Polytechnique Montréal finished third in the Innovative Design category -- a highly technical challenge requiring competitors to present a unique solution to a problem of their own choosing. Judging is based on the overall engineering process, including market research, feasibility studies and design prototyping.

Polytechnique's entry consisted of a fibre-optic sensory glove with the capacity to model the user's hand in space. Besides enabling movement to be reproduced in 3D, the glove incorporates a pioneering interface for translating sign language. The device also has industrial applications, like endowing robotic arms with precision control to allow their operators to handle hazardous materials safely. Such innovative features give the glove strong marketing and patentability potential.

Jonathan Borduas, Lucas Majeau, Jonathan Lavoie and Sébastien Loranger, the Polytechnique students behind the winning project, are all part of the Department of Engineering Physics and members of the PolyProject technical society.

Others competing on behalf of Polytechnique included Andréanne Leduc and Fanny Vautier in the Re-engineering category; Bouchra Ouatik in Scientific Communications; and Frédéric Bruneau Delorme, Anthony Buffet, Félix Contant and Francis Deslauriers in Junior Team Design.

The Canadian Engineering Competition is a major annual event that has been bringing together the brightest students from across the country since 1985. The competition provides students, industry stakeholders and university representatives with a unique opportunity to meet in a professional and competitive context.
Through a series of challenges that test students' technical, communication and design skills, the Canadian Engineering Competition reveals those with the potential to be the engineering leaders of tomorrow.

To find out more about the Canadian Engineering Competition 2011: www.cci2011.ca/

Congratulations to Polytechnique's delegation!