Although I'm asking this because a friend asked me for ideas for her project, this post could be a valuable ongoing resource for others who have problems that can be solved with mechanical engineering and mechanical engineers seeking to do good.

A Mechanical Engineer friend of mine in her senior year of college just sent me the following:

are there any niche gadget product you wish existed that could be made in like 6 months more or less? We will be able to use the metal 3d printer so if its anything small or complex we good. But it can be big. Like literally anything

Minimal electrical

Mechanical mostly

But ye like not too much programming or electronics

I know you have some niche interests so maybe you know some problems that weren't addressed as a hardware solution yet

The task is to make a "world altering" product, so I came to the EA for ideas.

If you suggest a problem they can work on or a design they can make and they like it, then you essentially get a team of engineers working on that for free. Sounds like a good deal!