Students work side-by-side with outstanding university faculty and researchers, gaining unparalleled access to state-of-the-art engineering facilities at a top-tier university.
COSMOS at UCSD Cluster 2, "Engineering Design and Control of Kinetic Sculptures," is a four-week residential program where high school students delve into mechanical engineering and computer control. Participants learn to analyze, design, and build kinetic (moving) sculptures operated under automatic control. The curriculum integrates engineering design and control principles, utilizing modern micro-processor controllers to measure and analyze the timing and mechanical behavior of their designs. Students gain hands-on experience with state-of-the-art facilities in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) department, including the MAE Design Studio, LASERcamm, and 3D printers for rapid prototyping. They also use advanced computer laboratories for creating computer drawings with software like AutoCAD and Inventor, and running 2D dynamic simulations with Working Model 2D. The program culminates in a challenging design project where students work in teams to build and control three-dimensional kinetic sculptures, such as those where marbles move along ramps and bounce, or programmable sculptures that interact with viewers.
A typical weekday includes breakfast, morning updates, cluster lectures and lab sessions, lunch, more cluster instruction or field trips, free time, dinner, study time, and recreational activities, with lights out at 11:00 PM.
This program is best for motivated high school students with a curious and creative mind, an interest in physics, engineering, design, and control systems, and a demonstrated interest and achievement in math and science.
9500 Gilman Dr., MC 0429, La Jolla, CA 92093-0429
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