Mechanical engineering students at Iowa State participate in a major design class during their sophomore years. The goal of the design projects is to create a sustainable, simple, usable design to improve living conditions for a targeted third-world country. Throughout the fall 2011 semester, our team members began discovering their strengths and passions. We geared our project planning to utilize these developing strengths. We assigned a CAD master, team planner, communications specialist, research lead, and construction lead. Together we developed a clear project goal that was a little different than those typically developed. We decided to focus on poverty in our local region and focused on energy costs in Des Moines, Iowa. Our solar heater was planned and developed throughout the fall 2011 semester and was tested in November and wrapped up in December. The project was deemed a success by our team and even received the second most votes from our sophomore peers for best project.
