Capstone design

Participation in Capstone Design Projects synthesizes theory learned in class, lab work, and real-world experience from co-op programs.

Students are able to create design projects in areas that interest them. Capstone Design projects often lead to the creation of a marketable product and entrepreneurial opportunities for the graduating students.

Students own the ideas and devices they create for the design competition and there are several pitch competitions that follow the Capstone Design Event, acting as a platform for students to compete for funding to commercialize their devices. Some projects are developed in collaboration with industry partners or community organizations. This allows students to address real-life challenges and potentially contribute to positive change in the world.

At the annual Canadian Society of Mechanical Engineers (CSME) conference, a capstone project team received national recognition for developing a robot that helps train professional volleyball players and teams. The robot delivers repeatable, game-like sets, allowing athletes to practice without relying on another player to assist with training.

Vena Medical, a company born out of a fourth-year Capstone Design project and now a Velocity Health company, just became one of the first recipients of Ontario’s new Life Sciences Scale-Up Fund (LSSUF). The LSSUF is part of the Government of Ontario’s larger efforts to support medical-based companies within the province. The fund’s goal is to help advance innovation and attract more interest and investment into the field.

The annual Esch Competition put on by the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship had no shortage of inventive projects, and among them were several Mechatronics Engineering Capstone Design Teams showcasing their senior projects, vying for esteemed prize money.  Our teams definitely delivered amazing pitches for their inventive solutions.