Previous ASME Award Winner
Recent Departmental Runner Up Awards
Capstone Design Projects
Simons Array PB-2B Receiver Cradle
2021-2022 - Spring
Team: 19
The goal of this project is to understand the current issues with the Simons Array Hoist Assembly and recommend any alternative approaches to improve safety and reliability concerns. For the mechanical design, the team's goal is to create a cradle that will support the receiver on all sides by minimizing major stress points and will contain lifting points for chains and straps, while also avoiding interference with other parts of the telescope.
Scripps Buoy Radar Project
2021-2022 - Winter
Team: 8
In the past the CDIP purchased an off the shelf Mobri radar reflector, which would end up breaking off the buoy and when attached returned a signal that was weak and not visible at a distance of 100m. Our goal was to help illuminate the buoy's location on radar screens while not affecting the data collected by the buoy. Long term the CDIP needs to see an increased up time for their buoys.
Bioabsorbable Staples
2021-2022 - Spring
Team: 21
Bioabsorbable staples and endoscopic stapler modified to deploy staple design; specific to wound closure in laryngeal surgeries.
Pneumatospinning Apparatus for Tissue Engineering
2021-2022 - Spring
Team: 7
Improve the experimental process of pneumatospinning scaffolds by creating a modular chamber with the ability to control different parameters. By improving the ability to tissue engineer scaffolds, this device will allow for further research and development for the surgical replacement of torn menisci.
Digital Canine CPR Performance System
2021-2022 - Spring
Team: 9
Rescue Critters ® is a company that manufactures animal mannikins for training purposes, most notably health education services. These devices are meant to give the user the ability to hone their skills and knowledge without harming real life animals. Existing CPR models are used as first aid training devices. These models have working lungs and simulate mouth-to-snout resuscitation.
Novel Otoscopy Skills Trainer
2021-2022 - Spring
Team: 4
Team Members
Jordan Luk
Nathan Chiu
Matthew Lau
Hao Guan
The purpose of this project is to develop a novel otoscopy skills trainer to help improve the ear exam skills of medical students and residents.
Triton AI Autonomous GoKart
2021-2022 - Spring
Team: 3
Triton AI is a student organization at UCSD, led by academic advisor Dr. Jack Silberman, that focuses on learning artificial intelligence and applying that knowledge towards competing in various robot competitions. Our task is to make a reliable electric kart for the software team to develop AI algorithms and compete in Autonomous Electric Kart Racing events.
Next-gen Respirator For Healthcare Workers
2021-2022 - Spring
Team: 2
During the COVID-19 pandemic in recent years, despite being provided with N95 masks and other personal protective equipment, many health care workers were still infected with COVID-19, some even had debilitating situations and ended up staying in an ICU unit for emergency care. Thus, this project’s main objective is to redesign and improve the current respirator designs and bring quality working conditions for all health care workers.
Tracheostomy Humidification
2021-2022 - Spring
Team: 5
This device is responsible for humidifying the airways of tracheostomy patients in intensive or long-time acute care facilities. It serves as proof of a more efficient, quiet, and portable replacement to the current device used in hospitals. Rather than using compressed oxygen for water atomization and transport, this device utilizes a micro aperture piezoelectric crystal for water atomization and a small pump coupled with a customized Venturi device for water transport.
Manufacture and Characterization of a Rolling Diaphragm Actuator for MRI Procedures
2021-2022 - Spring
Team: 1
MRI machines are underutilized for conducing procedures like biopsies due to their lack of access points and compatible materials. Robots, such as that of the Yip Lab, are being developed to enable doctors further range of motion within the MRI chamber, but there are several complicating factors to be considered. This project seeks to dive deeper and evaluate the feasibility of the rolling diaphragm actuation mechanism of the Yip Lab robot.
Fenestrated Escharotomy Instrument
2021-2022 - Spring
Team: 11
The material properties of human skin when exposed to flames or high temperatures change and lose their necessary elasticity. An area of interest is the chest and torso skin, where burnt skin can cause tightness in the chest and impede normal breathing. We seek to develop an incision device to produce a mesh pattern on the surface of the skin to allow for expansion and relieve pressure from the tightening of the skin.
Continuous Scan Sound Array
2021-2022 - Spring
Team: 6
This project focuses on designing and manufacturing a continuous scan sound array, as a technological advancement to traditional stationary sound arrays. ATA engineers can use beamforming to create a mesh of “virtual” mics, significantly increasing the resolution of results while decreasing the overall cost and acoustic reflections of the array.
Variable Stiffness Prosthetic Limb
2021-2022 - Winter
Team: 2
Team Members
Liam Fowler
Anna Nguyen
Uy Cao Vu
Qifan Yu
Prosthetics can be uncomfortable especially as the residual limb, or leg, can change volume by up to 10% throughout the day. As a result, up to 20% of patients don't use their prosthesis. Therefore, this project implements soft robotic jamming structures to sensitive areas in the prosthesis socket which can control the pressure at those areas as the limb moves and changes volume, improving comfort.
Passive Fluid Circulation
2021-2022 - Spring
Team: 8
Currently, the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC Pacific) has developed a
proof-of-concept microfluidic anode for use as a microbial fuel cell. This device can provide sustainable power for low power in remote
regions for environmental sensing. To better understand how to optimize the function of these fuel cells,
our team has developed a passive way to use water current to introduce fluid circulations within
the cell.
proof-of-concept microfluidic anode for use as a microbial fuel cell. This device can provide sustainable power for low power in remote
regions for environmental sensing. To better understand how to optimize the function of these fuel cells,
our team has developed a passive way to use water current to introduce fluid circulations within
the cell.
Sustainable Flow Chemistry System
2021-2022 - Winter
Team: 3
Team Members
Eden Detmer
Zaivy Gonzalez Valencia
Shravan Suresh
Nhat Tang
Flow chemistry systems provide a safer and more efficient means to conduct chemical reactions that traditional laboratory methods. Commercial flow systems are prohibitively expensive, so, many low cost, DIY flow systems have been developed. This project focuses on improving existing DIY flow systems to enhance functionality and usability.
Neubo Air Soft Robotics
2021-2022 - Spring
Team: 14
The aim of this project is to expose society to soft robotics by creating a user-friendly toy that is completely air-powered for children 6-12 years old, in order to spark their interest in engineering and revolutionize the toy industry. The team built a toy dog, in which the user can control its tail wagging and tongue licking motions.
Triton Solar Car Front Suspension System
2021-2022 - Winter
Team: 4
Team Members
Vivian Chou
Leonardo Duga
Tsz-Wai Kwok
Zhenlin Liu
Shenglin Yang
Solar Cars are designed to be extremely aerodynamic and lightweight as possible, to maximize efficiency using available energy from the sun. As the Solar Car is a road vehicle that will be run on freeways, it must be able to withstand loads from uneven road conditions, while protecting the driver and the car. The suspension systems designed in this project must meet these requirements, and additional objectives were considered to optimize performance.
SIO Drone-Based Air Sampling Device
2021-2022 - Spring
Team: 15
The Keeling and Weiss Labs at Scripps Institute of Oceanography are world-renowned for their work in tracking the rise of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere over the past few years. It is crucial that air samples collected by these labs are uncontaminated by local emissions so they must be sampled at high altitudes to rule this out. Our project uses a drone as a "mobile" sampling tower that can fly a tube high into the air to collect the needed samples.
