91社区

Our capstone projects have a focus on medical technologies and devices, as well as health and multidisciplinary projects. Projects are sourced from academia and industry, thereby giving students the opportunity to work on and provide solutions to听relevant issues and questions. Projects start in September and end early April every year.

The 2023-2024 Capstone Projects are listed hereunder.听

For any questions, please contact medtec.design [at] mcgill.ca.

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P1 鈥� Calibration Flow Bench for flow and pressure calibration of a medical device

Project Category: MEDTEC 鈥� Industry

THORASYS Thoracic Medical Systems Inc.

Designing and building a compact, robust and cost-efficient version of our current calibration flow bench which includes a blower, manometer and flowmeter, coupled with a software for controlling a valve.

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P4 鈥� Multi-Camera Surgical Setup for Image-Guided Neurosurgery

Project Category: MEDTEC - Faculty

Dr. Louis Collins听/ Dr. Houssem Gueziri听

One of the most important components for image-guided neurosurgery is the ability to accurately track surgical instruments during navigation. This can be performed using a high-end infrared (IR) camera and reflective spheres or a low-cost standard RGB camera and printed markers. Despite their ability to collect the spatial position and orientation of a surgical instrument, these optical systems face challenges such as occlusion and limited visibility, which restrict the surgeon's operative movements. To overcome these limitations, one proposed solution involves the placement of multiple tracking cameras around the operative field. These cameras would offer various perspectives and coverage during surgery. Yet, combining multiple tracking sources is not straightforward. In addition, each source would yield different tracking accuracy depending on the markers distance, configuration, visibility, orientation, lighting conditions and other external factors.

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P5 鈥� Robotic tray assembly

Project Category: Mechanical Engineering - Industry

Chef Jasper

Our company has developed a robotic kitchen that can cook a large variety of recipes. (See chefjasper.com/product ) Following the cooking process, a human operator currently plates various dishes and puts all items on a tray to be handed over to the consumer.

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P6 鈥� Robotic dishwasher

Project Category: Mechanical Engineering - Industry

Chef Jasper

Our company has developed a robotic kitchen that can cook a large variety of recipes. (See chefjasper.com/product ) In the cooking process, we use various types of containers, as well as cooking appliances that require cleaning 鈥� which we have not yet automated.

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P7 鈥� Design of a New Coupling Mechanism for Structural Rocket Components

Project Category: 91社区 Design Team

91社区 Rocket Team

The project would entail the design a radax coupling system to connect the different structural components of a rocket together (i.e., intertank, composite body tubes, etc.).

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P8 鈥� FSAE Car Scale Model Wind Tunnel Testing

Project Category: 91社区 Design Team

91社区 Formula SAE (91社区 Formula Electric)

The aim of the project is to strengthen the foundation under the aerodynamic design of MFE cars by providing a test facility to validate the aerodynamic simulations and theoretical calculations before implementing the design on the full-scale car.

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P9 鈥� 91社区 Baja Racing MB24-CVT Capstone

Project Category: 91社区 Design Team

91社区 Baja Racing

This project aims to design, manufacture, and implement custom CVT components for MB24, 91社区 Baja Racing鈥檚 forthcoming vehicle. The preceding CVT in MB23 aimed to refine our mechanically successful design from years prior in order to optimize it for traction limited acceleration. Practical testing was conducted in order to determine the engine RPM and Torque curves, drag coefficient, rolling resistance and other parameters to model the theoretical traction limited acceleration of MB23. This was used to determine ideal transmission ratios, from which clutch dimensions, spring rates and flyweight masses within the CVT were optimized for. However, as the system is solid state this optimization achieved a balance between top speed and acceleration performance, rather than maximizing any one in particular.

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P10 鈥� Large scale design and implementation of algae collection and cultivation device (Algo)

Project Category: Mechanical Engineering - Industry

Biocene Solutions (startup)

Algal blooms present a significant environmental challenge, characterized by the detrimental overgrowth of algae in water bodies due to elevated temperatures, agricultural runoff, and industrial waste. These blooms result in diminished oxygen levels in water, blockage of sunlight crucial for aquatic life, and the release of harmful toxins. Addressing this issue, Biocene Solutions鈥� Algo is an innovative solution that employs specialized devices within water bodies to regulate and manage algae levels. The collected algae can then be repurposed for biomass production or to create biofuel, biochar, compost, fertilizer, pigmentation, animal feed, and other value-added products. Unlike existing solutions, which often involve using harmful chemical solvents or expensive ultrasound treatments that eliminate algae but also disrupt ecosystems, Algo takes a different approach. By harvesting the algae and transforming it into biomass, Algo not only aids in revitalizing water bodies impacted by algal blooms but also generates a valuable resource in the form of organic fertilizer and clean energy.

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P13 鈥� Design and transformation of lathe machining process and tooling

Project Category: Mechanical Engineering - Industry

Pratt and Whitney Canada

Pratt and Whitney Canada, is a leading aviation company, seeks to address a critical manufacturing challenge related to the turning process of disks which are used in the development of aircraft engines. The disks possess specific geometry, such as thin walls, circular shapes, and complex edge definitions,

which together with the material properties, pose difficulties in securely clamping the material during the turning process. The current clamping issue poses safety concerns, as it may lead to accidental part disengagement due to the high forces involved in the turning process. Conversely, excessive clamping force can cause deformation of the delicate part material, compromising the overall quality and performance of the engine component. This issue results in significant downtime for the machine, requiring frequent pauses by the operator to adjust the clamping and positioning of the part.

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P14 鈥� A wearable monitor for detecting bladder fullness

Project Category: MEDTEC 鈥� Faculty

Prof. Emily Porter

Urinary incontinence (UI) affects more than 200 million individuals worldwide, and is particularly prevalent in women, the elderly, those with spinal cord injuries, and children and young adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. UI can have a significant negative impact on an individual鈥檚 quality of life, independence, and dignity. A wearable device that provides an alert as the bladder is approaching full could be very valuable in allowing users to void on time. A support tool for those with UI should be safe for 24/7 use, non-invasive, low-cost, and discreet. This project will focus on the design of a wearable bladder monitoring for detecting when the bladder is full of urine

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P15 鈥� Hydrogen Fuel Cell for Flight

Project Category: 91社区 Design Team

91社区 Drones and Vertical Flight Society

This project has a goal to develop a hydrogen fuel cell that could replace the lithium polymer batteries that are currently in use on our competition drones. H2VTOL drones have very high potential, as demonstrated in recent years. This kind of technology has proved to be more energy dense than standard batteries, which is why it represents a great solution to flight time issues with green-powered modern drones.

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P16 鈥� Tailsitter Drone Horizontal and Vertical Test Stand

Project Category: 91社区 Design Team

91社区 Drones and Vertical Flight Society

This project focuses on the creation of a specialized fixed-wing, tailsitter drone systems test stand for comprehensive testing and evaluation of various components and subsystems. The drone test stand will provide a controlled environment to simulate real-world flight conditions and assess the performance and functionality of the drone's systems. Ideally, there would be two test stands, or a design that could accommodate hovering flight and horizontal flight modes for a tailsitter drone. Multiple similar projects have been completed by MDVFS in the past, such as a vertical flight test stand for the tailsitter as well as a motor test stand with the associated data acquisition setup. These resources are also available for any contributor to the systems test stand to be developed.

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P18 鈥� Shock-absorbing High Heel Shoe (mechanical engineering, biomimetic design)

Project Category: MEDTEC 鈥� Faculty

Prof. Natalie Reznikov

High heel shoes are popular for their aesthetic effect despite the overt discomfort for the wearer. The elevation of the heel constraints the natural shock-absorbing quality of the human foot, and disadvantageously shifts the body weight to the forefoot. While some wearers develop impressive poise on high heels, most wearers experience fatigue, rigidity of the gait, foot arch deformities, and even foot injuries and lower back pain.

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P21 鈥� Automatic Measuring and Dispensing Device for Liquid Silicone

Project Category: Mechanical Engineering - Industry

Freely Toys (startup of recent 91社区 engineering students)

Key assets: Creativity, mechatronic design, control systems design

As we scale, we need to streamline our manufacturing process. In the current process, silicone is manually poured from large buckets into a container. This container is on a scale which is used to measure the mass of silicone. We have identified this step to be the source of significant delays in our process.

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P23 鈥� Development of a double ventricular dynamic phantom to assess microvascular lung hydraulic resistance

Project Category: MEDTEC - Faculty

Prof. Rosaire Mongrain

Pulmonary circulation plays a crucial role in oxygenating the blood and ensuring that the body's vital organs
receive the necessary oxygen to function properly. Unfortunately, disorders related to the pulmonary
circulation system can lead to serious health problems and even death. In particular, for premature babies,
pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) is one the best indicator of survival. The means to measure PVR are
limited and especially in a non-invasive context. The ultimate goal of the project is to refine a new
mathematical model for the evaluation of PVR using imaging data and peripheral pressure assessment as
diagnostic tool.听

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P24 鈥� Development of an abrasion testing setup to assess coating adherence of medical device

Project Category: MEDTEC - Faculty

Prof. Rosaire Mongrain

Interventional medical devices and implants (catheters, canulae, stents, biopsy collectors) are often coated
with a polymer, bristles or plasma layers to achieve certain functions (drug elution, fluid collection,
nanoparticles transport). During the operation, the device interact with the surrounding tissue (blood, mucus,
organ). During that interaction, the coating might be damaged (eroded, scratched, removed) which affects the
efficiency of the device.

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P25 鈥� Cascaded airfoil wind turbine (CAWT) prototype

Project Category: Mechanical Engineering - Industry

Wind Enairgy Inc.

Wind Enairgy Inc. is developing a novel cascaded airfoil wind turbine (CAWT) prototype, which is based on the company鈥檚 US patent 10,683,841 B2. The completed proof-of-concept prototype will be tested in a wind tunnel to assess its mechanical operation and to determine its aerodynamic efficiency. It is understood that wind tunnel testing is beyond the project scope. Drawings of the CAWT prototype have been created and are shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The drawings include a complete bill of materials sourced from McMaster-Carr (ww.mcmaster.com). The SolidWorks assembly drawings can be used to construct the frame and drivetrain of the rotor. The approximate

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P26 鈥� Wrapping Fluids in Air for Zero Contact Flow

Project Category: Mechanical Engineering - Faculty

Prof. Reza Farivar and Prof. Rosaire Mongrain

Algae have one of the highest rate of photosynthesis, and industrial algae production contributes to not only intense carbon capture, but production of organic fertilizer and nutritional supplements. Modern bioreactors for algae growth use a series of translucent tubes to expose the algae growth media to the sun and induce photosynthesis, but a persistent challenge with these designs is the fouling of the translucent tubes by organic matter. This problem persists even with various coatings, and more intense coatings have a risk of decreasing the available sunlight, thereby reducing growth efficiency.

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P27 鈥� Design of PCR chambers for improved cooling speed

Project Category: Mechanical Engineering - Industry

Prof. Andrew Kirk

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is widely used to amplify and identify DNA samples and is now well-known as providing the most sensitive test for COVID19. Most commercial PCR systems require over an hour to produce a result, but we have demonstrated a new approach that uses laser heating of gold nanoparticles to drive the reaction [1, 2]. This has allowed us to produce test results in under ten minutes and opens the technique up to point-of-care applications. In the PCR system, samples (10-20 microlitres of liquid contained in a 100 microlitre thin-walled plastic tube) must be cyclically heated and cooled between 55 degrees C to 92 degrees C. Typically 3- to 40 cycles are run, and DNA product is measured in real-time using fluorescence methods. In the current system, the rate of cooling has become one of the main limitations to speed. While in the past we have experimented with cooling via chilled air, we have not previously considered optimizing the design of the PCR tube for cooling.

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P29 鈥� Design of a Testing Platform for Student Researched and Developed Parachutes

Project Category: 91社区 Design Team

91社区 Rocket Team

This project consists of designing and manufacturing a testing apparatus to be used to validate the performance of the 91社区 Rocket Team鈥檚 (MRT鈥檚) student researched and designed parachutes. As the MRT is beginning development of a rocket with a 60 thousand foot target apogee, it is essential to manufacture the parachutes in house so that they can be customized to a supersonic flight profile. A critical step in parachute design and manufacturing is experimental testing of the parachute, both to validate theoretically calculated parameters such as drag coefficient and to ensure that the parachute comes out of its deployment bag and inflates as expected.

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P30 鈥� Design of shoes to spread plant seeds

Project Category: Mechanical Engineering 鈥� Industry

Communautique / Terra Perma

The project is collaboration between Communautique and Terra Perma to develop a concept of shoes to spread plant seeds (similar to the shoes illustrated in the following link; .

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P31 鈥� Development of an environment cell for in situ battery testing

Project Category: Mechanical Engineering 鈥� Faculty

Prof. Changhong Cao

While Li-ion batteries (LIBs) has been the most important energy storage system for electronic vehicles (EVs) and devices, an ever-increasing demand for higher energy and power densities, higher charging rates, higher Coulombic efficiencies, longer cycle life, and better safety are driving the need for a greater understanding of battery materials on the microscopic-to-atomistic scale. Numerous important processes occur at/through the solid/liquid interfaces of battery electrodes and hence it is pivotal to understand processes at these interfaces when exploring performance improvement methods for LIBs or related alkali ion batteries. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and other advanced scanning probe microscopy (SPM) techniques are recently becoming crucial platforms for the study of battery materials, enabling the versatile characterization of the morphological, mechanical, local-electrochemical, and other physical properties of battery materials in situ as they undergo charge and discharge processes.

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P32 鈥� Industrial design/manufacturing of a gaming device for helping people with ADHD/Alzheimer's disease

Project Category: Mechanical Engineering 鈥� Faculty

Prof. Changhong Cao

People with ADHD or Alzheimer's diseases are suffering from concentration and memory issues. While medical treatment is probably the most effective to fight these conditions, orthogonal approaches to help relieve their suffering can also be beneficial.

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P33 鈥� Design of a vertical axis turbine for unsteady inflow conditions

Project Category: Mechanical Engineering 鈥� Faculty

Prof. Jovan Nedic

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P34 鈥� Deployment Mechanism for a Superconducting Cable on a Space Propulsion CubeSat Mission

Project Category: Mechanical Engineering - Faculty

Prof. Andrew Higgins

Mathias Larrouturou

An innovative concept of deep space propulsion involves deploying a superconducting cable that interacts with the solar wind. This would enable a spacecraft to ride the solar wind to speeds of 500 km/s, two orders of magnitude faster than current spacecraft. 91社区 is working on developing a CubeSat mission to demonstrate this concept. One of the major challenges is deploying the superconducting cable on space, in a demanding thermal and vacuum environment. To test this concept, 91社区 will be developing the CubeSat as a high-altitude balloon payload (> 20 km altitude).

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P35 鈥� Design of aesthetic structure made of composite materials: Carbon/Kevlar chess table

Project Category: Mechanical Engineering 鈥� Faculty

Prof. Larry Lessard

This project will enable students to gain experience in composite manufacturing as well as finishing a project for aesthetic quality. A previous project has designed some molds for manufacturing parts for a composite chess table. Mold modifications may be necessary to improve the results from this previous project. The project involves:

• Manufacturing of composite parts with carbon fiber and/or Kevlar fiber composites
• Design and manufacturing of assembly jigs and trimming jigs.
• Trimming and assembly of parts to form the finished structure.
• Final finishing

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