MAE

Practicing pickleball alone is tedious and ineffective. Current models on the market are too expensive and do not provide essential features for pickleball play/practice. Our project is to design an inexpensive machine that can replicate realistic pickleball trajectories that would be observed in a game. This includes adjustable speed, spin, angle, launch height, and feed rate. Our niche however is a 3-wheel design, allowing our machine to launch pickleball with sidespin, a feature that current models on the market do not have. All parts used to create the machine will either be commercially available or will be replicable using online services. 

The project aims at testing the level of relativity between values of airfoil performance from prediction and the one in reality. Through the airfoil analysis tool (XFOIL), the team will simulate a numerical airfoils and obtain the values from the prediction. In the meanwhile, the team should design and manufacture the corresponding airfoils that are valid for wind tunnel test. Finally, the team will compare the results from the two methods and apply Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) to evaluate the conclusion relativity between prediction and reality.

Our project objective is to design and build a vertical lift system to transport a 16 oz plastic water bottle. The bottle must maintain its upright position, from a starting height no greater than 2 inches up to a platform positioned between 8 and 12 inches above the table surface. With the system on a budget of $250, there is an emphasis on the system being simple in design and use. Due to a 10 week design and assembly timeline the design must be easy to manufacture. And an overall goal to have the robot move quickly, reliably, freestanding, automated and battery-powered.

In this project, we are creating a control system, with the end goal of having an autonomous electric bicycle that makes use of the self-stabilizing geometries of two wheeled vehicles. This control system will consist of mostly off the shelf parts, such as a pre-built remote control bicycle, a Raspberry Pi, gyroscopic sensors and compass magnetometer sensors. They will all connect in order to sense the speed, lean angle and position of the bike. With this information, the microcontroller will change the steering angle accordingly to stabilize the bicycle.

Standard home thermal management systems consume a significant amount of energy. This can be costly and contributes greatly to CO2 emissions. Our project aims to test an insulated and airtight structure that maintains comfortable temperatures without heat pumps, boilers, or furnaces. 

Ventilation Nation will design a modifiable testbed in order to analyze the effects of changing different physical and functional characteristics of a home and show how models can be used to improve ventilation-only performance. Our goal is to use this testbed as proof of concept for the feasibility of a real-world ventilation-only home thermal management system.

Summary

For this project, we aim to design a robot with the ability to fold and maneuver four legs while being equipped with the tools necessary to perform a suture. This device aims to streamline the suturing process by reducing human errors and labor through robotic technology. In the event of an accident, there are many risks and time delays associated with manual treatment during a patient’s access to treatment. Modern medical devices are well equipped to deal with such issues but can be expensive and difficult to access.

The Under Pressure Team is developing an active pressure regulator for the UCI Rocket Project. The UCI Rocket Project relies on the utilization of gaseous nitrogen to pressurize the propellant tanks of the rocket. In order to effectively manage the pressure within these tanks, pressure regulators are essential components. However, the fixed-pressure pressure regulators that have been employed by the UCI Rocket Project exhibit several inherent characteristics that hinder optimal performance. Factors such as regulator droop, choked flow effects, the influence of supply pressure, and limitations posed by orifice sizes all contribute to deviations from the desired regulator output during flight. To address these shortcomings and enhance engine performance, the integration of a component capable of self-correction to maintain a consistent outlet pressure is necessary.

The Bottle Lift and Transfer project is a one-quarter project of MAE 151A. The primary objective of this endeavor is to engineer a mechanism capable of lifting a standard, unopened 16-ounce water bottle vertically and transferring it horizontally onto a predetermined platform. The device is mandated to operate entirely autonomously, powered by batteries, and be able to possess repeatability in its actions.

To meet these stringent criteria, this team devised and fabricated a sophisticated system comprising a scissor lift mechanism for vertical movement and a linear actuator to facilitate horizontal transfer. The intricate motions are orchestrated and controlled by an Arduino UNO board, leveraging IR sensors to signal the controller and dictate halts during the vertical ascent.

Summary:

The unique task of working underwater poses new challenges in communication, power distribution, buoyancy, water tightness, motor control, and pressure hull strength. ZotQuatics Engineering seeks to overcome these challenges by designing and manufacturing a low-cost, open-source ROV capable of search and recovery of metal debris in the Anteater Recreation Center swimming pool. More specifically, our ROV will have 4 degrees of freedom, a manipulator, live camera footage, will be able to submerge to a depth of 10 feet, and will operate for at least 20 minutes per run.  We are designing the ROV because of the growing ocean pollution problem. Although this ROV is not meant for deep sea applications, the knowledge we gained from this project will help us contribute to future projects that are related to the issue and potentially start a MATE team here at UCI.

Background:

Due to the rise in ocean pollution following...

On-market treatment of spinal bone tumors causes spinal cord & organ damage, decreasing quality of life for ~200K patients. Spine-Rad Brachytherapy Bone Cement uses radioactive bone cement to avoid these negative effects. The treatment has been proven to work & needs to be safely manufacturable. We will be creating a system that scores & snaps open a glass vial full of radioactive powder (P-32-HA) used for the treatment and dispense a user-specified amount of the powder into a syringe used for the treatment. Without an automated procedure and process for a technician to score, snap, and dispense the powder, they would be put at risk for radiation because of the beta emissions.

UCI Cargo Plane is a senior design project aiming to develop a lightweight RC aircraft capable of taking off, maneuvering, and landing with the heaviest payload possible to compete in the International SAE Aero Design competition. Our MAE151 project acts as an auxiliary unit to the team by providing additional analysis of the two major load-bearing structures in the aircraft: the cargo bay fuselage beam and the primary spar structures for next year’s aircraft. With our analysis, UCI Cargo Plane will be able to develop an aircraft with a larger strength to weight ratio for future competitions, allowing for increased payload capacity. 

The process of characterizing the vibrational modes of Hemispheric Resonator Gyroscopes (HRGs), such as finding the principal axis of elasticity and damping, is time-intensive and requires manual input. To reduce human involvement, we have developed a method of tracing the inner rim of the HRG with a measurement laser utilizing an image recognition machine learning algorithm. Automated controls collect the data for the trial, reducing the manual involvement to setting up the run. The underpinnings of this project are high-precision controls, computer vision, machine learning, and data acquisition.

Renewable Hydrogen is a possible alternative fuel to natural gas that can be used in gas turbines without producing greenhouse gas emissions. However, all combustion processes produce NOx, which is a harmful air pollutant and isn’t very well studied for Hydrogen. Our sponsor seeks to better understand hydrogen combustion by examining the interaction between hydrogen flames, but lacks the equipment to fully study every region in the flame. Thus, we are tasked to design a mechanical device that moves a camera around the flames to capture the reaction, protects the device from the high temperature of the flames, and processes those images to create a 3D heat release map of the high temperature regions. This way, the researchers can pinpoint where the regions of NOx will occur based on these images and figure out ways to reduce the regions of high NOx production. 

Over the winter and spring quarters, our project focuses on designing and manufacturing an affordable, DIY-friendly full suspension mountain bike for garage-level construction. 

We've finalized decisions on suspension and frame design, emphasizing manufacturability. Currently, we're refining designs for compatibility and performance, initiating proof of concept trials, and developing welding skills. Future steps include completing a comprehensive CAD model, sourcing components, fabricating a welding jig, welding the frame, assembling components, and showcasing finalized design. This project fosters collaborative innovation and empowers makers to shape the future of mountain biking technology

In order for satellites in orbit to maintain its heading to Earth, they utilize gimbals. Gimbals stabilize the payload which allow it to consistently point in the same direction even in motion. ICU is a MAE 151A/B project team in which we are developing a gimbal and counter gimbal mechanism to enable gimbal motion on small spacecraft without affecting attitude. The gimbal will be placed in low earth orbit in a 1U box with a high resolution camera to capture visual data of Earth. We are sponsored by Aaron Freeman and David Reeves of General Atomics who provide us industry knowledge and access to professional hardware.

The Army Research Lab (ARL) has been working on wireless charging methods for drones and needs a way to easily attach and detach their drones from the charging point without taking too much power and space on the drone. Electropermanent magnets can be turned on and off but do not require constant power in the on stage which would be too strenuous on the drone. The ARL tasked UCI with developing a way to magnetically connect the drone to the charge surface quickly and have found EPMs to be the most viable option for this. Working with Professor Camilo Velez, we designed and fabricated a design of electro-permanent magnets (EPMs) within a metal casing that will allow for quick attachments and releases from the charge points. This prototype can produce a 60N normal holding force. 

This is an automotive bottle lifting project. The bottle lift device needs to be compact, free-standing, and battery-operated. It may not extend underneath the landing platform and must allow for the bottle to start no greater than 2" from the ground. The lift must maintain the bottle's upright position throughout the journey and landing on the platform. Once the water bottle is placed onto the landing platform within the landing box, the lift must return to its original position and be ready to repeat the motion. Our design aims to be cheap, efficient, and effective while providing the same features as traditional assembly line devices. 

Main Purpose: Finding an autonomous way of material transportation to improve a menial, repeatable task to improve efficiency in a manufacturing/packaging process

For this project, our main objective is to make a bottle lift and transfer mechanism that will transfer a 16oz water bottle from the ground onto a platform that is 8”-12” off the ground. The platform is a rectangular table of 8.5” x 9.5” with a thickness of 0.75”. The design is meant to be placed on the platform and retracts down again so that it can receive another bottle. To accomplish this, the mechanism would need to be able to move vertically to the platform height, but also transfer the bottle horizontally to make space for another bottle.

The Combustion Crew, Team 14 with MAE 151B, is working to develop a Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence system for their sponsor, Dr. Xian Shi at the X Energy Laboratory at the University of California, Irvine. Building on Dr. Shi's existing high-speed reacting flow experimental setup, the team research and design a compatible PLIF system given the complexities of studying detonation phenomena. The system, designed to target the hydroxyl (OH) radical, will serve as a combustion diagnostics tool alongside an existing Schlieren imaging system.

The goal of this project is to develop an easy-to use, wearable, stand-alone device for gait assessment that can be sent home with patients and used continuously for at least 1 hour prior to recharging. The system needs to have an insole that measures user ground reaction forces and a soft interface to be worn around the ankle and calf to measure ankle angle and activity of at least two muscles: the tibialis anterior and the soleus or one of the gastrocnemius (calf) muscles. Processed data must be available to download after use that can be understood and analyzed by the wearer’s physician. The following pages will serve as a record of the work accomplished week-by-week including meeting notes, results from testing, and team discussions.

Background

The Army Research Lab (ARL) has been working on wireless charging methods for drones and needs a way to easily attach and detach their drones from the charging point without taking too much power and space on the drone. Electropermanent magnets can be turned on and off but do not require constant power in the on stage which would be too strenuous on the drone. The ARL tasked UCI with developing a way to magnetically connect the drone to the charge surface quickly and have found EPMs to be the most viable option for this. Working with Professor Camilo Velez, we designed and fabricated a design of electro-permanent magnets (EPMs) within a metal casing that will allow for quick attachments and releases from the charge points. This prototype can produce a 60N normal holding force. 

Goals and Objectives

Tasked with creating an EPM-powered magnetic attachment system that can accommodate...

The Better than Crutch is project 16 of Winter 2024 MAE151A/B Mechanical Engineering design projects. In this innovative project, we aim to revolutionize mobility assistance by developing an automatic crutch that adjusts its height according to the user's needs. This state-of-the-art crutch provides unparalleled support and ease for individuals facing mobility challenges, especially when navigating complex terrains such as stairs, slopes, and uneven surfaces. This crutch is engineered for ergonomic comfort and user-friendly operation, reducing physical strain and enhancing the user's confidence and independence. Our project represents a significant leap in assistive technology, promising to substantially improve the quality of life for crutch users by offering a safer, more adaptable, and user-centric mobility solution.

The Long Range Drone is project 12 of the Fall 2023 MAE 151A/B Mechanical Engineering design projects. In this project, the team is expected to design a fixed-wing aircraft-like drone that is capable of maximizing flight distance and/or flight duration given a limited battery capacity with the current technology. In addition to designing a drone, the team is expected to develop a launcher that is capable of providing an initial boost to help the drone reach an optimal initial height using an elastic band releasing system. Once launched, the drone will transition to a gliding phase, minimizing the usage of battery while sustaining leveled flight.

Mission Statement: Team 11B, Solar Airplane, seeks to create an RC solar airplane powered entirely from solar panels and battery power mounted on the aircraft for the purpose of demonstrating the efficacy of solar panels on extending flight duration.

In an effort to increase accessibility in the classroom, we were tasked with redesigning the tablet arm desktops in UCI’s lecture halls. These desks, currently small and non-adjustable, lack consideration for left-handed individuals and students of various sizes. Our redesign features an armrest with three levels, allowing 3.5” of height adjustment and 4” of  depth adjustment. This flexibility, along with a fold-out desktop that provides 50% more surface area than the current design, should improve the classroom experience  for students of all proportions and handedness, allowing them to focus completely on learning.

Summary

For this project, we need to design a device that develops a bottle lift and transfer system capable of automatically placing a bottle onto a platform ( the blue area in the image) at a user-specified height, ranging between 8 and 12 inches. This device aims to streamline the process by enabling the device to return to its initial position after each cycle, ready to accommodate another bottle. The primary goal is to enhance the efficiency and safety of bottle lift and transfer procedures. The device should be free-standing, low-cost, easy to manufacture, and meet all the requirements of the sponsor and advisor.

Background 

Shorbagy Mohamed’s research as a PhD student at UCI is on dynamics and controls. As our sponsor, his dream design solution is that the product can lift and transfer the bottle to the other platform and is placed exactly at the center of the blue...

The F-1 DragMaestros project group is working in conjunction with the Anteater Formula Racing Team to design, test, and integrate a drag reduction system on the rear wing of the vehicle to improve race times and overall performance. Through a detailed design process and project management, the team will determine the best method for changing the position of the rear wing airfoils to reduce the drag coefficient while balancing the lift coefficient. Actuation of the drag reduction system (DRS) will be controlled by the driver. This two-quarter project will develop a working 3-D printed scaled prototype by the end of the Winter Quarter of 2024 and plans to integrate a full-size manufactured system by the end of the Spring Quarter of 2024. 

A ureteroscope is a thin, flexible tube inserted into the ureter to access and remove kidney stones. At the moment, the surgical procedure for ureteroscopy is one that is laborious and does not remove enough kidney stones leading to repeat procedures for patients. We are remaking a ureteroscope with a larger diameter of 4.667mm with the goal of maximizing the aspiration channel, the channel where the kidney stones are suctioned out from, to achieve more stone removal. Our next goals will be to also have a non-clogging device, minimize all possible components to maximize aspiration channel even further and redesign the tip to allow the laser to access all stones more easily. 

The FUSION Engineering Project is a student-run engineering project that is managed by the club organization FUSION (Filipino Undergraduate Scientists-Engineers In an Organized Network). The year long project for the '23-24 school year is a Mobile Gesture-Controlled Robotic Arm. This mobile robot will have an attached arm that has the capability of grabbing, storing, and placing objects, as well as allowing for lateral movement. Both the robot’s movement and function of the arm are to be controlled wirelessly through hand gestures.There are 5 separate teams that are working to engineer their own individual robot that will be judged at a yearly conference hosted by FUSION (FUSIONCon). 

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 2024-2025 competition season.

The SUAS competition mandates that the UAV system possesses autonomous flight capabilities, proficient object avoidance capabilities pertaining to both stationary and dynamic entities, and adeptness in object detection, localization, and classification. Furthermore, the system is required to execute an airdrop delivery mechanism, ensuring the precise delivery of a payload object to a designated GPS location without incurring any damage.

While the immediate focus of this year’s team centers on achieving commendable performance within the competitive arena, the overarching goal is to provide undergraduate participants with a practical application of their engineering acumen toward a consequential real-world challenge. UAV Forge’s...