Implementing a multidisciplinary system design and engineering course using Solar Splash '97

In this paper we describe our experience with implementing a multidisciplinary systems design and engineering course by participation in a national student design competition, while simultaneously satisfying the capstone-design requirement within the engineering curriculum. A team of faculty from the departments of mechanical, electrical and industrial engineering acted as consultants to a team of twelve electrical and mechanical engineering senior students whose joint task was to design, construct and test a solar-powered boat. The boat was entered into the 1997 Solar Splash regatta, held in June 1997 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.