Rotating Detonation Engines (RDEs) are a new type of engine which supersonically combusts a combination of fuel and oxidizer. The result is up to 15% more fuel efficiency than conventional combustion, a huge improvement for Energy and aerospace industries. Until recently, RDEs have not operated for more than seconds. With an increase in duration comes the added challenge of heat management. Nobel is advancing their RDEs systems to effectively manage heat using in-situ resources (air, fuel .... and in land-based power systems: water). In addition to materials and geometry (including additive manufacturing), the project will implement best practices from both aerospace and energy to manage the heat output during RDE operation. (Note: Noble will ensure that this project does not include ITAR information)

o Live Demonstration of a Tunable Fabry-Perot Spectrometer shall be performed on design day
o Spectrometer shall have peak wavelength accuracy of 10nm or better across the visible spectrum
o Spectrometer shall operate over a 6 degree half field of view or greater
o Spectrometer shall maintain peak wavelength accuracy with a representative solar background at signal to noise ratios greater than 10
o Objective requirement: Housing for the Fabry-Perot cell shall be capable of holding tolerances required for spectral accuracy in space environments (thermal/vibe/shock)
o Live demonstration does not need to use space-qualified parts, but the components selected should have capability that is within specifications of representative space-qualified components

In this continuation project the team will be expected to advance this device from the current minimally featured first generation prototype to a fully functional and feature rich late generation prototype which is ready for commercialization. The anticipated improvements will include improved vehicle detection capabilities, GPS tracking, improved battery life, size reduction, theft protection, an app based graphical interface and adaptability to different handlebar configurations.

Autonomous tractors have recently become a reality through the advent of robotics technologies that enable autonomous driving and control. This serves as a potential game changer for addressing labor and sustainability issues in agriculture towards feeding a growing global population. However, unlike autonomous cars, tractors are not used for the sole purpose of transportation, but rather for performing an agricultural task (e.g. planting, harvesting, baling, tillage). Tractors serve as a universal power platform to pull different tools (called implements) to perform these tasks. Each of these tasks can required completing different operation from the tractor, making autonomous operation challenging as the function of the tractor needs to change based on what is connected to it. In order for the tractor to behave in the way that it should for a task, if first needs to recognize what job it needs to perform, the position of the tool for the task, and the operating state of the tool - each of these problems relate to awareness of the implement by the tractor.

The requirements of this project is to:
(1) determine the vision-based sensor suite (e.g. Lidar, 2d camera, 3D camera) that can be mounted to a tractor for implement detection,
(2) determine an embedded computing platform appropriate for the implement awareness problem that can be powered by a 12V vehicle system and operate in mobile machine conditions
(3) develop software systems to:
(i) recognize the type of implement connected to a tractor
(ii) determine the position of the implement relative to the tractor in 3D space to an accuracy less than 5 cm
(iii) determine key operating characteristics of the implement (different based on the type of implement)
(4) demonstrate the operation of the system with an example agricultural implement (or similar representation)

It is expected this project will require the use of multiple sensor types (Lidar, cameras, etc.), as well as multiple vision processing approaches (deterministic computer vision algorithms, deep learning recognition. etc.).

Based on the UA capstone project team’s work last year, further develop and optimize the comprehensive simulation model which can be used to calculate the optical beam propagation in multimode/single mode fibers, which are used in ASML lithography machines.

The simulation model also needs to access the beam field propagation in the multimode and single mode fiber, investigate the beam propagation field properties under external conditions such as fiber bending, twisting and thermal source. Improve the fiber bending loss calculation accuracy.

Functional braces can be highly successful in treating degenerative flatfoot. However, currently available braces are not tolerated well enough to make bracing a viable long term treatment option for most patients. Patients complain that the braces are: (1) uncomfortable, (2) don’t fit in a shoe, (3) don’t adequately correct deformity, (4) restrict motion, (5) are hot, (6) put pressure over bony prominences, (7) look ugly, and (8) are difficult to get on and off. The goal of this project is to use innovative materials and design techniques to develop a brace that improves on current designs by addressing each of these problems.

This novel brace will use state of the art materials including shape memory metal or polymers to develop a brace that is comfortable, fits well in a shoe, looks good, restores alignment to the foot and ankle, and returns the energy to the patient’s gait with every step.

The newly developed brace must not impinge on the patents of any currently available braces.

A tabletop device that can hold 10lbs of silage under the proper temperature and pressure conditions for fermentation that allows for experimentation and analysis of silage formulas.

Background Info:
Silage is the fermented and high-moisture stored fodder which can be fed to livestock animals. Silage is very effective and nutritious food for the dairy cattle and ferments the sugars to form acids and then breaks down the forage proteins into simpler compounds.
Silage can even help animals to better digest forage that is difficult to digest in fresh form, as silage bacteria helps to break down fibre. Good quality forage is essential to ensure dairy cows not only maintain a healthy body, but also produce high-quality milk.
Disrupted normal rumen function – Spoiled silage destroys the “forage mat” in the rumen, adversely affecting the rumen contractions and preventing nutrient absorption. Reproductive issues – Spoiled silage lacks the adequate nutrient value to sustain cattle, especially during pregnancy.
Info on how silage is fermented:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silage#Fermentation
https://www.allaboutfeed.net/animal-feed/raw-materials/silage-effluent-problems-and-solutions/

Pulsed detonators (PD) are small shock tubes that combust a combination of oxidizer and fuel and accelerate the products supersonically. Nobel utilizes these custom devices to initiate their Rotating Detonation Engines (RDE). Akin to Pulsed Detonation Engines (PDEs), a single PD can be operated as a single shot device, or at a specific frequency. Nobel desires to increase the reliability of their PDs, and include Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) constraints. The design project will characterize the existing system and perform a design of experiments for different geometry and conditions that result in a reliable PD ignition system. The students will build a custom test stand complete with custom ionization probes to measure the shock wave velocity. (Note: Noble will verify that no ITAR information will not be part of this project)

Competitive Engineering is a growing aerospace manufacturer and is seeking improvements in maintaining all their machines properly filled with oil and hydraulic fluid. The growth of the company has resulted in acquiring various state of the art CNC machines worth millions in investment. Competitive Engineering desires an autonomous system that will dispense the fluids in a Clean, Organized, and Efficient manner but also alert when levels of fluids in the drum are running low and in need of a replacement.
In addition, a refilling process must be created to ensure that risks of messy spills and cross contamination are mitigated. Further, these lubricants are going into the heart of our machinery. It is important for this process to be equipped with poke-yoke principles to ensure it can be maintained by all members of the CEI team. This will include creating visual cues and safe practices such as designating fluids to color-coded containers and having matching quick connect fittings to create a standard to sustain.

Design a mechanical energy storage system utilizing the unique characteristics of the Resolution Copper Mining property. The Resolution Copper project is a proposed underground mine 60 miles east of Phoenix, Arizona, near the town of Superior. The mine was in operation under Magma Copper Company from 1911-1996. Due to the long historical operation of the mine, there are unique characteristics on the property including old mine shafts (potentially ~4,000 feet deep), water systems and terrain which present an opportunity to utilize for a mechanical energy storage system. This project is an opportunity to be creative, make an impression, and transform an industry.