Partner: Atlantic Beef Products Inc.

ABPI has requested the design of a new water softening system that is more efficient than the current apparatus that will increase production line capacity by 34%. The current system undergoes a slow regeneration process once a day for each tank, which impedes the softened water output and slows production. The solution shall decrease regeneration time and increase regeneration capacity while maintaining water quality and meeting space constraints without increasing maintenance.

Student Team: Abdelrahman Elgendy, Adhil Mohammed Shaji, Brian MacDonald, Matthew Hutchinson, Sandeep Kooyelas.

The Atlantic Veterinary College seeks a new calf birthing simulation station. The current design is heavy and difficult to clean. The new design must be lightweight, cleanable, mobile, easy to store and resemble bovine anatomy.

Student Team: Caleb Boswall, Jonah Keizer, Jay Nair, Clara Grant.

The City of Charlottetown has requested the design of an active indoor green wall that enhances air purification and humidification in the West Royalty Community Centre (WRCC) building. The community center does not have plants due to high maintenance requirements and limited sun exposure. The solution must be an active indoor green wall design with an automated irrigation system and low maintenance that promotes indoor-environmental and psychological benefits.

Student Team: Ahmed Ramadan, Ali El-Shenawy, Luciana Davila, Sarah Victor.

Health PEI has requested an adapter for an endoscope that allows a smartphone to capture the procedure for remote diagnosis and record keeping. Existing solutions are expensive or not durable in practice. An easy-to-use solution must accurately capture the image from the eyepiece without impacting the procedure or damaging the endoscope.

Student Team: Colby White, Ethan Kelly, Liam MacLennan, Lauren Daigle. 

Infinity Energy has requested the design of a sun-tracking solar panel stand for a single 2 m x 1 m solar panel that is portable and operates in remote locations. Pre-existing large-scale sun tracking systems are fixed in place and have complex mechanisms making them a non-viable option for remote solar power. The solution shall accomplish being portable and self-powering while tracking the sun without risking the safety of the users. 

Student Team: John Churton, Daniel Collins, Brett Curley, Elliott Fraser, Caleb Macdonald.

A device is requested to assist a user with 3-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA hydrolase (HIBCH) to play a traditional Mi’kmaq drum alongside their community. This rare metabolic disease causes limited mobility in the extremities, which requires the user to be wheelchair-dependent. The requested device will be portable, operated with the right hand, have a minimal response time, and protect the surface of the drum.

Student Team: Amara Sánchez, Ashhad Adil Mohammed, Christian d’Entremont, Diego A. Mota.

MDS Coating Technologies has requested a device to eliminate the manual loading and flipping of blisks at three product inspection stations in the quality assurance process. The repetitive process can cause strain on the inspectors and increase the risk of blisk damage. The solution will integrate with existing machines and processes, preserve the safety of the products, and maintain the efficiency of workflow.

Student Team: Stuart Ferguson, Riley Fitzpatrick, Dunovan McGuire, Wesley Seto, Leo Truong.

The PEI Bag Company has requested help to design a bag packaging station that minimizes the physical labor required. The current manual process involves poor ergonomics due to repeated bending and twisting while carrying heavy bundles, which poses risks of injury. The improved process must decrease physical strain while being cost-efficient and not impacting productivity.

Student Team: Khiym MacEwen, Dat Le, Abdul Basit.

The Prince County Hospital requests a semi-permanent locking solution for the 150 windows to improve patient safety. Currently, the windows are locked with an Allen key. The device will be cost-efficient, openable only by specific personnel, and compatible with the existing design.

Student Team: Abdulrhim Abusneena, Ezaan Ahmad, Priya D Succaram, Ben MacEachern.

The Souris Harbor Authority Inc. (SHAI) has requested a packaging solution that is more sustainable and cost-effective for the operation of processing millions of pounds of bait each year. Presently, the system uses a large amount of single-use plastic bags and cardboard, resulting in the company producing significant waste and increasing the cost of the production of bait. The solution must resolve the unsustainable nature of the current process without sacrificing the integrity of the packaging, the ability to label the product effectively, and user satisfaction.

Student Team: Berry Genge, Brittney Foster, Josh McIssac, Mikkayla Ellsworth-Reid, Owen Stewart.

Special Olympics PEI has requested an assistive bocce ball ramp that improves both the in-game experience for wheelchair athletes who have limited mobility, and the ease of assembly and operation for the volunteers. The current design is hard to assemble, does not support the ball, and has sharp edges that can be harmful to athletes and volunteers. The new design should be safe, free-standing, adjustable, maneuverable on grass, and transportable.

Student Team: Spencer Blacquiere, Adam Mackenzie, Aaron Mccloskey, Sami Yacoub.

Upcycle Green Technology desires a fibreglass truck box and frame design for electric pickup trucks converted from Toyota Corollas. The current manufacturing method has no standard procedure, resulting in excessive time and cost to fabricate, which is challenging to adapt for mass production. The new design shall be easily mass-manufacturable and maintain the vehicle’s original weight, payload, and safety requirements.

Student Team: Maddy Cronin, Feras El-Tayeb, Deanna Malone, Zackary Pendleton, Matthew Perry.