Conor Walsh, Ballina, Mayo; Colm Morley, Ballyhaunis, Mayo; Shane Timoney, Ballintra, Donegal; and Caolan Treanor, Scotstown, Monaghan
Engineering students at IT Sligo have won the Engineers Ireland Innovative Student Engineer of the Year Award 2016 for designing an automatic post-driver that allows tractor drivers to plant posts without leaving their tractors.
IT Sligo students Colm Morley, Shane Timoney, Caolan Treanor and Conor Walsh will share the €2,000 prize sponsored by Siemens.
Their innovative design, titled, Automatically-fed post driver, allows tractor operators to drive posts without having to dismount their tractors, significantly improving the safety and efficiency of the process, and was deemed the best innovation by the Engineers Ireland judging panel.
‘In energy, transport, health, water, the digital economy and more, engineers are at the heart of the endeavour to improve lives and living standards in complex environments’
– DERMOT BYRNE
Previously, there had been no post drivers that were able to hold, feed and drive a post without the operator having to dismount the tractor.
The automatic post-driver designed by the enterprising IT Sligo engineering students
Other projects shortlisted included a human-powered washing machine, an advanced limb prosthesis, a clean-energy inflatable tower, a flexible robotic arm and a safe-release building hook.
“Engineering is transforming how people work, live and experience the world,” said Engineers Ireland president Dermot Byrne.
“In energy, transport, health, water, the digital economy and more, engineers are at the heart of the endeavour to improve lives and living standards in complex environments.
“It is imperative Ireland can bring new techniques, processes and skills to all sectors so that we can compete on a global stage with our competitors. I believe the diversity and creativity of contemporary engineering is very much reflected in this year’s projects, which span areas such as robotics, clean energy and mechanical engineering.”
