The prototypes were made to meet needs in the areas of smart cities, energy efficiency and electromobility, while the car race allows an approach and practice with cutting-edge technologies in terms of design and manufacturing.

With the presentation of various innovation prototypes and a race of radio-controlled cars, students and academics from the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the University of La Serena commemorated the "Day of Arduino".

In the presentation of prototypes, the students of the elective subject "Innovation and Development of Prototypes" carried out work addressing needs in the areas of smart cities, energy efficiency and electromobility, with the aim of solving some problems of our city.

The prototypes developed include an “intelligent lighting system”, which reduces the intensity of public lighting on roads to reduce both electricity consumption and light pollution; a "smart bull's back", which is activated when detecting an excess of the permitted speed, thus helping to improve the fuel efficiency of those who respect the speed, preventing them from having to stop; a "Bicycle Detection System for Cycle Lanes", which notifies vehicles on streets attached to a cycle lane when a bicycle is about to take an intersection, avoiding accidents; and an "Electric car model", which was developed thinking about reducing costs associated with its manufacturing.

The professors in charge of the project, Camilo Moreno Lafertte and Leonardo Saguas Bravo, explained that all the prototypes were made using 3D printing technologies and with Arduino programming cards for automation, financed with the "Good Teaching Practices 2018" project of the University .

Radio controlled car race

Other activities were the radio-controlled car race, which marks a milestone in the Department, where for the first time two subjects, Mechanical Design and Manufacturing Processes II, are combined to make a project. This consisted of designing and manufacturing a radio-controlled car, using engineering design software for its 3D modeling and calculations, and 3D printing technologies and numerical control equipment for its manufacturing. To control the vehicles, a remote control system was developed using Arduino.

The race was a complete success, where 6 teams ran with their corresponding vehicles in front of the Department.

“The activity allowed the students to have an approach and practice with cutting-edge technologies in terms of design and manufacturing, giving them updated tools for their professional development,” said academics Rodrigo Silva Valenzuela and Camilo Moreno Lafertte, who directed the initiative.

Written by Gonzalo Lozano, Communications Department