Innovators 2015_Report

Introduction

The Innovators Competition is one of All these come along with the
the major annual events organized by the prominent motive of this event, encouraging
Inventors’ Club of University of Peradeniya, the future engineers to be innovative and
with the prime intension of refreshing the to make the lives of the troubled, more and
young minds entering the faculty as total more easy. Engineering is innovation and
novices to the limitless field of Engineering. Innovation is the Future. As these fresh minds
would be the care takers of the future, we
From a very simple, yet well- intend to plant the young saplings with a
established beginning in 2010, along with the well-established ground. The sustainability of
first Innovators Competition, the Inventors’ the future is entirely in the hands of its care
Club takes intensive effort to make it more takers and that is why it is very important not
familiar, beneficial and meaningful to the to kill the innovativeness in these fresh minds.
participants of the competition. It is evident,
with the rising figures each year, that the The Innovators Competition is
efforts of the club has yielded far more than organized in such a way that the participants
expected. Through this competition, the are given challenges related to different
first year undergraduates are focused to an disciplines of engineering. The specialty in this
unseen prospective of engineering and life. event is that even a novice can compete in
The diversity within the competition is not any game category. The games have changed
limited to gaming categories. The students get through the course of time, but the prime
the opportunity to move along with people motive has always remained solid and same
of all sorts of diversities; location, ethnicity, since the very beginning of the Innovators
language and culture etc. Most importantly, Competition. Heading beyond the simple trial
the students are encouraged to interact with and error methods, the students are guided
the academic staff of the Faculty, a group of to make use of mathematical modelling,
intellectuals and specialists in different fields running simulation and model testing which
of Engineering. Through this, they get the would give them an introductory idea on the
chance to learn and explore what they have principles of engineering designing.
not known so far. For the past few years, the Innovators
Competition has thrived with the resourceful
help from the Academic Staff and the
brotherly hand of the Engineering Students’
Union. As a club and a family of brotherhood,
we walk on a promising road to win the future
through Innovative Humane Engineering.

1

Innovators 2015

Innovators 2015, the continuation of 1 was allocated for the general competition
the annual project of the Inventors’ Club of and the EOE Pereira Theatre for the Closing
University of Peradeniya was held from 20th Ceremony on Sunday, 22nd February. Having
to 22nd February 2015 at the faculty premises. these venues to hold the competition was a
This competition was mainly focused on the great opportunity for everyone to work hand
first year undergraduates of the Faculty of in hand with others in the same place.
Engineering, University of Peradeniya for the
academic year 2015. Over 250 students in 46 With the first and foremost vision of
different teams under 5 categories competed unleashing the innovator within the young
in Innovators 2015. It was only 60 participants minds who have just entered the faculty,
in 2010 and by 2015, it has become more than the competition was scheduled for 3 days,
starting from Friday evening. The closing
ceremony was held on Sunday evening at
the EOE Pereira Theatre.

The structure of the competition
differed from that of the previous years. Five
main gaming categories were introduced
along with a few mini games where the
competitors had to come up with simple, yet
innovative solutions. The five main gaming
categories were:
1. Line following robot
2. Water rocket

four times of that in 2010. It is an undeniable
proof that the Innovators Competition has
acquired a popularity through these years.

The orientation presentations for
each of the game category was presented
for the competitors by the club members,
one week before the competition. Having a
satisfactory foundation laid, the competition
was planned under the careful observation
and guidance of the members of the club
and the senior treasurer of Inventors’ Club,
Dr. Janaka Wijayakulasooriya. As a courtesy
of the faculty administration, Drawing Office

2 Orientation session for Innovators 2015

Workstations at Drawing Office 1

3. Programmable LED cube were taken to ensure the safety of each
4. Energy efficient stoves and every student, in case of emergency.
5. Spaghetti bridge All these were possible only because of the
extended cooperation of the Dean, Faculty
The five main gaming categories were of Engineering, the Senior Treasurer, Dr.
selected favoring all the departments of Janaka Wijayakulasooriya along with all the
study in the faculty. Students were assigned other members of the academic and non-
to each category based on their order of academic staff, Engineering Students’ Union,
preference, which was collected prior to the Executive Committee and the members
competition. of the club, their batch mates and the E/13
(competitors).
There were three different mini games
for the participants. Most importantly this journey would
1. The Astro Egg not have ended up successfully like this,
2. The Magic Knot if it wasn’t for the help given to us by the
3. Square – Double the area sponsors. They eased our financial burdens
4. Paper Rocket and helped us to conduct a very successful
event. In conclusion it’s evident that this was
All the mini games were completed the most successful Innovators Competition
within the second day (Saturday, 21st so far and undoubtedly a valuable pre-
February). The winners of the mini games requisite for following events too. We hope
were awarded with bonus points through to conduct another successful event in the
which they were able to gain either further following year too.
assistance or extra components. The
organizers had also arranged a Recreation
Area for the participants to relieve their minds
where they were given a chance to entertain
themselves engaging in different musical
activities. Food and refreshment were
provided regularly and necessary actions

3

Day 01

The opening ceremony of Innovators The students were also introduced
2015 - ‘the first step towards a world of to their team supervisors and they were
Engineering Marvels’ was held at the EOE allowed to get to know each other to proceed
Pereira theatre, Faculty of Engineering, with Day 02’s plans. Further notifications
University of Peradeniya, from 5 p.m. regarding their games and the programme
onwards. Nearly 240 first year undergraduates were delivered on group levels.
(E13) participated in this event. Dr. Janaka
Wijayakulasooriya, the senior treasurer of The first mini game “Square – Double
the Inventors’ Club did a presentation on the Area” was put up on screen for the
“Unleashing the Innovator Within”, putting competitors to answer and one group
up a simple question on screen for the managed to come up with an appropriate
participants to answer. solution for that mini game earning bonus
points.
After the opening ceremony the
participants gathered in Drawing Office 01 for Meanwhile, the group cards were
the next session of the programme. There the arranged and all the preparations for the
students were grouped into respective game next two days were arranged with the help
categories and they were given a chance to of everyone gathered at the event.
discuss their plans for the competition.
The students were divided into 46 different Dinner for the participants and the
groups under 5 main categories. The 46 academic staff members were served at the
groups were combined as follows. Faculty Canteen at the end of Day 01. The
Line following robot (12) students were seen to their accommodations
Water Rocket (9) at the end of Day 01.
Programmable LED cube (9)
Energy efficient hearth (4)
Spaghetti Bridge (12)

4 Presentation by Dr. Janaka Wijayakulasooriya Team meetings at DO 1

Day 02

Second day of the competition was
the day in which the competitive aspects In the meanwhile the participants were
of Innovators 2015 began. Day’s events refreshed by conducting mini-games. There
commenced at 8 a.m. Participants of each the creativity of groups were challenged by
category were directed to lecture rooms, tasking them to drop an egg from a height
where they were further introduced and without allowing it to damage. They were
guided to the tasks at hand. There the only provided with cardboard and staplers.
basic principles relevant to each task were Just as intended, this game gave a breath of
highlighted and the basis for the innovations fresh air to the competitive surrounding.
were laid out.
The tiresome day was compensated
Thereafter the groups gathered at by the Art Circle of the Faculty, where
the Drawing Office to endeavor in their task. musical instruments were provided for the
The teams were guided throughout the participants to enjoy themselves and to
day by the members of the Inventors’ Club, entertain the audience by unleashing there
when hardships raised. But they were given aesthetic skills.
full freedom to unleash their creativity and
innovativeness. The rest of the day, up till 10 By the end of the day the groups were
p.m., they were allowed to continue working instructed to wrap-up their workstations and
on their innovations. to clean the surroundings such that they can
continue the work from the next day.

A line following robot under construction

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Day 03

Third day started as usual at 8 a.m. were shot through the skies to achieve the
where the groups continued their work from targets while the Energy Efficient Stoves were
the place they left off on the previous day. competed to boil milk (Kiri Ithiraweema),
The time was allocated up until noon to finish where the first to succeed was given the
the work and wrap-up their workplaces. All victory. Water Rocket was one of the events
competitors worked hard at in the morning which got a huge attraction by the audience
session as they were towards achieving their due to its dynamic nature.
objectives with the deadline approaching
closer. As the Water Rocket teams are Thereafter the closing ceremony was
the first to windup their work, they were held at E.O.E. Pereira Theater where heated
assigned to another mini-game in which battles of Line Following Robots, weight
they are assigned to make paper rockets lifters of Spaghetti Bridges and designing
and the highest flying time is measured. of LED Cubes are put into test. The kind
This was done purely for entertainment and words and advices for the future endeavors
interaction. of the Inventers Club put forth by Dr. Janaka
Wijayakulasooriya at the ceremony was a
After the noon deadline all the strength and a guidance for the participants
submitted innovations were analyzed by and the organizers. Then the winners and the
game coordinators to ensure that they are participants were awarded with certificates,
abided by the game rules and appropriate successfully concluding Innovators 2015.
requirements.

After the lunch, the competitive phase
of the competition began. Water rockets

Final contest of the line following robots

4 Launching of a water rocket at the final contest

Workshop by Dr.D.H.S. Maithripala The ‘Magic Knot’ mini game
The final contest of programmable LED cube

The winning hearth design

Inspection of Spaghetti bridges before final contest

Pumping a water rocket Calibration of a line following robot before contest

The men and women behind Innovators 2015 5

Acknowledgement

We find it a great pleasure to for their vital role in backing us up financially.
acknowledge the support and strength And also Ranweli Distributors (PVT) Ltd. ,
given by Dean of Faculty of Engineering, Galle Electrical Agencies (PVT) Ltd. , Mariaa
Heads of Departments, and Dr. Janaka Farm Shop, International Hardware Store
Wijayakulasooriya, Senior Treasurer of and B.M. Samarakoon Fruits Suppliers. Your
Inventors’ Club, and all the members of the support which made this event a success, is
staff for their valued advises and dedication greatly appreciated.
towards Innovators 2015.
Finally we acknowledge everybody else who
Special mentions goes to Engineering helped this event in many ways. And we
Students’ Union (ESU), E/93 Batch Association expect that you would put forth the same
and members of the non-academic staff level of support you gave us, in the coming
who supported us in many ways to bring this years as well.
event to the level of success we had.

CECB, PEFAA, CCS Group and IESL Kandurata
Chapter should be given a special mention

Our heartiest thanks to;
• Prof. Leelananda Rajapaksha, Dean, Faculty of Engineering
• All the Heads of Departments
• Dr. Janaka Wijayakulasooriya, Senior Treasurer, Inventors’ Club
• All the members of the staff
• Instructors of all the Departments
• All the members of the non-academic staff
• CCS Lanka Group of Companies
• Peradeniya Engineering Faculty Alumni Association
• IESL Kandurata Chapter
• CECB
• Ranweli distributors (Pvt) Ltd, Kandy
• Galle Electrical Agencies(Pvt) Ltd, Kandy
• Mariaa Farm Shop, Kandy
• International Hardware Stores, Kandy
• B.M. Samranayaka Fruit Suppliers, Kandy

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