Weekly Highlights – ME Department

(15^th Dec - 21^st Dec'23, ME Department)

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT:

• ME 218 Design Competition for Term 231:ME 218 is an introductory mechanical engineering design course which gives students hands on experience with design and manufacturing of prototypes/mechanical systems. This semester the project given to them was called “Al-Hadaf challenge” in which they designed a vehicle that can deliver package safely to the target after passing through a difficult terrain. The competition was held on 15^th December 2023 followed by design competition in building no. 63 and each team demonstrated their prototype for Al-Hadaf challenge. Teams were evaluated using distance to target, time taken and package safety as performance indicators. The competition was led by Prof. Nesar Merah (Director, Design and Prototyping Lab).

• Dr Ammar Sheghri attended the workshop on the Biosystems and Machines IRC on Pulse-VAD technology: As an affiliate of the IRC for biosystems, Dr Ammar Sheghri participated in a 2-day workshop with the Biosystems and Machines IRC on Pulse-VAD technology to treat heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The workshop took place in the Dhahran Techno Valley (DTV) in collaboration between the Northern Research, represented by Dr. Einar Gude, Dr. Arnt E. Fiane, and Mr. Tor Kristoffersen, and KFUPM. The workshop aimed to explore and develop a new technology: an enhanced Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) specifically tailored for patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF).Experts and professionals from diverse fields, including cardiology, bioengineering, computer science, and others, participated in the workshop. Through productive discussions, brainstorming sessions, and practical exercises, the participants collectively addressed the challenges faced by HFpEF patients and explored innovative solutions and advancements in LVAD technology to enhance their quality of life.The workshop served as an invaluable platform for knowledge sharing, fostering collaboration for future research and development initiatives. The interdisciplinary nature of the workshop facilitated the integration of engineering principles and medical expertise, propelling progress in the design and manufacturing of the improved LVAD device.