Mechanical Engineering

This course examines the latest developments in robotics and their applications in intelligent automation. In addition to academic theory, emphasis is placed on integrated technologies such as electronics, mechanics, and computing. This course also provides hands-on experience in robot development. By writing programs in LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT and NXC, students learn the software development of robots; and by using modules to build robots, students learn hardware development. Project production in class will enable students to acquire all the development procedures and knowledge for various robotics and automation applications. Topics include: Color Sorting Robot (using caterpillar treads), Remote Control for Robotic Arm, Tank, Forklift Truck, Soccer Robot, Obstacle Avoidance Robot, Line Follower.

This course is the second of two fluid mechanics courses that are taught concurrently in a single semester. Students take Fluid Mechanics I and then either Fluid Mechanics II (Higher Flow Level) or Fluid Mechanics II (Technique and Examples). The course discusses topics including hydrostatics, kinematics of fluids, streamline theory of inviscid fluids, momentum and angular momentum, movement of compressible fluids, Navier-Stokes equation of motion and its applications, vortices and boundary layer flows, turbulent flows, pipe flows, flow around bodies, and similarity laws of fluid dynamics. The course consists of two hour lectures which review the course concepts, and two hour seminars in which students solve problems.

This course offers a study of the fundamentals of aircraft aerodynamics. Topics include lift and drag, and aerodynamics of the wing and the tail units. The course examines theoretical, numerical, and experimental methods in aerodynamics. The course consists of lectures, and exercises in which theoretical and experimental exercises are reviewed. Students participate in an excursion to the wind tunnel on Technical University's campus. Students are required to have completed a fluid mechanics course as a prerequisite.

The seas and oceans appear to offer opportunities for the long term, cost effective, generation of energy. Waves and tidal currents represent high density energy resources which, in the case of the tides, are highly predictable in form. The wave resource, whilst not predictable in a true sense, is more easily forecast than is the wind. The engineering difficulties associated with effective exploitation of the marine resources are considerable, however. This course guides students through the process of understanding the resources and how to best develop and apply techniques for exploitation.

This course examines the basic concepts and application of thermodynamics and heat transfer, required for the analysis, modeling and design of processes and thermal-fluid systems in engineering practice. Major topics include the introduction and the application of the First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics, reversible and irreversible processes, entropy, non-flow and flow processes, cycles involving entropy changes, power and refrigeration cycles, as well as convection & radiation heat transfer.

This course covers a range of issues and activity associated with mechanical engineering practice. These include legal issues and knowledge of real world activity through engineering applications, guest lectures, and study of engineering companies.

The six-week summer lab research program at National Taiwan University places students in various science, engineering and social science research labs and/or projects under the supervision of faculty. Students spend approximately 30 hours per week in lab activities.