Designs that Captivate and Inspire
At Engineering EXPO students display their Capstone Senior Design projects. The College of Engineering's Capstone Senior Design Program combines a student's knowledge of the fundamentals of engineering with real-world design experience.
The program was created to increase industry and university collaboration, to introduce students to the best practices for design and manufacturing, and to help students grow professionally in teamwork, communication and project management skills. The involvement of graduate student mentors and the interdisciplinary scope of the UI program is distinctive. Engineering programs around the country have taken note of Idaho's Capstone program, and several are modeling their own programs on Idaho's senior design program.
Come see Capstone projects from the Agricultural Engineering, Biological Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, and Mechanical Engineering departments.
Take a look at the projects that will be on display for Engineering EXPO 2009:
Innovative Sulfate Removal from Groundwater
Sponsored by Environmental Research Institute, British Petroleum, and Horizon Ag Products
When mineral deposits are recovered, often sulfide mineralization is a direct result. Groundwater and surface water from mining sites must be tested and treated to remove sulfate groups and other hard metals. A pretreatment of humic acid and calcium chloride, followed by a reverse osmosis system and a recycling of the reject stream, adequately removes sulfates and metals from water such that it is suitable for release into the environment.
Department:
Chemical Engineering
Project Faculty Adviser:
Dr. David Drown
Team Members:
Joshua Kane, Chemical Engineering
Chattip Nonthabenjawan, Chemical Engineering
Abigail Sobczyk, Chemical Engineering
Kirsten Canady, Chemistry
Investigating Multi-core and Cell Processor Security
Sponsored by Raytheon
This senior design project is focused on making computing more secure by analyzing the architectural characteristics of the Cell processor to understand possible flaws that may compromise the security of a MILS system running on the Cell.
In 2003, Sony, IBM and Toshiba created a design team to create a new multi-core processor. They chose to completely re-design much of the architecture previously found in consumer processors and designed the Cell Processor (www.research.ibm.com/cell/ ). The Cell Processor is comprised of a Power PC main core and a variable number of support cores. As with any new architecture, the security concerns of the Cell Processor have not yet been fully explored.
Departments:
Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Computer Science
Faculty Adviser:
Dr. Gregory Donohoe
Project Mentor:
Dr. Jim Alves-Foss
Team member:
Jessica Smith, Computer Engineering
Multi-touch Control Surface Project
Sponsored by Advanced Input Systems of Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
This Capstone senior design team is working with one of Advanced Input Systems' existing touch-screens that offers single-touch controls, the team's goal is to develop a software navigation engine that will enable AIS to offer multi-touch control surfaces.
Ballistic Test Fixture Project
Sponsored by ATK of Lewiston, Idaho
This team of Mechanical Engineers is researching and designing a ballistic test fixture. This testing device will record the pressure-time trace of percussion primers and will be used by ATK for comparing clean fire and lead free primer performance with the current lead based primers.
Data Acquisition System for Electronic Ship Demonstrator
Sponsored by the Office of Naval Research
The Navy requires a space efficient Data Acquisition System (DAQ) that will take measurements of the changes in voltage, current, temperature and position and then record, store and display this data for the AESD. The goal for the senior design team is to design and build a prototype DAQ that will acquire data from different sensors at different points from all over the ship and have an organized system for storage and display for this data.
Automated Crosswalk Project
Sponsored by Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories
The goal for this senior design team is to utilize the SEL-2411 as a traffic controller in a pedestrian crosswalk system. The system will be cost efficient both in the initial installation as well as operating and maintenance costs. Using the SEL-2411 will effectively cut the upfront cost of the system because it is significantly cheaper than the standard traffic controller.
The crosswalk will consist of two pedestrian buttons, two pedestrian signal lights and multiple three color traffic signals all controlled by the SEL-2411. Pedestrian buttons will notify the user that they have successfully pushed the button by an audible or visual feedback. Sensors will be included to monitor the lights and to ensure safety.
Instrument Launcher Project
Sponsored by NASA
While lunar rovers have the ability to accomplish many scientific tasks, one of their limiting factors is mobility. Craters on the moon can have steep walls and rough terrain that stops rovers from collecting information about these places. The proposed solution to this problem includes a 'fishing pole' design used to launch an instrumentation package. The launcher as well as the instrumentation package ideas will be examined. This project will result in determining the feasibility of such a design as mounted to a lunar rover.
Motorcycle Stereo Amplifier
Sponsored by Biketronics, Inc.
The objective of this project is to design a class D type audio amplifier for a motorcycle with an output of about 70W per channel. To achieve this, the voltage from the motorcycle (about 14V) needs to be stepped up to about 35 V with a bi-polar output and run the amplifier. The amplifier itself should be able to take in audio signal from a CD player, iPod, radio, etc and amplify it to the output with low distortion and noise.
Thumbprint Ignition System
Sponsored by Biketronics, Inc., Atmel , and Suprema Inc.
This project focuses on the design and implementation of a keyless entry system for motorcycles. This system will use fingerprint data and will allow the vehicle owner to operate without keys. This project will be able to work not only on stock bikes but be able to attach to a harness controller for custom bikes. The design must allow only the permitted drivers to start and operate the bike, a disabling system must activate in other cases. A method to train at least two sets of unique fingerprint will be implemented. The final product must be economically cost efficient and must be reliable enough to be backed by strong company warranty.
Spar Mill Workholder
Sponsored by Boeing
The hydraulic cylinders used in the creation of airplane wing spars at Boeing require constant maintenance. The goal of this senior design team is to create a mechanism to clamp down on the wing spares that requires less maintenance. The team created a model consisting of 2-clamps, chosen for ease of construction and to demonstrate a new design with the ability to operate multiple clamps with one hydraulic cylinder. The base in this design is simply a platform that supports the clamp redesign. Modification to the current base will be minimal so a mockup of the current base was deemed unnecessary. The hydraulic cylinder in this design will only be used during a changeover process between spars. Helical compression springs will provide the linear force on the pushrods required for the rocker arms to provide 1500lbs of clamping force on the spars.
Dillution Tunnel
Sponsored by NIATT
This senior design product focuses on providing the Small Engine Research facility with a means of precisely diluting engine exhaust and measuring the particulate matter in that exhaust in real time. One of the research areas that the University of Idaho hopes to expand is sustainable transportation fuels and engine technologies. Diesel engines offer potential for improved fuel economy over what current gasoline engines can provide. The major pitfall of the diesel engine is the NOx and particulate (black smoke) emissions that are much greater than gasoline engines. A way of measuring these emissions is a dilution tunnel. The UI Small Engine Research Facility (SmERF) is currently equipped for training students but is not suitable for precise engine development work. The purpose of this project is to increase the range of tools at the disposal of SmERF.
Sand Slurry Pump
Sponsored by Blue Water Technologies
This senior design team designed and fabricated a Tesla, or disc pump for Blue Water Technologies, a company dedicated to the treatment of water. One of the services that Blue Water offers is the removal of phosphorous from the effluent of a wastewater treatment plant. They use their Centra-flo filter, as well as a chemical agent to remove the phosphorous from the water. In an effort to demonstrate these methods, Blue Water travels around the country and sets up pilot units for potential customers. During the setup of the pilot units, the most difficult task is filling the filters with the filter media, sand. Currently their loading process involves renting large equipment, and precariously placing a worker on top of the filter. This method is costly, time-consuming, and unsafe.
Hybrid Formula SAE Engine
Sponsored by NIATT
This senior design team is designing a new Hybrid Formula 1 car that will be raced in 2010 at the Formula Hybrid International Competition, hosted by the Society of Automotive Engineers. The students researched and compared various hybrid configurations, components, and designs for the power-plant and drivetrain. The proposed design will use a "complex parallel" system where both the engine of the vehicle, as well as electric motors can propel the vehicle forward. The gasoline engine that will be used is the single-cylinder Yamaha YZ250F. The primary focus will be placed on the mechanical design of the powertrain. The necessary specifications for a subsequent power management team to effectively design the power control and integration system will also be proposed.
Electric Vehicle Impact on the Electric Grid
Sponsored by Idaho Power
There are a variety of plug-in electric cars scheduled to hit the market in the next few years. The existing electrical distribution system was not specifically designed to include the electric energy demand from charging these vehicles. This begs the question, is the electric grid ready for this additional load? This senior design team is focusing on developing a means to quantify the expected load of an assortment of electric cars in kW and kVAR demand, harmonics, time of use, and energy. This information will be used for energy forecasting and distribution load planning and design.
On-load Tap Changing OLTC Transformer Paralleling Simulation and Control
Sponsored by Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories
Transformers equipped with on-load tap changing (OLTC) mechanisms are paralleled for many reasons, such as transformer load reduction and improved reliability. In some cases, several OLTC transformers fed by a common source may be paralleled to the same load. In the best case, the OLTC transformers are matched in their nameplate ratings and OLTC characteristics. In these cases, a leader/follower OLTC control scheme may suffice. Other cases, however are not as ideal, and have transformers with different impedances, MVA ratings, and tap step regulation. The purpose of this proposal is to demonstrate the ability to parallel two mismatched transformers using advanced control methods. The students will design a mock-up of a simple three-transformer paralleling scheme. This scheme shall include the ability to vary load impedance and system voltages in order to simulate a "real world" situation as closely as possible.
Open Architecture Robot
Sponsored by the College of Engineering
This senior design project organizes an annual robotics competition sponsored by the University of Idaho for high school students. In addition to the competition Team V-BOT is also actively involved in building a University of Idaho exclusive robotics platform that can be used for future high school robotics competitions as well as college level robotics learning.
Test Fixture to Measure Ski Boot Forces
Sponsored by Dr. Jeff Seegmiller, University of Idaho
This project came about due to a lack of scientific data concerning the forces acting on ski edges and their affect on the human body, specifically on the knees and spine. Related research has been conducted by others, but simplifications have been made regarding ski behavior in the other studies such that an accurate representation of the forces has not been given. The SkiFAST senior design team has been asked to make a device that will more accurately simulate natural ski flexure. This device will incorporate systems to support the ski, measure the forces in the ski and to simulate a skier in the boot. Together, these systems will provide the data needed to study the forces acting in a skier's knees and spine.
Tractor Pull
Sponsored by the Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering
The tractor pull senior design team is working to develop a machine that is compact in size, relatively inexpensive, and can harness the power of a specific engine to achieve maximum pulling performance for short periods of time. The tractor is designed for the Americal Society of Biological and Agricultural Engineers Tractor Student Design Competition
El Salvador Water Project
Sponsored by Dr. Jan Boll, University of Idaho and the Millennium Challenge Corporation
Irrigation systems are currently used in the northern region of El Salvador. With poverty rates reaching 46 percent in rural agriculture areas, transportation of water resources is vital to the revenue of families using these systems. With a rainy season between May and October, local farmers should be unhindered by water content provided by an irrigation system. However, a "mini-drought" occurring for approximately two weeks in the rainy season prevents many farmers from planting high value crops for fear of total crop loss. The team's goal is to design a water pipeline that will prevent those losses mid-season and will also provide effective irrigation into the dry season. This system is not currently being designed to extend the irrigation timeline itself, but an emphasis is being placed on developing a pipe system that will limit water losses in pipe (currently a major issue for local farmers).
Re-entry Probe
Sponsored by NASA Ames Research Center
The Contact Senior Design Team at the University of Idaho is developing a low ballistic coefficient self orienting atmosphere re-entry probe to allow the reconstruction of atmospheric density through new measurement techniques. Our probe will be launched from the SOAREX VII sounding rocket platform along with payloads from other universities to help characterize supersonic reentry vehicles for NASA Ames Research Center.
Active Cold Trap
Sponsored by Dr. Akira Tokuhiro, Univeristy of Idaho
Liquid sodium is being considered as a coolant for fast breeder nuclear reactors. It has excellent thermal properties for a coolant, but it is also clear in color and extremely chemically reactive. This makes thermohydralic measurements difficult with limited options. Dr. Akura Tokuhiro is developing the velocimetry and thermometry using an acoustics system utilizing a ultrasonic transducer. To accomplish this he has asked team VECCTR to design a prototype test section to accommodate the ultrasonictransducer and to design an Active Cold Trap for the test loop.
Sand Motion Monitor
Sponsored by Blue Water Technologies
Sand flow in the Centra-Flo gravity sand filtration system needs to be monitored when a large number of systems are in use. This type of tertiary filtration is common both in municipal and industrial operations. Currently the sand flow is monitored manually on a scheduled basis. Proper movement of the sand bed within the filters is imperative to the proper function of the filter. If the filter is not functioning properly, the sand in the filter may clump up, known as bridging. Bridging will cause the sand flow to become uneven or even stagnant. This causes inefficient water filtration and further problems getting the system back to optimal operating condition. Currently the only way to monitor bed turnover rate is to place PVC “sticks” in the sand and watch how quickly they descend with the bed, the senior design team is working to find a better solution.
LSV2 Battery Charger Control
Sponsored by the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Acoustic Research Detachment in Bayview, Idaho
The Large Scale Vehicle 2 (LSV2) is an electric submarine operated by the Acoustic Research Detachment (ARD) of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Caderock Division (NSWCCD) to study acoustic properties of propulsion systems. The current system's battery charger configuration and charging scheme are results of inherited hardware from the LSV1. The ARD would like to optimize and improve battery capacity over the course of the main batteries life cycle and possibly reduce charge time by improving the method used to charge the system.
Vandal Racing
Sponsored by the Department of Mechanical Engineering
Every year the University of Idaho's College of Engineering fields a team of engineering seniors for the Formula SAE competition in Fontana, California. After a 14th-place finish in 2008 our goal is a top-10 finish in 2009.
Pressure Vessel Cleaning
Sponsored by Autoliv
Autoliv makes airbags for automobile manufacturers around the world. If there is a flaw in the airbag, many people are at stake: Autoliv, automobile manufacturers, and autmobile drivers. Team Clean Weld is going to remove any risk of failure of Autoliv's airbag inflators. To do so, we will define a safe level of cleanliness for all parts being made at Autoliv. This will include determining what contaminants/impurities are present on the parts and in the welds. Then we will propose a wash process to thoroughly clean the parts by removing all impurities that are causing failure in the welds. The wash process will be very quick and effective, and will be easily implemented into Autoliv's current assembly line. Our last two final steps in this project will be to create our proposed wash process and test the wash on actual parts. We will determine the effectiveness of the wash and determine exactly how this process will be implanted into Autoliv's current washing system.
Orbital Debris Detection System
Sponsored by NASA Ames Research Center
Structural health monitoring (SHM) plays a crucial role in the safe operation of manned Space vehicles. Damage to a vehicle's thermal protection system (TPS) can have severe consequences as evidenced by the Columbia accident in 2003 with the loss of seven astronauts upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. NASA and its partners are currently designing the Shuttle Orbiter replacement vehicle, Orion, to extend human exploration to the Moon, Mars and beyond. A typical operational scenario for the Orion module is to possibly remain docked at the International Space Station (ISS) for up to six months. One of the primary risks identified while the Crew Exploration Vehicle is docked with ISS is damage to the TPS from micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) impacts. The goal of this interdisciplinary project is to develop thinfilm sensing technology (flexible printed circuit board sensors) for implementation as an impact damage locator on critical areas of Orion's TPS. The project will require electrical design, mechanical design, finite element analysis and data acquisition software development. The project team will deliver a prototype sensing system for hypervelocity impact testing at the White Sands Test Facility, White Sands, New Mexico. A variety of sensing implementation scenarios will be investigated such as fore body heat shield sensing, back shell TPS sensing, and integration with multilayer insulation.
Setpoint Block
Sponsored by Boeing
The objective of this project is to create an improved design to replace the set point blocks currently in use throughout Boeing's manufacturing facilities. The set point block is a device used by milling machine operators to accurately set the zero point on the head of the mill. The current block, though simple and easy to use, has problems that can lead to errors in zeroing the mill heads, which in turn lead to errors in the parts produced. Through analysis of the advantages and shortcomings of the current block as well as desires that have arisen from the use of the block we will create an improved version with greater functionality.
Remote Controlled Pesticide Application
Sponsored by Dr. Don Morishita, University of Idaho
The objective of this team is to design a remote control sprayer which will be used by scientists in spraying their test plots with minimized contact of the operator to the dangerous sprays and fumes of pesticides and herbicides.
Salt Removal
Sponsored by the Idaho National Laboratory
This team is working to design, build, and test a method for pulling molten electrolyte out of an electrorefiner, which, is inside a hot cell, and freeze it into small enough cubes for the grinder.
