Projects, ranging from a surveillance robot to aid in search and rescue during mine disasters to a new kind of hospital bed that will monitor patientsvital statistics, will be on display Wednesday, April 29, at West Virginia University .

The projects will be showcased from noon to 2 p.m. in the ground floor corridors of the Engineering Sciences Building on the Evansdale Campus. The Senior Design Expo of the Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering is free and open to the public.

Over the course of the semester, the studentswho include computer science, electrical engineering and biometric systems majorshave been working in groups on a wide range of projects, and the Design Expo is their opportunity to show off the results, said Ramana Reddy , professor of computer science and electrical engineering and event coordinator.

Throughout the semester, our students have worked hard to design and build innovative systems,Reddy said.This event allows them to display their hard work.

The special hospital bed is designed for use in assisted living facilities, and the students working on this project partnered with The Village at Heritage Point, a local assisted living community.

Another group of students developed an electrical system for EcoCAR, a competition aimed at developing a more eco-friendly vehicle. Other projects that will be on display include an autonomous lawnmower, a robotic camera mount and various software design concepts.

Students and faculty will view the projects on display and cast their votes for the best.