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Klesse College Tech Symposium

Tech Symposium Fall 2022

UTSA Makerspace & Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design

UTSA's Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design Spring 2022 Tech Symposium took place on Friday, November 18th from 8:30 am-1:30 pm at theHEB Ballrooms on Main Campus. See our overview of the event here.

Congratulations to our top three winning teams in Senior Design I:
Smart Canes
Print and Click LLC
JRCS Orthopedics

Congratulations to our top three winning teams in Senior Design II:
1st Place: AMAS Engineering
2nd Place: Trust Issues
3rd Place: MEC Engineering

See student works from our previous symposium in Spring 2022!

Biomedical Engineering Design I

Aqueous Ozone Dental Appliance | Oral sanitization before surgery reduces the possibility of open wound and bacterial infections. There is currently no chemical mouthwash commercially available that is safe and natural enough for patient-use as they can cause further problems including dehydration and gum inflammation. Prior to performing dental work, ozone water can be used as a pre-rinse to clean the surgical area without harsh chemicals. Aqueous ozone is a natural, practical and affordable treatment that can promote wound healing and guard against oral disease. Presented in this project is a design that incorporates aqueous ozone into a dental appliance.

Aqueous Ozone Wound Care Device  | Acute wounds account for approximately 50 million hospital visits and ambulatory services every year. Current debridement options during emergency situations include irrigation of 2 L of saline or water, however, they do not kill bacteria or viruses. The patients risk developing an infection which can lead to higher expenses. Using antimicrobials and antiseptics can cause adverse reactions to the skin and healthy cells. There is a need to develop a device to decrease infection rates by creating an oxygen-rich environment to increase healing for acute wounds during emergency situations. Previous research demonstrates aqueous ozone is an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and vasoconstricting agent. We propose to create a quick and effective debridement device using aqueous ozone by electrolytic conversion

At Home Thrombin Time | The objective of this device is to determine the prothrombin time at home without needing to go to the hospital. Currently, there are no commercially popular methods of testing the prothrombin time at home for those who take blood thinners. People require blood thinners because they have a higher chance of heart attack or stroke, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or irregular heart rhythm. We are attempting to relieve the stress of having to go to the hospital and wait for results. People can adjust their medicine intake within a matter of minutes.

Cricothyrotomy Securement Device | A cricothyrotomy is an emergency procedure that delivers oxygen to a patient's blocked airway by inserting a tube down the cricothyroid membrane. Currently, to secure the tube, methods of suturing, trach ties, or velcro straps are used to prevent internal bleeding. The shortcomings of these are that some paramedics can’t suture, and trach ties and velcro straps can be complex during an emergency with blood and hair involved. Our goal is to improve these devices by possibly using a piercing, claw clip, or shark skin adhesive. Our design must stay secured to the patient, and have quick and easy application.

Enclosure Incubated Bioprinter with Integrated Fluidic Mixing System  | Over 160,000 skin grafts are performed in U.S. hospitals annually, with 1 in 3 burn hospitalizations requiring a skin graft. Current skin graft methods involve using skin from a donor site on the patient, skin from another person/animal, or a synthetic substitute. Our proposed device is a 3D bioprinter capable of printing skin grafts using fibroblast cells from the patient. Our printer will include a novel mixing system to improve cell uniformity and will be housed in an enclosure capable of maintaining the optimal conditions for the printed cells.

Intravascular Lithotripsy Balloon Catheter | "The IVL Balloon Catheter utilizes a laser light source and optical fiber to emit electromagnetic energy from the laser light source. The electromagnetic pulse is used to clear calcification along the arterial wall. The problem with this device is that once the pulse releases, residual air bubbles form. These air bubbles can burst causing damage to the arterial wall or destroy the balloon component of the catheter. Current propositions are unable to remove the air bubbles within the system, the goal of our project is to construct a recirculation system that can remove the air bubbles from the current system.

Laser Intravascular Lithotripsy Balloon Catheter | InnovaTech is a group of talented biomedical engineers focused on delivering innovative solutions in the cardiovascular space primarily developing catheters for intravascular lithotripsy (IVL). We pride ourselves in providing the best and safest solutions for our customers to ultimately improve the quality of life for people around the world. Our design aims to reduce the profile against current IVL devices. The current competitor in this space is ShockWave Medical who has an FDA approved IVL device for use in the peripheral arteries. Our device features: a pressurized configuration, modular pressure, reusable, durable, flexible, and is compatible with laser fibers. The device aims to be between 0.40 mm - 0.65 mm while deflated and 0.80 mm while inflated.

Left Ventricle Impella | "The purpose of this project is to implement three electrodes into a commercial Impella 5.5 (Abiomed) pLVAD with the intention to measure cardiac output (CO) to obtain accurate calculations and measurements in real-time for automated pump weaning. 

The sensor is designed to measure the heart chamber volume capture to calculate and obtain accurate PV loops. The intention is to enable real-time CO measurements to allow the device to actively reset the pump speed to aid with heart recovery. 

The implantable device achieves this by utilizing electrodes that will assess left ventricle (LV) recovery by measuring the volume readings in the heart. "

Medical Equipment Sterilization | Our objective is to develop a device to use in a medical setting to clean and sterilize medical equipment and meets the standards of BioSure and the FDA. To accomplish this, our team is looking at using sterilization solutions, such as ozone, in our design to increase levels of sanitation. Ozone, or O3, is a molecule used in the field of sterilization to prepare surfaces for use in a medical setting. In 2016, it was reported that roughly 20-30% of US hospitals reuse at least 1 type of single-use device, and the reuse of the device includes “regulatory, ethical, medical, legal and economic issues and has been extremely controversial for more than two decades [1].” In addition to this, in 2016, it was also reported that approximately only 2-3% of all devices could be safely re-sterilized before being used again [2]. With some of these single-use items because the time and effort needed to clean these devices outweigh the benefit of using them again, most hospitals turn to disposing the medical tools. Therefore, there is a need to clean and sterilize medical equipment with speed and efficiency. With a proper sterilization system, hospitals could save billions of dollars in the medical equipment market, which is currently worth 488.98 billion USD.

Robotic Probe Holder for Ultrasound Imaging  | Ultrasound imaging is currently used in combat casualty care to triage a patient’s injuries and prioritize evacuations. Personnel are oftentimes inexperienced with this technique, which is why it is necessary to simplify ultrasound imaging acquisition.

This proposed project is the development of a robotic probe holder for use as an attachment to a robotic arm system to perform automatic ultrasound imaging. The main focus of this device is to adjust to multiple probe sizes and shapes, to deliver gel to the tissue surface at each point of the exam, and to ensure adequate force is being applied to the patient. 

Sacroiliac Joint Fusion Via Posterior Approach | Sacroiliac (SI) joint fusion is a procedure that has been utilized extensively in the treatment of pain caused by overly mobile SI joints. This procedure is done to immobilize the joint and promote fusion of the bones. In recent years, a posterior approach to the procedure has surfaced as opposed to the lateral approach. This leads to shorter operating room and recovery times. The drawback to this procedure is a higher complication rate. The goal of this project is to design a system for performing SI joint fusion from a posterior approach with a lower complication rate than current procedures.

Scoli-Dynamic Brace  | The purpose of the project is to design a TLSO type brace for patients with scoliosis, to improve the current brace technology, and to slow the progression of the spinal curve. Intended for patients with Cobb angle between 25-45 degrees, with a S-shaped curve or C-shaped curve and can be worn during extracurricular activities with the goal to increase compliance with patients. The product will be tested using pressure sensors to ensure that the product is meeting safety standards. Furthermore, select materials will be chosen based on biocompatibility for extended contact with skin. 

Stabilizing Procidentia | 11-20% of women will undergo a uterine prolapse repair procedure in their lifetime. Current devices such as mesh implants have been recalled from the market and invasive procedures such as hysterectomies may lead to further complications, suggesting that there is a need for a medical device to better repair uterine prolapse in patients. Our mission as a team is to contribute to the well-being of women through innovative medical devices and shine a light on areas of women’s health that are neglected.

TIBIOTALOCALCANEAL ARTHRODESIS FOR LIMB SALVAGE – TALUS IMPLANT | Tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) Arthrodesis is a difficult procedure to perform on patients with extreme bone defects. These defects commonly occur in the talar region and typically require removal. To fill the bony void, current technologies involve the use of femoral head allografts and custom implants; however, these methods are extremely costly, lack reproducibility, and are difficult to design. The following project investigates the development of a universal partial talus implant that allows for osseointegration and provides surgical ease during implantation. The development of this universal implant will allow for an off-the-shelf product decreasing the challenges that come with custom implants.

Wound Healing Device Using Aqueous Ozone | Chronic wound care is a complex process greatly affected by accompanying diseases which compromise blood oxygenation. Current wound care treatments employ the use of antibiotics, which over time have become less efficient, and medical device technologies often require the patient’s presence in a hospital or wound care clinic as their large sizes only allow for use in a clinical setting. To address this, our project aims to develop a portable, wearable device for post-op or at-home wound care treatment incorporating aqueous ozone, a highly reactive oxidant that directly attacks the surface layer of microorganisms and destroys their cell walls.

Chemical Engineering Design I

Distillation of brandy from white wine  | Brandy is a liquor, typically produced from white wine by continuous plate column separator. Since alcohol has a lower boiling point of 78°C compared to water which boils at 100°C at atmospheric pressure, alcohol can be separated from water by distillation. The low-boiling point liquids that can be distilled from wine include alcohol, small amounts of water, and many of the wine's aromatic chemicals. In continuous distillation of wine, alcohol rises up the trays in the column as vapor and is then condensed into brandy containing 50-54 vol% alcohol. This distillation process is why Brandy was given its name which means “burnt wine”.

Purification via Reverse Osmosis  | Using a reverse osmosis plant, to help with the demand for more water in the regions that lack access to fresh water, and to be able to take raw water from the sea and other sources that contain a high level of total dissolved solids and finding a way to reduce energy consumption and becoming energy efficient by purifying. The key objective to this work is to optimize all variables involved in the pre-treatment process of different water sources using a reverse osmosis plant to reduce the solids content in the raw unfiltered water. This work is carried to have a maximum reduction of the total solids and the different chemical parameters.

Understanding Factors which affect Sour Water Striping Process Efficiency   | As part of the refinery's wastewater treatment process, sour water streams are stripped of the byproducts ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). We will create a process flow diagram which serves to remove these chemicals so the process water can be recycled in a chemical plant. Sour water stripping begins by sending NH3, H2S and water into a storage heat exchanger tank that removes solid mass. This stream is flowed into a steam-reboiler distillation column removing NH3 and H2S then sent back to a heat exchanger to be cooled and sent off as effluent. We will test the following factors such as pH, pressure, temperature, and flow rate on our simulation to understand how these affect our efficiency in removal of NHS and H2S. 

Vinyl Acetate Production  | Vinyl Acetate Production in a heterogeneously catalyzed continuous gas phases process by reacting ethylene with acetic acid and oxygen in a reactor. The product gas stream is fractioned by a multitude of steps such as distillation, condensation, gas scrubbing, and cooling. The main objective of this project will be to analyze the tube reactor charged with a fixed bed palladium catalyst, and how the pressure and temperature variables affect the product stream concentrations. The product stream leaving the reactor contains vinyl acetate, ethylene, acetic acid, water, and oxygen. This stream will continue the fractioning process and result in a product of 99.5% by weight of vinyl acetate. 

Civil Engineering Design I

Design Service for Terracon Office Building with Increased Lab, Office, and Storage Capacity  | A new office building for Terracon Consultants, Inc. will be designed and built in the City of San Antonio. The intent of the owner is to have an engineering firm design and coordinate the building of a 60,000 square foot, two story office building to meet their growing needs. The approximate occupancy level for the building will be a maximum of five hundred people. Frontier engineering has been contracted to complete the geotechnical, land development, transportation, and structural design phases for the project.

Jason's Burger Joint  | Jason’s Burger Joint is a project that takes civil engineering concepts learned throughout the curriculum for Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering and puts them in to practice. The project site is located at UTSA Blvd and Texana Dr on a 1.3 acer undeveloped lot. The proposed design includes site preparation, stormwater management, structural design, utilities design, traffic design, and also includes any local, state, or federal regulations.  Along with engineering design, administrative process is also included such as budgeting, scheduling, team organization and any administrative requirements set by govern jurisdiction.  

Canyon Park Shopping Center   | The members of the HAMRD civil engineering team has accepted the task of designing the Canyon Park Shopping Center located on Stone Oak Parkway and Canyon Golf. The shopping center will consist of four units, 3 assigned for reatil and 1 for a restaurant. As members of HAMRD civil engineering team, we aim our goals in developing all the deliveries necessary for the proper design of the Canyon Park Shopping Center in accordance to the codes and regulations of the City of San Antonio

Alamo Trail  | Our goal is to take the existing Alamo Plaza street, and turn it into a pedestrian / bike path. This will not only increase foot traffic to the site, but can serve as the first step in making downtown SA more accessible to non-vehicle transportation.

Design of New Traffic Routes and Pedestrian Paths for Alamo Plaza  | The project is the redesign of the layout of Alamo Plaza in a manner fitting the significance of the site and in accordance with Downtown design criteria. The Plaza will be closed to vehicles and repaved for pedestrians. The project focuses on providing green space for the public and improving walkability in the downtown area. The redesign of Alamo Plaza provides traffic analysis and redirection to facilitate vehicular transportation. In addition, the project will serve to decrease impervious cover and increase habitats for native species.

1 story office building   | My plan is to make an architectural scale model of our project. Our project is a 1 story office building with a driveway, 30 space parking lot, detention pond, retaining wall, and of course sidewalks and grass patches/trees. Not totally sure what the scale of it will be, but to my knowledge scale models are usually no bigger than a school desk and not heavier than a large bag of sugar/sack of potatoes. The materials I will use for the project will primarily be household items and things that are easily accessible. Considering the possibility of incorporating water (not a lot) to show off our drainage and putting some type of lights inside the building with a removable roof to show off the inside. 

Black Rifle Coffee Company Franchise Location  | This project consists of the design and construction of a Black Rifle Coffee Company (BRCC) franchise location. SSCD Engineering has been hired for this project. The project location is 5115 UTSA Blvd, San Antonio, TX 78249. This location was chosen by BRCC because of its proximity to UTSA and students who choose to study in coffee shops.

Open Slot Self Storage  | Brandy is a liquor, typically produced from white wine by continuous plate column separator. Since alcohol has a lower boiling point of 78°C compared to water which boils at 100°C at atmospheric pressure, alcohol can be separated from water by distillation. The low-boiling point liquids that can be distilled from wine include alcohol, small amounts of water, and many of the wine's aromatic chemicals. In continuous distillation of wine, alcohol rises up the trays in the column as vapor and is then condensed into brandy containing 50-54 vol% alcohol. This distillation process is why Brandy was given its name which means “burnt wine”.

Camden Coffee  | Camden Coffee is a proposed land development project for a coffee shop located at 1610 N St. Marys St., in downtown San Antonio, TX. JNBH Engineering, composed of UTSA senior civil engineering students, was formed to apply engineering design skills and execute an open-ended, integrated civil engineering design project, including laboratory and field investigations, numerical and scale modeling, design, and formal presentation of results. Project design factors include consideration for safety, reliability, environmental and economic effects, project constraints, ethical and social impacts.

Electrical & Computer Engineering Design I

Alternative Drone Transportation Modalities| Creating any sort of unmanned system comes with many unavoidable choices when it comes to determining the most optimal design for a customer's specific goals. Different design choices will lead to vastly different outcomes for the unmanned system, especially when it comes to transportation modes. The nature of current unmanned system design trends means that if a user wants to have access to several different transportation options, they will have to purchase or build several different unmanned systems. This project aims to address that issue by giving users the ability to access several different transportation modes in a singular system.

 

Boresight-to-Boresight, Antenna Pointing System (B-2-BAPS)| Researchers at NASA GRC are conducting atmospheric propagation studies, which require the alignment of two Cassegrain antennas to be aligned for data transfer. However, this process is manual and takes approximately 1 hour. Our team’s objective is to assist NASA GRC by creating a control and data acquisition system which not only makes this process automatic and speeds it up to 15 minutes or less. Additionally, to conform to constraints, the system should also maintain an alignment accuracy of plus or minus 0.025 degrees 

DigiPark | The problem of cramped up or no parking space is one of the most significant issues faced by the drivers in a parking lot. Various solutions have been proposed by different companies. The proposed solution is a mobile application based on the development of a pre-mapped of the parking space and a scanner that informs about the free or empty space in a parking lot. The mobile application is highly efficient and offers distinct features such as real-time updates and statistics of the free parking spaces along with the closest free spots based on the user’s location.

 

Draft Beer Line In-Place System for Ozone Sanitization with Mobile App Integration| In partnership with BioSure Professional, BeerHounds have come up with a beer line in-place system for ozone sanitization with mobile app integration. The system will be designed to receive data using sensors connected to a draft beer line which will measure different parameters available to analyze within the app. This allows the user to know when to clean the lines using BioSure Professional’s ozone sanitization technology. Currently, cleaning beer lines is done on average every two weeks and with this set in-place system, it saves the user time and money by reducing risk of having a bad beer and eliminates the use of harmful chemical sanitization techniques.

Field-Deployable Autonomous Ultrasound Robot | In a combat zone, quick and effective assessment of injuries can mean the difference between life and death. The purpose of this project is to develop a method for autonomous ultrasound scanning of an injured person to identify possible internal injuries so the patient can get to the care they need as quickly as possible. Our team will develop a method of autonomous body scanning using a camera system. The image data is then forwarded to a robotic arm, with the image analysis serving to adapt the ultrasound scanning points to different body shapes and sizes. 

Game Board| Big Bank Baby will present a player friendly alternative to cornhole by utilizing modern technology. An electronic scoreboard will eliminate the scorekeeping problem. LED strips will indicate positive point holes (green) and negative point holes (red). Celebratory sounds will play when points are scored and when the game is won. Negative sounds will play when points are lost. Alternative game modes will keep the game board fresh and engaging. Big Bank Baby will also be foldable and relatively lightweight to ensure easy transport. Big Bank will provide an outdoor game experience that is more stimulating and enjoyable than conventional outdoor games at a comparable price.

General Electronic Module Tester (GEMT)| The General Electronic Module Tester (GEMT) will provide an all-in-one solution to the time-consuming task of electronic hardware functionality testing. The GEMT proposes to streamline the process of testing electronic components by giving users a unit where they can simply connect a compatible electronic component, choose their desired testing program, and get validation that the electronic works or not. The user can then continue to test the same type of electronic module, or, at the push of a button, switch to testing a completely different electronic module—all while having to forgo the process of rewiring and reprogramming a new circuit.

IoT Connectivity for BioSure Products with Wireless Digital Display & Remote Monitoring|  BioSure strives to have clean and disinfecting products to help people of all ages. With their Water Disinfecting System, or WDS, it accomplishes having clean water that sanitizes people's hands without the use of harmful chemicals, such as chlorine or fluorine. The WDS has a revolutionary electrolysis technology that can convert regular tap water into anti-bacterial sanitizing wash water. This operating system can have the potential to completely replace harmful disinfecting chemicals used today, such as chlorine or fluorine. With a little modification that the team will implement in the WDS, it will monitor the ozone concentration of each WDS system through the BioSure networks. It will also have the capability to have a TFT display to indicate when the WDS is on or off, such as green when it is on, and red when it is off. It will also have Bluetooth capabilities to connect to the BioSure networks so it will be less harmful than WiFi. It will have a flow meter to monitor the pressure the water is performing on. And lastly, it will be able to display and communicate the performance data the WDS is operating on to the BioSure networks. The use of a website to monitor the WDS is recommended, but the possibility of having an app can also be taken into consideration.

IoT Water Meter| Water consumption is exponentially increasing and fresh water resource is scarcing throughout the world. Most individuals are not aware of their water consumption due to the information not being present in their daily lives as the only information they are given is throught monthly water bills. The IoT Water Meter allows users to analyze their water consumption in their residence using their personal smartphones. The IoT Water Meter also provides insights and recommendations of how individuals can reduce their water consumption to create a better impact on the ecosystem.

Mr. Ohm LiDAR Module| The Mr. Ohm Robot by Better Bots is a cost-effective classroom tool using circuit-board-level designs to aid computer science education for high school and early college students. The project goal of improving a Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) module within Mr. Ohm, using documented schematics, simulations, and a final print circuit board with discrete components. The project features the development of a continuous wave two-beam select infrared Lidar system, with a quartz oscillator clock control, and a tuned driver boasting/preserving the signal. Using the validated computer simulation LiDAR module improvements, a physical prototype will be constructed to certify real-world operations.

 

Rowdy Resuscitator | The Rowdy Resuscitator is an automated chest compression device for use during life-saving CPR integrated with an automated external defibrillator or AED. The device will allow emergency personnel to complete other tasks; at the same time, life-saving chest compressions are administered along with the capability to deliver a pair of shocks to defibrillate the heart to a sinus rhythm. 

Smart Cane| Nowadays with the overgrowing cities and towns, it has become increasingly difficult for people who suffer some kind of impairment to be independent. Our team has the objective of helping these people who suffer some kind of visual impairment to regain an amount of Independence. We wanted to try to make an affordable and simple smart cane for people who need it. With our product we wanted to try to give both the user and anyone close to the user a sense of security.

Vacuum Tube Audio Compressor| Vacuum Tube Compressors have been used since the 1950’s in audio electronics, therefore making them not a new form of technology. Vacuum Tube Compressors utilize a vacuum tube in place of a transistor to control the gain of the compressor. Using a vacuum tube as a compressor means the gain is not instantaneous, which results in a reaction time. These properties are unique to the Vacuum Tube Compressor, and result in a unique sound which has been describes as “smooth” or “warm” sound. 

 

Wound Healing Device with Ozone | The Wound healing device with the use of ozone is a device that is familiar in the medical field yet has a slightly different implementation this time around. Instead of being injected intravenously or applied to the whole body, the device targets a specific wound through the use of a vacuum seal. The vacuum seal is applied directly to the skin, allowing for direct contact with the ozone so as to not harm the patient, while also allowing for more rapid healing of the wound.

Electrical & Computer Engineering Design II

GPS corrected mobile anemometer| Current wind measurement techniques in the environmental science research field utilize stationary anemometers to measure wind speeds. AneMotion is designing a device that will enable use of an anemometer in motion, attachable to a UAV or other mobile measurement device. The device will consist of an Arduino mega controller, a GPS, Accelerometer and SD card reader module along with a live LCD display for measuring, correcting, and storing wind data while the device is in motion. This corrected wind velocity will be stored in NWU coordinates to be later used in wind and atmospheric modeling software.

Zero Trust: New Pillars in Cybersecurity | Zero Trust:​ New Pillars in Cybersecurity​ provides a proof of concept for use authentication, device management, network and environment monitoring, visibility and analytics. This will entail the implementation of a mock network with device signal and access monitoring by a cybersecurity system. Following entry approval, users will be monitored in the developed environment using a combination of intrusion detection systems and machine learning models to check for anomalies and deny access as appropriate.

Self-Sufficient Solar Charging Management System​  | With the increase in electric vehicles (EVs) on the road a solution is needed to reduce reliance on an already overloaded power grid. The importance of a system that can produce and store its own energy has become critical. The goal of this project is to implement a microcontroller with a maximum power point tracking algorithm integrated to optimize the circuit. A battery management system will also be utilized in the circuit for direct monitoring of the batteries and the circuit. These two systems combined will allow for an optimal solar charging experience.

Food Temperature Monitoring System  | The Food Temperature Monitoring System is to autonomously measure the temperature of food in restaurants for safety regulations. This project automates the temperature recording process by using Wi-Fi to send the data from the food probe automatically to the database.  Which is more cost and time effective in the long run for the client.

Regolith Excavator Rover Attachment   |  The Regolith Excavator Rover Attachment will be used to harvest lunar regolith as a potential source of fuel, water, and construction material to advance space exploration and assist in establishing permanent human settlements on the Moon and Mars. NASA and private industry investments will soon make it possible to land material and equipment on the Moon and Mars. Astrolab is developing the multi-functional Flexible Logistics & Exploration (FLEX) rover with this environment in mind. In collaboration with our Mechanical Engineering team, and the use of thermal, spectroscopy, and LiDAR sensors, we are developing a functional rover attachment prototype capable of accurate navigation, excavation, and environmental analysis.  

Autonomous Delivery Drone | The aim of the Autonomous Delivery Drone is to create a quad-copter capable of delivering up to a 3-pound cargo within a 2-mile radius of the takeoff location. The cargo will be released via a servo mechanism at a safe altitude of 1 meter. The drone will be connected to a 4G cellular network to offer real-time updates to the customer and provider, also allowing mission updates if necessary. The range and weight can be increased by including a larger battery and more powerful motors.

 

Static Lint Roller | The Static Lint Roller is capable of removing hair and lint from most surfaces through the manipulation of electro-static forces. By inducing a charge onto a PVC casing, we are able to create an attractive force toward the PVC material that will be used to collect the hair and lint.

Metabolic Training Gear II (MTG II)|The Metabolic Training Gear II (MTG II) is a training vest that trains hand and eye coordination via Visual Stimuli. Why? Many Current Solutions for Metabolic Training and Boxing are too expensive and are stationary. This vest makes training easy and fun by providing 4 mode types in which it operates, along with being able to provide stats for the user to to see their progression in training. With the Metabolic Training Gear II (MTG II) training is made fun and simple!

Doom Synth | This product is a musical synthesizer with an all-in-one-package in the style of a keyboard that includes multiple effects that will alter the musical signal. This product also provides additional functionality by allowing the input of another musical instrument through the standard quarter-inch audio jack. ​

Piano scale tool | This device will aid users in learning music scales on the piano. The device will utilize Arduino technology and LEDs to display all major and minor scales on the piano. The device is modular in the sense that it could be placed on top of a piano and portable for easy transportation.

HEB Power Data Acquisiton System | The PAT team has designed a custom Power Data Acquisition System for San Antonio HEB Dairy Processing. The system will take data from a motor control cabinet (MCC) utilizing Eaton Power Xperts sensors and a programmable logic controller to analyze and transfer the data to remote user interfaces. The Maintenance users will then be able quickly and accurately investigate abnormalities in the MCC readings from a centralized easy to access location instead of having to visit each MCC individually.

Mechanical Engineering Design I

3-Axis CNC Router| The UTSA makerspace currently does not have a 3-Axis CNC Router and the manufacturing needs of students are rapidly growing. The purpose of this senior design project is to complete the design and assembly of a 3-Axis CNC Router that will be implemented into the UTSA Makerspace in the Summer of 2023. The machine will feature a work area of twenty-four by forty-eight inches, a minimum resolution of 1/32 of an inch, a 2.2 kilowatt spindle, and a touch screen interface. This 3-Axis CNC Router will serve as a user-friendly machine to support future generations of UTSA students. 

Air Conditioner Mechanical Design Support | Friedrich Air Conditioning wants to modify their blower, motor, and fan blade components to accommodate the next generation of room air conditioners. The new design should maximize airflow without interfering with other sub components. The new housing design for the AC unit will be modified for longevity and should minimize energy consumption while maintaining and/or increasing airflow into the rooms while still being quiet to satisfy customer needs. 

Antiballistic Podium with Integrated Gunport, Viewport, and Passthrough| The current design of Anti-Ballistic Systems bullet-proof podium does not allow for documents to be safely exchanged between the person manning the station and the public. In order to allow for these routine transfers to occur from behind the safety of the bullet proof materials, a passthrough made out of polycarbonate materials needs to be added. This pass through should be designed with a safety mechanism that allows only one of the doors to be opened at a time.  Additionally, in the event of an attack the podium should be able to be used as an offensive position allowing the guard to have a gun port to fire their weapon from and a viewport to allow them to aim. 

ATP-ROW | ATP-ROW (Atmospheric Temperature Pressure Regulated Optical Window) is a device that will be designed for the Air Force Research Lab. They are currently performing experiments to determine the effect of laser on tissue. Although their experimentation is underway, they have discovered an issue with their sample housing unit: an inability to control temperature and compression. This discrepancy allows for variations in their testing and creates variables that can affect data.  Our team has designed a housing unit that will be able to alter temperature, maintain pressure and level compression according to their testing needs.

 

Automated Disposal Lift| The goal of the project is to design and build an automated and mobile disposal system to lift and dump heavy appliances and debris into a roll-off dumpster. The project will aim to reduce the fatigue and risk of injury Newton Home Improvement's construction personnel have experienced in the past. Using our team's diverse background and broad skillset, a final SolidWorks design will be finalized this semester, and a working prototype will be built at the conclusion of Senior Design II. 

Automated Part Palletizer| The purpose of the project is to design an automation station that can be placed at the end of a CNC Machine. It will be able to pick and place parts in designated bins and racks. With this automation system a collaborative robot will be fitted with an appropriate vision system to identify the parts and palletize the parts across bins. The station will also include a wash station to submerge the part into naphtha solvent then dry the part with a MiJET unit. A vision inspection system will also be implemented to be able to measure the parts before palletizing. 

Chip Chunk Test Trailer| a trailer to test multiple sets of tires during a single test for the manufacturing company Continental. The trailer must be capable of being loaded with specific weight in order to simulate applied load on each of the tires. The tires will be tested for tread chunk and chip rating being pulled for long periods of time many times a week. The tire tester trailer would help minimize the cost of each test (driver’s fees, cost of fuel etc.).

Along with individual loads, the trailer must be able to accommodate different tire heights and wheel widths. Because some wheels used in the test may have different bolt patterns, the trailer’s axles must also accommodate various bolt patterns or optimize all wheels on a single bolt pattern.

The axles of the trailer will be spaced out so that the tires that follow will not track over the same surface. The axles must be independent, connected to the same system, but able to support their own load.

Fluid Distribution System| Engineers must actively develop new innovations to increase effectiveness and safety among customers. One of the most crucial parts of development is testing. Our sponsor, Continental is committed to testing the limits of their products to ensure safety for users. The testing is conducted at the Uvalde proving grounds, where our team will replace and upgrade the existing water distribution network that allows for wet tire testing. The existing system lacks functionality and efficiency. The redesigned system will provide an effective testing environment that will survive weather conditions in Texas while decreasing the days that were previously used for repairs. 

HarvestDock| Companies in today's society are seeking new and efficient ways to go carbon neutral in their day-to-day business handlings. Last-mile delivery companies are implementing the use of electronic delivery vans in their everyday deliveries to allow for less carbon emissions to be emitted from their fleet.  

Our design project focuses on the way that these electronic vehicles receive their energy. Our project is to design a carport that can house the electric delivery vans while also serving as a charging station for the vans. The energy gathered and supplied to the vehicles will come completely from solar-powered energy. 

 

High Impulse Plasma Source Slim| Southwest Research Institute developed a method for generating surface treating plasma, High Power Impulse Plasma Source. The current system is unoptimized, susceptible to changes in cathode concentricity, nanoparticle deposit coalescence, need for continuous cathode movement during erosion, and requires an overall condensed design (less than 12 inches in length). This project will focus on the development of high tolerance, modular, and rigid machine elements with roller bearings for statics (supersedes XYZ manipulator), analytical and numerical (Taguchi i9 orthogonal array) test sequences will be conducted on varying nozzle heads, and actuation controls.

 

Lunar Excavator| Our sponsor has tasked us with designing a excavator drum for gathering lunar regolith and dumping it in a brick making rover.  The "brickbot" will be a mobile unit with either a single or double drum attached depending on material needs. One of the largest hurdles to overcome is the destructive nature of the lunar regolith. It is statically charged so it clings to objects, and it is sharp edged silica and iron that is in the micron size range, meaning it will get into most areas and effectively sand them down. 

Athrombic Clothing| The MOI Measurements team is creating a device that measures the moment of inertia (MOI) of small test articles. The importance of measuring MOI is to understand how a body resists angular acceleration at each axis. MOI is a mass property and is used to analytically evaluate how a body will dynamically behave. Determining MOI experimentally will create a more accurate description of how the specific test article will behave, more accurately than a theoretical value would. This MOI device will be designed to accommodate the sponsor’s needs which include high accuracy, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness. 

 

Ozone Pressure Washing System| The importance of health, safety, and quality of life of San Antonio residents cannot be understated in this post-pandemic age. Ozone, a powerful, reactive molecule is unparalleled in its disinfection properties while still being environmentally friendly. With this in mind, the team was tasked with utilizing Biosure's Ozone generation technology to create an Ozone-infused pressure washing system that will allow Centro San Antonio - a street cleaning service - to clean, disinfect, and provide a more powerful method of deodorizing San Antonio Streets.

Palletizer Destacker | This pallet de-stacker is being designed for HEB and is needed for improved ergonomics and an improved organizational structure for pallets. Furthermore, pallets need to be dispensed vertically for improved ergonomics, however, current pallet de-stackers available only dispense horizontally. This pallet destacker is composed of an i-beam acting as a rail system for a trolley that is capable of handling an 85lb CHEP pallet. 

Perimeter Security Defense System | A custom surveillance trailer was designed as a preventative security system for intruder detection at Continental Proving Grounds. The project, led in collaboration with Continental Tire, protects the 11-mile facility perimeter with top-of-the-line security components. Such components include long-range radars, lidar sensors and thermal cameras that are capable of detection as far as the perimeter line and beyond. The components at work in the trailer will use  a regenerative battery based on solar power. This trailer-based system will correct a long-standing issue of unauthorized entities in a proactive manner and in return, reassure the safety of all Continental Tire personnel. 

PikePower Current Turbine | The PikePower Dual Stage turbine is an environmentally friendly device that is designed to aid in the transition away from fossil fuels. And help with the power grid demand as we shift into a more environmentally friendly world full of clean and sustainable energy generation. The massive turbine structure is designed to reside near the bottom of riverbeds and convert the slow-moving river currents into usable kinetic energy. Team three is tasked with the first two stages of the turbine and how to best prepare and acquire adequate flow to insure maximum kinetic energy generation through optimal shape, and ideal water flow conditions.

 

PikePower Turbine: Helical Stage | Given the need for affordable, abundant, and carbon-neutral energy across the globe, new ways to produce power are desperately needed. To combat this issue, our project aims to design and prototype the helical third stage of a water turbine for use in rivers and tidal areas. Our project aims to optimize the geometry of this novel turbine design for maximum efficiency and manufacturability while reducing the environmental impact throughout the product lifecycle.

Portable Data Acquisition System | The purpose of our project is to build a mobile DAQ system that can be used for a variety of testing scenarios with minimal setup and troubleshooting. Rotating Machinery Dynamics at SwRI currently runs multiple "one-off tests," where they are collecting data on customers' widgets.  For each test, they are designing, assembling, and commissioning a custom and individual Data Acquisition (DAQ) system.  These one-off systems are then taken apart at the end of the project. This process is inefficient, burdening the project with cost (in both labor and materials) and time to troubleshoot the new DAQ setup.

Solar/EV Carport| Developing the concept of athrombic sweatpants will help people susceptible to Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) (which includes Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and Pulmonary Embolism (PE)) which is more commonly known as blood clotting. People who are immobile are more prone to blood clots leading to an increased risk of death or health complications. In less severe cases individuals may be affected when having to be stationary for extended periods of time, for instance, while traveling long distances. AMAS Engineering’s goal is to develop a treatment system that is more compact as well as aesthetically pleasing to the consumer while still effectively promoting blood flow. The proposed idea will be athrombic sweatpants that will integrate the compression system into the clothing.

 

Mechanical Engineering Design II

Athrombic Pants| AMAS Engineering’s sponsor, Dr. Robert Hood, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Medical Device Design Development at UTSA (University of Texas at San Antonio). Dr. Hood has partnered with Dr. Ebin to develop athrombic clothing to help people who are susceptible to blood clotting. Dr. Ebin would like the group to design and fabricate athrombic clothing that will have built-in inflatable pumps that will be capable of providing compressions to a person’s arms and/or legs effectively while also being aesthetically pleasing and more mobile than current methods of treatment. 

Sprayer Grass Treatment System | The purpose of this project is to design a liquid spraying system to treat the undercarriage of a solar panel’s frame to ensure that the turf beneath does not interfere with the operations/functionality of the panel. The sprayer takes the place of edging equipment in the solar field. The intent is to make all the vegetation management autonomous and remove the need for someone to walk around the facility with a weedwacker.

Next Generational Truck Bed Crane Lift  | With a collaboration with this company, the two semester project will begin with a design project of how to create an overall better stabilization of a truck bed crane frame that can load, unload, and store septic tank lids within the back of a truck. The overall delivery of this project will portray uses of stress and strain limits, material analysis due to sea breeze, and creating a manual one person crank to lower and lift the lid. 

HEB Passivation System for Diary Plant | Higher Engineering Basics is working on retrofitting a used CIP system into a mobile passivation system intended for different-sized stainless-steel pipes for the H-E-B dairy plant. To achieve these specifics, a system of sensors and programming will have to be implemented. The design will consider the restrictive dimensions of the dairy plant to allow access to all parts desired for use.

Quick Release Flange  |  The quick release flange allows for the replacement of standard nuts and bolts that are typically found on many flanges across different piping systems with a camlock device. The purpose of the quick release flange is to decrease the time of setup when two flanges are being connected to each other and getting rid of the requirement of tools needed to connect and torque the flanges to proper specification. The quick release flange will fill each individual fastener hole and locking the flanges together by simply pulling the cam handle down and hand tightening the nut at the other end.

Multi-Extremity Preservation System (M.E.P.S) | The KCSB Engineering team is working with the Medical Design Innovations

(MDI) Lab to design a device capable of preserving thumbs, ears, and noses.

Static cold storage (SCS) is the current gold standard for preserving tissue

and consists of bathing the part in a hypothermic preservation solution [1]. SCS

can lead to ischemia-reperfusion injury due to the mechanical shock of the

resumed flow through the vasculature [2]. Perfusion machines have been found

to aid in providing nutrients to organs as well as preventing reperfusion injury

[3].

The goal of the Multi-Extremity Preservation System (MEPS) is to increase the

viability of the part during preservation while supplying adequate perfusion

parameters. Features such as being portable, lightweight, and easy were kept in

mind during the design process.

MEPS was inspired by the MDI Lab’s Versatile Organ Preservation System

(VOPS) which uses machine perfusion rather than SCS.

ACE Generation  | The Automotive Compression Energy (ACE) system is a low-interference power scavenging device that would allow for the mechanical energy from automobiles that drive over it to be converted to electrical energy to then be routed back to collect, either through batteries, or by being directly connected and powering other devices such as lights. The device being presented is a single section of the model, scaled down to a third of the nominal size, and fabricated from lighter weight materials.  

Chicken Seasoner Recovery System| For our project, we are making two primary improvements to a legacy project.  

We are adding a seasoning recovery system that will decrease the amount of seasoning wasted while the machine is in operation.  The improved recovery system does not need to be primed with seasoning, which will save money any time the machine needs to be emptied.  

Our second primary improvement is to the conveyor that the meat rides along.  We will add a ladder conveyor belt that will allow seasoning to fall through and will last longer than the previous belt.

Modular Helicopter Simulation Flight Controls System  | Rotor Coders will engineer a modular helicopter simulation flight control system. The purpose is to develop a cost-effective and marketable plug and play controller that will grant the user a highly realistic gaming experience not currently available to average at-home simulation users. The proposed system will employ legacy data from existing helicopters to replicate the input and response of the main flight control hardware component, the cyclic. The cyclic is to have a centering mechanism. This mechanism must allow for force trim functionality; the user presses a designated button, moves the cyclic to where they want the new center, and the cyclic must remain at this position when the button is released.

H-E-B Dairy Training System |The project goal is to retrofit an existing "clean in place" machine to operate as a training module that will be used to assess and improve technicians' skills. The unit will serve as a training system for technicians, assessing their knowledge of mechanical and electrical components. A Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) will be used to run the fluid and send controlled faults throughout the machine. The system will have four distinct modes of operation, each one designed to simulate a specific process found at the processing and distribution plant.

FSAE Paddle Shift System | Sbinalla Engineering is sponsored by UTSA’s Formula SAE team, Roadrunner Racing. SAE, or Society of Automotive Engineers, holds an international, collegiate design competition annually. For this design competition, competing schools build new cars each year for design critiquing events and time trials. Schools are expected to improve their car design each year. For years, our client Roadrunner Racing has had a reliable, but slower, push-pull shifting system. The driver would have to remove one hand from the steering wheel to change gears, like an H-pattern shifter. We intend to make shifting gears easier and quicker than the current push-pull system.

Dust Accumulation Detector | The dust accumulation detector is a project to improve upon a prototype detector that can determine when potentially hazardous quantities of combustible dust have accumulated on a surface. In the current configuration, these prototypes have trouble communicating with each other since the initial concept utilized radio frequency (RF) communication. Not only does RF work fine when tested in an office space, but the range is also sufficient in a practical industrial environment with the presence of a great variety of obstacles. The scope of work includes building a larger sealed enclosure and enhances its capability of alerting internal components' failures wirelessly. Extra works also include testing mechanical and thermal properties of the enclosures and the lifespan of all inside electronics. Finally, a server is built using sensor-to-sensor network protocol for message queuing service.

SlowStop Guarding Systems Test Ramp | The SlowStop Guarding Systems Test Ramp is a structure that is meant to standardize the testing of SlowStop's products. SlowStop wants to certify all their products using ANSI standard MH31.2. ANSI MH31.2 specifies that a test cart, provided by SlowStop, will  be accelerated to either 3, 5, or 7 MPH before impacting the product being tested. The test ramp will allow SlowStop to easily perform repeat tests when compared to their old methods.

Portable Football Kicking Simulator (PFKS) | The centerpiece of this project's design, according to our scope of work and the original Football Kicking Simulator's specifications, will be wireless communication and data collecting. Commercially available products will be used to fabricate the project (COTS). Utilizing COTS will shorten the fabrication process and enable early testing. For the project's actual construction, we'll have a football with two accelerometers on either end. A second accelerometer will be attached to the player's shoe. We will collect information on the ball's kinematics and the player's kicking power velocity after the player kicks the ball. A smartphone will display the data gathered.

H-E-B Marination Conveyor Improvements Design | The H-E-B meat plant relies on conveyor systems to transport marinated protein from their seasoning to packaging stations.​ A significant amount of product is lost in processing. Additionally, the side rail and bottom conveyor guard must be removed linearly for belt-cleaning. Lastly, operators during normal use have indicated an unacceptable amount of movement from the conveyor, such that operators are forced to manually hold it in place. The project will improve the conveyors that are utilized by H-E-B at the San Antonio meat plant facility. The proposed project consists of three design improvements based on analysis of unacceptable operations indicated by the client: A hinge and shroud that can be installed onto the conveyor frame, A side rail  that can be rotated out of the way using a lever handle, and dumper attachment which includes an on/off magnet and magnetic plates permanently attached to the conveyor leg and dumper.

Hubless Electric Bike | Our hubless electric bike is about reinventing the wheel and alternative forms to drive it. Bicycling was at an all time high during covid-19, and we'd like to interest more people by showing them that biking can be for everyone. Our bike would allow someone to conquer multiple terrains by adapting a manual, pedal assist, and full auto mode. 

Propellant Management Device (PMD) | Ignition systems in satellites require gas free delivery during engine

ignition while propellant is settling over the tank outlet. Without the use of a liquid-acquisition device in micro-gravity environments, dominate surface tension effects will cause the propellant to cling to the edges of the tank while vapor is likely to escape into the combustion chamber. The role of a Propellant Management Device (PMD) is to contain, control, and hold propellant at the outlet in all directions of travel in micro-gravity conditions. Our PMD, developed with the mission requirements provided by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), will be used in a Neutral Buoyancy Testbench (NBT) for testing purposes on ground for design, analysis, and development of PMD technology.

Harvest  | Harvest is a solar energy storage module that uses passive cooling techniques to maintain an efficient internal battery temperature while being directly in the line of sight of heat radiating off the back of a solar panel. Harvest uses three passive techniques to mitigate heat: insulation by a layer of fiberglass, absorption by a layer of phase changing material, and redirection by a system of heat pipes and heat sinks. 

Adjustable tennis racket handle  | Our project was based around a tennis racket design that has an adjustable tennis racket handle that can rotate 60 degrees per selected rotation. The grip of the tennis racket handle is moldable to the hand and if not perfectly set where intended it can easily be adjusted with the degrees of rotation of the handle to line up your strike to the tennis ball.

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