Wright State engineering seniors showcase designs and research at expo

Dozens of Wright State University engineering students showcased their technical expertise and creative problem-solving at the annual Senior Design Expo in the Russ Engineering Center on April 26.

The expo featured 11 research and design projects developed by seniors in the Department of Biomedical, Industrial and Human Factors Engineering and the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering.

Throughout the academic year, students were challenged to design solutions for a variety of real-world applications, including a hybrid UAV, an innovative home gym system, airship structural design and a variable area nozzle for a small gas turbine engine.

John Wilke was part of a team of biomedical engineering majors that designed a hands-free drawing system enabling users to draw only using eye movements.

“This allows users with limited mobility with their arms to create artwork,” said Wilke.

Jeremy Rismiller, who collaborated with Wilke on the hands-free drawing system, said he was amazed at the projects showcased at the expo and what the Wright State engineering students accomplished this year.

“This is where you really get to see what feels like real engineering,” said Rismiller.

Rismiller said the Senior Design Expo not only gives graduating students the opportunity to showcase their finished project but also demonstrates their ability to solve problems and the challenges they overcame through the development process.