• Five innovative projects led by students at Universidad de Santiago provide answers to different problems in the areas of health, earthquake engineering, environment protection and food. Now these projects will be developed at the Stanford Research Institute, USA, where the students will travel for an internship period.

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The Despega Usach contest is an initiative led by the Vice Presidency of Research, Development and Innovation of Universidad de Santiago de Chile with the purpose of promoting a science-and-technology-basedentrepreneurial culture among graduate and undergraduate students at Universidad de Santiago.

Dr Claudio Martínez Fernández, Vice President of Research, Development and Innovation said, “Our students are very talented and many times, all what they learned while they studied, remains on paper only; however, through this initiative, we have invited them to have an active role in the search of solutions to problems that affect people and the productive sector.”

According to Dr Martínez, the University’s responsibility is not only to guarantee the good academic quality of curricula, but also to give the students the tools they require at an international context. “We think that, in this way, we can bring research closer to society, as this allows them to understand science from daily life,” he said.

For her part, Dr Karina Arias Yurisch, Vice President of Outreach and Engagement, highlighted that by means of this initiative and other institutional programs, “we contribute a little to the Government’s Productivity, Innovation and Development Agenda, making a series of commitments to the development of our country and society.”

In her opinion, the five winning projects deserve to be at this stage of the contest. Now, the Stanford Research Institute “will provide them with a series of additional tools to turn them into real entrepreneurs with the ability of placing their initiatives in the market.”

Winning projects

One of the winning projects is an answer to the natural features of our country as a highly seismic territory. The application is a seismic alert and it has the purpose of warning people in case of an earthquake, so that they can protect themselves. The project was developed by Ariel Césped and Javier Césped, both students at the Faculty of Engineering.

Two of the winning projects are related to health care. One of them, Homexam, is an application for smartphones that allows keeping records of the cardiac status of the mother and the baby in order to improve the follow up of gestational diseases in real time. It was developed by José Ignacio Cárdenas Lattus, Jean Pierre Lattus Sanhueza, Patricio Rodríguez Videla and Roberto Brito Álvarez.

The other is a vaccine based on nanoparticles of a natural polymer that can contribute to cancer treatment in domestic animals. This proposal was developed by Claudio Acuña-Castillo, Claudia Robles Planells and Giselle Sánchez Guerrero.

In the area of food, Bárbara León and Paulina Esponda propose a vegetal sausage with a high nutritional value based on native seeds and legumes as an alternative to animal-based products.

Finally, the Company Ecoliner, led by Daphne Moreno, Camila Pereira and Antonio Quilaqueo, presented a sustainable water repellent spray based on recycled silicone from liner rolls.

During the award ceremony, the Assistant Manager of Early Funding of the Chilean Economic Development Agency (CORFO, in Spanish), Tadashi Takaoka, gave a presentation in which he explained the key factors to get funds for startups.

Translated by Marcela Contreras

• The contest organized by the Ministry of Energy seeks to generate efficient solutions for households and neighborhoods and improve the access and use of renewable energies in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Dr Juan Manuel Zolezzi, President of Universidad de Santiago de Chile, will be part of the contest jury.

The “Impacta Energía” contest, organized by the Chilean Ministry of Energy and supported by the Laboratorio de Gobierno, seeks to generate innovations in the field of energy by attracting and encouraging talented entrepreneurs and innovators, and inviting them to get involved in the public challenges of the country with ideas, technologies, products or services.

“Impacta Energía” is an open contest for public innovation that seeks to find efficient energy solutions for households and neighborhoods and improve the access and use of renewable energies in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to enhance their productivity.

The call includes a Bootcamp stage or accelerated incubation process, where the selected teams will have the possibility of co-creating, improving and modifying their projects with the mentoring of representatives of the Government and the support of real users.

The four winners- who will be announced in November this year- will receive 75 million pesos each for piloting their ideas. They will have six months to implement their projects and will have the support of the Ministry of Energy in order that their ideas can become public policies.

Applications can be submitted in the link www.impactaenergia.cl, until August 23^rd. Both Chilean and foreign applicants can participate, as well as small, medium and large-sized companies from Chile or abroad.

Partnership between universities and companies

As one of the 16 members of the jury that will select the winning projects, Dr Juan Manuel Zolezzi, President of Universidad de Santiago de Chile, highlighted that innovation is an essential matter in this public and state university. 

He invited “students and young people in general to face these problems and propose ideas to progress in this challenge.”

For his part, Máximo Pacheco, Minister of Energy, said that he was proud to have President Zolezzi in the jury and also of the relation with Universidad de Santiago de Chile.

Asimismo, destacó la relación entre la academia, el Estado, la sociedad civil y el mundo empresarial para trabajar en conjunto y enfrentar los desafíos en el ámbito de la energía. “Tenemos la convicción de que la energía no es solamente algo estratégico, sino que es a partir de ella que se construyen las civilizaciones”, expresó el ministro.

He also stressed the importance of the relation among the State, universities, civil society and business world as partners to face energy challenges. “We are certain that energy is not only a strategic issue: it is the base on which civilizations are built,” the Minister said.

“Companies need to work in partnership with universities like Universidad de Santiago de Chile,” he concluded, insisting on the importance of committing to innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship.

Translated by Marcela Contreras

• The team formed by Hugo Tello, Rodrigo Aliaga, Pablo Becerra and Javier Rojas, all of them 5^th year students at the Architecture program of Universidad de Santiago, won the Alacero international competition. More than 700 students from different countries in Latin America participated in the 2016 version of the Contest that was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

By the unanimous decision of the jury, a group of students at the Architecture program of Universidad de Santiago de Chile was awarded the first place and 5,000 dollars at the 9^th version of the Alacero international competition that was held between October 22^nd and 24^th,in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Chilean team shared the first place with the Brazilian team.

704 students from different schools of architecture in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and the Dominican Republic participated in the competition. All of them participated first at a national level competition in their corresponding countries and presented their proposals for an inclusive cultural center using steel in a project to improve the quality of life of people in areas without this type of facilities.

The first prize

The Chilean and the Brazilian projects were awarded the first prize by the unanimous decision of the jury made up of the architects Sebastián Colle (Argentina), Carolina Fonseca (Brazil), Álvaro Donoso (Chile), Maritza Andrade (Ecuador), Luis Enrique López Cardiel (Mexico) and Juan Mubarak (Dominican Republic). Although the two proposals have different social, environmental, economic and geographical contexts, they are both high quality works and they are both a contribution to their communities.

For the final presentation, the team showed the proposal “Zócalo Cultural Bajos de Mena,” which was designed for the area of Puente Alto, at the Metropolitan region. The facilities designed join together the street culture and the traditional culture in order to reduce the overcrowding in that area, because the small blocks of departments provided as housing solutions there have led people to express their culture in the streets or other places.

Before presenting their model at the international contest, the students changed its base from cardboard to acrylic, as the Chilean jury had suggested in the 30^th version of the CAP contest held in Chile. While they were in Brazil, they shared with other students and learned about their projects.

The competition was organized in the context of the Latin American Steel Conference organized by Alacero, the Latin American Steel Association, a non-profit civil organization that groups 49 companies in 12 Latin American countries, which production is about 70 million tons a year.

The yearly competition seeks to promote the use of steel as a construction element with different properties.

Óscar Luengo, professor at the Architecture program and tutor of the project, says that winning the first place at an international competition “shows what we are doing at the school and reinforces the way how we are working. In this way, the 5^th year students strengthen their skills both at a national and international level,” he says.

Translated by Marcela Contreras  

• At the meeting, the first lady Akie Abe, wife of the Japan´s Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, talked in her own language with the young participants and gave each of them a gift. “I hope you visit Japan soon. Let me know in advance so that you can visit my house,” she said.

 

On August 31st, students of the Linguistics Applied to Translation Program, major in English- Japanese given by the Faculty of Humanities of Universidad de Santiago, had the unprecedented opportunity of meeting with Mrs. Akie Abe -the wife of the Japan´s Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe- who started her official visit to Chile with this activity.

During the ceremony headed by the Academic Vice President, Dr. Fernanda Kri, the dignitary conversed with the young participants in Japanese. Each of them explained to her why they decided to learn the Japanese language and she showed herself very interested in their stories, paying attention to the language level that they have reached, especially in those students who have been in Japan, thanks to the scholarships awarded by the Japanese government.

Together with valuing the work done by Universidad de Santiago at teaching the Japanese language in Chile, Mrs. Abe donated more than 50 books to the University.

Mrs. Abe expressed her “deep gratitude for being received with such a kind hospitality.” And she gave the students a message: “I am sure that, with the visit of mi husband to Chile, we are strengthening our bilateral relations and I would like to ask you to be like bridges between the two countries.”

“I hope that you visit Japan soon and let me know in advance so that you can visit my house,” she said.

 
Strong links with Japan

In 1995, the University created the Linguistics Applied to Translation Program, major in English- Japanese. Universidad de Santiago is the only university that gives this program in Latin America, and since its beggining, it has built and strengthened links with Japan.

Examples of the importance that Universidad de Santiago has had in spreading the culture of that oriental country are the visit of Her Imperial Highness of Japan, Akiko de Mikasa, in September 2013, and the appointment of Universidad de Santiago as the only Chilean institution in charge of the administration of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT).

Also the students of this program organize every year the Japanese traditional culture festival, Nihon Matsuri, where they show the traditions of that oriental country.

The Chief of the Linguistics Applied to Translation Program, Marcela Contreras, said that “the Embassy of Japan has always supported the University in the different activities that we organize, since the program was created.”

“At this moment we have more than 200 students in the program and many of them apply for scholarships in Japan. And the Embassy of Japan receives our students for internships. So, we can see that both parties are interested in keep working together much longer, and this is confirmed by the visit of the wife of the Prime Minister to our University,” Contreras said.

 

Watch the video of the activity

 

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Translated by Marcela Contreras

• Varua Touch is a wireless touch device that allows to move a cursor on a computer screen, tablet or smartphone by moving the hands, feet or as best suitable for each user.

In a couple of weeks, Álvaro Monserrat Aguirre, a student at the Electrical Civil Engineering program of Universidad de Santiago de Chile will present his degree examination. In his thesis project, he has been working on designing the prototype of a device for people with mild motor impairment. “I have always liked the mix of disciplines, like engineering and health care; for this reason, my idea is to develop a universal product for disabled people,” Álvaro Monserrat says, regarding the Varua Touch, a wireless touch device that allows to move a cursor on a computer screen, tablet or smartphone by moving the hands, feet or as best suitable for each user.

In 2011, Álvaro Monserrat entered Universidad de Santiago de Chile and two years later, his inquisitiveness led him to become part of “Open Cree” a group of engineering students for project development.

In 2015, a new opportunity was offered to him by the first version of the Despega USACH contest. He already had an idea to apply for the contest: the “Nurse Eye” project. This initiative arose from the need that he and a kinesiologist friend detected in a hospital. “By using digital cameras, we captured photos of people´s injuries in order to monitor their evolution, considering different variables,” he explains. 

The Director of the Chilean National Institute of Injuries invited them to the institute and gave them the possibility of working with patients and equipment to develop their idea. “It was a commercial validation,” Álvaro says. As his project was one of the five that won the Despega Usach contest, he had the opportunity of travelling to San Francisco, USA, and work at the Stanford Research Institute for two weeks.

“Technological innovation means to create something new using existing resources in order to benefit someone,” he explains. “It is a creative process beyond technical knowledge, with a mixture of inspiration, paying attention to problems, seeking solutions and being inquisitive.”

Sustainable social venture

Together with a multidisciplinary team of students, they began to visit people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. “We made both a medical and technical evaluation and helped them to install the application in their cell phones. The app allowed them to write, push a key and communicate their needs,” he remembers. The idea for his thesis project arose from this experience.

“The Varua Touch should be accompanied by a medical evaluation conducted by a kinesiologist or a speech therapist who can detect the communication needs of each patient,” he explains. He highlights that the device offers the possibility of setting its level of sensitivity. “In some cases, getting closer to the sensor would be enough to move the cursor, to click or select a letter,” he adds.

“My idea is to develop a universal product for disabled people as a sustainable social venture, because in our country, disability does not mix with technology. There are many challenges, but more resources are required,” he says. My goal is to help a specific segment of society, by improving their quality of life,” he concludes.

Translated by Marcela Contreras

     A total of 129 students from different countries like Mexico, Germany, France; Argentina, Colombia, Spain, Brazil, Canada, Bolivia, Uruguay and Belgium spent this semester at Universidad de Santiago through its student exchange program. They all agree that the academic excellence and social responsibility are the university’s hallmarks.

Every semester, the Department of International and Inter-University Relations of Universidad de Santiago de Chile receives foreign students to promote, strengthen and expand its national and international links and contribute to the university’s positioning and its work in different fields.

During the second semester of 2016 (August-December), a total of 129 students from different countries like Mexico, Germany, France; Argentina, Colombia, Spain, Brazil, Canada, Bolivia, Uruguay and Belgium participated in the student exchange program. They selected one of the 68 programs available at Universidad de Santiago and enrolled as students, researchers or interns. 

An internationally renowned university

Karin Chavarría, a student at the Bachelor’s Degree in Literature program of Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, the leading public university in Bolivia, was awarded a scholarship to spend one academic semester at Universidad de Santiago.

“I had never seen a university this large, with all the schools together. That was the first thing that surprised me. The study program has been really complete,” she says.

She adds that she came to Chile through a program of the Montevideo Group Association of Universities. “They provided everything while we were here: accommodation, food and impeccable training, with very good professors. Our classmates received us very well and we made many friends. I recommend Universidad de Santiago for it is one of the best universities in Latin America and worldwide,” she says.

A human and professional network

José Fernando Aguayo, student at the Bachelor’s in Artistic and Industrial Ceramics of Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Argentina, enrolled in the Bachelor’s in History program of Universidad de Santiago this semester. His experience was so rewarding that he decided to apply for another semester.

“I am applying for another semester at the university, particularly for its environment, for my classmates and the human network between students and professors in which you can interact as equals,” he says.

Jasmine Morgan, a student at the Medicine program of Universidad de Alcalá, Spain, completed an internship at Universidad de Santiago. “This is the best thing that has happened to me. I feel very identified with this university. I think its students have a higher level of training, because they have a higher contact with patients and a closer follow up,” she says.

Human quality and comradeship

Among the best things of this semester abroad, these foreign students highlight the sense of comradeship at Universidad de Santiago. Kevin Moreno, a student at the Elementary Teaching Program of Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas, Mexico, confirms this fact. He applied to Universidad de Santiago on the recommendation of a friend of him who had already spent a semester here.

“The truth is that I had no information about the educational system in Santiago, but once I got here I realized that the system is excellent. There are very good professors, good classmates, good people and there is a nice environment inside and outside the university,” he says.

Myia Newton, a student at the Modern Languages and Spanish program of the University of Windsor, Canada, says that during her stay at Universidad de Santiago, she remembered why she had decided to study languages and, particularly, Spanish.

“My professors are the best and I have learned so much. Some of my classmates are the best people I have met in my five years of university. I am very lucky for having this opportunity. The friends I have made here have inspired me to come back and live here once I finish the university,” she says.

Translated by Marcela Contreras

• María Soledad Gallardo, Ahinoam Fuentes y Sylvia Huenchufil, students of the program “New Hope, Better Future”, together with participants of the PACE Program, met with the President at La Moneda, occasion on which she congratulated the young students “for their talent and perseverance.”

On August 27th, María Soledad Gallardo, Ahinoam Fuentes y Sylvia Huenchufil, students of the Propedéutico Program of Universidad de Santiago, met for breakfast at Palacio La Moneda with President Michelle Bachelet and the Minister of Education Nicolás Eyzaguirre.

On the occasion, President Bachelet congratulated the 11th-grade students who are recipients of the Program for Accompaniment and Effective Access to Higher Education, (PACE, in Spanish) and the students who are currently studying at universities thanks to the Propedéutico Program, the University Preparatory Program.

President Bachelet explained that the PACE Program- inspired by the Propedéutico Program of our University- “intends to tackle the inequality in the access to higher education and, at the same time, reward youngsters like the ones who are here today for their merits and efforts.”

“It is a work model that supports students with best school performance, prepares them for entering higher education and, most importantly, it is a model that not only levels up knowledge but also helps students with their socio-emotional skills and provides them with vocational counseling,” President Bachelet said.

“I would like to thank this group of youngsters, many of whom were part of the Propedéutico Program of Universidad de Santiago and Universidad Federico Santa María last year, and also thank the group of students who are or will be part of a program (PACE Program) that started from and followed that initial experience,” President Bachelet said, according to the Presidency’s web site.

At the end of the meeting, President Bachelet said a few words to the students: “Thank you for your advice and your experience. Congratulations for your talent, perseverance and for not giving up in spite of all the difficulties that you faced. We will do our best to continue supporting you.”

The USACH-UNESCO Propedéutico Program, an initiative related to the University’s Social responsibility Program (RSU, in Spanish), is a pioneering selection system- an alternative to the PSU Test- that gives access to higher education to talented students who obtained the best grades in high school, in spite of their vulnerable condition.

The first version of this Preparatory Program was developed in 2007 at Universidad de Santiago and the students were the ones who named it Propedéutico-Usach “New Hope, New Future”. Currently, it has been replicated as a public policy in 18 universities of the country, from Arica to Punta Arenas.


Translated by Marcela Contreras

• Six representatives of Universidad de Santiago were part of the Chilean national team that travelled to Guayaquil, Ecuador, to compete in the PKF Championship.

On August 27th, the karate branch of Universidad de Santiago, led by their coach Mario González, showed a high performance in the Pan-American Karate Federation Championship.

The following students competed in Ecuador: Christian Cid (84 k), student at the Industrial Control Technology program; Matías Rodríguez (75 k), student at the Business Engineering program; Alison Muñoz (55 k), student at the Occupational Therapy program; Matías Quijada (60 k), students at the Obstetrics program, and Nicolás Flores (67 k) and Javiera González (61 k), both students at the Physical Education Pedagogy Program. 

In the team women category, Javiera González and Alison Muñoz won the gold medal, while in the team men category, Matías Quijada and Matías Rodríguez won the bronze medal. In the individual male categories, Nicolás Flores got the fifth place in his category. Once again, Universidad de Santiago was represented abroad by its sport ambassadors.

The karatekas now will participate in the II Tournament organized by the University National Federation of Karate, on September 08th, at the Universidad Tecnológica Metropolitana (UTEM), in Santiago.


Translated by Marcela Contreras

• In its third public account, the ESUS Solar Energy Team referred to the big challenges that they faced during 2016: the Atacama Solar Challenge and the high possibility that the team has of winning the Construye Solar 2017 contest with the Casa Temperie. Among the challenges for 2017, they mentioned the initiative to build solar modules in the campus and their participation in the Sasol Solar Challenge 2018, in South Africa.

   

  In its public account after almost six years of its creation, the Universidad de Santiago’s Solar Energy Team (ESUS) highlighted the big challenges that they faced during 2016: the Atacama Solar Challenge and the high possibilities that the team has of winning the Construye Solar 2017 contest with the Casa Temperie, the sustainable social housing project developed in partnership with the School of Architecture of Universidad de Santiago. The team members also referred to their initiative to build solar modules in the campus through their Sustenta ESUS Division.

  The ESUS Team is currently made up of more than 50 students at the Faculties of Engineering, Humanities, Administration and Economics, the Technological Faculty, and the School of Architecture. They have worked with more than 15 business partners during this period that have contributed with more than 125 million pesos, a 594% more than the previous year.

  Since its foundation in 2011, the projects of ESUS promote the use of solar energy as a solution to the constant energy problems that affect our country, through research and by implementing different technological developments.

  Dr Claudio Martínez Fernández, Vice President of Research, Development and Innovation said that he was very proud of this young team that works for Universidad de Santiago.

  “The way in which they have approached their work -constantly looking for innovation and new projects, one of the focuses of the university- confirms that, in spite of the fact that they are undergraduate students, they can make a big difference,” he says.

  Vice President Martínez adds that “Universidad de Santiago is historically known for contributing to the knowledge and development of the country and ESUS is a clear example of this.”

  Challenges for 2017

  For next year, the Solar Energy Team highlighted three big challenges that they will face. First, The Apolo Team will build a new solar vehicle, the Apolo IV, a lighter version of the Apolo III, to compete in the Sasol Solar Challenge, South Africa, in September 2018. They are also evaluating the possibility of competing in the Atacama Solar Challenge 2017.

  Second, the Construye Team is ready to start building the Casa Temperie, (Temperie House), a project that was started in March by the School of Architecture. The team is among the 10 finalists in the Construye Solar 2017 contest organized by the NGO La Ruta Solar.

  The project is a new concept of social housing that involves a habitable environment in a greenhouse with renewable energies. With this project, the ESUS Team thinks that they have possibilities of winning.

  And finally, the Sustenta ESUS division has the goal of building solar modules in the campus to provide free power to charge batteries for laptops, cellphones and other electronic devices. In this way, the university community will have access to a real sustainable initiative.

  Translated by Marcela Contreras

• The Apolo II, the new vehicle built by students and thesis students of Esus, the Universidad de Santiago’s Solar Vehicles Team, is being assembled these days. During this week, they expect to finish mounting the electrical wiring onto the mechanical structure while they finish the body shell that, this time, was made of carbon fiber and fiberglass; the sheets were manufactured by Fibrovent, one of the sponsoring companies.
• After two years of work and research, the new car surpasses its predecessor by incorporating technologies that improve the energy efficiency, the engine performance and the use of batteries. Besides, innovations have been included in the design to meet the standards required by the Atacama Solar Challenge that will be held between November 13th and 17th this year.  
• The Executive Director of the project, Gonzalo Pacheco says: “We want to be in the first place as we have worked for that. We will do our best until the end of the race.”

 

Two years ago, Esus, the Universidad de Santiago’s Solar Vehicles Team, developed a prototype for an ultra-light vehicle, fed with photovoltaic power -the Apolo- that competed in the Atacama Solar Challenge.

Since then, the team focused its efforts on improving the efficiency of the car. The results are about to see the light of day. In 2014, Esus members, together with the new students that have become part of the team, have developed a new and more advanced car model to compete again in this race and win. The car now is in the process of being assembled.

“We are in the process of integrating all the electrical, mechanical and design components,” Gonzalo Pacheco, a thesis student at the Mechanical Civil Engineering program and Director of Esus, said. He added that the challenge has been as big as the expectations. “We want to be in the first place as we have worked for that. We will do our best until the end of the race,” he said.

Innovations and improvements

This week the electrical and mechanical components of the Apolo II will be assembled together, including new technologies. Patricio Cerda, director of the electrical area and thesis student at the Electrical Civil Engineering program explained that the components were tested separately and that now is the time to assemble them together to get everything working as expected.

“We are using better engines than the ones we used before. They are two engines and they can reach 97% efficiency, what makes the car go at a maximum speed of 120 km/h. We have acquired nine 120 watt solar panels made in China, with an efficiency of 21 per cent. The previous car only reached 19 per cent. Also, with the new lithium –ion batteries made in Japan, we have reduced 40 kilos of weight. The batteries have a higher power density that allows storing more energy,” Patricio Cerda said.

Regarding the mechanical aspect, the student Martín Catalán said that the chassis is made of 4130 steel, which is used in high-speed vehicles for its resistance and low weight. Also, the designers decided to move the driver’s place to the left side in order to reduce friction areas and to improve the aerodynamic design. To balance the car weight, the battery array will be mounted on the right side. The car assembly also incorporates a brake system that includes two discs that work independently.

The body shell will be one of the last parts to be assembled and it is also different from the one in the previous car. In the Apolo II, it is made of carbon fiber and fiberglass, what results in a lighter and more resistant body manufactured by Fibrovent.

Several mechanical and electrical aspects had to be adapted, not only regarding their design, but to meet the standards required by the Atacama Solar Challenge that will be held between November 13th and 17th. The team will arrive in Iquique before that date for the qualifiers.

Learning experience

The experience of building this car goes beyond competing in the race. Patricio Cerda explains that “This is a very valuable learning process for students”. The practical experience that they have gained in renewable energies is something new in their training, as they started the project before the University created a laboratory for this area. “We have been working on this for four years so we have an advanced knowledge now,” he said.

For his part, Gonzalo Pacheco added that the project became an interdisciplinary initiative without expecting it. “We realized that the cooperation among engineers, architects and designers does not frequently occur in other projects. The project gathered several academic units around one point of view, with the support of the University, to continue working in a more professional way.”

The Apolo II should be ready on October 20th, to move on to a testing phase to then be introduced to the University community on November 3rd.

In the practice there are challenges too. The two drivers also competed in 2012. Pablo Carter, a student at the Mechanical Civil Engineering program explained that this not only about experience in driving, but also in developing the project.

“We the drivers belong to the Department of Mechanical Engineering and we have participated in the project. We know how the car works, how it performs, how it should move or brake and how the electrical component works,” he said.

Sponsors

Although 80 per cent of the project was funded by the University and the participating departments, it has been sponsored too by the University’s Society for Technological Development and important companies like Fibrovent that was responsible for the body shell; Schneider Electric that provided training courses; PC Factory that contributed to the development of the telemetry software to transmit data from sensors in the Apolo II to the support team; Servicio Láser that made the fiberglass molds, and Maestranza Murúa that helped with the chassis welding.


The Esus team has about 65 members, including students and thesis students of the Departments of Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and General Technologies, and the School of Architecture. A group of academics has been supporting the team with the development and implementation of the project.


Translated by Marcela Contreras

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