Engineering Tech Symposium Fall 2021
- Architecture
- Biomedical Engineering
- Civil & Environmental Engineering
- Electrical & Computer Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- EPICS
Architecture
Color Pop - A resale and community center in Natchez, Mississippi. The block of land has existing historic structures that are integrated into the design as adaptive reuse spaces with new programs.
Snap'd Studio - We are SNAP’D Studio, a group of undergrad students that are part of the architecture program at the Downtown UTSA campus. We are all on the path to pursuing careers in architectural design. This semester we were given the opportunity to enhance the learning experience at the UTSA makerspace. Our goal with this project is to welcome all majors, inspire creativity, and motivate students to use the resources the makerspace has to offer. The target for our group is to gain experience in team building, manufacturing, and fundraising.
Arctic Culture Lab
Serendipity Hostel - Located in San Antonio, Texas, Serendipity Hostel establishes a community environment with architectural strategies like visual transparency and unassigned spaces that encourage social interaction. The building’s integration of passive systems and focus on local food support The Pearl’s and HI’s mission to create sustainable communities. The building is in the southernmost part of the site, with immediate access to the pedestrian bridge that crosses the San Antonio River, which invites the public to be part of the ground-level farmer’s market.
BME Design I
Monitoring Humidity for Diabetic Foot Ulcers | Current wound care technologies addressing diabetic foot ulcers lack the ability to monitor humidity within the wound environment leading to gaps in valuable information on the overall health of the wound. To address this, our project aim is to create a smart bandage that will monitor humidity to ensure optimal levels of moisture in the wound are maintained. Manipulation of this variable has been shown to promote increased angiogenesis, granulation, and cell proliferation during the healing process which can reduce recovery time. Our intended product caters to a patient market in an attempt to provide independence for self-care.
HYDROSTAT: Hydration Sensor | Hospital staff face challenges in assessing dehydration upon patient evaluation, which can lead to negative effects on physical and cognitive performance. Current methods lack a simple, effective, and accurate method to measure hydration. There is a need for a quick, inexpensive, and non-invasive method to monitor hydration. The Hydrostat, implements a negative pressure force to cause an elastic deformation of the skin, which is quantified in terms of distance and time to generate skin elasticity measurements. It is composed of a robust and lightweight shell that houses its components such as the compact electric air pump, LIDAR sensor, and microcontroller.
Monitoring Humidity for Diabetic Foot Ulcers | Current wound care technologies addressing diabetic foot ulcers lack the ability to monitor humidity within the wound environment leading to gaps in valuable information on the overall health of the wound. To address this, our project aim is to create a smart bandage that will monitor humidity to ensure optimal levels of moisture in the wound are maintained. Manipulation of this variable has been shown to promote increased angiogenesis, granulation, and cell proliferation during the healing process which can reduce recovery time. Our intended product caters to a patient market in an attempt to provide independence for self-care.
Cuspid Cam | Dentists have a disproportionately high amount of back and neck pain. This problem is associated with poor postural patterns that become habitual over the course of a dental healthcare practitioner's career. The underlying cause of the modified postural patterns are due to the inability to gain visual feedback from a normal postural position. The device solves this problem by providing a magnify view of the teeth presented to an ergonomic display. This device solves the given problem better than competitors at a lower price point.
Intubation Head Alignment Device | Currently 313 million endotracheal intubations are performed each year, in which 1 in 4 endotracheal tubes are misplaced during intubation, leaving a concerning margin of error. Most mistakes happen due to the inability to see the patient’s airway clearly. A device that solves this issue in a pre-hospital setting is not currently on the market. Airmid Advancements has a mission to provide a device that can properly align the patient’s airway, giving a clear line of sight for the correct placement of endotracheal intubation tubes. We hope to reduce the number of misplacements each year and increase prehospital patient survival.
Chronic Total Occlusion Plug | Around 20-25% of the 18 million Americans living with some form of coronary heart disease will have a chronically occluded artery. The blockage of the artery compromises blood flow to the heart. However, the pathophysiology of Chronic Total Occlusion (CTO) remains poorly understood and current Chronic Total Occlusion animal models have a low success rate, with an expected 50% survival rate as a result of the artery being blocked too quickly, leading to fibrillation. Our team aims to innovate a successful CTO plug that is biocompatible, resorbable and can be deployed into an animal model’s artery without causing fibrillation.
Left Ventricle Impella Rotary Pump | Our project seeks to incorporate four electrodes into a rotary pump to provide continuous real-time measurement of native cardiac volume and Pressure-Volume (PV) loops, achieved using electric fields to accurately monitor cardiac hemodynamics in patients with heart failure.
ALNR canine respiratory systems | ALNR canine respiratory systems display enormous value to first responders by maintaining the benefits of traditional oxygen respiratory masks while also giving responders the freedom to assist in emergency situations. The purpose of our design is to improve the current standards of treatment for canine assistants for first responders and pet owners. ALNR designed respiratory masks would be capable of being used for suspended periods of time without the need for holding the mask up to the patient (canine) by implementing basic design changes while balancing inhouse and outsourcing to minimize design and resource costs. Maintaining extremely low-costs may be necessary to reach our market which the ALNR associates team will attempt to overcome through our skills in creative design development and combining various manufacturing practices to reduce costs.
EasyVaxx | Microneedles are a safe, reliable, and painless solution for administering many drugs, including vaccines. However, many people are noncompliant in getting injected with hypodermic needles due to the imagery and pain. The EasyVaxx team plans to test their PLA (poly lactic acid)-based influenza vaccine with microneedle's diffusivity, material strength, drug absorbance, and conical surface tension. By manipulating the PLA concentration and altering the microneedle patch displacement method, our team would meet the requirement of a uniform drug coating.
Mag-L disc | The Mag-L disc is a lumbar artificial disc replacement implant designed to withstand spinal loads using magnetic repulsion. It consists of two endplates that would be fixated to the inferior L4 vertebrae and the superior L5 vertebrae. Keels or teeth would be on the surface of the two endplates to assist fixation, along with a porous spray to allow for osteointegration. The main attribute of the Mag-L disc is the use of magnets as its central component allowing for a decrease of fretting compared to traditional disc prothesis.
Hermes | The most common injury within athletes are muscle strains most notably in the upper leg. Therefore, there is a need to obtain data to help predict and prevent injuries from occurring by placing sensors in key performance indicator locations on the leg. The purpose of this device is to monitor athletes both while training as well as during competition in order to intervene should signs of a potential strain rise. Outcomes of this device hope to reduce the amount of injuries seen in athletes of all levels and disciplines and give athletes the ability to make data driven decisions.
CIVIL Design II
Happy Plaza | Happy Plaza is a commercial development that will hold big name retail stores such as a Kroger, Urgent Care, and an In-and-Out Burger. For this commercial development, we will be preparing the site and designing the roads, parking, and foundations for the buildings.
Jaguar Park | VULLR Engineering is developing a park located at the intersection of University Way and Jaguar Parkway across from Texas A&M University-San Antonio. The Jaguar Park covers 6.3 acres and features a multi-use pavilion, low impact development, new road perpendicular to Jaguar Parkway, food truck lane, restrooms, ADA accessible parking lot, outdoor dining space, and open space for recreational activities.
The Gym at UTSA & Vance Jackson | We are designing a gym in the Northwest side of San Antonio. The gym is a little over 20,000 square feet. It will include structural design, utility design, traffic design, storm water design, and drainage.
The Gym at UTSA & Vance Jackson | We are designing a gym in the Northwest side of San Antonio. The gym is a little over 20,000 square feet. It will include structural design, utility design, traffic design, storm water design, and drainage.
Lunas' Icehouse | Lunas Icehouse is a commercial-use development and bar located on the East side of San Antonio. Due to the lack of such venues in the Northeast area, this project aims to provide entertainment while taking advantage of the spur of economic development that is occurring along the I-10 corridor on the outskirts of San Antonio. The site will include an 80ft x 130ft pre-engineered building and will provide people with the opportunity to socialize in a hybrid indoor/outdoor area.
A & B Gym | The East side of San Antonio is currently experiencing expansive growth and development. Located East of downtown San Antonio, in between I-35, I-37, and I-10, this is a prime location for a successful business venture for our client. While the location is currently mostly a residential area there are many up and coming commercial sites which create an environment which the client will favor. With East Commerce street being a major thoroughfare road the traffic to draw in business is sufficient to the clients needs. This area is next in San Antonio to experience gentrification and this facility which the client has pertained to become a fitness facility will provide services to this area.
The client has viewed the site and provided plans from the architect which include the need for this site to become a fitness facility. JAABE Engineering and Consultants will provide planning and services to the client in the completion of the design phase of A & B Gym.
Dry Cleaners on Chase Hill Blvd | The current owner of a dry-cleaning business wants to expand and set up a new location in the northwest part of San Antonio Located at 15606 Chase Hill Blvd. They have contacted us to propose a plan for them and offer a bid that will best suit them. The new location will use an identical floor plan from their current building and be placed on a one-acre empty lot where they can provide service to the surrounding apartment complexes and neighborhoods.
Encino Grande St. Low Water Crossing | In Bexar County, there are plenty of low water crossing that pose a potential danger to the public and one of them happens to be in the Shady Oaks subdivision. Our solution is to build a bridge that elevates Encino Grande St above the 100-year flood zone. The emphasis of the project is to incorporate several subdisciplines of Civil Engineering, this includes Structural, Roadway, Utilities, and Drainage. The deliverables will be a proposal for Bexar County, calculations and models, and a plan set of the project. Additionally, there will be an estimated cost of the construction of the project.
Little Angels Daycare Center | The 210 Engineering Group is devoted to the developmental success of the Little Angels Daycare Center on the 1.35-acre tract of land, located on the far west side of San Antonio near the intersection of Culebra and Alamo Ranch Parkway. The services included in this design are structural, foundation, utilities, traffic and parking, drainage, and runoff. Our team is excited to provide detailed professional services for the Little Angels Daycare Center and is looking forward to the challenges of this project.
Year- Round Temporary Housing Facility | Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus the City of San Antonio, along with the rest of the world, has faced many challenges while trying to navigate and combat the pandemic. This had led to a rapid increase in unemployment and homelessness in the city. This inevitable increased rate was due to fear of early covid exposure and quarantine rules which shut down many homeless shelters and other resources available. The City of San Antonio plans to use all resources available to combat homelessness rates and aid its people. The project will aid the city by creating a temporary housing facility for families and singles. It will also include a community garden, recreational center, laundry facility, playground and a gazebo.
Multi-Story Office Building | San Antonio is one of the fastest growing cities in the nation which is being constantly developed. The project is to design a multi-story building that will mainly serve to design safe, innovative and revolutionary working spaces for the people of San Antonio. The Proposed build site is a 2.72 acre tract of land zoned as Commercial
Development of Buc-ee's Gas Station and Convenience Store | Elite Engineers are contracted for Buc-ee’s gas station and convenience store development to provide civil and structural plans, permitting for all required construction, stormwater management and pollution prevention plan, utility coordination, traffic impact analysis, construction plans, bid documents, and a cost analysis. The layout for the project includes the 59,000 square-foot convenience store .The convenience store will include restrooms, a kitchen and counter for food orders, back-rooms for storage and maintenance, walk-in freezers, an office and break room, and utility rooms. Our design advisor, Dr. Arroyo, asked for the gas station to also be developed for 18-wheelers to elevate Buc-ee's design and service.
Multi-Story Office Building | San Antonio is one of the fastest growing cities in the nation which is being constantly developed. The project is to design a multi-story building that will mainly serve to design safe, innovative and revolutionary working spaces for the people of San Antonio. The Proposed build site is a 2.72 acre tract of land zoned as Commercial
ECE Design I
Controllable Liquid Crystal Tint | The Liquid Crystal Window (LCW) is a window that electrically modulates window tint to user specifications.
These windows allow the user to create a smarter more customized environment.
Integrated Solar Path Light | The integrated solar powered path light is a lighting fixture that runs on solar energy, which powers an integrated microcontroller within the fixture. This integrated microcontroller version of a path light is meant to outperform and outlast a standard path light operating purely in analog. The target audience for our path light will be mid to high end and each path light will cost $300 to $600 dollars on the production side. This project will indefinitely add to the new innovations for green energy.
Catcher Automation Project | HEB’s Meat Processing Plant has partially automated production lines for its Jalapeño Poppers product. A pair of workers are required to manually inspect each product for defects in labelling or packaging, and subsequently load the products into a carrier tote for shipping. We plan on implementing two USB cameras that will be located above and below the conveyor belt to identify if the 3 labels are located on the packaging. If the labels are present and no tails were identified, then we will implement the Fanuc 6 Axes Robot to pick up and place the packages into a designated tote for shipment to the various HEB facilities.
Damping and Networking for SmartAir | The HatchTank SMARTair Lighting system will revolutionize HVAC systems and lighting within buildings by combining ventilation and lighting fixtures into one structure that is automated based on occupancy and need – fully customizable to user preference.
Our team will be designing the control and networking system for the vents on the HVAC system to change airflow for each room. Each vent unit will be controlled by a central unit to bring the room closer to ambient temperature when in low use or closer to the user's desired temperature.
Pool Buddy | A device that can test a pool's water to see what the Ph is and what chemicals are needed to be added. Pool owners must constantly test their pool water to know if it is in the right PH level for swimming. The way it is done today is either the owner themselves drop the PH testing solution to see what is needed or they pay someone to do it for them every time the season changes. The device will take out the headache from both methods with a simple app on their phone.
Ranger Rover | Our robot, the Ranger Rover, will be an autonomous mobile robot that traverses paved trails and detects litter, invasive species, graffiti, and other objects of notice along the trails through computer vision. Once an object is detected, the robot will record a GPS location and relay it to an outside user interface to aid people who help maintain the trail, like park rangers and volunteers.
Analog Synthesizer | Synthesizers are instruments that first rose in popularity during the 80’s and have seen a resurgence in use. They can be categorized by having a piano keyboard with various modulation effects on board. While crucial to most music, the starting price for a beginner synthesizer can start around $500. Our project looks to tackle this issue by providing a simple foundational synthesizer that is both beginner friendly and cost-effective while still providing key aspects of the instrument. We aim to have a heavily analog component as musicians have agreed that the digital counterpart simply does not simulate the necessary tones.
HEB Tote Erection Machine | JMC Engineering is a group of students at the University of Texas of San Antonio that is currently working on a solution at H-E-B’s meat plant factory. The team’s goal is to create a machine that can erect totes automatically, removing the need for an employee partner to manually erect them. Currently, we have a design for a possible solution, but we are anticipating a delay on the parts to arrive. Once we have our parts next semester, we will start testing our design for optimization and release of the final product.
Internet Connected Guitar Effects Pedal | Atomic Harmonics is designing an internet connected guitar pedal, which allows for multiple people to listen to and collaborate on creating new and unique guitar sounds. Although there are multi effects guitar pedals in the market, none allow for remote collaboration with other artists/friends, we wish to bridge that gap and allow people from many different locations to interact and create music. Another goal of ours is for the product to be of relatively low cost, many guitar pedals can range in the 100's of dollars which is a fairly large obstacle for newcomers to the hobby of electric guitars. By being cost effective, the barrier of entry is immensely lowered.
Modular Drone | Our team is creating an affordable modular drone platform that will allow a single drone to be used in multiple roles while maintaining quick tool-less separation of key sections for the replacement of broken parts and disassembly into a smaller footprint. This idea was chosen because most off-the-shelf drones are expensive, good at one specific role, and can typically be folded into a compact form factor.
Custom Drones can be cheaper and can perform a variety of roles. However, the vast majority of custom drones cannot be folded into a compact form factor and struggle with compatibility.
Portable Privacy Censor | The main issue in modern-day society is privacy. There are currently many software applications used to protect our online information from nefarious online users. However, the question is, how can we better protect our physical privacy? Our device, the Portable Privacy Censor (PPC), will keep your information safe from being exploited. The design incorporates a simple motion sensor and a software application, with the intent of being an inexpensive and simple to install solution. You will no longer have to worry about the possibility of someone intruding onto your private work, whether you’re at work, home, or anywhere else.
B.A.R.T (Brain Augmented Reality Testing) | 1.6 – 3.8 million sports related concussions (SRC) are reported annually. SRCs are particularly high in athletic and military populations. Current diagnosis technologies are limited by their encumbering size, and practical-diagnosis-techniques are unacceptably subjective. Due to the time sensitive and health critical nature of SRC diagnosis, accurate and precise techniques for determining their occurrence are needed. Our solution, Brain Augmented Reality Testing (BART), is highly portable, financially accessible, and able to be utilized across many levels of healthcare evaluation. We aim to standardize a widely inconsistent field and greatly improve triage measures for athletes and warfighters.
Modular 3D Printer | Multifunctional 3D printers are a new technology that is rapidly evolving. However, the availability of this technology to consumers is currently limited. Our plan is to create a more efficient and affordable multifunctional 3D printer, with enhanced functionality and quick-swap tool modules.
Modular Drone | Our team is creating an affordable modular drone platform that will allow a single drone to be used in multiple roles while maintaining quick tool-less separation of key sections for the replacement of broken parts and disassembly into a smaller footprint. This idea was chosen because most off-the-shelf drones are expensive, good at one specific role, and can typically be folded into a compact form factor.
Custom Drones can be cheaper and can perform a variety of roles. However, the vast majority of custom drones cannot be folded into a compact form factor and struggle with compatibility.
Modular Drone | Our team is creating an affordable modular drone platform that will allow a single drone to be used in multiple roles while maintaining quick tool-less separation of key sections for the replacement of broken parts and disassembly into a smaller footprint. This idea was chosen because most off-the-shelf drones are expensive, good at one specific role, and can typically be folded into a compact form factor.
Custom Drones can be cheaper and can perform a variety of roles. However, the vast majority of custom drones cannot be folded into a compact form factor and struggle with compatibility.
Modular Drone | Our team is creating an affordable modular drone platform that will allow a single drone to be used in multiple roles while maintaining quick tool-less separation of key sections for the replacement of broken parts and disassembly into a smaller footprint. This idea was chosen because most off-the-shelf drones are expensive, good at one specific role, and can typically be folded into a compact form factor.
Custom Drones can be cheaper and can perform a variety of roles. However, the vast majority of custom drones cannot be folded into a compact form factor and struggle with compatibility.
Modular Drone | Our team is creating an affordable modular drone platform that will allow a single drone to be used in multiple roles while maintaining quick tool-less separation of key sections for the replacement of broken parts and disassembly into a smaller footprint. This idea was chosen because most off-the-shelf drones are expensive, good at one specific role, and can typically be folded into a compact form factor.
Custom Drones can be cheaper and can perform a variety of roles. However, the vast majority of custom drones cannot be folded into a compact form factor and struggle with compatibility.
Modular Drone | Our team is creating an affordable modular drone platform that will allow a single drone to be used in multiple roles while maintaining quick tool-less separation of key sections for the replacement of broken parts and disassembly into a smaller footprint. This idea was chosen because most off-the-shelf drones are expensive, good at one specific role, and can typically be folded into a compact form factor.
Custom Drones can be cheaper and can perform a variety of roles. However, the vast majority of custom drones cannot be folded into a compact form factor and struggle with compatibility.
Switching Controls and Fault Detection/Isolation/Reporting (Vault-0) | The Vault-0 is a generator that will alleviate carbon emissions by implementing an eco-friendly control system, working in conjunction with various electrical and mechanical parts. Vault-0 will lessen the carbon emissions created by existing generators used in work vehicles. In addition, the generator will also have the advantage of a universal plug-n-play design, a longer battery life, as well as less cost and easy to maintain.
Modular Drone | Our team is creating an affordable modular drone platform that will allow a single drone to be used in multiple roles while maintaining quick tool-less separation of key sections for the replacement of broken parts and disassembly into a smaller footprint. This idea was chosen because most off-the-shelf drones are expensive, good at one specific role, and can typically be folded into a compact form factor.
Custom Drones can be cheaper and can perform a variety of roles. However, the vast majority of custom drones cannot be folded into a compact form factor and struggle with compatibility.
Modular Drone | Our team is creating an affordable modular drone platform that will allow a single drone to be used in multiple roles while maintaining quick tool-less separation of key sections for the replacement of broken parts and disassembly into a smaller footprint. This idea was chosen because most off-the-shelf drones are expensive, good at one specific role, and can typically be folded into a compact form factor.
Custom Drones can be cheaper and can perform a variety of roles. However, the vast majority of custom drones cannot be folded into a compact form factor and struggle with compatibility.
SNG | Our teams first concept idea is a multi- gas sensor powered by solar panel with LED for street light replacement. The device will use a solar panel array to charge a LI-ion battery that will power a Raspberry Pi microcontroller. The raspberry pi will take incoming data from multiple sensors including: gas sensors, ambient light sensors, temperature sensors, battery power sensors. The raspberry pi will organize this data and do the following: the ambient light sensor will prompt the LED to turn on in low-light conditions, the temperature sensor will give the MCU feedback on operating conditions and possible low-power set up for high heat protection, the battery power sensor will control operation times of MCU, through continuous use or time operated use, the multiple gas sensors will take in gas data of common city pollutants. The MCU will then transmit the data through RF transmitter to receiver that can visualize the data for understanding of consumer
ECE Design II
TREVR (Tracked Reliable Explosive-detecting Vehicular Robot) | Most mine detectors that are currently in use by the military are extremely heavy, clunky and lack intuitive when it comes to usage. As a result, the standard mine detector is expensive, and has to be carefully looked after. We looked to address these problems by designing Tracked Reliable Explosive-detecting Vehicular Robot (TREVR) as a lightweight and cost efficient solution to dangerous minefield clearing operations. TREVR is decided to have minimal user interaction and be completely autonomous in multiple environment scenarios.
Hot Car Warning | The goal of the Hot-Box A.R.E.A team was to create two devices, a low-cost and high-cost device. The low-cost device will only read the temperature inside of the car and display those temperature with corresponding LEDs until 95 degrees or higher is reached, at that point all LEDs will blink until temperature has cooled. The high cost device will display the temperature via a LCD display, when 95 degrees or higher is reached the device will continuously scan the car for movement; if movement is detected a warning message will be sent to the user.
Parking Occupancy Monitor | The Parking Occupancy Monitor (POM) is a device that will track live parking occupancy to a high degree in flat parking lots using a Tensorflow Convolutional Neural Network. Current occupancy solutions either rely on controlled entrances and exits or sensors placed in each individual spot. The Parking Occupancy Monitor tracks a given set of parking spots optically using an Infrared Camera and Infrared Flash. To enable a high degree of accuracy at all times of the day, each spot can be fitted with a retro-reflective target to help determine spot occupancy.
MediCase | We are working on a “Smart Case” in which will be protecting the medical needs for diabetes users. We aim to make the lives of diabetic people easier by infusing technology into their everyday cycles with an easy to use and compact case to store their insulin. This case will have an option to time log any activity in which the owner desires. It will also have a GPS, alert notifications, and a temperature sensor in which the user can track all in one app. Although we are focusing on diabetes technology, this case could be implemented for any other medical needs.
Cutaneous Oxygen Monitoring System | The objective of the project is to prevent the formation of pressure ulcers on patients who can't constantly move. It consists of sensors that are placed on the patient's skin to measure oxygen saturation levels. When the sensor detects an anomaly, it will send it to the microprocessor and it will turn on a high-voltage galvanic stimulator, which increases blood flow in the area. The device also contains a touchscreen display that shows useful information to the user as well as the status of the components.
Pepper Processing | A project sponsored by H.E.B to develop a device that automates the process of pepper destemming, de-coring, and cutting it in half, to prepare for use in products such as ‘Jalapeños Poppers'. The system will be designed to handle the operation of destemming to the final split while increasing productivity. By self-containing this system we can control the efficiency of the peppers processed and minimize yield loss while adhering to Federal and State regulations. Automating this process can yield higher quantities of processed peppers to match the demand and cut out third party suppliers.
Pepper Processing | A project sponsored by H.E.B to develop a device that automates the process of pepper destemming, de-coring, and cutting it in half, to prepare for use in products such as ‘Jalapeños Poppers'. The system will be designed to handle the operation of destemming to the final split while increasing productivity. By self-containing this system we can control the efficiency of the peppers processed and minimize yield loss while adhering to Federal and State regulations. Automating this process can yield higher quantities of processed peppers to match the demand and cut out third party suppliers.
Pepper Processing | A project sponsored by H.E.B to develop a device that automates the process of pepper destemming, de-coring, and cutting it in half, to prepare for use in products such as ‘Jalapeños Poppers'. The system will be designed to handle the operation of destemming to the final split while increasing productivity. By self-containing this system we can control the efficiency of the peppers processed and minimize yield loss while adhering to Federal and State regulations. Automating this process can yield higher quantities of processed peppers to match the demand and cut out third party suppliers.
GSM Remote Monitoring System | The GSM Remote Monitoring System is a product that utilizes machine learning and will send a remote user a text message to a cell phone when a human or car is detected in the feed of the IP camera. The product is intended to be used in areas where there is no power as the system runs on 12V DC batteries sustained by a solar panel. The GSM Remote Monitoring System has the capability for a remote user to view the feed from the IP camera and control the system by an application developed in node red.
Pepper Processing | A project sponsored by H.E.B to develop a device that automates the process of pepper destemming, de-coring, and cutting it in half, to prepare for use in products such as ‘Jalapeños Poppers'. The system will be designed to handle the operation of destemming to the final split while increasing productivity. By self-containing this system we can control the efficiency of the peppers processed and minimize yield loss while adhering to Federal and State regulations. Automating this process can yield higher quantities of processed peppers to match the demand and cut out third party suppliers.
Scalp Temperature Monitoring and Stimulation (STEMS) | Scalp Temperature Monitoring and Stimulation (STEMS) is a device designed to detect and prevent long-term damage from cerebral ischemia and stroke. During cerebral ischemia or stroke blood flow to the brain is cut off which can cause brain cell death potentially leading to inhibited cerebral function and in some cases death. When blood flow to the brain is cut off there is a decrease in scalp temperature, which can be used to detect the onset of stroke. STEMS monitors the scalp temperature and activates an electrical stimulant on the patient’s Carotid arteries when a stroke is detected, encouraging cerebral blood flow and preventing long-term damage.
Hyperspace Integrator Circuit | At FORCE, we are developing a custom built microcontroller that automates the process of deploying the payload and data collection. This project is tailored to the needs of the WEX foundation who requires a system to link their payload, a QCM to a lunar lander. The final product will be tested to meet a Technology Readiness Level 6 and if passed it will be used by the WEX foundation, as they run the next stages of their project.
The HeatSync Band | Many people struggle with cold hands from things like anemia and having a tough time in the winter, while many elderly people suffer from Raynaud Syndrome (cold hands) as well.
The goal of our project is to design a wrist band that provides consistent warmth to the person’s wrist and keep their wrists and hands warm.
The band will be able to provide warmth not only for people with the conditions mentioned, but to people in cold work environments.
HEB Remote Tote Printing Project | An automated and remote tote printer will be constructed. This printer will used a C# based application with access to an SQL database. This will allow for the proper tracking of individual totes to ensure proper labels are applied. We will be using sensors to read the barcodes and send data from them and a weighing scale to the SQL database.
ME Design I
Advanced Mobility Crawler (AMC-P) | Expedient Designs is constructing a proof-of-concept robotic crawler capable of locomotion in a confined space, navigation of small enclosures with elevated openings, and anchoring itself in enclosures with enough force to permit high-force processes such as grit-blasting or drilling. This crawler will traverse the uneven terrain within the enclosures and compact enough to fit through the narrow openings separating them. This prototyping project will focus specifically on demonstrating the feasible maneuverability of the robot, as well as its ability to anchor rigidly.
QL+ Trike Challenge | The objective of the project is to design a ceiling-mounted lifting mechanism that will lower and lift a person with limited mobility and balance into and out of a modified tricycle. The design will safely lift a person from the sitting position within the trike into a standing position by way of a specialized harness attached to the pulley. The pulley is controlled by the lifting mechanism which translates in stages until standing erect is achieved while the feet remain stationary.
Mobile lift design for QL+ | Project is to help a partially quadriplegic man be able to transition from standing to recumbent position and vise versa, project will consist of a method of moving client both vertically and horizontally, as well as creating a self supporting framing that will allow the client to take this device anywhere, this framing will also have to come equipped with a way to attach the framing to the back of the clients vehicle for transport, and wheeled supports to allow for the framing to be moved easily away from the vehicle when not in use.
AutoBaler | The purpose of our project is to design, build and analyze a baler machine that is unique and unlike any other in existence. The approach we took is to make a baler machine fully capable of operating with minimal human interaction, more specifically, attach sensors to complete each process such as closing and opening the door, throwing cardboard boxes into the drawer, tying up the compressed boxes, and lastly stacking the compressed boxes.
River turbine | The project is a high torque, low RPM submerged turbine designed to operate in river environments. The turbine design would minimize detrimental effects on the river’s natural environment. The turbine is required to be of a cone shaped helical design that rotates on a horizontal axis that is parallel to the direction of flow. The complete turbine and associated generator are to be portable by current, standard, transportation methods such as a flatbed truck. The emphasis of the project is currently on the turbine and cone design.
Cricket Catcher | An external attachment for a cattle guard connected to vehicle that will collect crickets and other jumping insects. The attachment itself will be made up of a see-through shield that extends from the front of the vehicle outward with a collection box underneath the shield. The collection box will then be detachable from the rest of the system so the crickets can be easily recycled into fish food. The entire system is designed to be easily collapsible.
Digital Extenders | The purpose of this project is to improve and design a system maximizing efficiency for electrorefining. Electrorefining is a process to recycle spent nuclear fuel, the process involves using electrolysis to chemically remove usable radioactive isotopes from spent nuclear waste. Once this step is completed, the material collected is then placed into a crucible to be heated to temperatures above 1000०C. This process purifies the usable Uranium isotopes from the spent nuclear fuel, one major step in the process is the removal of fragments of the crucible from the purified radioactive material. Currently this step is done manually by a skilled worker using special gloves with a dosimeter placed inside the glove to measure the amount of radiation given off by the materials. The device will assist the user in sorting potentially hazardous material by increasing the distance between the technician and the radioactive crucible in which the nuclear fuel cell was contained. Even extending the distance from the radioactive material by a few inches can drastically reduce the amount of radiation the skilled worker receives when conducting this part in the electrorefining process. In addition to having a manually controlled device with a method of retrieving the pieces of the crucible from the radioactive material, the digital extender will also have a dosimeter installed so the skilled worker will be able to measure the radiation being given off at any moment to ensure the levels of radiation will not cause any serious harm to the worker.
Sensor Automated Robotic Arm Attachment | Annually, thousands of people worldwide are affected by spinal cord injuries that can lead to permanent changes such as quadriplegia. People with quadriplegia often experience muscle spasms, placing them out of reach of their necessary wheelchair attachments. Current marketable products, e.g. iArm, are rendered useless when the user cannot reach the control mechanism. The Sensor Automated Robotic Arm Attachment (SARAA) will aid users by keeping small, lightweight attachments at a reachable distance in the event of the user being displaced, using tracking technology and a control system to guide and direct a 3D printed robotic arm.
Lunar Regolith Compactor | The Lunar Regolith Compactor is a machine that increases the density of the lunar soil, by compaction, to reduce the amount of lunar dust that is created when a space craft launches and lands onto the moon. While the Lunar Regolith Compactor was successful at compacting simulation soil during testing, it was not able to properly navigate move through the test facility. The purpose of this project is to expand on the current design of the Lunar Regolith Compactor by improving its traction as well as its ability to navigate the lunar surface.
3D Printer Pellet Material Feeder | Flex3D Engineering is developing an automated pellet feed system for a 3D printing factory. The feeder relies on optical sensors and a control system to measure and deliver pellet material to individual printers as needed. Material is delivered via a pneumatic drive system which utilizes vacuum pressure to transport pellets. This system eliminates the need for manual feed of material during printing for 70 3D printers, drastically reducing man hours required for operation. It also incorporates a modular design in order to be scalable for anticipated future growth.
Suborbital Rocket Cargo Railing System | The purpose of the Suborbital Rocket Cargo Railing System (RCRS) is to optimize and stabilize the space inside of a suborbital rocket for the loading and unloading of cargo. Planes are currently the main method of transportation of both patients and medical cargo. The system created, intended for military use, will use a suborbital rocket to reduce the time for this supplies to reach destinations for faster emergency care. This railing system must securely withstand the forces applied to the cargo during and after takeoff, and have an open enough space for a human to move around inside the cargo bay of the rocket for inspection, loading, and unloading of the cargo.
Motorcycle Brake Emission Dynamometer | Vehicle braking systems are part of the non-exhaust emissions of a vehicle and are increasing in relevance as standard tests and equipment are being developed to understand their contribution to transportation related pollution. This project entails the design and fabrication of a Motorcycle Brake Emission Dynamometer, which will allow for the characterization of the emissions from different types of motorcycles. Through the development of a proprietary control system and testing apparatus, this dynamometer will be able to simulate different types of motorcycles with varying braking systems to gather data in a field that has been under researched for many years.
Harvest Thermal Extraction System | To increase solar panel electrical production and efficiency while reducing heat-related degradation of the Harvest panel system by identifying addressable areas of thermal improvement for increased safety, efficiency, and longevity. This is done by mapping the thermal properties of the harvest panel system, specifically the monocrystalline photovoltaic (PV) solar panels and lithium titanate batteries, and by performing computer thermal modeling and analysis. The resulting yielded data is analyzed to develop optimal thermal extraction methods and to evaluate practical methods of utilizing the extracted thermal energy for residential and/or small business use.
Wildfire Safety Module | The purpose of the project being discussed is to design and build a rapidly deployable shelter to provide firefighters/hotshot crews protection from critical wildfire conditions. More specifically its main priority is survival, so it will contain emergency supplies such as oxygen, water and an emergency beacon. The final design will endure multiple thermal tests to ensure its reliability and to confirm the enclosure can shield from external temperatures up to 1500F. This project will have a focus on reliability and survival to ensure the safety of hotshot crews. User needs and engineering requirements will be gathered and refined as part of the scope of this project.
Automated Base Conveyor System (A.B.C.S.) | Design/develop a semi-autonomous mobility platform. Its focus will be assisting in the mobility of the Fully Autonomous Barrel Unloading System (FABUS) project. The platform should be able to move and fully function inside a semi-truck trailer as it carries the FABUS on top. Thus, performing its unloading process of grabbing and dropping off barrels to a designated location on the platform i.e conveyor system. Attached behind the platform will be a detachable gravity powered conveyor belt system for the barrels to reach its destination outside of the trailer.
Quality of Life Plus Trike Challenge | The objective of the project is to design a ceiling-mounted lifting mechanism that will lower and lift a person with limited mobility and balance into and out of a modified tricycle. The design will safely lift a person from the sitting position within the trike into a standing position by way of a specialized harness attached to the pulley. The pulley is controlled by the lifting mechanism which translates in stages until standing erect is achieved while the feet remain stationary.
Integrated Peristaltic Pump for "Meal Simple" Automated Dosing Cleaning Process | Our project seeks to eliminate/reduce the time and manpower required to clean the Dual Depositer Unifiller auto dosing machine in-between sauce changes. The current process involves complete dismantlement of the machine and sanitation conducted by 2 HEB partners, taking approximately 20-30 minutes. Our project will involve introducing a peristaltic pump to the existing system to incorporate the use of easily disposable/interchangeable tubing to reduce the spread of containments from sauces. Automating this cleaning process will provide the client with significantly shorter downtimes and less intensive labor involvement.
Electric Grill | The grill had to meet UTSA fire safety specifications , which called for no open flame. The client would like the grill to be portable and easy to operate, being able to reach temperatures up to 400 degrees fahrenheit. Because the sole purpose of the product was to serve as a source of preparing food for on campus events, the client also requested the grill to have a wide surface area. The client also stressed that the grill wanted to be easy to operate by having a temperature readout.
Aileron Rotational Trailer (ART) | The purpose of our project is to successfully secure, rotate, and transport the aileron of Boeing’s C-17 Globemaster III. The Aileron Rotational Trailer (ART) shall ensure that Boeing’s painters will be able to maneuver the flap with ease while allowing them the accessibility necessary to paint efficiently. This will be accomplished through a redesign of Boeing’s current aileron trailer which, as it stands, does not possess rotational capabilities. The ART will aid the company in reducing the time necessary to paint the ailerons brought into the San Antonio facility and maximizing the safety of the process.
Autonomous Follow Golf Caddy | The team will design, build, and seek to market an autonomous follow robot that functions as a dual option golf caddy/ cooler carrier. The robot shall be able to carry a full golf bag while simultaneously carrying a personal cooler of up to 14 qts. The goal will be a max load weight of 48 lbs. The final design will seek to be collapsible, while small and light enough to be loaded into a car by a single person by OSHA standards. For consumer purposes it will need to be able to last an entire four-hour round of golf comfortably before total power depletion.
Turbulent Co-Flow Burner | Our team decided to take on the task of using liquid fuel as the primary fuel source of the central flame. The liquid fuel is then turned into a vapor, and is then mixed with oxidizers and inert gas in order to form a stoichiometric flame. There will be a co-flow burner as well which will combine gaseous fuels, oxidizers, and inert gas to create a low-profile flame. This creates a protective layer of hot gas to stop effects from heat transfer from the surrounding environment. The co-flow and central jet are expelled from a reputable outsourced burner in order to provide a consistent and repeatable system for other labs.
Self Injecting Medical Syringe | Our project is the design and implementation of a medical device to aid with the stability and efficiency of syringe injections involving the upper eyelid more specifically with a procedure known as Blepharoplasty . The device will incorporate spring mechanisms to lower force required to complete the injection and increase steadiness. The device will also incorporate stability attachments that will be adjustable for differing face sizes and structures.
ME Design II
The Walker Step-Up Project for Fall Prevention | The Walker Step Up Attachment for Fall Prevention is a mobility aid created to assist users in transferring from different level surfaces as well as reaching overhead while minimizing fall risk. Current walkers on the market offer stability and support for the physically impaired but lack the ability to accommodate the two common needs mentioned previously. The Walker Step Up Attachment for Fall Prevention will be the first walker attachment to fulfill these needs while offering stability to minimize fall risk.
Automated Solar Panel Cleaner | A device which efficiently removes any solar panel surface fouling that may occur through natural or environmental buildup by means of a waterless brushing operation.
Portable Wind Charger Device | The Portable Wind Charger is a portable generator meant to be mounted on a roof vehicle cargo rack where it will generate and provide power. The wind generated by the vehicle moving will be turned into power by the internal turbine, and while the vehicle is stopped, a wind tower can be erected on the device which will generate power from the natural ambient wind. This charger will be marketed to campers, vacationers, and other travelers who are looking for a moderate, clean, and reliable source of power on their trips. Unlike other gas powered generators, this charger will require no fuel to be packed for the trip, and will be able to create and provide power with no emissions.
Portable IV Pump | The Portable IV Pump is a fluid delivery device designed to deliver saline from conventional IV bags to a patient in the field, for the purposes of freeing the hands of combat medics or other personnel during stressful and time sensitive situations. Team Sauce was tasked with creating a rugged, portable, and uncomplicated solution, capable of emptying 1,000 mL of saline in under 5 minutes. This device, fabricated by a self funded team, was created with the MIL-STD-810G test manual in mind, and subjected to similarly styled tests.
Winged Anti-Ballistic Podium | The “Winged” Anti-Ballistic podium has side modules that extend outward to a minimum angle of 45 degrees, offering users greater protection and unique tactical advantages compared to other podiums while also retaining a high standard of functionality and aesthetic presentation. While conventional podiums satisfy safety requirements for at least one person, our design offers protection for a maximum of three occupants while also allowing for safe on-site assembly and ease of mobility. The front and wing modules of the podium contain ballistic steel inserts which protect against .30-06 armor piercing rifle rounds, whereas the polycarbonate glass panels protect against 9mm submachine gun and .44 magnum rounds.
Pneumatic Mechanical End-Effector | H-E-B's current end assembly line for the Jalapeno Popper Package is picked, check of barcode and bad label, and put on a tote. H-E-B wants our team to automate their assembly line by creating an end effector for their robot. Our end-effector consists of pneumatic actuators and scoop which will hold and push the package. In our second phase, a program uses camera to capture for barcode and enable the actuators.
Diesel Generator Charge Air Cooler (DGCAC) and Piping Assembly | The Diesel Generator Charge Air Cooler (DGCAC) and Piping Assembly is a custom cooling solution designed to allow a PTI-25 Open Diesel Generator to be installed within a High-Speed Dynamic Carrier (HSDC) to increase the testing capabilities of the Aerial Cable Range (ACR) at White Sands Missile Range. The original equipment manufacturer (OEM) unit does not fit within the spatial constraints of the HSDC group compartment. Therefore, the aim of the DGCAC and Piping Assembly project is to redesign, fabricate, and test custom charge air cooler piping, radiator hoses to permit installation of the DGCAC on the exterior of the HSDC, while retaining a comparable drop in pressure to the OEM piping.
Fully Automated Barrel Unloading System (FABUS) | The Fully Automated Barrel Unloading System (FABUS) is an autonomous robotic platform designed to unload 55-gallon barrels from an enclosed transport trailer. Barrel procurement is achieved through a robust six axis industrial robotic arm and custom engineered end-of-arm tool, allowing for barrel nesting and securement during the handling operation. An integrated machine vision system performs identification and localization of barrel position coordinates for relay to the robot controller unit. Users interface with the FABUS via the FlexPendant touchscreen display. While operating, safety laser scanners monitor the surrounding environment to mitigate hazards posed by dynamic obstacles and unauthorized personnel interference.
Modification of X-ray Inspection System | The detection of metal in food products is a time-consuming and laborious task. Team Mesa has developed modifications of the Mettler-Toledo Safeline InspireX2 X-Ray System to decrease inspection time while also maintaining a high level of precision and safety. This modification includes facilitating the movement of totes, leveling the inspection system to an ergonomic height, installing a new rejection system, and calibrating the X-ray detector to detect metal in bulk packages of food. At 7-10 totes per minute, this modified system cuts inspection time significantly while increasing productivity and efficiency.
H-E-B Low Volume Chicken Seasoner | The Low Volume Chicken Seasoner has been designed to replace H-E-B’s current method of production for their Simply Seasoned line of chicken products. As it currently operates, the Simply Seasoned chicken production line has high inefficiencies in seasoning use and cleaning time, creating a significant amount of seasoning waste due to the high priming volume required by the machine, while also requiring long periods of downtime for cleaning and drying processes. The objective of the Low Volume Chicken Seasoner project is to design, fabricate, and test a product that can be implemented directly into H-E-B’s current production line and season chicken as well as or better than the GEA Optiflour presently in use, while cutting down on seasoning required for priming, and decreasing the down time required to clean and dry the machine in-between seasoning changes.
Subsonic Wind Tunnel Redevelopment | The primary objective of this project was to reestablish UTSA’s subsonic wind tunnel to research-grade status. The wind tunnel was sitting, disassembled and abandoned, in Griffin Laboratory in the Engineering Building. The project work included identifying and acquiring missing components, overseeing lab room modifications, and developing novel improvements for the wind tunnel. These improvements represent a considerable amount of research by the team and they include a new system for air flow turbulence reduction, a mechanism for repeatable coordinate positioning of measuring equipment inside the tunnel, and the establishment of a secondary measurement system.
Shock Tube Control System (STCS) | The Shock Tube Control System (STCS) is a custom control and data acquisition system which can initiate, sense, and react to shock waves in the hypersonic Mach regime while recording data for ~10 ms. The STCS will be employed for use in the High Enthalpy Shock Tube Facility in the Laser Spectroscopy and Chemical Propulsion Laboratory. The STCS comprises three main components: the physical control structure, instrumentation, and data acquisition system. The completed system will leverage the principal of unsteady wave motion in the shock tube to generate and measure high-enthalpy environments relevant to chemical propulsion and hypersonic flight.
Exploration into Metal 3D Printing for Oil and Gas Applications | Advancements in metal 3D printing is providing the oil and gas industry an alternative manufacturing method to subtractive manufacturing for producing low quantities of complex parts. The challenge is maintaining the robust mechanical properties and performance standards seen in subtractive manufacturing. This challenge was examined by designing, building, and testing an additively manufactured critical component within an assembly used to retrieve oil. Mechanical properties were evaluated and compared through tensile, hardness, impact, and performance testing.
Catcher Automation Packaging Transfer System | At the H-E-B Meat Plant, there’s a H-E-B partner at the end of the jalapeno popper line to inspect each package and place it into totes marked for shipping or defected. Overtime, this task creates ergonomic safety concerns due to repetitive motion. G3R was tasked to create a package transfer system consisting of a vision system, customize end effector, and program robotic control for the LR Mate 200iD/4S robotic arm. The visual system and robotic control are a coupled system which utilize RoboDK and OpenCV which connects real-time data streams of the displacement/defects of the packages which then computes kinematic movements. The end effector fabrication material selected was ABS plastic and operates by a pneumatic actuator. The Catcher Automation-Packaging Transfer System will inspect the jalapeno popper packages then pick and place it in its corresponding tote.
Stair Climber Walker | The project purpose of our E-Z stair climber walker is to design and develop a walker that can assist any impaired user with the ability to have a walker that can be used as a normal walking assistant as well as a stair use assistant. We want to make the design easy to use for all ages, effectively and in any situation or environment.
We also want to make the walker as durable and light as possible to handle just as easy.
EPICS
City of San Antonio Partnership Portal - In collaboration with the City of San Antonio's Office of Innovation, a web portal was developed where government departments in the city can connect with researchers for solutions to community challenges. The web portal provides an online platform for match making among researchers, city officials, and policy makers, facilitating faster response times and more effective cooperation. Researchers can efficiently access the administrative data, strategic plans, and practical insights of these community challenges provided by city staff with the intention of building stronger solutions and advancing applied research efforts.
4D Helicopter Immersion - The project is replacing an existing cultural exploration exhibit at the Doseum. The project will be an immersive exhibit with the framework of a helicopter. The user then chooses locations to travel to by clicking a button of their choosing which will cue a video and corresponding air flow effects.