
53 minute read
Comprehensive Modeling of Beam Propagation in Multimode Fiber and Experimental Validation (Year 2)
Team 23044
Project Goal
Develop a graphical user interface (GUI)-enabled, experimentally verified optical fiber beam propagation software package that accurately models how fiber bending, twisting and ambient temperature impact performance.
Optical fibers are waveguide conduits that transport light. Due to their unique optical confinement mechanisms, optical fibers can only carry a finite number of modes, or electromagnetic (EM) field distributions. Although the physics of straight fibers is well understood, many applications require the waveguides to perform in more complex environments, which significantly alter the behavior of the modes and, therefore, the guided field.
Engineers can compensate for these environmental perturbations, but only with accurate computational modeling. This team based its approach on the software simulation package from last year’s Team 22041, improving the package usability and fiber bending accuracy with verification through a rigorous experimental study.
The simulation can be accessed through a fully functioning GUI that allows the user to propagate Gaussian, flat top, annular and custom EM fields through step index or photonic crystal fibers with arbitrary bending/twisting geometries and ambient temperatures. During the simulation, the GUI displays the fiber layout, propagation loss, and real-time updates of the EM field as it propagates through the fiber, providing the user with enhanced analysis and streamlined fiber-based optical design.
Vision-Based Agricultural Implement Awareness
Team 23046
Project Goal
Using various sensors, identify and track the position of any implement attached to an autonomous tractor.
Adding the capabilities of implement recognition and positioning to a tractor dramatically increases the scope of what tasks its autonomous system can perform. This design serves as a cost-saving alternative to adding automation equipment to each of the several implements that a single tractor pulls.
The system, which is completely powered by the tractor itself and can withstand agricultural conditions, sits on top of the tractor cab to visually recognize and track the towed implement. It uses an OAK-D-PoE camera with machine learning models to perform implement detection and identification and a Livox Mid-40 sensor with lidar, or Light Detection and Ranging, and traditional algorithms to accomplish positioning relative to the tractor. All of the visual information is compiled and calculated on an NVIDIA Jetson in conjunction with the OAK-D, with on-board processing capabilities. The Oak-D performs the Neural Network computing on the camera itself, while the NVIDIA Jetson processes the outputs from the neural network and lidar data as well as the overall system code.
The result is a complex network of embedded software and hardware integrated to accurately identify and locate implements, effectively advancing the future of automation in agriculture.

TEAM MEMBERS
Francisco Javier Flowers, Optical Sciences & Engineering
Oscar Hsueh, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Atkin David Hyatt, Optical Sciences & Engineering
Lauren McCaffrey, Optical Sciences & Engineering
Oliver Wu, Optical Sciences & Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Mike Nofziger
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Tao Chen
TEAM MEMBERS

Gavin M Caldwell, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Jessica S Grove, Industrial Engineering
Brett Miller, Biosystems Engineering
Kees Passon, Optical Sciences & Engineering
Everett Schafer, Optical Sciences & Engineering
Howard James Yawit, Electrical & Computer Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
James Sweetman
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Darcy Cook
TEAM MEMBERS
Omar Al Hilal, Electrical & Computer Engineering

Young Cho, Mechanical Engineering
Dan S Darnell, Mechanical Engineering
Shane Henry Jordan, Optical Sciences & Engineering
AJ James Sterner, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Jake Timothy Wern, Systems Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Steve Larimore
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Dan Latt
Cyclesafe: An Automobile Proximity Sensing, Warning and Reporting Device for Bicycles
Team 23047
PROJECT GOAL
Design and create an automobile proximity sensor for cyclists to ensure safety on the road and provide potential traffic violation information.
Every year in the United States nearly 1,000 cyclists die, and more than 130,000 cyclists are injured in road accidents. Regulations such as ARS 28-278 guarantee cyclists 3 feet of space on the road, but these laws are often ignored because there isn’t a clear way to determine this traffic violation.
The Cyclesafe, a lightweight device mounted inside the handlebar of a bicycle, employs LEDs to alert drivers of the cyclists’ location and uses a microcontroller and an ultrasonic proximity sensor to detect within milliseconds a driver crossing into the 3-foot boundary of the cyclist.
If an intrusion is detected, the device captures a picture of the offending driver’s license plate as well as the location of the incident using GPS. The photograph and location are stored to an onboard SD card, where the user can later collect the data and report violators to the authorities.
Broadband Tunable Fabry-Perot Spectrometer for Remote Sensing
Team 23049
TEAM MEMBERS
Carolina Corella, Optical Sciences & Engineering
Jason Dylla, Optical Sciences & Engineering
Adam G Lane, Optical Sciences & Engineering
Allen Miller, Engineering Management, Optical Sciences & Engineering

Justin Alexander Scott, Optical Sciences & Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Doug May
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Casey Streuber
Project Goal
Develop a low-cost spectrometer that applies a Fabry-Perot Interferometer (FPI) –replacing a diffraction grating to perform hyperspectral imaging.
Objects on the Earth’s surface contain different chemical compositions from mineral deposits, wildfires and industrial emissions. Each chemical composition emits light at a unique color, or wavelength of light.
A system with a spectrometer that takes 2D images of Earth’s surface at specified wavelengths can characterize and identify objects by their spectral emissions. Such a system can also work with Lidar, or Light Detection and Ranging.
The team’s design has two mirrors facing each other in a configuration known as an FPI, or cavity. Light passing through the cavity interferes constructively or destructively depending on the wavelength, as determined by the spacing of the cavity’s mirrors. Filtration of sunlight and accurate wavelength distinction of the light is achieved by adjusting the mirror spacing digitally with a piezoelectric actuator.
Collection and imaging optics around the FPI help form a monochromatic image. Software then coordinates the actuator and camera for data collection.
Rotating Detonation Engine Heat Management System
Team 23050
Project Goal
Implement a heat management system within Nobel’s Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE) and collect data to allow for improved design.
The global energy crisis is one of today’s biggest problems. RDEs are a new type of engine that could increase fuel efficiency up to 15% over conventional combustion, a huge improvement for energy and aerospace industries. However, heat management challenges must first be overcome.
An RDE supersonically combusts fuel, rapidly increasing the pressure and temperatures within the combustion chamber. A mixture of fuel is injected into the bottom of the RDE combustion chamber, where it meets a single detonation from the ignitor. The detonation creates a shockwave that continuously propagates around the annular combustor. Resulting high temperatures and pressures generate thrust or drive the turbine. But long exposure to the high temperatures is detrimental to the internal components of the RDE itself.
To help Nobel advance its RDE, the team designed a heat management system for a split path fluid flow within the walls of the combustion chamber. The system cools the RDE while it runs, allowing Nobel to run the engine for longer and collect data to optimize its design.
Spin Balance Mechanism
Team 23051
Project Goal
Design a novel mass properties measurement system for calculating the center of gravity of various payloads.
Mass properties are crucial when designing hypersonic rockets because unexpected deviations in balance can lead to flight failure. Theoretical mass properties data, often derived from naturally idealistic CAD models, must be refined with real measurements.
Using the principle of the conservation of angular momentum, this team designed a low-cost system to calculate the center of gravity for varying payloads. Imagine how figure skaters move their arms closer to or away from their bodies to change rotational velocity.


In this design, a system of three nested shafts moves two translation plates to shift the payload and maintain the system’s center of gravity. DC motors drive the system, and an electrical suite controls the motion. The system measures the current being drawn by the rotation motor as the plates are moved in two axes. The point at which minimum power consumption maintains rotational speed determines when the system’s center of gravity is in the rotational axis. Calculations determine how far the plates must shift the payload to establish its center of gravity.
TEAM MEMBERS
Nicolas Gross, Mechanical Engineering
Nathan Grossman, Aerospace Engineering
Sean Brian Harkins, Aerospace Engineering
Briannah Herman, Aerospace Engineering
Joseph Reid, Mechanical Engineering
Richie Ruicheng Ye, Aerospace Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Pat Caldwell
SPONSOR ADVISOR
James Villarreal
TEAM MEMBERS
Hammad Al Hinai, Mechanical Engineering
Cameron Crowley, Aerospace Engineering
Aaron B Folkerts, Aerospace Engineering
Nicholas Gullo, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Casey J Kozlowski, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Wyatt Prentice, Aerospace Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Doug May
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Sierra Rose
TEAM MEMBERS
Abdullah Almansour, Industrial Engineering
Blake Daniel Haines, Materials Science & Engineering
Rod mazda, Mechanical Engineering
Tania Ruiz, Mechanical Engineering
Brandon Robert St.Pierre, Mechanical Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Michael Madjerec
SPONSOR ADVISORS
Brian Baughman, Jason Floor, Jalen Harrington, Clay Sutter
Directed Energy Deposition (DED) Repair With Integrated Machining
Team 23052
TEAM MEMBERS
Riley Cowling, Electrical & Computer Engineering

Victor P Frank, Biomedical Engineering
James Mark Gregory, Biomedical Engineering
Sebastian Alexander Oviedo, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Abi Swalander, Biomedical Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Bob Messenger
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Dan Schlager
PROJECT GOAL
Evaluate the effects of parameters in the wire-fed DED process on the produced material properties in relation to a repair.
In the aerospace industry, many parts are made from super alloys, such as Inconel 718, to withstand the extreme temperatures of turbine engines and other commercial applications. Over time these parts wear out and have to be replaced. Honeywell is interested in performing a repair on these parts to return them to service with the original material properties.
This process uses a DED engine from Meltio, integrated with a Haas VF-2 CNC machine for hybrid manufacturing. The University of Arizona acquired this machine combination to evaluate this process. However, technical difficulties occurred during installation, rendering the equipment unavailable to the design team. Thus, the team had a third party prepare DED printed test specimens and used a factorial design of experiment to analyze grain structure and porosity in relation to specified printing parameters.
The team has cut the samples using a wire electrical discharge machine and is currently polishing and etching the samples for microscopic inspection and analysis.
Lightning Protection Garments for Injury Prevention
Team 23055
Project Goal
Test and measure the protection provided by specially designed Lightning Protection Garments.
Globally, approximately 24,000 people per year are fatally struck by lightning. This team’s system measures the voltage across the chest wall and to the heart to determine the efficacy of the Lightning Protection Garments Zolt developed to minimize the risk of death from a lightning strike.

The design uses a mannequin to model the human physique. A circuit is created from head to toe to mimic the human body. The mannequin has a resistance approximately equal to the human body. A surge protection subcircuit and measurement subcircuits are placed in the chest cavity to measure the voltage and current within the system while also protecting the electronics.
A high-speed FPGA, or Field Programmable Gate Array, device, acting as an oscilloscope, is used to measure the voltage within the system at a rate of 100 samples per microsecond. This data is stored locally and downloaded for evaluation after the lightning tests.
At DNB Lightning Lab in Anaheim, the team struck the system with thousands of amps – in a variety of configurations. Measured values stored on a micro SD card were compiled to generate a graphical visualization of the voltage, current and energy values to determine the efficacy of the garment design.
Smart Medical Drainage Catheter
Team 23056
Project Goal
Develop a functional prototype of a smart medical drainage catheter for improved analytics and diagnostics.
Becton Dickinson Peripheral Intervention is looking to improve medical drainage catheters. This prototype to integrate sensors is expected to benefit future products.
This team was tasked with prototyping a smart implantable medical drainage catheter to collect and safely dispose of excess fluid from a bodily cavity. In addition, the prototype automatically measures, records and wirelessly communicates parameters during the process of fluid inline removal. The parameters to be evaluated included the total quantity of fluid drained over time, time and duration of drainage procedures, detection of clogs, and the standard biometric measurements of fluid (pH and temperature).

The system collects the data and transmits the information in real time to physicians. Specified data can also be made available to patients, who currently must drain their catheters up to seven times a week and manually track drainages. The smart medical drainage catheter reduces patient responsibility, improves shared data reliability, and provides significant feedback – flow rate and time, clog detection, pH and temperature of the fluid.
Design of Remote-Controlled Automation of the Transformer Bioreactor (T-Bioreactor)
Team 23057
Project Goal
Design and fabricate a remotely automated prototype T-Bioreactor capable of producing a range of hydrodynamic mixing patterns to facilitate growth of living organisms.
Bioreactors facilitate growth of living organisms that produce a wide range of food, pharmaceutical and energy alternatives. Stirred-tank bioreactors on the market contain a static impeller for mixing that provides one hydrodynamic mixing pattern. These types of bioreactors, when scaled to higher volumes, produce nonuniform distribution of nutrients and gases, which can reduce yields.
This team’s prototype T-Bioreactor adds an automated variable-pitch impeller. A linear actuator and mechanical linkage that provides varying amounts of axial flow drives the impeller transformation. Additionally, the bioreactor contains a variable speed motor to alter the impeller’s rotational speed. An Arduino Mega connected to a Raspberry Pi 4b with a touchscreen LCD display controls the system’s motors. A graphical user interface (GUI) allows easy control of the mixing speed and T-impeller angle. This GUI also has a section to import mixing profiles, changing speeds and angles at user-set times and enabling the system to work autonomously. With the wireless capabilities of the Raspberry Pi 4b, users can remotely access and control the T-Bioreactor via simple Virtual Network Computing, or VNC, software.
Results show the system’s variable-pitch impeller and variable-speed motor have the potential to improve hydrodynamic mixing patterns for larger-volume bioreactors.
TEAM MEMBERS
Mohammed Al Dallal, Mechanical Engineering
Karis Juliette Brackpool, Biomedical Engineering
Cynthia Ge, Biomedical Engineering
Kathryn T Hoang, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Bianca Rodriguez, Electrical & Computer Engineering

Hasina Shir, Biomedical Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Don McDonald
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Chad Van Liere
TEAM MEMBERS
Greg R Burke, Biosystems Engineering

Alex Cantor, Biosystems Engineering
Angelo Mauro, Mechanical Engineering
Xingye Peng, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Yoni Wulf, Electrical & Computer Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Jeff Scott Wolske
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Joel L Cuello
TEAM MEMBERS
Reem Alruwaih, Mechanical Engineering
Karen Jicel Bermudez Valdez, Engineering Management
Caroline Ann Humphreys, Optical Sciences & Engineering
Cameron James Sexton, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Clayton T Smith, Optical Sciences & Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Justin James Hyatt
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Nitin Patel
Mirror Distortion Measurement
Team 23058
TEAM MEMBERS

Alejandro Lopez, Aerospace Engineering
Simon Quang Minh Ly, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Renatto Miguel Ramos, Aerospace Engineering
Zachary Thach, Mechanical Engineering

Sheehab Zaman, Electrical & Computer Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Doug May
SPONSOR ADVISOR

David Margolis
Design an efficient and repeatable device that quantitatively measures the distortion in mirrors with spherical radius.
Convex mirrors on heavy equipment in the construction industry are extremely important to safely operate vehicles. Therefore, it is crucial to have a mirror with acceptable levels of image distortion.
This project deliverable is an efficient and repeatable testing system that examines the mirror’s spherical radius distortion.
The design uses a machine vision camera to capture the reflection of concentric circles. These concentric circles are manufactured into a cone shape, which sits above the mirror. The camera sits at the top of the cone and can image the entire mirror. The team created a custom baseplate to hold the mirror to prevent movement, and the outer frame of the system is made out of extruded aluminum. The camera takes an image of the mirror, and this image is passed through an image processing algorithm. The algorithm is coded using the Python language and its associated image-processing libraries. The algorithm detects the edges of the image and from those edges calculates the circularity of each circle in the image. If the circles are misshapen, distortion is present. The algorithm determines if the distortion is above or below the accepted level.
Airplane Controls for Armless Pilots
Team 23060
PROJECT GOAL
Develop a control system that allows an armless pilot to safely operate a plane with rudder pedals.
Jessica Cox, the world’s first armless pilot, is building a foot-controlled airplane. Presently, she flies an Ercoupe that she can fly with her feet alone, but it has limitations. She intends to modify and fly a Van’s RV-10, a faster airplane better suited to her needs. However, in its current design, rudder pedals and the yoke are required making it unsafe for her to pilot. Team 23060 developed, prototyped and tested a system for six-axis control by feet alone of the RV-10 while also allowing Jessica to control the navigation and communication radios.
The team designed two identical pedals to replace the control stick. A mechanism directly connects to the elevator pushrods such that tilting the pedals controls airplane pitch. Another mechanism connects to the ailerons to control roll by rotating the pedals left and right. For yaw control, a link connects to the existing system such that pushing the pedals fore and aft moves the rudder. An added linkage directly connects to the existing brake system so squeezing the thighs controls braking. All these linkages were designed and tested to ensure that Cox has the strength to apply the necessary force to control the airplane.
Pressure Sensing Self-Regaining Retractors
Team 23061
Project Goal
Create a pressure-sensing and recording device to measure the tissue-retractor interface in surgery.
When surgeons use self-retaining retractors, the feedback of the tissue pressing on the retractors is lost once they are set. If the pressure is too high for too long, the retractors can cause permanent nerve damage to the patient.
This project created a user-friendly and sterilizable product for real-time pressure measurement during such operations.
The design incorporates two separate systems: one sterile and one nonsterile. The sterile system includes the retractor, to which two high-temperature force sensors are adhered. Siliconeinsulated wires connect the sensors to a ceramic connector plugged into the nonsterile system. The nonsterile system includes the analog signal processing, Arduino board, and graphical user interface tablet. The Arduino board calculates the pressure from the force exerted over the sensor area at the tissue-retractor interface then sends the data to the tablet via Bluetooth. The tablet uses a simple application the team created to simultaneously display the duration of retractor use and pressure data, allowing for control of thresholding and recording.
An IoT-Based System for At-Home Behavioral and Physiological Health Interventions
Team 23062
Project Goal
Create an IoT system integrating an Alexa and Fitbit device to improve patient compliance in at-home clinical trials and provide a physiological intervention system.
The results of clinical trials are sometimes compromised when participants do not comply with requirements. And, redoing trials can be time-consuming and costly. This team’s design allows researchers to remotely send participants surveys through an Alexa device and capture their responses. This smart speaker system streamlines the data collection process, increasing survey completion and improving data quality.
Surveys are sent out on a regular schedule or when triggered by certain physiological data obtained passively through wearable devices. The system sends reminders to complete any pending or unfinished surveys and compiles responses for analysis.
The team developed an Alexa Skill, a webserver, a front-end to back-end communications architecture and a database infrastructure to support these functionalities. The team also integrated existing entities, such as MyDataHelps for participant enrollment, REDCap for survey generation, and sensor fabric for processing wearable device data.
TEAM MEMBERS
McKenzie Leigh Bieg, Biomedical Engineering
Mark Andrew Bosset, Biomedical Engineering
Dania Laura Perez, Biomedical Engineering
Timor Shahin, Electrical & Computer Engineering

Evan Smith, Biomedical Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Justin James Hyatt
SPONSOR ADVISOR
David Margolis
TEAM MEMBERS
Khaled Abdullah, Industrial Engineering
Wesley Chiu, Systems Engineering
Son Mac, Electrical & Computer Engineering

Darianne Sanchez, Biomedical Engineering
Julianne Chania Setiadi, Biomedical Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Bob Messenger
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Shravan Guruprasad Aras
TEAM MEMBERS
Konner A Curtis, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Corey Hadley, Mechanical Engineering
Adam Hauck, Industrial Engineering
Rohit D Kalluri, Mechanical Engineering
Stafford Lorenzo Lewis, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Ariadna Michelle Rivera Gutierrez, Electrical & Computer Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
James Sweetman
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Sabrina Huaraque
Atto-Grid
Team 23065
TEAM MEMBERS
Alvaro Ballesteros Romero, Mechanical Engineering
Cora M Davy, Optical Sciences & Engineering
Ruben Diego Fuentes Gutierrez, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Duncan Henry Robbins-Gennerich, Optical Sciences & Engineering
Julian Tellez Osuna, Mechanical Engineering
Kevin Lee Wolfe, Mechanical Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Mike Nofziger
SPONSOR ADVISOR

Matthias Whitney
Project Goal
Design and build an interactive model of the Tucson power grid to educate children about the generation, storage and distribution of power.
The power grid is essential to everyday life. Compared to a century ago, electric power is a major necessity today. The main distributor of electricity in town is Tucson Electric Power (TEP). Through renewable and nonrenewable sources, TEP generates, stores and distributes power to various facilities all around Tucson.

This project illustrates the various methods and strategies TEP has implemented in recent years and highlights future goals. The outcome is a straightforward interactive, educational experience for children.
The team used CAD to design major components of the model. LEDs, representing location and motion of power transmission, are controlled by users interacting with buttons, cranks and a pump. Accuracy is measured with encoders and a multimeter.
SIPhTR: Small Item Photographing Triage Robot
Team 23066
Project Goal
Design an open-frame implementation of an automated system capable of sorting small objects by color, shape and size, or optical character recognition (OCR).
The Small Item Photographing Triage Robot (SIPhTR) is an automatic sorting mechanism that physically and electronically sorts small items according to user-defined characteristics, such as color, size and shape, or OCR. SIPhTR, which contains its own electrical hardware, lighting and outlet connections, is useful in several industries that rely on engineering processes.
This team designed and developed a system to intake a large sample of small items and organize them efficiently and accurately into separate storage units.

The device uses object recognition algorithms to identify characteristics such as color and shape. Once an object enters the field of view of the internal camera, an on-board computer analyzes the video output, and the software identifies the object by the chosen characteristic. The software then controls a mechanical system to isolate and store the object in its corresponding storage bin.

REDIEM 2.0 – Renal Extremity Device to Measure Impedance, Edema and Movement
Team 23067
Project Goal
Develop a wearable device to quantitatively track and analyze edema, water content and leg movement for management of kidney disease.
Chronic kidney disease often results in comorbid conditions, which commonly include edema (excess swelling of the extremities) and restless leg syndrome (RLS). These conditions vary in severity throughout the day, sometimes preventing in-office medical providers from accurately monitoring their progression.
This team designed a wearable device to quantitatively track edema and RLS in a home setting.


The design integrates biosensors into a flexible stocking that records and transmits data to a smartphone for graphical interpretation by a clinician. Edema is quantified by two markers: 1) the isolated water content of the extremity measured using impedance biosensors, and 2) the circumference change due to swelling measured using flex sensors. Electromyography biosensors and accelerometry are used to identify and differentiate RLS-specific movements to determine their frequency. This data is sent to a smartphone application where it is analyzed and displayed graphically for easy interpretation by the patient as well as the clinician.
Sustainable Building Materials Using Mine Tailings
Team 23069
Auxilium Technology Group
Project Goal
Create a prototype gantry system that moves a concrete 3D printer and acts as a proof of concept for a larger version.
This project aims to move around a concrete printer to produce cement-like material made of mine tailings, the leftover rocks and metals. The prototype has a small printing area, but it is designed to be replicated at a larger scale, including to print house-sized buildings.
The design is a gantry system that moves that 3D printer back and forth in the X-, Y-, and Z- directions. It uses 1-inch x 1-inch and 1-inch x 2-inch aluminum T-slot framing rails to make up the main body of the system. These rails can be assembled without welding, allowing for strong and adjustable formations. The main body is separated into truss beams that slide back and forth in a certain direction. This motion is controlled by stepper motors that connect to each truss and move them via roller chains or wheels.
Directions for how the system will move are given in G-code to Duet Web control, an online interface built specifically for this project’s 3D printer. A stepper motor controller from the same brand is used to translate the G-code to stepper motors. After inputting the building code to the system and receiving the mixture, the printer produces the structure with no further instructions needed.
TEAM MEMBERS
Haley R Alden, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Levi Jekabs Kerns, Systems Engineering
Emma Katelyn Mason, Biomedical Engineering
William Harrison McKay, Biomedical Engineering
Andrew Michael Nelson, Mechanical Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Don McDonald
SPONSOR ADVISORS
Bijin Thajudeen, Marvin J Slepian
TEAM MEMBERS
Angel Aguilar, Engineering Management
Cody S Butler, Industrial Engineering
Cassidy LiMing Hodge, Mechanical Engineering
Tyler J Kral, Mechanical Engineering
Joel Harrison Trexler, Materials Science & Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Justin James Hyatt
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Abraham Jalbout
TEAM MEMBERS
Ally Baker, Systems Engineering
Kali Elise Jasso-DeMontigny, Systems Engineering
Bryce Johnson, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Jake Michael Klonsinski, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Zachary Schawelson, Optical Sciences & Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Elmer Grubbs
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Daniel O’Connor
Miniature Animal Health Status Tracker (MAHST)
Team 23070
Microentities Worldwide

Project Goal
Using sensors and products already on the market, create a small, inexpensive, disposable way to track an animal’s heart rate, location and velocity.
Millions of people around the world own some kind of animal, whether it’s a pet owner who has cats and dogs or a farmer with cattle and horses.
This team produced a simple and affordable way to track an animal’s well-being. A small device, the MAHST, is attached to any animal’s collar to track its location, speed and heart rate, then output the data to a simple mobile app for the animal’s owner.


The ultimate design uses two sensors: a GPS, or Global Positioning System, to track location and speed and a pulse sensor to monitor heart rate of the animal. An Arduino microcontroller collects and transfers the data to the app. The MAHST uses velcro to attach to the outside of an animal’s collar. The device is small, affordable, comfortable and easily removable.
The Wired Room - Automated Digital Sound, Image and Motion Analysis for Enhanced Medical Diagnostics From a Patient Encounter
Team 23071
TEAM MEMBERS
Youssif Abdelkader, Biomedical Engineering
Ben James Albright, Biomedical Engineering
Sophia Ippolito, Optical Sciences & Engineering
Michael Lauria, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Madeline A Procter, Electrical & Computer Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Don McDonald
SPONSOR ADVISORS
Bijin Thajudeen, Marvin J Slepian
Project Goal
Develop a clinical data capture-and-analysis system for enhanced in-person health care encounters.
As digital modern medicine continues, physicians are spending less and less time interacting directly with their patients. This can lead to a loss of information as the medical provider cannot observe every physical symptom. Therefore, the Wired Room serves to collect and analyze visual and auditory patient inputs and supplement conclusions made by the provider.
The Wired Room consists of a set of microphones and cameras to record actual sound and video during a clinical visit. A newly developed graphical user interface, or GUI, controls the equipment. Additionally, Google MediaPipe with neural networks analyzes limb angles and acceleration to identify symptoms of interest. Sound can also be analyzed for correlation to various medical symptoms.
After the appointment, the GUI presents this data, along with normal video and audio of the visit, to the physician. The system is easy to transport and assemble in a multitude of settings such that out-of-clinic visits are also possible. The system will help guide a more informed and personalized health care plan in a digitally dominated environment.
Ultra-Low Power RF Communication for Industrial IoT Sensors
Team 23072
Project Goal
Redesign and prototype a new radio frequency (RF) communication protocol for an IoT sensor system to lower power consumption and increase throughput and transmission distance.
Ridgetop Group’s Sentinel Motion suite employs accelerometers on bearing housings to capture, measure and process vibration signals, enabling condition-based maintenance in the railroad industry.
This project redesigns Ridgetop’s RotoSense circuitry, implementing a new RF protocol and new electrical components to decrease the power consumption, increase the throughput, and increase transmission distance.
The team designed a multilayer printed circuit board that integrates last year’s capstone project, an Energy Harvesting System. A new Nordic dual-core System on a Chip (nRF5340) is featured in the design to run the RF protocol, Bluetooth Low Energy. The microcontroller uses a serial peripheral interface and I2C to communicate with an accelerometer, gyroscope, analog-to-digital converter, and memory modules. The team wrote firmware that integrates RotoSense’s four different operating modes.
Row, Row, Row Your Trike Gently Down the Street
Team 23075
Microentities Worldwide

Project Goal
Design and develop a trike powered by rowing mechanics and maneuvered by leaning side-to-side.
Most recreational human powered vehicles primarily target the lower body in terms of physical conditioning. Rowing machines target nine different muscle groups throughout the body, accounting for more than 80% of the total muscles in the human body.
This Land Rower takes heavy inspiration from common rowing machines, like in a gym. It has a similar internal pulley system to reset the stroke of the user. Since there is no handlebar connected to a rigid fork like on a regular bicycle, the team developed a system that allows the user to steer by leaning. The steering system operates by pushing and pulling on separate tie rods that connect to each front wheel’s control arms as the user leans. Ackermann steering geometry is implemented in the design to prevent the leading wheels from scrubbing as they turn about different radii.
Typical bicycles and recumbent bicycles do not come in a-one-size-fits-all configuration. The Land Rower, in contrast, accommodates riders ranging from 5 feet to 6 feet 6 inches and up to 300 lbs.
TEAM MEMBERS
Nicolas Blanchard, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Quentin Johnson, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Harrison Kominski, Mechanical Engineering
Lucca Magalhaes, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Chris Westerhoff, Electrical & Computer Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
James Sweetman
SPONSOR ADVISORS
Arsh Rudra Nadkarni, Wyatt Pena
TEAM MEMBERS
Chase Anthony Finney, Mechanical Engineering
Diego Gonzalez, Mechanical Engineering

Jeremy Duane Heath, Mechanical Engineering
Calvin Keedi-Rodriguez, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Bryan Sprouse, Mechanical Engineering

Kassi Sreerama, Mechanical Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Justin James Hyatt
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Ben Blehm
TEAM MEMBERS
Christian Niels Enevoldsen, Biomedical Engineering
Chris Hedgecoke, Biomedical Engineering
Cameron Matsumoto, Electrical & Computer Engineering

Joy Niu, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Abigail Prescott, Biomedical Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Don McDonald
SPONSOR ADVISORS
Bijin Thajudeen, Marvin J Slepian
Perio-Dx: Bad Gums = Bad Kidneys + Bad Heart
Team 23076
PROJECT GOAL
Develop a paper microfluidic wick enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay system to analyze gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) for the presence of six different biomarkers, plus a companion app to interpret test results.
Inflammation within the body is a known driver of chronic kidney and heart disease. Presently no rapid testing method exists to readily diagnose systemic inflammation. The team designed and developed an inexpensive, at-home testing kit that uses a paper microfluidic device for immunodetection and a cell phone app for colorimetric detection and readout of the microfluidic device. This system determines relative amounts of inflammation markers present in a GCF sample.
The design uses a paper microfluidic lateral flow assay system composed of a laminated card, a nitrocellulose (NC) membrane, and cellulose fiber pads to capture and collect GCF. Capillary action carries the sample to the conjugate pad, where binding occurs between inflammation biomarkers present in the sample and pre-loaded gold nanoparticle tagged corresponding antibodies. Further capillary action carries the antigen-antibody complex to the test line of the device located on the NC membrane. Secondary binding between the tagged complex and untagged antibodies incites a color change within the test line, the intensity of which depends on the amount of antigen present in the sample. This intensity is read by a color detection algorithm on the app utilizing the cell phone camera. Based on the intensity of the color, the app classifies the risk level for heart and kidney disease and displays the results on a live dashboard.
AQUABOT C3 - Aquatic Drone Coordination, Communication and Control
Team 23077
TEAM MEMBERS
Cristian Daniel De Gante Hernandez, Mechanical Engineering
LD Dukes, Mechanical Engineering
Garrett Austin Fenderson, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Austin Greif, Systems Engineering
Sidhant Gulati, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Siwen Wang, Systems Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
James Sweetman
SPONSOR ADVISORS
Joellen L Russell, Eddy Stocker
PROJECT GOAL
Create a communication, coordination and control system for a swarm of aquatic drones. This project presents a proof-of-concept (C3) system for a swarm of aquatic drones. The drones’ purpose is to monitor the state of oceans and recover plastic and other contaminants. To increase the devices’ efficiency, they will operate in a swarm or fleet mode.
The team designed and built eight drones with a central control unit and user interface. These drones are capable of autonomous navigation; individual and swarm movement patterns such as grid searches; collision avoidance with other system drones; monitoring water temperature, pH, and salinity; and communicating commands and data with the central control unit via a proprietary mesh radio frequency network.
The control system for a real-world ocean drone swarm with the ability to monitor ocean health metrics and remove plastics from the ocean will be built upon the C3 system from this project.

Snorpheus
Team 23078
Project Goal
Detect and record patient snoring audio during an overnight sleep study, then analyze the audio in conjunction with sleep position for sleep apnea management.
One in five U.S. adults has obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition that can lead to many serious medical issues. Snoring and its effects are a key indicator of OSA development. The Snorpheus is a wearable device that records snoring audio and position data and facilitates the transfer of data to the physician and patient.
The Snorpheus system has two components: 1) a wearable device to accurately detect and record patients’ snoring audio and correlated body position over a night’s sleep and 2) data processing software that indicates when patients snore and in what body position it occurs, while remaining compliant with health and privacy laws.
The design uses a Raspberry Pi as the core microcontroller to prompt data collection from an attached lavalier microphone when audio within the snoring frequencies of 100-600 Hz are detected. An external inertial measurement unit constantly records time-stamped data on a 180-degree axis. A micro SD card records data and transfers it to a clinic computer for data processing. External software uses a convolutional neural network to process audio and identify snoring events. Processed audio and body position data are synced using time stamps and exported to clinician and patient interfaces for data visualization.
Automated PVC Tube Winding
Team 23080
Project Goal
Design a low-cost, tabletop automatic tube coiling machine that intakes pre-cut 7-inch long tubes and coils them into individual 4.5-inch diameter spools.
The current manual process of winding a PVC medical tube is tedious and repetitive. Operators must individually coil each tube, then complete bonding and final assembly. Automation can improve this process, eliminating the repetitive operation action while also decreasing build time, thereby increasing the production of medical products to hospitals, clinics and infirmaries across the world.
The tabletop mounted automated PVC tube winding machine intakes pre-cut PVC tubes into a hopper assembly. Two subsystems perform in unison to feed one tube at a time into the mainframe of the system to begin the coiling process. An Arduino Uno microcontroller controls stepper motors and actuators moving each tube through the coiling process. The total cycle time to move one tube from the hopper to coil to the position ready for operator retrieval is 10 seconds. The only operator labor required is refilling the hopper with pre-cut 7-inch long PVC tubes and retrieving the completed coiled tube from the machine. The operator interface uses three buttons: an emergency stop button, a start button that initiates the process, and a reset button that resets all systems to the starting point.
TEAM MEMBERS
Noah Butler, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Christine M Carlson, Biomedical Engineering

Logan Deane, Biomedical Engineering
Evan Bradley Rains, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Nisha Anjali Rajakrishna, Biomedical Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Mike Nofziger
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Nirav Merchant
TEAM MEMBERS

Hector Francisco Castro Martinez, Industrial Engineering
Salman Marafie, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Joseph Nimrod, Industrial Engineering
Miguel Sebastian Quintero-Cardenas, Industrial Engineering
Nick Williams, Mechanical Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Steve Larimore
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Rick Lopez
TEAM MEMBERS
Ethan Alexander Cowsky, Mechanical Engineering
Brian James Glaser, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Abby Renee Gookin, Systems Engineering
Benjamin Kopiec, Engineering Management
Adam Kosinski, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Evan Wright, Electrical & Computer Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
James Sweetman
SPONSOR ADVISORS
Scott Fiore, Milan Patel
Smart Rocks - A Network of Covert Smart Sensors (Joint UArizona UMass Project)
Team 23081
PROJECT GOAL
Provide covert data collection in a variety of environments to monitor for human and vehicular activity.
The University of Arizona and University of Massachusetts Lowell partnered with Raytheon Technologies to deliver a low-risk and cost-effective mesh network of Smart Rocks for surveillance data collection in remote areas like state borders and hiking trails.



Each Smart Rock node uses a combination of auditory and seismic sensors to analyze the environment for human and vehicular activity, with the collected data being shared across the network via long-range communication protocols. With the Smart Rock graphical user interface, users can locate individual nodes and extract crucial data seamlessly. Each node has the capability to be modified with a variety of different seismic and auditory sensors to satisfy the user’s individual needs and budget.
The ESP32 microcontroller is responsible for managing all subsystems including each individual sensor, batteries, GPS and both communication protocols. The system is designed for a variety of remote areas and can withstand harsh climates for a minimum of two weeks without user maintenance. The Smart Rock system hosts the state-of-the-art technology necessary to meet all the demands of many critical areas of surveillance and security.
Basketball Shooting Robot
Team 23082
TEAM MEMBERS

Adrian Cruz, Mechanical Engineering
Zaid Darwish, Systems Engineering
James Ryan Fulton, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Finnley Hartz, Applied Physics
Tanner Moore, Mechanical Engineering
Tylor Dale White, Mechanical Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Bob Messenger
SPONSOR ADVISORS
Jim Bakarich, Luke Baer
Project Goal
Build a robot, BALL-E, that can consistently launch a basketball into a standard hoop from the free-throw line and inspire interest in STEM among youth.
As the older generation of STEM professionals leaves the workforce, the new generation must take their place, and demand is expected to soon surpass the amount of workers available. The team designed a robot to intrigue and enrich the minds of middle school and high school students and demonstrate the possibilities of an exciting career in the STEM field.
BALL-E is a robot that uses a tire-drive mechanism to launch a basketball from the desired position to consistently make shots. BALL-E was designed from the ground up using 3D modeling software such as Fusion 360. BALL-E can autonomously determine the distance from the hoop and adjust the launching force and angle using cameras, computer vision algorithms, and software that is run on a PC. The team designed BALL-E to display its internal mechanisms while shooting a basketball in real time so that students may easily follow how the robot operates. Students will also have a chance to control Ball-E using a gaming controller.
Mixed Reality (MR) Diagnostic and Treatment System
Team 23083
Project Goal
Develop an MR application capable of diagnosing vertigo in a patient and directing them through vertigo treatment maneuvers to relieve adverse symptoms.

Vertigo, a vestibular balance disorder most commonly caused by a disruption to the inner ear, affects roughly 40% of all American adults. Common symptoms include dizziness, spinning, and nystagmus, the involuntary rhythmic movement of the eye. Traditional diagnostic and treatment methods require a patient to travel for professional assistance. This system provides a more accessible and affordable option for those with mild to intermediate symptoms.
The team developed an MR program in Unity using the onboard accelerometer, magnetometer, gyroscope, and infrared camera of the HoloLens 2 augmented reality headset to emulate traditional vertigo diagnostic and treatment procedures. A multi-point input system accompanies the MR overlay within the headset to record, calculate and archive the patient’s head orientation and eye movement in real time. Control thresholds from a healthy model are used to determine whether the patient is afflicted with vertigo. Afterward, the patient is prompted to follow a healthcare-backed treatment process. The healthcare professional and patient can access the patient’s data via a website.
Lunar Surface Transporter Vehicle (L.V.S.T.) - Team 1
Team 23084
Project Goal
Develop a concept for a lunar surface transporter and extend the exploration capabilities to offload habitats at various locations on the south pole of the moon.
NASA has ambitious plans to return humans to the moon through the Artemis Program. A future human mission will set the stage for permanent colonization, but it will require extraction and utilization of lunar resources to be feasible. This year’s NASA RASCAL Competition calls for a lunar surface transporter vehicle that would extend astronaut exploration capabilities and perform a variety of functions. The project request was for two competing teams.

Team L.E.T.O. (Lunar Explorer and Transportation Off-loader) developed a model version of an L.V.S.T. for the assistance of space operations, recognizing the mass, power, volume and costs for all elements. The team documented the total mass launched from the Earth, as well as the accompanying risks from its structural design. The team was also tasked with identifying various contingency strategies for failure upon each system that would impose an early end to the crewed surface mission.

TEAM MEMBERS
David Adkins, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Shaylan R Bera, Biomedical Engineering
Hayden Kim, Optical Sciences & Engineering

David Chibuikem Mazi, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Jason Zhang, Electrical & Computer Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Elmer Grubbs
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Ian Jackson
TEAM MEMBERS
Brandon Carpenter, Aerospace Engineering
Connor M Dobbins, Aerospace Engineering
Abraham E Ochoa, Aerospace Engineering
Gustavo Edwin Sodari, Aerospace Engineering
Nick Tiffany, Aerospace Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Jekan Thangavelauthum
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Harshad Kalynaka
TEAM MEMBERS
Javier Alday, Aerospace Engineering
Quinn P Lamey, Aerospace Engineering
Hilliard Wegner Paige III, Systems Engineering
Jared Pavek, Aerospace Engineering
Matthew Christopher Walton, Aerospace Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Jekan Thangavelauthum
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Adrien Bouskela
Evaluation of Tensegrity Telescopes for Small Satellites on Asteroid Recon Missions
Team 23085
PROJECT GOAL
Design, develop, manufacture and test a small spacecraft formfactor 2 mirror deployable tensegrity telescope for Near Earth Asteroid (NEA) detection.
Detection of NEAs is important for scientific and planetary defense applications. Currently, most NEA detection is conducted with ground-based telescopes due to cost and logistical constraints. However, these stations can be limiting due to atmospheric disturbances, light pollution and increasing amounts of space debris in orbit.

The team fabricated an orbiting deployable telescope for asteroid reconnaissance, enabling the use of lower-cost CubeSat spacecraft for NEA detection. The project’s objective is to demonstrate the capability to detect NEAs approximately 0.3 astronomical units from Earth with very low albedos, a measurement of the fraction of light that a surface reflects, for scientific and planetary defense applications.
ElectroDose: Wearable Sensor for Quantitation of Pulsed Electromagnetic Therapy (PEMF)
Team 23086
TEAM MEMBERS
Hassan AlRabia, Biomedical Engineering
Xiangnan Huang, Biomedical Engineering
Guransh Mann, Electrical & Computer Engineering

Julio E Trejo, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Zhehao Zhang, Electrical & Computer Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Jeff Scott Wolske
SPONSOR ADVISORS
Erica Tassone, Marvin J Slepian
Project Goal
Design and build a wearable sensor system that detects and reports the frequency and duration of a patient’s PEMF therapy treatments.

PEMF therapy has been shown to produce significant therapeutic benefits for a variety of biological and physiological responses, especially increased wound healing and chronic pain reduction. The ElectroDose complements Regenesis’ existing therapeutic technologies by adding diagnostics and treatment monitoring. This allows for real-time data processing, which reduces follow-up times for patient reevaluations and leads to optimization of further treatment.

This wearable system consists of several key assemblies. The PEMF sensor assembly registers the raw PEMF signal and digitally converts it for processing. The circuit assembly forms the sensor system’s foundation via basic electrical components such as resistors.
The system also contains a state-of-the-art Infineon programmable system-on-chip microcontroller and a Bluetooth radio. The microcontroller processes and measures the PEMF treatment. The radio communicates the frequency and durations of treatments to Regenesis for future patient check-ins. The 3D printed polylactic acid mechanical assembly protects the circuitry and makes the device comfortable, light and durable. Testing results show the ElectroDose measures administered treatments within 2-3% of the specified treatments.
Supplement Recommending Mobile App with Handheld Measuring Device for Saliva pH and Calcium Levels
Team 23088
Project Goal
Develop a mobile app for interpreting blood test results, a website for administering a health quiz, and a device for analyzing saliva samples to prepare for the launch of the student startup Gesund Me.

Many people in the United States are deficient in their diets and dependent upon big pharmaceutical companies to suppress their ailments with targeted treatments. Holistic methods and nutritional supplements offer a preventive method to treat illnesses, heal deficiencies, and potentially cure diseases, but require adequate knowledge to use properly and effectively. The purpose of this team’s consumer products and services is to provide individuals with the tools they need to interpret their own lab results and biometric data in order to develop an intimate understanding of their personal nutritional needs, thus allowing them to take advantage of this alternative approach to healthcare.
The team built an iOS mobile application with an original blood value interpretation algorithm that was modeled on techniques from established medical books. They also developed a website with a low-barrier-to-entry health quiz and a back end with full support for machine learning. Lastly, the team succeeded in designing and building a saliva testing device that uses modern ion selective electrodes for a fast and convenient user experience.
Understanding the Normal Aging Brain So That the Puzzle of Alzheimer’s Can Be Solved
Team 23089

MCDONALD/WATT PROJECTS
Project Goal
Improve the Instantaneous Cue Rotation (ICR) arena by adding a uniform food distributor, designing and building a new open platform arena for rats to traverse, and improving the food reward robot – all to enable the mapping of brain cells.
The Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute uses the ICR arena as an experimental system to collect highdensity cellular recordings directly from the brains of lab rats. The rats navigate around a ring-shaped testing environment, and the data collected is used to advance the understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and how it degrades organisms’ ability to maintain spatial orientation.
The team modified the ICR to allow researchers to collect a more robust data set by requiring rats to navigate the new open arena. The uniform food distributor is a critical component, including a pair of mechanisms to drop sprinkles onto the platform randomly and uniformly across the full area to incentivize rats to explore the entire space. The food distributor software was built using an Arduino and the pre-existing reflective photo microsensor. This is crucial for collecting data on the rats’ navigation in all directions and enables the identification and mapping of grid brain cells, as this is not accomplished in the current arena.
Additionally, the food reward robot used in the existing setup was redesigned, making it lighter, more compact, and with wheels that have a higher coefficient of friction, allowing it to stop and respond faster to the rats’ positional data. The redesign also reduced the likelihood of the robot colliding with a rat during testing.
TEAM MEMBERS
Anett Marian Garcia, Biomedical Engineering
Keegan Daniel Godfrey, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Nathan Herling, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Raphael Lepercq, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Elliot Zuercher, Electrical & Computer Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Elmer Grubbs
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Raphael Lepercq
TEAM MEMBERS
Elizabeth M Connacher, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Gerry Flores, Mechanical Engineering
Gabriel Marquez, Systems Engineering
Alec Mitchell, Optical Sciences & Engineering
Claire Pedersen, Biosystems Engineering
Efrain Torres, Electrical & Computer Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Don McDonald
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Don McDonald
TEAM MEMBERS
Nico Cornejo-Lopez, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Leon Farhaj, Engineering Management
Malcolm Neifeld, Mechanical Engineering
Ezra Depineda, Mechanical Engineering
Ryan Prather, Electrical & Computer Engineering

COLLEGE MENTOR
Elmer Grubbs
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Jonathan Schwab
Autonomous Robotic Racecars
Team 23090
Tucson Embedded Systems
PROJECT GOAL
Design and build two high-speed robotic racecars, with the sensing and processing electronics packaged in a sub-chassis called the Removable Autonomous Control Electronics (RACE) package.
Autonomous vehicles are becoming increasingly more common, and the technology is creating safer driving conditions. Similarly, small-scale autonomous vehicles can perform numerous tasks including cleaning, moving heavy objects, and performing dangerous tasks. The team demonstrated the possibility of developing a small-scale autonomous racecar from readily available, off-the-shelf parts.
The two designs use a sensor and computer to scan surroundings and navigate through a track autonomously. The team also developed the RACE package that houses all components necessary for autonomous driving. The computer uses a lidar, or Light Detection and Ranging, sensor, to collect data and runs an algorithm, which then controls the steering and drive motors. Simulation and testing demonstrated the differences between the theoretical fastest track speed, manual driving speed, and various autonomous driving algorithms. The two cars serve to show the iterative process – the first car served as an initial proof of concept, which the team then upgraded using a more powerful computer, optimized autonomous algorithms, and an optimized RACE unit to house all the parts.
PODBot Print on Demand Robots
Team 23091
TEAM MEMBERS
Buddy Bacheller, Systems Engineering
Robert Jeffrey Dyer, Industrial Engineering, Systems Engineering
Joe Manas, Mechanical Engineering
Nick Alexander Miller, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Brian John Sanderson, Mechanical Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Jeff Scott Wolske
SPONSOR ADVISOR

Jim Bakarich
Project Goal
Develop and prove out a user-specified system that produces on-demand, low-cost, configurable and durable air/ground remote-controlled bot vehicles that are customconfigured for end users such as SWAT teams, border patrol officers, and first responders.
Urban and desert reconnaissance has become invaluable to first responders and those who work in such fields as search and rescue and border patrol. These professionals could benefit from a low-cost, configurable, durable, airborne and/or ground-borne reconnaissance solution that is printable on demand, on site just prior to mission.
The team was tasked with developing the blueprints for a basic, scalable quad copter or rugged ground bot design that can be 3D printed, assembled, programmed and operated the next day. They proved out this system with the production of a working aerial-bot prototype and a working ground-bot prototype.
In use, the end user opens the PODBot application on a computer or tablet, then selects the mission type, vehicle scale and vehicle functionality through a series of interview questions. The graphical user interface provides a list of pre-purchased components, a list of parts to 3D print, and tailored assembly instructions. The user then launches a 3D printing application. The user waits no more than 12 hours for the vehicle frame of the vehicle to be printed, or in the case of urgent missions, chooses a pre-printed frame. The user then assembles the structural and electrical components according to the instructions. Each scenario produces a remote-controlled vehicle to provide reconnaissance, small supply transport or emergency communication to overcome real-world challenges.

STAR - Short Term Aerial Recognizance
Team 23092
Project Goal
Prove the feasibility and performance of five critical components to a tube-launched aerial reconnaissance drone that provides first responders and government agencies with rapid situational awareness for safe and effective response.
STAR is an aerial drone pneumatically launched from a tube that hovers over an area and streams video to a user device. The team developed and proved out the five main subsystems of the drone for future integration by follow-on engineering capstone teams.


The system is made up of these subsystems: camera, durability, autopilot, arm deployment and power distribution. The camera subsystem employs a high-resolution analog camera, transmitter and receiver that displays video on the user’s device. The durability subsystem demonstrates a drone mock that is able to withstand launch loads. This “slug prototype” is made of durable 3D printed CarbonX Nylon 12 and machined aluminum parts. The autopilot subsystem demonstrates stable flight through an altitude-hold feature for user-controlled information-gathering. The arm deployment subsystem demonstrates the transition from launched “slug” configuration to the deployed quadcopter configuration. This subsystem employs microswitches and a flight controller to demonstrate power delivery to the four brushless motors as the arms are deployed and locked. Finally, the power distribution subsystem relays enough power for a minimum of five minutes of operation.
Results independently show the feasibility and performance of each of the five critical subsystems. This gives confidence for future integration work to ensure the system is durable, stable and able to provide valuable information to the user.
Desktop Automated Powder Processing Station
Team 23093
Project Goal
Automate the media blasting process for selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printed parts.
The product printed with an SLS 3D printer and recovered from a hardened Nylon 12 shell takes hours of manual labor to remove. The team automated the SLS finishing process by designing and fabricating an automated desktop powder processing station that removes at least 98% of the excess SLS powder.
The autonomous system effectively removes excess Nylon 12 powder from the printed parts by combining a tumbling mechanism with traditional media blasting. A motor attached to a basket tumbles the part in the enclosed cabinet, while the blasting process is automated by replacing manual valves with electrical solenoid valves. The finishing cycles are performed automatically based on the user’s input via the graphical user interface. A Raspberry Pi controller allows the system to execute the processes for a desired user-specified time.
TEAM MEMBERS
Cesar Armando Bours, Aerospace Engineering
Caleb William Eubanks, Biosystems Engineering
Josh Ray Forrest, Systems Engineering
Tyler Stephen Monlux, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Gabby Parks, Aerospace Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Jeff Scott Wolske
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Dmitry Knyazev
TEAM MEMBERS
Khalid Al-Suleimani, Mechanical Engineering
Blake Davis Ashton, Mechanical Engineering
Tim Le, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Tyler Moldovan, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Dalal Ben Nakhee, Industrial Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Pat Caldwell
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Michael Futch
TEAM MEMBERS
Barbara Bruno, Biosystems Engineering
Margaret Erin Gile, Biomedical Engineering
Tony Koulong, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Diana Picon, Biosystems Engineering
Rylie Watson, Biomedical Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Elmer Grubbs
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Urs Utzinger
Biomedical Sensor Board
Team 23094
TEAM MEMBERS
Casey Cash, Aerospace Engineering
Nicholas Cooley, Aerospace Engineering
Alexander Jaquith, Aerospace Engineering
Shane Jones, Aerospace Engineering
Spencer Shedd LaFoley, Aerospace Engineering
Sean Martin Fearhgus Simila, Aerospace Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Sergey Shkarayev
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Sergey Shkarayev
Project Goal
Develop a Raspberry Pi hat that integrates five biomedical sensors for educational learning.
The University of Arizona Department of Biomedical Engineering tasked the team with developing a sensor hat compatible with a Raspberry Pi 4. The board integrates sensors for skin impedance, electrocardiogram, blood oxygenation, sound and temperature and applies these sensors to clinical settings.

College students within the medical fields will use the cost-effective biosensor package for in-class experimental purposes. The board interfaces with a Raspberry Pi’s general purpose input output pins and integrates the sensors cohesively with software, within the connection capacity of the device. The fully integrated board can depict signals and measurements to the user intuitively.
The team has designed and built an all-in-one package that makes use of these sensors with the Raspberry Pi in a simple and intuitive way, allowing for easy data collection, visualization, and analysis of physiological signals.

Spacecraft Platform at L1 for Future Space Development - Team 1
Team 23095
Project Goal
Conceptualize, design and prototype key subsystems of a space refueling platform at the Earth-moon L1 Lagrange point.
In the next 30 years, cislunar space – the area between Earth and the moon – will become crowded with debris and diverse space development activities. Next-generation platforms that provide services such as refueling, repair, cislunar observation and communication capabilities are needed. Two student teams are competing in this year’s NASA RASCAL Competition to conceptualize, design and prototype critical elements of the L1 space platform envisioned at the Earth-moon first Lagrange point.

The Lagrange Area Refueling Station (LARS) is this team’s answer to NASA’s question of how to get spacecraft from Earth to the lunar surface and back again with heavier useful payloads to put humanity’s colonization of the moon on the fast track. LARS can autonomously refuel incoming spacecraft with a novel fuel source, liquid water, using advanced robotics and AI technology. Situated at the Earth-moon L1 Lagrange point, LARS provides water to incoming client craft so that they may convert it to superheated steam and propel themselves to their destination, be that the lunar surface or back home to Earth.
The team created a tech demonstration of the robotic arm refueling system, showcasing the ability for the arm to autonomously locate and refuel customer spacecraft while also demonstrating the ability to restock its own fuel reserves to extend its mission life.
Lunar Surface Transporter Vehicle - Team 2
Team 23096
Project Goal
Design a vehicle capable of offloading, transporting and deploying various systems and equipment on the surface of the lunar south pole in support of crewed mission operations.
NASA has ambitious plans to return humans to the moon through the Artemis Program. A future human mission will set the stage for permanent colonization, but it will require extraction and utilization of lunar resources to be feasible. This year’s NASA RASCAL Competition calls for a lunar surface transporter vehicle that would extend astronaut exploration capabilities and perform a variety of functions. The project request was for two competing teams.


Building infrastructure on the moon requires transporting large and heavy equipment and other cargo from lunar landers to their intended destination. The team designed the LETO-1 (Lunar Equipment TranspOrter 1) vehicle to achieve this functionality and meet the competition requirements. LETO-1 is an expandable, remotely operated, six-wheeled surface vehicle. It uses existing and in-development space technology, including a lightweight, scalable crane system, shape memory alloy spring tires, brushless motors and a robust sensor suite.
The team scaled the prototype to 18% of the fully extended length and 0.1% of the full mass with limited functionality and sensors. The structures were made primarily of aluminum with pneumatic tires, passive shock suspension, brushed DC motors and a powered winch crane. A LiFePO4 rechargeable battery powers active components, which are remotely controlled through an Arduino Mega with custom software. Testing verified the prototype’s ability to load, transport and offload payloads effectively in relevant terrain.
Spacecraft Platform at L1 for Future Space Development - Team 2
Team 23097
Project Goal
Design and prototype key elements of an orbital refueling station concept.
In the next 30 years, cislunar space – the area between Earth and the moon – will become crowded with debris and diverse space development activities. Next-generation platforms that provide services such as refueling, repair, cislunar observation, and communication capabilities are needed. Two student teams are competing in this year’s NASA RASCAL Competition to conceptualize, design and prototype critical elements of the L1 space platform envisioned at the Earth-moon first Lagrange point.
This team created an in-depth solution for refueling spacecraft during their extended mission lifetimes. While OASIS as a whole will require a large team, budget and time frame to complete, the team made two prototypes to showcase and act as inspiration for future development.


The “Smart Tank” focuses on varying volume control. To avoid fuel sloshing in a half-empty tank in zero gravity, the tank uses a plate and rotating rod to alter the volume as fuel either enters or leaves the vessel. This allows for smooth, continuous dispensing due to the lack of empty space.
As a proposed solution to the dangers that micrometeorites present to the station, the team implemented a multi-layer solution where each layer is spaced out to provide a buffer. The layers are made of fiberglass, Kevlar and aluminum. The protection system has been thoroughly tested with various rounds fired from an AK-47, thanks to Richard Wagner.
TEAM MEMBERS
Jared Bartunek, Aerospace Engineering
Jacob F Bessette, Aerospace Engineering
Steele Lawrence, Aerospace Engineering
Kevin Michael May, Aerospace Engineering
Stephen M Phemester, Aerospace Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Jekan Thangavelauthum
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Harshad Kalyankar
TEAM MEMBERS
Jasem Mohammad Amoudi, Aerospace Engineering
Matt Guerra, Aerospace Engineering
Ruby Lee Huie, Aerospace Engineering
Nico Austin River, Aerospace Engineering
Justin Saxon, Aerospace Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Jekan Thangavelauthum
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Sergey Shkarayev
TEAM MEMBERS
Rhea Carlson, Biomedical Engineering
Kellys Kerubo Morara, Biomedical Engineering
Kati Patterson, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Alex Casey Sullivan, Biomedical Engineering
Brendan Tobin, Biomedical Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Don McDonald
SPONSOR ADVISORS
Erica Tassone, Marvin J Slepian
Tissue Therm: Testbed System for Analyzing Thermal Effects of Pulsed Electromagnetic Therapy on Tissues
Team 23098
PROJECT GOAL
Create a biocompatible test platform to analyze the effects of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) radiation and the temperature effects on different tissues in order to assist in furthering research on tissue therapy.

PEMF is a new form of therapy that aids healing of lesions and reduces soreness in human tissue by energizing the cells and influencing them to self-repair. However, the thermal effects of PEMF have not been studied to the fullest extent. This project presents a testbed for analyzing the temperature change that PEMF causes in tissues. This change is studied in a controlled environment using an array of temperature sensors, electric field (E-Field) sensors, and magnetic field (H-Field) sensors to display the relation between EMF strength and temperature change neatly in a graphical user interface.
The system test tissue uses an array in which resistance temperature detectors interface with an Arduino to send temperature data to the system computer. Two E-Field and two H-Field sensors work with an oscilloscope to process the incoming signal. Data is then sent through Python code, which in turn displays a 3D thermal map as well as an EMF field map. Finally, the data exports to an Excel file for record keeping and reporting/analysis.
The design also uses a 3D printed sample tank that submerges a tissue in saline. Inside the tissue holder, a coiled vinyl tube circulates water from an external heating bath, ensuring that the saline remains the standard temperature of the human body.
Flowing Robotic Surface - Haptic Imaging Device for Blind Scientists
Team 23099
TEAM MEMBERS
Sabrina Alexis Contreras, Mechanical Engineering
Valeria Roxana Martinez, Biosystems Engineering


Samantha Schatz, Biomedical Engineering
Ira Stokes, Mechanical Engineering
Jackson Wyatt Wood, Electrical & Computer Engineering
YiYun Wu, Optical Sciences & Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Justin James Hyatt
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Justin James Hyatt
Project Goal
Design and build a flowing robotic surface to display 3D continuous data on a physical surface for visually impaired scientists.
In the past, astronomers have included visually impaired people in their research by converting data to sound or 3D printed models of astronomical objects. These are laudable efforts, but they are slow processes and cannot present holistic 3D data. This project presents a three-dimensional surface that changes its shape to make data accessible through the sense of touch.
The team designed and constructed a working prototype that consists of a 20x20 array of independently actuated pins, a continuous surface overlaid on top of the pins, and an electronic control system. The team implemented image processing algorithms to reduce input data to the limited system resolution. This device is capable of displaying data, such as heat maps, laser beam profiles and even the astonishing black hole photo, in 3D. Blind scientists can use this device for feedback when analyzing 3D data and images. Pairing with the Arizona State School for the Deaf and the Blind and a visually impaired teammate allowed for reliable user feedback and future advancements for this device.

Autonomous Mine Design
Team 23100
Project Goal
Design and economically compare three case models for implementing autonomous haulage trucks into an operating mine environment.
Nevada Gold Mines tasked the team with identifying the best-fit option for implementing autonomous haulage systems into an operating mining sector. Autonomous haulage trucks are a young technology that is constantly undergoing developmental changes to best fit differing mine environments, which presents a valuable opportunity to research possible implementation methodologies.
The project encompasses three major sections: 1) identifying and compartmentalizing data obtained from three separate cases – baseline, aftermarket and original equipment manufacturer; 2) researching and theorizing the best possible implementation process for autonomous haulage trucks; and 3) economically analyzing and comparing each case model and making a final determination.
The team procured project data through given baseline parameters, as well as through researching aftermarket autonomous options, or retrofitting, and options available through original equipment manufacturers. They then conducted a risk assessment analysis for safety and economic risks associated with the implementation of autonomous haulage. The final economic model comparison allows for a determination of whether autonomous implementation is economically optimal.
Vumbula Resources - Optimizing Geological Exploration in Uganda
Team 23101
Project Goal
Design and deploy a streamlined method for identifying new mineral resources in underexplored Uganda to avoid the current pitfalls of mineral exploration.
Demand for mineral resources, metals in particular, far exceeds available and projected supplies. Mining engineers need to discover and exploit new mineral deposits to fill the demand gap. This process of mineral exploration is plagued by slowness, inefficiency and disconnection from later mineral production, along with the broader implications of mineral resource exploitation.
This team designed and piloted a new model of mineral exploration that places many of the later production concerns early in the process. Piloted in Uganda through the Next Generation Explorer Award Competition, the project uses mining engineering, mineral processing and systems engineering inputs to focus resources on the most economical and feasible mineral deposits. The team defined and prioritized three mineral deposits of high potential for further resource allocation.
TEAM MEMBERS
Daouda Berthe, Mining Engineering
David Gowan, Mining Engineering
Henry Cartright Hilliard, Mining Engineering
Rodrigo Martinez, Mining Engineering
Hunter Mattocks, Mining Engineering
Rhett Hale Sutherland, Mining Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Brad Ross
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Jonathan Jazwinski
TEAM MEMBERS

Caelen Ross Burand, Mining Engineering
Zubin S Soomar, Mining Engineering

COLLEGE MENTOR
Brad Ross
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Herve Rezeau
TEAM MEMBERS
Alex Bullinger, Mining Engineering
Ben Dale Champie, Mining Engineering
Adolfo Sebastian Hog, Mining Engineering
James Nickels, Mining Engineering
David John Raihala, Mining Engineering
Katie Elizabeth Slaughter, Mining Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Brad Ross
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Brad Ross
SME Metallic Mine Design Competition
Team 23102
TEAM MEMBERS
Celma Olicia Antonio, Mining Engineering
Jake Jeffrey Bedlington, Mining Engineering
Jason J Ellett, Mining Engineering
Abraham Estopellan, Mining Engineering
Ana Santa Masie Masie, Mining Engineering
Juanita Joy Parkerson, Mining Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Brad Ross
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Tim Wiitanen
Project Goal
Design and propose a feasible mine design for a metallic mineral deposit based on real-world constraints provided by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, & Exploration (SME) Metallic Mine Design Competition.
This team participated in SME’s international collegiate competition requiring teams to create a mine plan and evaluate its feasibility using real-world data.


In Phase 1 of the competition, the team designed a metal mine based on a given resource model, processing data and equipment restrictions. The final design considered multiple economic, environmental, equipment, processing and risk tradeoffs to determine the best mine plan. They created a report from their results and presented it to the judges. Based on their Phase 1 report, this team was selected as one of six teams internationally to participate in Phase 2.
During Phase 2, the team updated the mine plan under additional constraints and presented to a panel of judges at the MINEXCHANGE 2023 Conference in Denver, where they won second place overall.
Railveyor
Team 23103
Project Goal
Determine if Railveyor is a productive and economical alternative to traditional haulage.
This team conducted a feasibility study involving the design of an open pit mine using the Railveyor conveyance system. The goal is to determine what aspects of an open pit mine would make Railveyor an economic and productive alternative to traditional haulage, or whether a combination of Railveyor and haul trucks could be more beneficial.
Spatial Exploration with Robotic Operators (SpERO)
Team 23104
Project Goal
Design a robotic system to enter and explore Martian lava tubes for the purpose of geological survey.

There are more than 1,000 suspected lava tubes on Mars, which could someday provide shelter from the Martian environment for human inhabitants.
SpERO consists of a solar balloon that travels across the Martian surface in search of lava tubes and lowers an inflatable rover to collect photographic samples and point maps of the lava tube environment. It uses lidar, or Light Detection and Ranging, to collect 3D point maps of the lava tubes and entrances, cameras to take images of the environment, and sensors to measure temperature and radiation. An antenna relay system sends the data to Earth to be analyzed by scientists.
The prototype aims to validate this system using an autonomous octocopter drone that carries a rover on a lowering garage. A spool-motor system lowers a rover on the garage to autonomously maneuver around obstacles without the use of GPS. It navigates using lidar and inertial measurement units and collects a 2D point map and images of the environment. The data is communicated from the rover to the drone through an antenna on the garage. SpERO will demonstrate navigation capabilities, the rover lowering system and a three-antenna communication relay.
Support Aerial Incendiary Locator (SAIL)
Team 23105
Project Goal
Build a paraglider drone for thermally monitoring wildfires semi-autonomously with high endurance.
SAIL aims to assist first responders by addressing how to monitor wildfires and other large disaster areas over long durations.The ideal system would allow for visually tracking fire progression, the spread of residual embers, fire containment, and wind conditions, then using the data to predict the spread of the fire and any danger it poses. The secondary objective is supporting search and rescue operations to locate missing persons, and the tertiary objective is collecting data that can improve our understanding of wildfires and how to manage them.
Addressing this problem requires a platform that can observe vast swaths of land, enhance the detection of people and other heat signatures compared to traditional cameras, requires minimal training to operate, and is less expensive to implement than other available platforms. This team’s solution is the SAIL drone, a paraglider unmanned aircraft system (UAS) that relays live thermal video and telemetry data to a portable ground station from which the operator commands the autopilot. The drone can be launched traditionally or deployed from a high-altitude balloon for vertical launch and longer flight time.
TEAM MEMBERS
Roman Joseph Anthis, Aerospace Engineering
Anna Elizabeth Dinkel, Aerospace Engineering
Andrew Gabriel Frisch, Aerospace Engineering

Elijah West Greenfield, Aerospace Engineering
Nicholas Scott Mammana, Aerospace Engineering
Kylar Joshua Nietzel, Aerospace Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Sergey Shkarayev
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Harshad Kalyankar
TEAM MEMBERS

Max Chen, Aerospace Engineering
Katelyn E Hackworth, Aerospace Engineering
Maanyaa Kapur, Aerospace Engineering
Yash Vardhan Singh, Mechanical Engineering (Grad Student)
Alton Matthew Zhang, Aerospace Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Sergey Shkarayev
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Adrien Bouskela
TEAM MEMBERS
David Coulter, Systems Engineering
Ramon Garcia, Systems Engineering
Miguel Rocha Sanchez, Systems Engineering
Daniela Ruiz Cabuto, Systems Engineering
Lam Hai Tran, Systems Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Samuel Peffers
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Samuel Peffers
Irrigation Water Requirements Forecast Tool
Team 23106
PROJECT GOAL
Develop a computer program capable of predicting irrigation water requirements for Bard’s near-18,000 acre district with 90% or greater accuracy. This program shall continuously refine its forecast through machine learning.

Continuous depletion of water from the Colorado River due to chronic overuse and continuous drought necessitates more precise water management methods. Bard Water District currently runs at 73% forecast accuracy. The design team developed a Python-based program capable of forecasting the necessary amount of irrigation water for the entire district at +/- 1% accuracy. The variables were identified through a full factorial design of experiment and continuously refined with machine learning.
Project deliverables include a fully functioning irrigation water forecasting program with webbased user interface, an implemented integration plan transitioning the system into its operating environment, new operator training, a user instruction document and a technical data package.
Biofuels from Lignocellusoics
Team 23107
PROJECT GOAL
Design a process to convert wood biomass into bio-oil and upgrade the bio oil to biodiesel.
The aim of this project is to maximize biomass conversion into alternative energies by developing a process that includes a pyrolysis reactor and bio oil upgrading process. This reactor converts the wood lignocellulosic biomass into bio oil and other byproducts such as char. The bio oil can then be further refined and sold as biodiesel to power diesel combustion engines.
TEAM MEMBERS

Omar Hany Abutaleb, Chemical Engineering
Armeen Pajouyan, Chemical Engineering
Ronnie Joseph Sabatino, Chemical Engineering

Nebyate Seged, Chemical Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Kimberly L Ogden
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Bob White
AZ Water Competition: Rainbow Water Reclamation Facility Expansion Project
Team 23108
Project Goal
Improve the Rainbow Valley Water Reclamation Facility by implementing new techniques for treating wastewater, in compliance with environmental regulations, in response to population growth and increased interest in environmentally safe disposal of waste.
The team designed facility upgrades for the Rainbow Valley Water Reclamation Facility to meet population growth projections while producing Class A+ effluent. The upgrade designs allow the facility to continue operation during construction, and also incorporate odor mitigation measures to improve nearby residents’ quality of life. Improved solid waste treatment is included to produce Class B sludge.
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Receiving Terminal
Team 23109
Project Goal
Design an LNG receiving terminal to be sited in the Gulf Coast.
The team designed an LNG receiving terminal to be sited in the Gulf Coast. They designed the unloading and tankage to offload LNG from 125,000 m³ ships. The nominal sendout capacity of the receiving terminal will be 1,050 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCF/D) measured at the ship’s rail. After vaporization, natural gas will be delivered to the pipeline at 1,250 pounds per square in gauge (psig) and 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
TEAM MEMBERS
Mojisola Adebusola Ajayi, Environmental Engineering
Claudia B. Alvarez, Environmental Engineering
Ethan Lord, Environmental Engineering
Saadia Sajjad, Environmental Engineering


COLLEGE MENTOR
Adrianna Brush
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Thomas Olden
TEAM MEMBERS
Dana Al Marzouq, Chemical Engineering
Wahab Sami Alsharaf, Chemical Engineering
Santiago Fernandez Falcon, Chemical Engineering
Alex Charles Welch, Chemical Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Adrianna Brush
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Fred Brinker
TEAM MEMBERS
Abdullah Monzer ALQallaf, Chemical Engineering
Dhari AlShammari, Chemical Engineering

Sierra Gobert, Chemical Engineering
Antonio Murrieta, Chemical Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Kimberly L Ogden
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Charles Stack
Algae Photobioreactors for Carbon Dioxide Removal
Team 23110
PROJECT GOAL
1. Increase the purity of biogas.
2. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by carbon dioxide.
3. Improve the economic viability of biogas production for renewable energy.
This project centers around the use of an algae photobioreactor to upgrade biogas into high-quality biomethane. The production of biomethane offers numerous benefits, including its ability to be seamlessly integrated into existing natural gas systems and equipment. Biogas, which is produced from the decomposition of organic material, typically contains 60% methane and 40% carbon dioxide. However, through a cutting-edge biogas upgrading process, the team aimed to maximize the percentage of methane present in the biogas, resulting in a highly pure and valuable form of renewable natural gas.
Using an algae photobioreactor, the team efficiently and sustainably enhanced the quality of biogas through the removal of impurities such as carbon dioxide. This project aims to contribute to the expansion of renewable energy production, reduce dependence on fossil fuels and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
Microbial Electrolysis Cell for Hydrogen Production and Electricity Generation
Team 23111
TEAM MEMBERS
Abraham Joaquin Arvizu, Chemical Engineering
Claire Bukowski, Chemical Engineering
Zachary Joseph Fine, Chemical Engineering

Gabriel Schirn, Chemical Engineering
COLLEGE MENTOR
Adrianna Brush
SPONSOR ADVISOR
Caitlin Schnitzer
Project Goal
Investigate hydrogen production through microbial electrolysis. Hydrogen can be stored and sold to consumers or utilized in a hydrogen fuel cell as an environmentally conscious form of electricity generation.
This project explores using a microbial electrolysis reactor in tandem with a hydrogen fuel cell in a water treatment facility to generate electricity. A microbial electrolysis reactor uses an anode and a cathode to produce hydrogen gas from microbial growth within wastewater. The hydrogen gas is then sent to a fuel cell, where it combines with oxygen to produce electricity. The team researched both hydrogen production and hydrogen fuel cells to create a system that would generate electricity from only wastewater. The generated electricity could be used for many applications, including powering different machinery in a water treatment plant or adding power to the grid. The system is optimized to be both economically and environmentally friendly.