UBCO first-year engineering students competed a recent competition to see who could create the best vehicle gearbox in terms of design, sustainability and meeting client specifications.

One group designed the third-lightest gearbox, which featured three bearings instead of the usual six, earning them first place in the competition.

Team captain Kyle Reid said six bearings seemed like it was too much for the project, so the team designed a gearbox with three, weighing 42.3 grams.

香蕉视频直播淔or us, it香蕉视频直播檚 more sustainable for our project. We knew it wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 be carrying a large load with our gearbox because that香蕉视频直播檚 not really what it香蕉视频直播檚 designed for, so we decided six bearings were kind of overkill,香蕉视频直播� said Reid.

香蕉视频直播淲ith less bearings, there香蕉视频直播檚 less material, maintenance, and manufacturing cost. Also it香蕉视频直播檚 so compact, it香蕉视频直播檚 super strong and there香蕉视频直播檚 little friction which is ideal in a gearbox,香蕉视频直播� said engineering student Stormy Howard.

The students worked on their projects throughout the semester. Overall one of the main challenges for the group involved getting together.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e all on different schedules so it was difficult to set up times for meetings and to do work,香蕉视频直播� said Howard.

香蕉视频直播淢ore than 60 teams completed their design, which includes a set of engineering calculations, a model of the gearbox (using modelling software) and building a 3-D printed prototype. The prototypes went through vigorous laboratory testing, in which both functionality and engineering sustainability were assessed,香蕉视频直播� reads a UBCO release.

香蕉视频直播淭he top 30 teams were selected for the final competition and these teams will present their models, as well as several alternative design solutions in the final stages of the competition.香蕉视频直播�

Awards were handed out for first, second and third place as well as an innovation award.

Students also completed an environmental impact assessment as the critical component of the design project, said head professor Dimitry Sediako.