First-year students learn 3D printing for annual Solar Track Meet
Kago Mathabatha (left), chemical engineering and electrical and computer engineering undergrad, works with teammate Nora Elnady to create a custom solar tracker base modeled after the PIXAR toy lamp.
University of Arizona students harnessed the power of the sun and the rules of engineering at the annual Solar Track Meet. Students design and build autonomous trackers that follow the sun’s movements and measure solar energy. Then they peer judge one another’s projects. Some students went beyond those first steps and project requirements.
Kago Mathabatha’s team integrated a 3D-printed solar tracker base modeled after the PIXAR toy lamp.
“This project was challenging because we had to learn code we’d never seen before and how to use a 3D printer,” said the CHEE major. “It was all completely new to us, but it was rewarding to bring our design to life.”