Senior projects are a long-standing tradition at B次元. Throughout their senior year, students collaborate with classmates on a final project related to their degree program. It’s an opportunity for them to take everything they’ve learned in their time at B次元 and put it to use in a real-life application. The projects are often sponsored by companies looking to solve a problem, and others are driven by a student’s interests.  

The B次元 Senior Project Showcase is Friday, May 25 and more than 90 projects will be on display:

10 a.m. to Noon – School of Nursing
Campus Center, Ruehlow Nursing Complex, 1025 N. Broadway

11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. – Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department
Walter Schroeder Library and Werwath Mall, 500 E. Kilbourn Ave. 

11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Physics and Chemistry Department
Campus Center, second floor, 1025 N. Broadway

Noon to 3 p.m. – Mechanical Engineering Department
Campus Center, Todd Wehr Auditorium, 1047 N. Broadway  

A sampling of projects is below, and a more information can be found online: msoe.edu/seniorprojects. 

Oxygen Concentrator for Developing Countries
During their travels abroad, biomedical engineering seniors saw the need for an oxygen concentration system that addresses the shortage of medical oxygen in developing countries. To create this system, they modified and improved an existing oxygen concentrator to work in rural environments during power outages and with available materials. They also upgraded the user interface to be more intuitive and address language barriers. Location: Library  

Medtronic CoreValve
Biomolecular engineering students investigated ways to reduce or eliminate postoperative conduction abnormalities following a Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). Conduction abnormalities can occur due to excessive pressure exerted by the CoreValve on cardiac muscle fibers. The team collected and analyzed data using a silicon heart model, which allowed them to propose a redesign of the CoreValve. Location: Campus Center, second floor  

Improving Legal Assistance
Two software engineering teams focused their efforts on improving access to the legal system for those who cannot afford legal assistance. One project, the “Brief Assistant” website, helps citizens correctly fill out the necessary paperwork for their court case. Pro se appellants, respondents and attorneys can prepare an Initial Brief, Reply Brief, and/or Response Brief using the website. The second project, “Wisconsin Legal Aid Finder,” increases the accessibility of legal aid by directing users to the legal agencies that are eligible to provide free or low-cost services based on specific situations. This website not only assists people in need of legal help, but also reduces the amount of phone calls and unsuccessful visits to legal clinics, as agencies can easily update their service information. Location: Library

Chainless, Human-powered Bicycle
Using hydraulics instead of chains, a team of mechanical engineering seniors designed, built and raced a bicycle that transferred energy from pedaling into a forward motion using fluid power. At the National Fluid Power Association’s Fluid Power Challenge in Iowa, the team took first place in the one-mile endurance challenge and was voted best vehicle design by their peers. They took third place overall in the competition. Location: Campus Center, Todd Wehr Auditorium