WHAT: Students from the UNLV Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering put their undergraduate education to the test when they showcase year-long, commercially viable projects designed to solve everyday challenges at the fall 2009 Senior Design Competition.

WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 9 a.m. - 3:30 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: Dr. William R. Wells Great Hall (Engineering Complex) at UNLV

DETAILS: 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 and mechanical 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.

This semester boasts a variety of projects including a solar swimming pool alarm, integrated traffic control design, a recumbent electric vehicle, anti-theft bicycle pedal and more.

NOTE: A partial list of projects is outlined below. Abstracts for all 15 projects can be found here.

SELECTED PROJECTS ON DISPLAY

Solar Swimming Pool Alarm - This product enhances swimming pool safety for parents by introducing a surface-floating device that detects objects entering the water and triggers a local and remote alarm. The device is also portable and designed with bulk manufacturing in mind.

Recumbent Electric Vehicle - Electric vehicles are gaining in popularity throughout the world, but are not economically practical for most people. The recumbent electric vehicle - with a fully electric drive train and compact size - is both efficient and practical. The vehicle boasts a top speed of 40 miles-per-hour and a range of more than 35 miles.

Integrated Traffic Control - Americans waste many hours each year due to poorly managed traffic control systems. Well-coordinated systems, on the other hand, reduce these losses and the pollution produced by drivers sitting in traffic. This model system consists of a four-way intersection, freeway intersection and ramp meter with communications link and decision making capabilities.

The Universal Lock - This design maximizes security by minimizing the limitations of traditional mechanical locks. The key can be programmed to store multiple pass codes and, upon insertion, transmits a code to the lock. If the lock authenticates a pre-programmed access code, it opens.

Anti-Theft Locking Bicycle Pedal - An increase in bicycle use has led to an increase in bicycle theft - to the tune of 1.5 million per year. When the pedal is disengaged, it will collapse when enough force is applied. When engaged, it functions like a normal pedal. It can be modified to fit any bicycle and adds a simple, yet functional element of safety.

Solar Tracker - The Solar Tracker is a motorized parabolic mirror that concentrates the sun's rays into a fiber optic cable. The device calculates the position of the sun and moves the mirror accordingly to maximize light captured and offer clean, natural light to almost any environment.

Propane Tank Scale - Never run out of gas again while grilling! The propane tank scale measures the amount of propane remaining in a grill based on weight. Using a microcontroller, load cell and amplified signal, the unit displays the percentage of propane remaining in the tank and informs the user when the tank should be refilled.