MIT Students Channel Innovation in Capstone Product Engineering Course

In a vivid celebration of creativity, perseverance, and engineering acumen, MIT hosted its annual showcase for the 2.009 Product Engineering Processes course—a semester-long capstone renowned for challenging senior students to design, develop, and present market-ready product prototypes.

This year’s edition, marked by the theme “Cycles!”, brought together 97 students split into six teams, each tasked with conceiving a product that addresses real-world problems. The event, held at Kresge Auditorium on December 8, was attended by an enthusiastic crowd, with thousands more viewing via livestream.

The Art and Process of Iterative Design

The course structure, shaped by instructors Josh Wiesman and Professor Peko Hosoi, mirrors the fast-paced, iterative environment of professional product development. Teams cycled rapidly through ideation, prototyping, and business planning, oscillating between bursts of creativity and rigorous technical validation.

“Engineering doesn’t move in a straight line,” Hosoi reflected during the event. “It loops, it resets, accelerates, and builds momentum, just like our students.”

With support from mentors, access to state-of-the-art makerspaces, and a dedicated budget, the teams spent 13 weeks turning ideas into tangible solutions. The showcase wasn’t just a demonstration of technical skill; it also reflected a culture of teamwork, user-focused innovation, and the ability to learn from failure.

Spotlight on Prototype Innovation

• Green Team addressed the urgent need for immediate intervention during cardiac arrests, presenting HeartBridge, a robust automated CPR device equipped with real-time feedback for rescuers. By delivering consistent compressions, the device aims to increase survival rates, particularly crucial as effectiveness of manual CPR drops after just minutes.

• Purple Team tackled waste in apple orchards with AgriSweep, a tractor attachment designed to efficiently gather fallen apples for use in cider production, livestock feed, or compost—offering a potential boost to farmers both economically and environmentally.

• Red Team focused on democratizing creativity for embroidery enthusiasts with Scribbly, a compact, software-free printer that transfers custom designs directly onto fabric. The device streamlines a typically cumbersome process, enhancing both accessibility and flexibility for hobbyists.

• Blue Team prioritized boating safety with DORI, a deployable propeller guard that can be stowed when not in use, addressing longstanding trade-offs between propeller protection and vessel performance.

• Yellow Team innovated for skating aficionados, debuting Polar, a portable, motor-driven ice resurfacer that empowers homeowners to smooth backyard rinks and improve skate quality without expensive equipment.

• Pink Team took on high-stakes rescue diving scenarios with HydroHold, a straightforward, hands-free victim retention device. Its refinement was based on extensive feedback from professional divers, emphasizing safety and simplicity over complexity.

The Human Side of Engineering

In a nod to the pivotal role of teamwork and resilience, the event also featured animated films and musical interludes, culminating in an AI-generated tribute that cleverly wove together names and experiences from the course community. The celebratory song, available at the close of the event livestream, highlighted the collaborative spirit—and the modern, AI-assisted creativity—that defines today’s engineering landscape.

While the event did not focus exclusively on artificial intelligence, its creative use—in generating multimedia content and enhancing artistry—was a notable feature, reflecting the subtle yet growing impact of AI on arts education and student expression.

For the full prototype demonstrations and the AI-powered tribute, watch the recorded event at MIT News.