H2DRONES
Inspired by nature and fueled with the thrill of overcoming complex engineering problems, our product is an aerial drone capable of functioning in air and water. We aim to expand the known horizons of state-of-the-art drones by increasing their functionality and by applying the core technology we developed to various challenges facing the current drone market.
Group members: Khaled Younes, Kieran Strobel, Erwin Fochtberger, Claire Diffey, Shehroz Hussain
BIKE ENERGY HARVESTER
Although there are many solutions for commuters in motorized vehicles to charge their mobile devices, there are very limited options for cyclists to do the same. The Bike Energy Harvester team aims to innovate in this open problem space by developing a cheap, effective, simple to assemble, and disruptive solution that reuses some of the bicycle’s kinetic energy to charge one’s mobile device.
Group members: Daniel Watt, Joken Chiu, Kevin Lin, Anthony Li
ELECTRIC ELEVATOR WINCH INSTALLATION OPTIMIZATION
Cambridge Elevating is a leading international competitor in the residential elevator design industry, specializing in hydraulic system solutions. In the past year, they’ve developed an electric elevator that is more cost effective and offers further benefits to the end-user. The objective of our project was to develop an installation process to accommodate this new system, designing all necessary tools and equipment.
Group member: John Declaro, Sarah-Rose Lancaster, Christopher Roy, Casey Palermo
UWAFT ECOCAR3 - POWERTRAIN OPTIMIZATION
This project improves and integrates pre-transmission powertrain support structures for the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro. This is for the EcoCAR 3 competition in which the University of Waterloo Alternative Fuels Team (UWAFT) participates. Customized structures were designed and analyzed to support the downsized combustion engine and front-mounted electric motor that are implemented for the hybrid conversion. The existing bell-housing and engine mount design was analyzed and optimized using finite element methods, and scatter shielding installed around exposed high-speed components to ensure user safety.
Group member: Kiet Lau, Krishan Mistry, Hugo Lai, Jeffrey Li, (Han Li)
VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINE WITH BLADE PITCHING
With rising global demand for sustainable energy in remote locations, the need for stand-alone power systems such as vertical axis wind turbines are high. If the angle of turbine blades can be adjusted in a controlled manner, their power output can be increased by 25%! The objective of this project is to create a table top wind turbine with the ability to vary the blade pitch angle. There will also be provisions for data acquisition to analyze the change in power output.
Group members: Indranil Bharadwaj, Amir Tavakoli
CASPER: AUTO-BALANCING CAMERA STABILIZATION SYSTEM
Electronic camera stabilizers are a great asset for cinematographers, but the steep price tag restricts the use of such technology for amateur filmmakers. Our team of mechanical engineers set out to combine the structural integrity and control of cinema class stabilizers with the low price point of DSLR stabilizers. This product eliminates high end, unnecessary features found in commercially available stabilizers in favour of an increase in weight class and robustness. With its scalable and upgradable design, anybody can learn to film like a professional!
Group members: Gabriel Richard, Vladislav Pripotnev, Mohammad Kamla, Navin Seshadri
B.A.K. ON THE BIKE – A POWER GENERATING WORKOUT BICYCLE
The ongoing energy crisis is an issue that effects everyone. The aim of this project was to encourage clean energy, while promoting fitness. This stationary bike aims to provide a good workout with the combined ability to transfer and store energy to power on household components while showcasing a sleek design. The symposium will feature a functioning prototype that demonstrates the key features of the final product.
Group members: Karol Rabalski, Brianna Hugh, Asad Ladha
ADJUST-A-SPROCKET
Single speed biking is one of the simplest forms of biking, preferred by certain biking enthusiasts. Alhough these bicycles do not have the capability to shift gears, many riders seek a means of conveniently changing sprockets without tools or dissembling their bicycle. The objective of this project is to create a solution that allows single speed bicycle users to adjust their gear ratios easily, without the use of tools.
Group members: Ethan Fortier, Aidan Peck, Brian Langohr, James Van Bakel
INDIEGO
While some staircases are accompanied with ramps or elevators, there are often cases where the route past stairs is an inconvenience to the disabled. A set of 3 or fewer stairs is commonly left without assistance or an easy way around them, such as the first steps to a residential home. IndieGo’s mission is to design a device to provide staircase mobility assistance to disabled individuals. Our project will assist disabled persons with traversing stairs safely.
Group members: Robert Vaisanen, Teresa Lumini, Ho Ling Lam, Katherine Chin, Steven Sung
AQUA DIVINER
Canadian oil sands in situ operations are looking to reduce water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Aqua Diviner offers an engineering solution to the problem. By applying physics to an array of complex real world problems an optimized solution is generated. This solution is offered to the user in the convenient package of mobile application. If Aqua Diviner is used just once, on only one well, to try and save a single ton of water, our entire project becomes carbon negative in 90 seconds.
Group members: Lorenzo Carboni, Colin Pavan, Ivan Beentjes, Zhao Heng Wen
INTEGRATED THERMAL STORAGE IN RESIDENTIAL HEAT PUMPS
This project integrates thermal storage for a standard residential heat pump system to shift electricity usage. The thermal storage system is charged in the off-peak electricity period when electricity rates are lowest. When thermal conditioning is required during peak or mid-peak hours where electricity rates are highest, the energy from the thermal storage unit is used to condition the space. This shift in electricity consumption results in a cost savings for the end user and a more constant electricity demand for the utility provider.
Group members: Daniel Nafziger, Tanner Gordon, Adam Fournier, Vincenzo DiSante
SMART POOL CHEMICAL DISPENSING SYSTEM
A pool requires proper amounts of chemicals to operate. Currently, chemicals are added manually or passively. A need exists to distribute chemicals self-sufficiently. Our product receives data from chemical sensors inside the pool and determines whether chemicals need to be added to the pool. Our design distributes chlorine, a pH balancer, algaecide and clarifier into the pool using recyclable cartridges.
Group members: Nelson Zhao, Shawn Tan, Justin Jiang, Carrie Zhu, Matthew Favaro
MULTI-LIFT
This project aims to address issues associated with weight lifting equipment, specifically the squat and bench press apparatus. The five problems which the design project addresses are: the need to walk backwards before performing the squat, existing equipment not having a safety component, the need for a typical bench requiring users to get a “lift-off” before performing the bench press, existing equipment preventing efficient group training, the typical squat rack not having adjustable width.
Group members: Ragib Chowdhury, Adithya Gopi, Martin Wong
FORMULA SAE SUSPENSION TUNING METHOD
The objective of this project is to develop a suspension system for the University of Waterloo Formula SAE team with a focus on developing a methodology to test and validate various performance metrics. Full vehicle modelling done in ADAMS/Car was completed for lap time simulation and the analysis of transient handling dynamics. This insight will then be coupled with the driver to develop a vehicle setup that best suits the driver during the competition.
Group members: Daryn Huang, Samira Wettasinghe, Rishabh Sachdeva, Antul Patel
AUTOSHOT SOLUTIONS
At AutoShot Solutions we aim to design and produce a soccer training device that allows users to train individually. The AutoShot product is designed to provide the user with various passing, shooting, and goalkeeper scenarios, based on their input of skill level. AutoShot also incorporates live user movement and tracks user positioning to provide a desired pass with precise accuracy. We aim to deliver an automated ball launching system that adapts to the user’s commands in an accurate and safe manner.
Group members: Nicholas Tham, Oliver Clarke, Oluwaniyi Olatunde-Agbeja, Ibrahim Tabieh, Nim Takhtar, Mohamad El-Chanti
POLISH PLUS
The ever-increasing use of 3D printing technologies has offered a number of opportunities that can be explored. Polish Plus is a product that is designed to provide the ideal surface finish for 3D printed parts. Using controlled injections of acetone vapour, Polish Plus promises to deliver a safe and convenient method of polishing 3D printed parts made with ABS plastics; an ideal complement for 3D printing enthusiasts everywhere.
Group members: Owais Ahmed, Jae Han, Chris Wang, Johnson Feng, Fangfang Xiao, Yash Sewlani
GYB
In the automotive space, safety and efficiency are two major areas of focus. Conventional side mirrors limits driver visibility, creating blind spots. In addition, side mirrors account for 2-7% of total vehicle drag, increased noise, and added weight. Our goal is to replace the outdated side mirror design using IR video and automatic parametric design - enhancing safety in all road conditions and reducing aerodynamic drag.
Group members: Jame Sun, Kelvin Chow, Richard Tian, Peter Zhang, Sean Corro
PERSONAL URBAN MOBILITY ACCESSIBILITY (P.U.M.A)
The commuting lifestyle can be challenging with the need to follow transit schedules and walk to the stations/stops. The walk itself may take as much time as the ride. The team created a solution to help commuters save time and energy throughout their trip. The solution is a transportation device that is simple to control and comfortable to ride to and from public transit, while rolling up to be as portable as a yoga mat for the urban commuter lifestyle.
Group members: Kyu Won Choi, Chung Won Lee, Ku Jin Shin, Suh Ho Lee
BICYCLE STOWAGE ON COMMUTER TRAINS
The number of commuters in cities and suburbs traveling by bicycle on multi-leg commutes will increase significantly in the near future with improvements to public transport. Our design allows efficient vertical stowage of bicycles and e-bicycles on space-constrained commuter trains. This project aims to address ergonomic issues in existing stowage racks, be easy to use, and provide a congestion solution for transport authorities.
QUICKSAND: SAND MOLD PRINTING PLATFORM
Current direct metal additive manufacturing technologies are prohibitively expensive and limited in material compatibility. Our group is developing a low cost 3D printer to build molds and cores for casting metals by selectively binding fine sand particles layer by layer. Printing molds has the potential to enable much more complex cast structures while simplifying mold design when compared to traditional mold making techniques. The result is intricate cast parts comparable to metal 3D prints without compromising material selection.
Group members: Ryan Lam, Robert Weeks, Alan Wu, Jan Quijalvo
EASY PINT
Easy Pint is a compact electro-mechanical device that non-intrusively retrofits existing beer tower taps to assist bartenders in pouring pints. Bartenders simply place the glass on the cup holder, start the pour, and walk away. Easy Pint will tilt the glass and shut off the tap when full, resulting in a perfect beer every time. With its adjustable cup holder, Easy Pint can handle a variety of glassware. Quick, safe, and reliable - the Easy Pint is sure to increase the efficiency of bartenders everywhere.
Group members: Kevin Baboolal, Ardeshir Moubed, Yasser Sawadi, Thomas Thibault, Keshav Iyengar
4 IRON WITH MOVEABLE WEIGHTS
In 2003, Taylormade Golf introduced the first mass produced driver with moveable weight technology. Moveable weights and other adjustable technologies are being used by nearly all the major club manufacturers today in drivers and woods. However, no major club manufacturer is currently marketing irons with moveable weight technology. In 2017, Taylor Williams will introduce an iron incorporating this technology. This project involves designing and producing a 4 iron that promotes 9 different shot shapes without the golfer having to change their swing.
Group member: Taylor Williams
COMBUSTION FREE RESIDENTIAL HVAC RETROFIT
The signing between 195 countries at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change embarks the most momentous collaboration the world has experienced in an effort towards a single unified cause. In it lies the ambitious goal of reducing global warming temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius with aims to have a net zero greenhouse gas emission in the second half of this century. Hence, this project aims to eliminate all combustion occurring at the site of households using alternative design and implementation methods.
Group member: Steven Lee
UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO CONCRETE TOBOGGAN STEERING AND SUSPENSION
The project challenge was to design and construct the steering and suspension systems for the toboggan to be raced at the Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race 2017 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This steering design is the most complex system attempted by the team to date. Drawing inspiration from snowmobiles and the automotive industry, this toboggan features independent suspension of each ski as well as a steering linkage derived from a late model snowmobile.
Group member: Scott Wood
SMART POSTURE CORRECTOR
Poor posture is becoming an increasingly common problem in society; it is linked to back, shoulder, and neck injuries. The smart posture corrector aims to tackle this problem. By using an array of sensors, the user’s posture can be monitored to detect when the user is exhibiting poor posture. The smart posture utilizes smart materials to actively stimulate the user’s back to proper form.
Group members: Sandeep Patel, Terrill Wijendran, Praharsh Bhatt, Adeeb Rahman, Calvin Chan
PROJECT SQUATERLOO
Limited ankle mobility can be a major barrier to achieving proper form in squatting. Professional weightlifters compensate for this deficiency by purchasing customized, expensive weightlifting shoes with an elevated heel. Our team has developed a retrofit device for regular shoes that mimics the benefits of professional shoes, and
Group members: Calvin Brereton, Beichen Li, Graham Browning, Zammar Ahmer
INSULIN DELIVERY SYSTEM
Developing an unobtrusive insulin delivery system is the objective for this team of 4 mechanical engineering students. The team saw design and market space for an improved wearable insulin pump, by developing mechanics that allow for a more ergonomic product. To facilitate this smaller and thinner product, the team had to rethink the 1/20th-ml pumping system. The team suggests a product concept that showcases the pumps’ marketable advantages.
Group members: Neil Gordner, Michael Dorosz, Simon Trivett, Cameron Tolton
KINETIC IMAGING
A high speed camera brings you into the world of slow motion analysis, giving you a mind-bending perspective, you didn’t have before. However, high speed cameras are shockingly expensive and can cost up to $100,000 for a single camera. Kinetic Imaging has created a new low-cost high speed imaging system using a novel technique for capturing high speed video.
Group members: Henry Xie, Derrick Tan, Lyndon Sy, Jay Lee
SHORT-WAVE INFRARED VASCULAR ENDOSCOPE (SWIRVE™)
Interventional physicians currently use 2-D X-ray imaging techniques to navigate small wires and tubes through blood vessels to perform stent placements and other minimally invasive procedures. JM Medical is creating an endoscope to provide a novel, real-time, point-of-view perspective for physicians using harmless infrared light. Short-Wave Infrared Vascular Endoscope (SWIRVE™) will make interventional procedures faster, easier, and safer for both patients and physicians. Open surgeries are rapidly being replaced by minimally invasive procedures. JM Medical will be leading the way with SWIRVE™.
Group members: Michael Phillips, Phillip Cooper
KNEE EXTENSION ASSIST AND FLEXION RESIST FOR RECIPROCATING GAIT ORTHOSES
The Reciprocating Gait Orthosis (RGO) is a device that enables children and adults with bilateral lower extremity paralysis to walk. A major problem encountered with this life-altering device is that is very difficult to transition from sit-to-stand and vice versa. In response to this problem, our team’s goal is to retrofit the RGO with a device that enables users to transition to and from sitting without human assistance.
Group members: Adrian Popielas, Lisa Brock, Kori Flannigan, Ashleigh Collyer
ACCESSIBLE WHEELCHAIR MOTORIZATION
Our project aims to implement a motorized solution for physically handicapped patients that require wheelchairs that are ergonomically and economically accessible. The demographic is targeted towards developing countries with the price point being a major competitive advantage. Existing designs are bulky, expensive and rigid, whereas our solution provides portability, universality and cost efficiency. Our motorization accessory is a universal solution that can be integrated with any standard wheelchair while maintaining its ability to collapse and store the wheelchair in virtually any vehicle or storage location.
Group members: Talha Rashid, Said Roubi, Imran Ahmed, Mohamed Abouzid, Samer Nsaif, Salah El-Din El Batroukh
UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY MADE EASY
The aerial photography market is heavily saturated with numerous drones on the market, but there are very few solutions available for underwater photography. Underwater Photography Made Easy is an underwater drone designed specifically for video and still photography. The lightweight drone with high maneuverability allows professional as well as amateur photographers to not only capture beautiful pictures but also record video without going into the water.
Group members: Swapnil Patel, Kamran Habib, Jiger Patel
SOIL FROST MEASUREMENT DEVICE
This project’s purpose is to design a device that can measure the thermodynamic state of the water present in peat bogs. This means looking at a cross-section of the soil and determining how deep the frost penetrates. The device will aid research into permafrost degradation and its relation to climate change. Permafrost is also important to Northern infrastructure. This research is limited by lack of data, due to current permafrost depth measurement methods either being labour intensive or taking few readings per year.
Group members: Krista Tanciongco, Alyssa Bruulsema, Dirk Friesen
BULLS-EYE
In the world of soccer, current training methods for shot accuracy always require more than one individual. The bulls-eye is an indoor soccer training mechanism that will allow the user to improve their shooting performance individually. This is achieved with the help of lasers and sensors to create a virtual grid that allows for a variation in target size, offering various difficulty levels as users progress.
Group members: David Andronache, Muhammad Ali Chagani, Ali Abdulrasul, Alastair Tauro, Haider Abbas
OPTIMIZING TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY CONTROL FOR NANOSPHERE LITHOGRAPHY
Nanosphere Lithography (NSL) is a process used in Nanosensor fabrication, where the end goal is to have a wafer uniformly coated with a solution of polystyrene Nanospheres, 400 nm in diameter. Attaining uniformity in the sphere arrangement is key, and this can be improved by controlling humidity and temperature during NSL. The project is concerned with designing and fabricating a chamber that enables control of humidity and temperature during NSL, along with experimental findings on the improvements.
Group members: Issa Rishmawi; Angelo Ibrahim; Maanoj Thanabalasingam
WAXWARRIOR
Ninety-six percent of alpine skiers neglect regular ski wax treatments. As a result, safety is compromised by reduced performance and premature ski base wear. An effective waxing process can be time consuming and difficult for ski shops and skiers alike. A great deal of attention and care is required to avoid permanent ski damage. The WaxWarrior is guaranteed to provide a high quality ski waxing while reducing the time and skill required to deliver it.
Group members: Sebastian Juan Pardo, Thomas Forsythe, Chris Campbell
BUILD PLATFORM CHALLENGE
Our team has partnered with Formlabs Inc. to design a new build platform for their 3D printer. The design will feature an integrated part removal system as well as a rotating installation mechanism to improve the user experience with the product. This project relies heavily on mechanism design, materials research, and solid mechanics to create an optimal solution.
Group members: Larry Li, Laurie Kwan, Kevin Mattalo
INNO-VAC
Current central vacuum systems have difficulties in reaching certain areas, managing the lengthy hose, and capturing valuables that have been vacuumed by accident. To address these issues, the team has decided to come up with an improved central vacuum hosing system that can retrofit to existing systems in regular use in Canadian households. The newly designed hose consists of three new subsystems: a flexible joint, a compact hose enclosure, and a gravity settling chamber.
Group members: Young Jae Suk, Young Hyun Kim, Bo Young Song, Chang Hwan Kim, Min Goo Jo, Seung Hyun Kwon, Joong Hoon Song
MICRO-PARTICLE WASTEWATER SEPARATION
Team 43, consisting of 5 mechanical engineering students, is working in collaboration with H2Nano, a Waterloo-based startup, to develop a solution to effectively and efficiently treat wastewater. This strategic collaboration has led to a cutting edge solution that uses micro-particles developed by H2Nano along with an efficient and space-saving wastewater treatment system developed by the Waterloo engineering team.
Group members: Richard Tillo, Nishoake Sribavan, Karan Bir, Nick Kam, Gleeson Kathirgamanathan
LIVE DRUM ATTENUATION SYSTEM
As a drummer, there is a constant fear that the instrument you love can cause long-term hearing damage. This project offers a means for a drummer to extend the allowable safe exposure time as designated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Our system increases the allowable safe exposure time through the use of custom rock wool panels. These panels are designed in an optimal pattern to absorb harmful acoustic reflections, therefore reducing the sound pressure level at the drummer’s ear.
Group members: Armin Sarkanjac, Jay Lozinski, Jacob Dickie, Liam Dunker, Mehdi Golmakani
N-TIRE SOLUTIONS
Automobile wheel removal and installation can be awkward, cumbersome and even unsafe to perform without assistance. Many vehicle owners opt to perform this service on their own, as it saves them the money and time required to have an automotive shop complete the work. There is no solution currently on the market that has been optimized for personal use. The goal of N-Tire Solutions is to develop a product that will allow automobile owners to install and remove their wheels by themselves, safely.
Group members: Alex Kuepper, Rhiannon Todd, Dale Stone, Thomas Mikolajewski
ENDLESS SILK
One form of aerial acrobatics uses long lengths of fabric known as aerial silks. This silk is typically fixed to an immobile anchor point as the acrobat performs in it. Our team has designed and prototyped a device that will allow a length of silk to be driven up and down continuously during a performance, while maintaining the current degree of safety. Allowing the silk to move up or down grants the acrobats greater freedom to develop and perform new tricks.
Group members: Galen Ives Thurston, Joshua Beckwith, William Vollmer
A NOVEL APPROACH TO MOTORCYCLE SAFETY
Motorcycles are an inherently dangerous method of transportation. A motorcycle rider is 47 times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than an automobile driver. Faster emergency braking can improve this situation for the sport bike rider. Our team has developed an electromechanical airbrake system in which the side body panels deploy from the motorcycle in an emergency stopping situation, decreasing stopping time while maintaining stability.
Group members: Sean Docherty, Matt Tummers, Daniel Kaufhold, Mark Pennyfeather
COMPACT 3D PRINTS FINISHING STATION
3D printing has become a common prototyping practice for small companies, start-ups, as well as enthusiasts and hobbyists. However, the surface quality is often less than ideal. The objectives of this project is to design a finishing station that will improve the surface roughness of 3D printed parts, while remaining affordable to consumers and entry-level users. The finishing station aims to work with ABS plastics, as it is the most commonly used material in today’s 3D printers.
Group members: Wilson Yau, Cheryl Wong, Brenton Law, Alan Tai, Raheem Yazdani
INDUSTRIAL MATERIAL HANDLING APPLIANCE FOR OTTO 100
OTTO Motors, a division of Clearpath Robotics, specializes in self-driving, autonomous robots dedicated to the transport and handling of industrial material. The OTTO 100 is an autonomous robot designed to transport material of varying weight and dimension, to increase throughput and reduce operational costs. Our team has designed and tested an appliance to expand the operating capabilities of the OTTO 100. The appliance allows
Group members: Vinojen Chandrakumar, David Bergsma, Andrew MacCulloch, Matthew Tam
HAPTICITY - HAPTIC FEEDBACK INTERFACE FOR VIRTUAL REALITY
Currently, the virtual reality experience looks real, but it does not feel real. This affects how users interact with the virtual environment. Hapticity aims to provide haptic feedback in virtual reality, to increase its realism. A wireless controller capable of providing haptic feedback to the user’s fingers was developed. It tracks the position and orientation of the user’s fingers and hand to provide haptic feedback according to their interactions with objects in virtual reality.
Group members: Sean Stanlick (ME), Ken Wong (ME), Ming Hong (Chris) Choi (SYDE), Wesley Chai (SYDE)
CYCLEVALET
CycleValet is a new way of locking a bicycle, a redesign of the traditional bike racks. It combines both mechanical and computer engineering to make securing your bicycle effortless and intuitive. Cyclists can lock their bicycle using their smartphone or key fob and not have to worry about remembering a combination. When a cyclist places their smartphone on CycleValet, the system will identify the user and engage the lock. Once locked, only that smartphone will be able to unlock the bike.
Group members: Avie Seegobin, Seo Yeon (Stephanie) Kim