Design Engineering Expo (DEX) 2013 to showcase Canada’s brightest Innovators

Dr. Todd Reichert and Cameron Robertson— the aerospace engineers behind Canada’s Sikorsky Prize-winning human-powered helicopter – will keynote the Design Engineering Expo (DEX) on October 30.

Scheduled for October 30, 2013 at the Mississauga Convention Centre, the one-day show provides a forum for face-to-face interactions where engineers, product developers, machine builders and systems integrators can discuss, network, solicit advice and ‘kick the tires’ on the latest technologies and applications from the aerospace, automotive, defense, machine building, medical, metal fabrication, packaging, and power generation industries.

Those on hand to present and talk about their engineering innovations include:

AeroVelo Human-Powered Helicopter
Dr. Todd Reichert and Cameron Robertson— aerospace engineers and design leaders of the Canadian human-powered helicopter, Atlas, that recently claimed the 33-year-old AHS Sikorsky Prize—will keynote DEX 2013. Graduates of the University of Toronto Institute of Aerospace Sciences (UTIAS), the engineering duo are no strangers to setting records. Their group, AeroVelo, also designed and flew the Snowbird, the world’s first human-powered flapping-wing ornithopter to achieve sustained flight. At the DEX keynote, Reichert and Robertson will talk about innovation, the design of the prize-winning helicopter and AeroVelo’s next “impossible” project.

Bladetech Hockey Skates
Canadian engineer and hockey player, Jeffrey Azzolin, will display his spring-loaded Bladetech hockey skates. Azzolin’s innovative approach to the classic ice skate not only reduces the risk of stress-related injuries but helps skaters jump of the line and speed down the ice faster.

University of Waterloo EcoCar 2 Entry
Engineering students from the University of Waterloo will showcase their entry in General Motors’ EcoCar 2 competition. The team’s modified Chevy Malibu features a plug-in hybrid electric architecture that delivers 260 HP and an all-electric range of 60 km plus a 2.4L engine to provide power and extend vehicle range.

University of Toronto FSAE Racing Team
A Formula-style race car—designed, built and raced by the University of Toronto’s FSAE Racing Team—will show off the engineering skills of the university’s undergrad-run club. The team is composed entirely of students who participate at an extracurricular level, strengthening their academic skills in engineering design, technology and business. Following the team’s design philosophy of simplicity and reliability, the 2013 UT race vehicle features a steel tube chassis, aluminum cast uprights, and a spool-mounted brake calliper, which help make it the most inexpensive and lightest the team has constructed in its 16 year history.

Western Engineering’s FIRST robotics club
High school students from Team 4814 of Western Engineering’s FIRST robotics club (WE FIRST) will demonstrate their robot that won multiple awards at this year’s FIRST Robotics World Championship. For this year’s competition, the team was required to build a 120-lb. robot that shot Frisbees into goals and climb an 8-foot pyramid. In total, the rookie team placed second in the Curie Division, won the Highest Rookie Seed Award and won the Rookie Inspiration Award.

Grenetek Solar Tracking System
Ontario-based Grenetek will show off the company’s innovative dual-axis solar panel tracking system. Designed to handle small to large solar arrays, the stand-alone system’s unique load bearing mechanism allows it to operate with low power requirements supplied by the array itself. A spin-off University of Western Ontario, the company specializes in reliable and cost-effective technologies for renewable energy sector.
www.dexexpo.com