WATERLOO - University of Waterloo engineering students will showcase innovative class projects, including a device to ease heart surgery and a robot that detects fires, next week.

The annual exhibitions by third- and fourth-year students in mechatronics engineering and systems design engineering are open to the public. On Monday (March 23), mechatronics students will display their projects in the Student Life Centre, from 1 to 5 p.m. Then on Wednesday (March 25), systems design students will present their projects in the William G. Davis Centre, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"These engineering projects push the boundaries of innovation and visitors from the university, community and local high schools are welcome to browse the exciting projects and meet with student presenters," said Daniel Stashuk, professor of system design engineering. "As systems design engineers, our students use a multi-disciplinary approach to define, analyze and solve problems at the interface of society, technology and the environment."

The systems design projects, which address an environmental objective with patentable intellectual property, include a non-invasive heart surgery anchoring device, a bio-electric controlled prosthetic arm, a retrofit insulated roofing system and a saltwater de-icing sprinkler for driveways.

"Our exhibition will showcase the multi-disciplinary nature of mechatronics engineering," said Jan Huissoon, professor of mechanical and mechatronics engineering. "Students design computer-controlled electromechanical systems in areas such as robotics and automation systems, neural prosthetics and micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS)."

At the mechatronics design symposium, projects include an ergonomic wheelchair that runs on both electric and human power, a user-friendly prosthetic hand capable of exerting variable force and a robot equipped with advanced fire detection technology.