BROOKINGS – Luke Wesley, a senior mechanical engineering major from Dover, Minnesota, operates the remote controls on a gas-powered, electronically-controlled snowblower that he and South Dakota State University classmates, from left, Eddy Giefer, of Nicollet, Minnesota; Andrew Hoffmann, of Dupree; and Will Bierschbach, of Watertown, not pictured; created in their senior design class.
Riding the fluid-powered bike is Jordyn Orth, of Herreid. Once the bike is pedaled a few times, the hydraulic fluid starts to flow, the rider flips a switch and the bike becomes self-powered. The project was the work of Orth, Noah Lanka, of Monticello, Minn.; Aaron Diekhoff, of Wessington; and Mitch Haselhoff, of Rock Rapids, Iowa.
The groups were among a couple dozen that presented capstone projects April 27 and 29 at a mini-expo for mechanical engineering students. Classes wrapped up April 30 and finals are scheduled May 3-7. Graduation ceremonies are May 8-9.
