MAE

The Adjustable Backrest Attachment is designed to improve comfort and ergonomics for users of standard lab stools. By incorporating an adjustable height range of 4”–6”, the backrest provides essential lumbar support while accommodating different users’ needs. The stool mount ensures stability and durability, featuring thigh support, a rigid base for structure, and foam padding to distribute weight evenly and reduce tailbone pressure. The clamp mechanism allows for secure attachment while maintaining easy adjustability with minimal effort. Designed with cost-effectiveness, durability, and ease of manufacturing in mind, this attachment is a practical solution for improving posture and comfort in lab environments. User feedback through interviews and testing will be incorporated to refine the design and enhance usability.

Background

Standard lab stools often lack proper back support, leading to discomfort and poor posture for students and researchers during extended work sessions. Many users have expressed a need for better ergonomics, cushioning, and...

We are designing a robot to collect solid samples for small gardens and greenhouses efficiently. Typically, soil sampling is done manually, which often results in inconsistent data. These inconsistencies lead to inaccurate information, limiting farmers' ability to manage their crops effectively. Our robot will collect composite samples made of smaller soil samples using an auger drill to penetrate the ground, extract the samples, and store them in a designated sample box. Additionally, it will feature multi-terrain wheels powered by four DC motors, allowing it to navigate various terrains with ease. This automation improves accuracy, efficiency, and overall crop management.

Background:

Many communities around the world struggle with water scarcity, relying on unsafe sources that pose serious health risks. Traditional desalination methods often require large-scale infrastructure and significant energy input, making them impractical for remote or underserved regions where access to reliable electricity is limited. The purpose of the Brine Busters is to provide a sustainable, off-grid desalination system for families of 3-4 who lack access to clean drinking water and dependable power sources. Our system is designed to be portable, energy-efficient, and easy to operate, ensuring that even those in the most isolated areas can produce safe drinkable water without relying on traditional utilities.

Goals and Objectives: 

 - Reduce sodium content to safe, drinkable levels in accordance with WHO drinking water guidelines.

 - Compact and lightweight design for easy transportation and deployment in remote areas.

 - User-friendly interface with simple controls for effortless operation, even with minimal technical knowledge....

SnapVolt is a student-led project with the ambition to design, test, and prototype a low-voltage distribution box (fuse box) that is compatible across different electric vehicles. Inspired by current vehicles with fuse boxes that are unique to a particular model, our design will allow users to create different combinations of fuses and relays to match their personal vehicle. A priority of this project is to allow simple and tool free assembly and disassembly with snap in components, similar to Lego pieces. Additionally, SnapVolt aims to create a cost effective design with the intention of making the product competitive in the market.

In search and rescue operations, hazardous environments with debris and tangled wires often block access to critical areas. To address this challenge, we are developing a flexible, portable, remote-controlled claw to assist our quadruped robot, Dyno. This claw is designed to efficiently clear obstacles, ensuring a safer and more accessible path for responders and the robot.

Our solution focuses on enhancing Dyno’s capabilities in navigating and manipulating its environment, making it a versatile tool in high-risk situations. The RC claw features precise control for handling objects of varying sizes and complexities, all while maintaining portability for ease of deployment.

This innovative approach reduces the need for direct human intervention in hazardous zones, minimizing risk to personnel while improving the efficiency of search and rescue missions. By integrating this tool with Dyno, we aim to redefine robotic assistance in disaster response scenarios, prioritizing safety and adaptability in challenging environments.

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 powertrain 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 fully custom transfer case, outputting to a driveshaft and front differential. 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 Arizona competition in May 2025. 

ZotCart is a fully autonomous golf cart that will be roaming around Ring Road in the near future. This is achieved by designing drive, brake and steer by wire mechanisms to allow for autonomous control of the golf cart, with the ability for a human to take control in case of an emergency. Several sensors such as cameras, radars, and IMUs along with control algorithms will allow for autonomous driving around static obstacles.

As of now, there are many different ways to get around campus such as by walking, scooter, or bike. However, these all require investment whether it be in the form of money or time. ZotCart allows for multiple people to enjoy quick transport all around campus, all while allowing a comfortable ride and an opportunity to get some extra work done due to the autonomous nature of the vehicle.

We aim to have a functional vehicle roaming...

Background

The goal of UCI Solar Car is to build a solar car to compete in the Formula Sun Grand Prix (FSGP) to qualify for the American Solar Challenge (ASC). This will be our first time competing in the competition, and we plan to do so with a 3-wheel car. Our role in the brakes team is to complete the human interface components of the car which includes: parking brake, brake light switch indicator, dashboard, brake lines, and driver equipment

About ASC/FSGP

The solar car race has an emphasis on reliability and endurance over speed. The FSGP is a three day track event held annually, where qualification is determined by the number of laps. The ASC which is held every other year, is also multi-day, taking place on the public road on a route that is about 1,500-2,000 miles, which exposes the car to various driving and weather conditions.

Goal...

Background

The 2025 Baja SAE Arizona competition is an off-road automotive event in which collegiate teams compete to design, build, and test a mini ATV style vehicle. The vehicles must pass a technical inspection to make sure they are adherent to the rules and regulations set out by SAE, and are then allowed to compete in dynamic events that test the vehicle's acceleration, maneuverability, off-road capabilities, and strength. We will be designing and manufacturing a rolling chassis, which includes the frame of the vehicle along with the suspension and brakes, that is to be entered into the Baja SAE competition next year after powertrain integration. Our design will focus on having a frame that is rules compliant and having a suspension and braking system that is lightweight and handles well in order to pass technical inspection and perform strongly at the competition.

Goals and Objectives...

• Background
  • In the development of a Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (FSAE) racecar, for Anteater electric racing the design of the steering and suspension systems is critical to achieving optimal vehicle performance, handling, and driver feedback. The current challenge lies in creating a steering system that provides precise control and responsive handling, while minimizing weight and maintaining structural integrity. Additionally, the suspension system must effectively absorb road irregularities, maintain tire contact with the track, and ensure stability during high-speed maneuver.
• Goals and Objectives
  • ​Determine ways to select and geometrically configure suspension and steering components within the preexisting vehicle architecture.
  • Steering System: To provide precise control and feedback to driver while ensuring quick response time and stability.
  • Shock Absorption System: To optimize tire contact with the road surface, enhancing handling, stability, and ride comfort while absorbing shocks from uneven terrain.
• Milestones
  • ​CAD model
...

The UCI RoboSub team designs an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV). Our AUV features autonomous localization, ultrasound detection, and a magnetically actuated appendage for the retrieval of debris off of the seabed. This project fosters innovation in underwater robotics, emphasizing autonomy, precision, and teamwork while addressing real-world maritime and environmental challenges.

Background:

Our multidisciplinary team is working to design and fabricate a semiconductor chip through the use of a cleanroom and the equipment within it. In addition to development, the team aims to create educational content on semiconductor manufacturing to share knowledge and promote understanding. By combining the expertise of multiple engineering fields, in mechanical, electrical, and computer, we are working together to understand the processes and theories behind devices smaller than a millimeter.

Goal and Objectives:

• design electrical components including resistor, capacitors, inductors and transistors with a tolerance of 25 um

•  fabricate a semiconductor chip on a wafer

• comprehensive documentation for each stage of the design and fabrication process

• comprehensive guide to using KLayout CAD software for chip design

• standard operating procedure for cleanroom environment

Team Members:

Mufan Zhang, mufanz@uci.edu

Simon Chang, simonc7@uci.edu

Raghav Gate

Kenny...

Background:

In high-risk environments, wildfires can occur quickly and without warning. There is a need to monitor these areas, but many are difficult to access and traverse, and there is a limited amount of personnel capable of repeatedly surveying these areas. Therefore, we plan to design a UAV system capable of monitoring and navigating these high-risk locales. In the case of a fire, the UAV will be able to recognize it and take mitigating action, as well as interface with other systems with the data it has received.

Mission Statement:

We plan to demonstrate a prototype drone to show the capabilities of this system. The demo will take place over a 50x50 feet area on a field with a red square, representing a fire. On the sheet, a small lit candle will be placed randomly. The drone, from a designated starting point, will be tasked to fly to the sheet,...

EV Drivetrain is a senior design project dedicated to designing subsystems within the 2025 Anteater Electric Racing vehicle, such as the accumulator (lithium-ion battery) and motor mount. The goal of this project is to construct an optimized system for the accumulator and motor mount. This is done by producing prototypes and performing FEA to ensure proper function during static and high-performance events at the FSAE competition. Failure to properly design these systems can result in disqualification or driver injury.

HPVC@UCI is a multidisciplinary team of undergraduate engineers at the University of California, Irvine competing in the ASME Human Powered Vehicle Challenge (HPVC). Our mission is to design, build, and race a human-powered vehicle that pushes the limits of sustainability, safety, and performance. HPVC fosters real-world application of mechanical and structural design, aerodynamics, and human-centered engineering. Our team is committed to innovation, teamwork, and hands-on learning beyond the classroom. The team is split into four subteams, Statics, Dynamics, Electrical, and Operations. Currently, our goals are to improve on last year’s design by reducing weight by 25%, incorporating a suspension system onto the vehicle, and ensuring safe operation with an emergency stop should damage to the battery or motor occur.

Background:

   Keeping public areas such as parking lots clean is a pressing challenge due to their large size and frequent activity. With small items like empty soda or water bottles, it especially can be tedious, since traditional manual trash collection is labor-intensive, costly, time-consuming, and requires constant human involvement. Therefore, this project is offering an alternative solution that will streamline, and automate litter and trash collection. By utilizing advanced robotic and camera detection concepts paired with mechanical design, an Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) will efficiently and independently locate, retrieve, and return empty soda cans or water bottles in public parking lots. 

Goals and Objectives: 

• A goal is to reduce the constant human involvement that is often in litter collection. 

  • Promote cleanliness in public spaces, and reduce manual labor. 

• The objective is to design and build a UGV that autonomously locates, retrieves, and returns an

...

Existing finger rehabilitation devices typically use exoskeletons to facilitate movement in disabled fingers. However, these devices are often large and costly, limiting their use to fixed locations, which restricts patients from using them in home environments. In this project, we aim to design a compact, portable robotic device specifically for home-based, thumb rehabilitation, addressing the need for a more accessible solution. This device is intended for stroke patients, helping them rehabilitate their affected thumbs through interactive exercises and simple games, enhancing mobility and engagement in their therapy.

Pulse Protectors:

Dr. Tang MicroBiomechanics Lab

Introduction:

There has been an increase in the use of pacemakers—devices used to regulate irregular heartbeats through electrical stimulation— with implantation rates from 55.3 to 72.6 per 100,000 from 2008 to 2017 [1]. Conventionally, these demands would be met with a leaded pacemaker, which is implanted within the left pectoral region with a lead running through the veins into the heart. However, recently there has been a shift in the market towards leadless pacemakers. One such device, the Medtronic Micra, is placed within the right ventricle such that the device is able to directly stimulate the heart without having the more traditional design of leads from the pacemaker to the ventricle. The wires flowing through the heart are one of the major causes of failures in pacemakers traditionally with Dr. Udo’s ~6 year follow up study citing 5.54% of the population having lead...

This is Project Dyno, a senior design project with the objective of designing, building, and prototyping a quadruped robot dog capable of serving as a disaster search and rescue aid in a low-cost package. We were inspired to make a search and rescue robot in response to the recent hurricanes on the East Coast. The needs of a would-be disaster relief robot drive our major objectives: traverse adverse terrain, overcome small obstacles, and support integration with a claw. We were also inspired by Boston Dynamic’s SPOT robot, a quadruped robot that is extremely capable, but also extremely expensive, making it less accessible to local authorities. Dyno will be scaled down in size and capability but still be able to serve in search and rescue operations.

Our purpose: 

The purpose of Unmanned Autonomous Submarine team is to create a device that can perform underwater tasks in place of humans. Surveying, exploration, and underwater repair are a only few of many necessary jobs that ensure safe sea travel and to protect marine life. However, extreme ocean conditions and the risk of malfunctioning equipment make these jobs dangerous for humans.

The Unmanned Autonomous Submarine team works to prove that a submarine can be a viable alternative to human labor for underwater work roles. Our team conducts research on simple yet energy-efficient submarine designs and tracking systems to develop a fully autonomous submarine. 

By the end of Winter 2024, the project team will have fabricated a submarine that can navigate freely underwater and autonomously track and follow a moving tennis ball. Our goal is to create a device that demonstrates functionality and efficiency so that future iterations may be used to improve underwater safety.

Objectives:

Quarter...

Background 

Thrust Vector Control (TVC) is the manipulation of the direction of a vehicles thrust to provide steering control throughout flight, improve stability, and allow for precision maneuvers. The lander challenge is a competition that motivates collegiate groups to develop self landing rockets. One challenge they offer is a $15,000 prize for a TVC static hot fire. For the competition, an engine above 500 lbf must be fired for at least 10 seconds as the TVC manipulates the thrust vector a minimum of 7 degrees in all directions. Build a TVC system for a 100 lbf engine that could be scaled up in the future to compete in the Lander Challenge.

Goal and Objectives 

1. System is able to withstand 100 lbf of thrust through the burn time of the engine

2. Engine mount designed needs to securely hold a ~3in diameter engine

3. System needs to

...

Current gel imagers on the market are expensive and not customizable leading to increased lab expenses. To address this we will design a gel imager that allows for customizable filter swapping and standard smartphone image capture, saving the sponsor’s lab space and funding. The gel imager will be adjustable to various transilluminator models and smartphones. Additionally, the filter exchanger will be utilize user controlled tuning to swap and stack optical filters for gel electrophoresis analysis.

We are the UCI Solar Car Project (ZotSun), a student-run interdisciplinary team of 60 undergraduates from the University of California, Irvine with a passion for innovative engineering and sustainability. Our mission is to revolutionize zero-emission transportation. Currently, we are building a solar car to compete in the Formula Sun Grand Prix of 2025, a race designed to determine the most efficient and aerodynamic solar-powered vehicles.

AQUASOL is a project that studies the use of solar energy and other clean energy sources to purify seawater and produce freshwater. This project aims to restore more drinkable and clean freshwater in the future of the Earth. The solar energy supply system and reverse osmosis membrane system will form the main components of the system, and the reverse osmosis purification of seawater will be achieved through pressure difference.

The HyperXite team needs a new way to transport their 250 kg hyperloop pod from location to location for demonstrations and a mobile workstation to repair and maintain the pod outside of the lab space. This iteration of the transport vehicle is dubbed the “Pod Maintenance and Transport Vehicle” which is a redesign of the original “Pod Transport Vehicle” made the previous year. The team will utilize feedback from the HyperXite team to build off of the old design to tackle issues such as difficulties maneuvering the vehicle, injuries resulting from blunt extrusions and sharp corners on the vehicle, and no ease of maintenance of the pod. This project will help to ensure the team and pod both arrive safely and swiftly to any event they find themselves at and present their technological findings to the world.

Project Background:

There is a technology gap concerning the additive manufacturing of magnetic materials on the nanometer scale. Current solutions are limited by their material strength and modulus, or by the precision in their technology. We aim to develop a 3D (SLS) printer for magnets under the sponsorship of Professor Camilo Cuervo and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL). Our final design will integrate the motion system of a selective laser sintering (SLS) printer with a magnetization head. These two components will work congruently to sinter and magnetize the ferromagnetic polymeric material simultaneously. The rotation gantry will provide the means to attach the magnetization head to the motion system and allow for unique pole pattering capabilities within the desired printing shape.

Preliminary Design

Review: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12YOxWRrPmDaRGGw6MzYn569Ja5SJpyZo/view?usp=drive_link

Goals:

• Design, Order, and Assemble Magnetization Head

• Optimize coil size for magnetization head

• Integrate laser engraver with magnetic head gantry

• Configure electronics and design user interface for printer operation

...

In many coastal regions around the world, communities without reliable access to electricity face significant barriers to economic development, education, healthcare, and overall quality of life. Traditional energy solutions, such as diesel generators or extensive power grid infrastructure, are often inaccessible or unsustainable for small, remote communities, particularly due to high costs, logistical challenges, and environmental impacts. This project aims to design a compact, affordable, and user-friendly wave energy converter for personal use, empowering individuals and households in underserved coastal areas to harness wave energy as a clean, renewable source of power. The device will provide a sustainable electricity solution that is adaptable to varied coastal conditions, enhancing energy independence and resilience while minimizing ecological impacts.

Current fire sprinkler systems often fall short in effectiveness, adaptability, and efficiency, particularly in modern building designs. These systems occupy considerable space, can cause significant water damage, and typically respond too slowly in the event of a fire. Our project focuses on designing an innovative fire extinguishing system for residential areas that overcomes these challenges. The new system is compact, highly responsive, and utilizes advanced technology to suppress fires before they spread. It integrates seamlessly with mobile devices, allowing users to receive real-time updates and control the system remotely. By prioritizing safety, minimizing property damage, and offering a faster response time, this system aims to revolutionize fire protection in residential settings, ensuring both peace of mind and effective fire suppression.

We are designing an autonomous glider to compete with the UCI DBF team for the 2024 AIAA Design Build Fly competition. The glider we build will deployed from the main RC plane DBF builds at altitudes between 200-400 feet above sea level and must independently execute a controlled 180-degree turn, achieve stable flight, have a light blinking upon release, and land precisely within a designated 200x200 foot target area, while weighing less than 0.55 pounds. The glider will have an autonomous flight controller in order to direct flight and allow the glider to land in the box without damage or outside assistance.

The NFPA Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge is an engineering competition where teams design a human-input vehicle that makes use of hydraulics and pneumatics as a means of propulsion. This competition is an opportunity for students to sharpen their understanding of the fluid power industry, cultivate team-based engineering skills, and network with industry professionals.

Our project, Zotdraulics, marks UCI's first ever entry into that competition. We have united mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic subsystems with the vision of building a vehicle that can contend for high placement in the competition's sprint and endurance races. We hope to cultivate a deeper understanding of fluid power, make a strong impression for UCI's debut entry, and establish a strong foundation for our future teams to advance.