MAE

BACKGROUND:

The CubeSat team at UCI is a student-led effort to launch a 2U nanosatellite into orbit to test two UCI research payloads. The satellite operates with five subsystems (Power/Payload, Communications, Avionics, Structures/Thermal, and Systems Engineering), in addition to housing two payloads. The first payload is a variable emissivity device (VED) that will be tested as a thermal regulator, and our job is to test its performance in various degrees of solar exposure and at varying adjustable emissivity values. Similar materials to the sample are hoped to be used as a cheap method of thermal management on future spacecraft. The second payload is in collaboration with the ASPIN lab at UCI. The satellite will carry a transceiver meant to function as a transmitter of a “signal of opportunity”, helpful in researching novel navigation methods in the absence of or in place of a traditional GPS signal.

OBJECTIVES:

• Ensure that payload requirements
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Anteater Formula Racing builds an open-wheel, internal-combustion race car inspired by Formula 1 and IndyCar racing to compete at Formula SAE California, a world-renowned collegiate vehicle design competition. It challenges project engineers to maximize vehicle performance, validate their design choices and methods, and develop professional presentation skills. Forty-five engineering students participate in the design, manufacturing and testing phases to gain the engineering skills needed for industry in a highly-technical, fast-paced and competitive environment. The team collectively spends over 10,000 man-hours each year developing the car and its subsystems alongside engineering coursework.

UC Irvine Solar Airplane aims to optimize a low-cost unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for which flight time will be extended, powered by solar panels, by 30 minutes after battery-life . The UAV's main goal is to aid with disaster relief efforts using a GPS and a camera to relay constant feedback to the operators during the duration of the flight. UC Irvine Solar Airplane is a team of currently 37 diverse members from various majors and ages.

UCI Solar Car is a team of currently 29 diverse members from various majors and ages working together through a spectrum of subsystems and skillsets in order to reach the goal of competing in the American Solar Challenge (ASC) rate. Our group communicates through a common interest of environment-friendly solutions and compete in race car tournaments in which battery powered cars built by students from various colleges come together and put their finalized work to the test. 

The Hoag Bone Plate Fixation Project is a design project sponsored by Hoag Orthopedics consisting of MAE/BME/MSE students that are tasked to identify geometry and material for orthopedic plates that provides imporved fracture fixation. By improving the frictional interface of the bone-plate surface, the re-designed plates hope to reduce shearing and micromotion of plates, and in term decrease the cases of failed fracture fixations in patients. 

Goals & Objectives:

The goal of this project to design, build, and test a steerable mechanical walker.

Requirements:  (i) one drive motor and one steering motor, (ii) RC control to define forward and backward movement and left and right turn to steer, (iii) four or six-legged design, though six-legged is preferred.  (iv) a demonstration of its movement around a circle or in figure-eight in both directions.

Contact Infomation:

Myis Dickens, Project Manager, Fall 2020 - 

dickensm@uci.edu

Advisor:

Professor J. Michael McCarthy, jmmccart@uci.edu

Kevin Chen, kevinc15@uci.edu

UCI Cargo Plane participates in the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Aero Design West Competition. This competition provides engineering students exposure to real-life engineering challenges in the aerospace industry. The goal is to create a bush plane design that can operate from short runways while carrying outsized cargo. Students are expected to perform trade studies to find a design solution that will optimally meet the mission requirements. The types of payload these aircraft are required to hold are soccer balls and steel plates. During the competition, teams are expected to load and unload soccer balls and steel plates in under a minute. For this reason, the design should account for easy loading accessibility. These design factors test the team’s ability to exercise time management, stay within budget, and ultimately build a plane to meet the goals of the competition.

Introduction

Aeronautics, Dynamics, and Control Laboratory (ADCL) is an  interdisciplinary lab focusing on the modeling and analysis using the rigorous mathematical tools of both Geometric Control Theory and Unsteady Aerodynamics to develop non-intuitive new engineering applications. ADCL developed new control algorithm which enables the airplane to achieve high rolling maneuverability in stall. This new rolling algorithm will solve a challenging problem in the aerospace industry, where Airplanes lose the rolling controllability in stall.

LIBRA stands for Lie Bracket Rolling Augmentation Mechanism. Lie Bracket is the  geometric control tool which has been used to develop this algorithm. this name inspires the extended freedom by enabling flying in the stall regimes. LieRoll was another name proposed, but was never selected.

Goal

The goal of this project is to demonstrate experimentally the control authority given to the airplane in stall regimes. The experiment is divided into three phases as follows:

Phase...

The focus of this project is to design and build a robotics kit that introduces and is inclusive to students typically underrepresented in STEM to engineering.
To achieve this, students will design a cost-effective robotics kit that incorporates many introductory level features and an evidence-based curriculum that a middle/high schooler can safely construct with assistance.

Sustainability is an increasingly important consideration for engineers throughout the world. With the increases in global temperature, engineers are looking at renewable energy generation to combat climate change. California has already enacted the SB-100 Renewables Portfolio Standard Program, which is attempting to transition 100% of California’s electricity to renewable sources by 2045 (SB100).  Solar and Wind Energy are essential components in this fight against climate change. Current utility based renewable energy production demands vast investment in land and capital while inducing irreversible damage to the ecosystem. On the other hand, The Hybrid Renewable Energy System (HRES) aims to reduce land use while it addresses the growing demand in renewable energy.

The purpose of ReTouch is to create a device that assists post-stroke patients to regain their sense of touch. The device contains two modules, where one module moves the patients’ index, middle, and ring fingers on their paralyzed hand and the other contains buttons allowing them to use their healthy hand to press and match the fingers that are being pushed. The device additionally contains a musical game corresponding to activity done on the modules to improve patients’ sense of touch over time.  

HydroCube is a electrolysis device that can be connected to a residential solar pannel system in order to convert and store any excess electricity in the form of hydrogen. Currently when a homes battery is full the rest of the electricity produced by the photovoltaic cells is not stored and therefore is wasted. With stored hydrogen we could begin to explore the posibility of using hydrogen in a residential setting or to power a generator to feed back to the battery when there is low sun coverage. 

Background

New forms of renewable energy have surfaced in the past years.Hydrogen fuel cells are a form of renewable energy that is easily accessible since hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, and do not cause pollution or danger to our environment as they do not release greenhouse gases as opposed to burning fossil fuels.The fuel cell drone project uses a fuel cell battery as a source of power for a flying robot that can be remotely controlled or fly autonomously through software-controlled flight. 

For this particular project, we will be researching the fuel cell efficiency in a drone that we will design and build ourselves. Groups will be building a structure for the drone and assembling electronic parts for use throughout the experiment, while keeping the fuel cell as the focal point of this project. The advantages of the fuel cell lie in longer flight times, quick...

The UC Irvine Rocket Project aims to push the boundaries of collegiate rocketry and the development of liquid propellant rockets. Our project strives to prepare students for successful careers in the aerospace and defense industry. In 2017, Base 11 became a partner of the UCI Rocket Project. Their gracious donation enabled the construction of our rocket lab. During the Fall quarter of 2019, the team has scheduled and completed a successful static test fire to experimentally verify our first engine design. An experimental combustion test is a critical first step in designing a full rocket system as well more efficient, higher performance engines.

Anteater Electric Racing is an Engineering Design Project consisting of Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical and Computer Engineers tasked to design, build and test a Formula SAE Electric Racecar. The team of 60 Engineers will enter their 2020 Ampeater Racecar into the Formula SAE California  at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana this June againt 110 other universities. At the Winter Design Review, the team will display their built Racecar for review and will be excited to present the specifications of this year's build. 

Background

Flow field bipolar plate is a very important part of the proton-exchange membrane fuel cell(PEM). They are designed to provide an adequate amount of the reactants (hydrogen and oxygen) to the gas diffusion layer (GDL) and catalyst surface meanwhile remove the generated water. In general, the flow field is grooved in bipolar plates featured by hollow channels with a cross-section dimension of ~1 mm. Using hollow channels increases the thermal resistance and electric resistance in the fuel cell, thereby reducing cell performance. In this project, we plan to design a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell using porous media flow field, which fills channel space by porous media. We will investigate fuel cell performance and flow conductance for this new flow field design. The porous media selection will be optimized, in terms of parameters including porosity, tortuosity, pore size, and mechanical properties, for high-performance fuel cells.

Goals and objectives

Our goal...

Spacecraft Thermal Management Systems (STMS) is an undergraduate, interdisciplinary research/design project that works to develop an electrochromic cell for space applications for Cube and Nano Satellites. This device will act as a method of controlling heat from going into and out of the satellite through a color change, which affects how much heat is being let in. Such spacecraft are not exposed to a constant heat flux from the sun as a result of low Earth orbit. This device is special since the amount of color change can be modified to let in the proper amount of heat necessary for the spacecraft to operate.

The device works through a redox reaction pairing of nickel oxide and tungsten trioxide based films. When electrons are removed from each film, the nickel oxide will color to a dark brown and the tungsten trioxide will bleach to a clear coloration. Similarly, when electrons are added to each film, the nickel oxide will bleach to a clear coloration and the tungsten trioxide will darken to a blue coloration. When these thin films are combined, both pairs will either darken or bleach at the same time, forming the device.

The primary objective of the High Heat Flux project is to design, develop, and fabricate a thermal management
system capable of producing and dissipating high heat fluxes/loads exceeding 500 W/ cm^2. University of California, Irvine, Mechanical and Aerospace undergraduate students are tasked to designing and building a thermal system capable of generating and dissipating high heat fluxes. Currently, our system consists of a copper rod, a vacuum chamber, thermocouples, LN2, and a cooling system we are in the process of designing.

The Flight Simulation Chair is a robotic project with the objective of simulating the experience of flying a fighter jet. The project is controlled by one Arduino Mega 2560 microcontroller, two pneumatic pistons constantly supplied at 50 psi of compressed air, and moves in two degrees of freedom (roll and pitch). The unique feature of this project is its option of playstyle: Remote Control (RC) and Virtual Reality (VR). For more information, please see the full description on the project page.

Background

Since 1997, the Kyoto Protocol was implemented to set regulations on GHG emissions through Carbon Credits. As a result, we are tasked with the reduction of CO2 emissions and creating an algorithm to find the best possible solution.

•  The company operates a process that generates a waste gas stream with the high calorific value which is currently flared off in an afterburner /air pollution control device.
• The process is the largest contributor to GHG emissions at the Company. The Company has committed to reducing its GHG emissions by 25% by 2025 but would like to exceed this target.
• The company is interested in investigating methods to beneficially use this waste gas stream as an energy source.

Goal 

The overall goal of this project is to design a thermodynamic power process that runs on the flue gas stream. Operating this power...

As part of the UC Irvine Intelligent Ground Vehicle team, students will be in charge of designing and testing a vehicle that will be able to autonomously navigate through an obstacle course for participation in the Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition (IGVC).

The IGVC is a competition that sets an automated vehicle through an obstacle course to reach the final destination utilizing obstacle avoidance sensors, algorithms, and mechanical assembly. The competition challenges engineers and strengthens their skills by being able to build a self-automated vehicle that can complete the course. The Intelligent Ground Vehicle encompasses the very latest technologies impacting industrial development including intelligent transportation systems, military applications, and manufacturing. 

Transferring data wirelessly is never fully secured and creating a hardwire connection is the best manner to preventing that data from being intercepted. The Autonomous Systems: Data Transfer Buoy offers an innovative method in establishing a secure data hub while out at sea. Rather than sending unmanned vessels back to land each time they are done with a mission they are able to save time by instead traveling to the nearest data buoy hub. Here they can exchange all necessary data through a hardwired connection making it a secure method that saves both time and money.

The Proprioception Trainer Team is focused on developing a device that can be used to retrain finger proprioception post-stroke. For the fall quarter, the team focused on animating the existing robot by focusing on the “brain” of the device. The team developed the programming of the device to control the actuators. Additionally, the team worked on the implementation of a game that motivates the user to continue using the device. The current device was already developed, therefore the team only focused on writing the programming on Python to be implemented on the Raspberry Pi. The device moves the user’s middle and index fingers and the user has to determine when they cross by strictly using proprioception.

Our project aims to develop a Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) that derives its thrust and stability from flapping wing mechanisms, as we explore the unconventional lift generation that makes such flight possible. The research-focused side of our project is the Systems Identification Team, which is responsible for investigating the flow field generated by flapping wing mechanisms as well as the thrust they generate. Meanwhile, the Quadflapper Team works to apply this knowledge to perform experiments on, develop, and optimize air vehicles that utilize flapping wings as their sole form of propulsion.

The Mobile Simulated Buoy Hub project is run out of UCI's ASPIN Lab (Autonomous Systems Perception, Intelligence, & Navigation) and is associated with the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Corona, CA. Members are challenged with designing an autonomous buoy to navigate to a fixed waypoint where data transfer will occur with another vessel. The buoy will also communicate wirelessly with HQ on shore and serve as a file hub that can be accessed remotely. The project has both mechanical and electrical components and allows students to practice the engineering design process from start to finish.

The purpose of this project is to research and develop a functional testing facility and testing methods for the UltraMagic MK-32 burner. Our end goal is to understand the combustion behavior of the burner, its emissions, and efficiency for future optimization of the burner anatomy.

This functional testing facility will include the design and manufacturing of a ducting and fan/pump system to provide excess air that would naturally exist in a hot air balloon and allow a constant flow of emissions to measure with a gas analyzer. This modification system will be attached to the existing testing rig. Another needed addition to the facility is the permanent structure and position for the burner and propane. A structure needs to be designed to allow constant testing positioning of the burner to reduce variability and allow a safe distance for propane to not be in the range of heat radiation.

The goal of UCI CubeSat is to design, test, integrate, and launch a modular microsatellite using the CubeSat standard into low-Earth orbit in conjunction with Professor Rafique, Professor Kassas, and the ASPIN lab at UCI to test multiple payloads in orbit. Our team hopes to be the first student launch at UCI, creating a standard for future student launches and orbital research at UCI.

The UCI Baja SAE team competes yearly in the Baja SAE West Collegiate Design Competition hosted by the Society of Automotive Engineers.  Each year the team develops a brand-new single-seat off-road vehicle for the competition based on research into the dynamics of off-road vehicles and a critical analysis of the previous year’s car. The yearly competition hosts 100 collegiate teams from across the world and consists of a series of static and dynamic events culminating in the 4-hour, 100 car wheel-to-wheel endurance event.

Tensegrity utilizes adjustable tension among one-dimensional interacting members in order to create different three dimensional structures. This project aims to create the first morphinig wing at UCI.. The wing will be able to change airfoil shape on demand, in order to produce more efficient aerodynamic properties based on flight sections (takeoff, cruise, and landing). 3D printed models of the different airfoils created by the wing will be tested in UCI's wind tunnels to verify results of more efficient lift, drag, and pressure distributions than conventional wings. 

Anteater Formula Racing builds an open-wheel, internal-combustion race car inspired by Formula 1 and IndyCar racing to compete at the Formula SAE Knowledge and Dynamic Events that comprise the world-renowned collegiate vehicle design competition. It challenges project engineers to maximize vehicle performance, validate their design choices and methods, and develop professional presentation skills. Forty-five engineering students participate in the design, manufacturing and testing phases to gain the engineering skills needed for industry in a highly-technical, fast-paced and competitive environment. The team collectively spends over 10,000 man-hours each year developing the car and its subsystems alongside engineering coursework.