Histology workflow for preparing tissue samples on microscope slides is an intensively manual process. The HE 600 automates the process, but the slides output often have residue and other surface artifacts that must be cleaned before a pathologist can analyze them.

This project presents a prototype of an automated cleaning system that eliminates the time-consuming step whereby histo-technicians manually clean the slides post-processing and reduces the possibility of complications during sample analysis. This team extensively tested different cleaning methods utilizing design of experiments, verified an optimal cleaning process and developed a single axis machine design to automate the cleaning process.

A linear actuator, controlled by a Raspberry Pi, lowers the slide between two rotating rollers, where cleaning solution and rinse are dispensed via two nozzles. The slide is then raised to its original location and passes through additional nozzles blowing a controlled air stream to dry the surface. A camera captures before and after pictures of the slide, and the images are stored for reference. Users interface with the controller through a touch screen, and an emergency stop is integrated into the system. The system cleans 20 slides in 15 minutes, conforming to the processing rate of the HE 600.

The proliferation of drone technology presents unique security threats and public safety challenges. Drones can attain high speeds and have the potential to carry explosive payloads, conduct illicit surveillance and smuggle contraband. These small and nimble aircraft are difficult to detect with traditional radar systems. Miniaturized drones, with their small-scale radar cross section, also are hard to differentiate from other things, such as birds and high-altitude aircraft.

A network of optoelectronic drone tracker systems dispersed around a monitored airspace could address certain limitations of existing warning systems and enable greater situational awareness of drones.

Team members developed a prototype to detect, identify and track drones in real time, with concurrent reporting through a computer interface. The system automatically scans for and detects drones, recognizing them in comparison to other airborne objects. This prototype processes images from two separate camera subsystems to make positioning decisions for tilt and rotation motors and keep the object-of-interest within its field of view. The drone’s direction, speed and distance are measured and reported through a graphical user interface.

Measuring golf club performance is difficult because it involves dual analysis of the club’s mechanical characteristics as well as player perception and interaction with the club. A mechanical apparatus that emulates the swing but removes player variability can help determine if design changes improve a putter.

This team created a mechatronic system to precisely and consistently test putter performance. The system repeatedly mimics the swing of a putter, changes the swing parameters as desired, and analyzes outcomes. The team’s design incorporates a combination of mechanical and electrical systems to precisely place the putter face, enabling analysis at various points of impact. The heart of the system is an MPP1428 servo motor that allows for precise swing motion and adjustable swing speed up to 8 mph.

Using two linear rails combined with servo motors, precise adjustments are made in the X and Z axes, with height adjustment integrated into the system’s swing arm. The performance putter pendulum includes continuous yaw axis adjustment using a worm driven assembly, which can be locked in place to ensure consistent swings. The pitch axis of the swing can be adjusted 0 degrees to 20 degrees via a custom motor mounting system and quick release pins. A separate pitch adjustment independently changes that parameter for the club to remain at its typical 20-degree lie angle.

Many medical screening devices require a different number of cells depending on their concentration in the specimen. Being able to detect the concentration of relevant cells before the test without disrupting the specimen will increase the speed at which the screening device can operate.

This design consists of an LED light source that illuminates the contents of the vial and a photodiode detector that detects the optical power emitted from the cells.

Autofluorescence, whereby biological molecules absorb light at one wavelength and emit it at another, differentiate diagnostically relevant cells from other contents. Optical filters tune the emission spectrum of the light source and the responsivity of the detector so only the relevant cells fluoresce and emit light in the wavelength band to which the detector responds. A Raspberry Pi microcontroller converts the voltage response from the detector to concentration and displays it on a screen.

Lab technicians apply labels to microscope slides after applying tissue samples. The process of printing the label, peeling it off of the backing paper, then placing it on the designated area of the slide while maintaining the integrity of the tissue sample can be repetitive and tedious.

Thus, the goal of this project was to create a prototype that will increase slide labeling productivity and decrease risks of impairments associated with repetitive injury.

Designing a Slide Label Applicator for Simplified Handling (SLASH) presented several engineering challenges: peeling labels with different adhesive strengths from the backing paper, positioning the label in the SLASH mechanism, and placing the label on the slide within the allowable range.

Once the user inputs the preprinted labels and slides into the SLASH, a system made up of a custom density polyethylene channel, gear driven rollers, sensors and moves and aligns the labels above the slide then places it on the slide accurately. Additionally, a display informs technicians of the status of the machine.

The Tonee Lift walker helps patients with spinal fusion and other low-mobility conditions lift objects from the floor, greatly increasing their independence. In addition to the lifting functionality, the walker has a sweeper arm for pushing objects from the floor onto the lifting plate.

This team was tasked with turning earlier prototypes and models of the Tonee Lift walker into a more durable, user-friendly and market-ready product. The design requirements presented several engineering challenges: improving walker center of gravity, overcoming friction in the lift with a 25-pound load, making the lifting plate foldable, and controlling the descending speed of the lift with a 25-pound load.

The students built the Tonee Lift II walker out of aluminum, including 1-inch tubing and sheet metal to meet a weight requirement of less than 40 pounds and designed a component that lifts a maximum 25-pound object from the floor to 3 feet. The team incorporated bearings and a gearbox with a clutch. To prevent beyond-range motion, the design includes switches at the minimum or maximum position to open the circuit and cut the power to the motor. A current limit circuit cuts motor power when the load on the lift is too heavy. And, an off-the-shelf product indicates battery charge.

Electronic Speed Controllers (ESCs) are used to control the operation of electric motors in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs). Research institutions require ESCs that can collect operating telemetry from the controller and motor when developing UAS technologies. Readily available ESCs do not have these functionalities and are limited to operating a narrow range of motor sizes, making them unusable in research applications.

The team built a functional ESC that operates over a wide range of motors and collects the required data within 1% accuracy.

The ESC uses a Teensy 4.1 microcontroller as its main processing unit. Speed instructions are transmitted to the Teensy 4.1 from an external flight computer, which are then processed to control the motor’s RPM. The Teensy 4.1 also collects the temperature and motor’s RPMs, current draw and voltage. All telemetry data is transmitted to the flight computer using the CAN bus protocol. The ESC is packaged in an aluminum enclosure with active cooling to safely operate motors ranging from 10V to 50V, with a maximum continuous current draw of 120A.

The Hydraulic Smart Glove provides an interface for measuring the forces and work performed during everyday physical activities. Real-time data allows users to track the amount of weight lifted and work performed during physical activity. With this wearable device, fitness fanatics, construction workers and physical therapists alike can work safer and smarter.

This team created a system that uses hydraulic tubing, hydraulic fluid, and a manifold, all integrated into the smart glove with a pressure transducer measuring the pressure applied to the tubing.

The students developed software with calibrated curves to calculate the weight lifted and the work performed based on the pressure inside the tubing. Sensor data is collected by an Arduino Nano microcontroller. Key data is displayed using a graphical user interface (GUI) on an LED display. The user interacts with the system and GUI via buttons for calibration, setting the time, changing units and altering brightness.

Having the ability to measure and display the weight of lifted objects, along with work performed, provides valuable information to employees and companies. Workers can control how much work they are performing when carrying or lifting objects and use the data to limit excessive exertion, reducing the risk of repetitive stress injuries.

This team designed, developed, integrated and tested a novel flexible sensor array that measures weight lifted and work performed.

The Smart Glove uses an inductive sensor to measure the weight of an object held by the user, instantaneously and over time. This weight is measured at a frequency of 20 Hz and subsequently summed to display a total quantified weight in addition to the time under tension, to within 5% accuracy. The Smart Glove is intended for use in warehouses and gyms.

Two-phase immersion cooling is an efficient and cost-effective way to cool data centers. Additionally, this method is far less likely to negatively affect the environment because it uses significantly less water and electricity than conventional cooling. Electronics are submerged in a non-conductive fluid so there is no damage to components. The temperature of the fluid remains near its boiling point to create a saturated gas-liquid state in the tank. Microsoft Corp. has started to implement this technology but needs a small-scale tank in which to perform tests.

The students designed, developed, integrated and tested a novel tank design for system optimization.

The design consists of a quartz tank and acrylic lid, sealed with a laser-cut rubber gasket. Fluorinert, created by 3M, is the fluid in which the computer is submerged. As the computer heats up, the Flourinert begins to evaporate and increases the internal pressure of the tank. Sensors inside the tank monitor the temperature, pressure and level of Fluorinert. This data, along with the increased tank pressure helps control a cooling loop that condenses gaseous Fluorinert and maintains a temperature at or below boiling, which is highly efficient for the processor.