A team of six student engineers, who brainstormed a hands-free umbrella for wheelchairs, won the grand prize of $10,000 in Florida State University’s annual InNOLEvation® Challenge sponsored by the Jim Moran School of Entrepreneurship.

The students, all seniors at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, created an umbrella called DriGo that automatically deploys when a person pushes a lever located behind the left elbow.

Claire Kelly, an industrial engineering student, said there’s nothing else like DriGo on the market.

One of the key elements in science is collaboration. In academia that often means leaving the nest to flock to partners in private industry.

Few exemplify that spirit better than Rajan Kumar, an associate professor at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. Kumar's research at the FSU-based Florida Center for Advanced Aero-propulsion recently resulted in an ultra-rare Phase III Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant. It is the first time that such a grant in that phase has been received by anyone at the College of Engineering.

Raymond Klouda is a senior mechanical engineering student from Lakeland, Florida. As an adolescent, Klouda was always held fond interests in coding and robotics. After graduating high school, he extended his education at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton before deciding to transfer to Florida State University in 2014.

“When I saw you could do robotics and it ties in with mechanical engineering, I was interested in doing something like that,” said Klouda.

Recently, mechanical engineering professors Rajan Kumar, Farrukh Alvi and other researchers at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering spearheaded a project that could shape our understanding of fluid dynamics as they are now known.

Northrop Grumman, a leading global security company, is consistently looking to increase a multicultural workforce. Northrop Grumman understands the importance of variety within its ranks. In 2018, DiversityInc ranked the company number 23 among its Top 50 Companies for Variety. But as with all STEM employers, there’s more work to be done. 

As the 2019 Florida Legislative Session begins in March, Florida State will request funding in recognition of its preeminence and performance to support the university’s continued efforts to hire world-class faculty and scholars, advance its professional and graduate degree programs, support academic excellence and maintain its facilities.

Jelani James is a third-year mechanical engineering student from Chattanooga attending FAMU-FSU Engineering through Florida A&M University. He is most avid about building and designing. His vision statement involves using his creations to help others.

Story originally appeared in the FAMUan on 2/6/19

For the FSU-FAMU College of Engineering, research and multiculturalism are the most significant factors in the school’s rising national ranking.

According to Murray Gibson, dean of the shared college, they have increased their rankings by about 19 points in the last two years. He says it’s all due to their messaging and their research funding.

Lisa Wight is currently a Production Manager at Harris Corporation in Melbourne, Florida. Lisa is a proud alumna of Florida A&M University, graduating in 1997 from the FAMU/FSU College of Engineering with a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering. Lisa started her professional career as a Mechanical Engineer at Allied Signal in Kansas City, MO. She left Honeywell to begin her career at Harris Corporation in 2007. In her years at Harris, she has served as Mechanical Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Quality Engineer, and as Production Manager.