Presentations focus on solutions for real-world problems
Engineering Academy students can create some very intricate and useful products and designs when they put their heads together.
Every year, they get to show off these projects during the Engineering Showcase at the Francis Tuttle Technology Center Portland Campus. This year included a heating system for guarding orchards against late-season frosts, a new device for efficiently cleaning football helmets, a bicycle helmet that fits more easily for children with cochlear implants, and a car headrest that is more accommodating for women drivers.
The team of Rishi Rathi, Ashton Sanderson, and Aryahi Singh developed Lead Liner after conversations with first responders about what they encounter in the field. Sanderson said they spoke with a retired firefighter who noted a common problem with the cords for portable EKG monitors.
“They easily get tangled up,” Sanderson said. “Because of the way they are designed, the cords aren’t very sturdy, so they become twisted and deteriorate. Firefighters and paramedics end up losing time because they have to deal with tangled cords.”
The Lead Liner is a simple plastic covering that fits a portable EKG monitor or similar devices used in the medical field. The cords run through the covering and out a series of slits, which either prevent the cords from tangling or quickly untangle them.
Once installed, it can remain on the device. It is lightweight and, in theory, can be applied to different machines across various medical settings.
The team visited a fire station and spoke with firefighters, who emphasized how much something like the Lead Liner could help their work, particularly when every second counts. Singh said they haven’t seen the final product yet, but they know about the team’s work.
“The hardest part was going back and redesigning it,” she said. “We took a step back and made it smaller.”
Rathi said the team had to test the Lead Liner under the conditions it would be under in the field. It had to be sturdy enough to endure reuse in environments where firefighters do their stressful work.
“We needed to make sure it was stable, and that moisture wouldn’t impact its performance,” Rathi said. “We also practiced putting it on and taking it off.”
Several students’ projects, including the Lead Liner, are presented at competitions during the SkillsUSA State Leadership Conference. The Engineering Showcase is a chance for students to practice their presentation skills and pitch why their invention can create a positive future.
“We don’t do much other than facilitate their projects,” Instructor Bradley Chisholm said. “They do all of the work. And when they come ask us about something, we tell them, ‘Go do the research.’”