Inside the dynamic world of the Society for Engineering Mechanics

SEM leads and funds engineering projects, hosts workshops on valuable and relevant engineering skills, and hosts social events to help students build connections with fellow students. 

Written by Urim Song Zhu

 

The Society for Engineering Mechanics (SEM) is a MechSE registered student organization whose goal is to aid in the academic and professional development of engineering students. 

“The thing that excites me the most about SEM is the projects. Every project that SEM works on is suggested by students.” said Felipe Pallo Rivadeneira, President of SEM.

“The goal of every project is to understand the theoretical background and implement design skills to achieve a physical prototype.”

Felipe Pallo Rivadeneira, SEM President

SEM has some exciting projects in the works, each with attention-drawing names. One such project is the Ocean Clean-Up Machine, a robot inspired by ocean clean-up machines. By tackling this project, SEM aims to understand the buoyancy and geometrical constraints that the robots must be carefully designed with in mind.

The Davinci Drawing Machine was inspired by Leonardo DaVinci’s Mechanical Knight – DaVinci’s idea was to create a fully mechanical machine that could draw any desired picture. SEM is crafting this machine utilizing intricate relations, including computational methods and the principles of the dynamics of linkages and gears.

R2D2, inspired by the robot from the Star Wars movies, is a voice-controlled robot that can shake one’s hand using light sensors and motors.

The Elliptical Pool Table is a new and fascinating take on the game of pool. Inspired by the principles of ellipses, the project utilizes the unique geometry of ellipses to guarantee that at least one ball drops into a pocket, ensuring the perfect game. Through this project, SEM aims to explain some of the mathematical characteristics of ellipses in a fun and entertaining way to general audiences.

Students can engage with these projects during Engineering Open House this weekend.

“The goal of every project is to understand the theoretical background and implement design skills to achieve a physical prototype,” said Pallo Rivadeneira.

SEM also hosts a plethora of events. Alongside WIM (Women in MechSE), the team travels to the Chicago Auto Show. Students are not only able to see the exhibitions, but also interact with other newly admitted students in the MechSE department. Working with ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) and WIM, SEM organizes MechSE Elective / Peer Advising Night to introduce students to some of the 400-level courses offered in the department. Students can network with upperclassmen and gain advice on their schedules for the upcoming semester. SEM is also a participant in the MechSE Research Fair, an annual event where undergrads can engage with professors and graduate students to learn about and get involved in undergraduate research.

SEM’s history of exciting projects is what first encouraged Pallo Rivadeneira to join. He was introduced to the RSO when members hosted an outreach event in TAM 195 (Mechanics in the Modern World). At that time, their projects included a demo for TAM 212 (Introductory Dynamics) and an EOH submission, a 3-million-pound concrete crusher. 

“What also got my attention was that there were not only a lot of engineering mechanics students but also people from civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering,” Pallo Rivadeneira said. “What inspired me to join was the desire to participate in projects and events, but the community is what has made me stay.” 

SEM will continue working on more exciting projects in the future. Felipe encourages students from all majors to join any of the projects or social events. There is no previous experience required to join.

If you are interested, feel free to contact Felipe at fpallo2@illinois.edu, or join SEM’s Discord server for up-to-date information regarding events and projects.