mechanical engineering capstone project examples

99+ Mechanical Engineering Capstone Project Ideas

• Post author By admin
• February 13, 2024

Welcome to our helpful guide on Mechanical Engineering Capstone Project Ideas! As you reach the end of your mechanical engineering studies, you’re probably excited to start a project that shows what you’ve learned and how creative you can be.

We will explore many project ideas designed especially for mechanical engineering students like you.

In the mechanical engineering world, you can do tons of cool projects. Whether you like robots, renewable energy, planes, cars, or something else, we’ve gathered many fun ideas to get you thinking.

From designing new machines to improving existing ones, each idea is meant to challenge you and inspire you to think big

As you read through this blog, we aim to give you ideas and tips to help you start your project. Whether you’re working on a final-year assignment, trying to solve real problems, or just want to learn more about engineering, we have plenty of ideas and resources to help you. 

So, let’s dive in and discover the exciting world of Mechanical Engineering Capstone Project Ideas together.

Table of Contents

List of 100 Mechanical Engineering Capstone Project Ideas

Here’s a list of 100 Mechanical Engineering Capstone Project Ideas categorized into different types:

Renewable Energy

• Solar-powered vehicle design and prototyping
• Wind turbine optimization for efficiency
• Hydroelectric power generation system development
• Biomass energy conversion technology
• Geothermal heating and cooling system design

Automotive Engineering

•  Electric vehicle charging infrastructure development
• Autonomous vehicle navigation and control system
• Fuel-efficient engine design and optimization
• Vehicle aerodynamics enhancement for fuel economy
• Noise and vibration reduction in automotive systems

Aerospace Engineering

• Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) design and testing
• Satellite propulsion system optimization
• Aircraft wing design for improved aerodynamics
• Spacecraft thermal protection system development
• Rocket engine performance analysis and enhancement

NOTE: “ 60+ Inspiring Capstone Project Ideas for STEM Students: Unlocking Excellence “

Manufacturing and Automation

•  Automated assembly line design and implementation
• Robotics for material handling and sorting
• CNC machine tool optimization for precision machining
• Additive manufacturing process optimization
• Quality control system development for manufacturing processes

Biomechanics and Medical Devices

•  Prosthetic limb design and development
• Wearable health monitoring device design
• Rehabilitation robotics for physical therapy
• Biomedical imaging technology enhancement
• Orthopedic implant materials optimization

Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

• Building energy management system development
• HVAC system optimization for energy efficiency
• Energy-efficient lighting system design
• Smart grid technology for renewable energy integration
• Waste heat recovery system design and implementation

Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer

•  Heat exchanger design and performance optimization
• Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of airflow in HVAC systems
• Fluid flow control in piping systems
• Thermal management system design for electronic devices
• Turbomachinery design and performance analysis

Materials Science and Engineering

• Composite materials development for lightweight structures
• 3D printing of advanced materials for aerospace applications
• Nanomaterials for energy storage and conversion
• Corrosion-resistant coatings development
• Biomaterials for medical implants and devices

Control Systems and Robotics

• Autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) navigation and control
• Swarm robotics for cooperative tasks
• Control system design for industrial automation
• Robotic exoskeleton for rehabilitation and assistance
• Adaptive control algorithms for dynamic systems

NOTE: “ 90+ Inspiring Capstone Project Ideas For Civil Engineering: Building Dreams “

Structural Engineering

•  Seismic retrofitting of existing structures
• Structural health monitoring system development
• Lightweight structural materials for transportation applications
• Bridge design and analysis for resilience and sustainability
• Finite element analysis (FEA) of complex structures

Environmental Engineering

•  Water purification system design and optimization
• Air pollution control technology development
• Waste management and recycling process optimization
• Green building design and certification
• Sustainable urban infrastructure planning and design

Fluid Power Systems

•  Hydraulic system design for heavy machinery
• Pneumatic actuator optimization for automation applications
• Fluid power energy recovery systems
• Electrohydraulic servo systems for precise control
• Fluid power system fault diagnosis and troubleshooting

Thermal Systems Engineering

• Solar thermal energy storage system design
• Combined heat and power (CHP) system optimization
• Thermal energy storage materials for renewable energy applications
• Refrigeration system design for cold chain logistics
• Waste heat utilization in industrial processes

Instrumentation and Measurement

•  Sensor development for environmental monitoring
• Instrumentation system design for aerospace testing
• Non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques for materials inspection
• Data acquisition and analysis system for performance testing
• Calibration system development for precision instruments

Machine Design and Analysis

•  Gearbox design and optimization for efficiency and reliability
• Bearing system analysis and improvement for rotating machinery
• Linkage mechanism design for robotic applications
• Vibration analysis and mitigation in mechanical systems
• Kinematic analysis of complex mechanical assemblies

Electromechanical Systems

•  Electromagnetic energy harvesting device development
• Electric motor design and optimization
• Piezoelectric energy harvesting system for renewable energy
• Electromechanical actuator design for aerospace applications
• Electromechanical braking system for automotive safety

Human Factors Engineering

•  Ergonomic design of workplace environments
• Human-robot interaction studies for collaborative robotics
• User interface design for medical devices and equipment
• Safety system design for hazardous environments
• Cognitive workload analysis in complex human-machine systems

Transportation Engineering

•  Traffic flow simulation and optimization for urban planning
• Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) for traffic management
• Railway track design and maintenance optimization
• Air traffic management system optimization
• Autonomous cargo delivery system design for logistics

Robotics and Automation Systems

• Robotic manipulator design and control for industrial applications
• Autonomous agricultural robot for precision farming
• Swarm robotics for search and rescue missions
• Soft robotics for delicate object manipulation
• Humanoid robot design for human-robot interaction studies

Renewable Energy Systems

• Wave energy converter design and testing
• Tidal turbine optimization for marine energy extraction
• Biomass gasification system for renewable power generation
• Solar tracking system design for maximum energy capture
• Hybrid renewable energy system integration for off-grid applications

These project ideas include many different topics and uses in mechanical engineering. They give students many chances to explore and develop new ideas for their capstone projects.

Why Choose a Good Capstone Project Idea?

Choosing a good capstone project idea is crucial for several reasons.

Real-world relevance

A good capstone project idea allows students to work on real-world problems or challenges faced by industries or communities. This experience helps bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical application, preparing students for future careers.

Skill enhancement

Engaging in a meaningful project allows students to apply and enhance the knowledge and skills they acquire throughout their academic journey. It will enable them to gain hands-on experience in problem-solving, critical thinking, project management, and teamwork.

Career Preparation

A well-chosen capstone project can significantly enhance a student’s portfolio and resume. Completing a project demonstrating practical skills and innovative thinking can impress potential employers and give students a competitive edge in the job market.

Personal interest and motivation

Students are more likely to be motivated and engaged When they work on a project that aligns with their interests and passions. This intrinsic motivation often leads to higher-quality work and a more fulfilling learning experience.

Networking opportunities

Capstone projects often mean working with people from companies, mentors, or classmates. Doing a project that matters gives students chances to make connections with others. These connections can help them in their future jobs.

In summary, choosing a good capstone project idea is essential because it provides students real-world experience, enhances their skills, prepares them for their careers, keeps them motivated, and offers networking opportunities.

Things to Think About When Choosing a Capstone Project Idea

Several factors should be considered when choosing a capstone project idea to ensure its success and effectiveness.

Personal Interest

Choose a project that you like and care about. Working on something you’re genuinely interested in will keep you excited and focused during the project.

Feasibility

Consider whether you can do the project considering time, what you need, and what you already know. Pick a project you can complete within your school’s requirements and time.

Evaluate the potential impact of the project. Aim to work on projects that have the potential to make a meaningful contribution to your field of study, industry, or community.

Resources Available

Assess available resources, including equipment, facilities, mentorship, and funding. Choose a project that can be effectively supported with the available resources.

Alignment with Career Goals

Think about how the project fits with what you want to achieve. Pick a project that helps you learn useful things for the job you want later on.

Interdisciplinary Opportunities

Explore opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. Consider projects integrating knowledge and skills from multiple disciplines, providing a broader and more holistic learning experience .

Support and Mentorship

Seek out projects that offer support and mentorship from faculty members, industry professionals, or other experts. Having guidance throughout the project can help you navigate challenges and achieve success.

Innovation and Creativity

Look for projects that encourage innovation and creativity. Choose ideas that allow you to explore new concepts, technologies, or approaches within your field.

By considering these factors when choosing a capstone project idea, you can select a personally rewarding and academically valuable project.

Final Thoughts

Lastly, selecting a mechanical engineering capstone project idea is pivotal for a student’s academic and professional growth. A well-chosen project provides a platform to apply theoretical knowledge and fosters critical problem-solving, innovation, and collaboration skills.

By carefully considering factors like personal interest, feasibility, and potential impact, students can embark on projects that align with their career aspirations and contribute meaningfully to their field. 

Students can unleash their creativity and make significant strides in mechanical engineering through dedication, perseverance, and guidance from mentors.

As students delve into their capstone projects, they are urged to embrace the challenges, seek mentors’ support, and effectively leverage available resources.

This journey marks a pivotal moment in their academic journey, preparing them to transition into the workforce as competent, innovative professionals ready to tackle tomorrow’s engineering challenges.

What is a capstone project in mechanical engineering?

A capstone project in mechanical engineering is a culminating academic experience where students work on a significant project that integrates their knowledge and skills acquired throughout their degree program. It typically involves solving real-world engineering problems or developing innovative solutions.

Why are capstone projects important in mechanical engineering?

Capstone projects matter in mechanical engineering because they let students use what they’ve learned in real-life situations. They also help students learn important skills like solving problems, thinking critically, managing projects, and working in teams, which are useful for future jobs.

How do I choose a good capstone project idea?

When choosing a capstone project idea, consider factors such as your interests, feasibility, potential impact, alignment with career goals, available resources, and opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. Select a realistic, achievable project that allows you to develop skills relevant to your desired career path.

What are some examples of mechanical engineering capstone project ideas?

Examples of mechanical engineering capstone project ideas include designing and fabricating an autonomous vehicle, developing a renewable energy system, optimizing manufacturing processes, designing a prosthetic limb, and simulating fluid dynamics in a turbocharged engine.

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Senior design projects.

Senior design projects (also known as "capstone" projects) are the centerpiece of the ME curriculum's professional component, allowing students to be involved in interesting, real-world activities. Each senior is required to complete this course. Capstone projects are each advised by a full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty member who works with the teams.

For more detailed information, please visit ME Undergraduate Advising Canvas: Capstone Page .

Without exception, all ME 495 projects must be team efforts. Teams must consist of between three and five students.

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Students can pursue their varied technical and professional interests through a selection of projects that include:

Competition-based

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Capstone design projects allow students to experience the rigor and structure of a full-cycle design, including:

• Problem definition
• Benchmark studies
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• Engineering design analyses
• Prototype fabrication and testing

Through the capstone courses, students learn to fully define a design problem. This includes not only a statement of the project deliverables and objectives in the layman's or client's terms, but also a full definition of the agreed upon functional requirements and constraints (quantified). In the case of the competition-based projects, the problem definition is based on the detailed rules and guidelines of the competition.

All of the capstone projects draw upon at least several fundamental engineering science areas and involve significant quantitative analysis often in the form of numerical simulation, typically preceded by approximate analytical solutions. Industry-inspired projects are carefully selected on the basis of the required fundamental engineering science areas and also to align with the core expertise of the faculty adviser.

All projects must include a written report. Although the form of the report may vary according to the nature and requirements of the individual project, all final reports must contain the following (or equivalent) sections:

• Risk and liability
• Ethical issues
• Impact on society
• Impact on the environment
• Cost and engineering economics

Industry Capstone Program

The Industry Capstone Program brings together UW students and professionals to tackle real-world, interdisciplinary engineering problems. Sponsors bring in projects from their organizations and provide support to teams of creative, talented engineering students who will design and build innovative solutions.

View capstone projects

Sponsor a project

• For health-related projects, contact Kat Steele , Albert S. Kobayashi Endowed Professor
• For all other types of projects, contact Jill Kaatz , CoE Industry Capstone Program Director

Top 151+ Mechanical Engineering Capstone Project Ideas

Welcome to our guide on Mechanical Engineering Capstone Project Ideas! You’re in the right place if you’re a mechanical engineering student preparing for your last project. Capstone projects are a big deal in your school journey. 

They are your chance to show all the skills and knowledge you’ve learned throughout your studies. This blog will help you select the ideal final project idea. We’ll discuss why picking an interesting, possible, and impactful project is important.

Whether you’re interested in renewable energy, robots, sustainable transportation, biomechanics, or advanced materials, we’ve covered you with different project ideas to get your creativity going. So, let’s dive in and explore some exciting possibilities for your mechanical engineering capstone project!

Why is Choosing a Good Capstone Project Ideas Important?

Table of Contents

Here are a few key reasons why choosing a good capstone project idea is important:

• Lets you apply what you’ve learned. The capstone project allows you to use all the skills and knowledge you’ve gained in your program.
• Builds expertise. By diving deep into a topic, you can become an expert on something that interests you.
• Shows your skills. A great capstone project highlights your abilities to potential employers.
• Expand your network. Capstone projects often involve working with external organizations or communities.
• Drives personal growth. An in-depth project helps build planning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Creates a sense of accomplishment. The capstone is a major milestone that shows you’ve achieved your degree.
• Select a topic you’re passionate about. This provides motivation and a satisfying finish to your academic journey.

In short, choosing a capstone project that excites you allows you to fully demonstrate your new skills and abilities while preparing for your future career.

What Are The Factors To Consider When Choosing A Capstone Project? 

Here are some simple tips on choosing your capstone engineering project:

Pick a Topic You’re Passionate About

Choose something you find interesting! You’ll enjoy the project more and stay motivated.

Make Sure It’s Feasible

Don’t pick ideas that are too complex or expensive. Ensure you have the skills, time, and resources to complete it.

Aim for Real-World Impact

Pick a project that solves a real problem or improves lives. This will make your work more meaningful.

Talk to Your Professor

Ask for their advice on project ideas that fit the course requirements. Their guidance is invaluable.

Start Brainstorming Early

Give yourself plenty of time to develop creative ideas and research. Don’t leave it to the last minute.

Be Original

Avoid picking the same projects as others. Come up with fresh, innovative ideas to stand out.

Stay Organized

Make deadlines and track progress. Good time management is key to finishing successfully.

Hope these simple tips help you choose an awesome final project! Let me know if you need any other advice.

151+ Mechanical Engineering Capstone Project Ideas

Here’s a list of 151+ mechanical engineering capstone project ideas for students:

• Design and prototype a low-cost, portable water purification system.
• Develop a smart irrigation system using IoT sensors and actuators.
• Design a solar-powered refrigerator for off-grid communities.
• Create a drone-based package delivery system for urban areas.
• Develop an automated vertical farming system for urban agriculture.
• Design a low-cost prosthetic limb with adjustable settings for different activities.
• Develop a wearable device for monitoring and improving posture.
• Design and build a small-scale wind turbine for residential use.
• Develop a bicycle-sharing system with integrated GPS tracking and locking mechanisms.
• Design a compact, energy-efficient home heating system using renewable energy sources.
• Create a robotic exoskeleton to assist with lifting heavy objects.
• Design a pneumatic-powered wheelchair for off-road use.
• Develop a smart helmet for motorcyclists with built-in communication and safety features.
• Design an autonomous vehicle for agricultural tasks such as planting and harvesting.
• Create a modular construction system for building temporary shelters in disaster areas.
• Develop a noise-canceling system for reducing cabin noise in airplanes.
• Design a self-balancing electric scooter for urban commuting.
• Create a smart home energy management system for optimizing energy usage.
• Develop a device for extracting water from air humidity in arid regions.
• Design a low-cost, portable ultrasound machine for medical diagnostics in rural areas.
• Create a solar-powered desalination system for producing drinking water from seawater.
• Develop a low-cost, energy-efficient cooking stove for use in developing countries.
• Design a waste-to-energy conversion system for small-scale applications.
• Create a modular, expandable furniture system for small apartments.
• Develop a wearable device for monitoring vital signs and alerting emergency services in case of medical emergencies.
• Design a low-cost, portable electrocardiogram (ECG) machine for remote healthcare monitoring.
• Develop a smart traffic management system for optimizing traffic flow in cities.
• Create a low-cost, portable water filtration system for disaster relief operations.
• Design an automated system for sorting and recycling household waste.
• Develop a wearable device for monitoring and improving sleep quality.
• Design a low-cost, scalable wind energy harvesting system for rural electrification.
• Create a device for detecting and alerting air pollution levels in real time.
• Develop a smart irrigation system for precision agriculture.
• Design a compact, portable power generator for camping and outdoor activities.
• Create a device for monitoring and reducing energy consumption in households.
• Develop a robotic system for inspecting and maintaining bridges and pipelines.
• Design a low-cost, portable medical imaging device for use in remote areas.
• Create a device for monitoring and improving indoor air quality.
• Develop a smart home automation system for elderly care and assistance.
• Design a low-cost, portable device for diagnosing infectious diseases in resource-limited settings.
• Create a system for converting food waste into biogas for cooking.
• Develop a wearable device for monitoring and preventing workplace injuries.
• Design a compact, portable water desalination system for disaster relief.
• Create a device for monitoring and reducing water usage in households.
• Develop a robotic system for inspecting and maintaining solar panels.
• Design a low-cost, portable device for detecting water contaminants in rural areas.
• Create a system for monitoring and optimizing energy usage in commercial buildings.
• Develop a smart waste management system for optimizing garbage collection routes.
• Design a portable, self-contained medical clinic for use in remote areas.
• Create a device for monitoring and reducing energy usage in industrial settings.
• Develop a system for converting agricultural waste into biochar for soil improvement.
• Design a low-cost, portable device for diagnosing respiratory diseases in children.
• Create a device for monitoring and reducing fuel consumption in vehicles.
• Develop a robotic system for cleaning and maintaining solar panels.
• Design a compact, portable device for detecting lead contamination in water.
• Create a system for monitoring and optimizing energy usage in data centers.
• Develop a smart lighting system for reducing energy consumption in buildings.
• Design a low-cost, portable device for detecting pesticide residues in food.
• Create a device for monitoring and reducing water usage in agriculture.
• Develop a system for converting organic waste into biogas for cooking.
• Design a compact, portable device for diagnosing malaria in remote areas.
• Create a device for monitoring and reducing energy usage in schools.
• Develop a robotic system for inspecting and maintaining wind turbines.
• Design a low-cost, portable device for testing soil fertility in agriculture.
• Create a system for monitoring and optimizing energy usage in hospitals.
• Develop a smart transportation system for optimizing public transit routes.
• Design a compact, portable device for detecting heavy metal contamination in water.
• Create a device for monitoring and reducing energy usage in office buildings.
• Develop a robotic system for harvesting fruits and vegetables in agriculture.
• Design a low-cost, portable device for diagnosing diabetes in rural areas.
• Create a system for monitoring and optimizing energy usage in hotels.
• Develop a smart waste sorting system for recycling facilities.
• Design a compact, portable device for testing water quality in rivers and lakes.
• Create a device for monitoring and reducing energy usage in retail stores.
• Develop a robotic system for sorting and recycling plastic waste.
• Design a low-cost, portable device for diagnosing tuberculosis in developing countries.
• Create a system for monitoring and optimizing energy usage in airports.
• Develop a smart parking system for optimizing parking space usage in cities.
• Design a compact, portable device for detecting air pollution levels in urban areas.
• Create a device for monitoring and reducing energy usage in warehouses.
• Develop a robotic system for sorting and recycling paper waste.
• Design a low-cost, portable device for diagnosing HIV/AIDS in resource-limited settings.
• Create a system for monitoring and optimizing energy usage in shopping malls.
• Develop a smart traffic signal system for reducing congestion in cities.
• Design a compact, portable device for testing water quality in wells.
• Create a device for monitoring and reducing energy usage in stadiums.
• Develop a robotic system for sorting and recycling glass waste.
• Design a low-cost, portable device for diagnosing malaria in children.
• Create a system for monitoring and optimizing energy usage in universities.
• Develop a smart lighting system for reducing light pollution in urban areas.
• Design a compact, portable device for testing air quality in indoor environments.
• Create a device for monitoring and reducing energy usage in museums.
• Develop a robotic system for sorting and recycling electronic waste.
• Design a low-cost, portable device for diagnosing dengue fever in tropical regions.
• Create a system for monitoring and optimizing energy usage in theaters.
• Develop a smart transportation system for optimizing school bus routes.
• Design a compact, portable device for testing soil moisture in agriculture.
• Create a device for monitoring and reducing energy usage in gyms.
• Develop a robotic system for sorting and recycling metal waste.
• Design a low-cost, portable device for diagnosing cholera in emergencies.
• Develop a smart navigation system for visually impaired individuals.
• Design a compact, portable device for testing water acidity in aquaculture.
• Create a device for monitoring and reducing energy usage in libraries.
• Develop a robotic system for sorting and recycling textile waste.
• Design a low-cost, portable device for diagnosing the Zika virus in affected regions.
• Create a system for monitoring and optimizing energy usage in restaurants.
• Develop a smart transportation system for optimizing delivery routes.
• Design a compact, portable device for testing water turbidity in rivers.
• Create a device for monitoring and reducing energy usage in concert halls.
• Develop a robotic system for sorting and recycling plastic bottles.
• Design a low-cost, portable device for diagnosing hepatitis in remote areas.
• Create a system for monitoring and optimizing energy usage in stadiums.
• Develop a smart traffic signal system for reducing congestion in parking lots.
• Design a compact, portable device for testing water hardness in wells.
• Create a device for monitoring and reducing energy usage in convention centers.
• Develop a robotic system for sorting and recycling food waste.
• Design a low-cost, portable device for diagnosing typhoid fever in developing countries.
• Create a system for monitoring and optimizing energy usage in sports arenas.
• Develop a smart transportation system for optimizing taxi routes.
• Design a compact, portable device for testing water salinity in coastal areas.
• Create a device for monitoring and reducing energy usage in theme parks.
• Develop a robotic system for sorting and recycling construction waste.
• Design a low-cost, portable device for diagnosing yellow fever in affected regions.
• Create a system for monitoring and optimizing energy usage in cinemas.
• Develop a smart traffic signal system for reducing congestion at intersections.
• Design a compact, portable device for testing water conductivity in rivers.
• Create a device for monitoring and reducing energy usage in casinos.
• Develop a robotic system for sorting and recycling organic waste.
• Design a low-cost, portable device for diagnosing rabies in rural areas.
• Create a system for monitoring and optimizing energy usage in amusement parks.
• Develop a smart transportation system for optimizing ride-sharing routes.
• Design a compact, portable device for testing water temperature in lakes.
• Create a device for monitoring and reducing energy usage in zoos.
• Develop a robotic system for sorting and recycling medical waste.
• Design a low-cost, portable device for diagnosing bird flu in poultry farms.
• Create a system for monitoring and optimizing energy usage in aquariums.
• Develop a smart traffic signal system for reducing congestion on highways.
• Design a compact, portable device for testing water oxygen levels in rivers.
• Create a device for monitoring and reducing energy usage in botanical gardens.
• Develop a robotic system for sorting and recycling hazardous waste .
• Design a low-cost, portable device for diagnosing swine flu in pig farms.
• Create a system for monitoring and optimizing energy usage in theme parks.
• Develop a smart transportation system for optimizing bus routes.
• Design a compact, portable device for testing water nitrate levels in lakes.
• Create a device for monitoring and reducing energy usage in ski resorts.
• Develop a robotic system for sorting and recycling automotive waste.
• Design a low-cost, portable device for diagnosing mad cow disease in cattle farms.
• Create a system for monitoring and optimizing energy usage in botanical gardens.
• Develop a smart traffic signal system for reducing congestion in school zones.
• Design a compact, portable device for testing water phosphate levels in rivers.
• Create a device for monitoring and reducing energy usage in wildlife reserves.
• Develop a robotic system for sorting and recycling household hazardous waste.
• Design a low-cost, portable device for diagnosing avian influenza in poultry farms.
• Create a system for monitoring and optimizing energy usage in wildlife reserves.
• Develop a smart transportation system for optimizing shuttle routes.

These Mechanical Engineering Capstone project ideas cover various topics and can be tailored to fit multiple levels of complexity and resources available to students. Students can choose a project based on their interests and available resources.

Tips For Success In Capstone Project Execution 

Here are some easy tips for success with your engineering final project:

• Start early – Don’t wait until the last minute. Give yourself plenty of time.
• Break it down – Break the project into smaller tasks and set deadlines. This makes it less overwhelming.
• Ask for help – Talk to your professor if you get stuck. Bounce ideas off classmates.
• Research thoroughly – Learn everything you can about your topic. Understanding it is key.
• Record as you go – Take detailed notes and photos. Document the whole process.
• Test, test, test – Test continuously as you develop your project. Fix issues as they come up.
• Stay organized – Use checklists and notebooks to stay on track. Clutter causes chaos.
• Relax – Take study breaks and get good sleep. Don’t let stress sabotage your success.
• Practice presenting – Prepare and rehearse what you’ll say for project presentations.
• Proofread – Double-check your paper and slides for any errors before turning them in.
• Enjoy the process – Have fun bringing your ideas to life! The learning experience is invaluable.

Final Remarks

Congratulations on finishing our Mechanical Engineering capstone project ideas guide! This blog has helped give you ideas to find the perfect project for your final endeavor. Remember, your capstone project isn’t just a requirement to graduate – it’s a chance to make a real impact in mechanical engineering. 

Whether you choose one of our ideas or come up with your own, welcome the challenge and enjoy the journey. As you start on your final project, remember the skills you’ve learned, ask your professors and industry professionals for guidance, and manage your time well.

Your hard work and dedication will pay off as you show your abilities and contribute to the exciting world of mechanical engineering. Best of luck with your final project, and may it be the start of many more successes in your engineering career!

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Capstone Design Projects

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All mechanical and materials engineering students are required to complete a capstone project in their senior year. Below you will find a list of past capstone projects from our engineering students.

2023 Fall Semester Projects

• Rapid Solidification Machine (PDF) Team Members: Anthony Carver, Jesse Potts, Landon Tuck, Courtney Wuilleumier  
• Design and Development of an Extrusion-Based 2.5D/3D Printer for Electronic Packaging (PDF) Team Members: Alex Adams, Dylan Hall, Jacob Harrison, Jeet Patel  
• Development of a Grease Lubrication Mechanism for a Two-Disk Contact Set-Up (PDF) Team Members: Devin Blankenship, Braden Russell, Kevin Kemp, Austin Sherwood, Alex Plas  
• Green Automated Aquaponics System (PDF) Team Members: Intissar Elhani, Alan Whiting, Kevin Grubb, Evan Gehret  
• CFD Modeling of Formula 600 Race Car (PDF) Team Members: Sean Barber, Ethan Cornell, Bailey Hoelscher, Tamal Kambarov, Viswanathan Ramesh  
• Low Head Ocean Energy Storage (PDF) Team Members: Adam Hume, Cameron Floyd, Carson Estep, Dustin Leonard, Samuel Boys

2023 Spring Semester Projects

• Convertible Home Gym Apparatus (PDF) Team Members: Connor Schock, Noah Bledsoe, Jackson Nix  
• Battlefield Model Design (PDF) Team Members: Hameed Juma, Jeff Denton, Lemuel Duncan, Zach Baker  
• Metal Air Batteries for EVs and Electronic Devices (PDF) Team Members: Alexis Burt, Logan Nielsen, Ian Thompson  
• Wave Power Conversion (PDF) Team Members: Luke Banks, Bryce Ullman, Emma Vuckovich  
• SAE Baja Collegiate Design Series (PDF) Team Members: Clay Minor, Logan Rowland, Elliot Wiggins, Julia Sentman, Dominic Manns, Stephanie Gangl  
• Hybrid UAV Power System (PDF) Team Members: Lucas Duncan, Riley Hall, Abigail Kerestes, James Schmitz  
• Optimization of Joining Methods for Generator Converter Chassis (PDF) Team Members: Tyriek Craigs, Seth Perkins, Robert Hall, Jacob Evans  
• Optimization of Temperature Gradient in Magnetic Inductors (PDF) Team Members: Kyle Schroder, Alan Hingsbergen, Blake Martin, Jordan Stanley  
• Optimized Wire Coiler for GE Aviation (PDF) Team Members: Connor Allen, Bradley Jones, Alex Strack, Kaitlin Willi  
• Solar Splash Electric Boat Competition (PDF) Team Members: Brice Prigge, Bryar Powell, Chase Mansell, Evan Hannon  
• Ultralight Copper Current Collectors for Flexible Batteries (PDF) Team Members: Connor Wyckoff, Branen Bussey, Dryana Russell, Mashuj Alshammari  

2022 Fall Semester Projects

• Modular Vibration Testing Kit for Vibrations Lab Course (PDF) Team Members: Michael Ahlers, Seth Madison Tyler Motzko  
• Design of Complex Fluid Electrical Conductivity Cell (PDF) Team Members: Bradley Cripe, Garrett Gniazdowski, Gaspard Matondo, Scott Osborne  
• Structural Optimization of Quadcopter Landing Gear (PDF) Team Members: Taha Etekbali, Jilian Sollars, Katrina Knight  
• Convertible Home Gym (PDF) Team Members: Max Carnevale, Randa Richards, Kevin Hall, Michael Orengo  
• IDC Spring Crimping Tool (PDF) Team Members: Aleni Burcham, Samuel Sowers, Alexander Smith, and Luke Lieghley  
• Ocean Wave Energy Generation (PDF) Team Members: Cameron Slater, Ben Ferree, Daniel Ploss, Austin Shurlow

Past Capstone Projects

• Micro Turbine Engine Design Competition
• Additive Manufacturing Process Design
• SAE Baja Competition
• Fluid Viscosity Measurement
• Folding UAV
• Wheel Life Prediction
• Dual-Plane Airfoil
• Resonance Wave Power
• Autonomous Aerial Remote-Sensing Drone
• Serial Grinder and Imaging System to Create 3-D Images of Vertebrate Rich Sedimentary Rock Cores
• Customizable and Low-Cost Water Quality Monitoring Platform for Grand Lake St. Marys
• Robotic Football Competition
• Wood Materials Project
• Self-Learning Targeting System
• Convertible Home Gym
• Additive Manufacturing Welding
• Programming & Optimization
• Characterizing the Performance of a UAV for a Future Hybrid Powertrain
• Configurable Bike
• Mechanical Tester for Printed Electronics
• Porous Testing Medium
• SAE Aero Design Competition
• Solar Splash Design Competition

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Capstone Senior Design (Capstone) is the final required course for the Bachelor’s degree; it provides the opportunity for students to integrate their curricular and experiential journeys into a multi-semester team project with a real-world outcome.

The Capstone experience applies the engineering sciences and other knowledge domains to the design of a system, component, product, process, and/or set of research inquiries. The Capstone projects reflect current, practical, and relevant industrial and mechanical engineering design projects or may involve a combination of both disciplines. Students bid for or develop their team’s particular design project with the approval of appropriate faculty.  In the project assignment process, design teams are self-formed, or configured of students with similar interest areas. Each project includes the use of open-ended problems, development and application of research and design methodologies, formulation of design problem statements and specifications, generation and consideration of alternative solutions, along with safety, usability and feasibility considerations, and detailed system descriptions. It also includes realistic constraints such as economic factors, sustainability, along with global and social impact, to name a few.  Throughout the Capstone experience, students are also challenged to think and act as a ‘team’ and to consider how notions of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging affect their decisions, actions, and results.

Capstone projects are often sponsored by outside clients, including early-stage ventures arising from NU’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem.  Sometimes, ambitious student-proposed technical ideas can (and have) become startup ventures themselves.

Sponsor a Project

The breadth of engineering challenges, both ME and IE, reflect the diversity of the project sponsors. Our sponsors, both corporate and non-profits, range from the aerospace industry to biomedical and regional hospitals. Department faculty sponsor projects for related to their research interests and for custom equipment for their research labs and, increasingly, students enter the program bringing their own sophisticated projects.

In many respects, our project sponsors are the life blood of the program. They bring current real world problems to the students and expect real solutions. Sponsors want to know the patent searches will be done and that intellectual property rights have been considered and protected.

The project sponsors must provide a contact person and are expected to provide timely feedback and interactions. The project should include a prototype deliverable or implemented solution. A “not for work” grant to be negotiated and expensive required items for the prototype are requested from the sponsor. Northeastern will provide computer simulation and basic machining processes. It is usually for the corporate sponsor and Capstone Design Coordinator to discuss and negotiate the details of this arrangement. Protection of the sponsor’s intellectual property is a major concern throughout this process.

At the beginning of the two semester sequence, the students self-assemble into groups and, after reviewing project descriptions, indicate their preferences. The preferences are used to assign the projects. Once projects are assigned, the students meet with their faculty advisor weekly and with representatives of the sponsor, through onsite visits, Skype or teleconferences, on a basis determined by the sponsor. The evaluation and reporting processes are tightly structured. The program culminates with a day long series of public presentations judged by a panel of our alumni.

Capstone Design Projects

Capstone Design is the culmination of the undergraduate student experience, creating a blueprint for innovation in engineering design.

Senior capstone design projects in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Course objectives:.

The goal of the capstone design course is for students to apply their full engineering and general engineering education to a new and important problem which is amenable to an engineering solution and present their results. The course will develop and refine students’ abilities in this context by planning and organizing a term project, evaluating design alternatives with supporting engineering analysis, applying appropriate engineering standards, assessing and optimizing designs from the customer perspective, and presenting final designs.

Course Topics :

• Problem Recognition
• Problem Formulation
• Customer Needs identification
• Product Specification
• Engineering Standards
• Concept Generation
• Evaluation/Selection of Concepts
• Principles of Life Cycle Design
• Prototyping
• Poster Competition

Integrative Experience:

Engineering solutions are almost always created in response to some societal need. Understanding the need is central to success in engineering design and an engineer must understand the economic, social, political, sustainability and environmental contexts in which the need arises. Therefore, as engineering students embark on the problem identification phase of engineering design they have the opportunity to reflect and draw on the knowledge they have gained through their General Education courses and then integrate this with the engineering knowledge they have gained in their major. More specifically, by employing the broad knowledge they gain from experiences in economics, psychology, sociology and history, students are better equipped to understand how an engineering solution will be accepted and will address societal needs. This kind of reflection goes beyond understanding in the separate disciplines by considering, for example, how economic, safety and environmental issues compete and complement each other and by observing how their own perspectives on these issues have evolved.

Project Overview:

Mechanical Engineering:  The objective is to identify a design need, develop engineering specifications for the product, and design, develop and fabricate hardware related to your design project.

Industrial Engineering:  The objectives are to (1) design, develop, implement, and/or improve an integrated system or systems that include people, materials, information, equipment and energy and (2) to use appropriate analytical, computational, and experimental practices in the context of an integrated system; demonstrating skills and knowledge indicative of a capstone project.

This means that the project should require a higher-level of engineering knowledge and skills than found in sophomore and junior-level design classes. Thus, the project must involve significant use of engineering tools and standards, the results of which are used to inform decisions. There are several project formats as part of the course.

• ME or IE Student Concepts:  The top student proposals based on innovation and feasibility will be selected for development. Selected ME projects can be one or two semester projects; IE projects will be two semester projects.
• ME/ECE Collaborative Senior Capstone Design:  Teams of two ME students will be paired with two Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) students to develop a student concept project. Note that ECE teams start forming in March of their junior year. ME students selecting this option will complete ECE 415 and 416 during their senior year in lieu of MIE 415 (ECE 415 will satisfy a ME technical elective – the only one permitted outside of MIE courses).
• ME/Nursing Collaborative Senior Capstone Design:  Teams of four ME students will be paired with a Nursing student to develop assistive technology. Students will work with clients to identify issues they face and develop engineering solutions to mitigate them. Teams will work with clients who live in the area and will be required to travel to their location. Prof. Cynthia Jacelon in nursing will also co-advise the team along with the course instructors.
• ME Semester-Long Industry Sponsored:  Companies have sponsored senior design projects relevant to their business. For these projects, students will work directly with a technical contact at the company to develop an engineering solution to their problem. Students will be expected to be in regular contact with the industry sponsor and present their progress throughout the semester. Travel within MA or CT maybe required for some projects.
• ME or IE Year-Long Industry Sponsored:  For year-long projects, ME students will enroll in MIE 497M (a ME technical elective) in the fall semester and MIE 415 in the spring semester. Year-long ME projects are expected to make a prototype demonstration at the end of the first semester. As in IE Student Concept projects, the fall semester will focus on proposal development and the spring semester is dedicated to completing the project.

Project Requirements.  This team-based capstone project must also meet several requirements. These include the following:

• It must demonstrate an ability to design (or redesign) a mechanical system to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability. [1]
• It must demonstrate an understanding of the project’s potential impact in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context. [2]
• It must demonstrate skills and knowledge indicative of a capstone design project. This means that the project should require a higher-level of engineering knowledge and skills than found in sophomore and junior-level design classes. Thus, the project must involve significant use of engineering tools and standards, the results of which are used to inform design decisions.  Models used to predict the behavior and optimize the design. Evaluation of the design must be performed.
• Your design (or some portion of the design) must be realized in hardware that helps validate the design concept.

[1] This is an  ABET  ( A ccreditation  B oard for  E ngineering and  T echnology) requirement.

[2] This is an  ABET  ( A ccreditation  B oard for  E ngineering and  T echnology) requirement.

• Assistive technology and universal design . Assistive technology helps people with physical disabilities perform tasks which otherwise would be difficult or impossible. A common example of assistive technology is a hearing aid. In universal design a product is designed to maximize its usability, including by people with disabilities.
• Industry sponsored project.  Many students engage in summer internships or ‘coop’ engineering experiences with companies. Such work experiences will often provide real-world design opportunities that may be appropriate to address in the context of a capstone design project. Such a project requires buy-in by management at the company, as well as a technical point of contact who is able to interact with student teams and provide the necessary information (customer needs, design specifications, etc.) and resources.
• Home physical therapy equipment.  This application domain is rich for new and creative design solutions.  Examples include specialized strengthening or range of motion equipment for patients with medical conditions, such as stroke victims who experience weakness on one side of the body. 
• Product testing equipment.  This domain is very application dependent, as it involves the design and development of specialized equipment to test a product. For example, a shoe manufacturer may be interested in testing the energy absorption and/or energy release mechanism of a new composite running shoe design. To do this the shoe needs to be loaded and unloaded thousands of times in a manner realistic to its intended application, and data must be gathered that measures the shoe performance.
• Cardiovascular exercise equipment.  While there are many cardiovascular exercise products on the market, such as treadmills, stair masters, elliptical machines, and stationary bicycle trainers, few are affordable, lightweight, easily and quickly collapsible, and highly compact for storage.

This is not intended to be an inclusive list. You are free to propose design project ideas based on your interests and/or interactions with industry and other UMass departments.

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Senior Capstone Design Program

In ME 470 (the Senior Capstone Design course), students work in teams under the supervision of MechSE professors and company representatives to tackle real-world design challenges, with multiple constraints, from manufacturers and service industries in the Fortune 500. Thanks to generous company sponsor donations, more than 5,000 senior mechanical engineering and engineering mechanics students have worked with 250 companies and institutions on nearly 1,500 projects since 1991. Our students are well-prepared to develop and effectively communicate their design solutions with our rigorous hands-on design curriculum that begins during their first year.

Everyone benefits from our open-ended, real-world, team-based experiences. 

Students gain a variety of benefits from the experience, which requires them to synthesize and apply the knowledge they have gained through their engineering courses, to work within time, budget, and design constraints, and to present their progress and results through regular oral and written communications with company members.

Participating companies also benefit from the experience; they gain fresh perspectives on design issues, specific recommendations for resolution, access to outstanding potential new hires, and access to world-class faculty expertise and resources. Additionally, companies may readily retain intellectual property developed.

The MechSE Department has built an undergraduate program that ranks among the top in the world as a result of distinguished faculty, excellent undergraduate opportunities, state-of-the-art facilities, and exceptionally bright students. We educate students to become future leaders in engineering, science, technology, and other vital areas, leading the way toward improving our society’s quality of life.

Sponsor a project as part of our  Industry Allies Program

Sponsor a senior capstone design project independently.

Contact Steve Zahos , [email protected]  

• Tools & Services
• Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering
• Civil and Construction Engineering
• Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
• Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering
• Nuclear Science and Engineering
• Biological & Ecological Engineering
• Alumni & Partners

Product-based Project Description Examples

The following are examples of the product-based project description information to help understand the size and scope that our capstone teams can accomplish during the 20-week project. Many examples were generated from previous projects, with specific details omitted/changed for some.

Example - VibroSonics

Provide a working project name for this project..

VibroSonics

Provide a description of the sponsoring organization, company, lab, or individual as a reference to the students.

The OSU OPEnS Lab is partnering with CymaSpace for this project. The Open-Sensing Lab is focused on developing environmental sensing projects and research. CymaSpace is a non-profit community center in Portland, Oregon dedicated to making music, audio, and art accessible for the deaf and hard of hearing through alternative media platforms. Through programs and outreach, Cymaspace hopes to be able to use the results of this project to educate its community on instrumentation, music production, and musical enjoyment.

Briefly describe what the design project is about. Avoid providing specific potential solutions

One of the most exhilarating aspects of experiencing live music events is “feeling” the sound pump against your skin. What if you could experience this sensation from your own playlist anywhere you go? Vibrosonics translates audio from the spectrum of human hearing into the tactile sub-audio range to drive vibrations through the body through wearable devices. This is accomplished through a unique audio encoding process that you will help improve.

What would be some of the benefits of this technology? Ludwig Van Beethoven was famous for being a deaf composer who overcame the condition of his ears by using touch on the piano. This technology could enable Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals to dance with and experience music in new ways; gamers in VR-AR to feel and react to more aspects of their environment, and workers in high-noise situations feel critical sonic cues to help them avoid accidents.

We need an ME team to join a group of Electrical Engineering students to integrate their electronic prototype into a backpack or other wearable device.

Qualifications:

Confidence and experience with Fusion360, Solidworks Theoretical knowledge on how mechanical forces propagate and transmit through materials Eager to learn new skills and adapt to a dynamic product development environment

Experiential knowledge working with mechanical forces and propagation and transmission through materials Some electronics experience.

Please provide must-have requirements for the project here. The next question will ask for Stretch Goals.

Multiple iterative prototypes for testing before final design solution

Full CAD model of the wearable will be rendered. 

Other specs like weight limit, production cost, wearability, portability, etc will be determined in Weeks 1-2.

Occasionally a project scope is of a size in which the team is able to achieve all main goals early. If that is the case, what requirements do you have for the project that would be considered Stretch Goals.

Integration of a secondary control system looped to the front of the wearable device.

Integrate system beyond backpack concept for more surround sound feel.

Example - SumoRobotics Competition

The School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering will be sponsoring this competition during the Engineering Expo in June. The College of Engineering may provide funds as well. All teams are welcome to find further external sponsors and funds if they choose (but are not required to)

Teams of Mechanical or Manufacturing Engineering capstone students will be tasked with creating an original design for a sumo robot that will compete during the Engineering Expo in June. Sumobot competitions are run similar to human sumo bouts where two robots compete head to head, attempting to push each other out of the competition ring. Robots are not allowed weapons or the ability to flip their opponent out of the ring – it is based solely on the ability to push one’s opponent. The weight class and size restrictions will be set at 3,000 kg weight and no greater than a 20 cm x 20 cm footprint. Autonomous and/or remote control classes may be required.

Last year’s inaugural launch of this competition was a great success during Expo and we’re excited to offer it again this year! Each team will be allocated a budget to work with or may seek out external sponsorship. Up to 4 teams may be fielded for this project, where a round-robin style competition would be implemented during Expo, with the top finishers going head-to-head at the end! This is a great opportunity for ME/MfgE students to gain hands-on experience in manufacturing and coding – two highly sought after skills in industry. Further information on the competition rules can be found here: http://robogames.net/rules/all-sumo.php

Meet all competition requirements regarding size and weight.

Must be aesthetically pleasing.

Must represent Oregon State Engineering in a recruitment capacity.

Must include one extra subsystem beyond a simple ramp

Cost under $500.

Expo poster should be geared towards motivating High School students to become an engineer

Fix the older models of sumobots in storage to use as competition practice. Internal system must be easily accessible for repairs and diagnostics.

Process-based Project Description Examples

The following is an example of the process-based project description information to help understand the size and scope that our capstone teams can accomplish during the 20-week project. This example was generated from previous projects, with specific details omitted/changed.

Example - Call Center Improvement

Call Center Improvement

The ACME call center answers calls for (15) primary distribution centers from the coast to the cascades. The call center takes between 16,000 – 21,000 based on the time of the year (fall/winter have the most). The call center has (40+) employees, a template coordinator/supervisor, and three technical experts. The call center also assists with a number of programs: (1) rocket launcher issues (2) roller-skating mishaps (3) warranty claims. The call center, for the most part, is a resource and scheduling center.

The call center has gone through a very rapid growth process and existing processes and structures are not able to cope efficiently with current demand. It is no longer clear if the ACME call center phone tree is still effective for all customers. In addition, new protocols to handle warranty-related injuries will be added and the request is to add this to the phone tree, yet it is unclear if this will add too much to the phone tree. Given the growth in personnel, it is necessary to design a work flow for the call center representatives that is easy to understand and efficient (this may include to examine where the variables are and what can be streamlined). This information may be when to offer discounts or reimbursements, to when the call should be transferred to technicians or our lawyers. As a result, ACME expects the capstone team to determine the best means to streamline information that the reps need to resolve a claim.

The expectation will be that the capstone team and ACME will determine what tools can be developed/removed/enhanced for the call center representatives to ensure that they are able to answer and address all claims effectively. The hope is that by addressing these areas we will be able to maintain our call goals.

No more than 5% abandoned calls

No more than a 30-second hold time

Minimize the time that representatives are off the phone ‘not ready’ because of completing notes.

Provide full ARENA model of system to clearly show where areas of improvement for future iterations can be.

Provide signage for all centers to help personnel during calls with potential transfers/changes/etc. Create training manuals for all new procedures.

Project Videos

Department of Mechanical Engineering

• Whitacre College of Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Capstone Design Projects

There were 24 design teams and projects. Each team worked for two semesters to come up with the design and fabrication of the project. A list of the design projects for Fall 2023 is as follows.

• Garden Grabber
• RTA Industries
• Tire Pressure Pro - 25
• Team Kilowatt
• Imagination Group - Off Grid Washing
• GSD - Beverage Dispenser
• Racing Machine
• The Refrigeraiders
• Aquatic Search and Recovery Device 
• Electric Bike Design
• Grain Gobbler
• Household Injection Machine Design
• M&M Lab Injection Molding Design
• Scorch Cooler
• Pill Dispenser
• Powder Cast Oven
• Mobility Scooter Lift
• Car Rotisserie

Spring 2023

There were 24 design teams and projects. Each team worked for two semesters to come up with the design and fabrication of the project. A list of the design projects for Spring 2023 is as follows.

1. Lane Detection System 

2. Campfire Steam Turbine 

3. EVTOL Transition Mechanism 

4. Tesla Pulse Jet Engine 

A Pulsejet Engine is an engine that pulses the thrust and combustion with little or no moving parts. These engines are very inefficient due to significant heat loss, vibrations and noise. A Tesla valve is designed as a check valve with no moving parts by relying on the direction of flow. The Tesla Pulsejet Engine was designed to investigate the use of a Tesla valve as a control valve before the intake on a Giant Chinese Valveless Pulsejet Engine. The device consists of the mechanical engine body system, mechanical fuel system and electrical ignition system.

Team Members: Anna Slovak, Ben Jensen, Zach Lee, Tyler Maurer, Bodee Humphreys, Jake Bradford

Instructor:  Turgut Baturalp

5. Forklift Hydraulic Fluid Heater 

6. Frost Fan 

7. Beach Wheelchair 

8. Automated T-Post Driver 

Problem Statement: T-Post instillation processes are slow and labor intensive, there is a need for easier, economically viable solution. Objective: Develop a remote operated machine that drives multiple t-posts without user assistance. Design Criteria: • Total weight < 250lbs (max load for UTV) • Performance in all terrain environments • Projected production cost < $750/unit

Team Members: Colton Black, Dane McMahon, Kallista Kunzler, Will Shaw, Nathan Sullivan

Instructor: Dr. Paul Egan

9. Automated Ratchet Strap 

Mission Statement: Our mission is to revolutionize cargo transportation by developing an innovative auto-tightening ratchet strap that not only secures the load but also displays the force on the load. Our strap's intelligent design ensures that it auto-tightens when straps loosen during load shifts on a journey, providing reliable and safe transportation for our customers' cargo.

Team Members: Logan Fox, Corentin Menand, Jake Witte, Agustin Gonzalez, Zander Goodwin, Nathan Shapiro, and Blake Parr

10. Upper Body Exoskeleton System 

In our first semester, the goal of our exoskeleton design was to assist individuals with degenerative muscular conditions or physical limitations. During this time, we toggled between single-arm designs of a wheelchair-attached or physically-fitted device. This semester, the project deviated towards a more robust, upper body, Iron Man-esque design after realizing the oversimplicity of our original design. This system is now capable of dynamic and static load-lifting with the options of dual-arm or individual arm control. The wholistic design and the specific solutions realized to make this project possible have great potential for both industrial and personal use.

Team members: Kim Bezeau, Nicholas Villagran, Brett Ferguson, Cesar Jimenjez, Tyler McLemore, Sahil Patel 

11. Cycling Aid 

The most challenging part is creating a design that accommodates as many people with arm or motor disabilities as possible. The design needs to be adjustable to fit different genders and body shapes. It will be important to create attachments that are easily installable for the user or that can be taken to a local bike shop install. Our attachments must be designed to adhere to a bike like common bike attachments are to avoid installation difficulties. Our project combines a balancing element, steering element, and braking element to allow safe use of a bicycle and can be installed at a regular bike shop. 

Team members: David Batres, Yvonne Cebe, Connor Davis, Alex Fanos, Nasser Filty, Leighton Mitchell, Austin Skender

12. Star Forge: Space Mining with Plasma 

The ability to access raw materials in space has been identified as a necessary step in NASA's goals of establishing sustainable human presence in space. However, the processes used today to extract and refine these materials are far too heavy and complex to be transported directly into space. The present design solves this problem by providing a light-weight system capable of refining critical compounds without the use of chemical reactants sourced from Earth. 

Team members: Aaron Chadwick, Adrian Brink, Devon Yeager, Francisco Aguilera, Luke Jackson, Max Kennedy, Parker White

13. Knee Device 

Knee injury accounts for 41% of all sports injuries”; is a quote from an article published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine written by Dr. Parag Sancheti and colleagues. Described in the article are important risk factors related to a knee injury and common methods of both prevention and treatment. These include surgery and rehabilitation of the mentioned common types of injury. We see that there are many people who could benefit from a design improvement in physical therapy techniques that offers a portable and effective option to existing technologies such as CPM machines.

Team members: Pinak Bhuban, Trey Vela, Eric Arevalo, Brianna Wilkerson, Sean Atchue, Evan Potvin

14. Floating Arm Trebuchet 

15. Telescopic Arm 

16. Asteroid Core Examiner Probe 

17. Pneumatic Pit Bike 

18. Automated Stick Charring 

19. Baseball Pitching Machine 

20. Small-scale Turbo Jet Engine  

Turbojet engines have been used in aerospace applications for over 80 years to achieve high flight performance and power output. This design project's goal is to produce a working turbojet engine using materials and resources that the University provides, along with material anyone can buy from a hardware or hobby store.

Team members: Weston Wright, Joseph Scheffey, Brett Shaw, Colby Reynolds, Harrison Childre, Jayce Jensen, Garrison Stevens, Jacob Wilhelm

Instructor: Dr. Jeff Hanson

21. 7 Seas Water Sample Collection Boat  

Playa lakes are primarily filled with runoff; therefore, they are prone to contamination. We created a remotecontrolled boat designed to collect water samples, eliminating the need to wade into potentially contaminated waters. Our design will simplify the process by decreasing collection time and increasing sampling efficiency.

Team members:  Allie Smith, Blake Moore, Carly Weaver, Carl Cassel, Christopher Smith, Nathan Broyles, William Schaap

22. ASME Renewable Vehicular Robot 

One way to increase renewable energy production is by developing devices that can charge directly from the sun and the wind without drawing power from the grid. If enough devices are developed with this capability, it will reduce the strain on the power grid and alleviate reliance on non-renewable resources.

To develop technology for renewable energy devices by designing a Renewable Vehicular Robot (RVR) for use in the ASME Student Design Competition. 

Team members: Akshata Bhide, Alejandro Cardenas, Oluwasayofunmi Felix-Aremo, Blake Houldsworth, Elliot Pak, Joshua Ramon Dira, Deborah Ukoha

23. Solar Assist Trike 

The Solar Assist Trike Design Project was started to satisfy the needs of a pollution-free, on-the-go charging form of transportation. With the use of a solar panel to charge several batteries that power a motor, the idea is that the rider will only need to pedal at a steady, comfortable pace while still maintaining speeds above 10 mph. After finalizing our deign, we were able to bring into fruition a working protype which we believe successfully fulfills the goals of this design project.

Team members: Troy Gallagher, Andrew Evans, Joe Wagner, Israel Paz, Cameron Clancy, Carson Johnson, Samuel Hoyl, Bradley Daniel 

Faculty advisor: Andrew Mosedale

24. NASA Rover 

The NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge is an annual international competition where colleges and high schools are tasked with creating a human-powered rover to explore the surface of Mars and complete water collection tasks. 

Team members: : Kierya Freiboth, Nova Goulet-Cyr, Travis Isburgh, Alexis Jimenez, Mateo Robles, Mary Roccaforte, Rebecca Stokes, Tianzheng Wang

Faculty advisors:  Roy Mullins and David Myers

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Mechanical Engineering Capstone

.cls-1{fill:#a91e22;}.cls-2{fill:#c2c2c2;} double-arrow mechanical engineering capstone sequence.

The Capstone Sequence is the primary culminating project of the mechanical engineering curriculum. Students carry out a formal design experience that takes you from design requirements to idea/design generation and on through prototyping and testing. The sequence is intended to provide experience in the design process and bring together and reinforce skills obtained in the analysis, modeling and measurement of engineering systems. Students also continue to refine communication and teamwork skills and be introduced to concepts in project management that will be utilized to successfully complete the capstone projects. The courses also touch on other important aspects of real-world engineering practice.

Students must complete the following prerequisites prior to beginning any capstone sequence: MECHENG 3360, MECHENG 3671, and MECHENG 3870. Students are also required to enroll in the co-requisite MECHENG 4510 in the same term as capstone. These prerequisites will be  strictly enforced  and exceptions will not be made. All students are also required to complete MECHENG 4870 (Multidisciplinary Mechanical Engineering Laboratory) regardless of the capstone option chosen.

General Capstone Presentation  (Prof. Marzette)

In the general capstone, students are able to participate in a diversity of projects including community and industry projects, instructor-suggested projects, and student conceived projects. Projects options may touch upon any fundamental area of mechanical engineering, and while some may be purely mechanical, others may involve mechatronics or other interdisciplinary work, topically speaking.

There are opportunities to partner with subject-matter experts external to the department who are interested in supporting student projects. Recent projects include an automated lawnmower, a robotic fish, a cookie extruder, a drone constraint device, and a mechanical regeneratively brake bike. 

Students can begin the General Capstone Sequence in the Autumn or Spring semesters. 

Student Design Competition Presentation

Students work on design projects arising from various student team competitions in engineering. The emphasis will be on automotive projects similar to Baja SAE, EcoCAR2, Buckeye Electric Motorcycle and Buckeye Bullet, among others. Note that these projects are tightly formulated to aid student teams in the design and manufacturing of specific components or systems for the vehicles. Some examples include advanced braking systems, high-performance composite structures and the creation of real-time vehicle telemetry. Student teams also document their designs so a record can be created for the various vehicle systems. Permission from the instructor is required to be enrolled in this capstone sequence.

Students can only begin the Student Design Competition Capstone Sequence in the Autumn semester. 

Product Design Presentation

Students will work in teams of three to four students for the entire two–semester sequence, where students are responsible for taking a product idea from the initial conceptualization stage to a functional prototype. The emphasis of this course is on product design, as compared to engineering design, and include lectures on the background and theory of user-centered product development, product architecture, and manufacturing. Students will be expected to complete extensive fieldwork and design research before beginning the project. Additionally, students will build several prototypes over the course of this two–semester sequence. Recent projects include a hose management system for firefighters, an enrichment device for Asian Elephants at the Cincinnati Zoo, and a rainwater collection system for urban farms. 

Permission from the instructor is required to be enrolled in this capstone sequence.  MECHENG 5682.01 is a pre- or co-requisite for the first semester of this capstone.

Assistive Devices Presentation  (OLD)  

Assistive Devices capstone is currently not being offered for the 2023-2024 school year. We hope to be able to run this capstone option - please keep an eye on your email if this is posted to the course schedule for Autumn 2023.

Students will create assistive devices for people with disabilities. These devices will aid in the quality of life for many types of disabilities. These projects emphasize working with the customer and understanding the specific needs and wants of a variety of patients. Project teams of three to five students will be presented with an unmet need for an assistive device or technology, and will work through the entire product design process over the two-course sequence. This project will also be completed in collaboration with senior capstone students from the Department of Biomedical Engineering. Project teams will have faculty mentors from both the College of Engineering and the College of Medicine.  The project will culminate with the creation of working prototypes that will be tested and used in a clinical setting.

Students can only begin the Assistive Devices Capstone Sequence in the Autumn semester. 

Multidisciplinary Design Presentation

This capstone sequence is designed to prepare students with the engineering and professional skills and techniques needed to complete a real-world project using a design process. Students will learn a multidisciplinary design process, which includes defining the problem; conceptualizing solutions; designing a solution; building or modeling a prototype; and creating and implementing a validation plan.  Students will demonstrate technical communication skills and professional practices in a multidisciplinary environment. Students will also learn project management and teamwork skills.

Teams of students (typically four to six students) from various engineering programs (i.e. CBE, CSE, ECE, Engineering Physics, FABE, ISE, etc.) and other disciplines (i.e. Business, Chemistry, Finance, Industrial Design, Psychology, etc.) work on these real-world projects, which represent those that might be encountered upon graduation and entering a professional working environment. The project topics range from product and process improvement to new product development, humanitarian and socially innovative product design. A faculty or staff advisor is assigned to each team and each sponsor supplies a liaison for the entire length of the project. Find additional information .  Permission from the instructor is required to be enrolled in this capstone sequence. Students can only begin the Multidisciplinary Design Capstone Sequence in the Autumn semester. 

.cls-1{fill:#a91e22;}.cls-2{fill:#c2c2c2;} double-arrow MAE Capstone Survey

Are you a member of the community and have a project idea? Looking to partner? Tell us about it here: MAE Capstone Survey .

• Apply to UMaine

Mechanical Engineering

Senior capstone design.

Intro to MEE Capstone by Dr. Alex Friess

2019-2020 Senior Capstone Projects:

• Hybrid UAVs
• Lighter-Than-Air Vehicles
• Hydrofoiling Bicycles
• Human-Assistive Robots
• Solar Splash Boats
• Solar Maple Syrup Boiler

2018-2019 Senior Capstone Projects:

• Lighter-than-Air Drones
• Land Drones
• Human Powered Vehicles
• Robotic Knee Assistive Device
• Self-Leveling Infant Car Seat
• Ice Core Transport Container
• Self-Cleaning Upweller Device
• Smart Swim Starting Block
• Infinite 3D Printer
• Ground Force Test Bench

Crosby Laboratory YouTube channel shows videos of some of the senior capstone projects.

Industry & alumni

Industry capstone program.

Benefits to sponsors How it works What makes a good proposal? Sample timeline

The Industry Capstone Program brings together UW students and professionals to tackle real-world, interdisciplinary engineering problems. Sponsors bring in projects from their organizations and provide support to teams of creative, talented engineering students who will design and build innovative solutions.

Work with us to develop the next generation of engineering leaders!

Help shape the future of engineering while also gaining new insights and fresh perspectives for your organization. 

View capstone projects Submit a project proposal

Benefits to sponsors

Meaningful engagement.

Customized opportunities to assess student talent and recruit for jobs

Creative problem-solving

Low-cost opportunity for a fresh look at a problem

Professional development

Opportunity for technical mentor to practice and apply leadership skills

Brand recognition

Boost public awareness of your organization through student engagement

UW partnerships

Build impactful connections within the UW College of Engineering

Commercial licenses

Non-exclusive commercial license to any IP developed through project

How it works

  innovation.

Potential sponsors propose a project for review by College of Engineering faculty

  Sponsorship

Organizations commit financially to cover project costs and program fee

  Team matching

Students are matched to an approved project and faculty mentor

  Mentorship

Technical mentor meets with the team weekly for project duration (January – June)

  Problem-solving

Teams embark on a full-scale design process with help from technical and faculty mentors

What makes a good proposal?

• Scoped for a small team of students, with design and performance criteria requiring appropriate analytical study on a topic directly relevant to engineering
• Contains both a design and results phase, culminating in a specific project outcome
• Reflects lower-priority real-world problems faced by your organization; mission-critical problems are not appropriate projects
• Appropriate for entry-level engineers in their first or second year on the job
• Primarily self-contained, but also integrates within a larger context

We strongly encourage projects that are open to all UW Engineering students, regardless of citizenship.

Department-based capstone programs

• Aeronautics & Astronautics
• Bioengineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil & Environmental Engineering
• Computer Science & Engineering
• Electrical & Computer Engineering
• Human Centered Design & Engineering
• Industrial & Systems Engineering
• Materials Science & Engineering  
• Mechanical Engineering

Sample timeline

Early september, project proposal due.

Submit a two-page document outlining pertinent details of your project. This document serves as a starting point for collaboration with College of Engineering departments.

Late October

Project proposal presentations.

Approved proposals are presented, showcasing information about project requirements and scope. This information is used to determine student compatibility and team composition.

Early December

Mentor orientation and team kickoff.

Sponsors are provided with a departmental program overview. Student teams are matched and announced, and may connect to sponsors prior to the start of the project. 

January - June

Projects in progress.

Weekly team meetings take place between the student teams and mentors as project design and build processes develop throughout the winter and spring quarters.

FINAL CAPSTONE SHOWCASE

The capstone program culminates in events where student teams present their projects, explain their work, answer questions, and demonstrate working prototypes.

Latest news

Developing a synthetic railbelt power system model.

A team of electrical and chemical engineering graduate students on a capstone project focused on developing a synthetic power system model of Alaska’s Railbelt transmission system.

Third annual Boeing capstone

Students earned their wings during a spring quarter capstone project undertaken in partnership with Boeing. Fittingly, they worked on a novel design for a wingtip end cap that was produced using 3D printing.

Students design a rover to help fish

As part of an industry capstone project, engineering students created a rover to inspect sewer pipes and culverts for damage that may prevent fish migration.

ISE’s capstones adjust to the pandemic

As ISE’s capstones adjusted to pandemic life, the Millipore Sigma team shows us how they prototyped from home.

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The 2023-2024 MIE Capstone Design Showcase Honours and Awards Innovative Student Projects

The end of term saw fourth-year Mechanical and Industrial Engineering students culminate their year-long Capstone Design projects at the annual MIE Capstone Design Showcase. A total of 80 teams, comprising over 330 students, presented their prototypes, posters, and final recommendations to faculty and industry clients at Hart House. The caliber of projects was outstanding and offered innovative solutions to all of the clients involved with some of those projects receiving awards. The MIE490 and MIE491 award winners are listed below.

Team Safran2 (Samantha Butt, Lydia Callender, Jeremy Mainella and Ana Vukojevic) won the 1st Place Capstone Design Project Award (Mechanical) and John H. Weber Scholarship

1st Place Capstone Design Project Award (Mechanical) and John H. Weber Scholarship

Project Title: Adaptive Landing Gear for Helicopters / Project Supervisor: Professor Matthew Mackay

SAFRAN Landing Systems wanted to design a safer way for rescue helicopters to land on steep terrain and team members Samantha Butt, Lydia Callender, Jeremy Mainella , and Ana Vukojevic delivered. The result is “AeroFlex” – an innovative flexure-based landing gear prototype that is lightweight and adapts to a 20-degree sloped terrain. Rescue helicopters can perform safer and more efficient maneuvers in mountainous terrain in response to the thousands of calls the Canada National Search & Rescue program receives each year.

Team Mott MacDonald (Varun Kamboj, Mika Sustar, Marzuk Khan, and Matin Sarahi) won 1st Place Capstone Design Project Award (Industrial) and Peri Family Industrial Engineering Design Award

1st Place Capstone Design Project Award (Industrial) and Peri Family Industrial Engineering Design Award

Project Title : InfraPOV: Infrastructure Public Opinion Visualizer / Project Supervisor : Professor Scott Sanner

Numerous stakeholders participate in the development of large-scale infrastructure projects. Mott MacDonald wanted to move away from the industry standard of manually evaluating comments and concerns to provide their clients with more accurate data to reflect constituent voices. Enter “InfraPOV: Infrastructure Public Opinion Visualizer” a design by Capstone team Varun Kamboj, Mika Sustar, Marzuk Khan, and Matin Sarahi , which leverages Large Language Model technology to sum up and categorize huge swaths of data from unstructured comments. Time spent analyzing stakeholder data was reduced by 95%, offering Mott MacDonald a more efficient way to extract insights from public opinion and provide clients with meaningful solutions.

2nd Place Capstone Design Project Award (Mechanical & Industrial)

Project Title : Thermal Characterization and Simulation Framework of Large-Format Electric Vehicle Lithium-Ion Batteries / Project Supervisor : Professor Cristina Amon

Lithium-ion battery performance and safety can be negatively affected by the heat generated during charging and discharging. The ATOMS Laboratory team produced an innovative experimental approach to characterize and enhance the thermal performances of novel battery systems. Team members Daniel Lee, John Abellanoza, Noah D’Emilio, and Mitchell Chong , designed and prototyped several cell test rigs and accurately incorporated realistic operating conditions of battery cells in commercial electric vehicles (EVs) and stationary battery energy storage systems (BESS). The team added I-shaped cooling fins to the battery module design to create more equal temperature distribution across the cell and lowering overall temperature by 10% to enable faster charging.

Project Title : Modelling and Evaluation of a Tier-Based System for Grandview Kids Children’s Treatment Centres / Project Supervisor : Professor Vahid Sarhangian

Reducing rehabilitation wait times is a priority for Grandview Kids (GVK) , a Children’s Treatment Centre. Using simulation modeling, the Capstone team of Max Beggs, Claire Shaw, and Jose Pablo Siliézar analyzed the effects of a tiered intervention system to improve patient flow. Moving away from the current non-tiered system of assessments and 1-on-1 appointments, the team constructed a simulation model in Python to include Tier 1 Workshops and Tier 2 Group Therapy interventions to provide temporary treatment options to patients. This tiered system was found to decrease queue sizes and wait times by up to 20% and provided evidence-based recommendations to enhance patient flow management and provide equitable access to care for children with developmental delays.

3rd Place Capstone Design Project Award (Mechanical & Industrial)

Project Title : Experimental Methodology For Measuring Propeller Noise / Project Supervisor : Professor Kamran Behdinan

Drones in aviation are noisy and as they are used more frequently, the increase in noise levels is cause for concern. Tiffany Costas, Daniel Roberts, Adli Hijab, Peter James Mason, and Nicholas Bajaikine worked with their ARL-MLS Laboratory client to find a solution. An optimal propeller design is a promising way to mitigate noise pollution and collecting noise data to determine efficacy was the team’s objective. The result was a testing apparatus prototype that measured detailed and flexible propeller noise characterization from many different propeller geometries. This final product offers the flexibility of rapid testing within the lab at a lower cost than the current market alternatives.

Project Title : Emergency Department Resource & Scheduling Allocation to Optimise Efficiency / Project Supervisor : Professor Michael Carter

Project client Humber River Health (HRH) has the busiest Emergency Department (ED) in Ontario and wants to find ways to optimize patient flow and reduce wait times. Team members Andrew Barton, Emma Beaumount, Maia Kanceljak, and Alexandra Hon used simulation technology and data analytics to find solutions. Following an ambulatory patient’s journey until seen by a physician, the team determined that reallocating nurse staffing numbers at different shift stages would reduce time-to-physician initial assessments (PIA), and minimize overall wait times.

-Published by Kendra Hunter on May 16, 2024

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We wish to acknowledge this land on which the University of Toronto operates. For thousands of years it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land.

© 2024 Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Best Capstone Project Ideas for Engineering Students

“Projects that we have completed demonstrate what we know-future projects decide what we will learn”

                                                                        -Dr. Mohsin Tiwana

We learn more from life from the things that we experience than from the things that we read in books and classes because theoretical knowledge doesn't give us practical experiences. That is why we need to do projects, and when it comes to doing engineering, then doing projects is must, I mean If you have put those 4 years of your life in learning engineering and its subjects then what is its use If you can’t work on a project by using and upgrading your project?

So, the next thing that haunts each one of us before thinking of doing something new is where to start from?

Well, then you are at the right place because here I am going to discuss with you some good capstone or let's say it some good capstone engineering projects that you can have a good time with!

Have you checked out our projects on Mechanical yet? Mechanical Kit will be shipped to you and you can build using tutorials. You can start with a free demo today!

1. 3D Printer

2. Automobile Prototyping

3. CNC Machine using Arduino

4. Project Management with Primavera

So, Are You Ready For It!

Learn more about capstone projects

What is a capstone Project in Engineering?

A capstone project is the research work of a student for a year or more, in which the student selects a particular topic and does the required research by gaining information from all the possible sources that he/she can.

This lets the student in having a better understanding of the subject and give an edge over others because others have just studied theoretical skills but you have gone in-depth and understood the subject.

Practical experiences are always appreciated more than the theory because that’s where your real knowledge is tested.

Sounds cool! Right?

Now, let’s come to some best capstone engineering project ideas!

Explore more capstone projects

Latest projects on Mechanical

Want to develop practical skills on Mechanical? Checkout our latest projects and start learning for free

Best capstone engineering project ideas

1. Home Automation Using IoT

Anyone who denies from the idea of automatically working homes is lying for sure because we humans are always super-duper lazy in doing households and keep looking for the easiest ways in which we don't have to work? Sounded Relatable?

Well, then we can make a capstone engineering project in which you can learn how to pair all your electronic home appliances with Bluetooth so that they can perform the given task on your own by one click or command by the simple IoT applications.

Learn more about this project

Skyfi Labs helps students develop skills in a hands-on manner through Mechanical Online Courses where you learn by building real-world projects.

You can enrol with friends and receive kits at your doorstep.

You can learn from experts, build working projects, showcase skills to the world and grab the best jobs. Start Learning Mechanical today!

2. Animatronic Hand:

What if you could create a machine that could be controlled just by your hand and finger gestures or facial expressions or a robot intimating animal.

Well, such robots are called Animatronic Hand!

These also imitate humans and animals.

This capstone engineering project will help you in understanding the making and working of this Animatronic Hand

By working on servo motors which will act as actuators with the design, fabrication and flex sensors,

You will also get to work with Ardunio Architecture and its programming

3. Smart Energy Meter using GSM:

The generation and supply of electrical energy are one of the widest used applications of electrical engineering.

This capstone engineering project is a great learning source for the students who want to go in the field of energy generation and control and talking about this smart energy meter then this is called smart because it keeps and gives the record of total energy consumed and the energy lost via sending SMS periodically so that the unnecessary loss of  energy can be avoided

This project also involves Arduino Architecture and its Programming. Along with it, you will learn about the electrical loads and measurement and the working and the application of the GSM technology.

4. Home Automation System:

Home automation is a kind of project you will always have fun working with, this project is unlike the earlier discussed Home automation project, as it has so much more to learn like the system framework of home automation, then you will learn about the Bluetooth communication.

That’s all? No dear, along with this you will also learn about the relay driver circuits and also about the 8051 architecture and its programming!

5. Solar and Smart Energy Systems

The solar energy obtained from the sun’s rays is a renewable source of energy and that’s the reason Solar energy and its smart energy generation are something which will never go out of trend, at least till the earth is getting sun rays in abundance.

This is one of the reasons electrical engineering is more persued and job secured as electrical energy is also used for the generation of energy in big plants and industries.

Hence, to enhance such energy generation skills and knowledge one must learn about the  Solar energy and smart energy systems.

This project will help you in the study of the IR sensors and its applications. You will also get an idea about the Solar and Smart energy system frameworks.

Along with it, you will learn about the working of the solar panels and the application of Ardunio Architecture and its programming.

6. Automatic Solar Tracker

As discussed earlier solar energy is among the most used and most in-demand resources, and automatic solar energy tracking is an important skill to learn because not only sunlight alone matters but also obtaining it from the right direction matters to make the most out of it.

And such Electrical project helps one in gaining more and more industrial exposure and giving one an edge over others.

In this capstone project, you will learn about the working of solar energy systems, along with it you will also learn about the photoresistors in the electronic systems and will have to work with Arduino Architecture and planning.

Learn more about Automatic solar tracker

7. 3D Printer

No doubt 3D printing is the future of every developing nation and as the technology will keep on going forward the demand for the people who know 3D printing will keep on increasing.

Therefore, knowing, understanding and practising 3D printing with a self build-up 3D printer will give you an edge over others.

By working on this capstone project, you can easily print out a 3D object from a CAD model. This course involves the application of Ardunio programming with additive manufacturing and the use of RAMPS Board, SMPS &motor Driver.

8. Smart Traffic Lightening Systems:

The traffic in the world is increasing as the population of the world is increasing.

Urbanization is on the rise and day-by-day different methods and systems are getting used to making things smarter and smarter.

So, it is the same trying to be done with the traffic lights. This capstone engineering project will help you in making smart traffic lighting systems.

Any kind of Ardunio, electrical, mechanical or mechatronic projects can be picked up as a capstone project like:

• Automation with PLC
• Persistence of Vision
• PCB Manufacturing
• Health Monitoring wearable

For more information about good capstone projects for engineering you may go on the links below:

• Mechatronic capstone project
• Raspberry-pi capstone project
• Electronics capstone project
• Mechanical capstone project

I hope you got some good capstone projects from this article. If you have any queries let us know in the comments section.

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Purdue Polytechnic Institute

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New projects, ideas abound at Tech Expo 2024

Purdue Polytechnic, the college for technology at Purdue University, recently hosted the spring 2024 Tech Expo run by the School of Engineering Technology.

Tech Expo is the final showcase for seniors in engineering technology, where they display their capstone projects—an assignment needed for graduation—with a range of projects across engineering disciplines, with goals determined by the remit of the students’ collaborators among faculty and industry sponsors.

This year’s Tech Expo featured 60 projects distributed among approximately 25 sponsors. Student groups and sponsors are matched, along with specific Polytechnic faculty, to projects that will solve a tangible problem for the sponsor.

Last year’s Expo showcased around half the number of projects, thus for 2024 the student teams branched out to a wider breadth of topics and research areas.

Team 28, for instance, was sponsored by “a small town near the Colca Canyon in Peru,” according to electrical engineering technology senior James Drury.

“The town has this geothermal hot spring, and they wanted an environmentally-conscious way to pump the spring water vertically about 150 meters into a spa,” Drury said. Drury and his six teammates were the first team to work on this project, along with the help of their faculty partner and liaison with the Peruvian crew, Ralph Munguia.

“They wanted hikers journeying through the canyon to be able to stop and relax in a hot tub. … The wind in the mountains can generate about 400 watts, and each individual solar panel can generate an additional 100. The challenge was building our test model to be powerful enough to generate the 1.5 kilowatts we needed to push that water up 150 meters.

“We were able to prove that you can have a self-sustainable system. Because there’s no external output power here, it’s all being run off renewable energy.”

Other teams were involved in continuing projects, picking up where prior teams of seniors had left off. In some cases, such teams had to radically modify what came before in order to update the technology.

“This was a continuing project, but our sponsors at Bechtel [Innovation Design Center] really allowed us to go for it,” said Jacob Creviston, an energy engineering technology major from Team 6. Bechtel provides students with an abundance of tools to work on technology-focused projects, from laser cutting, electronics manufacturing, to 3D printing and more.

“We’ve programmed an electronic measurement tool and an accompanying workstation that allows you to make extremely precise cuts of 80/20-type aluminum,” Creviston said. “Just because of the degree of precision we were looking to get out of the measurement device, we redesigned basically the entire setup from where we picked up this project. And it worked out, because now we have a much more accurate measurement system and a much more portable, usable workstation.”

Several projects focused on overcoming technological barriers that have only become problems in recent times. It is only within the last few years, for example, that research capacity and commercialization in outer space has become a new frontier for many industries. Think asteroid mining or pharmaceutical production, for example.

Team 4 was tasked with finding solutions to an especially tricky problem in space industries: gravity simulation. “We know, for instance, that researchers on the International Space Station [ISS] have no way of simulating 1g,” said mechanical engineering technology senior Dominic Lovisa. “1g” indicates that gravitational force in a given location is equal to what it is on Earth.

The team went about creating a centrifuge device which could reliably produce 1g, without the need for flammable fuel sources that would be banned from the temperamental, oxygen-rich environment of the ISS. They built a hydraulics-powered centrifuge, which could allow for heavy metals from an asteroid mining sample to be sorted out as though the sample was being put through the same device on Earth.

A similarly ingenious device lit up with purple UV lights was on display next to the centrifuge: Team 3’s columnar water-filtration device. This filter removes mass quantities of “forever chemicals” from water.

“This project was all from scratch—[faculty partner] Fred Berry and our sponsor Infineon had confirmed that the background chemistry would work, but we created the whole system from the ground up,” said Drake Farrell from mechanical engineering technology.

“The trick here is to increase the surface area that the water comes into contact with as much as possible, to increase the amount of time that it gets exposed to the UV light within the structure. That meant using custom-made glass beads coated in something called titanium dioxide. Those things provided maximum contact, and then any solids such as the titanium compound still in the water get filtered out as it reaches the bottom of the tube.”

In the aftermath of the Tech Expo, the graduating seniors are no longer seen in labs across campus, where they had previously spent weeks building out their capstones. But once they graduate, many of them will move into jobs that they have already clinched in prior weeks and months.

On the floor of the Expo, students could be heard discussing upcoming roles at companies like Northrop Grumman, RoviSys, Indiana Microelectronics and more.

Additional information

• Tech Expo 2023 hosts student designs, technological solutions for businesses (Purdue Polytechnic newsroom)
• 2024 Tech Expo project and sponsor information
• Purdue Polytechnic’s School of Engineering Technology
• Ralph Munguia
• Frederick Berry

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CU Boulder students launch hybrid rocket

Blastoff! The rocket soared over the prairie, its unique engine screaming in unison with cheers from more than two dozen students. The months of work, late nights, calculations, and validations had all been worth it.

Three University of Colorado Boulder aerospace senior design teams had come together and successfully designed, built, and launched a 10’ tall, 50 lb. hybrid liquid/solid fuel rocket at Pawnee National Grasslands in rural Weld County.

“This was a really hard design challenge, a very difficult technical dance,” said Matt Rhode, teaching assistant professor in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences and the lead faculty advisor on the project. “A hybrid motor is very difficult technically, requiring analysis in structures, fluids, propulsion, aerodynamics, remote sensing and control. This is a true triumph.”

All CU Boulder aerospace seniors spend two semesters tackling a capstone project that brings together their education with real-world engineering challenges. There are myriad project options for students, from space mission prototypes to reconnaissance drone concepts.

The 36 students of the rocket teams signed up for a project that had bedeviled years of previous seniors.

“I liked the challenge,” said senior Matt Bechtel, who served on the ground system team. “It was something completely different than any other project and had a practical endpoint. We would be able to test it in the exact environment it was designed for, which had a bigger appeal to me than any other project.”

The project saw its genesis more than 20 years ago, when a student approached Rhode about hybrid rockets, which are safer than solid fuel propulsion and not subject to the same U.S. government export restrictions that the turbo pumps necessary for liquid rockets are.

The complexity of the project presented a unique challenge for senior design, and proved to be more than could be accomplished by a single team in just two semesters. This academic year, Rhode split the project into three separate parts: ground systems, airframe, and engine. With dedicated teams for each, they made it to the finish line.

“This project was bigger than any of us,” said senior Gavin Morales, who was project manager for the engine team. “We had highs and lows. Our lowest point was when our second static fire test had an actuation failure with the main valve and just burned out. But we came back, and everybody had the attitude that we’re going to do whatever it takes.”

The students designed and built everything themselves. Even the rocket fuel and oxidizer was manufactured on campus.

“All the mixes went well. The solid propellant was aluminum powder with HTPB, which is a rubbery binder. It’s a non-standard fuel but has high thrust initially, and we were really concerned about getting off the pad, so it made sense,” Morales said.

Each team worked separately toward their portion of the project goals while interfacing regularly to stay aligned. As students like Morales tackled engine design, others were perfecting the embedded systems and dual-deploy parachute systems necessary for the ground station and airframe.

Hybrid solid/liquid rockets are unusual in industry, with Sierra Nevada’s Dream Chaser and Virgin Galactic as the primary users in the United States. Team members, however, discovered commercial interest is high, as the project helped numerous students get post-graduation jobs.

“I’ve been hired by a defense contractor and during the interview process I got to give specific examples from this project that were relevant to their work,” Morales said. “Another team member got a job at SpaceX doing exactly what he did on this project and a member of the ground team posted on LinkedIn about the launch and someone else from SpaceX tagged their boss about hiring him.”

Watching the students progress over two semesters, Rhode was impressed with their commitment to the project.

“These were a bunch of good students,” Rhode said. “They were motivated and dedicated and spent a lot of extra hours and got it done. Students don’t build this kind of rocket because it’s so hard, but this department has outstanding faculty and a world-class program, and these students got the job done.”

Preparing for the final launch, team members spent 36 hours setting up the rocket and ground equipment. Although there were some final hiccups with a load cell and morning fog that took far longer to clear than hoped, when the final countdown came the rocket went up without a hitch.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been so stressed and I don’t think I’ve ever had such instant relief,” Bechtel said.

Additional Photos

Installing avionics in the rocket body.

Erecting the launchpad and rocket.

Mach diamonds visible during liftoff.

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A Ventilation Coach for Opioid Overdose Bystanders Takes Top Prize at Inaugural Capstone Design Expo

• May 13, 2024

Dean’s Award winners with Dean of the A. James Clark School of Engineering, Samuel Graham, Jr., and Fischell Department of Bioengineering Chair John Fisher.

Published on the A. James Clark School of Engineering website | May 8, 2024

The opioid overdose epidemic—which claimed more than 110,000 lives in the U.S. last year alone—has prompted an urgent need for accessible solutions to save lives outside of hospital settings.

Maryland bioengineering seniors rose to the challenge in the Clark School’s inaugural  Capstone Design Expo  by developing a device that empowers bystanders and non-EMTs to properly and safely provide overdose victims with rescue breaths.

Their capstone design project, “ Accessible Ventilation Coach for Opioid Overdose Bystanders ,” won the Dean’s Award (and a $1,000 prize) at the May 1 event, held on UMD’s College Park campus at the XFINITY Center. The bioengineering team’s innovative adjunctive device, which uses a printed circuit board, connects to a bag valve mask (BVM) and provides visual guide LEDs for the proper rate and depth of breath compressions, along with feedback LEDs synchronized with the user’s performance. An audio system also provides coaching during use, guiding users in real time to increase or decrease their speed or pressure of compressions. Advisors to the team were Associate Professor  Ian White   of the Fischell Department of Bioengineering and  Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices , and physician scientist, entrepreneur, and Associate Dean for Innovation and Physician Science Development at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Dr. Jason Rose.

“The number one cause of death from opioids is respiratory failure,” explained team lead and Clark School senior Kelly Yeung, “so the best immediate treatment is to support respirations. But safe use of a BVM requires training: That’s why we developed this device, to empower people to perform life-saving breaths before EMS arrives,” said Yeung, who also works as an additive technician at  Terrapin Works . “We’ve imagined that this could be similar to an automated external defibrillator for cardiac arrest—and stationed in similar locations.”

The Capstone Design Expo brought more than 500 senior-level students from across Maryland Engineering’s civil and environmental, aerospace, mechanical, and bioengineering programs to present their capstone projects. Working under the guidance of faculty members and industry experts, students engaged in a year-long engineering project process that culminated in the design competition judged by experts in their respective fields.

“I want to thank our students for designing these innovative engineering solutions to some of the grand challenges we’re facing. We are very proud. These projects point to your quality work and collaboration—and to your desire to make a difference in the world through engineering,” Clark School Dean Samuel Graham, Jr., told the participants at the event.

A project judge for civil and environmental engineering,  Michael Galczynski ’12   is an instructor for the Clark School’s  Keystone Program , which provides engineering students with first- and second-year experiential learning projects. “With this Expo, it’s great to catch up with the students I first met three or four years ago and see them bring their knowledge and experiences full circle,” he said.

Civil and environmental engineering senior projects ranged from heat index and power outage emergency frameworks, to analysis of roadway infrastructure, to “cooler” solutions for bus stop design in Washington, D.C. Working under the guidance of Professor  Deb Niemeier , the Clark Distinguished Chair in Energy and Sustainability, with senior project manager at Allan Myers Will Sigafoose as client contact, the department’s winning project, “ Alternative Central Avenue Conduit System ,” provides a case study in response to the Central Avenue Design-Build project in Baltimore and serves as a general guide for future conduit redevelopment projects.

“The students are eager to show what they’ve accomplished, not only solving engineering problems but helping to solve ethical and social issues, too,” said  Nii O. Attoh-Okine , chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. “It’s not all about profit, but it’s about answering the question, ‘how did we touch others with our design’?”

Fischell Family Distinguished Professor and Fischell Department of Bioengineering Chair and MPower Professor   John Fisher  said the event provided an “exciting opportunity” to showcase collaboration—between students, faculty, industry experts, and the Clark School community. “It’s a great opportunity to see what the bioengineering students are doing, but also what else is going on in the college,” he said. “This bringing together of a variety of different backgrounds, cultures, and ideas—it’s great for everybody.”

Bioengineering and biocomputational engineering majors worked to make medicine safer, more effective, and more accessible through projects that aim to improve current standards of care for treating aneurysms, diagnosing Covid-19, improving the tracheostomy process, and more. The winning team’s project, “ A Modified Syringe Design to Simplify the Preparation of Weight-Based Pediatric Medication ,” proposes a cost-effective, user-friendly, syringe-like device that features an adjustment dial to reduce risk of error and improve pediatric patient outcomes.

Project judge Matthew Dowling ’12 is founder and chief scientific officer of biotechnology research company Medcura and a member of the department’s advisory board. Having participated in departmental capstone showcases for several years, he said he always enjoys the interaction with students. “I get to hear how they’re learning about bioengineering and applying what they learn,” he said. “It’s great how they’re partnered with clinicians who introduce them to real, unmet needs—that’s huge.”

Aerospace engineering seniors built innovative space and air system designs. Among the projects for lunar exploration was departmental winner “ SITIS: Subsurface Ice and Terrain In-Situ Surveyor .” A large-scale lunar crater prospector, SITIS is equipped with instruments to collect and analyze data samples from permanently shadowed—and extremely cold and dark—regions of the moon, Sverdrup-Henson craters. Separately, the team was also selected to compete at the  2024 RASC-AL Competition  sponsored by NASA.

Alison Flatau , chair of the Department of Aerospace Engineering, called the Capstone Design Expo “a fantastic opportunity for students and faculty.” She said she was impressed with how well teams of more than twenty students tasked with mission challenges were able to integrate their pieces of the larger, system-level scope. “It gave me a great sense of pride seeing how well prepared our students are for taking on the big and high-impact challenges that are ahead of them.”

Project judge  Megan Bock ’06, M.Eng. ’10 , a missions systems engineer at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, remembers her own capstone process as a Clark School student. “I know what the capstone experience did for me. I learned a ton, and it was probably the most realistic simulation of life as a NASA engineer,” she said. That’s why she returns to campus: “I view this as part of the cycle of life, and I want to come back and see who I’m going to be working with someday.”

The latest iterations of the  Get Out and Learn (GOAL) Engineering Kits  for local school children, assistive devices for clients with disabilities, and several designs for underwater manipulators for small remotely operated vehicles (ROV) are just a few of the innovative prototypes built by mechanical engineering seniors this year. Departmental winner, “ AquatiClaw ,” is a low-cost lightweight underwater manipulator or “arm” that’s designed to grab, sample, and inspect various objects (such as sampling oysters in commercial fishing, or repairing marine machinery while it is submerged). Built with the guidance of  Nehemiah Emaikwu ’17, Ph.D. ’22 , AquatiClaw is made to be used with the BlueROV and other commercial submersibles and remotely controlled using a readily available PlayStation 2 controller.

Harry Dankowicz , chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, noted the enormous diversity—and coverages—he saw at Capstone Design Expo. “Even in different engineering disciplines, our students are often tasked with the same kinds of challenges, and they have to bring in tools from outside of what they’re immediately learning,” he said. “There’s both the diversification of the problems and the convergences that really make a difference to solutions.”

As executive vice president and chief operating officer at the Housing Authority of Baltimore City, mechanical engineering alumna and project judge Monica Watkins ’94 is always on the lookout for tomorrow’s engineers. “I have made it my personal mission to be involved,” she said, and she liked what she saw. “What I’m observing is the thought process—the intentionality, the critical thinking, the strategic planning and design. We value those skills. Not just that you’re an engineer, but that you have the mindset to work through problems and recommend solutions that we may not have considered.”

For the Dean’s Award winners, the team is looking ahead to what’s next for their medical device to empower opioid overdose bystanders. “I was super stoked to hear from everyone that they wanted to see this go to market and that they see this as a viable solution,” said Yeung. “Moving forward I want to see where this goes. I think it could be something big.”

To read more about all 98 student teams, visit the  Capstone Design Expo site .

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