Capstones

A student project

Team 1

The NeuroBand project addresses the growing challenge of mental health issues such as depression and anxiety through a wearable device that monitors biological, psychological and physical indicators. Using artificial intelligence, the system detects early warning signs, identifies underlying causes and prompts users to take preventive actions before mental health deteriorates. The goal is to offer…

SolarSPELL: Offline AI for Smart Farming

Smallholder farmers in developing regions often face rapidly changing soil conditions due to climate instability, but lack access to reliable diagnostic tools. To address this challenge, the team trained a TinyML model on 100,000 soil samples from maize fields in Rwanda to interpret subtle soil variations without relying on internet connectivity, grid power, or costly…

Team 14 Animatronic Dragon

The Pratt Brothers, known for their award-winning holiday displays, partnered with the team to create Zephyr, an animatronic steampunk baby dragon featured in their Rawhide Christmas Western Town exhibit. Zephyr’s design enables wing folding, tail gear rotation and expressive movement for an immersive guest experience. The project demonstrates the creative integration of engineering, art and…

Team 13 Sustainable Alternative to Burner Rig Testing of Turbine Engine Materials

Honeywell Aerospace tasked the team with improving sustainability in turbine material testing, traditionally conducted with high-emission burner rigs. Their proposed design integrates an air-fuel ratio sensor to optimize combustion control and reduce NOx emissions. The system maintains FAA compliance while providing a more efficient, environmentally responsible testing process. Sponsor Honeywell Aerospace

Team 12 Low Flying small Unmanned Aircraft System

The U.S. Marine Corps tasked the team with developing a low-cost, portable small unmanned aircraft system built from secure, non-foreign electronics. The prototype autonomously follows programmed flight paths, avoids obstacles without reducing speed and allows manual intervention when needed. This design enhances operational safety, efficiency and ease of use in diverse mission environments. Sponsor United…

Team 11 Indigenously Sourced Large Payload UAS

The team is developing a low-cost unmanned aerial system capable of carrying a five-pound payload across a 10-mile range using commonly available materials and commercial avionics. Components are sourced from local hardware suppliers to enable accessible, point-of-use manufacturing. The fixed-wing design mirrors a Cessna aircraft, emphasizing load capacity and simplicity, while demonstrating innovation in sustainable,…

Team 09 Drone Interceptor Design, Analysis and Flight Test

Boeing partnered with the team to develop an autonomous drone interceptor capable of detecting and neutralizing hostile aerial threats. The system integrates AI-based detection algorithms with a net deployment mechanism to disable targets in flight. This approach offers a practical, adaptive solution to counter the growing challenges of drone warfare. Sponsor Boeing

Team 07 Design and Prototyping of Robotically Arm-Actuated Glovebox Operations

Partnering with Los Alamos National Laboratory, the team is addressing ergonomic and safety challenges in glovebox operations used for material disposal. Their design integrates a UR5 robotic arm to automate repetitive tasks while maintaining human oversight for complex procedures. The addition of improved chamber access and visibility features reduces operator strain and enhances safety in…

Team 04 Tactile-Enabled Space Suit Glove for Space and Moon Missions

Paragon Space Development Corporation, a leader in life support and thermal control solutions, tasked the team with designing a tactile‑enabled space glove to improve astronaut dexterity. The glove integrates a haptic feedback system using linear resonant actuators and force-sensing resistors to simulate touch. This innovation improves tactile awareness and precision during extravehicular activities, advancing Paragon’s…

Team 03 Panel and Frame Connectors

Summit Automation tasked the team with developing a more robust electrical connector for lifting and sliding doors that elevate before movement. The design ensures the housing remains concealed within the door frame while protecting against environmental exposure and sustaining more than a thousand open-close cycles without failure. The improved connector enhances product reliability and supports…