2018 Capstone Design Symposia begin March 12

Engineering projects that could be the next big thing will be on display at the annual Capstone Design Symposia taking place in March.

Formerly known as fourth-year design projects, Capstone Design is the culmination of the Waterloo Engineering student experience. During their senior year, students, generally working in teams of four, conceptualize and design a project related to their chosen discipline.

From March 12 to 23, approximately 700 students in 12 programs will showcase more than 150 projects. Open to the public and media, each symposium also attracts industry partners.

Project highlights this year include:

• System for the blind to navigate a touch screen using a smartphone and a wearable device
• Recycled tire product designed to absorb and contain oil from oil spills in an environmentally responsible way
• Erasable printer ink that allows paper to be reused
• Digitized pathology image system that increases the accuracy of medical diagnostics
• Pedestrian safety device to alert you if a bicycle is coming up from behind
• Emergency drone recovery system that sends out a parachute if a drone is about to crash
• Wireless smartphone charging table
• Speech therapeutic aid that provides real-time feedback to patients and remote-monitoring for the therapist
• Virtual reality simulator that allows children and injured athletes to practise soccer without the risk of concussion
• Decision support tool designed to optimize hospital operating room hours
• Robotic arm that accurately tracks a user’s movement in 3D space

On March 27, 15 qualifying teams will compete for $60,000 in a pitch presentation funded by the Esch Foundation.

Capstone projects can, and do, lead to commercialization. Intellijoint Surgical is just one example of a Capstone Design project that has gone on to become the new standard in 3D measurement for hip replacement technology.

Come and explore all the projects.

Symposia dates and times:

Monday, March 12

Chemical Engineering  – Full Project List

9 am to 12 noon in Engineering 6

Wednesday, March 14

Software Engineering – Full Project List

9 am to 5 pm in the William G. Davis Computer Research Centre

Friday, March 16

Management Engineering – Full Project List

9 am to 3 pm in the William G. Davis Computer Research Centre

Nanotechnology Engineering – Full Project List

9 am to 4:30 pm in the William G. Davis Computer Research Centre

Monday, March 19

Systems Design Engineering – Full Project List

1 to 5 pm in the William G. Davis Computer Research Centre

Wednesday, March 21

Electrical and Computer Engineering – Full Project List

9:30 am to 4 pm in the William G. Davis Computer Research Centre

Thursday, March 22

Civil, Environmental and Geological Engineering – Full Project List

12 noon to 5 pm in the William G. Davis Computer Research Centre

Mechanical Engineering – Full Project List 

1 to 5 pm in Engineering 5’s Sedra Student Design Centre

Friday, March 23

Mechatronics Engineering – Full Project List 

1 to 5 pm in the William G. Davis Computer Research Centre

Tuesday, March 27

 Norman Esch Capstone Design Awards

1:30 pm in Engineering 5’s Sedra Student Design Centre