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Engineering students to present projects during design expo |
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Alissa Hammond |
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Dec 5, 2007 |
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A system to monitor and predict failure of a sump pump, a device that helps those with disabilities and the elderly shop for groceries with complete independence, a racing wheelchair, and a moving holiday decoration scene are four of 40 projects that will be on display during the UT College of Engineering Undergraduate Research and Senior Design Exposition.
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| Dr. Mohamed Samir Hefzy, left, and Dr. Mehdi Pourazady held up models of a racing wheelchair designed for a UT student by mechanical engineering seniors, from left, Jacob Hofelich, Bret Schlosser, Kyle Bedal and Jon Willett. Jill Caruso of the Ability Center of Greater Toledo was the client adviser on the project. |
The expo will take place Friday, Dec. 7, from noon to 3 p.m. in Nitschke Hall on Main Campus and feature projects from the departments of Bioengineering, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Engineering Technology, and Mechanical, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering.
"Our senior design projects course is not just another course for our students; it is a capstone experience where students synthesize and demonstrate what they have learned over their entire program of study,” said Dr. Nagi Naganathan, dean of the College of Engineering. “These projects are valuable not just because of their technical merit. Students work on real-world problems while affirming what engineering is all about — dedicating their professional knowledge and skills to the advancement and betterment of human welfare."
A part of the required senior design project for students is to form business-consulting units to come up with a solution for a client’s technical or business challenge. After creating a plan, businesses, industry and federal agencies sponsor the projects, according to Christine Smallman, director of college relations and facilities management in the College of Engineering, who started the Senior Design Clinic in 1997 in the Mechanical, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Department. Since then, it has grown to include all college departments.
“The College of Engineering Undergraduate Research and Senior Design Exposition is one of the proudest moments in our college. The day is an assessment of the quality of education our students have received from the fine faculty in our college, as well as a day when students showcase quality senior design projects,” Smallman said. “Due to the engineering student’s mandatory co-op experience, on-the-job experience and the senior design course, they are able to showcase their development as an engineer ready to join the work force or continue on to graduate school.”
One of the projects designed by students is a system to monitor and predict failure of a sump pump; the system has communication ability through a dial-up phone line or the Internet. This project has been designed by UT students Kenyatta Carlisle, Gideon Engelberth, Ben Sauder and Timothy Smith. The faculty adviser is Dr. Roger King, professor of electrical engineering and computer science, and the client adviser and sponsor are Jeff Culver and Predictive Technologies.
Store-Search.org, a Web-based shopping assistant designed by UT students Kevin Durst, Matt Marincic and Chadd Schwartz, allows customers to search store inventory for items. The site then tells them the in-store location of the item, as well as allows customers to create an itemized shopping list organized for easy navigation of the store. The faculty adviser on the project is Dr. Cyrus Hagigat, assistant professor of engineering technology.
A customized racing wheelchair was designed and constructed by Kyle Bedal, Jake Hofelich, Ben Sarver, Bret Schlosser and Jon Willett, who worked with faculty advisers from the Mechanical, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Department, Dr. Mohamed Samir Hefzy, associate dean of graduate studies and research administration, and Dr. Mehdi Pourazady, associate professor. Created for a UT student, the aluminum, three-wheel, A-frame racing wheelchair features a steering compensator, which allows steady direction and prescribed turning around curves. Client adviser is the Ability Center of Greater Toledo and the sponsor is the National Science Foundation.
Another project is based around the upcoming holiday season. A Christmas scene was constructed that contains moving characters of Santa and Mrs. Claus and Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer. A stamp controller brings the characters to life, thanks to a solar-powered battery. Ahmad Alshawwaf, Mishal Alsuliman, Rob Hayes, Paul Holtz, Jeffrey Rice and Jeremy Smallman are the students behind the design, and Dr. Ahmad Farhoud, associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science, is the faculty adviser. Hayes Brothers Ornamental Ironworks served as client adviser and sponsor.
For more information on the free, public expo, call Smallman at 419.530.8212.
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