Senior Design Projects - Fall 2024 Showcase

The Anthropomorphic Robotic Arm for Daily Tasks project successfully addressed the inefficiency of manually performing repetitive, precise tasks by designing and implementing an anthropomorphic robotic arm with 7 degrees of freedom capable of lifting objects up to 1 pound. The arm features an embedded control system utilizing a Raspberry Pi microcontroller for processing and controlling tasks. A detailed needs analysis was conducted to identify key features consumers would require. The needs analysis included client interviews and user surveys and identified vital features such as an anthropomorphic design, modularity, and user-friendly control interfaces as consumer requirements. The design consists of high-torque servos to provide the required range of motion and lifting capacity. PETG plastic was selected for its strength and lightweight, ensuring the arm can support the specified load while remaining structurally sound. Assumptions and limitations included reliance on wireless communication for remote control and potential material wear over time. The arm's modular design creates easy maintenance and upgrades, allowing for an extended lifespan and versatility for various tasks. Feasibility analyses across technical, resource, economic, schedule, cultural, legal, and marketing dimensions resulted in a weighted average score of 3.84, affirming the project's viability. The technical feasibility analysis highlighted the arm's exceptional precision in performing tasks, thanks to its sophisticated control algorithms and real-time feedback mechanisms. The project team successfully met the design objectives, creating a cost-effective, responsive robotic arm that significantly boosts individual productivity. Using open-source software and hardware components ensured the system was affordable and customizable, catering to various applications. 

The rapid evolution of wearable technology necessitates advancements in wireless power transfer (WPT) systems that integrate seamlessly into flexible and wearable electronics. Current WPT technologies, while efficient, are often bulky and rigid, limiting their practicality for lightweight, conformable wearable devices. This project aims to develop a WPT system that maintains high efficiency while being flexible and adaptable to various body contours. 

Vital signs provide important information to healthcare workers about their patients. By monitoring critical vital signs, such as heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood oxygen level, doctors can gauge the health condition of their patients and make an accurate diagnosis. From this, proper treatment can be administered, saving lives. However, many vital signs monitors require contact while providing accurate details, which can be limited by the conditions of the patient, such as patients who have skin-related conditions. To provide care for patients who are unable to wear the necessary sensors to monitor vital signs, noncontact vital monitors must be made. 

This project aims to develop a web-based interface for controlling and monitoring a plasma 3D printing process in real time. The interface is designed to be user-friendly, ensuring that individuals with varying levels of expertise can operate it effectively. Our approach includes the creation of a digital interface with easy-to-use but advanced control options on the front-end and interfacing multiple components to control and monitor the process to improve usability and efficiency. By integrating these elements, we hope to streamline the plasma 3D printing process, making it more accessible and efficient. We have gotten positive feedback from both mentors and researchers. The researcher working with the plasma 3D printer has confirmed our expected results affirming this interface makes the process more efficient and optimal with the easy-to-use interface and advanced control options.