Exhibit Locations
Click to jump to list of exhibits and descriptions
Engineering Hall
Mechanical Engineering
Engineering Centers Building
Engineering Research Building
Material Sciences and Engineering
Engineering Mall and Outdoor
Engineering Hall
Exhibits 1-10
Exhibit 1: AICHe
CBE Lab- E Hall basement
A demonstration of fluidized columns for separating objects based on differing
densities. A fluidized column is a column with a packed bed, which has a fluid
stream passing through it producing
enough buoyant force to create lift on an object and cause it to move in a “fluid-like”
state. In this column there are multiple objects of different densities
which will fluidize at different flow rates of air.
Exhibit 2: Wind Turbines on a Budget: Vertical – Axis Machines
to Power the Developing World
E-Hall Basement
With rising concerns of global climate change, renewable energy generation is
a critical component to a sustainable future on Earth. In many developing nations,
the eradication of poverty is closely tied to the access to modern energy services,
a convenience lacked by two billion people across the world. Harnessing the
power of the wind can provide reliable electricity generation. Vertical-axis
wind turbines (VAWT) can provide several advantages in low-lying, turbulent
terrain, and when coupled to an energy storage system, can bring electricity
to remote communities.
This exhibit highlights wind tunnel testing research of vertical-axis wind turbines.
Exhibit 3: A New Take on Endoscopy
E-Hall Cheney Room
A self contained in vivo camera system: Our device remains inside a patient’s
body after surgery (up to 96 hours) so that when the patient comes back to their
doctor for a check-up, the doctor doesn’t have to re-open the patient
for reexamination. Instead, our device may be activated for a quick look at
“inner space”. To complete the exploration of “inner space”,
a doctor can steer our device from outside the body using magnets!
Exhibit 4: The Zero Gravity Team
E-Hall Cheney Room
The Zero Gravity Team: The UW-Madison’s ZeroG Team participates in NASA’s
Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Program. In this program,
students from across the nation design experiments to be performed in a microgravity
environment. The
student teams write and submit
proposals to NASA, and selected teams are given the opportunity to conduct their
experiment on board NASA’s C-9B Weightless Wonder.
Exhibit 5: Interactive Mechanical Engineering Design using Joystick
1209 E-Hall
A virtual interface of a basic mechanical engineering assembly process where
kids will be able assemble separate components together to form one functional
part all using a “3D joystick”!!
Exhibit 6: Micro-Nano Sensors and Actuators
1209 E-Hall
Research interests includes micro/nano sensors and actuators, biological and
optical MEMS, microfluidics, lab on chips, smart materials and micro- and nanostructures,
stimuli-responsive polymers, and nano-scale surface engineering.
Exhibit 7: Wonders of Transportation
1213 E-Hall
We will show our visitors how fascinating the world of transportation is. The
exhibition ranges from how different drivers perceive signs and signals in different
ways to how the vehicles interact with our intersections. The visitors will
participate in activities that explain the concepts.
Exhibit 8: Swift Racer
1213 E-Hall
The Swift Racer is a 500 mph plus aircraft designed to race against modified
warbirds in the Reno National Air Races Unlimited Class race heldin Reno, Nevada
every September. Weighing in around 4500 lbs, with two 1000 horsepower V-12
engines, and matching five bladed propellers, the Swift Racer is a true racing
machine. The Swift Racer was designed as a capstone project for Engineering
Mechanics and Astronautics Majors by Matt Hemke, Ryley Karl, Alan Klein, Matt
Kuhns, and Mike Vioski.
Exhibit 9: Unlocking the Secrets of the Universe: Experiments at the
Large Hadron Collider
1227 E-Hall
For this exhibit, you will see a light show that demonstrates the explosive
nature of two particles interacting in high energy collisions. The light show
will help illustrate some of the experiments that will be conducted at the Large
Hadron Collider, which is the world’s largest and highest-energy particle
accelerator. You will learn about some of the discoveries scientists hope to
make as a result of these experiments, including the source of particle mass,
extra dimensions, and dark matter. Graduate students will demonstrate some of
the research they are doing to help make these experiments successful.
Exhibit 10: Tau Beta Pi Lego Campus
E-Hall South Lobby
Resurrected from many years back, the Lego Campus is a to-scale replica of the
engineering campus made entirely from legos.
Mechanical Engineering
Exhibits 11 - 24
Exhibit 11: Triangle Fraternity
1143 ME
We will be demonstrating versatility of human interface devices by re-creating
experiments done by Johnny Lee using a wii remote. We will be demonstrating
interactive whiteboard and/or wii head tracking to start discussion on where
the development of this technology could lead, and what impact it could have
on education.
Exhibit 12: Science of Ultrasound Imaging
1152 ME
We’ve all seen pictures of fetuses inside of mommies-to-be, but how does
the ultrasound imaging work? And what else is it used for? Visit the Science
of Ultrasound Imaging exhibit to learn about the magic of ultrasonic imaging
and try it out for yourself.
Exhibit 13: Engineering World Health
1152 ME
Imagine living in a place where newborns have one of the highest mortality rates
in the world, where poverty is rampant, and where per capita income barely covers
the necessities of life. A place where power supplies may be unreliable and
a simple blown fuse can affect life-saving surgical procedures. Sadly, there
are many places such as this worldwide. Engineering World Health (EWH) has been
created to answer the needs of disadvantaged areas through providing and maintaining
appropriate medical technology.
Exhibit 14: Designing Systems: Inside and Outside of Healthcare
1153 ME
Students will be able to visit several stations to experience how people with
disabilities use everyday items such as plastic sandwich bags, books, and touch
screens found on ATMs and other electronic devices. Once students experience
the difficulties of using everyday items, they will learn the basic principles
of design. Students will also be able to experience the complexities of surgery
by using the Nintendo Wii. Students participating in a surgical case will experience
varying task, technology, and environmental factors that influence performance
and ultimately patient safety. Students will become familiar with the SEIPS
work-systems model for patient safety.
Exhibit 15: Institute of Industrial Engineers
1156 ME
How quickly can you build a paper airplane? Our exhibit will demonstrate how
industrial engineering concepts make processes more efficient.
Exhibit 16: The SWEet ABC’s (Automobiles and Bridge Construction)
1163 ME
Come visit us and learn about building bridges and cars! Use a fun computer
program to build your own bridge and test it against a Truck. Then, make your
own Air-powered car and race your friends down the halls.
Exhibit 17: Rube Goldberg Machine
2106 ME
The Rube Goldberg Machine Contest (RGMC) is named after the late cartoonist
Reuben Lucius Goldberg. Having died in 1970, he lives on in the RGMC as puzzling
machines with crazy mechanisms are built in the spirit of his illustrations.
The contest brings Goldberg’s cartoons to life as a way of helping students
transcend traditional ways of looking at problems, taking them into the intuitive,
chaotic realm of imagination. The resulting inventions are collections of bits
and pieces, parts of now useless machines, cobbled together to achieve an innovative,
imaginative, yet somehow logical contraption to meet the annual contest challenge.
This year’s challenge was to replace a light bulb with another light emitting
source. We choose our theme to be the history/use of power. Come check us out
and see what we created!
Exhibit 18: UW Steel Bridge Team
2108 ME
Every year the UW Steel Bridge Team competes in the National Student Steel Bridge
Competition. The
competition requires students from across the country to design and build a
1/10 scale steel bridge that can successfully withstand a 2,500 pound load.
The bridge must also be
designed to be assembled at the competition as quickly as possible. The team
with the best overall score based on structural stability and construction speed
wins the competition. The UW team has had many top 10 finishes in recent years
and is hoping to continue its success this year.
Exhibit 19: ARTe Design
2121 ME
ARTe Design (Assistive and
Rehabilitation Technology Design) is a unique section of the Capstone Design
activity in Mechanical Engineering.
The students in ARTe Design create devices and systems to assist people with
disabilities in living
independently. Exhibit includes: An advanced powered wheelchair, worksurfaces
and storage spaces that are combined directly into an existing manual or power
wheelchair, a system for assisting users with mobility
impairments in actuating buttons and switches, a system to assist with transferring
people with mobility impairments
into and out of bed or their mobility
assistive device, improvements to a commercially produced system for lifting
and stowing a wheelchair in the back of a van or SUV, and new ideas on wheelchair
ramps that will be
presented.
Exhibit 20: Wisconsin Engineer Magazine
3121 ME
The Wisconsin Engineer is a student run and student produced magazine on campus.
It is one of the oldest organizations of UW-Madison with the first issue dating
back to 1899. The magazine is open to students of all disciplines on campus
and new members are welcome at any point in the semester. Stop by and get a
taste of the life of a staff member of the Wisconsin Engineer Magazine. We will
have popcorn, a photo judging
competition, games and more!
Exhibit 21: IAESTE
3121 ME
Come play a jenga game with an international focus!
Exhibit 22: Organic Waste to Biofuel
3126 ME
AWWAWEF is looking at the feasibilty of collecting food waste and other organic
material found around the city of Madison and using it to generate biofuel through
innovative anaerobic digestion processes. To show people the potential of organic
wastes for the production of biogas and energy generation, the team will set
up small scale anaerobic digesters and also put up a model of the
separation system that is incorporated in their design. They are also
promoting the idea of separating food waste and their ideas for a collection
system.
Exhibit 23: To BME or not to BME
3127 ME
This exhibit will take you through an interactive journey in each of the four main fields of study of Biomedical
Engineering. Come get a finger cast and learn about different medical materials, become an ergonomical
engineer for the day by examining everyday products, discover different
implantations, even try out some medical instruments!
Exhibit 24: Micro-Pong
3149 ME
Play pong with micro-particles! Also watch a short demonstration of three dimensional particle control capabilities.
See how holographic optical
tweezers can manipulate particles that you could never see with your naked eye.
Engineering Centers Building
Exhibits 25-37
Exhibit 25: Variety of Vacuum Adventures
ECB Basement (north end)
Multiple demonstrations with a clear vacuum jar: degassing marshmallows and other sorts of gels and foams,
boiling and freezing water at room temperature, expanding and popping small balloons and bubble wrap,
degassing soft drinks, calling a cell phone that is under vacuum, exploding
Pop Rocks candy, and other vacuum
experiments.
Exhibit 26: American Nuclear Society - UW Chapter
ECB Basement (south side)
We will assemble a multifaceted
exhibit explaining the processes
involved in the production of nuclear power and physically demonstrating many of the properties and uses of radiation.
Exhibit 27: Mucking About in Oobleck
ECB Basement (north side)
Is it a solid? Is it a liquid? Get your hands (and feet) gooey with non-Newtonian fluids in this exhibit
presented by the Materials Science and Engineering Department.
Exhibit 28: Better Bottle Cleaner (BBC)
ECB Basement (south side)
The Better Bottle Cleaner (BBC) cleans glass bottles in an efficient and thorough
manner. Often a very arduous task for home brewers, the bottle cleaning process
becomes quick and easy with the BBC. The device can clean bottles more effectively
than manual washing in much less time and with minimal labor.
Exhibit 29: Hands-On Experience for Kids
Tong Auditorium - ECB
BadgerBOTS Robotics is an award winning
program that provides hands-on robotics education experiences to students
in grades 4 through 12. Have fun seeing robots in action and hear about our FIRST Robotics Competition for high schoolers, and FIRST LEGO League and Robotics Summer Camp
opportunities for kids in grades 4 to 8. All of our programs are open to students throughout the Dane county region. See us on the web at
www.badgerbots.org!
Exhibit 30: Exploring the Nanoworld
ECB Lobby
Come explore the worlds of
nanotechnology and materials
science! In fifteen interactive exhibits find out what nanotechnology is and why it’s exciting researchers all over the globe. Investigate cutting edge materials and learn how they do what they do. Help build a carbon nanotube balloon model, explore the properties of gold nanoparticles, discover what made Medieval artisans the first
nanotechnologists, observe a metal wire “remembering” its previous shape, play with a liquid magnet, learn how researchers work on the nanoscale,
and MORE!
Exhibit 31: Explore the Microworld!
ECB Lobby
What is the smallest thing you can think of? MicroExplorers
(www.microexplorers.org) offers hands-on explorations into the
microworld that surrounds us using dgital microscopes. Be an artist and a scientist--create stickers and art from your explorations and share them with your friends and family!
Exhibit 32: Modulated Thunder, If Zeus Played Guitar Hero
ECB Lobby (2 tier)
Step one: Build a 6kW lightning
generator. Step two: Develope a
sophisicated electronic drive for the lightning generator. Step Three:
Suspend it from the ceiling and
modulate the lightning with the audio signal from your PS3. Step Four: Strum your guitar to send lightning across the across the room and rock out to the music you’ve created with modulated thunder..
Exhibit 33: EcoStream
ECB Lobby (3 tier)
EcoStream is an environmentally friendly vending machine where
customers bring their own bottle instead of purchasing a new bottle to get their beverages. EcoStream cuts the number of PET bottles that are produced while lowering the cost of beverages for everyone through our innovative machine.
Exhibit 34: EnginEarrings
ECB Lobby (2 tier basement side)
The EnginEarrings Project is a fundraising effort by the student organizations
from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. EnginEarrings jewelry
is made from high purity aluminum which has been annealed (heat-treated) to
cause the individual grains to grow large. The aluminum is then etched with
acid to make the grains visible to the naked eye. The different colors are caused
by the differences in orientation of individual grains.
Exhibit 35: Proactive Sleep
ECB Lobby (3rd tier)
For users interested in improving their sleep, Proactive Sleep is a noninvasive
method and device that can assess and predict the stages of sleep cycles without
the nuisance, cost, and immobility of directly measuring sleep characteristics
when the subject is asleep. Some uses of this method include reducing fatigue
in the morning, reducing the time it takes to fall asleep, and increasing dream
recall. Additionally, users can learn more about their sleep with a chart that
tracks your sleep and provides feedback about your unique sleep habits.
Exhibit 36: One-Handed Canoe System
ECB Lobby (3rd tier)
A set of devices that enables people with disabilities or physical limitations
to paddle a canoe with one arm and carry the canoe more comfortably and easily
during a portage.
Exhibit 37: Split Key
ECB Lobby (3rd tier)
A removable laptop keyboard that can be separated the right and left hands was developed to increase user comfort and avert the onset of musculoskeletal
diseases. Come see how a laptop is built, use a new keyboard, and learn about student invention.
Engineering Research Building
Exhibits 38 - 39
Exhibit 38: Engine Research Center
ERB Basement
The Engine Research Center is a major research and educational
institution investigating the
fundamentals and applications of internal combustion engines with a unique combination of modeling and experimental capabilities. The ERC’s projects involve fluid mechanics, heat transfer, combustion, sprays, emissions
and health effects, lubrication, and powertrain systems.
Exhibit 39: Everyday Engineering
ERB Outdoor Patio
This exhibit is focused on the
exploration of engineering concepts that affect our daily lives. We will study how ALL types of engineering
can be applied in everything that we take for granted. We will do this reverse engineering toys and studying
the engineering behind them and showing how the same basic concepts apply to bigger, more complex things.
Material Sciences and Engineering
Exhibits 40 - 44
Exhibit 40: Let the Sparks Fly
105 MS&E
Let the sparks fly, this exhibit features a welding process that involves a chemical reaction similar to fireworks, which is used in the railroad industry to join the rails together. Other modern
day practices will be demonstrated to show why welding is an art to some and a necessary commodity for
everyone. We are also featuring a process that welds metals without melting. This solid state welding is becoming a more common occurrence in everyday life.
Exhibit 41: Foundry in a Box
MS&E Foundry (140 MS&E)
Commercially, foundries are large factories in which tons of metal get processed, melted, poured and shaped into parts that comprise almost
everything you use in everyday life, including buildings, cars, highways, sewer drains in the street, even some jewelry. Come experience what
happens in a foundry first hand!
Discover how a microwave can melt tin, and participate in pouring the molten metal into interesting shapes. Located in the Materials Science
Building, follow the signs to the Foundry.
Exhibit 42: Somnus Shade
275 MS&E
An innovative method for blacking out window shades that opens using a set timer.
Blackout is achieved using magnetic sealings.
Exhibit 43: Materials Carnival
235 MS&E
Come test your strength with the work hardening bar, and see how a banana can be as strong as a hammer! At this exhibit, materials will be exposed to extreme conditions which will cause them to behave in unexpected ways. Each demonstration will involve
everyday objects and teach a
lesson about materials. Including a Van de Graaff Generator which can be a shocking experience!
Exhibit 44: Squezzy Metrix: Defined thing in human terms!
221 MS&E
The terrifying financial crisis is mostly a situation, like many practical engineering
problems, where complicated systems become an informational nightmare by information
dysfunction. SquezzyMetrix, designed by two autistic professional students,
is a revolutionary method to integrate inputs, measurements and various result
potentials organized to meet strategic engineering-life goals. SquezzyMetrix
zenfully is the defined ISness to re-improve, re-engineer and re-design measurably.
Engineering Mall and Outdoor
Exhibits 45 - 61
Exhibit 45: Concrete Canoe
E-Hall Patio
UW-Madison’s Concrete Canoe Team displays last year’s Badger themed
canoe and explains why it floats.
Exhibit 46: Lazy-Way
E-Hall Patio
Electric skateboard with self-balancing algorithm to operate like a segway.
Exhibit 47: UW Robotics
E-Hall Lawn
The IEEE Robot Team is a student team that competes in the Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition every year. Come to our exhibit for exciting displays about robotics and
engineering, as well as demonstrations of our autonomous robots. We will be holding several small robotics
competitions each day, so stop by to compete or just to watch! More information
is available online at www.uwrobotics.org.
Exhibit 48: Maquina Fountain presented by Enlight
E-Hall lawn- near fountain
Enlight is a group of students that like to tinker with both hardware and software.
Our biggest project is maintaining and programming the Maquina Fountain. A complex computer controlled system of water, air, light and sound, the fountain is an artistic mesh of nature and science. Now with an upgrade to a National Instruments CompactRIO controller, Enlight has been able to install a touch-screen control, program the infra-red motion sensors and synchronize the spray of the water to music. Stop by our exhibit to see the fountain in action or to learn how it works!
Exhibit 49: Cutting Edge Material
E-Hall Lawn
This is a group project prepared by the MS&E senior design class. We will be doing an investigation of the
materials characteristics of high-end cutlery, reverse engineering the
processing techniques used, then
fabricating our own set of knifes to recreate the best cutting edge knifes.
Exhibit 50: SAE Baja Team
E-hall Lawn
The University of Wisconsin has been involved in the SAE Baja series since 1987. The team climbed to a competitive status at the turn of the century: winning the Midwest competition in 2000 and the West competition in 2001, while garnering 2nd place finishes in 2000 and 2002. Wisconsin finished 7th two years ago, and is looking to improve on that this season. Come see our competition cars outside near the Fountain and view our manufacturing garage in the Engineering Centers Building.
Exhibit 51: UW Formula Hybrid Team
E-Hall Lawn
Come see the competition vehicle on display and are participate in an interactive, kid-friendly demonstration to learn about hybrid vehicle technology.
Exhibit 52: SAE Clean Snowmobile Team
E-Hall Lawn
The snowmobile team participates in a collegiate design competition aimed at engineering a cleaner, more
efficient, and quieter snowmobile. We have designed, fabricated, and built a turbocharged flex fuel four stroke snowmobile and a zero emissions electric snowmobile. Our exhibit will include both snowmobiles on display with possible demo rides and a tour of where they get built.
Exhibit 53: Formula SAE
E-hall Lawn
Formula SAE is a collegiate race series run by the Society of Automotive Engineers where students design, construct and compete with a small-scale open-wheel race car. Competitions
are held in Virginia and Michigan, where up to 130 teams representing approximately 30 countries compete in static (ex. business presentation, design) and dynamic (ex. acceleration, endurance) events.
Exhibit 54: ASABE & Tractor Team
E-Hall Lawn
The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers is an educational and scientific organization dedicated to the
advancement of engineering applicable to agricultural, food, and biological systems. Agricultural, Food and Biological Engineers develop efficient and environmentally sensitive methods of producing food, fiber, timber, and renewable energy sources for an ever-increasing world population. UW Badger Pulling is a student organization that designs and builds a 1/4-scale pulling tractor for a student design contest every year. The tractor is taken to a national competition where it competes with other tractors form over 30 universities from across the country. The tractor is judged on the design, safety, appearance, and performance.
Exhibit 55: University of Wisconsin Hybrid Vehicle Team
E-Hall Lawn
The UW Hybrid Team is participating in the national EcoCAR competition sponsored by General Motors and the Department of Energy. In this competition, the team will be redesigning a 2009 Saturn Vue to improve the fuel economy and reduce the emissions while maintaining the performance and consumer
acceptability. EcoCAR isn’t the first time the team has faced this challenge; come and see the award winning “Moovada,” a hybrid Chevrolet Equinox. This crossover SUV can achieve nearly 40 miles per gallon!
Exhibit 56: Assistive Golf Chair
E-Hall Lawn
The Assistive Golf Chair allows persons with little to no use of their legs to play the game of golf. By replacing the seat of an existing golf car, the
Assistive Golf Chair allows users to maneuver themselves into a full golf stance, transitioning from a seated to a standing position by way of the device’s extend-swivel-tilt motion. Visit this exhibit to test the prototype, learn about
assistive technology, and try your hand at some putting!
Exhibit 57: Object Tracking & Interception
E-Hall side parking lot
This exhibit uses two cameras to locate an object tossed in the air. It then aims and fires a projectile using an electromagnetic gun to shoot the target
out of the air.
Exhibit 58: Engineers Without Borders
E-Hall Lawn
Engineers Without Borders is an organization who using engineering projects to improve the quality of life all around the world! We have projects in Red Cliff, WI, Muramba, Rwanda, Bayonnais, Haiti, Orongo, Kenya, and Nejapa, El Salvador. We’ve been building or planning things like: waste water pipeline, drain tile, micro hydroelectric, agroforestry plots, rainwater catchment
systems and more!
Exhibit 59: Engineers Without Borders: El Salvador “Where does that wastewater go?”
E-Hall Lawn
Learn about all the components that go into building important water infrastructure to protect community and environmental health. Play with, design and evaluate a model piping and water treatment system similar to the local community system in Nejapa, El Salvador. The El Salvador Engineers without borders group is working to build a collection system for two
villages to get rid of wastewaters that run though the streets. To
complement this effort, we are analyzing the wastewater treatment system to upgrade it and promoting health and water education workshops.
Exhibit 60: Engineers Without Borders: Pedal Power for Haiti
E-Hall Lawn
See how much power you can pedal! Engineers Without Borders Haiti Project and UW Cycling have made bicycle generators. Two will be set up so you can compete
with your friends to see who can ride with more watts.
Exhibit 61 : Engineers Without Borders: Rwanda: Improving Agriculture
and Water Quantity in Muramba
E-Hall Lawn
EWB-Rwanda has worked with Muramba,
a parish in Rwanda for 6 years, focusing mostly on water availability. This past January, a team of six assessed
the quality of stoves and soil in the Muramba region. Our Expo exhibit shows some of the soil quality tests, and our plans to build a rainwater catchment system this May. Come by our exhibit to see how EWB-Rwanda’s plans will improve the quality of life in Muramba, Rwanda.