NASHUA – A device that helps vehicles stop to avoid crashes, a product that infuses dog toys with a variety of scents to keep the pets interested and a method to help students ask teachers for help without the fear of embarrassment are just some of the inventions Nashua High School North and South engineering students showcased on Tuesday.

For the last 16 weeks, students have been tasked with creating a solution to a real-world challenge they have identified. The Engineering Design and Development course is a capstone course that allows students to learn more about a topic that interests them.

The students were grouped together based on their ideas so they could grow the concept that drives their passions.

They also were required to keep an engineering notebook to document their progress during the semester. Each student got $100 to go toward his or her project for any materials needed.

A large variety of projects were on display Tuesday.

Seniors Austin Bourque, Angela Fuentes and Allison Gagne created “Snooble.” These students put different scents into dog toys to keep the dogs interested in their toys. When they came up with their idea, they contacted a local veterinarian to receive feedback and continued to research. They also discovered natural scents and essential oils that calmed dogs.

Seniors Daniel DeSchene, senior Norman Vo and senior Ricky Perdome created their own version of a caulking gun, a tool used for sealing gaps and cracks in a home.

The students wanted to make the tool less straining on user’s hands. They found their first design was similar to products already on the market, so they had to find a different route for their invention. They decided to use ice pop sticks and pieces they created using computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) software and a 3D printer. They found that their model was cheaper and effective.

Seniors Madison Roe and Jacqueline Desrosier created a book pouch. As avid book readers, Roe and Desrosier both noticed they often had trouble keeping paperback books from getting damaged in their backpacks.

They set out to survey people in their community and found that 71% of those surveyed agreed this problem exists.

They consulted experts, Nashua High School North’s librarians, who confirmed many of their paperback books are returned damaged.

The students decided to design a waterproof pouch for a book to slide into in a backpack. The pouch, which is adorned in lady bug designs, has clips that can attach to the laptop pouch inside a backpack. They designed their pouch with cotton material lacing the inside, while the outside is covered to block water.

Another pair of students created technology to prevent collision accidents. Upon researching, junior Alex Sheran and senior Thomas McGreevy found that more than 17,000 people die each year from car accidents.

Sheran said many of these accidents could be prevented from technology found in Tesla cars that stops the car automatically before an accident. Many can not afford a Tesla, Sheran highlighted.

Acknowledging this, they decided to create their own technology by assembling individual parts. With their invention, they were able to create a sensor that would be mounted on a car’s dashboard and will pull a break when the distance to something becomes too close.

McGreevy said they chose this invention because they wanted to solve a problem that was happening all around the world.

Another group of students created a reminder pill box for people who have a difficult time remembering when to take their pills. With the help of a 3D printer, LED lights and coding techniques, seniors Natasha Roberts, Quintin Parker-Horvath and Alex Nguyen designed a box that blinks to notify when it is time to take a pill.

Seniors Connor Monahan, David Brideau, Adam Hassanien and Codi Houston created GCA: game controller addition. The students wanted to create a battery that allowed for game controllers to last longer. They found that most PlayStation 4 controllers last about seven to 10 hours before needing a charge. With their battery, which is designed to last 12 hours, it gives users the ability to have nearly a full day of charge.

The final project was designed by juniors Joey Calamo and Nathan Grant, and senior Julian Rodriguez to make it easier for students to make appointments with teachers during the school’s E-Block. Junior Joey Calamo said there’s often a stigma in high school that a student shouldn’t need extra help. Calamo said this makes it easier for students to do this “anonymously.” Through their technology, students are able to write a summary describing what they need for help. Teachers will also be able to look up students with just their ID numbers.

Calamo and Grant will further develop their project during the 2019-20 school term.

Grace Pecci may be reached at 594-1243, or at gpecci@nashuatelegraph.com.