Department of Mechanical and Electro-Mechanical Engineering held a science camp recently, with more than 40 people to participate in the event. The event entitled “Dance with the Golden-Snitch” is a part of the science and technology trips that the National Science Council organized to celebrate its 50 anniversary. The event allows its participants to make use of the latest technology, the flapping micro aerial vehicle (MAV), nicknamed “Golden-Snitch,” in the observations of wild birds. The use of technology with daily life will enable people to experience personally the merits of technology.

A total number of 41 participants, including high schools students, teachers and college professors, joined the camp. “All the instructors of the camp have use an interesting way in allowing the camp participants to learn new things,” said Dr. Yang Lung-jieh of the Department of Mechanical and Electro-Mechanical Engineering, who organized the camp.

At the first day of the camp, the organizer invited senior lecturer Chang Jui-lin of the Wild Bird Society of Taipei to introduce wetland birds in Guandu Nature Park to all participants. This was a rare experience for many students in central and southern Taiwan who had seen a real wild bird for the first time.

In the next day of the camp, Yang held a lecture to equip students with the basic knowledge of the flying principles, so that they can make use of the principles to build a flying object. The organizer had also prepared chips and polyfoam so that students can build their own flapping micro aerial vehicles. A flying competition was later held so that the camp-participants could try if these aerial vehicles they built can really fly.

At the last day of the event, the group took a trip to the Precision Metrology Laboratory in the National Taiwan University.

After joining the three-day-science camp, one of the camp-participants, Liu Hsiang-han, a freshman in the Wego High School wrote a letter to Yang to share his excitement with Dr. Yang. He said that because of the things he learned in the camp, He was able to build a new aerial vehicle which can flying another 9 more seconds in comparison to its predecessor. ( ~Yeh Yun-kai )