AUS NGN 110 Competition: Fostering renewable energy solutions with wind turbines

In the 25th edition of the highly anticipated NGN 110 Competition at American University of Sharjah (AUS), 660 engineering students, organized into 128 teams, embarked on a mission to design a wind-driven electricity generator. 

The competition is part of the first-year course Introduction to Engineering and Computing (NGN 110) taken by all engineering students. The challenge required participants to create prototypes using only specified materials, excluding pre-made turbine kits and integrating dynamo components.

"The competition enhances students' confidence in working in the field of engineering within a multidisciplinary team. In the NGN 110 course, students learn how engineers collaborate, gain valuable learning experiences from their mistakes and communicate with individuals from various specialties, a skill beneficial in their everyday life as they embark on their real-world journeys," said Aqeel Ahmed, Professor of Practice in Civil Engineering and event organizer.

The winning team achieved the highest power output from their wind turbine while maintaining the smallest rotor cross-sectional area. The team members were industrial engineering students Lama Khlaed Alruwaili, Noor Abdulkareem Alwazzan and Rama Hossam Al-Saqar; computer engineering students Sana Musab Al Saman; and chemical engineering student Daniya Shajahan.

“Winning the competition feels nothing short of exhilarating. We owe our success to our odd but well-designed model, our dedication, teamwork and finally a little stroke of luck,” said Lama Khlaed Alruwaili.

Dr. Fadi Aloul, Dean of CEN, underscored the competition's significance in enhancing students' skills and preparing them for impactful engineering careers. 

“This competition exemplifies our commitment to nurturing engineering talent and fostering a culture of innovation within our college. By challenging our students to design wind power solutions from scratch, we not only equip them with technical skills but also instill in them the essence of strategic thinking, problem-solving and collaboration. It is through events like these that we lay the foundation for a brighter, more sustainable future, where our graduates will lead the way in solving complex engineering challenges," he said.

The competition judging panel included Dr. Ammar Hasan, Visiting Professor in Electrical Engineering; Dr. Ming Foey Teng, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Electrical Engineering; Dr. Rana Sabouni, Associate Professor in Chemical Engineering; Dr. Sami Tabsh, Professor in Civil Engineering, and Dr. Sherif Yehia, Professor in Civil Engineering.

With a strong track record of excellence, CEN offers a wide choice of programs, including undergraduate programs in chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, industrial engineering and mechanical engineering. It also offers nine master’s programs and two PhD programs. For more information about CEN, please visit www.aus.edu/cen.