Fun by design

Photos by Mindy Miller

On  Aug. 1, patients at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital interacted with and judged soccer-themed game systems developed by UF students in an introductory engineering design course. The incoming students attended a summer class specifically designed to help them successfully transition into the UF College of Engineering with fun and engaging projects that have real-world applications. Inspired by the World Cup, professors asked students to design an autonomous mechanical soccer player programmed to kick a ball into a goal. Their instructor designed the “goalie.” Patients judged the students’ work by choosing their favorite game.