Purdue senior-design students to display 49 inventions

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University students completing a mechanical engineering senior design course will demonstrate 49 inventions, from a Martian solar-panel-cleaning system to a prosthetic foot and a remotely piloted vessel to save drowning swimmers.

The students will display their works during the School of Mechanical Engineering's Thomas J. & Sandra H. Malott Innovation Awards competition on Friday (April 29). The projects will be on display from 1-3 p.m. in the Gatewood Wing of the Mechanical Engineering Building. An awards ceremony will be in the same location at 2 p.m.

The senior design teams were advised by 10 mechanical engineering professors.

Creations include:

* A new type of handheld sewing machine able to produce a higher quality stitch than current products while remaining easily portable and simple to use.

* A hybrid cellphone battery to store energy both electrostatically and electrochemically.

* A bed-to-wheelchair lift to assist the transport of patients.

* A computerized card dealer that emulates a human card dealer and interacts with players in order to manage a game. The system deals actual cards from a deck, either face up or face down, and distributes them to players.

* A vibration-reducing car seat designed to create a smoother, more comfortable ride.

* A system for loading heavy vehicles such as lawnmowers and ATVs onto the bed of a pickup truck. 

* A hands-free alternative to crutches for people with leg injuries. The mechanical device takes the weight off an injured leg by offering support.

* A prosthetic leg for a 13-year-old boy. The prosthetic is made of aluminum and polyethylene parts, and the project also includes the development of a manufacturing process for mass production of the customized foot.

*A wearable device to help minimize muscle atrophy for astronauts in zero-gravity conditions. The device will attach to the leg with rigid shells and straps in three places. 

* A probe to help firefighters locate fires in structures. The purpose of the probe is to limit the number of firefighters that are needed to search a structure fire. 

*A robotic stair cleaner designed to go down the stairs, sweeping each step and cleaning the front of the stairs.

* A system to clean solar panels on Mars. The solar panels used to power the Mars rovers are susceptible to dust. When the panels have too much dust build-up, the rovers don't function properly. The team has developed a brush system, actuated by shape memory alloy.

* A system to prevent intoxicated people from driving that would secure the car key until assessing blood-alcohol content.

* Mini Baja and formula race cars.

* A remotely piloted vessel about three feet long to save drowning swimmers by providing life-saving flotation equipment.

 Thomas J. Malott retired as president, CEO and director of Siemens Energy and Automation in 2000. He earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue in 1962 and an honorary doctorate in 2002. He also holds a master's in business administration from Western Michigan University. His career included executive positions with Parker-Hannifin and the Ransburg Corp. Malott served on the board of directors for Siemens Energy and Automation, Siemens Mexico, Siemens Canada, Siemens Power Transmission & Distribution, Siemens Foundation and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association. He also served on the advisory board of Lutron Electronics.  He was an inaugural member of the Purdue Foundation Development Council and was awarded the Outstanding Mechanical Engineer and Distinguished Engineering Alumnus awards in 1991 from the university. 

Writer: Emil Venere, 765-494-4709, venere@purdue.edu 

Source: John Starkey, 765-494-8607, starkey@purdue.edu