ME 492-493 Projects

For the 2017-2018 Academic Year, there are 97 students enrolled in the BSME Capstone course sequence: ME 491, ME 492 and ME 493. At the end of ME 491, the students were organized into 18 teams of 4 to 6, and those teams began working on design projects dealing with a variety of aspects of Mechanical Engineering. Seven BSME students from ME 491 are working on joint Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Projects.

Design Projects

The following list provides links to web pages describing the Mechanical Engineering Capstone projects for 2017 and 2018. Click on the title for any project to get more detailed information.

The content of each of the detailed web pages is created by the student team working on the project. The final outcomes described on the web pages for 2018 will be updated as the teams finish their projets.

Projects for academic year 2018

• 3D Printed Rapid Prototyping

  Develop design guidelines for the use of 3D printed tooling for rapid prototyping

• DRC Adjustable Desk

  Design a low-cost, reliable and adjustable-height table for use in classrooms by students in wheelchairs

• Daimler Trucks of North America -- Fairing Impact Test Device

  Design a device to simulate road debris impact that damages aerodynamic fairings

• Daimler Trucks of North America -- Test Track Monitoring System

  Design a system to log truck position during endurance testing on a test track

• Material Testing Device

  Design a device for performing three different tests on 3D printed material

• Robot Treadmill

  Design a computer controlled treadmill for test bipedal robots

• Hyster-Yale - Dynamic Inclinometer

  Develop a system for real-time feedback on inclination of a fork-lift.

• Hyster-Yale -- Electric Side-Shift

  Develop an electrically actuated mechanism for laterally shifting the load on fork-lift.

• Dielectric Electroactive Polymer Air Mover

  Use a dialectric electroactive polymer to create a small scale air mover.

• Flexible Screen Mechanical Support

  Design a foldable and pocketable structure for a flexible display screen.

• Optimized Passive Smart Home Device

  Design a passive cooling system for smart home device with high power consumption

• OreSat Deployable Antennas

  Design antenna systems that will automatically deploy after being released into low earth orbit

• Red Band Traps Capstone

  Design a device for automated manufacturing of traps for spider mites

• Automated Flex Twist Test Rig (AFTTR)

  Design and fabricate a device for measure flexure of high performance windsurfing hydrofoils

• Streimer Duct Flange Installation Project

  Design and fabricate a fixture to aid in accurate installation of duct flanges

• VMS Aero Package

  Design and fabricate a device capable of measuring drag and lift on airfoils for an open wheel race car.

• Windward Wood-Gas Compressor Control Capstone Team

  Design and test a system for data collection and control of a two-stage compressor.

Projects for academic year 2017

• 3D Systems Injection Molding

  Develop engineering design rules for creating injection molds created by 3D printing

• 3D Printing for Investment Casting

  Develop engineering design rules for using 3D printing in investment casting processes

• ASHRAE Integrated Sustainable Building Design team

  Design a highly efficient (net-zero energy use) building for a scientific research station on Diego Ramirez Island of the southern tip of Chile

• Hyster-Yale Lift Truck Anti-pitch System

  Develop a proof-of-concept design for reducing pitching motion of forklifts.

• Hyster-Yale Automatic Seat Positioning System

  Develop a one-touch mechanism for releasing the seat of a forklift so that access to the engine is more convenient.

• Bipedal Robot and Human Balance Test Bed (BRUTE)

  Design a platform testing the stability of bipedal robots.

• Automated Rescue Device for Pool Drowning Victims

  Develop a system to automatically, and in less than 10 seconds, rescue a person drowning in a swimming pool.

• Portland Loo Latch

  Redesign the door latch mechanism for the Portland Loo to provide increased reliability and allow for automation.

• PSAS Composite Fuel Tank

  Develop the design and manufacturing processes for a ultra-lightweight, composite tank for either LOX or isopropyl alcohol for a liquid-fueled rocket.

• PSAS Electric Feed System

  Design an electric pump capable of supplying LOX and isopropyl alcohol to a liquid-fueled rocket.

• Stand Alone Cooling System for PSU SRTC Labs

  Design a cooling system to drastically reduce energy necessary to cool specialized laboratories in PSU's SRTC building.

• Rhamey Mobility Device

  Design a lightweight, portable device to provide mobility for individuals with impaired or limited walking ability.

• Simplexity Automated Button Presser

  Design a device to rapidly test the reliability of user-input buttons on consumer electronic devices.

• Bed Warmer Project

  Design a device to provide a warm and comfortable environment for individuals unable to have blankets touch their feet while sleeping.

• Streimer Duct Pinning Machine

  Design a device to increase productivity for attaching insulation to sheet metal ducts.

• VFF Peach Project

  Devise systems and devices to reduce damage to peaches that are transported over rough roads from the mountains above Oaxaca, Mexico, to the city of Oaxaca.

• Ventacity Sensor Platform Capstone Project

  Develop a sensor platform and select sensors to enable high efficiency air-handling systems to control air flow by detecting CO2 and other pollutants

• High Altitude Balloon Constellation

  Design balloon-based system for deploying multiple imaging platforms to simultaneously capture 360-degree pictures of the August 2017 eclipse from 30,000, 60,000 and 90,000 feet in the troposphere.