May 12, 2005

Robots on campus? Must be Ford Engineering Week

The tearing down and rebuilding of an engine, a Jeopardy-like game show, Ford vehicles on display and robots going head-to-head are all part of the festivities of the fifth annual Ford Engineering Week May 16 to 21 on the Evanston campus.

The week promotes innovative technology and highlights the creative design work being done by students at the Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science. Engineers from Ford will join students in classrooms to share their expertise and bring industry relevance to the classroom. 

A variety of Ford vehicles will be on display in front of the Technological Institute (Tech) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 18, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, May 19. An engine-building demonstration will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, May 19, in the Tech lobby.

Back this year is the “BIG” game — pitting a student team, a Ford team and a McCormick administration and faculty team against one another in a spirited quiz show that blends Family Feud and Jeopardy. Prior to this event, six student organizations will exhibit their team spirit and team skills in mini competitions for the chance to win cash prizes and play the Ford and McCormick teams in the finale at noon Thursday, May 19, in the plaza behind Tech.

Ford Engineering Week will conclude Saturday, May 21, when 17 autonomous robots go head-to-head competing for a $4,000 first prize in McCormick’s 14th Annual Undergraduate Design Competition from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Blomquist Recreation Center.

Undergraduate student teams have spent six months designing and building their autonomous robots using microprocessors, motors, gears and electronic sensors. Remote control is not permitted. The event is free and open to the public.

A detailed schedule can be found at www.mccormick.northwestern.edu/news/events/ford/index.html.