2017
SENIOR DESIGN
SYMPOSIUM
APRIL 27, 2017 | 3 P.M. - 6 P.M. | BUSCH STUDENT CENTER
ABOUT PARKS
Saint Louis University is a Catholic, Jesuit institution that values academic excellence, life-changing research, compassionate health care, and a strong commitment to faith and service. Founded in 1818, the University fosters the intellectual and character development of nearly 13,000 students on two campuses in St. Louis and Madrid, Spain. Building on a legacy of nearly 200 years, Saint Louis University continues to move forward with an unwavering commitment to a higher purpose, a greater good. SLU’s Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology has a worldwide reputation for research-inspired, project-based education in engineering and aviation. Parks has a rich history of creating wellrounded leaders in aviation and engineering fields.
For more information, visit www.parks.slu.edu Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology Parks College, Saint Louis University @ParksCollegeSLU
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SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology
FROM THE DEAN The Senior Design Symposium at Saint Louis University’s Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology is the culmination of our undergraduate students’ hard work and dedication to their academic excellence. Within the pages of this book, you will see student abstracts describing the content and scope of their projects. These abstracts demonstrate how our students are able to execute a project from a concept through the design phase, and ultimately transform that into a poster presentation. These senior design courses and projects provide our students with experience working on real-world projects – with design constraints, budgets, reviews and deadlines. Students are even encouraged to work in interdisciplinary teams to expose them to the type of work they will encounter in the industry. I want to thank all our faculty, staff and industry advisors who have collaborated with students to bring these projects to fruition. Our students strive to solve everyday problems and provide sustainable solutions for the future. I am extremely proud to show you the groundbreaking research happening at Saint Louis University’s Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology. Best Regards,
Michelle B. Sabick, Ph.D. Professor and Dean
2016-2017 Senior Design Projects
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CONTENTS
5 | AEROSPACE ENGINEERING PROJECTS FACULTY ADVISOR:
Sanjay Jayaram, Ph.D.
11 | AVIATION SCIENCE PROJECTS FACULTY ADVISOR:
Saul Robinson
14 | BIOMEDICAL, COMPUTER & ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING PROJECTS FACULTY ADVISORS:
Gary Bledsoe, Ph.D. Kyle Mitchell, Ph.D.
27 | CIVIL ENGINEERING PROJECTS FACULTY ADVISOR:
Amanda Cox, Ph.D., P.E.
29 | MECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROJECTS FACULTY ADVISOR:
Sridhar Condoor, Ph.D.
33 | PHYSICS PROJECT FACULTY ADVISOR:
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Irma Kuljanishvili, Ph.D.
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology
ADVISORS
Gary Bledsoe, Ph.D.
Sridhar Condoor, Ph.D.
Amanda Cox, Ph.D., P.E.
Sanjay Jayaram, Ph.D.
Kyle Mitchell, Ph.D.
Saul Robinson
Chair and Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Associate Professor of Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering
Professor of Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering
Associate Professor of Computer & Electrical Engineering
Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering
Instructor of Aviation Science
Our faculty advisors are an important and vital part of the senior design program. We take great pride in recognizing their outstanding contributions and excellence as instructors, advisors and mentors. Irma Kuljanishvili , Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Physics
2016-2017 Senior Design Projects
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BY INSPECTION: SPEEDFEST COMPETITION TEAM MEMBERS: Christopher Colletti James Harvey Nicholas Kuzma Casey Smith
The Aerospace Engineering Senior Design Team is competing in a competition hosted by Oklahoma State University called Speedfest. This year it consists of collegiate teams submitting bids for a mock program which imitates a military contract. There is a need for an advanced turbine-powered target drone to train US defense personnel in the identification, tracking, and elimination of small, low-cost, fast moving UAS threats. The team’s aircraft is a low-profile, carbonfiber/fibreglass model with a V-tail and K-45G turbine engine which can fly at speeds upwards of 200 mph.
MULTI-MISSION AMPHIBIOUS AIRCRAFT TEAM MEMBERS: Patrick Cronin Austin Piazza Tyler Smith Andrew Tapella
The goal was to design an amphibious aircraft capable of takeoff and landing from runways, as well as fresh and salt water in order to provide passenger and cargo services to island nations, developing countries, and large coastal cities. To meet the wide variety of requirements posed by four different missions, variants of the aircraft will be built. To reduce the drag over the majority of the flight envelope, various high-drag components can be adjusted during flight. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) will be used to predict the aerodynamic characteristics of the wing design. To experimentally determine the aerodynamic characteristics of the entire aircraft, a scale model will be built and tested in the Parks College subsonic wind tunnel. 5
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology
ESRA PAYLOAD - PROJECT VEDFOLNIR TEAM MEMBERS: Eduardo Cantu Conor Heneghan Kells Koch Javier Muro De Nadal Isaac Rider
The goal of Project Vedfolnir is to build a payload to compete in the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA) competition during June 20-24. The competition is split between the rocketry portion and the payload portion, each of which will be judged and scored separately. For the payload portion of the competition, a rigid set of requirements were put out by the ESRA competition and after some discussion with the rocketry team, a second set of requirements for the payload was devised. The final payload concept was to build a deployable UAV to survey an area for surveillance or search and rescue. The competition guidelines encourage us to create an innovative, unique payload that provides a relevant scientific function and provides a learning experience for participants. This lead us to evaluate both the functionality of standard aircraft but more specifically the unique benefits of using a quadcopter in order fulfill a low cost, rapid deployment and large area search and rescue or surveillance solution. The payload will deploy from a rocket at 30000 feet and drift down to its designated altitude at which the UAV deploys and commences on its set flight plan to survey an area and transmit a live videofeed back to the ground station. Once the flight plan has been completed, the UAV then returns to the ground station navigating via GPS. This deployment system allows for very rapid deployment over any terrain, with the additional capabilities to launch several units to survey a large area in an efficient manner. This deployments system was chosen as a proof of concept and as such this surveillance system could be deployed from any launch vehicle for use by both the military and civilian use.
2016-2017 Senior Design Projects
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HYDROGEN-POWERED SURVEILLANCE UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE TEAM MEMBERS: Max Bebar Alejandro Collado Heras Marek Janiczek Trevor Woolfolk
Due to growing concerns regarding air pollution, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) powered with fuel cell technology instead of petrol or batteries serves as a great first step towards the implementation of renewable energy into modern aircraft. Our team is currently designing a lightweight renewable energy surveillance UAV that has the capability to perform different missions depending on the sensors and software installed. The aircraft’s main mission is geared towards surveillance and improving the security of national borders across the world. The aircraft will be launched using a pneumatic catapult system and perform a steady climb up to its cruise altitude of 1,200 meters. Upon reaching its cruising altitude, the aircraft will loiter autonomously in a rectangular flight pattern for no less that 24 hours, powered by a fuel cell system that is 44% efficient and a pusher motor positioned at the rear of the aircraft. We are capable of achieving high endurance due to the glider shape of our aircraft which keeps both parasite and lift-induced drag to a minimum. During loiter, the aircraft will capture live video of the ground using its high fidelity camera to be transmitted back to the respective ground station in charge of its operation. This camera along with other applicable sensors will be secured on the underbelly of the fuselage toward the nose. Upon completion of its specific mission during loiter, the aircraft will then descend and perform a controlled crash nose-first into a specialized portable net. This is the general mission that the aircraft will perform, and additional sensors may be installed depending on the specific mission. The main design points of the aircraft include high endurance and affordability, all in a simple “plug-n-play” customization package that is more efficient and costs less than most existing solutions.
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SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology
PROJECT RATATOSKR TEAM MEMBERS: Michael Blaser Charles Hunsaker Jacob Parker Max Pittman Aris Simsarian
Project Ratatoskr is an effort to compete in this year’s Spaceport America Cup (SAC) hosted by the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA). In this massive intercollegiate rocket engineering competition, we will be competing our rocket by flying it to 30,000 feet using a student researched and developed solid rocket propulsion system. All components of the vehicle and ground station were designed, developed, and tested by the members of this senior design team and the Saint Louis University Rocket Propulsion Laboratory (SLURPL). The rocket features an active altitude control system and live telemetry. This project’s student involvement goes well beyond the members of our senior design team. The members of SLURPL were integral to the construction and testing of the vehicle. Our competition is June 20-24, 2017, held at Spaceport America and will host over 110 teams from around the world.
SAE MICRO COMPETITION TEAM MEMBERS: Aaron Ingles Danny Motz Michael Peck Michael Picchiotti
SLU Micro is a group of four Aerospace Engineering students from St. Louis University. They have engineered, designed and built a remote controlled aircraft which can be easily deployed from a carry tube and support a large payload. It will compete in the SAE Aerodesign East competition. The team will be scored on their payload fraction, assembly time and carry tube length. Using computer simulations, previous r/c experience and flight testing, they have refined their airplane and expect to be a competitive force in the competition. It is constructed of many types of aircraft grade wood, as well as composites such as carbon fiber and fiberglass. 2016-2017 Senior Design Projects
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SAE AERO DESIGN EAST - REGULAR CLASS TEAM MEMBERS: Jordan Becker Wendell Kinnaird Nathan Maggard Kevin Mitchell
This project involves the design, manufacture, and flight of a remotely controlled fixed wing aircraft that generates revenue by maximizing the amount of passengers (tennis balls) carried and their associated luggage (payload weights) under a specified power available requirement. The aircraft is designed to carry 20 passengers and just over 0.5 pounds of luggage per passenger, resulting in gross takeoff weight of approximately 25 pounds. For each round of competition, the aircraft will complete a standard mission profile which consists of takeoff, climb, cruise, descent, and landing. The motivation and desire behind completing this project was to obtain firsthand experience in the design process for an aircraft. The process began with conceptual models, followed by preliminary design analysis, and then finally the detailed design phase, during which the design was finalized, manufactured, and tested. Knowledge and lessons learned from this project will help each of us in our future careers as aerospace engineers.
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SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology
SLUPERSONIC BUSINESS JET TEAM MEMBERS: Saakshi Bishnoi Brittany Durant Hayden File Kara Heimburger Ben Schmidt
Technological advancement has always been driven by pushing the limits of engineering and striving towards the next breakthrough, but when it comes to commercial aviation we have taken a step backwards. The ability to travel at supersonic speeds has been possible for decades and was even displayed in an actual aircraft, the Concorde, and yet currently there are no commercial aircraft that travel above the speed of sound. With a lack of extensive empirical data for many aspects of supersonic flight, challenges arise in testing, balancing a large fuel storage and accommodating existing regulations. The SLUpersonic Business Jet is designed to address many of the problems that have plagued transonic flight research, focusing on cruise efficiency and high-lift take off, with an initial operation capability of 2025.
VESCON SPACECRAFT TEAM MEMBERS: Krzysztof Bzdyk Cody Chlanda Kate Clements Nicholas Mercadante
The VESCON small satellite mission shall characterize a soft-contact docking mechanism for small spacecraft. This mechanism shall serve as an alternative to the standard satellite docking mechanisms which often involve robotic arms and require very accurate pointing. Small satellites, often developed by university teams, may not have the budget or resources to be able to develop these complicated systems for docking. Moreover, VESCON aims to provide teams in such a situation with a viable alternative for missions involving docking. In a broader sense, VESCON also provides a system for larger spacecraft to have a small spacecraft able to autonomously detach, perform some operation, then re-dock with the larger host spacecraft. VESCON can provide this service with a relatively low-cost and low-resource docking system. This makes the VESCON mission viable for both small-scale university projects and full-scale NASA deep space missions. 2016-2017 Senior Design Projects
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AFFECTS OF FRAMING BIAS IN AVIATION TEAM MEMBERS: Brad Boggs Nick Carter Badr Milibari Ryan Quinn Matt Strohmeyer Chris Wall
In a high risk industry like aviation, it is important for pilots to evaluate a situation and act quickly and confidently. In this study, subjects were divided by certificates and ratings held, number of hours, and age. The pilots were given an emergency scenario wherein they had to make a choice about the lives of the passengers on board. There were two versions of the situation based on whether the subject’s birth date fell on an even or odd date. One choice had a sure outcome and one choice was more risky. Based on the way the choices were framed, in a positive or negative light, we could expect the subjects to make a certain choice.
FLIGHT TRAINING BARRIERS FOR SAUDIA TRAINEES IN THE U.S TEAM MEMBERS: Abdullah Alamoudi Sultan Alkhthami Abdulrahman Alqurashi Louai Alsabri Ali Alsultan Sultan Bin Zaqr
The purpose of this study was to identify barriers and difficulties affecting flight training of Saudi Arabian students in the United States. A two-part survey instrument was distributed electronically to Saudi Airlines’ cadet’s presently studying in the United States and their flight instructors. The results of this survey identified a number of key issues currently inhibiting the effectiveness of this cross-cultural training practice.
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SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology
AGILITY IN AIRLINE CREWS TEAM MEMBERS: Yaser Almehmadi Justin Chow Jimmy Colestock Tyler Kuhn Robbie Leahy Ali Ramal Brian Wiese
A chief pilot’s management strategy and ability to interact with line pilots is an important factor to crew agility and performance. A pilot’s agility is considered their ability be innovative and proactive while increasing the quality of performance and profitability. When employees are faced with dynamic company policies and procedures, sensing and responding to events properly can decrease operational uncertainties. When uncertainties are reduced, unnecessary costs to an airline can be avoided. More efficient and safer crews lead to better operational performance. Furthermore, in traditional management structures a greater power-distance relationship between chief and line pilots exists. This can disrupt the information exchange process between entities. However, frequent interaction and higher quality of exchanges can dissolve a steep power-distance environment, creating a more uniform management hierarchy that promotes greater agility in crews. With a reduction of encountered uncertainties along with higher quality and frequency interactions and exchanges with the chief pilot, a prosperous organizational culture can be accomplished. To understand the relationship between chief and line pilots, interviews were conducted with chief pilots at regional and major airlines. The methods utilized and findings presented indicate how failures sourced from policy changes in flight operations may be alleviated by agile crews. This paper attempts to focus on the interactions between chief and line pilots and how the relationship can promote better crew agility and improve performance.
2016-2017 Senior Design Projects
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PERSONALITY AND PERFORMANCE IN THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM TEAM MEMBERS: Tanaf Alotaibi Melissa DeClue Rayan Halawani Mazen Hassan Griffin McCurren Ahmed Shumayra Abdullah Sindi
The Air Traffic Control system is a prime example of teamwork on both a small and massive scale, involving many moving parts, from the TRACON to the tower cab. These different positions and different scenarios require individuals to display special abilities and characteristics to achieve a safe and optimal air space. Through examination of events that have stressed air traffic controllers, personality surveys and interviews of controllers themselves, our study will look to determine, what type of personality traits determine the optimal controller for each position in the air traffic control system.
WHY DO I NEED A DEGREE TO WORK AS A MAJOR AIRLINE PILOT? TEAM MEMBERS: Faisal Alghamdi Rayan Asiri Moaid Bukhari Desmond Bunnell Akeem Richards Melissa Wosko Andrew Zerehi
Within the United States, major airlines require their pilots to hold the minimum of a Bachelor’s degree. However, this is not a requirement for other countries, specifically European member states. Utilizing data from Eurostat, the Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing, Airbus, and the National Transportation Safety Board, along with interviews from industry professionals, the outcomes of these different requirements was evaluated. The finding of this study may inform government policy and industry in determination of best practice.
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SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology
ANALYSIS OF THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SKIN DURING BILOBED FLAP PROCEDURE TEAM MEMBERS: Alessandra Carretero (BME) Hannah Choi (BME) Anirudh Eswar (BME) Ethan McClain (BME)
The purpose of this project is to develop two-dimensional models to determine the mechanical properties during a bilobed skin flap procedure. These models consist of a silicone skin substitute. In order to make the project applicable to different tissue types, five identical models with thicknesses of 2mm, 3mm, 4mm, and 5mm will be developed. Using the VIC system, the mechanical properties of these models are then analyzed during the bilobed flap surgery as the silicone skin experiences deformation.
APPLIED SENSES: A SLEEP DETECTION AND PREVENTION SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILE DRIVERS TEAM MEMBERS: Austin Engelbrecht (BME) Connor Lough (BME) Craig Mundwiller (BME)
Fatigue driving is a large problem for many present-day drivers, regardless of the age of the driver. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 1 in 25 adult drivers report having fallen asleep while driving (“Drowsy Driving,” 2013). Additionally, in 2013 The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that drowsy driving was responsible for 72,000 crashes, 44,000 injuries, and 800 deaths (“Drowsy Driving,” 2013). With that being said, Applied Senses seeks to detect oncoming drowsiness through a multi-sensor system that continuously monitors, filters, and analyzes an automobile driver’s physiological condition in real-time. This system focuses on two signals: an electroencephalogram (EEG) and an electrocardiogram (ECG), measuring the brain wave frequency and heart rate. Unlike the products on the market now that use a vehicle’s data to detect veering or monitor the driver’s eyes, this solution would monitor a driver’s physiological senses and detect drowsiness before visible signs improved upon the devices. 2016-2017 Senior Design Projects
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CARDIOVASCULAR MODELING PROGRAM TEAM MEMBERS: Melena Abijaoude (CE) James Alyinovich (BME) Jane Lee (BME) Komal Sinha (EE)
The Cardiovascular Modeling Program simulates the changes within the artery due to various factors that impede blood flow at the sinus of the carotid bifurcation such as LDL-cholesterol, nicotine, and sugar levels. A mathematical model of blood flow will be demonstrated with the incorporation of vessel wall morphology and fluid characteristics. The program will be simulated within MATLAB software, and will output a simple, easy-to-use user interface that will display visual models of blood flow, pressure, velocity, and vessel resistance. The program will also output a risk assessment for the test subject, providing the potential to aid the physician in evaluating various treatment options and formulating a treatment plan for their patients. The program offers physicians, researchers, and students a quick, easy, and noninvasive method to observe blood flow in arteries in response to varying levels of risk factors.
CLAW MACHINE TEAM MEMBERS: Robert Ayuso de AndrĂŠs (CE) Colin Handel (EE) Cole West (EE)
The Claw machine was designed to be portable, visually exciting, and easier to win prizes. For portability, the housing breaks down into three sections and includes a rechargeable battery for outdoor use. To be visually stimulating we constructed the housing completely out of acrylic and laser engraved logos that are edge-lit with LEDs. To enable easier game play we created several different game modes which are timed and untimed. For example, one game mode enables the user to have full three dimensional control over the claw.
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SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology
ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY BASED BRAIN-COMPUTER INTERFACE FOR PROSTHETICS TEAM MEMBER: Jacob Salyers (BME)
Electroencephalography (EEG) is a promising control mechanism for motor prostheses. EEG signals involved in motor function are very complex, and require machine learning algorithms to be effectively processed. This project involves filtering an EEG signal, digitizing the analog signal, and processing the signal using machine learning algorithms including linear discriminant analysis (LDA).
FIGHT THE BITE: ELECTROSPUN MOSQUITO TRAP TEAM MEMBERS: Kevin Ly (BME) Rachel Rone (BME) Amber Wolf (BME)
The prevalence of disease spreading mosquitoes is a world-wide issue. While there are a number of propane-based mosquito traps that are highly effective at reducing mosquito population, they are typically expensive and therefore out of reach for many people in third-world and developing countries. The objective of this project is to create a low cost mosquito trap using electrospinning technology that will lead to a decrease of mosquito population. Different pheromone attractants will be used to lure the mosquitoes. The trap will also be created to be easily cleaned and reused.
2016-2017 Senior Design Projects
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HYDRATION SENSOR TEAM MEMBERS: Alex Carlson (BME) Devon Hoesl (BME) Austin Nguyenphu (BME) Julie Schneider (BME)
The human body needs water to function at optimal performance. Hydration level refers to the total amount of water in the body at any given time. Our team has designed a non-invasive hydration sensor that will use bioimpedance to calculate the level of hydration in a biological model.
INERTIAL MEASUREMENT UNIT TO MEASURE BASEBALL PITCHING KINEMATICS TEAM MEMBERS: Christopher Galbreath (BME) Jennifer Mathews (BME)
Baseball is known as America’s pastime, but pitching-related injuries are on the rise without clear reason why. Some of the major theories on this rise are that pitch type, number of pitches, and aspects of the kinematic chain of pitching place an increasingly high strain on the pitcher’s shoulders. Most of these studies often use motion capture systems which are unnatural, difficult to use, expensive, and have a high learning curve. An alternative method consists of using an inertial measurement unit (IMU), consisting of a series of tri-axial, wireless gyroscopes and accelerometers that allow for testing outside of a lab. The goal of this design is to allow for outdoor measurement of baseball pitching kinematics using an IMU-component, Arduino boards, and Bluetooth to collect and transmit the data to a computer. Through this design, baseball pitching kinematics can be better understood and can then aid in preventative care and increased pitching performance. 17
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology
INDOOR NAVIGATION ASSISTANT FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED TEAM MEMBERS: David Clark (EE) Catherine Honigfort (EE & CE) Bhargavi Kullakanda (CE) Robert Schurz (EE & Engineering Physics)
Humans constantly process information based on eyesight but many people lack this ability. People who have visual impairments suffer inconveniences to their daily and social lives, especially if they cannot afford a service dog. The purpose of this project is to create a reliable, affordable, and portable indoor navigation assistant for the visually impaired. This product contains two pieces of equipment: a wearable camera mount, and a laptop. The camera mount contains two small webcams that are mounted on a headset. When the user turns on the system, images are continuously captured and processed by the software. The software recognizes obstacles in the images and extracts useful information. Speakers are used to verbally alert the user of both the upcoming obstacle type and distance.
LAMININ-111 ENRICHED FIBRIN HYDROGEL TEAM MEMBER: Madison Marcinczyk (BME)
Volumetric muscle loss (VML) is characterized by a loss of more than 20% muscle mass and is often accompanied by functional impairment and long term disability for which there is currently no treatment to restore function through muscle regeneration. This study investigated a novel hydrogel composed primarily of fibrinogen (20 mg/ml) and laminin (LM)-111, in concentrations of 50, 100, and 450 Âľg/ml, as a method to promote muscle regeneration. Gel characterization as well as cellular response characterization were performed to evaluate the in vitro efficacy of the therapy. This characterization included rheological testing, scanning electron micrograph imaging, quantification of growth factor production, differentiation marker quantification, and electrical and mechanical stimulation tests. 2016-2017 Senior Design Projects
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LOWER EXTREMITY EDEMA MONITO TEAM MEMBERS: Alec Beeve (BME) Emilie Bollmeier (BME) Dzhuliya Vasileva (BME)
This is a proposal for a novel device to quantify fluid retention in the lower extremities via bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). BIA measures the resistance of body tissue between two electrodes by applying small amounts of current. The resulting resistance output is used along with anthropometric data to infer body composition, including total body water content and total body fat. Ultimately, the lower extremity edema monitor will consist of a foot arch band with four fabric electrodes, which will permit long-term health tracking at home and promote patient compliance of treatment. Such a technology is necessary because current methods of assessing the severity of lower extremity edema rely mainly on qualitative assessments, which are inaccurate and inconsistent among patient symptoms and doctors. The presented design will improve on the currently available technology by providing long-term monitoring at home, more accurate data output, and a discreet design practical for everyday use.
MECHANICALLY STIMULATING BIOREACTOR TEAM MEMBER: Shwetang Patel (BME & ME) `
The proposed project is to create a mechanically stimulating bioreactor. The parameters of the bioreactor will be optimized to mimic the physiological loads on human IVD cells. Once the IVD cells are excised from the body, they must be placed under a similar physiological loading in order to maintain their cellular phenotype and prevent dedifferentiation. The bioreactor will place a mechanical stimuli upon the IVD cells, and this stimuli will be controlled in a manner that will mimic its native physiological environment. This will allow the IVD cells to be stored and tested in an environment without losing their functionality. 19
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology
MICROFLUIDIC DEVICE TO CREATE INJECTABLE HYDROGEL MICROSPHERES TEAM MEMBERS: Emma Buckles (BME) Catherine Gloss (BME) Kyle Vogt (BME)
Hydrogel microspheres are widely used in biomedical applications. They are commonly used in protein delivery, cell encapsulation, drug delivery, drug screening, etc. However many of these applications require uniform and small microspheres. The uniform aspect is necessary to ensure accurate drug testing. The small characteristic is important so that the microspheres can be injected into the body. We propose a microfluidic device that will utilize a T-junction (figure 1) to produce uniform and small (less than 100 micrometers) microspheres to provide accuracy and inject-ability. We will accomplish this by using a microfluidic device and measuring the effects of tube length, tube diameter, flow rate, and collection method to achieve the optimum values for each to produce the proposed microspheres. We will also consider different junctions and designs if necessary for the device.
MY PERSONAL TEMPERATURE REGULATOR TEAM MEMBERS: Yeunhye Kim (CE) Maomao Liu (EE) Maura Wilson (EE)
The Personal Temperature Regulator is a project that focuses on regulating the ambient temperature of a room to reflect the needs of an individual. The device is designed to monitor the temperature of the user, using a bracelet design similar to other wearable health trackers. The sensor within the bracelet will connect to the heating and cooling system and will be programmed to read in the temperature of the user and change the thermostat value based on what is measured. This allows the user to remain comfortable at all times within the house, without ever needing to get up and change the thermostat settings, which is especially convenient during the night. 2016-2017 Senior Design Projects
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NICU MONITORING CAP TEAM MEMBERS: Justin Bell (EE & BME) John Bellau (BME) Alexa Melvin (BME) Elaina Wiles (BME)
When a baby is in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), they are connected to a large variety of monitoring systems. The wires can get tangled or become detach from the baby, which can prevent the necessary vitals from being measured properly. Additionally, babies are required to lay in the same spot for an extended period of time causing the baby to develop “flat head syndrome.” This project will design, construct, and test a health monitoring cap for newborns. The monitoring cap will measure the core body temperature and pulse rate. The cap should also be designed to help prevent “flat head syndrome” while newborns are in the NICU.
OPTICAL COCHLEAR IMPLANT TEAM MEMBERS: Jeff Bellon (BME) Sean Dougherty (BME) Megan Gunn (BME) Lynzey Kujan (BME)
We will be creating a mimic model of Optical Cochlear Resonators with the potential goal of developing a functioning optical cochlear implant that utilizes multiple channels. The purpose of the product is to replace electrical cochlear implants with a new prototype having better frequency resolution and less channel crosstalk. The issue with electrode stimulation is that it is not accurate enough to deliver frequency-specific stimulation and ends up sending blurry auditory information to the brain (crosstalk). In this design project, we will build a large-scale model to light up resonators depending on the frequency of the sound, illustrating the extreme minimization of crosstalk. Our ultimate goal is to use optical resonators to provide high gain, narrow frequency bands, and utilize their sensitivity to illustrate virtually no crosstalk between channels. 21
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology
PHYSIOLOGICAL TESTS FOR BONE STIMULATOR TREATMENT OF A TIBIAL NONUNION TREATMENT FOR A TIBIAL NONUNION TEAM MEMBERS: Christa Johnson (BME) Adrian Marley-Weaver (BME) Andres Samano (BME)
Nonunions are bone breaks that have not healed within 6 months post initial break. This project is the development of a cross sectional model of a tibial nonunion that was tested in the lab using an ultra sound producing transducer. Data was collected through a hydrophone to confirm or deny significant signal penetration.
REMOTE CARDIAC REHABILITATION TEAM MEMBERS: Alex Dieckmann (BME) Dan Ebeling (BME) Lucas Rydberg (BME) Trey Ward (BME)
One in three adults in the United States has some form of cardiovascular disease. The recovery process often includes enrollment in a program called cardiac rehabilitation. Cardiac rehabilitation is a ten step program, but mainly focuses on exercise, counseling, and education on heart healthy living. Unfortunately, completion rates are low due to inconvenience, cost, and poor reimbursement. This project is focused on providing a mobile based cardiac rehabilitation program that will include: a wearable device for the patient, a mobile application, and a web portal for their nurse to remotely track progress. These components in conjunction will make the cardiac rehabilitation program more affordable, and expedite patient recovery by allowing patients to complete the program on their own schedule. 2016-2017 Senior Design Projects
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SMART UV RAY DETECTOR TEAM MEMBERS: Brennan Kelly (CE) Katherine Ross (BME) Yazheng Tu (EE)
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the world, affecting over three million Americans every year. Our project is to design and build a wearable ultraviolet (UV) ray detector that alerts users when they are at risk of skin damage from UV exposure by the sun. The device will communicate via Bluetooth with a smartphone app that will display the effective irradiance (UV exposure measured in mW/cm2) versus time for each day. Using data from a Columbia University study, the harmfulness of effective irradiance can be determined from our generated equation. As users go through their day, our device continually calculates the total UV exposure and determines harmfulness using a warning LED for user feedback before notifying the user on the companion app. Our device will help lower the risk of skin cancer because users will know when to limit their sun exposure.
SMARTPHONE BLOOD PRESSURE MONITOR TEAM MEMBERS: Princewill Okorie (CE) Tej Sura (BME) Mattheew Thorsteinson (BME) Joe Vicini (BME)
We worked on developing a blood pressure monitor that interfaces with smartphone devices. It is designed to provide a usable platform display that can be utilized by doctors, nurses, and patients. We have a target consumer group that includes at-risk individuals and individuals interested in monitoring their daily health. The monitor is discrete, able to record blood pressure throughout the day at selected intervals, and sync data with a smartphone device. Users will be able to access their data and determine their blood pressure in relation to their daily activities, such as diet, exercise, stress, and medication. Ideally, this product will allow consumers to have a better understanding and control of their health. 23
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology
TIDY-FLOOR ROBOT VACUUM CLEANER TEAM MEMBERS: Dale Carter (EE) Kaiyue Fang (EE) Rolonzo Harris (EE) Larry Mayes (CE)
The Tidy-Floor Robot Vacuum cleaner is a project in development similar to iRobot Roomba’s on the market today. The Tidy-Floor can efficiently suck debris off the floor near walls and baseboards with a side vacuum tube. Components improved upon from Roomba’s are the dirt collection bin, which was made larger, and a larger battery to provide more power and energy to the motor components. The Tidy-Floor uses complex programming to vacuum the floor in a systematic manner more like a human.
USING ALGINATE NANOPARTICLES TO HEAL CHRONIC WOUNDS TEAM MEMBER: William Ona (BME)
The project seeks to use nebulizers as the primary method of fabricating the hydrogels because of its simplicity, cost efficiency, and ability to fabricate gels with varying properties. First a polymer solution containing sodium alginate will be made. Next, the alginate will be crosslinked with either a combination of Calcium Carbonate and Glucono-δ-lactone (GDL) or Calcium chloride. The alginate particles will be crosslinked and nebulized into nanoparticles using a nebulizer. Finally, these particles will be incorporated into an electrospun scaffold. As part of the design process, the optimal process that yields the smallest and most consistently sized particles investigated. This project seeks to address the America 2.5 million people suffering from chronic wounds every year. These wounds have a tendency to continue to decay and prevent tissue regeneration from occurring. This project will expand on current methods for healing these wounds and optimize the time it takes to heal. 2016-2017 Senior Design Projects
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VASCULATURE ANALYZING SOFTWARE TEAM MEMBER: John Peters (BME)
The Induced Membrane Technique is an up and coming procedure in orthopedic surgery to heal segmental bone defects. It is known that bone healing triggers vasculature growth, but the characteristics of the vasculature has not been analyzed yet. This project aims to provide a network map of the vasculature system so the user can see how many times the network branches. To achieve this, a three step algorithm is required: 1. skeletonization 2. bifurcation analysis 3. network mapping. At the end, the data will be represented as a 3D model.
VIRTUAL 3D ENVIRONMENT TEAM MEMBERS: Dominic Bobak (CE) Zhiyu Kuang (EE) Duona Pan (EE)
The purpose of the project is to develop an environment that is compatible with virtual reality headsets, the HTC Vive, and the Leap Motion device. The environment consists of a 3D map of Saint Louis University created with topographical data.The environment is populated with vehicles that can be interacted with and re-tasked by the user’s hand gestures.
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SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology
WEBDAQ TEAM MEMBERS: Allen Burcham (CE) Christopher Lucas (CE) Fausto Tommasi (CE & Computer Science) Taylor Watson (CE & Computer Science)
Our project is an internet-connected data acquisition system (DAQ) which can sample arbitrary analog signals and publish the samples to the internet. This system improves on other systems because it allows users to place the DAQ in a remote location, many users can operate on the data stream independently, and a history of the samples is persisted. An example application is a home power monitor. The DAQ could sample the instantaneous power of a home electrical device at a low frequency. The historical data would be stored for the user to access later. The user can also get the data in real time, along with the historical data using our client application. Using the client, the user could analyze their power consumption over a specified time interval. Our project empowers do-it-yourself enthusiasts to sample arbitrary signals and access the data in a novel way.
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GREENROOF FOR KOENIG PLAZA TEAM MEMBERS: Michelle Bresnahan Peter Gaido Megan Martinez Xinse Zhang
Saint Louis University’s Koenig Plaza currently faces drainage, usability, and safety issues. Our group’s design addresses these issues and furthers Saint Louis University’s sustainability goals by designing a new plaza with a green roof system. As a part of the green roof, a rainwater harvesting system is implemented in order to collect the runoff. The newly-designed plaza also features an outdoor recreational space with tables for students and faculty to enjoy some of Missouri’s native vegetation. The Milkweeds For Monarchs project area is expanded as a part of the university’s sustainability initiatives. The sustainability component of this project opens up the window for potential LEED certification, as well as possible green infrastructure grants from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the St. Louis Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD), and more.
NORTH 14TH STREET CORRIDOR MULTIMODAL REDESIGN TEAM MEMBERS: Gloria Campbell Chris Gottsacker Will Vierling
The North 14th Street Multimodal Transportation Corridor is a one mile reconstruction project in Saint Louis, Missouri extending from North Florissant Street to Washington Avenue. Available space along the corridor and nearby planned developments call for a critical study of the corridor’s potential. In this project, multimodal transportation is emphasized and implemented to encourage all modes of transportation and to fit the needs of the surrounding community. These corridor improvements present innovative solutions to urban transportation issues and symbolize progression in the Saint Louis community. 27
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology
OLIVER HALL RETROFIT TEAM MEMBERS: Ronald Clark Junhao Lou Sam Pappas Michael Stromberg
It is Fortem Engineering’s goal to help Saint Louis University increase its capacity for research, something that could help attract a larger number of both students and skilled faculty. The demand for college graduates in STEM fields has increased over the last few decades, while, in recent years, colleges have been forced to compete for a smaller number of students entering higher education. Fortem Engineering Inc. has designed a retrofit for Oliver Hall, which will include a new Structural Mechanics Lab. Using the high bay ceilings already present in some areas of the building, the retrofit is cost effective. The lab design contains five main technical components: a bridge crane system, the design of a strong wall and strong floor with anchor points, the construction of an access road, and a high capacity load frame.
REDESIGN OF KOENIG PLAZA TEAM MEMBERS: Gloria de Zamacona Clarence Landen Tyler Roxby Qifeng Zhao
The objective of this project is to repair and revamp Koenig Plaza, an area located on Saint Louis University’s campus that currently acts as the roof for the underground lecture halls, and as a passageway between Monsanto Hall, Macelwane Hall, and Shannon Hall. The renovation of this area is critical because students and faculty members of the SLU community have voiced their concerns about water leaking into the lecture halls, and the unstable outdoor pavers. The design project involves conducting structural and hydraulic analyses to determine the moment capacity and shear force of the structure of the plaza, and to properly design a new drainage system. The recommended design for the project fixes the current drainage and instability issues, increases the vegetated area, and provides a new gathering space for the students and faculty of SLU. 2016-2017 Senior Design Projects
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AUTOMATED COLLET HANDLER - GE AVIATION TEAM MEMBERS: Dylan Connell Andrew Nixon Evan Palatinus Robert Schafer
The rotating electrode EDM process is currently utilized by GE Aviation to drill holes in high pressure turbine blades to provide boundary layer cooling. Cooling performance and structural stability is increased through use of smaller holes. This requires smaller diameter electrode wires to be used, which require more frequent replacement by workers, as they are consumed during the machining process. The collet handler will automatically unload collets from an EDM drilling machine’s carousel and replace the spent brass tube electrodes with fresh ones, then returning the collet to the EDM. For smaller diameter holes, where electrode consumption is higher, the labor cost reduction could exceed $2.5M per year through the use of automated loading and handling.
BUILDING A ROBOLYMPIAN TEAM MEMBERS: Stephen Ampleman Adam O’Neill Michael Sullivan Andrew Zeiss
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers hosts numerous competitions and conferences each year. In the spirit of the Olympic games last summer, the year-long 2017 Student Design Competition challenges teams to create a remotely controlled device that competes in five events; these events are lift, sprint, throw, hit, and climb. In the lift event, the device must lift a chosen weight as high as possible. However, focusing only on strength will diminish performance in the sprint event, where the device must travel down and back a straight lane. The throw event involves a tennis ball that must be hurled as far as possible, while a golf ball must be struck the furthest distance possible in the hit event. Finally, the device must traverse obstacles of varying height in the climb event. Teams of up to four students compete to win prizes, awards, and regional and national championship titles. 29
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology
BATTLE BOTS TEAM MEMBERS: Payton Braam Miles Davis Parker Shumate
Our project is designing a robot for the Battle Bot competition in San Francisco at the end of April. The robot that we have designed is in the 120-pound weight class and has a rotating dome with a blade attached. With both spinning, the robot is defending itself while it is attacking.
HIGHWAY APPLICATIONS OF SMALL WIND TURBINES TEAM MEMBERS: Leah Kunkel Alvaro Martínez de Azagra Garelly Michael Reader
The purpose of this project is to design and build a device that can capture the untapped resource of high wind along highways. This project is being designed and built in conjunction with the Missouri Department of Transportation’s ‘Road to Tomorrow’ project, which seeks to update aging infrastructure with 21st century technologies, such as solar and wind energy. We hypothesized that the highest wind speeds will occur at the center of highways, along the median, as the vehicles close to the center travel the fastest. An anemometer was placed at two different highway locations to determine wind speeds that can be expected at different times of day, and compared with traffic data for the same time period. This turbine will use a hybrid design of Darrieus and Savonius turbine styles. These designs are being built for performance testing, ideally culminating in highway placement to measure power output. Once all of our data is compiled we hope to have a functioning and efficient vertical axis wind turbine that the Missouri Department of Transportation could one day use along their roads. 2016-2017 Senior Design Projects
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MARS ICE CHALLENGE TEAM MEMBERS: Jonathan Meinhardt Rachit Parikh Robert Romine Sydney Tefft
The recent discovery of shallow, subsurface ice on Mars has created an opportunity for the development of a permanent land base with an ample water supply. Through a proposal for a NASA competition our team was tasked with designing a prototype for a Martian drilling rig capable of extracting and melting ice. This system was designed to drill through a designated depth of overburden. The system was also required to extract and melt the ice located beneath the overburden. The extraction process was designed to ensure that a minimal amount of overburden was mixed with the ice. The drilling system was created using an ice auger attached to an AC motor, a casing around the auger to contain the ice, and a t-slotted profile to optimize the vertical motion of the drill. Since our team did not receive the grant a scaled down model of the original design was built.
PRE-SURGICAL PULMONARY ARTERY STENT DEPLOYMENT TEAM MEMBERS: Rodelle Empeno Brad Finnegan Kyle McNabb Mike Medina
Our project is a pre-surgical device that simulates a functioning artery. This is done with using a 3D printed pulmonary artery and a peristaltic pump. The artery pumps up and down just as a heart does. The purpose of the device is to increase the success rate of stent deployment in arteries. Our devices allows surgeons to do a test surgery to get all kinks and sizing of the stent worked out before the actual surgery.
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SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology
TCZ BATTLEBOT TEAM MEMBERS: Brendan Bement Drew Donze Dan Riordan Sean Riordan
This project involves building a combat battlebot for entry into a battlebot competition. Upon researching affective battlebot designs, the chosen design for this project was a drum bot. The design involves the use of three motors, powered by two motor controllers and two high-voltage batteries. Two of the motors power the wheels, while the third motor spins the drum weapon which is used to disfigure or flip opposing bots. Steel is used for the drum weapon and high strength steel is used for protection. The competition dates are April 21-23, 2017.
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CONTROLLABLE PATTERNING AND RAMAN CHARACTERIZATION OF CNTS TEAM MEMBERS: Nozima Aripova (Biology) Isioma Okafor (Physics) Dr. Irma Kuljanishvili (Physics faculty)
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can be grown on Si/SiO2 substrate using carbon vapor deposition (CVD). The hydrophobic properties and texture of CNTs make it a favorable surface for the neuronal cells and the electrical properties will allow for the neurons to carry out its usual processes. In terms of the Si/SiO2 substrate, a suitable sample would be hydrophobic like the CNTs themselves. Silicon was chosen for this research because of its ability to withstand high temperatures and its biocompatibility. As of now, CNTs can be grown over the entire substrate; this research aims to determine if they can also be grown in very specific nano sized patterns depending on the need. One application of this patterning is the creation of an interface for neuronal cells. By controlling the catalyst ingredients, substrate properties, and CVD growth recipe, the density and quality of the CNTs grown can be altered to fit any need.
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SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology
NOTES
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TEAM MEMBERS:
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SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology