Previous ASME Award Winner
Recent Departmental Runner Up Awards
Capstone Design Projects
Poseidon's Bidet
2023-2024 - Winter
Team: 9
A mechanical cleaning prototype for OceanWell, a start-up focused on energy efficient methods of desalination to supply drinking water to water-stressed regions. This device will be used to test methods for cleaning biofouling off of OceanWell's LifeSafe intake filter. It features a linear motion axis, water jets with 3 degrees of freedom, and interchangeable brushes to try out different cleaning methods.
Project Tortas: Flattened Duct for Engine Build-Up
2023-2024 - Spring
Team: 28
Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies, specializes in designing and servicing systems for various aircraft. To enhance the efficiency of turbojet engines, they are focusing on investigating the feasibility of flattening air ducts to route through tight spaces more effectively. The final deliverable is a sensitivity study of the factors that contribute to maintaining the original duct's characteristics while fitting within certain boundaries to support the sponsor's decisions.
The Grounded Conductive Shield for the Radio Frequency Plasma Source
2023-2024 - Spring
Team: 6
Team Members
Team Member 1 - Haochen Bai
Team Member 2 - Julissa Villalobos Valencia
Team Member 3 - Xiran Wang
Team Member 4 - Ziguang Zhu
This MAE 156AB project will redesign the grounded electrically conducting shield around the antenna for easy removal and replacement, ensuring it maintains effective radio frequency (RF) shielding of 13.56 MHz, so sensors can operate efficiently during experiments.
Autonomous Rail Robot Transportation Network for Spacecraft Servicing and Inspection
2023-2024 - Winter
Team: 1
Current orbital programs lack the ability to economically and autonomously access all parts of a satellite for servicing and inspection. The proposed system is an autonomous, self-constructing rail system that can reach any Point Of Interest (POI) on a host satellite. Single-function robots perform operations at this location, after which the rail is relocated to access another POI. The system enables failure diagnosis, extends host lifespan, and reduces severity of hardware failure.
Mechanoluminescent Material
2023-2024 - Spring
Team: 25
Zinc Sulfide (ZnS) in a silicone base yields an elastomer with mechanoluminescent properties. This means that when it experiences stress, the material emits light! We wanted to use this special property to create a proof of concept application for alternatives to battery-powered light-up products.
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
Ionic Cleaning System for Optical Surfaces
2022-2023 - Spring
Team: 2
Team Members
Manuel D. Ochoa-Ochoa
Roberto S. Medina
Erik D. Mauricio Jimenez
Luis E. Cruz Acosta
Sound Imaging's MRI Visor
2022-2023 - Spring
Team: 3
Team Members
Blake Iwaisako
Isaac Kim
Kevin Nouneh
Ibrahim Shalwani
Ryan McKinney
Elephant Behavior Monitoring Anklet
2022-2023 - Spring
Team: 20
Team Members
Janet Hawatmeh
Jason Howard
Tara Len
Christina Neil
Jolie Tran
Design and fabrication of an elephant anklet to encase a sensor stack collecting inertial data to monitor elephant health.
Microinjector System to Study Cell Migration
2022-2023 - Spring
Team: 4
The creation of a microinjector system to study cell migration is a project sponsored by Dr. Tracy Handel, Dr. Rina Salanga, and Dr. Leire Borrega Roman, who work at Handel Lab in UCSD Skaggs School of Pharmacy. They have identified a need for a more robust research tool that would allow for detailed studies of a cells’ journey to higher chemokine gradient, rather than observing only the beginning and end results.
TritonAI Autonomous Racing eVGoKart Emergency Brake
2022-2023 - Spring
Low Cost Microsurgical Training Instrument
2022-2023 - Spring
Team: 5
Team Members
Allison Lee
Christina Tensfeldt
Suhayb Adan
Ryan Tran
Low Cost Microvascular Training Clamp, a realistic training alternative to surgical grade clamps. Hoping to improve healthcare curriculum and ultimately, patient outcomes.
FSAE Electric Vehicle Accumulator Container
2022-2023 - Spring
Team: 10
A first-gen prototype of an FSAE compliant battery pack for UCSD's formula team to build off of as they transition toward EV production
3D Terrain Scanner
2022-2023 - Winter
Team: 5
We have been tasked with the development of a portable 3D scanner using a camera and laser in order to obtain topographic data for small-scale (<0.5 square meters) field locations. The device will connect to a laptop and output topographic data in a text file. This data can be used to track and/or model paths of motion for insects as well as biologically-inspired microrobots to support the research efforts of Gravish Lab.
Neonatal Resuscitator
2022-2023 - Spring
Team: 6
Team Members
Ahmed Cheruvattam
Howard Tsang
Umar Usman
Warren Chang
Mock Flow Loop for Novel Endovascular Surgery Graft Creation
2022-2023 - Winter
James Webb Space Telescope Replica
2022-2023 - Winter
Team: 8
Team Members
Team Member 1: Natalia Bautista
Team Member 2: Jian Qin
Team Member 3: Benjamin Noriega
Team Member 4: Yuhuai Song
The main objective of the project is to build a replica of the James Webb for the purpose of demonstrating to people outside of the realm of engineering how telescopes similar to it captures amazing images like those that have been released recently. The replica is to reflect laser light from distant locations within a room, sport a similar structure/folding mechanism.
Orthopedic Fracture and Dislocation Reduction Trainer
2022-2023 - Spring
Team: 7
Team Members
Michael Zeng
Manuel Secundino Delgado
Weisen Liu
Marcela Muñoz Martinez
The team has developed a 3D-printed orthopedic trainer for medical students. It simulates "nursemaid's elbow," a children's radial head subluxation, and instructs on the "supination technique" for correction. The left-arm prototype provides real-time feedback with a 'click' sensation and sound to mimic actual treatment procedures, replacing the radius bone with a special mechanism for accuracy and aesthetics.
Design of a Miniature Flow Control Valve
2022-2023 - Spring
Team: 26
Team Members
Bora Gursel
Manoel Aguirre Lara
Michael Gigoux
Matthew Cordova
Anannaya Vij
This project, in collaboration with and sponsored by Cohu, focuses on development and
subsequent integration of a remote actuated flow valve into a self developed test stand in order to test
semiconductors, thermal subsystems, and semiconductor automated test equipment to be used
by a wide range of industries, including but not limited to automotives, and aerospace.
subsequent integration of a remote actuated flow valve into a self developed test stand in order to test
semiconductors, thermal subsystems, and semiconductor automated test equipment to be used
by a wide range of industries, including but not limited to automotives, and aerospace.
UCSD Scripps Ultra-quiet Autonomous Underwater Vehicle
2022-2023 - Winter
Team: 7
An ultra-quiet autonomous underwater vehicle capable of identifying, tracking, and imaging objects to be used to study and track fish up to 100 m deep.
The Dark Cool Helmet
2022-2023 - Spring
Team: 8
The "Dark Cool Helmet" Project, sponsored by Wearable Sensing, aims to improve their fNIR+EEG headset product's reliability. Designed to prevent sensor saturation from sweat or light intrusion, the project also prioritizes user comfort, marketability, and product longevity. By utilizing active cooling and light-blocking subsystems, combined with custom and off-the-shelf components, the helmet promises an affordable, reliable solution.
Illumina Fluid Cartridge Project
2022-2023 - Spring
Team: 21
Illumina shipped their fluid cartridges with dry ice to keep reagents at the right temperature but due to environmental impact and shipping costs, the company decided to use lyophilization. The reagents are dehydrated and rehydrated back on site so the company needs an efficient mixing strategy to make genome sequencing more efficient.
Air Powered Soft Robotic Toy
2022-2023 - Spring
Team: 22
Team Members
Sofia Guerrero
Gabrielle Hart
Drago Vasile
Hector Arredondo
Antoinette Gautier
The goal of this project was to improve on the design of the "Huggable Pet", a soft robotic toy for children ages 6-12 that is designed to hug using a completely air powered system.
SE ARMOR Lab Smart Pill Bottle
2022-2023 - Spring
Team: 23
Partnering with UC San Diego's Active, Responsive, Multifunctional, and Ordered-materials Research (ARMOR) Lab and SANO Healthcare Consultants, our project aims to produce a custom pill bottle cap that is able to dispense a single pill at a time for different types and shapes of pills, and be operated by one hand with a low-cost multifunctional cap
