Students from the School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering demonstrate their penchant for innovating at the EID09 Open House.

A showcase of the accomplishments of future inventors and entrepreneurs, the annual NTU Engineering Innovation and Design Competition (EID) saw some 63 design prototypes on display at the EID09 Open House held on 5 June at the Nanyang Auditorium.

The technological innovations were the outcome of team-based projects by some 800 second-year School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering (MAE) students, who spent slightly over a month taking their creation from conception to fabrication. With innovation, social relevance and economic viability forming the bedrock of their designs, the students developed their ideas in one of five categories – Aerospace and Transportation, Design and Innovation, Energy and Environment, Health, Lifestyle and Assistive Technologies, and Safety and Security.

As part of the five-week-long competition, the student entrepreneurs attended a series of workshops and lectures in engineering, finance, and business strategy. Divided into 63 teams with faculty members as their mentors, they not only had to conceptualise and develop creative solutions to real-world problems, but also draw up viable business plans to adapt their projects for real-world commercial applications.

Real-world impact
Among the clever designs showcased at the Open House was Mr EZ-Bin, a user-friendly non-electrical rubbish bin that automatically seals and disposes of a full trash bag, replacing it with a new one when a pedal is pressed. The mechanism of the bin eliminates the need for cleaners to frequently replace trash bags in bins, especially those located in congested areas. This ingenious invention scooped up the first prize in the Design and Innovation Category of the competition.

Another noteworthy invention, TranSPOT, alerts the visually-impaired when the bus they are waiting for is approaching. This device received positive feedback from the industry for its market potential. The HABS (Hybrid Adult/Baby Seat) car seat, another winning creation, enables the back seat of a car to be easily transformed into a child car seat complete with a baby harness and inflatable sides. It was one of the designs aimed at enhancing safety.

Says Assoc Prof Cai Yiyu, EID Coordinator: "This competition serves as a good platform for NTU students to showcase their project management skills and potential in applied research work. It gives them the opportunity to come up with innovative solutions while working under the constraints of a budget and tight timeline. It is a real test of the students' creativity and ability to transform abstract concepts into useful and marketable applications."

© Corporate Communications Office