Solar chargers collect energy from the sun, store it as electrical energy in a battery and power or recharge electronic devices. Because solar charger technology is fundamental to the design of large-scale power applications, the experience will give you the foundation for designing advanced energy-efficient systems.
Designs of solar chargers range from the very simple to the very complex. A simple solar charger can be designed in a day and will require just a few components: a solar cell, a battery and a diode. Advanced solar charger designs can be a challenge. Complex designs often include an electronic display to read the level and rate of the battery charge. If you're looking for even more complexity, consider adding control motors that continually position the solar cell toward the sun.
Plan on using the latest solar cell technology. Strive for a design that can collect electrical energy faster and more efficiently than what is presently on the market. This will not only increase your chances for a better grade, but could gain you industry recognition.
Unmanned underwater and air gliders are remote-controlled vehicles, often just a few feet in length. They are used for environmental monitoring applications and within the energy industry. A glider is often equipped with electronic sensors, sonar, video camera and communications circuitry.
Because the complete design of a glider can be complex and time-consuming, as well as requiring a wide range of electrical and mechanical engineering skills, consider enlisting other students to work on the project. Completing such a project with others will show that you have not only engineering skills, but also engineering management potential.
Unmanned air and underwater gliders have become more popular as engineering design projects at a number of schools. Students at the University of Colorado at Boulder have the option of developing greener air vehicles based on actual prototypes of existing planes. The student-run iBotics group, affiliated with the University of California, San Diego, continually works on the development of underwater gliders.
Electrical analysis software programs are used to simplify the process of designing electrical systems. There are programs for the design of electronic circuits, solar systems and power-management systems. If you write an electrical analysis program, it will not only show that you are able to write software, but that you understand electrical engineering theory enough to be an authority.