From a rocket made of new composites to a rising toilet seat to help the elderly and those with disabilities, the University of Utah’s Department of Mechanical Engineering showed off this year’s senior projects during the annual “Senior Design Showcase.”

Held April 21 at the A. Ray Olpin Student Union ballroom, seniors displayed the projects they have been working on during the past year while freshmen and juniors competed in robotic competitions.

Some of the projects on display include a solar-powered espresso machine, an ultra-light backcountry ski, a lift for toilet seats powered by the water in the tank, and a quadcopter for aquatic search and rescue teams that can be deployed as a flotation device to drowning victims.

Below are photos from the event.