Undergraduate Catalogue - UPRM

Research
Manufacturing Automation Room
Inaugurated in May 2004, MAR serves as a
platform for hands-on experience for
undergraduate students on practical process
control. The room counts with a Delta V system
currently connected to four physical chemical
processes. The students are required to
configure control strategies for these 4
equipments, validate the work done and tune the
control strategy. MAR was developed with
industrial funds from Merck, Pfizer, Abbott,
Automation Technologies, OSI Safety, and
Conceco and participation of UPRM-staff and
undergraduate students. The students working in
their projects are supported by engineers from
system integration companies who offer
seminars on validation, configuration, and data
managing. In the future, it is expected to expand
the facilities to include students from different
programs such as electrical (currently
participating) mechanical, and industrial
engineering to mention some.
Contact: Dr. Carlos Velázquez
Departament of Chemical Engineering
cvelazqu@uprm.edu or uprmpharmeng@ yahoo.
com
ERC or Structured Organic Particulate
Systems (SOPS)
This research center focuses on understanding
properties of and operations with organic
particulates used in the pharmaceutical, food and
agrochemical industries. SOPS is led by Rutgers
University with the participation of University of
Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, (Chemical
Engineering Department leaders), Purdue
University and New Jersey Institute of
Technology. It started its operation on July
2006. Its vision is to transform the
manufacturing of products from these industries
by enhancing the education experiences of
undergraduate students, serving as platform for
applied and basic research, offering training for
professionals from the industry, and serving as
technology transfer and demonstrations. The
Center is backed up by most of the big
pharmacompanies such as Pfizer, Merck, Abbot,
Lilly, Schering Plough, Bristol Myers Squibb,
Glaxo Smith Kline and others.
Contact: Dr. Carlos Velázquez
Department of Chemical Engineering
cvelazqu@uprm.edu or uprmpharmeng@ yahoo.
com.
UPRM Model Factory
The Industrial Engineering Department has
established a high-tech "for profit" business in
one of its laboratory facilities. The initiative has
been labeled the UPRM Model Factory and
includes a printed-circuit assembly line. Its
initial customer is a local medical device
manufacturer. The manufacturing activity is run
by students who must attend an interdisciplinary
course that covers surface-mount technology
(SMT) process and material basics. The line
provides an in-house operation where graduate
and undergraduate students from multiple
courses can participate in projects, allowing the
operation to experience continuous
improvement.
Mechatronics Center
The Mechatronics Center at the Mechanical
Engineering (ME) Department is the only
training and research center in Puerto Rico
dedicated to study intelligent mechanical and
electromechanical systems. The center offers
training to industry and support for existing ME
courses while providing facilities and resources
for research in the fields of modeling and
computer control of mechanical and
electromechanical systems.
Training facilities are equipped with eight
laboratory work stations with basic equipment to
perform experiments and projects in
mechatronics. The center also includes a
prototyping laboratory with additional equipment
to conduct independent research projects; a
design center where students will be able to
share ideas and make presentations; and a fulltime
technician to support the center’s activities.
The prototyping laboratory provides students
with access to specialized mechanical, electrical,
and software tools for the design and realization
of intelligent machines. The center also utilizes
the equipment available in the Manufacturing
Processes Laboratory to handle a wide variety of
complex projects involving the fusion of
mechanics, electronics, and software
technologies.
Undergraduate Catalogue 2008-2009 15