Chattanooga Engineers Club

www.ChattanoogaEngineersClub.org

 

 

NEXT MEETING____________________________

Monday, August 31 - Noon - PLANT TOUR & PRESENTATION: Advanced Vehicle Test Facility (4605 Amnicola Highway) Dr. Ron Bailey

The Advanced Vehicle Test Facility (AVTF) consists of a one mile test track and a research building that was built by TVA to test electric vehicles.  The facility has been turned over to UTC for advanced vehicle research.  At the AVTF, Club members will see an inductive power transfer experiment aimed at developing a new way to charge electric vehicles, a hydrogen fueling station and a Saturn VUE that has been converted by UTC students to run on gasoline, ethanol, or hydrogen.  With weather permitting, members may ride in the Saturn VUE and/or drive an electric car around the test track.

The tour will be led by Dr. Ron Bailey, Guerry Professor of Engineering, UTC.

[The AVTF site is accessed from the Tennessee River Park Access Road.  When driving north from downtown, after passing under the railway bridge, turn left at the green colored pavement off Amnicola before reaching Highway 153.  The entrance road to the track is about 1/3-mile on the left by the “Advanced Vehicle Test Facility” sign, after passing the small TVA building on the left and before the boat ramp.  Parking is available adjacent to the AVTF at no charge. The facility is wheelchair accessible.]

Box lunches will not be provided due to minimal request; therefore, reservations are not required.

 

FUTURE MEETINGS________________________

Monday, September 7 - NO MEETING - In observance of Labor Day

 

Monday, September 14 - Noon – “Engineering Challenges in Transitioning Technology from the Lab to Commercialization”

Speaker: Keith Buckner, V.P. of Manufacturing at Adaptive Methods

 

Monday, September 21 - Noon – Today’s Recession and Financial Crisis-and a Way Forward”

Speaker: John Garrett, Professor of Economics at UTC

 

Monday, September 28 - Noon – “Benefits of Urban Tree Planting”

Speaker: Preston Roberts, Take Root

 

Monday, October 5 - Noon – Implementing a Global Spatial Data Infrastructure”

Speaker: Dr. Alan Stevens, Scientist Emeritus, Federal Geographic Data Committee

 

Monday, October 12 – NO MEETING – In observance of Columbus Day

 

 

PREVIOUS MEETING_______________________

Lynda Pickett, the lead teacher for Ooltewah High School's Mathematics, Engineering, Science, and Technology Academy (MEST), reviewed the mission of the Academy’s program.  She explained how engineering and science careers require skills available in the MEST Academy classes.  Students, teachers, and the community work closely as a team in designing, building, and understanding wood towers, k’nex bridges, deck design, electrical wiring, and robotics.  Students create drawings and bills of materials before they construct actual models.

Lynda’s robotic classes include gear technology control circuitry and remote control wireless methods.  All students work together in class and learn together.  Only 10% of the participants in the MEST programs are women; therefore, Mrs. Pickett has encouraged more women to participate.

Mrs. Pickett thanked the Engineer’s Club for its financial support of the Robotics Program.  She also asked the Club members to make arrangements to speak to her students on engineering challenges and career opportunities.

Dr. James Catanzaro, President of Chattanooga State Community College, briefly explained the changes in Chattanooga State’s name from which the State of Tennessee removed the word “Technical”.  The Club appreciates Dr. Catanzaro’s leadership of Chattanooga State Community College and in the community.


ITEMS OF INTEREST_______________________

The Chattanooga Engineer's Club meets at the DOUBLETREE HOTEL, CHATTANOOGA, Second Floor, Inspiration Room (407 Chestnut St., Chattanooga, TN 37402). Free parking is available in the gated parking lot on the south side of the Hotel. The gate will be open from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. There is additional free parking east of the Hotel on Chestnut Street in the paved parking pit.

Looking for details on a local society meeting? Links to local engineering societies are available to you at: http://www.chattanoogaengineersclub.org/engineer

 

QUESTIONS and SUGGESTIONS______________

If you have any questions, items that would be of interest to the Chattanooga Engineers Club, or suggestions for future programs, please contact Joe Robbins by e-mail at jrobbins@robbinsbohr.com or by phone at 423-756-4430. You can find membership application forms, references to future programs, historical data, and other info at: http://www.ChattanoogaEngineersClub.org. To receive future meeting announcements by email, join the Chattanooga Technology Organization mailing list at: http://www.ChattanoogaEngineersClub.org/email.