Bone health metrics, such as bone strain and gait patterns, provide critical insights into conditions like osteoporosis and spaceflight-induced bone loss. This project presents a specialized treadmill system with a soft ambulatory surface designed to advance this research by simulating diverse terrains and reduced-gravity environments. By studying rat gait under conditions that mimic lunar or Martian gravity, researchers can analyze how different gravitational forces impact bone density and strength. The treadmill also allows for controlled experiments on the effects of walking on various aggregates to provide insights into bone strain and potential rehabilitation strategies.

The project involved extensive mechanical, electrical and software engineering. The team designed mechanical components using OnShape software and fabricated them with 3D printing, machining and laser cutting. The students integrated electrical systems into a custom printed circuit board. Software development focused on creating an intuitive user interface and ensuring precise control of treadmill speed and harness height.

Verification testing confirmed the system’s performance including treadmill velocity accuracy, harness weight capacity and aggregate recirculation efficiency. The final prototype is compact, fits inside a fume hood, and is powered by a standard 120V wall adapter, making it suitable for laboratory use. Additionally, it can connect to implanted devices for data collection via an antenna.

In aircraft with multiple fuel tanks, pilots must regularly switch between tanks to maintain balance and prevent fuel starvation. However, pilots with disabilities are often unable to operate the fuel selector handle in its current design. The team worked with Jessica Cox, an armless pilot, to create a custom redesign that accommodates her needs. Additionally, the team integrated additional automated systems that allow her to focus on other critical flight tasks while ensuring proper fuel control.

The redesigned system consists of four primary functions: an automated fuel selection, an electronic override, a redesigned fuel selector handle, and a means of error detection. The pilot can enable automatic fuel switching as desired. When activated, the system automatically switches between tanks every 30 minutes. An electronic override allows the pilot to manually change the valve’s position with the push of a button. Cox can use the redesigned handle to move the valve without electronics. It is ergonomically optimized for Cox while remaining accessible to a nondisabled copilot. Finally, error detection alerts the pilot or copilot of any system issues using a display and light-emitting diodes that offer constant visual feedback. This project was specific to Cox, but the results enhance flight safety, reduce pilot workload, and ensure accessibility for all pilots regardless of physical ability.

Supersonic missile nose cones are designed to minimize aerodynamic drag at ultra-fast speeds while protecting sensitive electronics. These nosecones, or radomes, are often made of advanced materials that are transparent to the missile’s radar so it can track targets but are sensitive to impacts. Current testing methods for evaluating high-speed rain impacts on these radomes require very expensive and time-consuming methods. Furthermore, simulating a water droplet impact at supersonic speeds is challenging due to the complexities of deformable liquids.

The team’s solution is the Radome Impingement Test Apparatus (RITA) which uses pressurized gas to propel a nylon bead down a barrel at high speeds into a sample radome. This system affordably and accurately simulates the damage water droplets inflict on radomes. RITA uses an articulating mount to precisely adjust the angle and location of the testing sample to create varied impacts. It can evaluate the resulting damage to the radome and convert it into a damage score. This score becomes a metric to evaluate which radome materials perform better under high-speed rain impacts. Verification test results show promise for RITA as a rapid-turn and inexpensive evaluation solution.

As algae-based industries – including biofuels, agriculture, and pollution management – continue to grow, precise and scalable monitoring of algal growth is becoming increasingly vital. However, existing assessment methods are energy-intensive, time-consuming, and limited to laboratories. This project addresses these challenges by improving a benchtop sensor designed to take real-time, in-field measurements and develop it into an in situ sensor for continuous deployment in raceways, which are
cultivation environments.

The team focused on key improvements, including extending the sensor’s temperature range, boosting durability, and improving user-friendliness. Using spectrophotometry at 650 and 780 nanometers, the team’s system applies Beer’s Law to measure algae concentration and turbidity.

Data from the device is transmitted via ethernet to an external acquisition device. Once there, a digital-to-analog conversion stage ensures seamless integration with standard data collection systems. To mitigate temperature-induced fluctuations in laser output, the system includes a double-beam design that calibrates all measurements with simultaneous sample and reference readings. The team applied all these design improvements to both the original benchtop sensor and to the new in situ sensor. In addition, the team created a compact, hydrodynamic housing for the in situ version.

Drones often struggle in applications where visibility is limited. This project provides a lightweight, cost-effective, and highly reliable solution for enhancing drone performance in challenging environments. The team developed a simplified drone DVEPS-Lite system that enables autonomous drone navigation in these DVEs. By integrating lidar, or light detection and ranging, and video camera sensors, the system maps the drone’s surroundings in real time and allows the drone to navigate safely while avoiding obstacles, even in low-visibility conditions.

The team’s solution was to design and build a custom mirror mounting system that reflects the lidar laser. This creates a crosshair pattern, which allows more precise object detection at distances of up to 20m. The team also included an actuator system that stabilized this mount by counteracting drone tilts and vibrations. This stabilization was necessary to ensure accurate environmental mapping and obstacle detection. The drone operates autonomously while transmitting telemetry and visual data back to a ground control station, providing operators with critical situational awareness. Additionally, the system features manual override capabilities so the operators can stop or land the drone when necessary.

1. Safety Upgrades
2. Hoist Replacement / PLC Upgrade
3. Hoist control system replacement
4. Crown Pillar Stability Assessment
5. Monitoring – Trigger Action Response Plan
6. Site Improvements / Dump Planning

Rightfooted is seeking to design a safe, collapsible, hard-mounted dressing hook for amputees.

Amputees often use a hook to help them put on or take off their pants, dresses, shorts, leggings, underwear, etc., especially when getting ready for bed or using the bathroom. However, with traditional, stationary hooks, two separate hooks are necessary - one facing upwards for getting dressed and another facing downwards for undressing. The proposed design aims to simplify this process by introducing a single, rotating hook that can be used for both purposes.

The proposed design involves reconsidering the profile of a traditional dressing hook. This new profile will be mounted on a slim device that can collapse or rotate the hook out of the way for most of the day. When the hook is needed, it can be electronically moved into position with the desired orientation, either for dressing or undressing. The hook will hold its position for a period of time before collapsing or rotating back into its low-profile standby position. Additionally, when in the extended position, the design can quickly rotate into the opposite desired position when required.

The design of the hook must pose a minimal risk in case of a fall. Moreover, it should not pose any danger to young children in the household as they may accidentally touch it with their hands and fingers. Additionally, the hook must be sturdy enough to withstand strong forces imposed while dressing or undressing tight-fitting clothes, such as bathing suits or leggings.

It must be possible to power this design from a standard 120-volt outlet and mount it in a standard American home on drywall backed by a wooden stud.

The project team will also outline the cost and requirements for manufacturing the finished design.

Automated Inspection Programming Improvement
Currently our AOI (automated operator inspection) programming is slow, and includes false failures. This increases operator touch time at the machine, waiting on a result. We are looking for a team to help streamline the programming among various aerospace CCA boards, and help show cost savings/ training improvement. Programming basics will be trained, though some independent research will be needed. Relevant disciplines include EE, IE, and ME. Students must have US citizenship, as these boards support USA aerospace and defense for Honeywell Aerospace.



Creates and maintains programs for the AOI (Automatic Optical Inspection) in a CCA manufacturing site.
Creates parts library in the master database
Validation testing for newly created AOI programs
Troubleshoots machine programs as needed
Interface and support internal customers (production, quality, engineering, etc.)
Test equipment to include AOI (MEK Verispector)
Must be self-directed, dependable, and motivated with excellent relationship and time management skills.
Proficient with PC-based software including Microsoft Office Suite, including intermediate knowledge of Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. MacOS experience a plus.
Strong, effective organizational skills required; detail oriented; ability to multitask
Ability to read, and interpret engineering instructions, schematics, technical procedures, and various reports
Ability to keep accurate documentation

*** Interview sign up link - http://tinyurl.com/Celestica24506 ***

Refer to the concept and a previous unit of Automated Fresnel Lens concentrating solar stove to build an improved version of solar stove with higher accuracy of solar tracking, standardization, and safety. Want the prototype unit to have a potential of commercialization. Dr. Peiwen (Perry) Li has this project funded by research grant from DOE through UA.

*** Interview sign-up link - http://tinyurl.com/AME24505 ***

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the world’s population is expected to grow to almost 10 billion by 2050 with two out of every three people are expected to live in urban areas. Beyond providing fresh local produce, vertical indoor agriculture could help increase food production and expand agricultural operations. Producing fresh greens and vegetables close to growing urban populations could help meet growing global food demands in an environmentally responsible and sustainable way by reducing distribution chains to offer lower emissions, providing higher-nutrient produce, and drastically reducing water usage and runoff. Vertical farms incorporate controlled-environment agriculture, which aims to optimize plant growth and soilless farming techniques such as hydroponics, aquaponics, and aeroponics. One of the most significant resource inputs and cost in a vertical farm system (and also in greenhouse operations) is labor mainly for crop maintenance and produce harvesting. Leafy greens are commonly grown in vertical farms within nutrient film technique or deep water culture based systems with produce harvesting and packing performed manually demanding significant time with labor use and cost for the labor affecting profitably of the vertical farming operations. This project aims to design an autonomous, robotic platform to harvest leafy greens and microgreens that is suited for a vertical farm system (can also be used on greenhouse operations with similar crop productions systems).

Scope: (1) Work with senior capstone course instructor, and Dr. Murat Kacira and Mike Mason (from BE Department) to understand the hydroponic crop
production systems growing leafy greens in vertical farm and greenhouse systems. (2) Evaluate the produce harvesting operation, required tools and system used in commercial operations, and determine the needs for an autonomous robotic platform for produce harvesting. (3) Design the system and create a 3D technical SolidWorks/AutoCad drawings. (4) Build a prototype system, complete its mechanical, optical, and electrical diagrams and components. (5) Develop and implement the programing code for systems operations for mechanical, electrical, and optical controls. (6) Test system and demonstrate its operations. (7) Develop plans (including cost estimates) to turn the lab prototype into a standalone, compact, turnkey system that can be used in a commercial vertical farm (possibly in greenhouse operation). The system designed and produced should be capable of receiving produce rafts/holding boards to the harvesting station, introducing the produce and roots to the harvesting unit, removing the produce shoot and roots from the growing rafts/boards, and presenting the shoots into conveyor belt directing to packing line, and directing the roots to a collecting bin for recycling purposes, and directing the emptied raft/board to a stacking platform/line. (8) Present results in a video conference and PowerPoint presentation to Sponsor and at the COE Presentation Day.

***Interview schedule coming soon***