From hard hats to high tech, NIU’s College of Engineering and Engineering Technology(CEET) will spotlight the work of nearly 200 graduating seniors on Friday, May 1 at the 2026 Senior Design Showcase.
Free and open to the public, the event is from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the NIU Convocation Center, 1525 W. Lincoln Highway in DeKalb.
The culmination of months of design, testing and iteration, the capstone expo will feature a range of projects, including workplace safety innovations, the creation of autonomous robots and the development of smarter manufacturing systems.
Students from across CEET’s six departments and programs translate classroom knowledge into practical, real-world impact in partnership with industry, community organizations and research labs.
“This is where everything comes together,” said CEET Dean Dave Grewell. “Students take what they’ve learned and apply it to problems that don’t have neat answers. Their work demonstrates creativity, persistence and a real sense of ownership.”
Projects this year reflect a wide spectrum of challenges and opportunities—from automation and advanced manufacturing to health, sustainability and infrastructure. Many are developed in collaboration with industry partners, giving students experience navigating constraints such as cost, usability, safety and scalability.
There are 60 projects overall, with most teams consisting of three or four students. Here’s a cross-section of six projects featured in this year’s showcase:
Motor-Assisted Wheelbarrow (Engineering Technology)
Addressing physical strain in construction and landscaping, this project integrates a motorized assist system into a traditional wheelbarrow. The design reduces user effort on inclines by roughly 50%, balancing performance, safety and affordability within a constrained budget.
Navigation Inertial System in GPS-Denied Environments (Electrical Engineering)
Focusing on navigation where GPS signals are unavailable, this project develops a system that relies on inertial measurement and signal processing. The work has applications in defense, underground mapping and autonomous systems operating in constrained environments.
Campus Security Patrol Robot (Electrical Engineering / Mechatronics Engineering)
This autonomous robot is designed to enhance campus safety through patrol and monitoring functions. Equipped with sensors and navigation algorithms, it demonstrates how robotics can support security operations while reducing reliance on manual patrols.
Organ-on-a-Chip Platform (Biomedical Engineering)
Bridging engineering and biology, this project develops a micro-scale system that mimics human organ functions. The platform has potential applications in drug testing and disease modeling, offering a more controlled and ethical alternative to traditional methods.
NFPA Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge (Mechanical Engineering)
In preparation for the 2026 National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) competition, the multi-team effort from the NIU at Rock Valley College mechanical engineering program focuses on designing and building a fluid-powered vehicle.
Students tackled subsystems including frame, controls and performance optimization, gaining hands-on experience with fluid power technologies and system integration. In 2024 and 2025, fluid power bicycle teams from NIU at RVC won Grand Champion laurels at the National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) competition. This year’s competition concludes on April 24.
Predictive Maintenance and Inventory Optimization (Industrial and Systems Engineering)
Partnering with an industry client, Americold Logistics, this team developed data-driven models to improve maintenance scheduling and inventory control. The solution aims to reduce downtime and costs by anticipating equipment needs before failures occur.
Across all projects, students learn how to navigate ambiguity, collaborate across disciplines and design with real users in mind.
Senior Associate Dean Mansour Tahernezhadi emphasized the broader value of the experience: “The technical work is impressive, but just as important is how students learn to think—how they define problems, communicate ideas and adapt when things don’t go as planned. That’s what prepares them for what comes next.”
Many projects also reflect a growing emphasis on sustainability and human-centered design, whether through biodegradable materials, energy-efficient systems or ergonomic improvements. Others highlight the rapid evolution of automation and robotics, with students building increasingly sophisticated systems that integrate hardware, software and data.
Industry Partnerships are Pivotal
Corporate sponsors include Alloyd, Americold Logistics, Assurance Technologies, Inc., Air Transport Services Group, Bucher Hydraulics, Car-Mon Products, Collins Aerospace, Crandall Stats & Sensors, Danfoss, G&W Electric, Hiwin, Hydraulic Technologies, MC Machinery Systems, Molex, MTH Pumps, the National Fluid Power Association, Trane Technologies, Weldcoa and Woodward.
Fermilab, a longstanding partner of NIU, sponsored six mechanical engineering projects ranging from cryogenic systems to advanced instrumentation. These projects gave students exposure to high-level scientific infrastructure and the complexities of large-scale experimental environments.
Through evaluations made by members of NIU’s Engineering and Technology Alumni Society (ETAS), the day includes a competition for awards in four categories: application of engineering concepts, innovation, problem solving and commercial viability.
For industry partners, the showcase offers a firsthand look at emerging talent and fresh ideas. For students, it represents a milestone—and a launch point.
“These projects don’t end here,” Grewell said. “For many students, this is the beginning of taking an idea further—into a job, a graduate program or even a startup. That’s what makes this event so meaningful.”
The CEET Senior Design Showcase is open to the campus community, industry partners and the public, providing an opportunity to engage directly with students and explore the future of engineering innovation at NIU.
Last year, Senior Design Day drew more than 1,300 people, including over 400 students from 17 high schools and middle schools. Admission and parking are free, and no registration is required. School field trips are encouraged to help educate and inspire younger students about their potential to pursue a variety of engineering fields.
For more information, including a video about the Senior Design program, please visit NIU’s Senior Design page.
