This report presents the final design concept for a power grader intended to groom gravel walking trails while enabling angled operation to enhance water runoff. Developed in collaboration with Parks Canada and Princess Auto, the project addressed two primary shortcomings identified in the current grader: insufficient weight and limited blade motion. Based on a rigorous evaluation of three concepts: a dual-blade system with actuator-controlled angle adjustment, an actuated frame-repositioning design, and a quick-release blade swapping mechanism. After assessing all options, the dual-blade system was selected as the final solution due to its balance of controllability, weight distribution, and mechanical simplicity.

Parks Canada deploys mobility mats on their beaches to improve accessibility for individuals using wheelchairs, strollers, and other mobility aids. However, during storms and high winds, these mats can become buried under heavy sand, making manual rolling and unrolling diƯicult and time-consuming. 

Proposed Solution: The team designed and built a half-scale prototype of a motorized rolling system. The device uses a DC motor to rotate a central pipe, allowing the mat to be rolled up efficiently. The motor can also be reversed to unroll the mat when needed. 

Key Features:  

• Motorized rolling and unrolling system  

• Reversible DC motor  

• Reduced manual labor for Parks Canada staff  

• Portable design 

Conclusion: The prototype successfully demonstrated a practical and eƯicient solution for reducing the physical eƯort required to manage mobility mats. The design shows strong potential for full-scale implementation in real-world beach environments. 

Our goal of the project is to reduce human work for rolling and unrolling the mobility mats on the beaches.

This is a motor-drive mechanism cleaning the sands off from the mobility mat while rolling it and easily for unloading the mat roller. At the entrance of the system, the dual brushes clean the sand off while the mat moving. Then the motor makes the shaft rotate within the clipped mat rolling around. After the roll finished, we take off the brush bar and slide the topper frame into the bottom. Next, we can move the roller out from the slots on the bases for storage. When unrolling the mat, we reverse the procedure and change the switch direction.

The design effectively releases the manual work and environmental damage risks. And it creatively puts rolling, cleaning, and removing processes seamlessly in only one system with the smooth shape inspired by the game Pac-man. The slots design, the assembled thought, and the brush position selection are all our innovative highlights. In conclusion, the design combines practicality, operability, and sustainability.

This project focuses on designing and developing an attachment for a street sweeper used by Parks Canada. The goal is to create a system capable of cleaning the 12-inch gap between the sweeper and the curb, an area that the current equipment cannot effectively reach. A key challenge is handling debris such as sand, which can significantly increase in weight when wet, requiring the solution to be both durable and efficient.

The project draws on concepts from mechanical engineering, particularly in areas such as hydraulics, machine design, and material selection. The final design integrates with the existing hydraulic system of the tractor, ensuring compatibility without requiring major modifications.

The proposed solution is a hydraulically powered circular brush system mounted to the side of the sweeper. This design is innovative in its simplicity and practicality, using a rotating brush with adjustable positioning to effectively move debris into the path of the main sweeper. Compared to other concepts considered, such as a plow or compressed air system, this approach offers improved efficiency, reliability, and ease of implementation.

Overall, the project aims to deliver a functional and cost-effective solution that meets the operational needs of Parks Canada while incorporating real-world engineering constraints and design considerations.

The project focuses on the design and development of an expandable auger drill with the goal to achieve a less-manual planting solution through efficiency, consistency, user-friendliness, and environmentally friendly parts. The auger drills have the ability to expand up to 14 inches in diameter, while the operator only needs to carry two auger drills for widths from 4 – 8 inches and 8 – 12 inches.

This project focuses on designing a portable system to help Parks Canada workers safely remove and replace batteries in electric zero-turn lawn mowers. Each mower uses four batteries that weigh around 65 pounds each, making the current process difficult and potentially unsafe when done manually in the field.

The goal of this project was to create a system that reduces physical strain, improves safety, and allows a single operator to complete battery swaps more easily. The final design includes a stable base and a rotating lifting arm. The base provides support on uneven terrain, while the arm uses a winch and linear actuator to lift and position the batteries with better control.

The design combines mechanical and electrical components into a simple, portable system that can be assembled and used in the field without modifying the mower. Overall, this solution makes battery swapping safer, more efficient, and more practical for realworld use, with potential for further improvements through full scale testing and refinement.