Bachelor of Engineering - Electronic Systems Engineering students Sean Berkvens and Graeme Judge took top honour at the college’s Tech Showcase on August 16.
Bachelor of Engineering - Electronic Systems Engineering students Sean Berkvens and Graeme Judge placed first with their smartwatch project at Conestoga’s annual Tech Showcase on August 16.
Hosted at the Cambridge - Fountain Street campus, the annual event features best of program, final-year projects from the School of Engineering & Technology. Projects are judged by a panel of industry representatives to determine the winner of the college’s Mastercraft Award, recognizing excellence in program-related skills. Established in 1980 by former Conestoga president Kenneth E. Hunter, the honour includes a Coat of Arms and a monetary prize of $1,000. Berkvens and Judge will be presented the award at fall convocation for their smartwatch project.
The Health Monitoring Watch observes blood oxygen levels and heart rate. Bluetooth capability allows the watch to communicate with an android mobile phone application to plot readings and display warnings. The team utilized an ESP32 chip microcontroller as the main processor for buttons, sensors and an LCD screen all on a custom-designed printed circuit board.
Judges said they were impressed with the project’s creativity and the skill involved in its execution. The custom prototype, phone application development to pair with the watch, and quality of the finished product, given the difficulty involved in the watch’s assembly, all showed excellent skills.
Student Tapan Patel from the Mechanical Engineering Technology - Design and Analysis program received an honourable mention for a study to validate the design of leak testing, bearing press and plug assemblies using strength and rigidity analysis. Patel used simulation and computer-aided software to model components and check stress patterns. Judges noted the skill and execution of the project and its real-world applications.
Other projects presented at Tech Showcase included a mould plug manufacturing system by Bachelor of Engineering - Mechanical Systems Engineering students, a smart robot utilizing speech-to-text engine API from students in the Embedded Systems Development program, and a handcrafted coffee table with storage from the Woodworking Technology program.
The School of Engineering & Technology offers a comprehensive suite of programs with a wide range of credentials, including the Bachelor of Engineering - Electronic Systems Engineering program. Programs feature project-based learning, co-op work experience and applied research opportunities to prepare graduates for success in their chosen fields. Conestoga is the only college in Ontario to offer fully accredited engineering degrees.