MAE Projects

Our project aims to develop a lightweight and modular ankle exoskeleton to assist stroke patients in rehabilitation. Existing solutions are often bulky, difficult to use, and not adaptable to various shoe sizes. Our design integrates a quick-release mechanism to ensure easy, equipping and donning off, improving user experience for patients and physical therapists. The exoskeleton will provide supportive yet lightweight force assistance, enhancing mobility without adding excessive strain.

Anteater Dynamics is a mechanical engineering senior design project team working with the robotics company ROBOTIS to design a low-cost 7-degree-of-freedom robotic arm targeted for personal robotics enthusiasts, capable of collecting data to be used in machine learning. The final product should be under $1000 to fulfill ROBOTIS’ vision of easily accessible robot technology.

Our autonomous exploration rover is designed to navigate unknown environments with precision and efficiency. Equipped with a LiDAR scanner and IMU sensors, the rover creates detailed 3D maps and efficiently plans optimal paths to its destination. Using the RRT* (Rapidly-exploring Random Tree Star) algorithm, it navigates complex terrains while avoiding obstacles in real-time.

The rover’s advanced motion control system ensures smooth and accurate movement. Integrated with ROS (Robot Operating System) and built on the Waveshare JetRacer platform, the system delivers excellent performance and adaptability.

Designed for versatility, this autonomous rover has military applications with a powerful solution for exploring challenging environments safely and efficiently.

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. 

Our project focuses on developing a breathing device that delivers controlled airflow while promoting a positive user experience. Designed with durability and scalability in mind, this device ensures long-term reliability and cost-effective manufacturing, making it both practical and accessible.

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.

The DBVF (Design-Build-Vertical Flight) competition is an eVTOL (electric-powered remote-control vertical take-off and landing) vehicle competition where university students have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and familiarize themselves with eVTOL and AAM (advanced air mobility). 

Student teams annually design, build, and test an eVTOL aircraft to meet specific objectives and attend a flyoff in Maryland, where they are scored on their ability to meet those objectives. 

UCI’s DBVF team AeroZot currently consists of members who are split into subteams to develop the airframe, hardware, software, and the financing of the eVTOL.

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.

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.

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.

Background

This project focuses on the development of an autonomous drone system designed to survey an area, detect wildfires or fire outbreaks, and intervene with fire retardant to mitigate the spread of flames. The drone is equipped with sensors and cameras, to identify fire hotspots in real-time. Using color-filtering algorithms in addition to sensors, the system can accurately distinguish between fire and non-fire events, ensuring high precision in detection.

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.

The FUSION Engineering Project is a student-run engineering project that is managed by the club organization FUSION (Filipinx Undergraduate Scientists-Engineers In an Organized Network). The year-long project for the 2024-2025 academic year is a Remote-Controlled Precision Cargo Drone. This drone will have the capability to pick up a 2x2x2 in. wooden block and precisely deposit it at a landing zone. The drone will be controlled via remote control, and each team will implement their own creative designs including cameras, sensors, and other components to achieve this goal. At the end of the year, each team will use their drones to complete challenges in a competition. Each team will also be given the opportunity to present their work at our yearly conference FUSIONCon.

This project focuses on the design of a Tiltwing VTOL drone that combines fixed-wing efficiency with vertical takeoff and landing flexibility. The rotating wings enable smooth transitions between hover and cruise, improving maneuverability. The goal is stable flight, reliable performance, and payload capacity. The final design integrates aerodynamics and control systems into a compact, high-performance UAV.

Summary

HyperXite is a multidisciplinary undergraduate student team at UC Irvine dedicated to creating sustainable transportation technology through innovative research and development. Our project aims to revolutionize high-speed travel by designing and building a small-scale, self-propelled train pod that validates system models, incorporates important sustainable technologies, and proves the feasibility of Hyperloop and magnetic levitation concepts.

Background 

Background

The rapid growing field of AI and high-performance computing has led to small-form factor chips (CPUs/TPUs) with exceedingly high heat fluxes. Traditional air cooling struggles to dissipate these thermal loads efficiently. The research from our team at UC Irvine proposes an innovative liquid-vapor phase change cooling plate to address the need for high-performance cold plates that integrate seamlessly with new generation server hardware.

Goal and Objectives

The team seeks to accomplish the following:

Background:

We are designing a mobile rocket launch system that can be transported across all U.S. highways, complying with Department of Transportation regulations in every state. The system consists of two main subsystems: the Transporter, Erector, Launcher (TEL) and the launch vehicle (rocket). The TEL includes a hydraulic erector system capable of lifting the rocket to a full 90 degrees while providing full support with a strong back. The launch vehicle can deliver a minimum 200 lb payload to a 500 km polar orbit (270 Nmi/Polar) and features a reusable first stage designed to land on any surface after launch. The rocket will use existing models of rocket engines and will be powered by liquid propellants. The launch platform will secure the rocket during the initial launch at 100% thrust utilizing a ground drilling mechanism. The entire system can be fully set up within 8 hours of arriving at the launch site. This mobile launch system can be deployed anywhere across America, which eliminates the limitations of being confined to the two current launch sites in Vandenberg, California, and Kodiak, Alaska.

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.

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.

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 2024-2025 competition season.

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.

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.

Background:

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:

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.