Flying into first at Engineering Open House

Each spring, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Engineering Open House transforms The Grainger College of Engineering campus into a celebration of innovation, creativity and collaboration.

This year’s event, held April 4–5, embraced the theme “The Age of Innovation,” highlighting the forefront of technological advancements and inspiring curiosity in STEM fields.

The American Society of Civil Engineers Transportation & Development Institute graduate student organization, in collaboration with the Illinois Center for Transportation, showcased an interactive exhibit called Pilot Your Drone: Air Traffic Adventureland — a space-themed experience that earned top honors at the event: Most Engaging Exhibit and Best Exhibit Theme Award

Designed to help visitors understand how traffic optimization works in last-mile drone delivery, the exhibit challenged participants to find the shortest route between planets while making scheduled stops. Once they selected a path, a drone simulated the journey in real time.

“It was really fun turning our research into a game that people of all ages could enjoy. Seeing kids light up when the drone followed their path was the best part — it made complex ideas feel accessible and exciting,” said Lara Diab, an ICT doctoral student who coordinated the exhibit.

The exhibit offered a hands-on introduction to the role of optimization algorithms in solving real-world logistics and transportation challenges.

“That connection between fun and learning is what makes EOH so special,” Diab added. “It’s a chance to show how engineering can solve real problems in ways everyone can understand.”

We congratulate all the student volunteers who participated in EOH this year and look forward to continuing the tradition of innovation, impact and excellence at next year’s EOH!