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Engineering & Design Projects
C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital
Project Overview:
Students will collaborate with rehabilitation engineers at Mott Children’s Hospital to improve accessibility for children who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices. The team will design custom 3D-printed keyguards that help children with motor impairments more accurately select buttons on their communication devices, making communication more accessible and reliable.
What Students Will Do:
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Design custom AAC keyguards tailored to individual patient needs.
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Collaborate with rehabilitation engineers to refine device designs.
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Prototype and evaluate assistive technology solutions.
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Apply human-centered design principles to improve accessibility.
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Support projects that enhance communication for pediatric patients.
Skills Gained:
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Assistive technology design
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CAD and 3D printing
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Human-centered design
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Accessibility and rehabilitation engineering
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Interdisciplinary collaboration
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
Project Overview:
Students will work with the leadership team at the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum to improve accessibility for children and families with physical disabilities and sensory processing differences. The project focuses on identifying environmental barriers and developing practical solutions that create a more inclusive, comfortable, and engaging museum experience.
What Students Will Do:
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Assess exhibits for accessibility and sensory challenges.
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Develop recommendations for exhibit modifications and inclusive design.
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Research best practices in universal design and accessibility.
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Collaborate with museum leadership to implement improvements.
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Help create welcoming spaces for visitors of all abilities.
Skills Gained:
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Universal design
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Accessibility assessment
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Inclusive design
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User experience research
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Public health and community engagement
Interdisciplinary Project: Community Action Network (CAN)
Project Overview:
Students will lead hands-on, in-person workshops introducing younger students to biomedical engineering through the design and programming of a working pulse sensor. By guiding participants through building electronic circuits, programming an Arduino, and visualizing their heartbeat in real time, AIM members will make engineering and healthcare more accessible while introducing students to a field they may not have encountered before.
What Students Will Do:
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Lead interactive, hands-on biomedical engineering workshops on-site.
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Guide participants through assembling circuits using Arduinos, breadboards, and pulse sensors.
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Teach students how to program an Arduino to collect and process sensor data.
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Introduce how optical sensors measure heart rate through photoplethysmography (PPG).
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Help participants visualize and interpret their heartbeat in real time.
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Introduce students to the intersection of engineering, technology, and healthcare
Skills Gained:
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STEM education and workshop facilitation
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Engineering communication
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Circuit assembly and electronics
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Arduino programming and microcontrollers
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Biomedical engineering fundamentals
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Hands-on teaching and community engagement
Southern Care Hospice
Project Overview:
Students will collaborate with Southern Care Hospice to improve comfort and quality of life for hospice patients through personalized assistive solutions. The team will design and 3D print custom fidget tools tailored to each patient’s preferences, providing a calming, therapeutic resource to help reduce anxiety and restlessness.
What Students Will Do:
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Design personalized fidget tools based on patient needs.
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Create prototypes using CAD and 3D printing.
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Collaborate with hospice staff to refine designs.
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Research therapeutic approaches that promote comfort and well-being.
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Support patient-centered innovation in hospice care.
Skills Gained:
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CAD and 3D printing
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Patient-centered design
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Healthcare innovation
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Empathy-driven problem solving
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Interdisciplinary collaboration