The UH College of Technology showed the world what it truly means to be a leaders in innovation when its student team was selected as one of the five university level finalists in the annual worldwide Parametric Technology Corporation Education Design Challenge. Selected from over 70 entries from around the globe, UH team was the only group from an institution in the United States selected for the final round of the competition. Teams from the United Kingdom, Ireland and Kuala Lumpur were also among the finalists.
 
The team members were Neill Whiteley, Hunter Copeland and Brandon Poxon. The team developed the award-winning project from an assignment in their mechanical engineering technology senior design course — the culminating two-semester class required before completing a degree. For their capstone project the team elected to build a working vertical take-off and landing craft (VTOL) capable of recording aerial video and photography. The craft consists of a four rotor thrust system and is constructed of light-weight carbon fiber and aluminum components. It can be controlled from the ground via a typical RC grade radio transmitter. The innovative design provides a less expensive alternative to the traditional methods of acquiring professional HD footage.

The team’s overall fourth place finish resulted in a $200 prize, the student edition of the Pro/ENGINEER software, and a two-year software license renewal for the university.

Staff reports