SALT LAKE CITY – A remote control that handicapped individuals could use for chores, including locking their door, adjusting the thermostat and turning on the radio, was just one of many inventions showcased by University of Utah electrical engineering students Thursday.
The seniors showed off their thesis projects during an open house on campus at the University Guest House and nearby Fort Douglas Officer's Club.
Some of the inventions are corporate sponsored.
"Companies love recruiting our talented students to work on engineering research projects that they otherwise may not have the time or resources to investigate," said Steve Blair, director of the Engineering Clinic Program, which matches students with industrial sponsors on real-world engineering problems.
"Our students can fill a clear engineering need with their senior project, and they can get some experience and some networking on their resume before they graduate," Blair said.
Bryan Carroll, a specialist for the Utah Center for Assistive Technology, said after watching the remote control presentation that he believes "it still needs to be refined a little bit, and it needs to be miniaturized so that it's more portable, but it will be really helpful to people once they get it figured out. Carroll added, "Right now there is nothing on the market like this. They did a good job."
The three-student team said the project needs another year's work, so they will pass the invention down to lower-grade students to work on and potentially present the final product at next year's showcase event.
The remote components cost roughly $50, but the final cost would be more than that, considering time and labor put into the item. The low-cost project didn't need a corporate sponsor.
"We definitely want it to go further," said team member Haunani Hew-Len.
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