The Big Picture
Sparking Innovation
BEFORE STARRING IN the "Progress Happens Here" commercial, Bennett Schirmer '27, center, started building a 3-D printed prosthetic hand to apply knowledge from his mechanical engineering major to a real project. Now, Schirmer and the prosthetic represent USI's adaptability and resilience, both on screen and behind the scenes.
"The engineering program here is incredible," said Schirmer. "I hope sharing projects like this gets future USI students interested in engineering."
But progress doesn't happen without challenges. Schirmer's project was still in its early stages during the shoot and needed further development to integrate with the galvanic skin response (GSR) sensor used as a prop in the commercial. Rather than fake it all for the camera, Schirmer researched how to write code for manual movement cues.
While the commercial crew converted a Business and Engineering Center lounge into a simulated robotics lab, Schirmer reprogrammed the prosthetic for the perfect shot. Even after the final cut, Schirmer continues applying his education and researching prosthetic control through algorithms that read brainwave activity.
"My experience at USI has helped transform me. I started as an interested student, but now I'm a problem solver, passionate about the real-world applications of engineering."
- Bennett Schirmer '27
