2024 E-WEEK
INNOVAQUEROS CHALLENGE
THE INOVAQUEROS CHALLENGE
This is a 3-day hackathon style competition open to teams of
registered students from the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
Registered teams attend the Kickoff Event on Friday February 16th
when the challenge will be revealed. The challenge will be a real-life problem
from our college, university or community context that won’t require especial
expertise or background. The teams will work on the challenge over the weekend.
The expected outcome is a comprehensive solution that considers technical aspects,
costs, user perspective, etc. Teams will present their solutions to a Shak Tank
of judges on Monday February 19th in the Makerspace or via Zoom.
Selected teams will be awarded in different categories.
KICKOFF EVENT
The challenge was released during the Kickoff event on Friday February 16 at 12:15pm in the
Makerspace and via Zoom.
See here the InnoVaqueros
Challenge document.
Watch here the Kickoff Zoom recording:
Passcode: KgxH&7z?
TEAM REGISTRATION
Teams must be composed of 3 to 6 registered College
of Engineering and Computer Science students from any department, program, or
level (grad or undergrad). Register by Sunday February
18th. To register your team, click HERE.
Registered teams will receive further details about the Shark Tank
presentation.
SHARKTANK
Registered teams will present their innovative solutions during
the Sharktank on Monday
February 19th at 12:15pm in the Makerspace (EENGR 2.454) or via Zoom
here: https://utrgv.zoom.us/j/85947137650
This Sharktank is always a lively and
engaging interaction that is enriched with a diverse and multidisciplinary
group of Shark judges and students. Everyone is invited to attend the event.
The competition is fun and engaging, as you can see form these
example entries from previous competitions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f2HORATgpw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojGl0QONSP0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2o67y_XOu0
We encourage students to participate in this exciting event that
promotes innovation, design & creativity while solving a real-life problem
using engineering & computer science knowledge.
QUESTIONS
Dr. Noe Vargas Hernandez noe.vargas@utrgv.edu
2021 E-WEEK
INNOVAQUEROS CHALLENGE
The event was a success, congratulations to everyone that participated, these are the results:
|
TEAM |
VIDEO |
CATEGORY |
|
RGV
Engineers |
Most
Innovative |
|
|
The
Mechanizers |
Best
Video |
|
|
The
Mechanicals |
Most
Creative Idea |
|
|
ENGT
Industries |
Best
Technical Idea |
|
|
DEEA |
Best
Business Idea |
|
|
EDD
2.1 |
Best
Community Engagement Idea |
2020 E-WEEK INNOVAQUEROS CHALLENGE
The event was a success, congratulations to everyone that participated, these are the results:
EDINBURG
|
TEAM |
VIDEO |
CATEGORY |
|
The FRL’s |
Best Overall and Best Prototype |
|
|
JJ CLAN |
Most Creative Youtube
Video |
|
|
IEEE N.E.S.T. |
Most Active on Social
Media |
|
|
Vaquero Tech |
Most Engaging Presentation |
|
|
Team Galactic |
Most Creative Project |
|
|
|
|
|
BROWNSVILLE
|
TEAM |
VIDEO |
CATEGORY |
|
Nova Team |
Best Overall and Best Prototype |
|
|
Intimidators |
Most Creative |
|
|
IEEE |
Most Engaging |
RESEARCH PROJECTS
Dr. Vargas is interested in design related projects, if you want to learn more contact him at noe.vargas@utrgv.edu
Example: Boot Project
APPOINTMENT REQUESTS
You are welcome to stop any time by my office EENGR 3.272, please check my office sign status:
Don’t leave it up to chance and request a meeting with Dr. Vargas, just email Dr. Vargas with meeting options at noe.vargas@utrgv.edu
INNOVAQUEROS MAKERSPACE
The InnoVaqueros Makerspace is a place for students from the College of Engineering and Computer Science to work on their hands-on projects.
Visit the Makerspace in the Hi Bay 2nd floor EENGR 1.254 and talk to the staff, they should be able to guide you with your project fabrication needs.
COMING SOON: InnoVaqueros Makerspace Website, stay tuned.
For Makerspace questions, contact: makerspace@utrgv.edu
ABOUT DR. VARGAS
"I was a very curious kid—and that sometimes got me in trouble. I wanted to know how things work, so I took apart radios, toys, almost anything! The problem was putting it all back together—but over time, I got better at hiding my mischief, so my parents stopped noticing. I also created machines, contraptions, and castles, most of them using imaginary components. This creativity is why I chose to study engineering, but sometimes, as engineers, we focus on how things are going to break and fail, and we forget the curiosity that got us started. Caution is necessary for safety, but sometimes we learn to limit our creativity. Now I am a professor, and I have the best job I can imagine. I teach students how to design cool stuff! And a great part of my job is to help students bring back their creativity and curiosity. It’s somewhere hidden, probably in their inner child.
To any kids reading this: Never stop being curious! Ask questions, investigate, speak out, create, invent—even if people around you tell you your ideas don’t make sense or won’t work.
To the parents: Remember how much fun you had as a kid? Don’t get upset with your inventive children. Just make sure your kids are safe, encourage them, and even get involved along with them—not as a parent, but as just another kid." — Noe Vargas Hernandez, Ph.D.
#KidInventorsDay — at Carnegie Mellon College of Engineering.
CONTACT INFO
office 956 665 3727
cell 915 603 8130
office: EENGR 3.272
|
|
Noe Vargas Hernandez,
Ph.D. Assistant Professor Department of Mechanical Engineering (956) 665-3727 noe.vargas@UTRGV.edu Brownsville • Edinburg • Harlingen |
