Trine University senior engineering students to showcase projects on Friday

ANGOLA, IN (04/23/2013)(readMedia)-- Names of students from Michigan and their hometowns have been placed in bold.

Visitors can step into the world of the future during Trine University's annual Engineering Design Expo on Friday, April 26.

Senior students in the Allen School of Engineering & Technology will show or demonstrate their projects from 1 to 3 p.m. April 26 in Fawick Hall on the first and second floors. Projects range from new or improved designs for existing items to robots to a hands-free shower system.

The hands-free shower system was developed for an amputee, and would be helpful for any individual with disabilities, the team said. A full list of projects and names of students involved are below.

"Many of the student teams tackled projects to fill a need or void, such as the hands-free shower system," said VK Sharma, dean of the Allen School. "Students paired their intellect with what they have learned to generate engineering solutions to challenging problems or situations. A look at their efforts makes it exciting to think about what the future holds for these talented seniors.

"This event is made possible by the faculty and staff who work with our students, the dedicated sponsors for the team projects and the industrial partners and exhibitors," Sharma said. "I hope people from the area and future engineers will get a chance to check out the expo."

Partners are Biomet of Fort Wayne; Burr Oak Tool, Sturgis, Mich.; Chapman's Brewing Co., LLC, Angola; Trine's Innovation One; JM Equipment, Krontz General Machine & Tool and NW Welding & Fabricating Inc., all of Sturgis; Parker Hannifin, Albion; Steuben County Economic Development Corp., Angola; and Vulcraft Corp., St. Joe. Exhibitors include Inovateus Solar, LLC, of South Bend, and Univertical, Angola.

Student projects

McKetta Department of Chemical & Bioprocess Engineering

Component Design for a Local Cider Company -- Hatham Aldrees, Saudi Arabia; Michael Beck, Griffith; Nicholas Bohlander, Milton; Tyler Boscoe, Gouverneur , N.Y. ; Matthew Burgess, Valparaiso ; Jacob Honkomp, Richmond ; Ethan Lundquist, Rockford , Ill.; Robert Mauck, Elkhart; Emily Sidwell, Fremont; Elizabeth Wentz, Berkey, Ohio; Patrick Wolcott, East Lansing, Mich.; and Mitchell Wyss, New Haven. 

The team tackled four projects that dealt with the retrofit and operation of a reverse-osmosis (RO) , product pasteurization; simulation of the brewing process and chemical analysis and product quality assurance.

Reiners Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering

I-80/90 Toll Road Interchange at State Route 327 in Orland -- Team 1, Kayla Criswell of Kouts ; Daniel Desper, Kendallville ; Sara Lelli, Angola ; Kale Popp, Rensselaer;  and Timothy Thielka, Fremont . Team 2, Jordan Diemer of Byron Center, Mich.; Jessica Heydinger, Norwalk, Ohio; Dylan Mann, Decatur; Henry Waring, Avilla; and Samantha Willmann, Anderson.

Each team designed a new interchange at the Indiana Toll Toad and State Route 327.

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Steel Bridge Competition -- Jared Adams of Sand Creek, Mich.; Jay Carey, Cadillac, Mich.; Harrison King, Wauseon, Ohio; Timothy Lang, Marietta, Ohio; and Jared Stanek, Angola.

Students designed a 16-foot steel bridge for the annual ASCE competition.

ASCE Concrete Canoe Competition -- Kelly Canter of Angola ; Zach Dean, Portage; Ben Lengerich, Sheridan; Andrew Stein, Lindenhurst, Ill.;  and Cody Watkins, Belleville, Mich.

Students designed a concrete canoe for competition at the annual ASCE Great Lakes Conference.

Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering

Terror of the Skies -- Shadley Cripe of Fort Wayne; Trent Gutting, Fort Wayne ; Kyle Lidster, Griffith ; Jake Rightnowar, Genoa, Ohio; Phil Stakely, Ostrander, Ohio; and Greg Whelan, Shaftsburg, Mich.

Terror of the Skies is an aerial, remote-controlled drone that has several functionalities.

Wade Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

Wheelbarrow Machine -- Wahhaj Amboon of Saudi Arabia and Steven Hice, Burr Oak, Mich. Project sponsors are Krontz General Machine & Tool, JM Equipment and NW Welding & Fabricating Inc.

This project employs a 7.5 horse-power engine to modernize and enhance the manual design of a wheelbarrow. The goal of this project was to create a low cost, powered wheelbarrow capable of hauling 300 pounds over long distances.

Automated Sprayer -- Eric Allen of Clinton, Mich.; Jake Allen, Medina, Ohio;  Zachary Jenkins, Sidney, Ohio; and Nick Scheumann, Hoagland. Project sponsors are Parker Hannifin Integrated Seals Division, Syracuse, Ind., facility.

Parker Hannifin requested a process solution involving its rubber injection mold press. The company seeks  to reduce the amount of cycle time for the press by using a release agent onto the mold.

Hands-Free Shower System -- Kegan Crawford of Sheridan; Ryan Kikkert, Fair Oaks ; Rachel McGuinness, Grand Rapids, Mich.; Chris Propp, Warsaw; and Danielle Reenders, Grand Haven, Mich. Project sponsored by the Haffner family.

The purpose of the Hands-Free Shower System is to help amputees and those with disabilities shower independently.

Cast Iron Spectrometer Standards --  Christina Dillich of Chattanooga, Tenn.;  Benjamin Dvorak, Midland, Mich.; and Mark Young, Galveston. Sponsored by Burr Oak Tool and an anonymous sponsor. 

The purpose of this project was to develop a repeatable process and design equipment necessary to achieve these standards.

Computer Program for Wind Tunnel Design -- Patrick Campbell of Battle Creek, Mich.; Jaxon Justice, Austin, Minn.; and Solomon Reynolds, Noblesville.

The goal for this project was to design a computer program that will simplify the task of building wind tunnels.

Department of Design Engineering Technology

Next Generation Fill/Drain Valve -- Daniel Coppola of South Lyon, Mich.; Steven Gullette, Granite Falls , N.C.; Joshua Ramsey, Columbia City and Joseph Tiseo, Romeo, Mich.

The team used simulation software to revise a fill/drain valve designed by GoVentures of Gaithersburg, Md. that is trying to make such valves easier and safer to service.  The valves are used on many types of spacecraft, but are difficult to service and issues have caused injuries and death.  The revisions will enable GoVentures to move forward with the project.

NASA Great Moon Buggy Race -- Josh Duran of Bryan, Ohio; Ryan Holsten, Hartford City; Mike Huesman, New Palestine; Chris Karbon, Coldwater, Mich.; Cody Nash-Kiffen, Holt, Mich.; and Nick Springmeyer, Greensburg.

The NASA Moon Buggy Race is a competition that NASA holds every year. The team was challenged is to create a human-powered Moon Buggy that will be used for competition. Students also had to think of problems that might be encountered when the Buggy is in use and to produce a design with durability in mind.

Trine University, an internationally recognized, private, co-educational, residential institution, offers associate, baccalaureate, and master degrees in programs to students in engineering, mathematics, science, informatics, business, teacher education, communication, criminal justice, golf management, social sciences, and various other fields of study. Trine is a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association and offers 21 varsity sports. Its golf program includes the university-owned 18-hole championship Zollner Golf Course. Founded in 1884 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org), Trine operates a 450-acre main campus in Angola, Ind., and education resource centers throughout Indiana, Arizona and Michigan.

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