Seniors Present Design Projects

Twenty-five teams of MechSE seniors made final presentations of their fall design projects in mid-December. The wide range of projects included the design of a net zero energy house that produces as much energy as it consumes as well as systems for reducing energy consumption in MechSE's Mechanical Engineering Laboratory (MEL).

Traditionally held at the end of each semester, the ME 470 senior design final presentations are the culmination of the ME 470 senior capstone course in which students work in teams under the supervision of MechSE professors to tackle real design problems from manufacturers and service industries.

During the past 15 years, more than 3,000 senior mechanical engineering and industrial engineering students have worked with 200 companies on more than 850 projects. The open-ended problem-solving experience requires them to synthesize and apply the knowledge they have gained through their engineering courses, to work within time and budget constraints, and to present their progress and results through regular oral and written communications with company members. Participating companies also benefit from the experience, fresh perspectives on design issues, specific recommendations for resolution, and access to expertise and resources that might not otherwise be available to them.