Previous ASME Award Winner
Recent Departmental Runner Up Awards
Capstone Design Projects
Hybrid Kapitza Pendulum
2023-2024 - Spring
Team: 1
The team implemented closed loop control for a Kapitza's pendulum using feedback from a capacitive encoder to create the world's first globally stable Kapitza's pendulum using hybrid dynamical control theory. Thus, the pendulum was capable of stabilizing in the inverted position regardless of its starting point.
Accessible Enclosure System
2023-2024 - Winter
Team: 5
Team Inspiration is designing an autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) to compete in RobotX 2024 International Maritime Challenge. The team’s 2022 overhead mounting solution faced accessibility and signal interference issues. This project seeks to mount and protect the sensors and electrical components with an undermount solution for increased modularity and accessibility, without compromising structural integrity or water resistance.
Enclosed Cell Stretcher
2023-2024 - Spring
Team: 2
Professor Geno Pawlak and the Experimental Biofluidics Lab are studying the genetic expression of biological cells under three biomechanical forces (pressure, shear stress, and cyclic stretching) in order to develop pharmaceuticals that can help manage Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. The enclosed cell stretcher prototype is able to apply all 3 forces simultaneously, inducing flow and pressure across a cell membrane while also cyclically stretching it.
Automation of a Glow Discharge Spectrometer
2023-2024 - Spring
Team: 4
Collaborated with the UCSD NanoEngineering Department to automate the sampling process of the GDS900 spectrometer, optimizing the HT-Read research methodology, particularly in verifying the composition of AI-generated 3D-printed metal alloy samples. This automation enhanced process efficiency and increased the likelihood of discovering optimal metal alloys.
Gradwell Drive-By-Wire Go-Kart
2023-2024 - Winter
Team: 3
DRIVR is a startup that focuses on the idea that combines the experience of VR and Real life. The driver wears a VR headset while sitting in an actual go-kart and views a simulated course and any inputs from VR are translated to the go-kart.
The project focuses on the mechanical/electrical aspect of the go-kart. The aim was to build a fully electric go-kart that incorporates Drive, Steer, and Brake-by-wire.
The project focuses on the mechanical/electrical aspect of the go-kart. The aim was to build a fully electric go-kart that incorporates Drive, Steer, and Brake-by-wire.
Thrust Vector Control Module for a Rocket Engine
2023-2024 - Spring
Team: 32
Team Members
Omeed Shahhosseini
Setekh Karaismailoglu
Claire Wang
Georgia Prewitt
The goal of this project is to develop a thrust vector control module that can rotate a rocket engine to guide the sponsor’s Riptide vehicle in the desired directions. The module has to allow 7° radius gimbaling from the central axis of the Nephas engine, withstand 2000 lbf thrust force for 15 seconds while drawing a circle, and use the two linear actuators provided by sponsor.
CRANE 3 - An 8-Axis Robot for Lung Biopsies within CT Scanners
2023-2024 - Spring
Team: 27
Team Members
Arjun Naageshwaran
Muhammand Bintang Gemilang
Brian Fader
Steven Molotnikov
An 8-Axis Robot for Lung Biopsies within CT Scanners
NDT- Endovascular Blood Clot Removal Device
2023-2024 - Spring
Team: 18
Design and manufacture an endovascular blood clot removal tool that is safe, reliable, and effective, along with a test bed for thorough testing.
Haptic Shoulder for Physical Human Robot Interaction
2023-2024 - Spring
Team: 22
Team Members
Calvin Joyce
Isabella Fiorini
Rizzi Galibut
Roger Nguyen
Tarun Murugesan
ARCLab investigates advancements in search and rescue operations with robotics. Our project focuses on the physical human-robot interaction needed for casualty extraction. We developed the Shoulder Haptic Universal Limb Dynamic Repositioning Device (SHULDRD) to train a robotic manipulator to safely perform upper arm repositioning. The SHULDRD simulates human shoulder motion and applies resistive forces for safe casualty manipulation, enhancing efficiency and safety in disaster response.
Pogo Pin Inspection Automation
2023-2024 - Winter
Team: 2
This project aims to develop a proof of concept to enhance the efficiency and scalability of pogo pin inspections through automation. The team has designed a four-stage system that includes a vibratory bowl feeder, a conveyor belt, a force test module, and a visual inspection module. This system demonstrates that automating the sorting and inspection of pogo pins is a viable solution.
Spaceflight Honeycomb Panel Depressurization
2023-2024 - Spring
Team: 19
Honeycomb panels are used frequently in aerospace, but trapped air can burst due to rapid depressurization during launch. The cell walls are perforated to allow air flow, but traditional methods for analyzing these perforations are untested and computationally expensive. Our project seeks to experimentally verify theoretical porous resistance coefficients. To collect this data, our project consists of a testing chamber with a variable mounting system and sensors to measure critical values.
Neublox - Educational Pneumatic Circuit Building Blocks
2023-2024 - Spring
Team: 29
We aim to introduce children aged 7-12 to soft robotics and circuitry. Using logic gates and soft actuators, our pneumatic building blocks provide a safe, hands-on learning experience for concepts related to computation, electronics, and soft robotics. These blocks allow kids to construct and control soft robots, fostering early engineering skills without electrical hazards. Neublox aims to inspire creativity and problem-solving, shaping future engineers and innovators through playful learning.
Underwater Robot Swarm: A Birch Aquarium Interactive Exhibit
2023-2024 - Spring
Team: 20
Team Members
Peyton Cross
Elliot Myers
Aidan Reedy-Schneider
Guy Walters
Adrian Zugehar
This interactive Birch Aquarium exhibit prototype educates visitors about technologies within the world of underwater imaging, featuring a buoyancy control mechanism and water column profiling sensors. Direct vertical motion is achieved through the robot's dome-shaped canopy capturing bubbles released by guests from the bottom of the tank. Once surfaced, pressure, temperature, and UV light sensors relate the tank conditions to images from across the globe captured by the Jaffe Lab.
Ion Beam Faraday Cup & Scintillator
2023-2024 - Spring
Team: 31
Team Members
Alex Pietrow
Samuel Green
Timothy Kendrick
William Hulett
The UCSD Pisces Lab conducts plasma-material interface research. Pisces-RF simulates plasma-wall interface in magnetic confinement fusion reactors and their new ion accelerator will simulate neutron irradiation on reactor walls. Our project was the design and implementation of a linearly actuated ion beam diagnostic system that will eventually be used to characterize the current and spatial profile of the beam using a Faraday cup and scintillator.
Triton AI Autonomous eVGokart
2023-2024 - Spring
Team: 21
Our project aims to enhance vehicle safety and performance by upgrading the hydraulic brake system to prevent rear wheel skidding, ensuring smoother braking. We integrated an advanced rear axle wheel speed sensing system for real-time motor input adjustments. Collaborating with Triton AI, we developed crucial mechanisms for autonomous brake control, optimizing safety and performance through adaptive brake pressure adjustments.
Double Opposing Self-Folding Micro Clamps
2023-2024 - Spring
Team: 15
Our project aims to lower the entry barrier for surgeons training in microsurgery by developing a low-cost double opposing micro clamp for training that maintains the functions of traditional clamps while being significantly less expensive. To achieve this level of accessibility, a standard operating procedure is made to ensure the proper assembly of the clamps and quality checks ensure the functionality of the clamps so anyone with the right tools can make them.
Syringe Pump for Tissue Expander
2023-2024 - Spring
Team: 23
A motorized syringe pump that uses a stepper motor with a lead screw to move the plunger of the syringe, all enclosed within a frame. The pump has the option to move forward, backward, and hold position per the user's will. To prevent unintended travel, the limit switch can effectively stop the movement during the procedure, giving the user ample time to change the moving direction. On top of everything, it is 39% less expensive than comparable syringe pumps on the market!
Automated Wire Feeding and Crimping Machine
2023-2024 - Spring
Team: 30
Team Members
Aaron Grandbouche
Jack Saade
Christian Brueggeman
Jonathan Lane
Daven Ng
UCSD Project Team 30 has been retained by Performant Advanced Manufacturing to develop an innovative and cost-effective solution to automate the manufacturing of custom wire harnesses for small-scale mechatronics.
Wavetank
2023-2024 - Spring
Team: 17
Team Members
Frank Pham
Justin Le
Alexander Yeh
Ian Tom
Hans Millan
Professor Saha is collaborating with Professor Hao on a research focusing on the understanding of small-scale physical processes at the atmosphere–ocean interface. The sponsor’s goal is to obtain a device that produces effective deep water waves that allow for the study of wave-droplet interactions. The designed wave tank has the capacity to consistently generate custom 1-D deep water waves with wavelengths ranging from 5-105 mm, frequency from 4-63 Hz and amplitude from 0-5 mm.
Kinematic Design and Prototyping of Sealed Portal for Commercial Sterilization Machine
2023-2024 - Spring
Team: 12
The main goal of this project is to ensure a consistent and reliable machine design that will sterilize shopping carts to reduce the amount of viruses passed around in everyday life. For this quarter, the team focused on designing and testing the kinematics of a “tilt-up” door for the machine. The team created the support frame for the component and attached light fixtures, hinges, and arm supports to allow for proper movement when the door opens and closes.
Random Positioning Machine
2023-2024 - Spring
Team: 26
Team Members
Andrew Copeland
Manuel Figueroa
Nicholas Maekawa
Nicholas Ratto
Vladimir Rubtsov
Our sponsor desired a machine capable of reproducing microgravity conditions, necessitating the development of a Random Positioning Machine (RPM). Currently, conducting experiments on biological samples under microgravity requirements is extremely costly and time-consuming. A two-axis nested frame design was developed with fixtures to mount a variety of sample types and achieve an integrated acceleration of 0 m/s^2.
Oxygen Rescue Catheter
2023-2024 - Spring
Team: 10
When the lungs are severely damaged due to physical trauma or from infection they cannot provide oxygen through the blood to the entire body, and medical intervention must occur to save the life of the patient. The oxygen rescue catheter is an inexpensive, not overly invasive method of transporting oxygen into the bloodstream, bypassing the lungs entirely and allowing the red blood cells to absorb oxygen via microbubbles within the veins themselves.
Sub Sea Sonics
2023-2024 - Winter
Team: 11
Sub Sea Sonics looked to tackle communication issues that come with deep sea fishing. Fishermen had no reliable and cost effective way of logging the dropped positions of their fishing gear. This not only made fishing difficult but allowed some to fish in endangered locations. Team 11 designed a system that can log the telemetry of fishing gear and that can operate under high sea pressures. This device consisted of a pressure vessel, tracking electronics, software, and a battery system.
Kidney Transplant Pump
2023-2024 - Spring
Team: 16
The kidney is placed in a sealed transparent chamber with tubing and blood drainage openings, on a perforated stainless-steel platform for monitoring. Perfusate flows to an external reservoir, recirculating nutrient-rich blood cells via a peristaltic pump, simulating natural blood circulation. An oxygenator mimics lung function, while a heating system maintains temperature. Integrated sensors monitor flow rate and pressure, ensuring conditions meet specifications.
Neuroscience Accessory for Mice Brain Transverse Hippocampus Section
2023-2024 - Spring
Team: 11
Team Members
Diego Gonzalez
Elise Rehder
Griffith Nguyen
Sandra Naranjo-Heredia
Sydney Tom
Our design is based on the existing buffer tray for the Leica VT1000S Vibratome along with the addition of a rotating stage with various angles for sectioning up to 45 degrees, which was done to simplify the sectioning process.
KickEase Pediatric Swim Trainer
2023-2024 - Winter
Team: 7
The KickEase is a pediatric swim trainer that is worn around the knee, and limits excessive knee flexion in order to promote the development of proper muscle memory for flutter kicking. The final design of the KickEase consists of four major components: a fabric body, restraining hinges, attachment straps and internal grip pads. These components are layered on top one of another and fastened using Chicago screw and snap fasteners.
Single-Cell Microfluidic Chip Design and Fabrication
2023-2024 - Spring
Team: 8
Team Members
Conor Archdeacon
Theo Emery
Wesley Huszarik
Spencer Martin
Trevor Matthews
Microfluidics devices were designed and fabricated to study single cell interactions between coccidioidomycosis and neutrophil at large scales. High efficiency rates were reported, providing valuable data driven insight towards developing cost effective research tools and treatments for Valley Fever. Cell immobilization techniques were considered for extended time scale imaging.
Solar Cell Lamination Automation
2023-2024 - Spring
Team: 7
Perovskite solar cells can revolutionize solar energy technologies but their instability and degradation under environmental conditions pose obstacles for commercialization. An in-line system increases production via constant output and less human labor. Components include a heating system, motorized roller machine, and elastomers for each cell. It maintains a perovskite cell at 150°C and 4 MPa of pressure while passing through the system.
Smartfin
2022-2023 - Spring
Team: 27
In order to keep track of climate change, it's important to measure oceanic data from all areas of the ocean; however, shorelines are difficult to measure due to their constantly changing environments. In order to combat this issue, the Smartfin was made. The Smartfin is a custom surfboard fin that can measure oceanic metrics using embedded electronics. Our team's goals were to create a documentation process for the construction of these fins, and to strengthen them.
Instrumented Epidural Needle Injector
2022-2023 - Spring
Team: 31
This device uses two pressure sensors and a piezoelectric pump to measure the pressure drop in the system as the needle advances through the different layers of a patient’s tissue. The device attaches to an epidural needle, accurately detects the resistance the needle feels, and notifies the doctor once the needle enters the epidural space.
