Design Analysis Competition

Sponsored by Ansys

The Design Analysis Competition, sponsored by , is to encourage the effective application of appropriate engineering analyses in the execution of a capstone design project.

Students from any University of À¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ Engineering program in their final year of study are encouraged to apply.

Prizes

Winners will be announced at the winning team's department symposium in March/April.  First place prize is $2000, first runner up will receive $1200 and second runner up will receive a prize of $800.

Important Dates

Friday, February 21, 2025: One-page summary due

Tuesday, February 25, 2025: Notifications of acceptance sent out

Monday, March 3, 2025: Presentations to judges

Presentation rubric: 

Application Instructions

Questions and applications should be addressed to Chris Rennick at crennick@uwaterloo.ca.

Past Winners

Year Winning Teams
2024

First Prize: "OSCAR" - Mechatronics Engineering

First Runner Up: Optislot - Management Engineering

Second Runner Up (Tie): AdhereRx - Biomedial Engineering

Second Runner Up (Tie): Material Sheet Transfer Improvement - Mechanical Engineering

2023

First Prize: F1 AutoAero: Design and analysis of an automated system for repositioning Formula 1 drag reduction systems during windtunnel testing - Mechatronics Engineering

First Runner Up (Tie): IsoFlex: Design of a sensor that combines microporous composites to create two unidirectional strain-sensing structures, and combines their responses to achieve multidirectional force sensing - Nanotechnology Engineering

First Runner Up (Tie): UW Formula Motorsports Aerodynamic Package: The focus of this project was to redesign the aerodynamic package to introduce an undertray for the 2023 car while also making improvements to the front wing and nose cone - Mechanical Engineering

Second Runner Up (Tie): Heliocopter: The project developed an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that can operate in inaccessible locations. Analytical methods were used for aerodynamic and structural optimizations, propulsion system requirements, and power electronics design. - Mechatronics Engineering

Second Runner Up (Tie): Endonostix: Development of custom analysis tools for the design of a non-surgical diagnostic tool for endometriosis - Nanotechnology Engineering

2022

First Prize: MAJC Window: Acoustical device that delivers outside air to a room without the sounds of the city - Mechanical Engineering

First Runner Up: Origam-e: A portable, high performance, electric personal mobility vehicle - Mechanical Engineering

Second Runner Up: Petalos: flexible gastrointestinal modular endoscope with an autoclavable body - Biomedical Engineering

2021

First Prize: Project Lumos: Smart Blue Light Therapy Glasses for Sleep and Wellness - Mechanical Engineering

First Runner Up: Buckling Analysis of a Steel Spaceframe Control Arm - Mechanical Engineering

Second Runner Up: Project SINEW: System for In-Space Nanothermite External Welding

2020

First Prize: Reduction of Carbon Emissions in Integrated Steel Plants - Chemical Engineering

First Runner Up: Smartphone Optical Zoom with Liquid Crystel Lens - Nanotechnology Engineering

Second Runner Up (Tie): Shoulder Watch: Quantifying Arm Elevation in the Workplace - Mechanical Engineering
Academic Pulse: Generation and Optimization of Elementary School Timetables - Management Engineering

2019

First Prize: Model Creation adn Validation of a Pulp and Paper Oven Process with Convection and Heat Exchange - Chemical Engineering

First Runner Up: WatFly Urban Air Mobility Solution - Mechanical Engineering

Second Runner Up: Process Design of Synthetic Fuel from Landfill Gas - Chemical Engineering

2018

First Prize: Hybrid Rocket Engine - Mechanical Engineering - 
The project objective was to design, built, and test a hybrid rocket engine that will provide thrust for a rocket with a target apogee of 30,000 ft.

The winner's presentation can be read in full here: Hybrid Rocket Engine Analysis PresentationÌý(±è»å´Ú).Ìý

First Runner Up: Optimal Surgical Operating Hours - Management Engineering - This project analyzed historical usage data to improve the manual process of scheduling the surgical operating hours for the 39 Operating Rooms at a hospital.

Second Runner Up: Portable Photocatalytic Water Treatment - Chemical Engineering

2017

First Prize: GYB (Got your Back) - Mechanical Engineering - This project minimized mirror drag and eliminated side mirror blind spots by using a camera system.  The final design was produced by an automated optimization of solid models.

First Runner Up: Motorcycle Safety - Mechanical Engineering - This project produced a design for an aerodynamic braking solution for motorcycles.  Computational analysis and virtual prototyping was used extensively to evaluate the performance of design concepts.

Second Runner Up: Total Recall - Systems Design Engineering - This project designed an automated system for consumer protection agencies to perform early detection of recall-worthy products.  The analysis performed involved training a model to classify consumer reviews as "recalled" or "not recalled".