Lux Majestic and La Almudena shine !

LUX MAJESTIC AND LA ALMUDENA ‘SHINE’ IN ‘LA INGENIERÍA EN TUS MANOS’ COMPETITION. WOULD YOU PARTICIPATE?

 What if a group of high school students transformed solar energy into electrical energy and built a solar tracker with a final purpose, and all of this by themselves? 

Currently, because of the current importance of renewable energies such as: hydroelectric, wind or solar energy, the event in which our high-school has participated had the possibility to occur.  The use of renewable and sustainable energies is more relevant than at any other time ever, and, thanks to this, the Polytechnic University of Madrid launched this contest where we and many other schools participated.

 Firstly, we went on a school trip and we were shown the facilities of the University and we did an activity related to telecommunications engineering. After this visit, our team (Marcel, Jiellian, Marjorie, Aiwei and Cristina) began the project. 

The main objective is building a solar tracker attached to a solar panel; orienting it and using its energy, working as a team to achieve it. Even though everything seems extremely positive so far, it was and currently is a huge challenge for us. But in my opinion, it's part of the process. 

We had many problems with the movement: In the design of the solar tracker, we assumed that it would hold up and the panel and the panel would not fall under its own weight. Did it happen as we planned? You guessed it, no. But we still managed to fix all those problems working as a team. Participating in the project generally helped us develop skills necessary when working any engineering. Solving problems is something totally necessary in any engineering, and we want to solve the problem of charging a car with the energy we obtained with the solar panel, but and at the same time we had to solve all the problems that occurred along the way in the best manner possible. 

The team was divided into two parts: programming and construction, and both had to be combined very well to have everything ready and test the movement. 

Finally, we finished our third assignment of five, in which, as I just mentioned we tested the movement of the solar tracker, and the movement it’s currently working. 

Despite the many obstacles we encountered along the way, we demonstrated that we had ability to work together and overcome any problem presented. 

 I would recommend participating in this project to anyone starting first year of Technological Bachillerato. It really helps on developing important abilities if you want to study engineering, and even if you don’t. The contest does help you develop important social skills such as working as a team with your partners. It has been being an amazing experience, and with each task we deliver, we feel more accomplished. I hope we finally win the competition in a few months!

Marcel, 1º Bach