MAE

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.

The SolEaters are a group of engineerings that have to design, construct, and raise funds for a fully powered solar racecar that surmounts the scrutineering process of the Formula Sun Grand Prix. After finishing that process, we will then be allowed to go to the American Solar Challenge, a cross-country endurance race for solar cars around the world. As the first established solar car team at UCI, we hope to build a solid foundation for a solar racing team that will continue to not only engineer sustainable vehicles but also help spread the importance of renewable energy for years to come.

UC Irivne Solar Airplane composes of 20-25 undergraduate mechanical and aerospace engineering students who strive to research and design an unmanned air vehicle (UAV) with solar panels completely from scratch.  The UAV will use solar energy to extend the flight time by at least 15% for disaster relief efforts where accessibility is difficult for humans or visibility is limited. The team aims to achieve this goal by utilizing a GPS and camera that will relay constant feedback back to the team during the duration of the flight. 

Background

As part of the UC Irvine Autonomous System, students will be in charge of designing and testing a floating vessel that will be able to autonomously navigate through the sea. The vessel will be going to sea unmanned in order to provide updated cyber security patches against new threats. The vehicle has to attach to a buoy and make a physical data connection to a high bandwidth port in order to upload new security patches and receive updated coordinates for its next mission.

Goals & Objectives

• Design a floating vehicle based on requirements proposed by the US Navy
• Assembly, fabrication, testing and analysis of preliminary designs to provide the basis for construction of an efficient and durable final product
• Automate the navigation and steering of the vehicle
• The vehicle autonomously locates a buoy and inserts a data transfer cable into it

Requirements

• The navigation, steering, and
...

Established in 2015, HyperXite is a team of undergraduate students endeavoring to build a Hyperloop pod.

HyperXite has competed in the past four Spacex Hyperloop Pod Competitions. In Competition I, HyperXite was one of the semifinalists and placed fifth for their overall design worldwide. Additionally, the HyperXite pod was one of the only air levitated pods to be tested within the Hyperloop itself during Competition II and placed in the top 6. In the past two competitions, HyperXite was one of the top 22 finalists to attend comeptition in Hawthorne, CA.  

This year, HyperXite will not be attending the SpaceX Hyperloop pod competition but will instead build a small-scale pod to be tested on the team's own test track. 

UAV Forge is a multidisciplinary engineering senior design project with a focus on designing, building and programming unmanned aerial vehicles. Our goal this academic year is to travel to Maryland to compete in the 18th annual Student Unmanned Aerial Systems Competition (SUAS) hosted by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI). The competition is held in Webster Naval Air Station, in Patuxent River, MD, from June 17th to 20th.

Background

Whoopy Wipes is a project that aims to design a device to deliver hot, damp, and sanitized towelettes to the user for personal hygiene purposes. The current design works by first dispensing the dry, compressed wipes from a pre-manufactured blister pack into a tray. The tray then moves into a watertight sealed position. As the towelettes are being dispensed, water is being pumped into a heating chamber and heated to approximately 165 degrees F. Once the towelettes are in the tray in a sealed chamber and the water is heated, the water is then sprayed onto both of the towelettes. When the towelettes have expanded and are ready, they are ejected out of the device on the tray for the user to retrieve.

Goal and Objectives

There are three phases to this project with each phase lasting one quarter, starting in the fall of 2019. Phase I consisted of...

Design Build Fly is an annual international competition hosted by AIAA and Cessna/Raytheon. The goal is to design and build a plane that abides by the year's rules while also performing the best at the competition. The competition will take place in Wichita, Kansas in mid-April. This year the theme of the competition is to build an aerial advertising plane. Specific requirements include being able to deploy, carry, and release a large banner and carry passengers with their luggage.

Since the boom of the smart device era, worldwide demand for smartphones and laptops has increased significantly, from less than a billion in 2010 to over 2.5 billion in 2018. Along with the soar of smart device usage comes the demand for semiconductors and microchips, an essential component for smartphones, computers, and laptops. Every day, microchip manufacturers test about ten thousand chips to select only the functional ones to install into the smart device. Better methods for testing chips are needed.

This is an MAE188 Project

Background

Astronics Test Systems has developed a semiconductor test system, the Single Slot Tester (SST), to meet the demand of low throughput test systems in industry. The current SST requires a technician to individually place DUT’s (Device Under Test) into the BIB (Burn In Board) and remove after testing is completed.

Goal and Objectives

The goal of this project is to integrate Astronic’s existing SST with a FANUC six axis robot to fully automate the testing process.

Contacts

Faculty Advisors:

Dr. Farzad Ahmadknanlou - farzad.a@uci.edu

Dr. Vince Mcdonell - vgmcdone@uci.edu

Student Contact:

Jose Pereida - jpereida@uci.edu

This project is a conglomeration of automation systems designed to improve manufacturing times and relieve workers from repetitive stress injuries. The 3 systems are the speaker, manifold and laser probe packaging assembly lines.

This is a MAE188: Engineering Design in Industry project.

Background:

As global carbon emissions from fossil fuel increase every year¹, there is an ever growing demand for renewable energy and a means for low-emission transportation. This project is centered on measuring the emissions from a Yamaha Vino 50cc scooter when using alternative fuels with the overarching goal to develop a low-emission scooter.

Goal and Objectives:

1.Develop a test bed consisting of the Vino 50cc Scooter and a Mustang Dynamometer that measures:

          ●Air intake and exhaust gas temperature

          ●Forward speed and engine torque

          ●Exhaust composition and fuel consumption

          ●Air/Fuel Ratio and head temperature

 2.   Modify system to measure emission data from alternative fuels such as bioethanol

 ...

The UCI Modular CubeSat team aims to build a low-cost nanosatellite capable of supporting a variety of payloads that will be launched into low-earth orbit. The CubeSat team’s ultimate goal is to create an open source CubeSat design for future projects to replicate. This design will drive down costs and facilitate the democratization of space. The current two units CubeSat will perform a six-month mission in a low earth polar orbit taking data from the payload, a variable emissivity device, and transmitting that data down to the ground station on campus.

The Tensegrity Wing team aims to design a wing that can change its airfoil shape on demand using an inner tensegrity structure. The team hypothesizes that the wing will be able to decrease flow disturbances, and as a result drag, as compared to conventional wings with rigid control surfaces. 

Most of the energy leaves our bodies in the form of heat simply due to existing temperature gradients in the environment. An average human body at rest emits about 350,000 J of energy per hour, which is roughly equivalent to the energy given off by a 100-Watts incandescent light bulb. As a matter of fact, the conversion of human-body-heat into electrical energy using a solid-state thermoelectric generator (TEG) sparks interest in creating wearable self-powered mobile electronics and sensors. We, the UCI W.A.T.C.H team, which stands for "Wear A Thermoelectric Calorie Harvester," are dedicated to designing wearable thermoelectric devices powered by human body heat!