ANN ARBOR—Twenty-three prototype machines and devices designed and built by University of Michigan mechanical engineering students will be displayed at Design Expo ?97, 1:30 – 5 p.m. on Thursday (April 17) in the atrium of the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Building, 1301 Beal Ave., on the U-M?s North Campus.

The event is free and open to the public. Students will be available to answer questions about their prototypes. Elementary, middle and high school students interested in engineering careers are encouraged to attend.

Each semester, teams of undergraduates in the senior mechanical engineering design course are given problems submitted by industry sponsors or U-M faculty. During the 12-week course, students must design and build a working prototype that solves the problem.

Prototypes on display April 17 will include:

–A high-speed seat restraint system designed to secure a vehicle operator in his or her seat without using seat belts. Sponsored by the U.S. Army TACOM unit.

–A prototype machine for twisting and cutting wire used to produce fibers for reinforcing concrete and ceramic-based matrices. Sponsored by National Standard Co.

–An endotracheal intubation glove designed to help medical personnel insert a breathing tube into a patient?s trachea. Sponsored by private consultant Kalil Jiraki, M.D.

–A headlight twist-and-lock base design for the plastic base on automotive halogen headlights which will simplify and improve the manufacturing process. Sponsored by GE Lighting.