EXPO 2009 Home

The University of Idaho College of Engineering celebrates hundreds of engineering students for their work at the 2009 Engineering Design EXPO.

These students worked together throughout their senior year in preparation of the capstone event. Their final designs were presented to friends, faculty, alumni and industry partners at the cumulative event on May 1. EXPO Judges came from across the Northwest in support of the University of Idaho College of Engineering. Projects were judged based on purpose, detail, overall design process and real world applicability.

The winning booth exhibits were critiqued on their ability to discuss design features meeting and exceeding the customer's expectations, prioritize constraints based on detailed analysis, identify and evaluate design alternatives that minimize negative impacts on the project, and project, and assess strengths and outline plans for improvement in key areas as they related to the project.

Award Winning Booth Exhibits
	Ski Force Analysis System SkiFAST designed a device that more accurately simulates ski flexure on snow and measures the forces transmitted along the length of the ski using advanced pneumatics. This device incorporates systems to support the ski, measure the forces in the ski and allow a skier to be placed in the boot. Team Members: Josh Hartung, Cameron Stefanic, Jesse Kappemeyer, Anjil Giri, Safal Kshetri
	El Salvador Irrigation Project The Idaho International Irrigators team designed and analyzed irrigation systems for use in El Salvador. The overall goal was to establish a design/scheduling protocol that could be used on future irrigation projects in the region. Team Members: Kara Eby, Angelina Cernick, Alexander Edstrom, Manuel Diaz Gonzalez, Steve Schneider
	Electrochemistry of Copper Electrodeposition on Diffusion Barriers for Interconnect Technologies This project investigated copper electrodeposition on several bulk diffusion barrier materials such as Ta, Ta80-Ru20 and Ru. Thin film of Ta-Ru sputtered silicon wafers was also examined. Parameters modifying the surface chemistry were studied by utilizing various voltametric techniques. Team Members: Natalie Gese, Sohana Khanal, Toni Gutknecht, Tess Howell, Lindsay Barnett, Frank Battik
	Boeing Set-Point Block The set point block is a device used by milling machine operators to accurately set the zero point on the head of a mill. The current block, though simple and easy to use, had problems that could lead to errors in zeroing the mill heads, which could in turn lead to errors in the parts produced. This project created an improved design to replace the set point blocks currently in use throughout Boeing's manufacturing facilities. Team Members: Abraham Shryock, Brandon Butsick, Benjamin Shropshire, Nathan Thomas
	Sand Slurry Pump Blue Water Technologies must transport large amounts of sand from containers into 20 foot tall waste water pilot filters. Pumping sand slurry mixtures causes substantial wear to standard types of pumps. This project developed a disc pump providing sufficient movement of sand while minimizing wear. Team Members: Jessie Holderman, Beth Madsen, Adam Oster
	Magnetic Signature Assessment System using Multiple Autonomous Underwater Vehicles This Office of Naval Research funded project used the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle fleet as a moving formation sensor suite to perform Magnetic Signature Assessments on U.S. Navy ships in theater. Without this assessment, ships are unable to properly adjust their onboard degaussing coils to mitigate the ships magnetic signature which is a targeting source for mines and enemy torpedoes. Mines are responsible for the majority of ship casualties in the modern era, so the ability to assess a ship or submarine vulnerability to magnetic and acoustic detection is essential for eliminating ship casualties from mines. Team Members: John Canning, Jesse Pentzer, Ben Armstrong, Tom Bean

The winning poster projects received the highest points for having a clear and convincing purpose with highly effective transitions between poster components. Winning posters were presented for easy, enjoyable reading with attractive layouts and professional graphics.

Award Winning Poster Projects
	Water Infrastructure for City of Moscow, Idaho The City of Moscow requested the design of a low-cost flow measurement system to accurately measure stream flow in Paradise Creek and the design of an irrigation water source for a new park on West Palouse River Drive. The project consisted of designing a flume for the flow measurement device and designing the delivery system to transport Moscow WWTP effluent to the proposed ballpark. Team Members: Ben Coryell, Ashley Hobbs, Cara Haley, Ryan Lewis
	Christy Custom Home This civil engineering project created a design for the Christy residence in Summit County Colorado. Their design included the structural design of the home, geotechnical design, septic system design and driveway design. Team Members: Aaron Lewis, Kevin Funke, Charles Molthen
	TVBMS for Hybrid Electric Vehicles The performance of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) depends strongly on the performance of its battery pack, which in turn depends on temperature. A temperature and voltage battery monitoring and management system (TVBMS) was implemented into a hybrid vehicle. This system was designed to maintain the batteries within a desirable temperature range by using flow channels that cool with ambient air and warm with underlying heating coils. Team Members: Brittany Muntifering, Andrew Weakley, Duane Elgan, David Smith

The winning technical presentations received the highest points for excellence in their ability to convey a clear and convincing purpose and to competently answer questions. The winning presentations were logically organized and supported with professional graphics for an overall enjoyable listening experience.

Award Winning Technical Presentations
	Converting Wind Energy to Mechanical for Water Filtration This team captured wind energy and transferred it by mechanical means to power a water filtration system for application to rural and third world areas. This project set itself apart from similar designs by its ability to work at low wind speeds. The general design allowed for several variations in actual implementation depending on the geography and weather patterns of the area. Team Members: Thor Kooda, Sean Penberthy, Matthew Sorge, Mike Price
	Micrometeroid and Orbital Debris Impact Detection Structural health monitoring plays a crucial role in the safe operation of manned space vehicles. This interdisciplinary project developed thinfilm sensing technology for implementation as an impact damage locator on critical areas of a vehicle's thermal protection system. The project team delivered a prototype sensing system for hypervelocity impact testing at the White Sands Test Facility, White Sands, New Mexico. Team Members: Alex Swanson, Jay Hirata, Matt Arnone, Matthew Hinkelman, Matthew Mihelish, Nicholas Harris
	El Salvador Irrigation Project The Idaho International Irrigators team designed and analyzed irrigation systems for use in El Salvador. The overall goal was to establish a design/scheduling protocol that could be used on future irrigation projects in the region. Team Members: Kara Eby, Angelina Cernick, Alexander Edstrom, Manuel Diaz Gonzalez, Steve Schneider
	Vandal Educational Robot Team V-Bot designed an educational robotics kit for the University of Idaho College of Engineering. The team also organized and hosted the 2009 Vandals Robotics Challenge for high school students on May 2, at the University's Memorial Gym. Team Members: Tyler George, Nicole Hochstrasser, Benjamin Johnson, Davin Sands, Kevin Waring
	Large-Scale Vehicle (LSV2) Battery Charger Redesign Team Autovolt studied alternate charging schemes for recharging the 1,680 batteries that power the all-electric 1/3 scale Virginia-class submarine that the Navy Acoustics Research Detachment operates in Lake Pend Oreille. The team developed a charging algorithm that will maximize battery life, reducing operating costs and minimizing downtime for battery replacement. Team Members: Christopher Douglas, James Randall, David Hooker

Hundreds of EXPO visitors had the opportunity to vote for their favorite project at this year's event. These visitors ranged from elementary school students, to retired engineers with years of experience. The winner of this award was chosen for the interactivity of the display and working prototype.

People's Choice Award

RLEP Lunar Instrument Launcher On future lunar landing missions NASA intends on retrieving atmospheric conditions and soil properties in the somewhat permanently shadowed craters of the moon. The environment in these craters is extreme enough that standard approaches to mobility are considered impossible. This team designed a device to launch and retrieve sensors from a lunar lander to acquire the needed data and avoid traversal of the surface. Team Members: Tim Palmer, Eli Henson, Matt Cerro, Nick Yankee, Achala Akuretiya (KC), David Mehaffey, Mark Pennington.