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What

Students from the UNLV Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering will put their undergraduate education to the test when they showcase year-long, commercially viable projects designed to solve everyday challenges at the spring 2010 Senior Design Competition.

When

Friday, April 30, from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
All projects will be on display for the duration of the event, with a scheduled break from noon to 12:30 p.m.

Where

Cox Pavilion Concourse at UNLV

Details

This semester boasts a variety of projects including a mobile garbage can, alternative energy road sign, programmable shower head, voice activated television remote and sustainable housing design for an orphanage in Africa.

The Senior Design Competition is the culminating project for undergraduate engineering students at UNLV. The event is judged by local industry representatives and displays novel projects developed by senior students in the electrical, mechanical and civil engineering departments. With thousands of dollars in prize money on the line, the competition also introduces students to the spirit of entrepreneurship and the benefits of commercial application.

Note: A partial list of projects is outlined below. A complete list of all 19 projects will soon be available online at .

Selected Projects on Display

• Autonomous Refuse Transporter (A.R.T.) - A.R.T. revolutionizes trash collection and removal by cutting out the middleman. Designed for public spaces an amusement parks, A.R.T. is a self-contained trash can equipped with mechanical drive system and program sensors that moves itself to a designated dumping site when full. A.R.T. avoids collisions and obstacle and adds entertainment value to the mundane task of removing trash.
• Wastewater Treatment and Reuse - With water conservation in mind, this team designed a water reclamation plant and dual plumbing system with an on-site treatment facility for a proposed hospital in North Las Vegas. Water from sinks, showers and laundry is treated and routed back through the facility to service toilets. The design conserves energy, water and promotes sustainable living.
• Alternative Energy Road Sign - This self-powered road sign eliminates the need to bring high-cost grid power to remote areas. Harnessing the potential of solar and wind energy, this sign can provide traffic and weather warnings and Amber Alert information on rural roadways. LEDs produce high quality light with a daily power consumption of only 100 watts.
• AquaProdigio Shower System - This product improves the showering experience by using a controlling device to adjust water temperature accurately and easily. Better yet, a memory function allows users to recreate the perfect shower experience again and again.
• Ghana Orphanage Project - This project is part of Engineers Without Borders and seeks to improve the lives of 40 orphaned in Ghana, Africa. The team planned and designed two single story building using "bamcrete" (reinforced bamboo concrete) and other local materials - increasing efficiency and decreasing costs. The project consists of three phases, with structural design (phase two) planned for June 2010.
• Autonomous Material Sorter - Airlines in the U.S. throw away enough aluminum cans each year to build 58 new aircrafts. This portable and revolutionary recycler is small enough to fit under an on-flight beverage cart and automatically sorts plastic, aluminum, glass and tin-coated steel. The sorter uses sensor technology, electromagnets and a process of elimination to determine the type of material being recycled and prevents the frequent flier from literally throwing 747s away every time they fly.