MAE

   Team 33 is developing a new rear suspension system for UCI’s Formula SAE electric racecar that improves handling, adjustability, and manufacturability.

This project focuses on converting a commercially available 1:18 scale RC boat into a fully functional RC submarine to address a gap in the remote-control vehicle market. Most RC boats are limited to surface operation, while existing RC submarines are costly, specialized, and restricted in depth capability. By redesigning an off-the-shelf RC boat, this project aims to achieve both surface and underwater operation, with the ability to submerge to a depth of 9 ft, travel 25 yards across a pool, and resurface. The design focuses on addressing challenges in waterproofing, buoyancy, and propulsion through the integration of a ballast system, sealed hull, and control system.

Successful launch operations for the UCI Rocket Project Liquids Team’s rocket, MOCH4, depend on performing pre-launch procedures efficiently and consistently at the Friends of Amateur Rocketry (FAR) site. Delays in setup increase exposure to rising wind speeds and propellant boil-off, both of which reduce launch success and altitude performance. To maximize performance and prevent the waste of money and time on the trip for an unsuccessful launch at the FAR site, the team is developing a modular launch rail that matches the FAR setup, enabling full-scale cold flows in the actual launch configuration and providing a realistic environment for assembly practice. This system reduces setup variability, improves data accuracy, and helps ensure reliable and repeatable launch operations.

The Zot-Under-Pressure team is UC Irvine’s second-generation entry into the National Fluid Power Association’s Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge (FPVC). This competition requires engineering students to design a hydraulic-powered vehicle capable of competing in sprint, endurance, efficiency, and regenerative braking events. Our design integrates a pedal-driven hydraulic pump, high-pressure accumulator, efficient charging/discharging system, and regenerative braking capable of storing braking energy for reuse. This year's goal for the vehicle is to reach the top three among the nationally competing teams. The project advances sustainable energy storage by converting human power into hydraulic propulsion while exploring innovative regenerative techniques.

HydraShift aims to convert an off-the-shelf 1:18 scale RC boat into a functional submarine. The submarine will be capable of underwater maneuverability and diving to a depth of at least five meters before reliably resurfacing. As RC boats are typically designed exclusively for surface operation, this transformation will require developing a ballast system to resist hydrostatic pressure and achieve buoyancy, sealing electronics to ensure waterproofing at high depths upon full submersion, and underwater propulsion. 

Mag‑Vengers is a senior design project in collaboration with a local company that focuses on advancing drone functionality through the use of electropermanent magnets (EPMs). The team is developing a lightweight, durable drone attachment system embedded with EPMs to create a strong, switchable magnetic latch. Controlled electronically, the latch can be turned “on” or “off” to securely hold and individually release six (or more) sensor pucks during high‑speed flight.

The project’s goal is to deliver a fully functional prototype that is reliable, aesthetically clean, and easy to modify for future teams or organizations. Over the course of two academic quarters, the team will apply skills in CAD modeling, simulation, prototyping, and documentation to design, test, and refine the system. Milestones include initial coil and component prototypes in Fall 2025, a second prototype for presentation at the Winter Design Fair, and a final prototype by Winter 2026.

Our team, ARISE, is working on designing and building a fully autonomous quadcopter capable of delivering a 1-pound payload a 50-meter mission distance with 1-meter precision and reliability. Our team is developing a system that combines mechanical design, electronics, sensing, and control. The drone features a lightweight but rigid frame, brushless motors, and a 4S LiPo power system sized through thrust and endurance calculations. Autonomy is achieved through the Pixhawk 6C flight controller, supported by ESCs, a power distribution board, and a UBEC to ensure stable power delivery. For obstacle detection and target recognition, we are using a OpenMV Cam H7 Plus for color detection to detect the target drop off location. The release mechanism is a servo latch to hold the one pound payload. The project is following a structured engineering design process, including functional decomposition, stakeholder needs analysis, and subsystem trade studies, to ensure safety, manufacturability, and mission success.

Our senior design project focuses on developing a small robotic vehicle capable of autonomously or remotely carrying a standard water bottle up the 19-step staircase outside the UCI Engineering Gateway. The staircase’s steep incline (≈ 28–30°) and uniform geometry make it an ideal test environment for evaluating robotic stability, traction, and torque control. The main design challenges include maintaining balance on steep risers, generating sufficient torque to lift a 5 kg total mass, achieving autonomous step detection, and limiting system weight to under 10 lb for safe outdoor operation. The goal is to produce a simple, reliable, and efficient mechanism that can consistently climb all 19 steps without ramps or tethers while maintaining a tilt angle under 10°. A successful design will demonstrate over 90 % climb success rate and stable performance across multiple trials, showcasing the integration of mechanical design, control systems, and power optimization.

Background

Local businesses and pharmacies require autonomous deliveries to avoid ground traffic and save costs. Patients that would benefit from quick delivery services include the elderly, disabled, and those with busy schedules. Our project aims to utilize an autonomous drone to deliver pharmaceuticals in an urban setting. As a form of simulation, we will be delivering one pound payloads to a location that is marked by a GPS location. We hope to accomplish lowered delivery times, reduce effort, costs, and less energy expended to physically retrieve packages. The project cost is projected to not exceed $600 and will navigate to a target located at least 50 meters away.

Team 28 is developing a flat-plate stair-climbing robot designed to carry a standard water bottle up the Engineering Gateway stairs. The design uses a rigid flat-plate chassis paired with oversized wheels to maintain continuous traction and clearance on 7″ rise × 11″ run steps. The flat-plate structure simplifies manufacturing and keeps weight low, while the large-diameter wheels reduce impact forces and allow smoother transitions between steps. Over Fall quarter we focus on concept validation, chassis strength, and wheel sizing; Winter quarter emphasizes drivetrain integration, speed optimization, and testing. Success will be measured by climbing all steps as fast as possible without tethering or payload loss. The project demonstrates the balance between mechanical simplicity and high-mobility design in stair-climbing robotics.

The project aims to convert a 1:18 scale RC boat into a functional RC submarine that can operate on the water surface and submerge to at least 3 meters, with reliable surface return. Our team will explore design modifications addressing the limitations of existing RC boats, particularly in waterproofing, buoyancy, and propulsion, involving concepts from hydrodynamics and mechatronics.

This project develops an autonomous robotic arm system capable of collision-free grasping of items from grocery store shelves. The ArmY team integrates kinematic modeling, ROS 2 control, MoveIt-based motion planning, and Gazebo simulation to design a reliable and safe manipulation platform. The robotic arm operates in coordination with a mobile base developed by Team 1, enabling fully autonomous item retrieval in narrow aisle environments. Key focuses include perception-driven grasping, real-time control, obstacle-aware path planning, and hardware–software integration. By improving efficiency, safety, and repeatability in retail and warehouse settings, this project demonstrates the potential of robotic automation to transform manual picking workflows.

This project details the design and implementation of an interactive wheel engineered for a controlled outcome. The primary objective is to develop a system that appears to function as a standard, unbiased game of chance while allowing an operator to dictate the final position of the spinner secretly. A key design constraint is that this manipulation must be entirely undetectable to the user, preserving the illusion of a fair and random spin. The final prototype is a fully realized, unpolished apparatus where all the electronic components are completely concealed within the housing. The wheel responds to a user's physical spin with natural momentum and damping. However, it is also remotely programmable, enabling an operator to pre-select a winning segment.

Our project focuses on designing and developing an automatic Key Vending Machine that manages access to every room within the UCI School of Engineering. The current system relies heavily on staff to approve requests, distribute keys, and manually track returns, which can be inefficient, slow, and prone to disorganization. Our solution aims to streamline this process by fully automating key requests, approvals, checkouts, and returns through an integrated background database.

The machine utilizes a motorized gantry system, magnetic key blocks, and organized storage slots to securely store, identify, and dispense keys based on verified user authorization. Additional subsystems include a user interface for requesting and retrieving keys as well as automated logging to maintain accurate real-time records. This project ultimately aims to reduce staff workload while improving overall efficiency, reliability, and organization for the engineering school.

Summary

Conceptualized by the MAE Department's Teaching Staff, this project seeks to design, manufacture, and test a small cannon that is capable of (1) locating and tracking an RC car from a distance of 5-15 feet away as it moves within a 360 degree area of the cannon, and (2) shooting small, non-lethal ball-shaped projectiles to precisely hit the car. With the exception of the initial loading of the balls into an onboard storage container, the system operates entirely autonomously with no further user interaction. 

Our project’s goal is to read the hematocrit value in blood using optics, otherwise known as a hematocrit sensor. This device is made to be integrated onto our sponsor’s (Diality) machine and will allow them to read a patient's blood volume rate. Critical design features of the device include: the accuracy of sensing hematocrit; the handling of hazardous material; and the usability of the machine by physicians and at-home caregivers. Stakeholders, including Dialysis Clinic, Technicians, Patients, Caregivers, Dialysis Field Service Technicians, and physicians/Nephrologists.

This project aims to design a cannon system that is capable to detecting, tracking, and hitting moving targets within a 360-degree area at a distance from 5 - 15 feet. With the exception of loading cannon balls, the system should work independently even without any user knowledge. By utilizing ultrasonic sensors and computer vision with OpenCV we accomplished autonomy, creating a system that is trained to hit RC Cars. Upon initial detection, our cannon automatically corrects pitch and yaw values to launch cannonballs at the target's predicted path position.

SmartSweat is a wearable patch that non-invasively and continuously measures lactate and sodium content in sweat. The device functions through a screen-printed electrochemical sensor integrated with microfluidic pads that channel sweat to the electrodes. A custom physical housing and adjustable band provides comfort and ensures the patch remains in contact with the skin, even during exercise/activity. The embedded bluetooth module transmits the data wirelessly to a mobile device, allowing users to view live analysis of health activity. The device enables users to monitor performance, prevent dehydration, and make informed decisions during daily activities. By combining low-cost materials and compact materials, SmartSweat demonstrates a unique access for dual monitoring of sodium and lactate levels. Targeted towards athletes and health-conscious consumers, SmartSweat can provide valuable input on hydration and metabolic performance. 

Our team is designing and building a multiport emissions sampling probe for Hydrogen and Natural Gas combustion research at UC Irvine's Combustion Laboratory. The probe will be placed at the end of the exhaust and will pull gas from selectable ports to map emissions concentrations across the flow while keeping the internal probe temperatures optimized to prevent catalysis via an annular water cooling loop. Using LabVIEW, our team is in charge of providing fast port switching, recording varied emissions mixtures, and recording temperature changes throughout different subsystems. Early CAD and feasibility work are complete, including flow and thermal estimates and our next step will be the production of a 3D printed prototype to ensure compatibility of our project with the current Combustion Lab's setup. Following this, we will be machining the finalized stainless steel variation and proceeding with testing the capabilities of our design.

UAV Forge constitutes a multidisciplinary engineering design team with a specific focus on the comprehensive development cycle of autonomous aerial vehicles, encompassing design, manufacturing, programming, and rigorous testing. The paramount objective of this design endeavor is to adhere to the stipulated constraints, thereby enabling active participation in the SUAS 2025-2026 competition season.

"Proprioception" is often described as the human body's "6th sense". It describes one's ability to know where their body is relative to itself without seeing or feeling where it is. Proprioception in studies has proven to be a powerful predictor for the effectiveness of physical therapy. These studies have also found that it is a trainable attribute. For patients recovering from strokes or other movement disorders, measuring and training proprioception is a powerful new supplementary tool to use on the road to recovery. The Portable Ankle Measuring Proprioception Device is a medical device meant to train and assess a patient’s ankle proprioception for use in clinics. 

    Teal Flow aims to create a residential-scale bioremediation system that repurposes greywater for safer and reliable irrigation. As part of our goal for sustainability, the system will be completely run on solar energy. Our filtration methods incorporate readily available resources, such as sand, activated carbon, gravel, and aquatic plant life. The programmable control system, powered by an Arduino, automates pump flow regulation, prevents overloading of the filtration stages, and minimizes user intervention. Integrated pH and salinity sensors continuously monitor water quality, ensuring that only water meeting predefined safety thresholds is delivered for irrigation. As an included safety measure, water not meeting standards is automatically recirculated for additional treatment. Overall, Teal Flow aims to provide households with an accessible, environmentally responsible solution that conserves water resources, supports backyard ecosystems, and helps reduce water usage costs.

Background

UAV Forge constitutes a multidisciplinary engineering design team with a specific focus on the comprehensive development cycle of autonomous aerial vehicles, encompassing design, manufacturing, programming, and rigorous testing. The paramount objective of this design endeavor is to adhere to the stipulated constraints, thereby enabling active participation in the SUAS 2025-2026 competition season.

UCI DBF (Design/Build/Fly) is a student engineering team at UC Irvine that designs, builds, and tests a remote-controlled aircraft to compete in the annual AIAA Design/Build/Fly competition. The competition challenges teams from universities worldwide to create innovative aircraft that meet specific mission objectives, such as payload delivery, endurance, or speed. UCI DBF members work collaboratively on aerodynamics, structures, electronics, propulsion, and manufacturing, gaining hands-on experience in aircraft design and systems integration. The project emphasizes engineering design processes, teamwork, and project management, preparing students for careers in aerospace and related fields while promoting innovation and practical problem-solving.

The main goal of the project is to create an autonomous grocery shopping robot that can travel to a target item and retrieve it for customers. This project is split into two teams; our team will focus on the robotic base that allows for movement. The base of the robot must be able to localize itself and plan an optimized path to and from the target. If during operation the robot should detect an obstruction, the robot needs to recalculate a path around it while leaving adequate space to avoid collision.

The Fuel Blending System Control and Demonstration project focuses on modernizing and integrating advanced control and data acquisition technologies for the UCI Combustion Lab’s fuel mixing system. This system supports testing on multiple end-use devices, including gas turbines, fuel cells, and other combustion systems, which are being adapted for operation on low-carbon fuels such as hydrogen and biogas. The project involves reviewing existing system components, developing a comprehensive bill of materials (BOM) for upgraded hardware and software (e.g., LabView, Python, or MATLAB-based control), and ensuring full system compatibility. Once the updated components are procured, the team will integrate and demonstrate the system’s performance on one or more devices. The project aims to enhance flexibility, reliability, and data quality in fuel blending operations, supporting ongoing research in hydrogen and low-carbon fuel applications.

We are narcotic network as the word narcotic means to relieve great pain and that’s our goal, we want to create a network of pain relief through our medicine delivery advice, furthermore we want to get rid of the negative stigma associated with narcotics and create something that improves society instead.

• Our project goal is to create a network of medication delivery centered around a pharmacy using autonomous drones
• There are many problems with the procurement of medication, it takes too long just to speak with staff, medication may not be ready by the time you show up.
• This is for individuals that either cannot physically be in person to pick up medication at the pharmacy, those that cannot be at the pharmacy due to a time constraint or impatience, and for convenience.

Baja SAE is a national colligate competition where teams compete to build and race an off-roading race vehicle. In this project the team is tasked to design, build, and test the drivetrain subsystem of the 2025 Baja SAE vehicle. The powertrain subsystem must be capable of AWD by delivering power to all 4 wheels, as well as being lightweight and robust enough to make Anteater Racing a feared competitor. The proposed powertrain design features a modified output shaft to the front wheels - greatly improving the performance of the front differential, a modular transfer case that is easy to interchange and will be used to test optimal gear ratios, and custom lightweight CV axles. Designs must adhere to all rules listed in the Baja SAE rulebook, while maintaining critical safety factors to prevent failures operating in extreme off-road conditions. The vehicle must be built and tested prior to the Oregon competition in May 2025.