ANN ARBOR—Improved mammography, a more aerodynamic airplane wing and a steering wheel that can keep your hands warm or cool—these are just a few of the nearly 20 student projects on display Tuesday (Dec. 9) at the University of Michigan’s Mechanical Design Expo ’97.

The Expo features work by seniors in ME 450, a mechanical engineering course that teaches them how to apply their knowledge to real-life problems. The projects span everything from windshield wipers to welding, and many of the designs could lead to major technological breakthroughs. One project, for example, Design for a Variable Camber Airfoil, could pave the way for more fuel efficient, quieter airplanes that can take off at low speeds without the need for ailerons and flaps. Another project, the Ultrasound Transducer Translating System, which is being done in cooperation with researchers at the U-M Radiology Department, might make X-ray mammography more effective by adding a third spatial dimension to the screening tests. In addition to building teamwork skills, students in ME450 are also exposed to industrial sponsorship. Projects like the Part Loader/Unloader, which was funded by Lamb Technion, give students a chance to work on truly applied research. The Expo, which will take place 1:30-5:00 p.m. in the Atrium of the EECS Building on North Campus, is open to the public and the media. For more information, contact Prof. Sridhar Kota, course leader for ME 450, at (313) 936-0357.

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