Research Considers Engineering As A Means Of Solving Society’s Needs

Engineering students at the USP Polytechnic School develop instruments to solve problems present in society using accessible and low-cost materials. The works are proposed and encouraged by Paulo Eigi Miyagi, a professor in the Faculty’s Mechatronics Department, responsible for the subject Introduction to Mechatronics Engineering.

One of the outstanding projects was a cell phone stabilizer made of PVC pipes that aims to democratize access to audiovisual production by replacing gimbal technology. The group, made up of students in the first year of the course – Anderson Zuma, Geovanna Almeida, Henrique Martins, Matheus Nakamura, Paulo Diciunas and Ud Pereira – was invited by the Municipal Secretariat of Culture to present the technology.

course subject

The professor highlights the importance of the discipline, as the beginning of the course presents a large load of basic theories and the Introduction to Mechatronics Engineering adds a more practical aspect. The idea of ​​the projects encompasses the complete engineering process, from capturing real problems to developing possible solutions.

Miyagi also points out the role of discipline in developing the ability to work in groups, in addition to social cooperation, since there was also an evaluation of projects developed in the classroom.

Project
Based on the professor’s proposal to think of engineering as a means of solving popular needs involving cell phones, Ud Pereira comments that the idea of ​​a piece of equipment that could replace the gimbal came from his colleague, Paulo Diciunas. With materials and, consequently, a more affordable price, the group of students aimed at a technology that was professionally equivalent to that sold on the market. In addition, with the rise of short video production applications in Brazil, the project’s creators aimed to provide better recording conditions for users.

The materials designed for making the equipment were also designed for greater democratization and dissemination. “The material used was PVC because, in addition to being recyclable at the end of its useful life, it also has a low cost and is easy to assemble for production in communities”, says the student. The professor also comments that the raw material for projects in the initial stage of the subject is limited to paper or plastic, in order to focus on students’ creativity and avoid inequalities between groups.

Experience
Other experiments in the room were also praised and highlighted by Miyagi, such as smartphone security devices at parties and the use of the cell phone camera for the development of a more accessible microscope. “Every year, we modify the proposal a little and guide the students, who reveal a good creativity in doing the work”, explains the professor.

Teamwork was an enriching factor regarding the organization of the project stages, according to the student. “This perspective of you leaving the theoretical world of ideas with physics, calculus, algebra and, in fact, going into practice and seeing how human relations work in engineering design, is the main learning of the discipline”, considers Ud Pereira.

The possibility of investors being interested in the project is also considered by the professors responsible for the discipline, according to Miyagi, with an evaluation of the works from the eyes of professionals from other areas.