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 2009 Senior Design Competition.

WHEN: Friday, May 1, 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 variable-speed wheelchair, an on-demand transparent refrigerator door, an electric car conversion, a sustainable housing development design for Iraq and more. UNLV's concrete canoe and Baja competition vehicle will also be on display.

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 serves to introduce 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 22 projects can be found online at http://engineering.unlv.edu/.

SELECTED PROJECTS ON DISPLAY

Electric Car Conversion - The electric car conversion kit is designed to reach owners of gas-powered vehicles who are looking for an affordable transition into cleaner, greener electric transportation. The adaptable kit includes a variable-speed electric motor that runs on standard deep cycle batteries. A power monitoring system also offers a user-friendly panel display.

Handicap Freedom Project - This variable-speed manual wheelchair uses a planetary gear transmission to allow the user to selectively lower the force required to move the chair. The metal hand grip ring connects directly to the transmission and click shifters allow users to adapt to changing conditions without having to rely on expensive, bulky electric wheelchairs.

What's In My Refrigerator - Constantly opening the refrigerator door wastes energy and often affects the temperature of chilled foods. This on-demand transparent refrigerator door uses privacy glass that can be electronically switched between opaque and transparent.

Sustainable Housing in Northern Iraq - This community design project for the Kurdistan region of Iraq, a rapidly growing area, takes into account the unreliable nature of electricity, waste water treatment and drinking water supplies and incorporates alternative provisions. The community also makes use of local materials to meet the unique needs of this population.

Optimum Draft Ceiling Fan - Current ceiling fans provide strong vertical draft directly beneath the fan, creating zones of excessive and insufficient draft. This product, which incorporates a laboratory tested unique blade design, provides noticeably improved air circulation throughout the room.

Home Power Meter - This in-home electric power usage monitoring system tracks energy consumption in real-time. Users can track consumption over a specified period of time or by electronic device and even provides a running cost estimate of the home's power bill. The graphical touch-screen unit allows homeowners to take control of their energy habits and become more energy conscious.