Student innovation on display at Engineering Expo
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The mechanical and industrial engineering student projects at the 2026 Engineering Expo showcased innovations in robotics, manufacturing, spray systems, energy, product flow optimization, and much more.
The event is the culmination of two semesters of hard work in the Senior Design course, which challenged teams of undergraduate students to solve real-world engineering problems through research, creativity, and the skills they have developed at UIC.
Several teams displayed projects that are in the process of being patented or developed for the market.
Safety Device for Gas-Powered Appliances
One student team demonstrated how a fully mechanical device can prevent unburned gas from being released, making gas-powered systems safer, more efficient, and more accessible worldwide.
The team of Ahmad Al Ramahi, Jida Sulieman, Sabine Ramirez, Qusai Alolaimi, and Nasma Shabna designed a mechanical gas control and temperature-regulating device that automatically shuts off gas on devices like stoves and heaters when temperature changes are detected, preventing fatal incidents from undetected leaks or improper flame extinguishment.
If the sensed temperature remains below the gas’s autoignition point between 2 and 10 seconds, the valve closes completely to prevent unburned gas from being released.
“Our research indicated that there is exponential growth in deaths related to gas leaks and explosions,” Alolaimi said. “Through a scalable, low-cost design, this device will adapt to applications ranging from inside/outside household cooking and heating to potentially industrial burners.”
The device is patent-pending, and the students plan to continue developing and refining it and hope to bring it to market at an affordable price.
Angler Assist: A Motorized Spinning Reel for Accessible Fishing
To help people with disabilities and physical challenges enjoy fishing, another student team worked with the nonprofit Chicago No Limits Fishing to develop the Angler Assist—a motorized reel that offers more power and accessibility features than the available reels.
The team, which included students Robert Chramiec, Patryk Dobryk, Ava Dutzi, Julian Hernandez, and Lenny Kobilc, set out to design a fully accessible system that was compliant with ADA codes, ensuring the controls require no pinching, wrist twisting, or tight grasping, and that operate with less than five pounds of force.
“We developed an accessible, motorized spinning reel attachment that offers multiple adaptive control methods, including joystick and trigger controls to provide users with the tailored controls needed to enjoy fishing independently and successfully,” Dobryk said
Fermilab Autonomous Robot for Radioactive Environments (FAR-R-E)
The team of Samuel Texcahua, Benjamin Cha, Vicente Munoz, Ricardo Zuniga, Uriel A. Delgado, Riley R. Horkman, and Thyler Cruz developed an automated robotic maintenance system powered by computer vision and machine learning for Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.
The system includes an effector attachment that works on the end of a robotic arm and holds aluminum bolts when they are being screwed in or out. The design was needed since Fermi uses aluminum bolts that can’t be held with magnets.
“There are commercial solutions, but they are all reliant on having metal screws,” he said. “We didn’t see any solutions for aluminum bolts for drill installation procedures,” Texcahua said. “We used AI and a robot to perform the work of a person to get them out of radioactive zones, which pose significant health risks to personnel during maintenance operations. The system minimizes human intervention, reduces radiation exposure, and improves the efficiency of routine tasks.”
After the expo, the students will be presenting their project to scientists at Fermilab. The team is also seeking a patent for an end effector.