Creative and innovative projects were the order of the day at last week’s Innovation Expo hosted by The University of Queensland.
The 12th annual Innovation Expo showcased over 170 projects designed and developed by UQ’s final year Information Technology, Engineering and Multimedia Design students.
Head of the School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering (ITEE) Professor Paul Strooper said the Innovation Expo was a unique event for students to display their innovative ideas and research projects.
“I would like to congratulate all of our students on the high quality of their projects,” he said.
“A number of students have even commented that they are looking to commercialise their product, which is a fantastic result.”
Bachelor of Engineering (Mechatronic) student Ricky Chow created Robot Kangaroo Electronics after recognising difficulties for typical wheeled robotic locomotion when travelling over terrains such as uneven ground and isolated footholds.
“The goal of the project is to investigate a robust and energetically efficient control algorithm for legged systems and then test the control methodology by constructing a biologically inspired leg,” Mr Chow said.
Modelling the symmetry of the brain, Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Biomedical) student, Sarah Li created the project Matching Contralateral Regions within the Brain.
“The project aims to model the symmetry of the brain. This would be useful in detecting disease or injury in the brain, because any abnormal tissue would make the brain asymmetrical,” Ms Li said.
At an awards ceremony following the Innovation Expo, eight students were presented with prizes based on the high calibre of their projects.
Prizes were awarded to:
• Nicholas Plant, who was awarded the GBST Best Software Project for his Power Plant Efficiency Reporting and Online Auditing System.
• Dane Fira-Evans, who received the Element 14 Prize for Best Piece of Working Electronics Hardware for his Small portable solder paste dispenser using miniature C02 cylinder.
• Ricky Chow, who was presented with the QLD Minerals and Energy Academy Prize for Most Imaginative Demonstration of a Project for his Robot Kangaroo Electronics.
• Benjamin Dart, who was awarded the Honeywell Prize for best Automation and Control Project for his Mutual localisation between a ground vehicle and a UAV.
• Sarah Li, who received the School of ITEE Prize for the Most Imaginative Demonstration of a 4 Year Thesis Project for her Matching left and right regions within the brain and identifying abnormalities.
• Krishan Kara, who was presented with the CEED Prize for Best Final Year Industry-based Project for his Development of SVC simulator model for Powerlink’s Alligator Creek SVC.
• Alexander Hugall, who won the Powerlink QLD Prize for Best Power and Energy Project for his Analysis into the correct applications of various insulator designs in specific environmental conditions in Queensland.
• Ankith Konda, who was awarded the School of ITEE Prize for Best User Centred Design Project for his Multitouch Surface for architectural collaboration.
The ITEE Innovation Expo prizes were supported by industry partners: CEED, element14, GBST, Honeywell, Powerlink Queensland and Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy.
Media: Madelene Flanagan (m.flanagan@uq.edu.au or 07 3365 8525)
