A fourth-year course for students of mechanical engineering draws in disciplines of electrical engineering and computer science to deliver a unique learning experience.

Professor Jalal Ahamed requires students in his Mechatronics class to develop small-scale working robots to solve a real-world engineering problem. The students challenge themselves to create something inventive, interesting, and creative — and they deliver.

“The open-ended aspect of the projects actively engages them to be innovative and to connect theories with real-world engineering problem-solving,” Dr. Ahamed says.

Mechanical systems are at the core of the course; he instructs students to make them more precise, smart, and autonomous via the integration of electronics and programming.

To build a robot that interacts, navigates, and functions in an uncontrolled environment, students first learn about hardware systems — how to code and program the robot’s minicomputer. Once those fundamentals are mastered, students pitch their project ideas and get started.

Every design is unique and there are no two projects alike, Ahamed says. The project challenges students to think imaginatively, nothing is unrealistic, and they do not rely on existing designs.

The last time he taught the course, the results ranged from autonomous snow ploughs to a tow-truck, a pitcher, and a forklift. Some employed 3-D printing, while others used such readily available materials as craft sticks.

“The course really gives students the opportunity to actively learn the full cycle of mechatronic system development from conceptualization, modeling, hardware development, manufacturing and crafting, to coding and implementation,” Ahamed says. “It closes the learning loop with a positive experience. The final project demonstration day is always festive, students cheering for each other’s success and excited to see so many uniquely themed projects.”

UWindsor alumnus David Greig (BHK 2001, MHK 2006) is making his mark on the world of wheelchair basketball.

Greig has been appointed chair of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association’s High Performance Committee, responsible for developing a pipeline of athletes and coaches for the U.S. Paralympic team.

“A lot of the work I do is in policy and legal,” Greig said. “I got a really good foundation for that at the University of Windsor in the sports management program.”

Greig, who is originally from Wingham, Ontario, and lived in Windsor for 12 years before moving to the United States, is co-founder of ParaSport Spokane based in Spokane, Washington, and owner of TVH Mobility Group, a company that specializes in wheelchairs and other assistive devices for people with physical disabilities.

Before being appointed head of the High Performance Committee, Greig was instrumental in helping the NWBA’s coaches’ education committee design the American Development Model, a program to help athletes realize their potential in elite competition.

Darlene Hunter, president of the NWBA’s board of directors, said Greig’s knowledge, experience, and organizational skills are assets to the organization.

“I believe that David will bring fresh perspective and passion to supporting our national teams and development pipeline which is critical to achieving international competition success and awareness for our sport.”

—Sarah Sacheli

UWindsor instructors interested in enhancing their skills and abilities are invited to the Virtual Instructional Skills Workshop.

The intensive, three-day workshop is designed to enhance the teaching effectiveness of both new and experienced educators. Participants will have the opportunity to work together to improve each other’s teaching, practise a variety of instructional strategies and techniques, and more.

The workshops will run during reading week, Oct. 11 to 13, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with facilitators Elizabeth Ismail, Laura Chittle, and Diana Sarkis.

For more information, or to register, visit https://ctl2.uwindsor.ca/workshops/74/#wkshp-3452.

Computer science professor Imran Ahmad won Tuesday’s DailyNews quiz contest and its prize of four gold seat tickets to watch the Lancer football team take on the Toronto Varsity Blues on Saturday, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m.

Dr. Ahmad’s entry was drawn from all those which correctly responded that Liam Hoskins returned an interception for a touchdown in week 1, that Windsor’s victory over Guelph in week 2 was the team’s first win away from home since 2015, and that Toronto is 1-2 entering the weekend.

If you missed out on winning the quiz, no worries: tickets are available at the Alumni Stadium gate or in advance at goLancers.ca/tickets.

Hilding Neilson, a Mi'kmaw professor of physics at Memorial University, will discuss the relation between astronomy and colonization in the past, present, and future in a free public lecture hosted by the Canterbury ElderCollege on Thursday, Sept. 15.

Dr. Neilson is an interdisciplinary scientist, working on astrophysics and on the intersection of science, astronomy, and Indigenous knowledge. His presentation, entitled “The Night Sky Is Part of the Land: Colonization in Astronomy and Space Exploration,” is the first in the ElderCollege Indigenous Speaker Series.

“At the same time that Galileo observed the phases of Venus and the moons of Jupiter, European powers were colonizing the Americas and other parts of the world,” says Neilson. “This began a relationship between astronomy and colonization that continues today in terms of astronomers and nations building giant telescopes on Indigenous lands.”

He will discuss how Indigenous knowledges offer insights into the nature of the universe that do not exist in traditional western sciences and need to be a central part of the discussion humanities future in space and astronomy.

His talk will begin at 3 p.m. via Zoom or in person at Canterbury College, 2500 University Ave. West. Admission is free, but registration is required at www.eldercollege.ca.

Neilson will lead a symposium with the UWindsor physics department Friday at 10:30 a.m. on the subject “Indigenizing the Drake Equation: Exploring the Question of Life in our Galaxy through an Indigenist Lens.” It will explore a thought experiment to understand the ingredients necessary for life and advanced technological civilizations to exist on other worlds.

Both events are funded in part by the Faculty of Science and the federal New Horizons for Seniors Program.

The Indigenous Speaker Series will continue with presentations Oct. 11 and 12 by Mkomose (Andrew Judge), professor of Anishinaabe studies at Algoma University.

The Organization of Part-time University Students is welcoming its membership to the University of Windsor with a free gift package during Appreciation Week, Sept. 12 to 16.

Part-time undergraduate students can pick up their gifts at the OPUS office — the student centre’s room 172 — while supplies last, and get valuable information on its services, including scholarships and bursaries. Follow this link to view a video celebrating the organization’s 50th anniversary.

OPUS members can also complete a ballot for a prize draw of a tuition bursary worth up to $1,850, sponsored by the Alumni Association. The winner will be announced at the OPUS annual welcome barbecue, 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, on the north lawn outside Assumption Hall. The event is free and open to all UWindsor students, faculty, staff, and alumni.