A mechanism for a senior citizen with cerebral palsy to feed himself.
A circular seat for children who can’t sit in a normal roller coaster car.
A paintbrush-washing machine for an entrepreneur hoping to patent his idea.
Students in the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science presented these projects and 12 others Friday morning at a fair in the lobby of the Technological Institute. The sophomores and juniors designed the devices in the spring for the Engineering Design and Communication class.
Many of the projects focused on helping people with disabilities. The students looked to these people to see how to build the projects, because each had different needs and abilities. As a result, the students and clients built strong relationships, said McCormick sophomore Brian Halaburka.
“I wasn’t working on the project for the grade or for success – I just couldn’t let our client down,” said Halaburka, one of four students who designed the feeding device.
Now when the students visit the man, they find the device on his kitchen table, ready with tongs so he can feed himself pizza and hamburgers. The device allows the man to grasp or scoop his food and slide it up a ramp to his mouth without shaking.
Another group created an easel for Children’s Memorial Hospital that patients without wrist movement can use. While someone spins the easel in a circle, the patients hold their pencils, crayons and paint brushes on the paper. The designers meant the project to appeal to children, with the easel’s base in a rainbow shape and a button that plays “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” when pushed.
The projects helped students see how engineering can contribute to society, said Penny Hirsch, a professor who helped design the EDC program.
“It’s gratifying to know that many of the projects have a service purpose,” Hirsch said.
McCormick junior Amanda Evans said that despite many problems, her group persevered because they had children eager to use their project.
“At first we were afraid to make decisions, but you just have to go for it with the ideas that you have,” said Evans, whose group created bowling pins that disabled children can set up by pulling a string.
Held during New Student Week, the fair was intended to introduce incoming freshmen to the EDC program.
A few middle school students also came to the fair. Eighth-grader David Goldman came with his father to explore a possible future in engineering. Other guests included employees from companies such as Motorola and Federal Mogul.
“We can’t approach fundamentals as thoroughly as they do here at the university, and we’re here to see what type of resources we can use back at our facilities,” said Dr. Gary Novak, director of advanced technology at Federal Mogul.
EDC began in 1997 to teach students how to work effectively with real-world problems and to convince people that the products are useful. The program serves a variety of clients: individuals, nonprofit organizations, university departments, manufacturers and elementary schools.
“It is most rewarding to see young men and women getting ready to contribute to society and bettering people’s life,” said Stephen Carr, associate dean in the Office of Undergraduate Engineering.
Although the program is challenging and often times frustrating, students all agreed that the project was worthwhile and rewarding.
“EDC gives us a real in-depth look to what engineering is like,” McCormick sophomore Amol Potdar said. “This project especially reconfirms why I want to be an engineer.”