A group of computer engineering students at BYU spent this past semester creating a robotic, computer-controlled foosball table with the goal of beating a human foosball player. The software they created tracks the ball from a camera placed above the table, and the computer then controls the rods where the plastic players are attached. It anticipates, kicks and even scores.

Thomas Fletcher has been named the chair for the BYU Chemical Engineering Department, effective June 1. He will take over for current chair, Randy Lewis, who has been serving for six years.

Steven Shumway, professor of Technology and Engineering Education, received a STEM Innovation Award for his excellence in STEM learning and achievement. Shumway is working to integrate programs into elementary, middle and high schools to incorporate engineering and technology into the regular math and science curriculum. 

At the convocation ceremonies for the Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology, graduates heard from brothers Ketan and Manish Kothari, co-founders of two educational technology companies and members of the executive team at Edmodo Global Network. The brothers inspired students with lessons they have learned on their paths to success. 

Larry Howell, professor of Mechanical Engineering and the recipient of the 2016 BYU Distinguished Faculty Award, delivered the University Forum address in the de Jong Concert Hall. Howell said that the principles of inspiration, collaboration and exploitation are important elements of creativity and innovation.

After winning regionals in March, a group of eight BYU Information Technology students recently took second place in the national Cyber Defense Competition. In an intense two-day competition, the team had to protect a mock company's infrastructure from malicious hackers, all while keeping critical services online and protecting private information. 

Staff at the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University could scan special collections documents for eight hours a day with perfect efficiency and still not have all the documents digitized within 20 years. It’s a long process, but it used to be a lot longer. MASS, the Mass Archival Scanning System, was created by a group of seven engineering students for their senior capstone project and sponsored by the library as a way to quicken the process of digitizing documents.

In June, an engineering team from BYU will be one of 30 colleges from around the world to compete in the Mars Society’s University Rover Challenge in Hanksville, Utah. The competition was cut down from 64 teams. For the past three years, BYU's team has placed in the top three.

BYU civil engineering students recently met with Spring City council members to present their findings on how to upgrade the city's hydro plant. For their senior capstone project, the students have been figuring out how to improve the plant's output and efficiency.