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.
The Systems Design Engineering program presents awards for outstanding projects including the Sustainability Award, Best Prototype, and Best Overall Project. Each winning Capstone team is awarded $1000.
For Capstone projects, students are welcome to visit the Design Equipment Nexus for a library of parts you can borrow to use in your capstone prototype(s).
Problem spaces students have historically chosen include:
- Biomedical
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Connecting cognitive disorders to physical brain degradation
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Helping impaired individuals independently learn
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Tracking rehabilitation practices to speed recovery
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Increasing efficiency of medical product assembly
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Improving cognitive abilities of patients
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- Everyday needs
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Controlling temperature and airflow automatically
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Communicating fire progression and hazards in high-rise buildings
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Monitoring personal belongings left unattended in public spaces
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Identifying authenticity of images for news broadcasts
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Preventing animal/pest invasions
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- Research and industrial collaboration
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Monitoring and communicating water reservoir algae levels
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Harvesting rice through robotics
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Heating electric vehicle batteries for harsh weather
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