Session: ASME Undergraduate Student Design Expo

Paper Number: 176059

The Mqp Lab: Expanding Opportunities for Student Design, Research, and Innovation 

The Major Qualifying Project (MQP) Laboratory in the Mechanical and Materials Engineering Department at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has transformed into one of the most valuable resources for undergraduate mechanical engineering students. Originally designed to support senior year-capstone projects, the lab has grown into a shared workspace where students can design, prototype, test, and refine ideas that go beyond the classroom. Today, the lab provides students with access to tools, equipment, and materials that make ambitious projects possible, even under the tight budgets that often come with undergraduate research.

The MQP Lab is equipped with a wide range of resources: traditional hand and power tools, 3D printers, and storage space for long-term projects. By centralizing these resources, the lab gives every mechanical engineering student the chance to take their ideas from concept to reality. Just as importantly, the MQP lab is fully stocked with tons of basic materials such as scrap metal and wood, fasteners and hobbyist electronics. These abundant materials allow Mechanical Engineering students to significantly reduce the financial burden of working on projects specifically for students working on MQPs, where budgets are often the most limited. This shared pool of materials has been critical in making projects feasible without sacrificing scope or quality.

During the 2024-2025 academic year we hosted more than 40+ projects in this lab space ranging from a battlebot that competed in national competitions, a self-walking robot to be used in assisted living facilities to assist in the place of a nurse, a 3D printed filament recycling system that allows for 3d printing plastic to be reused in the future reducing landfill waste and even a full size plane with a 15 foot wingspan that can be remotely controlled. These MQP’s are incredible feats of engineering created by some of WPI’s brightest students, only made possible by the resources the MQP lab has provided to them.

Despite being called the MQP Lab, this lab hosts significantly more than just senior MQP students. Over the last year, the lab has hosted teaching workshops in CAD, MATLAB, Ansys, 3D Printing and so much more in association with the WPI ASME Student Section. Multiple high level engineering courses have used the space for amazing projects such as autonomous scaled cars, a self-decanting wine decanter,etc.. The Lab also employs 30+ Federal Work Study students, who work very diligently to keep the lab running, many of which have used the opportunity that they have been given in the lab to get internships and full time jobs. Numerous clubs on campus have also began to call the MQP Lab there home, the WPI Bionics club has recently started working in the lab, a club dedicated to teaching students about bionics with hands on projects, including creating a fully functional bionic arm for a student who tragically lost his arm in an accident before coming to WPI.

The success of the Higgins MQP Lab is measured not only in the projects completed but in the opportunities it creates for students. By lowering barriers to entry through shared materials, accessible tools, and a dedicated workspace the lab allows students to dream bigger, prototype faster, and build smarter. For undergraduates balancing academic requirements with limited time and resources, the lab represents more than just a workshop: it is a launchpad for innovation, teamwork, and professional growth. By showcasing the Higgins MQP Lab, this abstract highlights how investing in shared resources for undergraduates yields immediate educational benefits and long-term impact. The lab is proof that when students are given the right tools and environment, they are capable of producing work that contributes to both the academic community and society at large.

Presenting Author: Andrew Lapin Worcester Polytechnic Institiute

Presenting Author Biography: BS Student at WPI studying Mechanical Engineering

Authors:

Andrew Lapin Worcester Polytechnic Institiute
Pradeep Radka Worcester Polytechnic Insititue