Βι¶ΉΣ³»­

Innovation Day is May 2, 2025!

See capstone design projects solving real-world problems from noon to 1:30 p.m. May 5 on the University campus.

See our latest innovations on May 2!

See senior capstone design projects on May 2. K-12 visitors are welcome from 10:30 a.m. to noon, followed by public viewing from noon to 1:30 p.m. Educators who would like to bring their students to the event should fill out our .  

College of Engineering seniors will showcase innovations, plans and developments that solve real-world problems and/or better our lives at Innovation Day. These 100+ projects, often done in conjunction with industry partners, are the culmination of work done in senior capstone courses, which span two semesters and are required for graduation. 

Explore student projects in seven disciplines: Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Computer Science & Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. Projects will be displayed in the , the  and . Public parking is available at the  and at the . For information on parking fees and other parking options, see the University’s Visitor parking webpage.

Participating teams will vie for prizes in the Capstone Design Project Competition sponsored by the Βι¶ΉΣ³»­ National Security Site. A multidisciplinary panel of engineers and community leaders will assess projects submitted for the competition on their collective impact to the field of engineering as a whole.

Biomedical Engineering projects

  • BME-1 HealingHand

    Students: Dillon Hughes, Anjalee Gitthens, Godwin Igbeyoki, Erica Nichols, Kemma Kolstrup

    HealingHand aims to help osteoarthritis and stroke patients regain hand mobility and grip strength through engaging physical therapy exercises. The device employs flex sensors and force sensors to assess patient capability, then leads them through a game which they must perform therapeutic exercises to control.

  • BME-2 Burn Bubble

    Students: Victory Stewart, Benjamin Miller, Raphael Luy

    We are creating a prototype for a type of bandage used specifically for burns. We aim for the prototype to circulate an antibacterial solution over the burned area to prevent dehydration and infection of the burned area. We also aim for the prototype to include a feedback system based on temperature, pH, and flow rate sensors to inform the user when the solution needs to be changed.

  • BME-3 MYOwn-Electric Workout Evaluation Device
    Team BME 3, left to right, is Thomas Rucinski, Peter Ressel, Dede Mendoza and Jacob Masterson.
    Team BME 3, left to right, is Thomas Rucinski, Peter Ressel, Dede Mendoza and Jacob Masterson. 

    Students: Dede Mendoza, Jacob Masterson, Peter Ressel, Thomas Rucinski

    Many individuals eager to begin their fitness journey often feel intimidated to start or struggle to stay consistent due to the overwhelming amount of exercise information available. This information overload complicates the gym experience, creating uncertainty about the quality and effectiveness of their workouts. For example, many beginners' express concerns like "I can't feel my muscles" during exercises designed for specific muscle groups, while others may even feel too self-conscious to attempt certain movements at all. These challenges can lead to frustration, hinder expected results, and cause individuals to lose motivation and abandon their fitness goals prematurely.  MYOwn-Electric seeks to address this issue by using advanced EMG technology to track muscle activation and provide users with personalized, data-driven insights. By leveraging sophisticated signal processing techniques, we convert complex bioelectrical data into clear, user-friendly feedback, allowing individuals to understand their body mechanics and optimize their workouts. Our solution has the potential to transform fitness by offering a personalized approach to training and promoting better health. Beyond physical performance, MYOwn-Electric boosts self-confidence by offering a clear path to progress, contributing to a more inclusive and supportive fitness culture where individuals of all levels can pursue their goals with greater assurance and clarity.

  • BME-4 Cast Infection Monitor

    Students: Daniel Gordon, Ashwin Rajagopalan, Jordan Nattenberg

    The cast monitoring system detects volatile organic compounds associated with wound infections, offering a non-invasive and efficient method for early detection. By continuously analyzing air composition near a wound, it identifies changes that may indicate infection, enabling timely medical intervention. Designed for ease of use and reliability, it provides an additional layer of monitoring to support better patient care and recovery.

  • BME-5 Ketoacidosis Breathalyzer

    Students: Ashley Yakish, Ankeet Singh, Jada Okaikoi, Brendan Smith

    Our Ketoacidosis Breathalyzer project aims to provide a non-invasive and efficient solution for detecting diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) through the analysis of acetone levels in exhaled breath. By using a combination of specialized sensors and an Arduino microcontroller, the device offers a real-time, cost-effective method for monitoring DKA risk. The breathalyzer detects acetone, a key biomarker produced when the body switches to fat metabolism in the absence of sufficient insulin, a hallmark of ketoacidosis. This innovative device is designed to be portable, user-friendly, and reliable, with the potential to improve early detection and intervention, especially for individuals with diabetes. With easy integration into daily life, this project is not only a technological breakthrough but also an important step toward making medical monitoring more accessible. Our team has focused on developing a low-cost, practical tool that can be used both in healthcare settings and at home, empowering individuals to monitor their health proactively. By enhancing the speed and accuracy of DKA detection, this breathalyzer could help prevent severe complications, improving patient outcomes and promoting better diabetes management.

  • BME-6 Therapeutic Knee Brace with Sensors to Detect and Predict Swelling

    Students: Natalie Bowman, Tatianna Beck, Harely Guerrero, Laiba Suhail

    The human knee is a vital weight bearing joint in the body that is responsible for a variety of movements and is susceptible to injuries to the muscles, ligaments, bones, etc. which in turn causes the joint to swell. One of the most common at home remedies for orthopedic injuries include rest, ice, compression, and elevation of the joint to combat swelling. Using the concept of cold therapy to treat swelling, the Therapeutic Knee Brace with Sensors to Detect and Predict Swelling will provide support and be lined with several strain gauge sensors to measure any changes in the knee shape and size that indicate swelling as well as a temperature sensor to detect increases in the knee temperature. If the knee brace detects swelling from these two sensors it will turn on ceramic plates that will cool the knee down aiding in treating the swelling automatically.

  • BME-7 and EE-8 (combined) - PULSE: Portable Unit for Life-Support and Surveillance Equipment

    Students: Jacob Gellman, John Clauson, Vanessa Kalenits, Canon Rank

    PULSE is a modular system designed to enhance battlefield awareness and troop safety by integrating drone detection and real-time health monitoring. Utilizing radar detection and audio verification, the system identifies and tracks small aerial threats, helping troops respond more effectively to potential dangers. A detachable life-support module continuously monitors vital signs and GPS location, providing critical health data for quick medical intervention. Designed for portability, reliability, and adaptability, PULSE offers a scalable solution for evolving combat environments. By integrating multiple sensing technologies, PULSE provides a comprehensive approach to threat detection and soldier safety.

Civil and Enivronmental Engineering projects

  • CEE-1 Boomtown Housing Subdivision

    Advised by Casey Talbot (Adobe Associates, Inc.)

    Students: Joshua Rhodes, Jack Kostecki, Jared Doolittle, Kolby Gooder

    Reno has experienced significant population growth over the past several decades, and this trend is expected to continue through 2030. To meet the increasing demand for housing, this project aims to create a new single-story residential neighborhood located off Interstate 80 in Boomtown. After conducting thorough research, Nexgen Innovators have determined that this development is the preferred choice over alternatives such as an apartment complex or high-rise building. The Boomtown Housing Subdivision design integrates three key civil and environmental engineering disciplines: Transportation/Pavement, Geotechnical, and Hydrology/Water Resources. For the transportation/pavement discipline, tasks include a traffic impact study, roundabout design, roadway design plan, and pavement mix design. The geotechnical work covers a site-specific report and foundation design for the homes. Lastly, in the hydrology/water resources area, the project includes hydrology analysis, grading and drainage plans, and bioretention basin design. Nexgen Innovators are excited to bring this project to reality, ensuring that the growing Reno population will have access to the housing options needed to support its expansion.

  • CEE-2 Veteran Rehabilitation Center in Verdi, NV

    Advised by Jeffrey Graham (NDOT), Ken Anderson (JKAE)

    Students: Tyler Campbell, Peter Bertolino, Markus Petures, Robbie Schroder, Moin Ud Din Hassan

    The rising suicide rates and homelessness among veterans in America has led to the engineers at Silver State Engineering (SSE) to develop a Veterans Rehabilitation Center in Βι¶ΉΣ³»­. SSE conducted a feasibility study on three potential locations to identify the optimal solution to address the problem based on site and design. The three potential locations determined by the team were a lot on Robb Drive, a lot in Douglas County, and a lot near Verdi and Boomtown.   A triangle matrix was used to determine the best design for the building that will serve the veterans community. The lot near Verdi and Boomtown was chosen because of its proximity to I-80 and commercial developments beneficial for the veterans. The team will utilize 3 primary Civil sub-disciplines from Structural, Geotechnical, and Transportation Engineering alongside Land Development and Water Resources Engineering.   The dimension for the center will be 80 x 100 ft with 2 stories, where the inside of the center will consist of two common rooms, one on each floor along with a gym and multiple rooms for the veterans to stay in. Lastly, the construction of the Veterans Rehabilitation Center will be a safe and nurturing environment for the American heroes.

  • CEE-3 Affordable Housing Development in Downtown Reno
    Team CEE 3, left to right, is Giovanny Herrera, Terrell Calinog, PJ Gilbert and Ian Palmer.
    Team CEE 3, left to right, is Giovanny Herrera, Terrell Calinog, PJ Gilbert and Ian Palmer. 

    Advised by Nelson Pearson/ JR Hildebrand

    Students: Terrell Calinog, PJ Gilbert, Giovanny Herrera, Ian Palmer

    Dirt Crew Engineering's (D.C.E.) Affordable Housing Development is a new affordable housing complex in downtown Reno. Located close to the Truckee River, this site was selected due to the proximity to local businesses, public transit, and cultural landmarks, such as the Greater Βι¶ΉΣ³»­ Stadium. This development offers modern, comfortable living spaces at accessible rates with a focus on sustainability and affordability. This tackles Reno's growing issue of insufficient affordable housing. Reno also faces an issue of urban sprawl. The inefficient use of land, such as empty parking lots, increases commute times and reinforces the overreliance on personal vehicles. The D.C.E. Affordable Housing Development addresses this problem through three stories of parking beneath the affordable housing. Visitors and residents alike can now enjoy the amenities of downtown Reno without worrying about parking.    D.C.E. also has plans to use a newly reverse engineered roman concrete mix which has "self-healing" capabilities. This innovative technology will be used for external paving along the patio area and the City of Reno Riverwalk.   The D.C.E. Affordable Housing Development will foster a sense of community within downtown Reno while increasing the functionality and wellbeing of the present infrastructure.

  • CEE-4 Thermal Hydrolysis Retrofit for Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility

    Advised by Austin Martin, P.E. with Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility

    Students: William Lind, Esteban Carrillo, Kushagra Sharma, Joshua Baughman, Mike Roman

    This project aims to improve the final solids quality and biosolids handling capacity at the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility (TMWRF) by designing a thermal hydrolysis system for implementation into the existing waste solids handling process. This system will expedite the first stage of the waste digestion process-hydrolysis. Thermal hydrolysis is a wastewater treatment process that uses heat and pressure to break down organic matter in waste sludge. The process typically involves heating the sludge to high temperatures under high pressure and then rapidly switching to low temperature, low pressure conditions. This series of steps ruptures the cell walls of organic matter, releasing  nutrients and significantly enhancing solubilization for the subsequent stages of the waste digestion process. This results in improved dewaterability, reduced pathogens, and enhanced methane production during waste digestion.   Improved methane production would not only continue to support the plants energy self-reliance, but possibly position them as an exporter of the biogas to local consumers. With EPA permitting, this project expects to enable TMWRF to send its waste solids to local agricultural farms. Overall, the process will reduce retention times in the waste digesters, increase volatile solids reduction, and reduce waste solids handling costs.

  • CEE-5 Evans Street Rehabilitation Project

    Advised by Bill Hoffman

    Students: Fabian Castaneda, Samuel Elvick, Mitchell Gray, Jamison  Kaboli

    Evans Avenue has a major problem regarding the safety of its pedestrians and the traffic flow for its commuters. Currently, the street has a speed limit of 25 miles per hour. This is due to the roadway lacking sufficient shoulders, while also having multiple sharp curves. Despite these conditions, drivers often reach speeds upward of 35 miles per hour.  Additionally, during peak school hours, hundreds of students must cross Evans Avenue to reach class. These concurrent high speeds and high pedestrian volumes are a major concern regarding the safety of pedestrians, and they demonstrate an urgent need for increased user safety.  To improve user safety and reduce traffic congestion, a pedestrian bridge will be constructed north of the intersection of Evans Avenue and Jodi Drive. In order to account for the added runoff of the bridge and its ramps, a drainage culvert will be installed along the length of the eastern ramp, parallel to the train tracks. For this project, fencing will be placed along the east side of Evans Avenue along the asphalt path in order to enforce pedestrians to use the bridge rather than walk across Evans illegally. This will also increase pedestrian safety and decrease vehicle congestion.

  • CEE-6 Lake Tahoe Multimodal Accommodation Project

    Students: Joshua Torrecampo, Ricky Rubins, Alex Jordan, Tyler Jordan

    The Lake Tahoe Multimodal Accommodation Project is focused on creating safety within the Lake Tahoe region. Located on the southeast end of Lake Tahoe is Highway 88 and Highway 89. Within the proximity of the highways, there is a recreational area known as the Hope Valley Wildlife Area.  With a wildlife and recreational area near two interstate roads, a sense of danger is created among drivers on the road, people partaking in recreational activities, and animals that need to access natural resources. This project will be designed to mitigate risks among all parties and create comfort within this area, allowing all purposes to be carried out safely.  Unique Solutions Engineering focuses on sustainable, environmentally friendly solutions, which will be incorporated in the Lake Tahoe Multimodal Accommodation Project. With the addition of an animal underpass, designated (protected) bike lanes to connect to the recreational areas, and different roadway widenings, the Lake Tahoe Multimodal Project will ensure greater safety within this recreational area and the roads within it.

  • CEE-7 Reno Light Rail Project

    Advised by Hualiang Teng, UNLV Rail Commissioner and Professor

    Students: Daryn Harper, Samuel Sturgeon, Sammy Lou Reyes, Benjamin Ferido

    A project exploring the viability and impact of a light rail system spanning from Lemmon Valley to Carson City.
    The Reno Light Rail project seeks to alleviate the North-South congestion in Reno's transit system due to the increase in industry and population of the greater Reno area. The proposed light rail would stretch nearly 40 miles North-South from Lemmon Valley to Carson City. The current design calls for 5 major stations (Lemmon Valley, North Reno, South Reno, Incline, and Carson City) with parking lots and train yards, as well as minor stops along the route. As part of this project, the North Reno station and the typical minor station will be designed, as well as the accompanying parking lot and foundation drawings for the structure of our building.  The line will utilize a Hyundai Rotem Hydrogen Fuel Cell Tram, designed to hold up to 130 people per five car configuration. The major station itself will have its energy consumption offset by solar panels positioned over the parking lot, providing shade for the parked cars and electricity to the station. Additionally, traffic queuing reports, as well as a traffic analysis for expected ridership will be provided as part of our final report.

  • CEE-8 Silver Grouse Package Treatment Plant

    Advised by Nick O'Connor (Shaw Engineering)

    Students: Kyle Larragueta, Jake Brandvold, Cole Weible, Wyatt Prather

    The Silver Grouse Water Treatment Plant is designed to reduce high arsenic concentrations in the drinking water of Stagecoach, NV. The project will incorporate Differential Pulse Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (DPASV) technology for real-time monitoring of contaminant levels. By utilizing standardized treatment units, the plant offers a cost-effective solution for water treatment. These modular units provide the flexibility to scale treatment capacity up or down as Stagecoach's population changes. The integration of DPASV technology enables operators to continuously monitor contaminant levels and take appropriate actions to ensure the water meets Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) safety standards.

  • CEE-9 Silver Star Medical Center

    Advised by Jason Powers (ZFA), Colton Schaefer (JKAE)

    Students: Otto Kellner, Conner Gage, Hannah Loeffler, Amar Akhtar, Attiqa Fida

    Silver State Solutions presents the Silver Star Medical Center, a transformative project aimed at addressing Atlanta's urgent healthcare challenges. The optimal solution identified to alleviate hospital overcrowding and improve emergency response times is to demolish the non-operational WellStar Atlanta Medical Center and construct a state-of-the-art, sustainable hospital in its place. Strategically located in the heart of downtown Atlanta, the new 460-bed facility will serve Atlanta's growing population, particularly the underserved Old Fourth Ward community. The design includes advanced sustainability features such as rooftop solar panels, a rainwater collection system, and emergency water storage. These elements enhance resilience during power and water disruptions. The hospital layout prioritizes efficiency, patient accessibility, and modernized healthcare delivery. Our engineering scope covers structural, hydrological, and geotechnical tasks, with a comprehensive design schedule ensuring projects are completed by Spring 2025. While the initial costs of demolition and reconstruction are significant, the long-term benefits in sustainability, operational efficiency, and healthcare capacity make this project the most viable solution. This project represents a critical investment in Atlanta's future, offering enhanced medical services, reducing emergency response times, and providing a sustainable, long-lasting healthcare infrastructure.

  • CEE-10 The City of Winnemucca Municipal Airport Expansion
    Team CEE 10, left to right, is Travis Tomlinson, Andrew Madrigal, Drew Scolari and Travis Tompkins.
    Team CEE 10, left to right, is Travis Tomlinson, Andrew Madrigal, Drew Scolari and Travis Tompkins. 

    Advised by Juan Madrigal, Professional Engineer

    Students: Travis Tomlinson, Travis Tompkins, Andrew Madrigal, Drew Scolari

    The Winnemucca Municipal Airport is a rural airport in Winnemucca, Βι¶ΉΣ³»­ that currently manages two mid-length runways capable of landing small freighter planes and private aircraft. The Winnemucca Municipal Airport Expansion Project will allow the airport to facilitate the landing of up to and including Boeing 767-300 Freighter planes to greatly expand the transportation of freight into Winnemucca. The primary aim of this project is to improve the desirability of the community for potential industrial employers, specifically for nearby mining operations. The project will consist of the addition of a 9,000-foot runway to the east of the existing airport facilities, expanded taxiways, a large docking area for plane unloading, and two 100,000 square-foot cargo handling facilities. The project has been planned to be minimally invasive to existing airport operations and will have continued use of the existing runways as a primary goal. The newly constructed runway and all associated taxiways will be built according to FAA specifications for the chosen freight aircraft. Asphalt sections will be capable of handling fully loaded freight aircraft, and cargo facilities will be designed to best facilitate the movement of goods through the airport to support forecasted growth.

  • CEE-11 Ballpark-Museum Bridge project
    Team CEE 11, left to right, is Jasmyne Crissey, Paige Bowers, Devynn Dunn-High and Kaylah House.
    Team CEE 11, left to right, is Jasmyne Crissey, Paige Bowers, Devynn Dunn-High and Kaylah House.

    Students: Devynn Dunn-High, Paige Bowers, Kaylah House, Jasmyne Crissey

    In 2023, Greater Βι¶ΉΣ³»­ Field drew over 300,000 fans, its highest attendance since 2015. To alleviate game-day congestion, we propose a two-way bridge over the Truckee River, linking Ballpark Lane and Museum Drive. This will improve traffic flow, enhance pedestrian access, and boost connectivity in downtown Reno.

  • CEE-12 Mitigating Harmful Algal Blooms in San Francisco Bay with Clay
    Team CEE-12 Students
    Team CEE-12 Students

    Advised by Mark Gookin (TerraPhase Engineering)

    Students: Ryan Burt, Jordyn Dashiell, Zachary Hooker, Diego Castellano

    In the summers of 2022 and 2023, the San Francisco Bay experienced red tide harmful algal blooms (HABs) by excessive growth of Heterosigma akashiwo algae. This caused mass die-offs of fish species, turned the bay a red-brown color, endangered at-risk species, and impacted the fishing and tourism industries in San Francisco. The city has passed legislation requiring a reduction in excess nutrients being released into the bay. Since this is an expensive long-term solution that will take years to implement, this project offers an immediate short-term solution to treating and minimizing HAB impact.  AquaPhase plans on preventing HABs in their early stages by using clay as a coagulant to kill algae on contact or sink the algae to a depth at which it will not be able to receive enough sunlight and nutrients to survive. The clay will be pretreated with environmentally safe chemicals and mixed with bay water to be distributed into the algae-affected water. This process will occur on a boat that will use a hose and pump system to spray the mixture onto the algae, preventing it from growing into a large-scale algal bloom.

  • CEE-13 Animal Crossing Overpass

    Advised by Fred Hatcher

    Students: Alyse Schultz, Emilee Bryan, Zephyn Sellars, Frank Czechan

    The purpose of this project is to reduce animal-vehicle collisions along the Glenn Highway between Wasilla and Anchorage, Alaska, by constructing a wildlife crossing. Moose-vehicle accidents are a significant concern in the region.  The scope of the wildlife overpass includes a geotechnical design, hydrology design, and a structural concrete design. The hydrological design of the crossing will be designed to manage water flow efficiently. The design will incorporate culverts and perforated pipe to prevent flooding and erosion.  The geotechnical design will address the unique challenges of the Alaskan soil. Soil reinforcements will be used to improve soil stability and minimize the risk of erosion and settlement to ensure long-term structural integrity. The structural concrete design will focus on durability and safety, utilizing reinforced concrete arches to span the divided highway. The crossing will have natural surfaces to simulate Alaska's natural terrain and encourage wildlife use. Fencing will be incorporated to prevent animals from straying, and signage will be utilized to warn drivers of wildlife activity.   The FAZE Engineering team is extremely qualified for this job due to our extensive background in the included designs, and we will provide excellent and professional designs.

  • CEE-14 Food Accessibility Project

    Advised by Jon Browning (Tectonics Design Group)

    Students: Santy Carrillo Zaragoza, Alyssa Reichert, Kalia Johnson, Aiden Hechavarria

    To improve food accessibility and community connectivity in the Downtown Reno and UNR campus area, KASA Consulting designed a grocery store for the open lot located on 6th Street and Lake Street. This location is central to both areas and would allow for multiple modes of transportation such as car, public transit, and walking. Furthermore, the grocery store would be able to accept food assistance payments to accommodate people with low income and provide a variety of food alternatives to fit different budgets. To consider community connection, a covered patio and a ready-to-eat meal service will provide a place for locals to congregate. The scope of this project includes geotechnical, site planning, structural, and transportation engineering. A geotechnical investigation and subsurface exploration provided information about the soils and the bearing capacity of the site. The structural design for the grocery store included the roof, walls and foundation of the building. Proper drainage, parking, and utility adjustments for the lot were considered in the site design. Lastly, a traffic impact study was conducted in the surrounding area to determine the effects of the new development.

  • CEE-15 Clearviews Mixed-Use Community
    Team CEE 15, left to right, is Filadelfo Hernandez-Angel, Cody Prentiss, Elany Capacia and Kyla Lowery.
    Team CEE 15, left to right, is Filadelfo Hernandez-Angel, Cody Prentiss, Elany Capacia and Kyla Lowery.

    Advised by Blake D Carter (Westex Consulting Engineers), Cecylia Janes (Lumos and Associates)

    Students: Elany Capacia, Filadelfo Hernandez Angel, Kyla Lowery, Cody Prentiss

    The City of Reno Master Plan notes that Reno lacks options for affordable housing, retail and entertainment amenities, as well as community spaces. ReEngineering is proposing a mixed-use community northwest of the Clear Acre Lane and North McCarran Boulevard intersection. This plan incorporates an innovative look at infrastructure designs while focusing on minimizing environmental impacts to ensure higher quality of life and energy efficiency. As a mixed-use development, the Clearviews Community maximizes land use in order to feature walkable amenities with sustainable features. Solar carports generating electricity and energy-saving building elements, in addition to the incorporation of green roofs and lined sidewalks, add sustainable aspects to mitigate environmental issues found in urban developments. Residential units will share a building with ground-floor storefronts, and parking will be placed in convenient locations for residents and visitors. Furthermore, a combination of residential, commercial, and public spaces will foster a vibrant community. The incorporation of a multifunctional park with recreational areas, walking paths, and natural landscaping will promote outdoor activities and biodiversity at a low cost. In addition, economic growth through increased foot traffic and diverse housing options will benefit the City of Reno by encouraging future innovative developments.

  • CEE-16 McCarran Aquatic Center
    Team CEE 16, left to right, is Emily Milliken, Isaac Cooley, Emily Hohman and Maya Abraham
    Team CEE 16, left to right, is Emily Milliken, Isaac Cooley, Emily Hohman and Maya Abraham

    Advised by Andrew Poustie (Stantec), Karlie DelSanto (CME), Krupps Bethancourt (Linchpin SE)

    Students: Emily Milliken, Isaac Cooley, Maya Abraham, Emily Hohman

    CHAM Engineering's goal is to enhance the physical and social well-being of the community by contributing to the already rich recreational activities that are available to Reno. Most aquatic facilities in the area are dependent on the weather as to their availability of services, leaving them to be open about four months out of the year. CHAM Engineering is designing the McCarran Aquatic Center to address the lack of accessible aquatic facilities in the Reno/Sparks area.   The McCarran Aquatic Center will provide an Olympic-size swimming pool, water slides and other recreational services such as a splash pad and a lazy river. The scope of the design criteria for CHAM Engineering includes geotechnical engineering, structural, water resources, and water treatment. The water resources and water treatment design incorporate innovative practices such as UV disinfection, using a closed loop system, and using energy efficient pumps and motors.

  • CEE-17 Scrugham Engineering and Mines Redesign
    Team CEE 117, left to right, Aiden Barnes, Garett Bouillon, Zander Simone, Leticia Ledezma Rubio and Chalyce Forshey.
    Team CEE 117, left to right, Aiden Barnes, Garett Bouillon, Zander Simone, Leticia Ledezma Rubio and Chalyce Forshey. 

    Advised by Chris Waechter (Kimley-Horn)

    Students: Leticia Ledezma Rubio, Chalyce Forshey, Zander Simone, Garett Bouillon, Aidan Barnes

    The Scrugham Engineering and Mines (SEM) building at the Βι¶ΉΣ³»­ (UNR), has been a key facility for the College of Engineering since its construction in 1963. The SEM building has undergone minimal renovations, necessitating modernization to meet current sustainability, accessibility, and seismic safety standards. With engineering enrollment exceeding 2,500 students as of 2023, an updated facility is critical to supporting the growing academic community.   This project will revitalize the SEM building with sustainable design, improved accessibility, and enhanced seismic resilience. In line with Reno's 2025 green initiatives, it will feature a green roof and energy-efficient systems for heating, cooling, and water use, aiming for LEED certification. Accessibility for the building will exceed the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) standards with elevators, staircases, and ramps for an inclusive environment. A base-isolated system will be added to improve seismic safety and extend the building's lifespan.   Additionally, the redesign of SEM will introduce a more logical layout, increase collaborative learning spaces, and improve accessibility. These improvements will ensure the SEM building remains a leading center for engineering education, reflecting UNR's commitment to innovation, safety, and excellence.

  • CEE-18 University Village Pedestrian Connectivity Project
    Team CEE 18 is Pat Phelps, Hilario Sanchez, Blake Hardin, Logan Miceli and Austin Long.
    Team CEE 18 is Pat Phelps, Hilario Sanchez, Blake Hardin, Logan Miceli and Austin Long.

    Advised by Keith Dennett, PhD, PE, Camille Buehler, PE, PLS, Brian Moon, PE)

    Students: Austin Long, Blake Hardin, Hilario Sanchez, Pat Phelps, Logan Miceli

    The University Village Pedestrian Connectivity Project (UVPCP) is a multiphase infrastructure project aimed at enhancing pedestrian and micro-modal transportation between the Βι¶ΉΣ³»­ (UNR) and Downtown Reno. As UNR expands southward, Interstate-80 (I-80) presents a physical barrier that limits safe and efficient access to the University Village, a proposed mixed-use, pedestrian development. This multi-phase project seeks to foster connectivity, safety, and economic growth.   Phase One focuses on designing a pedestrian and cyclist only cable-stay bridge spanning I-80. This chosen design is beneficial due to its visual appeal, cost-effectiveness, constructability, and accessibility.   Phase Two addresses site development for University-owned and surrounding parcels south of I-80, with considerations for grading, utility infrastructure, and traffic impacts that come with increased commercial development.   Design efforts span multiple civil disciplines, including Structural, Environmental, and Transportation Engineering. The project integrates advanced design methodologies learned at UNR, industry-standard guidelines, and a new solution to create a safe, efficient, and vibrant campus extension.   The UVPCP aligns with UNR's long-term vision and the City of Reno's master plan, reinforcing the university's role in regional development while improving mobility and urban connectivity.

Chemical Engineering projects

  • CHE-1 Sulfur Recovery From Magnesium Sulfate

    Advised by Ryan Ravenelle, Lithium Americas Corp.

    Students: Aisling Rovarino, Stephanie Werth, Mack Edinger, Arthur Ramirez

    Many mining companies use sulfuric acid to recover valuable metals. An example is Lithium Americas Corp. whose planned process to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate creates a magnesium sulfate byproduct. The goal of this project is to find a method to recycle the sulfur in the magnesium sulfur back into sulfuric acid. This will improve the sustainability of the Lithium Americas process and reduce the amount of sulfur the company must purchase for producing sulfuric acid.  

  • CHE-2 Metal recovery

    Advised by Jared Olson and Sammee Davis, McClelland Laboratories 

    Students: Adam Georgeson, Wyatt Haag, Jose Regalado, Samantha Thompson  

    The purpose of this project is to identify precious metals in a copper mines raffinate stream and design a recovery process for the any metals with a concentration high enough. 

  • CHE-3 Continuous Lithium Extraction from Brine

    Advised by Nolan Erickson, Albemarle Corporation

    Students: Thomas Hamby, Isaac Harrison, Nathan Merkle, Mitchell Rathbun

    This project entails redesigning a portion of Albemarle's Silver Peak Lithium mine. Currently, the mine refines its brine with a batch process, which greatly reduces material throughput and operating time. Converting the batch process into a continuous process would increase the lithium produced by Albemarle by a reasonable margin.

  • CHE-4 Hydrogen from biosolids (bus fleet)

    Advised by Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation

    Students: Anjali Bhatia, Jayce Esplin, Cora Douglas, Rowan Loranz

    This project involves designing a process to produce hydrogen from biosolids. This hydrogen will be used to power RTC buses.
    The goal of this project is to design a process which converts the waste products at TMWRF into usable fuel for the new RTC buses. The process will utilize hydrothermal carbonization, gasification, reforming, and urification. Hydrothermal carbonization is beneficial to the process as the biosolids do not have to be dried anywhere in the process. This saves a very energy and time intensive step in the process when compared to other methods of biosolid conversion. The main challenges of the project are determining the amount of hydrogen that can be converted from biosolids and biogas from TMWRF, and whether this hydrogen can be produced economically for RTC.

  • CHE-5 Hydrogen from Biogas

    Students: Sean Akers, Aidan Perrin, Matt Long, Jared Keller

    Our team explored the process of extracting biogas from digested waste and converting it into hydrogen for RTC fuel cell buses in a way that is both economically viable and efficient. The process begins with amine scrubbing, a method used to purify the methane from biogas by removing impurities like carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. Once purified, the methane undergoes steam methane reforming (SMR), where it reacts with steam at high temperatures to produce syngas, a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. This is followed by the water-gas shift reaction, which further converts carbon monoxide and steam into additional hydrogen. Finally, a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit is employed to purify the hydrogen, separating it from any remaining impurities to ensure high purity. By optimizing these unit operations, we aimed to maximize the hydrogen yield while keeping costs and environmental impact low. This method provides a sustainable and cost-effective pathway to produce hydrogen from biogas, supporting cleaner and more efficient public transportation with RTC fuel cell buses.

Computer Science and Engineering projects

  • CSE-1 Fit Pantry

    Students: Chase Rodie, Lexie Reddon, Heather Amistani, Zach Greenhill

    Our project is an AI-powered nutrition and fitness assistant designed to help users achieve their health goals by seamlessly integrating meal planning and workout routines. Unlike traditional fitness apps, our solution generates personalized meal plans based on groceries the user already has, dietary preferences, and fitness objectives. By leveraging the groceries, the app creates a virtual pantry, tracking nutrition data and expiration dates to minimize food waste. The AI-driven recipe generator suggests meals tailored to specific fitness goals, whether it's muscle gain, fat loss, or endurance training. Additionally, the workout planner ensures that meal and exercise plans are aligned for the best results. What sets our app apart is its approach - combining nutrition tracking, grocery management, and fitness planning into a single, intelligent app. It also considers dietary restrictions making health living more accessible and efficient. With a user-friendly interface and AI-driven technology, our app is ideal for health-conscious individuals, fitness enthusiasts, and busy professionals.

  • CSE-2 SeeThru
    Team CSE 2, left to right, is Nikola Tunguz, Diego Borne, Joel Molina and Reni Wu.
    Team CSE 2, left to right, is Nikola Tunguz, Diego Borne, Joel Molina and Reni Wu. 

    Students: Nikola Tunguz, Joel Molina, Reni Wu, Diego Borne

    SeeThru is an advanced thermal security system designed to enhance residential safety by detecting individuals, concealed pistols, and monitoring package activity in real time. Using image processing and deep learning techniques, SeeThru captures both visible and thermal images, providing instant notifications to users and their emergency contacts. The SeeThru system consists of two key components: a physical monitoring device and a web-based interactive platform. The device integrates two cameras running image processing software, focusing on real-time detection. The website facilitates secure user authentication, device management, and emergency contact configuration. Additionally, the website offers live camera feeds with alerts and notifications indicating bounding boxes for people and firearms. SeeThru's intelligent detection system offers a unique and comprehensive solution for proactive home security, notifying users of potential threats before a situation can escalate. With a user-friendly interface and AI powered processing, SeeThru redefines home security, empowering users with greater awareness, control, and safety.

  • CSE-3 Automatic Taxonomy Construction for Neural Networks (ATCNN)

    Students: Thomas Braun, Lukas Lac, Josue Ochoa, Richard White

    As research into deep learning advances, understanding the nuanced similarities between the structures of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) is becoming increasingly complex. We present a structured ontological approach for evaluating similarities between neural networks enabling dynamic analysis between any set of ANN's. The comparative framework is based on data extracted from academic papers & model code utilizing embeddings to leverage embeddings for Large Language Models (LLMs) & graph neural networks for ontology population. The hierarchical structure for the extracted data is defined by ANNETT-O, a generic methodology for describing the architecture and training strategies of ANNs. Designed to be standalone, an application of our approach serves as an axiom for proving similarity & dissimilarity between models from their weights & biases. This open-source research aims to improve transparency, interpretability, & knowledge discovery in the field of machine learning.

  • CSE-4 The Final Show

    Students: Christalin Dorsey, Sarah Orner, John Glenn, Shangxi Xue

    The Final Show is a multiplayer roguelike inspired by Dress to Impress and Lethal Company, where players traverse through a series of dungeons by gathering experience, known as scripts, from enemies and bosses to unlock the next floor. The core gameplay loop involves players spawning into a preparation room where they will have a limited amount of time to equip various items that grant unique combat statistics and abilities. Once time runs out, players are dropped into a procedurally generated dungeon, where they must race against the clock to reach a target location while also collecting a certain number of scripts in order to advance to the next floor. Items, enemies, and challenges are heavily influenced by random number generation (RNG), resulting in a new, unique experience every playthrough. The game's overarching theme centers around theater, with each dungeon stage representing a new "performance," showcasing different settings and styles inspired by various historical and fantasy worlds.

  • CSE-5 RoleInitiative

    Students: Madeline Veric, Brendan Ingersoll, Jacob Reddicks, Aiden LaPierre

    RoleInitiative is a comprehensive digital platform designed to enhance the Dungeons & Dragons experience by combining the best features of existing tools like D&D Beyond and Roll20 into one cohesive system. The platform offers a character creation manager and a homebrew content management system, all accessible through a user-friendly interface. It aims to streamline gameplay for both new and veteran players by providing step-by-step tutorials, a centralized content library, and the ability to create, share, and integrate custom homebrew content. The platform is browser-based, with a focus on Chromium browsers, and allows users to manage campaigns, share content, and access a marketplace for additional resources. Built using Flask (Python), HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, and PSQL, RoleInitiative targets D&D players, particularly Dungeon Masters, aged 20-40. The project also has potential for future expansion, including support for other tabletop RPGs and campaign-sharing features. Despite challenges like market competition and the team's limited web development experience, RoleInitiative aims to fill a niche by offering a more robust and user-friendly alternative to existing platforms.

  • CSE-6 Skylight OS

    Team CSE 6, left to right, is Garrett Sharp, Quinn Contaldi and Jack Ratermann.

    Students: Quinn Contaldi, Jack Ratermann, Garrett Sharp

    SkylightOS is a 2D puzzle game, with an IT/Cybersecurity theme set inside a fake operating system environment. Players will enter the Skylight company to help remove malware and viruses from the computer of one of Skylight's clients, Dorothy Edith. Through a series of strange and fun minigames, players will fix wifi, update drivers, and fix Dorothy Edith's computer.

  • CSE-7 Spell-Bound

    Students: Fenn Edmonds, Liam Francisco, Lanielle Pavlik, Kat Wayman

    Spell-Bound is a roguelite created in Unity that incorporates a Large Language Model for player to NPC interactions. As the new librarian at Athenaeum Public Library, Ophelia, you are tasked with assisting the patrons that have found themselves within the walls of a place long forgotten. Players ages 13 and up can hold nuanced and dynamic conversations with the non playable characters through the use of Google's Gemini AI and better understand why a once beautiful and beloved library has since fallen to ruin. In addition to cultivating relationships with patrons brave enough to enter the library, Ophelia is tasked with breaking the curses attached to the library through thrilling battle sequences taking place within the worlds these books have created. Befriend patrons young and old in order to boost relationship statuses for additional buffs or mistreat those who want your help for more of a challenge.

  • CSE-8 Syntinel Nyx

    Students: Jasmine Huang, Miguel Muniz, Christian Culanag

    Syntinel Nyx is an IT management suite that streamlines asset, vulnerability, and patch management for medium to large-sized organizations. Nyx's main purpose is to provide a robust yet intuitive interface for IT personnel to quickly update and deploy patches safely across different environments. With an emphasis on safety, Syntinel Nyx intends to ensure any changes made to the environment are clear to the user, cannot cause errors to propagate throughout the network, and are easily reversible. Through an intuitive web interface, IT personnel can effectively create workflows to automate patch deployment and testing.  Agents on company machines collect telemetry data for historical tracking and conduct periodic vulnerability scans.  While paid and free options for asset, vulnerability, and patch management software do exist, there does not exist a free and easy-to-use application that encapsulates these functions into a standalone application. Not only that, but these applications often utilize proprietary scanners rather than allowing the users to customize which scanners to utilize for their individual company's use case. As such, Syntinel Nyx seeks to address this gap in the market and provide IT administrators with an intuitive yet powerful application to rapidly improve an organization's change management process.

  • CSE-9 WaveBrigade

    Students: Haley Marquez, Emanuelle Pelayo, Sebastian Andrade

    WaveBrigade utilizes an EmotiBit to gather and display biometric data when a user reacts to different media. A teacher has the ability to create different experiments such as, Photo, Gallery, or Video Labs where they attach the appropriate media. During live sessions, student's will react to the media while wearing the EmotiBit and they can see their real time data as graphs.

  • CSE-10: Fallen Society

    Students: Carlos Hernandez, Joey Bertrand, Tristan Hughes

    Fallen Society aims to merge the game genres of RPG and Wave Survival to create a brand new gaming experience. A comprehensive inventory, item, and quest system give the game its signature RPG touch, similar to titles such as Elden Ring & Skyrim. Meanwhile, the hack and slash fun of round-based survival titles seen in games like Call of Duty: Zombies keep the player engaged in exciting combat. In this game, you'll play as an abandoned explorer on a remote island whose sole goal is to escape to safety. As rounds progress, you'll have to explore new areas of the island to gather increasingly powerful items while defeating bosses and completing quests. Built with Unreal Engine 5, Fallen Society aims to provide its players with an immersive and entertaining experience.

  • CSE-11 CORE

    Students: Kiana Partovi, Darren Ly, Timothy Ang

    This project is intended to provide undergraduate students with a virtual robotics lab. They will be able to learn about how to code a robot simulation in python, and apply the content they have learned through taking quizzes and coding in a live environment.   The platform includes robotics courses, robotic environments, coding environments, teacher and student interaction, and gamification. The course content will educate undergraduate students about robotics through coding. They will learn about a specific robot and the functions that go along with it. For example, this can include how to move the robot or move objects/assets with python code. The robotic environment is created from Mujoco, an open source physics simulation. The coding environment is in python and the code entered in this environment will affect the robot simulation.   The goal is to provide for all types of students, whether that be because they don't have access to purchase hardware equipment, have access to a lab, or are intimidated by the complexities robotics is known to have. We aspire to make robotics an engaging and accessible experience.

  • CSE-12 Embarkr

    Students: Ali Ba, Colter Niemann, Canon Leahy

    A travel and relocation web application that uses machine learning to give personalized recommendations for hotels, flights, houses, and more.
    Our web application uses machine learning to give personalized recommendations for hotels, flights, houses, and more. It delivers an all-in-one solution where users can effortlessly find the information they need whether it's a broad search or a unique request. On the explore page users can use dropdown menus to get general information on a city such as schools, houses or hotels. Alternatively users can use the chatbot to get answers for questions that are more specific such as nearby gas stations.

  • CSE-13 MEDPASS - Predictive Assessment for Student Success

    Advised by John Westhoff (UNR School of Medicine)

    Students: Domminic Mayer, Rino David, Nolan Visitacion, Jake Herweg

    The MedPass project aims to address the concerning decline in USMLE Step 1 examination performance among UNR medical students. This program serves to be a supplement to current learning resources and classes by utilizing predictive tools and machine learning models to analyze student performance data across multiple sources. By identifying specific knowledge gaps that could be overlooked due to the pass/fail grading system, MedPass creates personalized learning plans that are tailored to each student's unique needs. The platform analytics serve to benefit students but also faculty as well, who gain valuable insights into class/year-wide performance trends enabling targeted curriculum adjustments based on analysis. The MedPass program utilizes industry standard technologies and practices such as NextJS, Tailwind CSS, Pandas and more opening the door for continuous development and improvement. The project will serve as indispensable to a medical student's academic career as failing the USMLE Step 1 can dramatically alter a student**'s** career trajectory and potentially reduce the already limited pool of new upcoming medical professionals.

  • CSE-14 Whispers of the Veil

    Advised by Michael Wilson

    Students: Farzana Tanni, Lucas Davis, Sasha Koroleva, Owen Ingram

    Whispers of the Veil is a 2.5D pixel horror adventure game that combines voice commands with AI-driven mechanics for a uniquely immersive experience. Designed in Unity 2D with an isometric look, the game challenges players to explore eerie environments, solve puzzles, and interact with supernatural entities that respond to their spoken words. Using a speech recognition model based on DeepSpeech2, the game dynamically adapts to player input, making each playthrough unpredictable. By integrating voice-driven mechanics into horror gameplay, Whispers of the Veil aims to create an unsettling experience where players feel truly heard and never alone.

  • CSE-16 VEDB Toolbox

    Students: Brian Wu, Leon Magbanua, Matthew Gaskell, Tyler Dishman

    A web application for processing and visualizing sessions from the Visual Experience Database (VEDB), which consists of world and eye videos alongside head and eye movement data.
    The VEDB Toolbox is a web application designed for viewing and interacting with data from the Visual Experience Database (VEDB), which contains 717 recordings of individuals performing daily tasks. Each session includes two eye videos and one world-view video, all synchronized, along with data on head and eye movements. After logging in and authenticating, users can upload the videos or provide links to them. They can then watch the three videos simultaneously and view corresponding data displayed through three distinct line graphs. This application will be primarily used by the Self-Motion Lab at the Βι¶ΉΣ³»­ (UNR), and has the potential for broader use within the vision science community.

  • CSE-17 Ihiyo

    Students: Adam Lei, Terrence Akinola, Edwin Sotres

    Ihiyo is a story-driven 2D puzzle game following a cursed boy navigating the mysterious world under the cursed influence. Ihiyo journeys through an immersive narrative by mastering ghost-like possession abilities that allow them to inhabit  objects and NPCs in the game world.  Gameplay revolves around ghost transformations and spirit interactions, challenging players to creatively use these supernatural powers to progress. Each puzzle-ranging from contained single-screen challenges to complex multi-mechanic sequences-unveils more of Ihiyo's tale as he seeks to understand and break the curse that binds him.  This adventure seamlessly blends puzzle-solving with immersive storytelling, creating a distinctive experience where gameplay and narrative complement each other. Think strategically about which objects to possess and when to transform to overcome the curse!

  • CSE-18: UNR Lost and Found

    Students: Mary Cottier, Matthew Guild, Shane Petree, Guilherme Cassiano

    The goal of this project is to provide students at the Βι¶ΉΣ³»­ with a website that will display the items in the lost and found in buildings across the campus. We will potentially work with UNR to incorporate this with the UNR interactive map that students already have access to and make it simpler for users to access our project. We are working with UNR facilities and potentially UNR Marketing and Communications to help develop the website to make it as informative and useful to students as possible. Anyone will be able to browse and search through items logged on our platform to find their lost item.  Primarily student workers will handle the logging and claiming of items in the system.  Building administrators and UNR administrators will control access to certain site features to prevent the need for moderating content.

  • CSE-19 Image Archive

    Advised by Scotty Strachan

    Students: Patrick Lehr, AJ Di Diana, Wyatt Haley, Nate Michelotti

    The Image Archive project is an innovative web application that aggregates a diverse collection of images from numerous Βι¶ΉΣ³»­ field research sites. Designed to streamline the work of researchers, the platform leverages advanced machine learning to automate the organization, analysis, and retrieval of high-quality images. By intelligently classifying and tagging visual data, our tool minimizes manual effort and accelerates the pace of discovery, allowing researchers to focus on in-depth analysis and groundbreaking insights. This dynamic integration of technology with field research not only enhances data accuracy and accessibility but also paves the way for future innovations in environmental and geological studies across Βι¶ΉΣ³»­.

  • CSE-20 SoulSync
    Team CSE 20 is, left to right, is Joseph Jacobson, Vedant Malhotra and Shayan Hosseini.
    Team CSE 20 is, left to right, is Joseph Jacobson, Vedant Malhotra and Shayan Hosseini.

    Advised by Sean Montgomery (Connected Future Labs)

    Students: Vedant Malhotra, Joseph Jacobson, Shayan Hosseini

    SoulSync brings user wellbeing and health data together into an app that brings users closer to friends and family, while giving them a greater understanding of their own mental health. By tapping into biometric information from devices such as the iPhone, Apple Watch, and EmotiBit, SoulSync can understand trends of a user's daily life. SoulSync also provides insights into all this data by encouraging the user to check in and take part in activities. Tapping into data from apps such as music, calendar, and health, and pairing it with data from hardware devices such as Apple Watch and EmotiBit brings a unique blend of analytics and insights to the user. The social aspect of SoulSync (SoulSync Social) allows users to share their emotions and more to others, fostering deeper connections with friends and family. SoulSync is also designed with privacy in mind, ensuring all health data is processed locally and on-device. Additionally, data inputs into SoulSync are all opt-in. SoulSync's unique blend of data processing and analysis means it's easier than ever to understand your health data while also providing a seamless and effortless way to check in with friends and family.

  • CSE-21 Nexulum

    Advised by Arthur LeVesque

    Students: Aaron Whitaker, Spencer Garcia, Aisling Viets, Stephen West

    Nexulum is a 3D top down installment in the action/adventure video game genre. Nexulum serves to empower the player by allowing a selection of multiple classes, each that come equipped with their own weapons and abilities. During the player's time in the world of Nexulum, they will be exploring the lost ruins of a fabled age that has been forgotten to time in search of a relic dubbed, "The Nexulum". Utilize magical runes and materials found throughout these ruins to further craft and augment your current abilities to become more capable and make it to the peak of the ruins to fulfill your mission objective.

  • CSE-22 CivicNest

    Students: Carmine Potirniche, Timmy Norris, Kaleo Sanchez, Brandon Foy

    With CivicNest, the problem that we decided to address was to make the homebuying process much more insightful for prospective homeowners. We believe that other websites like Zillow don't offer necessary insight into the properties that people want to invest in, so we want to build upon and improve the features that applications such as Zillow possess. We intend to implement a web application that allows users to look up neighborhood statistics that affect property value, such as school ratings, walkability scores, and crime data.

  • CSE-23 Fulcrum

    Advised by Vinh Le (Instructor at Βι¶ΉΣ³»­ / OIT Administrator/ Ph. D. Student), Levi Scully (Teaching Assistant at Βι¶ΉΣ³»­/ Masters Student)

    Students: Heather Zechter, Brandon Rowell, Nicholas Jarvis

    Fulcrum solves a key problem in human-computer interaction (HCI) research - the need to master and coordinate multiple tools throughout the research process. This platform emerged from observing researchers struggle to integrate disparate systems across their studies. The proposed solution combines study design, participant sessions, data collection, and analysis in a single web-based platform. Researchers maintain full control over study customization while establishing consistent processes that improve study quality. A minimal dashboard presents study results through clear visualizations that highlight patterns in learning, task performance, and user behavior. By bringing everything together, research teams spend more time on research and less time managing technology. Built with current web technologies, Fulcrum adapts to different research approaches rather than forcing researchers to change their methods. The system supports both today's needs and tomorrow's analytical possibilities. The booth demonstration shows Fulcrum in action within actual research settings, illustrating how this unified approach makes HCI studies more efficient and effective.

  • CSE-24 Sorcerer's Void

    Students: Mason Haines, Zak Kholmatov, Omar Vega

    Sorcerer's Void is a reimagined souls-like video game made in Unreal Engine, set in a medieval world where the ultimate goal is to escape and return home. This project is important because amongst Dark Souls games in the marketplace, very few attempt to break through the genre and do something new. The game introduces a different take on the genre, offering a nuanced experience with elements from other genres, such as the cinematic execution mechanic and a dynamic environment. Featuring a fluid and fun combat system, the game challenges the player to react and adapt against unique enemies. Additionally, the player will discover weapons, stat gems, armor and weapon styles.

  • CSE-25 Neural Noir

    Students: Christine Angela Barlaan, Evie Nivera, Matthew Osorio

    Neural Noir delivers an immersive video game experience by integrating natural language processing, generative AI, and biometric feedback. Players assume the role of a suspect being interrogated by two detectives, responding to questions through speech input transcribed by Whisper. Meanwhile, their biometric data is monitored using an EmotiBit. GPT-4o mini analyzes both the player's responses and biometric data to generate dynamic replies from the detectives. This fusion of generative AI and biometrics is rarely explored in gaming, making Neural Noir a groundbreaking experience. The game's core components include a biometric system powered by EmotiBit, an AI-driven response generation system, and Whisper-based text-to-speech processing. By combining these technologies, Neural Noir creates an interactive, high-stakes interrogation scenario where the player's physiological state and spoken words shape the investigation's outcome.

  • CSE-26 Vertigo Protocol

    Students: Ethan Partain, Matt Jenkins, Cisco Dacanay, Kieran Cole

    Vertigo Protocol is a boomer shooter FPS that combines the fast-paced, retro-inspired gameplay of classics like DOOM and Quake with modern movement mechanics and vertical level design. Players will use tools like jetpacks, wall running, and grappling hooks to traverse complex, multi-layered environments while fighting off waves of enemies. Our goal is to create a game that appeals to both longtime fans of the boomer shooter genre and new players familiar with modern FPS games, bridging the gap between old-school and contemporary design. Developed in Unreal Engine 4, Vertigo Protocol emphasizes fluid gameplay, responsive controls, and player choice through a customization system that lets players tailor their abilities and weapons. The game is designed with accessibility in mind, including remappable controls, visual scaling options, and colorblind-friendly features, ensuring a broad audience can enjoy the experience. By combining nostalgia with innovation, Vertigo Protocol aims to redefine the boomer shooter genre, offering a fresh, vertical twist on a beloved formula while staying true to the fast-paced, chaotic fun that defines the genre.

  • CSE-27 Nostromo

    Students: Dominic Pham, Stolan Belikove, Nicholas Moore, Robin Singh

    Nostromo is a self-hosted, full stack application for cataloging digital movie and television collection, It simplifies movie management by addressing file hashing to uniquely identify files , ensuring collection integrity and minimizing problems caused by file renaming. Agnostic to file names, it enables seamless bulk renaming through scripting and prevents error and file misidentification. Focused solely on more efficient and reliable solution for organizing and maintaining digital movie collections.

  • CSE-28 The Bird Programming Language

    Students: Cole Carley, Nathan Wright, Aidan Kirk, Nicholas Langley

    Bird is a web-first programming language that enables developers to run code in the browser at near-native speeds. By targeting WebAssembly, the Bird compiler generates code that can be directly integrated into new or existing JavaScript projects. The language includes fundamental control flow constructs, a strong type system, and a garbage collector, so web developers can write both performant and memory safe code. If you want fast code on the web, then Bird is the way to go.

  • CSE-29 NSS: Network Security Suite

    Students: George Kokkinis, Nicholas Katsaros, James Torres-Davila

    The Network Security Suite is an all-in-one cybersecurity solution designed for network protection for businesses, institutions, and home users. NSS integrates essential tools, such as Intrusion Detection/Prevention, Security Information and Event Management, traffic monitoring, and SNMP device monitoring. By combining these tools, NSS simplifies network security management and reduces setup complexity. The NSS features real-time security alerts, interactive dashboards, and role-based access control to ensure that administrators can effectively monitor and defend their networks.

  • CSE-30 Pump Chest
    Team CSE-30 students
    Team CSE-30 students

    Advised by Tashin Karim

    Students: Juno  Suwanduan, Yatin Wahi, Saransh Beniwal, Erick Sanchez

    Pump Chest changes the face of home fitness with a system that uses visual recognition to scan exercise forms as you exercise and offers instant feedback to avoid injury and maximize results, and is recordable and shareable for additional feedback from fitness experts. Members can Bluetooth sync heart rate monitors, track calories burned, and view fitness milestones from their own dashboard. Our complete package includes food intake tracking with breakdowns of protein, carbohydrate, and fat content, personalized exercise programs, and an easy-to-see calendar for tracking consistency. We have integrated posture analysis technology with a streamlined design to be a cost-effective substitute for high-priced trainers and gym memberships. Pump Chest divides common fitness hurdles into providing professional guidance regardless of where you are or what gear you have. Pump Chest democratizes fitness training into the hands of the masses, putting pro-level expertise and real-time analytics into the masses' hands, bringing accurate exercise forms to anyone with a webcam and internet access.

  • CSE-31 Tanks of Ruin

    Advised by Ben Griffith

    Students: Jude Koenig, Tommy Smith

    Tanks of Ruin is a roguelike turn based tactical game, with an emphasis on tactical thinking and item use in order to eliminate enemy units and progress across a randomly generated waypoint map of post-apocalyptic Europe. With a retro, command and conquer style the game doesn't take itself too seriously and rewards the player for trying something interesting and modifying their tanks. The player only has one life and fights until they beat the final level in Moscow or die trying. The player carves their way through groups of enemies and uses unique tactics to prove themselves as the best tank commander in Europe.

  • CSE-32 ABRATools
    Team CSE 32, left to right, is Robert Fleming, Anthony Silva and Austin Parkerson. Not pictured: Brandon Ramirez.
    Team CSE 32, left to right, is Robert Fleming, Anthony Silva and Austin Parkerson. Not pictured: Brandon Ramirez.

    Students: Anthony Silva, Brandon Ramirez, Robert Fleming, Austin Parkerson

    ABRA addresses the crucial need for enhanced security auditing, logging, and management of clustered container-based networks. By integrating a security information and event management (SIEM) system with a management plane, kernel-level security auditing through eBPF, container orchestration, and system observability, ABRA addresses these needs. ABRA allows for secure frontend access, role-based control, and live monitoring of metrics for decentralized container networks, along with platform-neutral orchestration and monitoring on remote nodes. Our goal is to create an extremely flexible monitoring and orchestration service which can scale to fit clustered container networks for hobbyists all the way to those in enterprise-grade computation and research clusters.

  • CSE-33 Sous Chef

    Students: Oliver Zolan, Sutter Reynolds, Bennet Rau, Zac Waiksnoris

    Sous Chef is a cooking companion app that makes kitchen life easy. The problem we are addressing is people with little kitchen knowledge can often get discouraged when cooking. This leads to eating out and spending money. Sous Chef aims to make cooking easy by being your cooking companion. The app integrates features such as a digital pantry to keep track of your ingredients, receipt scanning for easy ingredient addition to your pantry, and a machine learning model that can scan ingredients in your pantry to return recipes that use those ingredients, and more. All of this is aimed to make cooking easier for everyone. So far we have a bare-bones user interface that allows users to interact with the app. A machine learning model has been implemented to scan a few ingredients so far. We have also implemented text recognition for receipt scanning, allowing users to easily add items that they just bought at the store to their pantry.

  • CSE-34 EmotiGame

    Advised by Michael Wilson (UNR CSE), Sean Montgomery (Connected Future Labs)

    Students: Morgan Jensen, Carson Ramocinski, Thomas Nelson

    EmotiGame is a research study exploring how biometric data can reveal patterns in gaming skill levels. Our study brings together 12 participants-6 skilled and 6 unskilled-to compete in 1v1 League of Legends matches against an expert control player.  As participants play, we track heart rate, keyboard activity, and mouse movement to analyze physiological and behavioral differences between skill levels. Using machine learning, we aim to uncover biometric indicators that may distinguish experienced players from beginners.

  • CSE-35 Dev Quest

    Students: Tyler Olson, Matt Stanley, Jason Parmar

    Inspired by platforms like Duolingo, our project incorporates interactive elements such as quizzes, coding challenges, and progress tracking to keep users motivated. It is designed for students, self-learners, and beginners who want to strengthen their understanding of Computer Science in a structured and interactive way. Many learners struggle with traditional, text-heavy materials, and this helps bridge this gap by making concepts more digestible through hands-on challenges and rewards.

  • CSE-36 TasteBuds

    Students: Alicia Chiang, Alyssa Aragon, Hannah Haggerty

    TasteBuds helps busy families, partners, and roommates meal plan asynchronously. It is a platform for collaborative recipe discovery that caters to user cravings and dietary needs.  TasteBuds streamlines decision-making. Users find recipes at their own pace. Helping people discover meals that they will both love.  It features an intuitive card-swiping interface, users swipe right to save a recipe to their favorites and left to discard it. TasteBuds is accessible: users can filter recipes to their or their partner's dietary preferences. Users can view their favorites and their recipe matches to find meals they may enjoy together. The pairing can place their matched meals on a shared calendar to meal plan.

  • CSE-37 Shattered Chains

    Advised by Danny da Costa

    Students: Sachin Bhatnagar, Andy Chiang, Kaylyn Duncan

    Developed in Unreal Engine, Shattered Chains is a first-person action-adventure set in a dystopian future where humanity has been enslaved by an alien species. Players take on the role of a lone escapee, fighting to survive and ultimately lead a rebellion against their oppressors. The game features an innovative realistic injury system, where damage affects movement and perception, making survival more challenging. A wounded leg slows movement, while head injuries distort vision and hearing, forcing players to adapt their strategy. Fluid movement mechanics, including sprinting, sliding, and vaulting, allow players to navigate the environment dynamically, offering both an advantage in combat and an essential tool for evasion. Parkour elements further enhance exploration, giving players multiple ways to approach encounters and traverse obstacles. Players must scavenge for weapons, manage resources, and adjust their tactics to survive in an unpredictable world where enemies react dynamically to their actions. Some areas may require stealth and precision, while others encourage high-risk, fast-paced combat. Movement plays a key role in both offensive and defensive strategies, making decision-making crucial. Developed as a senior project, Shattered Chains showcases technical innovation and gameplay depth, with the potential for further development beyond its academic origins.

  • CSE-38 Autonomous Wildfire-Mapping Quadcopter

    Students: Ashton Westenburg, Robb Northrup, Chris Zinser

    Team 38's research centers around tracking and combating wildfires by utilizing a robust, purpose-built quadcopter. This custom-designed, 3D-printed drone operates using ArduPilot software and a Pixhawk flight controller. On board the drone, thermal imaging, GPS, IMUs, a radio transceiver, among other sensors are utilized to capture, process, and transmit relevant fire statistics to the ground control station for the purposes of the user. This autonomous system maps thermal information and geo-data as a high-resolution, real-time 2D heat map to follow wildfires as they develop to aid local communities. This research provides a simple-to-use webpage tool that will be beneficial to both firefighters, emergency planning departments and residents, particularly in small communities to save lives.

  • CSE-39 Cybersecurity Learning Platform

    Students: Josh Alanguilan, Brandon Beck, Vanessa Quijano, Dmitrii Sukhotin

    Cybersecurity is an essential skill for the future, but most cybersecurity learning tools are geared toward collegiate members and often come as costly packages, leaving younger learners with limited options. Our project addresses this issue by providing an engaging educational Cybersecurity website for high school students aged 14-18 with an interest in cybersecurity. This website features introductory lesson modules, hands-on terminal simulations, colorful interfaces and interactive quizzes. By aligning with K-12 cybersecurity standards, the website ensures age-appropriate learning experiences and efficient learning tools for teachers to join and help students on their cybersecurity journey. 

  • CSE-40 Pass the Aux

    Students: Lucas Black, Chantelle Cabanilla, Jax Hendrickson, Matthew Stenvold

    Pass The Aux, is an online database providing detailed information about music and artists. Users can search for their favorite artists and songs, and post and view user-generated reviews. Accurate information about the details of a song or album will also be available, such as the title, duration, writing credits, label, and country of origin. Users will be able to view album release countdowns, create playlists, and interact with other users through online text-based forums.)

  • CSE-41 Get Together

    Students: Adam Davis, Lalise Gizaw, Thomas Vasile

    Get Together is a user-friendly website designed to help individuals discover and participate in local events. Whether you're looking for social gatherings, professional meetups, or community activities, the platform offers an easy way to explore events in your area. By providing detailed information about upcoming events, including time, location, and event descriptions, Get Together makes it simple for users to find something that matches their interests. The site fosters a sense of community by encouraging people to connect and engage with others, making it an essential tool for anyone looking to stay active and involved in their local scene.)

  • CSE-42 UnHinged Dating App

    Advised by Dr. Deborah Davis

    Students: Harry Sho Aguinaldo, Joshua Ferguson, Benjamin Steinberg, Allison Tang

    The "UnHinged" dating app takes a new gamified approach to online matchmaking by blending nostalgia with modern functionality in a retro 8-bit themed mobile experience. Prioritizing spontaneity and engagement, the app replaces mindless swiping with interactive mini-games and meaningful interactions. Users create an account to personalize their experience, explore potential matches through a dynamic like/dislike system, and initiate conversations via an intuitive messaging feature.

Electrical Engineering projects

  • EE-1 Air-GYN

    Students: Adesuwa Aigbe, Joseph Brea, Colter Adams, Garrett Pettipiece

    Colposcopes are essential for gynecological exams but can be intimidating and uncomfortable for patients. While portable models exist, they still rely on wired connections or stands, limiting mobility. Our solution for this is a fully wireless, compact colposcope that integrates with the speculum for stability, improving accessibility and reducing patient discomfort.  Another major issue in colposcopy is glare, which can obscure diagnostic images. Our device tackles this by capturing four images in rapid succession, adjusting LED lighting in a controlled sequence to minimize glare and enhance visibility. Designed to fit inside a speculum, our colposcope will be lightweight, easy to use, and more affordable. This innovation aims to improve diagnostic accuracy, streamline physician workflow, and make cervical cancer screenings more comfortable and accessible. By addressing key challenges in colposcopy, our product has the potential to enhance women's healthcare worldwide.

  • EE-2 The Buckle: A Personal Safety Device

    Students: Jessica Torres, Colby Johnson Sukhreen Sandhu, Brandon Hubbell

    The Buckle™ by Primitive Designs LLC is a revolutionary take on a personal safety device for protection from potential drink spiking. The first of its kind, it combines hardware and software into one adjustable cup cover to provide protection from contaminants and harmful substances. Unlike other cup covers currently in the market, The Buckle™, has an integrated system that alerts the user of potential tampering.  Regular cup covers may be easily removed and replaced with no evidence of tampering whereas The Buckle™ may only be unlocked by an authorized user with their phone (compatible with Android and Apple devices). Even if the device is opened and relocked, if the user did not authorize it, The Buckle™ will automatically warn the user of potential tampering with a bright LED and a notification on their phone.

  • EE-3 Dryer Ball Z

    Students: Wallace Norris, Hamza Syed, Aiden Diaz, Tyler Burfield

    Electronic dryer ball that will detect the humidity and temperature of the clothes within a dryer to determine how dry they are and how much longer they need to dry for.

  • EE-4 Magneta the Maglev Train
    Team EE 4, left to right, Soo Hong Shin, Christopher Mengu, Pattra Gulbag and Megan Kershaw.
    Team EE 4, left to right, Soo Hong Shin, Christopher Mengu, Pattra Gulbag and Megan Kershaw.

    Students: Pattra Gulbag, Megan Kershaw, Christopher Mengu, Soo Hong Shin

    Magneta the Maglev Train is an educational toy magnetic-levitation train that can be utilized in K-12 classrooms to teach STEM based lessons. As the next generation of bright minds are growing up alongside the rapid evolution of technology, our product aims to engage children back into physical play, while still incorporating technology literacy, in a fun and unique way. The product features a levitating train cart, along with a magnetizing elliptical track to enable the cart to hover frictionlessly along the path. Additionally, to trace the activation of the magnetic field per track, LED lights will be triggered along each section that the train crosses over. For classroom implementation, the modular design of our product allows for variation in what concepts will be taught. For instance, based on the grade level of the lesson, educators can introduce concepts as simple as forces and motion, and add on complexity by integrating more detailed operations, such as electromagnetism concepts. Regardless of age level, all students will be able to experience an introduction to STEM in a unique and engaging way.

  • EE-5 SSLT

    Students: Ethan Kalb, Hannah Siegel, Alex Colon, Rayder Alterman

    SSLT is a simplified sign language translator capable of translating American sign language into each corresponding English letter, while also being able to form up to a dozen words/phrases.

  • EE-6 AHEAD

    Students: Lucas Shepard, Jacob Levin, Dominic Bacci, George Metropolous

    Autonomized Home Environment And Defense (AHEAD) is a smart-home electrical system utilizing a multitude of sensors that detect environmental status. AHEAD focuses on air quality, pollen levels, carbon monoxide detection, humidity and temperature. Identified as our B10-pollutants, poor air quality and high levels of pollen will output warnings to a bluetooth LCD display unit via RGB diodes. This system will have an adjustable feature for user preference with certain features such as pollen level warning. AHEAD's current prototype focuses on display and warning emission. Utilizing the RGB diodes a significant change in unit level (ppm, HT%, ℃, CO level) will output various signals (colors) to alert users of the room's current environmental status.

  • EE-7 Quantized Theremin

    Students: Miles Comstock, Ezra Sutedjo, Derrel Archellian, Eduardo Garcia

    The quantized theremin is an instrument that is played without touching it. Like a regular theremin, it works by having two control antennas, one for pitch and one for volume. However, unlike a regular theremin, our instrument will utilize a microcontroller and DSP algorithms that make our theremin always play notes within a musical scale (C-major) rather than freely moving between all frequencies. Our theremin will also have the ability to harmonize with whatever note is being played to create a chord. Lastly, our theremin will contain DSP audio effect algorithms that add reverb and audio echo to the instrument's output.

  • EE-8 and BME-7 (combined) - PULSE: Portable Unit for Life-Support and Surveillance Equipment

    Students: Jacob Gellman, John Clauson, Vanessa Kalenits, Canon Rank

    PULSE is a modular system designed to enhance battlefield awareness and troop safety by integrating drone detection and real-time health monitoring. Utilizing radar detection and audio verification, the system identifies and tracks small aerial threats, helping troops respond more effectively to potential dangers. A detachable life-support module continuously monitors vital signs and GPS location, providing critical health data for quick medical intervention. Designed for portability, reliability, and adaptability, PULSE offers a scalable solution for evolving combat environments. By integrating multiple sensing technologies, PULSE provides a comprehensive approach to threat detection and soldier safety.

  • EE-9 Digital Arm Display

    Students: Dimitri Brozowski, Joseph Villa, Chanceler Duncan, Todd Kuykendall

    Problem: Consumers lack a portable, flexible, and adaptable display to improve their on the go multimedia experience.  Importance: In the current world of smart wearables, there is a need for larger displays. Our device can make the user experience much more pleasant while also offering more functionality. By using a flexible display and increasing the size of the screen, larger text can be used or more information can be displayed. By using an e ink display, outdoor visual clarity can be achieved.  Significance: Our device provides users with a significantly larger display that can contort to the shape of your arm, is easy to read in direct sunlight, and can display multiple lines of large text/multimedia. The device can be used independently, or with a paired phone/computer.

  • EE-10 SoundScout

    Students: Taylor Coad , Skyler Marsden, Prabhakar Shrestha, Steven Zummallen

    The SoundScout provides a passive approach to autonomous drone detection. Through the use of readily available parts, an affordable, low power consumption option is available through SoundScout. Designed in a modular fashion for future remote capabilities, the SoundScout allows a bubble of detection from its microphone array, providing much needed time in response to the approaching drone.

  • EE-11 Mapless

    Students: Henryk Sosnowski, Edgar Calderon Perez, Nathaniel Simpson, Jordin Carlon

    Find My and Google Location Share are missing some of what our project brings to the table. Our goal for this project is to make a wall-mounted device that shares your family and friends' locations without a map. The goal is to make it easy to identify when people are at home, school, work and more without needing to know what a location on a map means. This wall mounted device and app will allow for you to see these locations and names displayed in an elegant fashion. Everything is shared through a secure Google cloud server to protect your privacy, making this a perfect adornment for a loved one's home. A more industrial unit can be used to keep track of which job sites your workers are at, expanding its uses beyond the home. For more come take a look.

  • EE-12 B-Bright Band

    Students: Patricia Paylor, Isabelle Amanuel, Fernando Quintero

    In large crowds spotting someone in your group can become difficult, people walking left and right, limited cell service due to the large crowds and bandwidth limitations. The B-Bright Band is a locally contained bracelet providing a bright modifiable LED matrix that will allow group members to be spotted quickly and easily. To further assist with finding group members the B-Bright band will use Bluetooth to have bracelet to bracelet communication, Being self-contained and battery powered with no need to connect to external devices in use the B-Bright band will also implement a heart and temperature sensor that will intermittently take readings from the user. The readings being blood oxygen, heart rate and temperature, these readings will be compared to an established basis considered to be normal and if outside of the established range, the LED matrix will display a warning and a current reading.

  • EE-13 Icarus UAV Range Extension System

    Students: Sean Adams, Bryan Escatel Jimenez, Hunter Donaldson, Jayden Davis

    Modern UAV technologies are being used in a vast variety of applications and utilize various different designs depending on the application. However, for applications requiring UAVs to maintain flight for an extended period of time the size, weight, and cost of UAVs increase which may prevent businesses and individuals from using UAVs. Since the cost of a UAV is linked to its size and complexity a potential solution would involve designing a small scale UAV that can fly for an extended duration without increasing the weight of the aircraft with a significantly larger battery. Our proposed solution is the Icarus UAV range extension system, a small-scale UAV equipped with an array of solar cells and a maximum power point tracker to extend its flight duration using solar energy. We believe successfully designing a solar-powered small-scale UAV will reduce the cost of endurance UAVs and open several new applications for UAVs.

  • EE-14 Lightweight IR Detection System

    Students: Adam Veuilleaux, Chanda Guy, Ronald Icely, Ivan Uy

    The Lightweight Infrared Detection System project aims to create a cheaper and more readily available IR (infrared) detection system than those available in the market. The current products on the market are designed to be mounted onto airborne vehicles such as airplanes and helicopters, thus being bulky (65 pounds) and high powered (225W). By utilizing lower powered and lightweight components, the Lightweight Infrared Detection System will prototype a wireless, modular system that will have mounting compatibility for many different applications, such as on drones, helmets, walls and other surfaces. This product will be cheaper and more readily available for use among civilians for hobby projects, outdoor camping, and search and rescue operations. With the cheaper and lightweight design, our product can be more easily deployed onto multiple drones while trying to find a lost person in the wilderness, whereas using a helicopter equipped with a similar camera would be more expensive and not as easy to access.

Materials Science and Engineering projects

  • MSE-1 Hydrogen on the Fly Sensing

    Students: Ethan Anderson, Konnor Montegna, Eric Valdovinos

    Our project, is a titanium nanotube based hydrogen sensor. Using zinc oxide as a piezoelectric material, the sensor will measure the change in impedance due to hydrogen absorption. The volume change due to the hydrogen absorption places mechanical stress on the piezoelectric material which will give feedback to the sensor. Additionally, the sensor contains nickel oxide to aid in hydrogen absorption. The sensor is placed on a drone and will allow for real time sensing of hydrogen leaks within the drones radius.

  • MSE-2 Melt and Go
    Team MSE 2, from left to right, is Joy Calhoun, Grace Suenram and Jonathan Ramos.
    Team MSE 2, from left to right, is Joy Calhoun, Grace Suenram and Jonathan Ramos.

    Advised by Dr. York Smith (American Battery Technology)

    Students: Jonathan Ramos, Grace Suenram, Joy Calhoun

    Battery fires caused by thermal runaway are a central hazard in a lithium-ion battery-powered world, and the primary prevention method is to mitigate operation under elevated temperatures to reduce overheating. Phase change materials are an emerging battery thermal management technology with potential to passively remove heat through a solid-liquid phase change. This project aims to produce a novel phase change material made from paraffin wax, silica xerogel, and aluminum nitride that has improved thermal conductivity and shape stability, and limited electrical conductivity.

Mechanical Engineering projects

  • ME-1 Mail Vault
    Team ME-1 from left to right: Easton Leath, Anthony Araiza Gonalez, Cooper Gillespie, Parker Smith, Cory Murphy
    Team ME-1 from left to right: Easton Leath, Anthony Araiza Gonalez, Cooper Gillespie, Parker Smith, Cory Murphy

    Students: Cooper Gillespie, Parker Smith, Cory Murphy, Easton Leath, Anthony Araiza Gonzalez

    Mail Vault is a smart mailbox designed to enhance security and convenience in mail delivery. With mail theft on the rise, our solution integrates wireless notifications, remote access control, and a durable, tamper-resistant design to protect users' mail. The system notifies homeowners in real time when mail is delivered or accessed, reducing uncertainty and providing peace of mind. Through extensive research, engineering analysis, and prototyping, we developed a cost-effective and user-friendly solution that balances security, durability, and ease of use. Our presentation will cover the design process, key features, and challenges we overcame in creating this innovative mailbox. Discover how Mail Vault redefines traditional mail security and brings smart technology to an everyday necessity.

  • ME-2 Active Aerodynamic Wing

    Students: Enrico Arvisu, Zachary Myers, Zane Minore, Ethan Markham, Halak Patel

    Car enthusiasts can be described as hobbyists who seek to enhance their vehicle's performance. Some participate in auto-racing events such as rallycross or autocross.  The automotive market these racing enthusiasts are a part of lacks an accessible, cost-effective, and DIY-friendly active aerodynamics system. Impractical to the average racing enthusiast, existing solutions are either exclusive to high-end vehicles or require extensive customization with professional-level equipment. This capstone project aims to engineer a solution for the untapped potential of aerodynamic performance.  R.H.Z.Z.E. aims to design and develop an active aerodynamic system for automotive racing purposes. The system consists of an airfoil/wing to increase aerodynamic form drag when activated. The project finds novelty in the fact that active aero is extremely rare and is not commonly offered in consumer automotive markets. The active airfoil will produce variability in aerodynamic forces on the vehicle.

  • ME-3 Range Glasses

    Students: Evan Bond, Joseph Day, Nick Negrete, Roberto Rodriguez, Aiden Young, Zacary  Jaggers

    The ability to determine the range of a target is extremely useful and sometimes necessary. Many sports, like golf and hunting, rely heavily on this. The ability to magnify the target is also extremely important in these activities and many others. While there are currently devices that can accomplish both, there is a lack of devices that can accomplish both tasks at the same time. That is what this design will aim to accomplish. With the added benefit of the magnification being able to be adjusted automatically based on the range of the target. This will assist users who need both the range and a clear view of their target quickly. Achieving a minimum range finding capability of 600 feet is important to ensure that the device is effective for the intended users.

  • ME-4 ReFil System (Recycled Filament)

    Students: Bryanna Torres-Davila, CJ Singer, Josh Jones, Kayleigh Tracy, Teddy Roy, Jude Alsasua

    The team (Interstellar Tech) has developed a functioning system that can recycle different types of plastic materials and convert it into 3D printing filament. Over the years, a constant growth of plastic waste has been observed affecting ecosystems around the Earth. The team's goal is to be able to create a system that can be help in different ways whether that would include saving the environment or even helping engineers in developing their prototypes. The system that will be created by the team will be able to help reduce plastic waste as well as helping reuse material while meeting functional and security requirements. The limits can be endless as to how failed prints from 3D printers can be totally recycled back into filament or even mixing different plastics to create certain combinations to reach specific project requirements. This project could be the first of its kind of being a simplified process towards recycling plastics to be reused for an engineering or manufacturing practice.

  • ME-5 Portable Desalination Device

    Students: Madison Shipp, Katja Rodgers, Emily Walters, Justin Xin, Tiffany Trujillo

    The need for clean, accessible water is more prevalent than ever as communities worldwide face adverse conditions which limit their access to safe and reliable water sources. With around 97% of the planet's water being salt water, there is an opportunity for technology that can use and convert salt water into fresh water that is free of contaminants and safe for consumption. The portable desalination device will result in users having more access to fresh water that can be used for everyday applications. The desalination process primarily removes salt and minerals from water, but uses processes similar to water filtration that can remove smaller contaminants, such as bacteria. In a situation where fresh water is not easily accessible, having a desalination device will be an easy solution to gaining access to clean water. The overall benefit to a portable desalinator is providing a more convenient solution to obtaining clean and safe drinking water, whether it's for recovery relief, convenience or emergency situations.

  • ME-6 Bicycle Energy Conversion Kit

    Students: Beth Marcotte, Julian Avalos, Ashman Jeffers, Jordan Price, Zachary Lapierre

    As the world has progressed towards a more renewable age, many new technologies and electronics have been made to make things more electric while also attempting to make them last as long as possible. E-bikes along with other electric and hybrid vehicles have developed methods to transfer some mechanical and kinetic energy back into potential energy and stored back into the battery to allow for better energy efficiency and extended battery life. However, existing regenerative braking and energy recovery systems are often proprietary, limiting their adaptability across different bike models. The development of a universal regenerative power kit addresses this gap by providing a unique solution that can be integrated into various bicycles without requiring extensive modifications. By capturing energy from both braking and pedaling, this system enhances sustainability and extends the usability of electric-assisted and conventional bikes. The implementation of a universally attachable energy storage pack ensures compatibility and ease of use, making regenerative technology more accessible to a wider range of users and provides many practical other uses like a power source for gps, mobile phone charging etc.

  • ME-7 StoneCap: Formula SAE Electric Drivetrain

    Students: Larissa Beauchamp, Logan Prins, Levi Woods, Tyler Quick, Ian Smith

    Formula SAE Electric is an international competition where university teams design, build, and race single-seater electric race cars. Currently, new Formula SAE Electric teams face significant barriers to entry to the competition. One of these barriers is developing a competition regulation, reliable, well packaged drivetrain system to integrate with the rest of the vehicle. The goal of this project is to create a modular drivetrain system that can easily integrate with varying vehicle designs, allowing new teams to seamlessly enter the competition. To accomplish this, the design must be affordable, easy to assemble without specialized equipment, compatible with standard powertrain components like the EMRAX 228 electric motor and the Drexler FSAE differential, and have a compact form factor capable of accommodating different vehicle layouts.

  • ME-8 Arm Positioner

    Students: Shaina Buksa, Shanti Quinto, Ryan Coleman, Christopher Fletcher, Richard Hayward

    Modern arm boards should be versatile and affordable for necessary hospital applications that require multiple arm positions. Surgery beds are typically a flat board where patients have nowhere to put their arms, so surgeons use toboggan arm boards to pin their arms against their body. Additionally, applications like imaging procedures and geriatric care for immobile patients today lack solutions for proper arm positioning. This lack of versatility often hinders the surgeon's ability to perform procedures that arms may get in the way of. A solution to this problem would be to create attachments to the device where medical staff members can remotely control the position of the arms depending on the application.

  • ME-9 Scale It Up

    Students: Kurt Juarez, Diego Rodriguez, Preston Fu, Lincoln Pinoski, Hunter Weigle

    A common issue in the gym among new and experienced people is improper balance while performing squats. Force plates that address this issue are publicly available; however, these force plates are tailored to individual use and lack any real-time features to alert the user if any imbalance is occurring while they are squatting. There is a growing need for a force plate that can analyze weight distribution, deliver easily interpretable data and warnings to the user in real-time, and that can be used by multiple people in a public gym setting. By delivering easily interpretable data and alerting the user in real-time of any imbalance, the user can adjust their form to prevent any serious injury without having to complete a set of squats with improper balance. Moreover, by designing the force plate to be accessible to multiple users, public gyms will be able to provide these force plates for their squat racks and more people will have access to this technology, as opposed to everyone having to buy their own.    

  • ME-10 Thermo-Cycle

    Students: Evan Doe, Giovanni Godina, Alex Jorgensen, Tanner Mcilree, Brandon Ramirez Lopez, Kayla Steinhorst

    The electrification of personal transportation has surged in recent years, with a notable rise in e-bikes and scooters. However, this shift brings challenges that hinder their practical use. A primary concern is the limited operational range of these devices. Various reasons contribute to battery limitations, and solutions aren't always straightforward. Charging might not be feasible in certain situations, and regenerative battery systems often fall short. Our group aims to find a solution to increase the range of these transportation modes.   Thermo-Cycle aims to extend the battery life of electric personal transportation by harnessing the heat generated from the braking system. The concept involves capturing energy from the heat released by the brakes using a thermoelectric generator, which converts it into electricity. The long-term goal of this project is to charge the battery of an e-bike or e-scooter. The initial objectives the team wishes to achieve are to generate electricity and charge a small battery, such as a mobile phone or a light power source.  

  • ME-11 Wildland Respirator

    Students: Christopher Pinar, Ashley Byrne, Troy Uemura, Tanner Schultz, Jordan Jackson

    Over the past decade, roughly 595,000 wildfires burned 63.6 million acres across the US. Prolonged exposure to the smoke produced in these wildfires leads to an increased risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.  With these risks, wildland firefighters have little to no options for protecting their lungs from the burnt material particulates. The little options that wildland firefighters do have either aren't efficient in filtering the air, too bulky, or make it too hard to breathe. This project aims to protect the lungs of wildland firefighters through a light-weight respirator that can filter out toxic particles and allows firefighters to work without constricting their movements.

  • ME-12 Sno-no-mo

    Students: Antonia Evtimow, Kyra Talusik, Justin Le, Johnavon J Garcia, Claire Foy, Sofia Carmona Guerrero

    During winter, snowy and icy road, sidewalk and driveway conditions pose significant hazards for pedestrians, even preventing people reaching their car. Traditional road salting methods rely on manual deployment, which can be inefficient, labor-intensive, and slow to respond to rapidly changing weather conditions. Additionally, excessive salt usage can lead to environmental damage, corroding infrastructure and contaminating water sources. Current road salting methods lack automation and real-time adaptability, leading to inefficient salt distribution, delayed response times, and environmental concerns. Our design aims to reduce hazardous conditions by proposing a semi-automated device that efficiently removes snow and ice from residential walkways and driveway

  • ME-13 Electric Propeller Aircraft Powertrain

    Students: Amanda Smith, William Moore, Marlen Badillo Delgado, Leonell La Rosa

    As technology advances, especially with lithium-ion batteries, more and more companies are developing electric vehicles to be used for private transportation. Electric cars are becoming more commonplace throughout the United States, however electric aircraft are only starting to become a reality. Adopting lithium-ion batteries as a power source for small electric aircraft, specifically those aimed at small groups of passengers, could significantly reduce emissions and promote technological innovation in the energy storage industry. In 2019 the estimated CO2 from commercial aviation alone was 920 million tons. Additionally, current electric propeller aircraft have a total airtime between 50 and 75 minutes, resulting in a range of less than 120 nautical miles, which is likely a result of these aircraft being used for flight school purposes. Having such a short range and airtime significantly reduces the utility of these aircraft, however increasing the range of these aircraft requires a significant addition of weight in the form of additional battery packs. The goal of this project is to improve upon the current state of the industry by improving the range of these aircraft and add value to the market sector of small, electric propeller aircraft.

See photos from Innovation Day 2024

  • University President Brian Sandoval studies a student research poster at the 2024 Innovation Day.
  • A student standing before a poster speakers into a TV camera.
  • Engineering students talk to Innovation Day 2024 attendees.
  • A Computer Science & Engineering student discusses a project at Innovation Day 2024.
  • Students share their capstone design project at Innovation Day 2024.
  • Civil & Environmental Engineering students stand ready to discuss their project about sustainable shelters at Innovation Day 2024.
  • Innovation Day 2024 attendees take a close look at a Computer Science & Engineering project.
  • A student at Innovation Day 2024 explains his project.

Thank you

Βι¶ΉΣ³»­ National Security Sites generously supports this event and the Capstone Design Project Competition. Additionally, many companies, organizations, and individuals have provided guidance for the senior capstone projects. These external advisors are crucial to the success of the students. If you are interested in Innovation Day, learn how to get involved.

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