Students’ ingenious ideas aim to improve the way we live
Two members of the Kangaroo Robot team with RooBot on the right and JoeyBot at the front. Andy Tran (right) is in his final year of a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering honours majoring in aerospace. Vishwajit Pillay (left) is in his final year of a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering majoring in mechanical engineering.
University of Adelaide students are showing their final year projects at Ingenuity, including a robot that mimics animal movements, improvements to lunar rover technology and a method of altering the direction of waves.
Held at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 November, Ingenuity 2022 is a platform for students to professionally present their work to a wide range of audiences.
Ingenuity 2022 highlights the efforts of more than 500 honours and higher degree students from across the University’s Faculty of Sciences Engineering and Technology. On display are 200 examples of how students are re-imagining current and future challenges.
“Ingenuity is a chance for University of Adelaide final year students to shine. Their practical solutions to real-world problems highlight the skills and experience they have gained during their courses,” said the University of Adelaide’s Professor Katrina Falkner, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology.
“Students are challenged to develop ingenious solutions to help improve the way we live and work. Their projects seek to advance human knowledge by applying cutting-edge technology.
“The projects on display include innovative ways to sustain and enhance life in our built and natural environments; improve defence and security technologies and systems; protect human health and foster healthy communities and push the boundaries of what is possible in space research.”
“Ingenuity is a chance for University of Adelaide final year students to shine. Their practical solutions to real-world problems highlight the skills and experience they have gained during their courses,"The University of Adelaide’s Professor Katrina Falkner, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology.
Students Jaxon Craggs, Ashkay Mistry, Timothy King, Bailey Coates, Vishwajit Pillay and Andy Tran have developed a bio-inspired robot for legged exploration. The team looked at animal movements and landed on a design inspired by how kangaroos move. They aim to build a robot capable of exploring other planets.
Other projects on display include:
- A project that aims to improve how energy is extracted from ocean waves and control their direction to reduce coastal erosion
- A new lunar rover drivetrain that is better at withstanding the abrasive effects of lunar dust
- A project that uses machine learning approaches to automate the detection and tracking of cystic fibrosis marker particles as they move through the airways
- A balloon-born aerial that aims to improve defence communications methods, which may also be used in disaster management scenarios
- A team of mechanical and electrical engineering students who are improving the University’s solar car in preparation for the 2023 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge
Ingenuity is attended by several thousand people each year: primary and high school students, industry representatives, University staff and students, and the general public. They have the opportunity to engage with university students, share in their experiences, and learn more about studying STEM at the University of Adelaide.
More information about Ingenuity 2022 is available at: www.set.adelaide.edu.au/ingenuity/
Media contact
Crispin Savage, Manager, Media and News, The University of Adelaide. Mobile: +61 (0)481 912 465.
Email: crispin.savage@adelaide.edu.au