ME 497 Biomechanical Design
Dr. Tamara Reid Bush
Professor and Interim Chair
of Mechanical Engineering
MKT 420 New-Product Development
Dr. Hang Nguyen
Assistant Professor of
Marketing Business College
Biomechanical Design and New-Product Development
The Biomechanical Design and New-Product Development course (ME 497/MKT 420) provides students with a unique opportunity to develop and market a real, new product that incorporates biomechanical function. Students work in inter-disciplinary teams of engineers and marketers and experience the entire process of new product development, from need identification, concept generation and testing, to product development, design analysis and launch. This course further strengthens students’ knowledge and real-world exposure by working with Spartan Innovations. This year General Motors provided $100 per team for prototyping costs and the Mechanical Engineering Department Endowment sponsored an in-class competition providing awards to the top three product ideas.
| # | Team Members | Product Name and Description |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Amelia Conatser, Jamelyn Forist, Sydney Runyon, Nicole Stensen | Safe Step: A portable, adjustable cane that molds to stair height to assist in walking up stairs. |
| 02 | Brandon Hineman, Kennedy Kullman, Adriana Massimilla, Charlotte Neu, Eshani Shedge | Chair Vader: May the Force Lift You: This seat boost helps elderly and disabled individuals rise effortlessly from chairs, enhancing mobility, reducing strain, and minimizing injury risk for more convenient and efficient standing. |
| 03 | Samantha Chin, Drew Christy, Nathan Huynh, Daniel Krahn, Ian Twigg | StepFlex: Enables users to go up and down the stairs safely while reducing physical stress on joints. |
| 04 | Gunnar Carroll, Joey Fracassi, Liam Herbert, Ryden Khamo, Gavin Killmaster | TerraCane: The all-terrain cane/walking stick anyone can use anywhere in snow, rain or shine. |
| 05 | Joey Campbell, Grant Chesley, Aronor Chisholm, Kyle O’Connor, Gabriel Estrada, Ederick Plantegenest | Bench Buddy: A mechanism that moves biomechanically with the bar ensuring proper force distribution and reducing shoulder strain in both eccentric and concentric phases. |
| 06 | Connor Dunn, Claire Jacka, Jacob Kern, Emma Powell, Lily Skaryd, Robbie Smith | Grocery Gurney: A collapsible lightweight cart so you can directly push your groceries into the back of your car. |
| 07 | Joe Bonahoom, Trayza Haido, Abbey Michaels, Jonathan Pataq | Dishter: A mechanical dishwasher that helps, is more sustainable, and cost efficient. |
| 08 | Taden Brandel, Andrew Iaquaniello, Evan Misajlovski, Blake Nowak, Norman Stokes, Grace Teichman | ReachPro: This is an extendable reaching aid that will assist in grabbing a cereal box from a high shelf. |
| 09 | Aaron Backos, Dominic Bednar, Lauren Briggs, Nathan Downie, Aida Soltanian, Lauren Spott | Cinch Assist: A device used to aid in the process of pumping gas for individuals with arthritis or other motor issues that make squeezing something difficult. |
| 10 | Colin Koot, Jack Phillips, Rachel Schenck, Macey Spevacek, Abbey Yager, Michael Zontini | SafeSlice: A safe and effective food-cutting tool for people with limited hand motor skills. |
| 11 | Jillian Carosella, Ming Huang, Emma Littell, Kyler Spike, Eric Winston | Study Buddy: The Study Buddy is an easily usable and storable bedside table used for schoolwork, or just a simple spot on which to place everyday items. |