{"id":21104,"date":"2021-03-15T16:49:31","date_gmt":"2021-03-15T16:49:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/?p=21104&post_type=story"},"modified":"2024-06-25T16:33:57","modified_gmt":"2024-06-25T16:33:57","slug":"custom-solar-sculpture-built-by-ucf-students","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/custom-solar-sculpture-built-by-ucf-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Custom Solar Sculpture Built by UCF Students"},"content":{"rendered":"
Spring 2021\u00a0<\/em>|\u00a0By Jenna Marina Lee\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n When the Orlando Utilities Commission posed a challenge in 2018 to conceptualize a sculpture that doubles as a source of clean energy for Exploria Stadium \u2014 the home of Orlando City and Orlando Pride soccer teams \u2014 UCF students answered the call. Art<\/a> and engineering<\/a> students in an Advanced Design Lab <\/i>course collaborated on the winning sculpture, named Gyration<\/i>, which was installed in November. For nearly two decades, the course has provided students with real-life experience working on projects for big-name companies, including Starbucks, Universal Orlando Resort and Guitar Center. Gyration<\/i>\u2019s four solar panels harvest enough energy during the day to not only power its LED lights at night but also infuse energy back into the city\u2019s power grid.<\/p>\n [blockquote source=”Kealey Keepers \u201918<\/strong>” cite=”” color=”” css_class=””]\u201cWe wanted to showcase that artists and engineers can benefit each other. After working on it for so long in a tiny bubble and then seeing it in person towering over you, it\u2019s a surreal feeling. I love the fact that it will be there for so long.\u201d[\/blockquote]<\/p>\n 1,264<\/span> 53.5<\/span> 20<\/span> 14.5<\/span> 0<\/span> [divider][\/divider]<\/p>\n [photo id=”21320″ title=”Inset-Sculpture-1-1200×1200″ alt=”Drawings of sculpture designs.” width=”100%”]Students drew dozens of ideas for the solar sculpture during the early stages of the design process. The team then narrowed the field by considering which designs would most efficiently collect solar power and best meet the requirements set forth by the clients, Orlando City and OUC.[\/photo]<\/p>\n [divider][\/divider]<\/p>\n [photo id=”21321″ title=”Inset-Sculpture-2-1200×800″ alt=”Students hover around a table discussing physical properties of project.” width=”100%”]Students discussed the physical prototypes of the project after an initial presentation to OUC and Orlando City.[\/photo]<\/p>\n [divider][\/divider]<\/p>\n [photo id=”21322″ title=”Inset-Sculpture-3-1200×800″ alt=”Students who worked to create “Gyration” included (from left to right): James Exum \u201918<\/strong>, Ramin Ragbir \u201918<\/strong>, Gabriella Mancini \u201918,<\/strong> Joel Zorowitz \u201920<\/strong>, Kealey Keepers \u201918<\/strong>, Erin Dudley \u201918 <\/strong>and (front) Joel Rouff<\/strong>\u00a0 \u201918<\/strong>.” width=”100%”]Students who worked to create “Gyration” included (from left to right): James Exum \u201918<\/strong>, Ramin Ragbir \u201918<\/strong>, Gabriella Mancini \u201918,<\/strong> Joel Zorowitz \u201920<\/strong>, Kealey Keepers \u201918<\/strong>, Erin Dudley \u201918 <\/strong>and (front) Joel Rouff<\/strong>\u00a0 \u201918<\/strong>.[\/photo]<\/p>\n [divider][\/divider]<\/p>\n [photo id=”21323″ title=”Inset-Sculpture-4-1200×1200″ alt=”Two solar panels and intricate designs on the solar sculpture.” width=”100%”]Two of the four solar panels that power the solar sculpture, which were strategically placed to capture the most energy. [\/photo]<\/p>\n [divider][\/divider]<\/p>\n [photo id=”21324″ title=”Inset-Sculpture-5-1200×1200″ alt=”A light up panel on the solar sculpture that features the Orlando City logo.” width=”100%”]One panel on the solar sculpture features the Orlando City emblem. [\/photo]<\/p>\n [divider][\/divider]<\/p>\n [photo id=”21325″ title=”Inset-Sculpture-6-1200×800″ alt=””Celebrating the intersection of art and engineering, this sculpture was designed by students at the 海角直播. Sponsored and installed by Orlando City, OUC The Reliable One and Orlando Pride.” width=”100%”]A plaque that honors the students who worked together on the solar sculpture. [\/photo]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":21238,"template":"","categories":[979],"tags":[341,148],"class_list":["post-21104","story","type-story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-in-focus","tag-college-of-arts-and-humanities","tag-college-of-engineering-and-computer-science","issues-spring-2021"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n<\/span><\/strong>Kilowatt-hours produced annually, more than enough to offset an electric-vehicle charging station<\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/strong>Wattage the sculpture\u2019s LED lights use daily<\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/strong>Year lifespan for each of the four solar panels before replacement is needed<\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/strong>Feet tall and 9.5 feet in diameter
\n11<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/strong>Students with majors in studio art and mechanical and electrical engineering who worked on the project<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Carbon output Gyration <\/i>yields<\/p>\n