Spinal cord injuries cause permanent damage that impacts mobility and quality of life. Inducing hypothermia can significantly improve surgical repair of the spinal cord injury after traumatic or complete spinal cord injury. Lowering the body temperature by between 5 and 12°C for four to five hours, followed by controlled rewarming at 1°C per hour over a 20-hour period, slows metabolism, decreases cellular stress and inflammation and prevents edema. However, systemic hypothermia
comes with risks such as cardiac arrhythmias and coagulation issues. In this project, the team designed a method for applying targeted hypothermia to the injured spinal cord rather than the traditional systemic hypothermia.

The design integrates a compact chiller, a disposable cooling paddle, and a thermal monitoring subsystem. The chiller circulates distilled water through the paddle which the surgeon positions and secures on the dura (the tough layer surrounding the spinal cord) after surgery to remove part of the vertebrae. An LCD interface displays real-time temperature data via paddle-integrated thermistors. Health care providers can manually adjust the device to maintain the target cooling profile. A surgeon will surgically remove the paddle after treatment.

This project introduces a versatile UAV testbed designed to support on-demand analysis of various flight configurations with a single aircraft with the goal of enhancing flight research capabilities at U of A.

The team developed the UAV testbed through extensive research into construction techniques and aircraft performance to ensure the design aligns with conventional aerodynamics while maintaining modular adaptability. The resulting airframe prioritizes ease of assembly and positive stability across a wide range of configurations. To optimize performance, the team estimated the flight envelope using numerical analysis and simulations and ensured structural integrity before fabrication using finite element analysis.

A hands-on manufacturing approach played a key role in development. Prior material testing helped determine the optimal fabrication methods for carbon fiber composites, which were primarily produced in-house. Pre-manufactured carbon tubes and outsourced machined aluminum parts complemented the custom-built components. This resulted in a lightweight yet structurally robust aircraft.

The UAV features a speed range of 45 to 200 mph, a wing sweep angle adjustable from 0 to 60 degrees, and a 10 ft wingspan at 45 degrees sweep. With a flight time of five to seven minutes, it meets all research requirements set by U of A and provides a highly adaptable platform for advanced aerodynamic testing.

Capstone Copper is an open pit mine that operates 24/7. It serves as a key contributor to Arizona’s copper production by processing 22 million tons of ore annually. Conveyor belts transport this ore to various phases of processing within the mine. Failure of these conveyance systems leads to excessive downtime and major economic loss. To minimize these failures, the team designed a system which will monitor the conveyor belts that deliver mined ore from the primary to a secondary crushing facility.

The team determined that the key areas of concern – the ones that produce the highest economic loss and downtime – are the belt and the driving pulleys. The team simulated the belt’s status of abnormal side travel, temperature gradients, and the quality of the belt’s surface. They then designed and built a proof-of-concept small-scale conveyor with a range sensor and an infrared temperature sensor integrated with two microcontrollers. An intuitive graphical user interface in the system allows
operators to view the real-time condition of the belt and sends an alert when conditions indicate a failure. Operators can also access a historical data log.