WHAT: Students from the Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering at UNLV will put their undergraduate education to the test when they showcase year-long projects designed to solve real engineering challenges at the spring 2007 Senior Design Competition.

WHEN: Wednesday, May 2, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
All projects will be on display for the duration of the event, with a scheduled break from noon to 1 p.m.

WHERE: Thomas T. Beam Engineering Complex, Building A (Great Hall), at UNLV
DETAILS: With this year's high volume of civil engineering projects, those in attendance will learn how the next generation of engineers plans to alleviate construction and traffic concerns facing our growing community.
The Senior Design Competition is the culminating project for undergraduate engineering students at UNLV. The event, which is judged by local industry representatives, will display novel projects developed by senior students in the electrical, mechanical and civil engineering departments.
VISUALS: Interviews with engineering student participants, Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering faculty and dean, industry judges. Original student projects will be on display and demonstrated throughout the day.

PRESENTATION SCHEDULE

Civil engineering student projects on display throughout the day include commercial and residential development plans; a traffic flow solution for a busy Las Vegas intersection; a water detention basin designed into the aesthetics of Coyote Springs Golf Course; and improved storm drain system design in southwest Las Vegas.

Additional projects are outlined below. A complete, detailed list of projects can be found online at http://www.egr.unlv.edu/.

9:00 - 9:30 a.m. STOREQUEST is a wireless, all-in-one touch-screen device that allows consumers to navigate through a store's inventory by product name or aisle and to calculate cost to improve the shopping experience.

10:45 - 11:15 a.m. Automatic guitar tuner can benefit school music teachers or novice musicians. By mounting small motors to the keys on the guitar head, a microprocessor is able to measure the strings and position accordingly.

11:15 - 11:45 a.m. Ultrasonic navigational cane will help the more than 11.4 million visually impaired citizens by utilizing fields of radar and sonar technologies. This is a less costly, but similarly effective, alternative to currently available electronic traveling aids.

1:15 - 1:45 p.m. Unmanned ground vehicles are the future of transportation. This project consists of a refurbished remote-controlled car that follows infrared sensors in a lane constructed of various materials. Research in this field will transition a military concept to civilian application

1:45 - 2:15 p.m. The S.W.A.T. Controller converts and distributes energy produced by renewable sources for household use. In the event of power loss, the controller automatically switches on, supplying power to pre-determined household items.

3:15 - 3:45 p.m. Laptop Cooling Station uses thermal and mechanical analysis to reduce the surface temperature by more than 5?F, alleviating technical and ergonomic problems associated with overheating.