Civil and Environmental Engineering Organizations

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
The student chapter of the ASCE serves as a connection between the civil engineering student and the profession.

Structural Engineers Association of California (SEAOC)
This organization supplements academic education with an exposure to real-world engineering practice while providing a connection between students and professionals.

Computer Science Organizations

Computer Science Club
As an official student chapter for the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), our members are interested in the design and use of software/hardware, the history of computers, and the theory and application of modern computing.

Electrical and Computer Engineering Organizations

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
IEEE is an international organization that allows electrical and electronics engineers to express their ideas while maintaining contact with new developments.

Engineering Honor Society

Tau Beta Pi
Tau Beta Pi is the national engineering honor society for students in the top eighth of their junior class or the top fifth of their senior class.

Engineering Fraternity

Theta Tau
As the only Professional Engineering Fraternity on campus, the Theta Tau Omicron Gamma Chapter is dedicated to professionalism, brother/sisterhood, and academic excellence.

Engineering Joint Council

Engineering Joint Council (EJC)
The EJC represents the undergraduate student body of the College of Engineering to the college, university, and community. Its membership is made up of one representative from each major engineering student organization.

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Organizations

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
The AIAA is an interdisciplinary organization made up of people interested in the aeronautics and aerospace field.

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
The ASME student chapter advances and disseminates knowledge about mechanical engineering, presents a proper perspective on engineering work, and promotes professional awareness and fellowship.

Robotics Club
A Student Club that designs and builds autonomous robots with the goal of entering them into The SAE Walking Machine Challenge. Contact Professor Nesrin Sarigul-Klijn for more information.

Rocket Club
Club that designs, builds, and launches rockets on-campus and for national competitions. Contact Professor Nesrin Sarigul-Klijn for more information.

Multicultural Engineering Organizations

American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)
AISES identifies and supports American Indian youth and college students studying science and engineering while helping them to preserve their rich cultural heritage.

Black Engineers Association (BEA)
BEA is a student chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) promoting Black student interest and active participation in engineering.

Chicano and Latino Engineers and Scientists Society (CALESS)
CALESS, a student chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), is a service-oriented organization of engineering and physical science students.

Pilipino Americans in Science and Engineering (PASE)
PASE is an independent student organization that orients and assists students of similar cultural and educational backgrounds through the academic rigors of engineering.

Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
The student chapter of SWE is open to both women and men and is dedicated to encouraging and assisting young women to enter the engineering profession.

Women in Science and Engineering (WISE)
Women in Science & Engineering (WISE) WISE is a developing program that establishes engineering and sciences as a place for women to reach their goals.