The 2024 Senior Capstone course in mechanical engineering was taught by Daichi Fujioka. To learn more about the mechanical engineering projects, please email Daichi Fujioka.
If it moves, a mechanical engineer probably had something to do with it. From automobiles, airplanes and space shuttles to robots, artificial limbs and biochips – all moving and transforming our future. Visit the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Explore student projects in mechanical engineering.
Students: Cooper Gillespie, Parker Smith, Cory Murphy, Easton Leath, Anthony Araiza Gonzalez
Mail Vault is a smart mailbox designed to enhance security and convenience in mail delivery. With mail theft on the rise, our solution integrates wireless notifications, remote access control, and a durable, tamper-resistant design to protect users' mail. The system notifies homeowners in real time when mail is delivered or accessed, reducing uncertainty and providing peace of mind. Through extensive research, engineering analysis, and prototyping, we developed a cost-effective and user-friendly solution that balances security, durability, and ease of use. Our presentation will cover the design process, key features, and challenges we overcame in creating this innovative mailbox. Discover how Mail Vault redefines traditional mail security and brings smart technology to an everyday necessity.
Students: Enrico Arvisu, Zachary Myers, Zane Minore, Ethan Markham, Halak Patel
Car enthusiasts can be described as hobbyists who seek to enhance their vehicle's performance. Some participate in auto-racing events such as rallycross or autocross. The automotive market these racing enthusiasts are a part of lacks an accessible, cost-effective, and DIY-friendly active aerodynamics system. Impractical to the average racing enthusiast, existing solutions are either exclusive to high-end vehicles or require extensive customization with professional-level equipment. This capstone project aims to engineer a solution for the untapped potential of aerodynamic performance. R.H.Z.Z.E. aims to design and develop an active aerodynamic system for automotive racing purposes. The system consists of an airfoil/wing to increase aerodynamic form drag when activated. The project finds novelty in the fact that active aero is extremely rare and is not commonly offered in consumer automotive markets. The active airfoil will produce variability in aerodynamic forces on the vehicle.
Students: Evan Bond, Joseph Day, Nick Negrete, Roberto Rodriguez, Aiden Young, Zacary Jaggers
The ability to determine the range of a target is extremely useful and sometimes necessary. Many sports, like golf and hunting, rely heavily on this. The ability to magnify the target is also extremely important in these activities and many others. While there are currently devices that can accomplish both, there is a lack of devices that can accomplish both tasks at the same time. That is what this design will aim to accomplish. With the added benefit of the magnification being able to be adjusted automatically based on the range of the target. This will assist users who need both the range and a clear view of their target quickly. Achieving a minimum range finding capability of 600 feet is important to ensure that the device is effective for the intended users.
Students: Bryanna Torres-Davila, CJ Singer, Josh Jones, Kayleigh Tracy, Teddy Roy, Jude Alsasua
The team (Interstellar Tech) has developed a functioning system that can recycle different types of plastic materials and convert it into 3D printing filament. Over the years, a constant growth of plastic waste has been observed affecting ecosystems around the Earth. The team's goal is to be able to create a system that can be help in different ways whether that would include saving the environment or even helping engineers in developing their prototypes. The system that will be created by the team will be able to help reduce plastic waste as well as helping reuse material while meeting functional and security requirements. The limits can be endless as to how failed prints from 3D printers can be totally recycled back into filament or even mixing different plastics to create certain combinations to reach specific project requirements. This project could be the first of its kind of being a simplified process towards recycling plastics to be reused for an engineering or manufacturing practice.
Students: Madison Shipp, Katja Rodgers, Emily Walters, Justin Xin, Tiffany Trujillo
The need for clean, accessible water is more prevalent than ever as communities worldwide face adverse conditions which limit their access to safe and reliable water sources. With around 97% of the planet's water being salt water, there is an opportunity for technology that can use and convert salt water into fresh water that is free of contaminants and safe for consumption. The portable desalination device will result in users having more access to fresh water that can be used for everyday applications. The desalination process primarily removes salt and minerals from water, but uses processes similar to water filtration that can remove smaller contaminants, such as bacteria. In a situation where fresh water is not easily accessible, having a desalination device will be an easy solution to gaining access to clean water. The overall benefit to a portable desalinator is providing a more convenient solution to obtaining clean and safe drinking water, whether it's for recovery relief, convenience or emergency situations.
Students: Beth Marcotte, Julian Avalos, Ashman Jeffers, Jordan Price, Zachary Lapierre
As the world has progressed towards a more renewable age, many new technologies and electronics have been made to make things more electric while also attempting to make them last as long as possible. E-bikes along with other electric and hybrid vehicles have developed methods to transfer some mechanical and kinetic energy back into potential energy and stored back into the battery to allow for better energy efficiency and extended battery life. However, existing regenerative braking and energy recovery systems are often proprietary, limiting their adaptability across different bike models. The development of a universal regenerative power kit addresses this gap by providing a unique solution that can be integrated into various bicycles without requiring extensive modifications. By capturing energy from both braking and pedaling, this system enhances sustainability and extends the usability of electric-assisted and conventional bikes. The implementation of a universally attachable energy storage pack ensures compatibility and ease of use, making regenerative technology more accessible to a wider range of users and provides many practical other uses like a power source for gps, mobile phone charging etc.
Students: Larissa Beauchamp, Logan Prins, Levi Woods, Tyler Quick, Ian Smith
Formula SAE Electric is an international competition where university teams design, build, and race single-seater electric race cars. Currently, new Formula SAE Electric teams face significant barriers to entry to the competition. One of these barriers is developing a competition regulation, reliable, well packaged drivetrain system to integrate with the rest of the vehicle. The goal of this project is to create a modular drivetrain system that can easily integrate with varying vehicle designs, allowing new teams to seamlessly enter the competition. To accomplish this, the design must be affordable, easy to assemble without specialized equipment, compatible with standard powertrain components like the EMRAX 228 electric motor and the Drexler FSAE differential, and have a compact form factor capable of accommodating different vehicle layouts.
Students: Shaina Buksa, Shanti Quinto, Ryan Coleman, Christopher Fletcher, Richard Hayward
Modern arm boards should be versatile and affordable for necessary hospital applications that require multiple arm positions. Surgery beds are typically a flat board where patients have nowhere to put their arms, so surgeons use toboggan arm boards to pin their arms against their body. Additionally, applications like imaging procedures and geriatric care for immobile patients today lack solutions for proper arm positioning. This lack of versatility often hinders the surgeon's ability to perform procedures that arms may get in the way of. A solution to this problem would be to create attachments to the device where medical staff members can remotely control the position of the arms depending on the application.
Students: Kurt Juarez, Diego Rodriguez, Preston Fu, Lincoln Pinoski, Hunter Weigle
A common issue in the gym among new and experienced people is improper balance while performing squats. Force plates that address this issue are publicly available; however, these force plates are tailored to individual use and lack any real-time features to alert the user if any imbalance is occurring while they are squatting. There is a growing need for a force plate that can analyze weight distribution, deliver easily interpretable data and warnings to the user in real-time, and that can be used by multiple people in a public gym setting. By delivering easily interpretable data and alerting the user in real-time of any imbalance, the user can adjust their form to prevent any serious injury without having to complete a set of squats with improper balance. Moreover, by designing the force plate to be accessible to multiple users, public gyms will be able to provide these force plates for their squat racks and more people will have access to this technology, as opposed to everyone having to buy their own.
Students: Evan Doe, Giovanni Godina, Alex Jorgensen, Tanner Mcilree, Brandon Ramirez Lopez, Kayla Steinhorst
The electrification of personal transportation has surged in recent years, with a notable rise in e-bikes and scooters. However, this shift brings challenges that hinder their practical use. A primary concern is the limited operational range of these devices. Various reasons contribute to battery limitations, and solutions aren't always straightforward. Charging might not be feasible in certain situations, and regenerative battery systems often fall short. Our group aims to find a solution to increase the range of these transportation modes. Thermo-Cycle aims to extend the battery life of electric personal transportation by harnessing the heat generated from the braking system. The concept involves capturing energy from the heat released by the brakes using a thermoelectric generator, which converts it into electricity. The long-term goal of this project is to charge the battery of an e-bike or e-scooter. The initial objectives the team wishes to achieve are to generate electricity and charge a small battery, such as a mobile phone or a light power source.
Students: Christopher Pinar, Ashley Byrne, Troy Uemura, Tanner Schultz, Jordan Jackson
Over the past decade, roughly 595,000 wildfires burned 63.6 million acres across the US. Prolonged exposure to the smoke produced in these wildfires leads to an increased risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. With these risks, wildland firefighters have little to no options for protecting their lungs from the burnt material particulates. The little options that wildland firefighters do have either aren't efficient in filtering the air, too bulky, or make it too hard to breathe. This project aims to protect the lungs of wildland firefighters through a light-weight respirator that can filter out toxic particles and allows firefighters to work without constricting their movements.
Students: Antonia Evtimow, Kyra Talusik, Justin Le, Johnavon J Garcia, Claire Foy, Sofia Carmona Guerrero
During winter, snowy and icy road, sidewalk and driveway conditions pose significant hazards for pedestrians, even preventing people reaching their car. Traditional road salting methods rely on manual deployment, which can be inefficient, labor-intensive, and slow to respond to rapidly changing weather conditions. Additionally, excessive salt usage can lead to environmental damage, corroding infrastructure and contaminating water sources. Current road salting methods lack automation and real-time adaptability, leading to inefficient salt distribution, delayed response times, and environmental concerns. Our design aims to reduce hazardous conditions by proposing a semi-automated device that efficiently removes snow and ice from residential walkways and driveway
Students: Amanda Smith, William Moore, Marlen Badillo Delgado, Leonell La Rosa
As technology advances, especially with lithium-ion batteries, more and more companies are developing electric vehicles to be used for private transportation. Electric cars are becoming more commonplace throughout the United States, however electric aircraft are only starting to become a reality. Adopting lithium-ion batteries as a power source for small electric aircraft, specifically those aimed at small groups of passengers, could significantly reduce emissions and promote technological innovation in the energy storage industry. In 2019 the estimated CO2 from commercial aviation alone was 920 million tons. Additionally, current electric propeller aircraft have a total airtime between 50 and 75 minutes, resulting in a range of less than 120 nautical miles, which is likely a result of these aircraft being used for flight school purposes. Having such a short range and airtime significantly reduces the utility of these aircraft, however increasing the range of these aircraft requires a significant addition of weight in the form of additional battery packs. The goal of this project is to improve upon the current state of the industry by improving the range of these aircraft and add value to the market sector of small, electric propeller aircraft.
