Foo - Decide my future and senior year!(no highschool)

So its coming up on my senior year at CSUN and I was wondering what you guys would recommend to go into as my senior design project. It will be something that I will be working on for a whole year, 1 semester of design and another semester of fabrication/testing. Also all my senior electives will be centered around the project. PICK ONE!(poll coming)

1) Aerospace - Design and build a autonomous plane to navigate a specific terrain and return back with the information gathered. Kind of like a UAV(Unmanned Aerial Vehicle). This project will focus on programming, controls, aerodynamics, propulsion etc.

2) SAE Formula car. Basically a Formula 1 racecar. Last year they built a new chassi, exhaust and 2 engines. Both engines blew on race day(lulz). Supposedly our school does very well on this project and we dont completely suck a55.

3) Human Powered Vehicle - Design and build a human powered vehicle. Last year they built a carbon road bike with a front draft shield. Theres alot that goes into this project, lots of calculations.


Decide prz, I need a future so that I'm not going to be living paycheck to paycheck. Thnx!

If you are coming to a cycling board for advice on your future, living paycheck to paycheck would be being optimistic.

aerospace seems like it has the best mix of technology.

If you are coming to a cycling board for advice on your future, living paycheck to paycheck would be being optimistic.

LOL! I'm sure you old guys have been around the block a few times to know what makes money and what doesnt!

LOL! I'm sure you old guys have been around the block a few times to know what makes money and what doesnt!

If you can do any of those 3 as a senior research project, and make it work, you will have no difficulty getting a job.

I work in the Aerospace industry.... "best mix of technology" is FAR from how I would describe it.

aerospace seems like it has the best mix of technology.

I work in the Aerospace industry.... "best mix of technology" is FAR from how I would describe it.

vote on the poll please and can you elaborate? Is it a good field to get into as a mechanical engineer?

Guys can you please vote in the poll(its kind of hard to read on the forums I see). Top of the page!!!

Thanks!!

Don't do #2 until you learn to spell chassis.

Guys can you please vote in the poll(its kind of hard to read on the forums I see).
Demanding, eh?

Hope you don't come back here asking us to the work for you, too.







:)

do number 3 and donate the bike to a good cause such as myself

vote on the poll please and can you elaborate? Is it a good field to get into as a mechanical engineer?
oh, you want to be a mechanical engineer? that changes my vote. Do the car or the human powered vehicle then. I suggested the UAV because it would likely be a combination of mechanics, control systems, aerodynamics, software/electronics, etc. Depending on the organization of the project, you may be able to get a taste of all that to help figure out what you want to do.

oh, you want to be a mechanical engineer? that changes my vote. Do the car or the human powered vehicle then. I suggested the UAV because it would likely be a combination of mechanics, control systems, aerodynamics, software/electronics, etc. Depending on the organization of the project, you may be able to get a taste of all that to help figure out what you want to do.

Yea even though Im mechanical, we will be doing the programming, controls, fabrication, etc. Diversified approach that CSUN seems to love.

I was way off then, I had assumed CSUN was some russian thing based on your location. To clarify then... you'll be a senior next fall at california state university (northridge) and finishing up a BS in mechanical engineering? I might choose the human powered vehicle, but probably try to do something different than carrying the person from point A to B. Maybe something more utilitarian like carrying water or "stuff" over difficult terrain?

LOL! I'm sure you old guys have been around the block a few times to know what makes money and what doesnt!

I'm not old. I'm just not pathetic enough to ask an internet forum to influence the direction of my future.

Plastics.

Somehow had to say it.

If you are coming to Foo for advice on your future, living paycheck to paycheck would be being optimistic.

fify!

Demanding, eh?
Hope you don't come back here asking us to the work for you, too.


He'd better not, that's phantomcow2's shtick, and he's still in school! Foo has limited brainpower, ya know!

fify!

semantics.

We built a human-powered sub one year. Entered it in the competition in Florida. It sank to the bottom... The divers had to go down and rescue the pilot.

I'm not old. I'm just not pathetic enough to ask an internet forum to influence the direction of my future.

you're hilarious brah

Depending upon your skilz set, the order in which you've listed them is what I would recommend. 1 if you're really good cuz it seems the most challenging, followed by 2 and 3.

We built a human-powered sub one year. Entered it in the competition in Florida. It sank to the bottom... The divers had to go down and rescue the pilot.

That couldn't have been a school project. It was a 4th of July beach bash sponsored by a local FM rock radio station (think WKRP), right? After 100 plus years of nautical engineering, they've pretty much figured out how to keep things from sinking if they don't want them to sink.

That couldn't have been a school project. It was a 4th of July beach bash sponsored by a local FM rock radio station (think WKRP), right? After 100 plus years of nautical engineering, they've pretty much figured out how to keep things from sinking if they don't want them to sink.Yes, it was the UCSB ME student's senior project. The thing is, ME students at UCSB don't actually build anything until their last year. They never touch a hammer, cut any wood or metal or screw anything together until then. Before their final year, it's all book-work and studying.

Up the coast, Cal Poly SLO has the ME students in labs building things from their very 1st quarter. By their senior year when it comes time for the project, they've got 3x more hands-on experience than UCSB students. Who do you think did better in the competition?

aerospace seems like it has the best mix of technology.

+1

Also I think it has the best prospects for positioning you for a decent job after graduation

I'd do aerospace.
LOL! I'm sure you old guys have been around the block a few times to know what makes money and what doesnt!