An ingenious “silent saxophone” designed by College of Science and Engineering student Daniel Birch-Smith has earned him this year’s RS Components Final Year Engineering Project Prize in Australia.

This innovative project involves an Electronic Wind Instrument (EWI) that produces sound electronically, allowing the user to practise playing the instrument while wearing headphones. The saxophone solution he designed addresses limitations of existing commercial products, such as restricted airflow and a different feel to an acoustic instrument, which makes it difficult to learn how to play an EWI, or to translate that learning back to a real instument.

Aside from the high quality of research and design concept, Daniel demonstrated a finished product – an EWI combined with the body and key mechanism from a soprano saxophone, so that the keys feel and respond like any other acoustic instrument.

Raegan Paay, RS Account Manager in South Australia, presented the certificate to Daniel, along with a $500 voucher for RS PRO products for his future projects, during the CSE Prize and Awards Ceremony in May.

“We offer our congratulations to Daniel who had a brilliant presentation,” said Ms Paay. “We have been a long-time partner of Flinders University when it comes to celebrating innovative thinking and encouraging young students to pursue careers in the STEM industry. Every year we continue to be impressed by the student projects.”

Professor Karen Burke da Silva, Dean (Education), College of Science and Engineering, voiced appreciation on behalf of the College for the involvement of RS in the award. “RS’s contribution helps advance our students with their higher education. We look forward to continuing to connect with RS during 2021 and beyond,” she said.

The prize was first awarded in 1997. Find the list of past winners here.