Artificial intelligence-aided medical diagnoses. Mobile tourniquet training for first responders. School bus warning systems for connected vehicles. An animatronic hodag. A humanoid robot powered by electrical and pneumatic actuation. Improved beer fermentation and labeling systems. Human-powered, fluid-power driven vehicles. Improvements to masked communication in health care settings. These are but a few of the nearly 90 senior projects that will be displayed during MSOE’s annual Senior Project Showcase on Friday, May 20.  

Throughout their senior year, students collaborate with classmates on a final project related to their degree program. It’s an opportunity for them to take everything they’ve learned in their time at MSOE and put it to use in a real-life application. The projects are often sponsored by companies looking to solve a problem, and others are driven by a student’s interests.  

Projects will be on display throughout campus:

• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department Walter Schroeder Library and Werwath Mall, 500 E. Kilbourn Ave. Dwight and Dian Diercks Computational Science Hall, 1025 N. Milwaukee St. 
• Noon to 1 p.m. – School of Nursing Campus Center, Ruehlow Nursing Complex, 1025 N. Broadway
• Noon to 2 p.m. – Physics and Chemistry Department Campus Center, second floor, 1025 N. Broadway
• Noon to 3 p.m. – Mechanical Engineering Department Science Building and Werwath Mall, 432 E. Kilbourn Ave.  

A sampling of projects is below. A complete list and more information can be found online: msoe.edu/senior-projects.  

Deep Learning Classification of Breast Tumors
Biomedical engineering students worked to develop a deep learning algorithm to segment and classify breast tumors from MR images as benign or malignant with a 95% accuracy. Their artificially intelligent medical device will assist clinicians in making diagnoses of breast cancer while cutting costs and improving efficiencies in the current diagnostic process. Students utilized Rosie, MSOE’s supercomputer, throughout their network design and testing process. Location: Walter Schroeder Library  

PneuMan 2.0
PneuMan 2.0 is a humanoid robot from the waist up that is powered by electrical and pneumatic actuation. PneuMan 2.0 moves and gestures with his hands, his facial expressions have the potential to exude excitement, fear, surprise, joy and more, and his arms are capable of grabbing and lifting small objects. MSOE electrical engineering and mechanical engineering students developed PneuMan 2.0 with two students from MSOE’s new Senior Design Scholars Program. The senior design scholars are high school students who are admitted to MSOE and participate in senior design projects. The program is sponsored by American Family Insurance and provides participants with mentoring experiences and opportunities to enhance leadership, team building, cross-cultural communication and analytical STEM skills. Location: Science Building, SG-01  

Machine Learning Label Recognition System
Electrical engineering and computer engineering students teamed up to develop an improved system for the automated detection of labeling defects during production at Molson Coors Beverage Company locations. The system uses a machine learning algorithm, high-speed cameras and model training. Location: Walter Schroeder Library  

Perfecting beer fermentation temperatures
Slight temperature deviations in the beer fermentation process can alter the flavor profile of a beer. Computer science and software engineering students worked with Molson Coors Beverage Company to leverage machine learning to diagnose and suggest corrective action at the beginning of the fermentation process—potentially improving the company’s response time to any problem from days to minutes. Location: Walter Schroeder Library  

Connected Vehicle School Bus Warning System
With the TAPCO Connected Vehicle School Bus Warning System, school buses will be able to broadcast a warning signal thanks to the work of computer engineering students. Nearby connected vehicles equipped with On-Board Units (OBUs) receive the signal and display a warning on their Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs) that alerts drivers a school bus is about to cross their path. Location: Werwath Mall  

RATT: Rowing Actuated Tadpole Tricycle
Mechanical engineering students developed this award-winning human-powered, fluid-power driven vehicle for the National Fluid Power Association’s Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge. The team created one of the most unique vehicles in the competition’s history, complete with a tilt steering and rowing machine design. It was completely different from other competitors who mostly used a modified bike design. Their unique design earned them the Judge’s Choice: Design Award and were recognized for their excellent team dynamics and presentation delivery and given honorable mention for the Team Award and Best Presentation Award. Location: Science Building, SG-01

Animatronic Hodag
The elusive, infamous and mythical Hodag first sighted in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, comes to life in this senior project. A team of mechanical engineers developed an animatronic hodag for Old World Wisconsin to use as an attraction at their annual Legends and Lore Event each fall. This hodag is approximately 6 by 4-foot big, moves robotically, emits sounds and even hot breath. Location: Werwath Mall

Addressing the Impact of Masked Communication
Masks have benefits that are proven to decrease the spread of COVID-19, however they can have a negative impact on effective communication—particularly with those who have hearing, cognitive and/or communication impairments. MSOE nursing students worked to find alternative teaching methods to support nurses in providing effective patient discharge instructions. Location: Campus Center, Ruehlow Nursing Complex