STEM Projects

Role: Team Leader and Data Acquisition

My team was tasked with determining the cause of problems our client was having with their process water chillers. It was determined early on that issues with the cooling towers was to blame. We deployed sensors and collected temperature data despite the ongoing pandemic and were able to decisively determine the problem backed up by empirical data. We developed a solution plan along with economic analyses and presented them to the client in a written report and a live presentation to a panel of engineers.

As team leader, I was personally responsible for keeping the project on time. This included planning for deliverables to be completed on time as well as maintaining and submitting weekly updates to our instructor before our weekly meetings. I was also responsible for developing a data acquisition plan as well as selecting, purchasing, deploying and retrieving sensors all in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

I have been shooting 35mm film for several years now and would like a way to automatically develop film at home instead of at a more costly lab. The process of film developing requires accurate timing and temperature control, making it the perfect candidate for machine control. This Arduino powered work in progress will use the normal tanks of developing chemicals along with pumps and timers to add the correct amount of solution to a developing tank, agitate at the correct intervals and empty at the correct time without human intervention. This project is intended to apply my Arduino and low voltage electronic skills in a fun and engaging way.

While working as a co-op at Oshkosh Defense I undertook numerous projects in a manufacturing environment. The largest safety campign I lead was to remove over 100 pry bars from the shop floor as they were deemed a safety hazard. This involved coming up with numerous engineered solutions involving a multitude of different safety features.

I was given the opportunity to design and oversee the manufacture and installation of a welding fixtured used in JLTV frame production. This involved working with the full time tool designer, the shop welders and an external plate cutter in order to make sur everything would work correctly and be in on time. This was one of the most rewarding projects I undertook during my time at Oshkosh as I was able to see the project through its entirety.

During my internship at Dynetics, Inc. I was introduced to, and became familiar with FEMAP with NASTRAN. I was tasked with the engineering stress analysis of multiple small but important structures relating to the Army's Hypersonics launcher program. Having never used the program before, in a matter of 3 weeks I was producing results and able to give design feedback in order for the components to meet maximum stress requirements. I learned how to analyze solid body elements, welded joints, bolded joints and cantilevered structures. I was also afforded the opportunity to directly design and analyze a hydraulic cylinder mounting bracket.

During my time as an undergraduate research assistant at the University of Alabama, I was given the opportunity to learn about and install a production grade Vicon motion capture system. I also received training on its use by a representative from the company.

Under the direction of Dr. Christian Cousin (CHARS Lab) I assisted with the preliminary setup troubleshooting of several TurtleBot mobile robot platforms. I was involved with getting bidirectional camera feeds running over WiFi as well as setting up the Robot Operating System (ROS) to receive commands from a remote desktop. By the time I graduated and left the lab, the TurtleBot was driving in both auto and manual modes and successfully passing camera feeds and sensor data back to the host computer wirelessly.