The UNLV College of Engineering’s problem solvers of tomorrow are getting ready to strut their stuff and show off their technological know-how, expertise, and ingenuity during the Fall 2022 Fred and Harriet Cox Senior Design Competition.

The bi-annual event tasks soon-to-be engineering graduates with creating practical solutions to engineering or computer science challenges. 

“You would think that your solution would be just a small impact on the community, but actually it could help so many other people,” said Alyssa Reylin Gatdula, an engineering student in the competition. “It could be used worldwide and you never know where it will take you.”

The student effort to jump-start their professional lives is rated by a panel of industry experts who judge the ideas based on their presentation, sustainability, and likelihood of breaking into the commercial market.

“Our students are hands-on,” said Rama Venkat, Dean of the Howard Hughes College of Engineering. “They take the idea, they design it, build it, test it, and make sure it works.”

Inventors displayed their creations on Dec. 9 inside the Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall and nearby UNLV Foundation Building Blasco Event Wing.

“I like senior design because it gives you an open canvas,” said Nicolas Kosanovic, a student presenting an automatic instrument tuner called Tuni. “You really have no restrictions on whatever you want to do.”

More than 30 student inventions were displayed during this fall's competition, including: 

Rescue Robot

Crisis scenarios are often too dangerous for humans to go near, but a robot could start assisting immediately. Using GPS coordinates and superior strength, a Rescue Robot can clear a path for human rescuers and lower the likelihood of further casualties.

Pet Pal

If you struggle to control your pets’ diets and wish you could interact with them more when you’re away from home, the Pet Pal is for you. The invention can feed pets their unique servings separately with an electronically controlled lid. It also allows for the pet to see its owner through a camera, who can then distribute treats. And it’s all controlled through an app.

RT Script

Accessibility among hearing aids, pocket translators, and transcribers is all over the place – but there’s a solution. A single device that is portable and user-friendly will help anyone with impairments or disabilities with speech and language in ways previously unseen in the market.

Firefly Breathing Apparatus

Firefighters make a career of charging into danger to save members of their community, and it takes a serious toll. Aside from the physical dangers, health conditions from smoke inhalation can sideline our first responders (sometimes permanently). The Firefly filter cleans and cools the air being inhaled, with a design ensuring comfort and durability for the most hazardous of jobs.

DevHour

Some of our diets require a bit more finesse to satisfy, whether it’s because of allergies or religious observations. This application lets any users conscious of calories, allergies, gluten, and any other dietary restriction find a suitable restaurant for them.

Rain or Shine Sanctuary

Imagine booking a trip to a theme park only for it to be raining when you finally arrive. Half of the attractions shut down, spoiling the fun. That’s an issue of the past. A massive solar-powered shading umbrella can block out the rain and supply shade from intense heat, while also having no impact on the scenery.

Tule Springs Runoff Mitigation

Contesting Mother Nature can be an uphill battle – or a downhill one. The Tule Springs National Monument in North Las Vegas is being damaged from rainwater runoff with no plan in place. This solution would stabilize the soil upstream and design a means to divert the water flow away from the historical site.

“They are excited and I’m excited because they’re excited," said Venkat. "And hopefully the local community is excited to support these students.”