SENIOR DESIGN EXPO 2014 - VCU School of Engineering
Transcription
SENIOR DESIGN EXPO 2014 - VCU School of Engineering
SENIOR DESIGN EXPO 2014 PROJECT ABSTRACTS 2014 SENIOR DESIGN PROJECTS Acknowledgements from the Dean The VCU School of Engineering Senior Design Program and Expo is a platform for our undergraduate students to pull together all of the information and skills they have earned over the past four years in order to not only solve a real problem but also to gain the experience of presenting these solutions to industry professionals, academic peers and members of the public. Thanks to the partnership between faculty, students, and local industry, the School of Engineering seniors have an opportunity to apply rigorous academic principles, innovative ideas, exemplary teamwork and excellent communication skills to these projects. Faculty mentors and advisors of the VCU School of Engineering provide guidance to the senior design teams. Their support is invaluable to our students and the Senior Design program. The School of Engineering thanks members of the faculty and staff for the time and expertise they invest in this enterprise. The local engineering community also plays a critical role in making the Senior Design Program and Expo an experience for our seniors that really prepares them for life after college. Our industry friends lend their support in many ways. This includes mentoring student teams, judging projects at the Expo, and providing vital funds and donations of supplies so that students are free to explore their most innovative ideas. Private support also covers the cost of the event itself, which allows us to share our students’ designs with the greater Richmond community. A committee of external volunteers dedicated extensive time and effort to ensure the success of the 2014 Senior Design program and Expo. I extend my sincere thanks to all the members of the Sternheimer committee, who spent many hours reading through student grant applications and evaluating each one. Specifically, I would like to thank Tyler Berry, Mechanical Design Engineer, Colonial Engineered Solutions; Shahrzad Grami, Data and Process Manager, Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc.; William K. Lamp, Principal, Engineers Plus; Behnam Moradi, Fab 6 QA Manager, Micron Technology; Bruce Ferris, Managing Partner, SPARK Product Development, LLC; Jim Stenglein, Mechanical Design Engineer, Hauni; Long Nguyen, Sr. Mechanical Engineer, Power Distribution Inc.; Vince Lovejoy, General Manager, Jewett Automation; and Michael McGarry, CTO, Genworth Financial. I would also like to thank Mark A. Sternheimer whose generosity allows us to recognize excellence in design and innovation. Finally, we must acknowledge that presenting their designs at a location like the Science Museum of Virginia provides the students with even more of an incentive to strive for excellence. We owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. Richard Conti, Director and CEO of the Science Museum of Virginia, and his staff for hosting the 2014 Senior Design Expo at the museum. This is the fifth year that we have been privileged to showcase our projects at the museum, and I feel that this venue in particular enhances our students’ work and allows us to inspire and engage young audiences to consider a career in engineering and science. I understand that visitation to the Expo exceeded 1,000 visitors in 2013, and I anticipate even greater attendance this year. It is especially gratifying to meet the youthful visitors to the museum and it is inspiring to observe the interaction between our seniors and these aspiring scientists. As evidenced by the continued success of the Senior Design Expo, I am pleased to say that the partnership between faculty, students, and the engineering community is as strong as when the School first opened its doors nearly 18 years ago. Congratulations to the Class of 2014 and everyone involved for a job well done. Sincerely, Barbara D. Boyan, Ph.D. Dean iii Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FROM THE DEAN iii TABLE OF CONTENTS v PREFACE ix MARK A. STERNHEIMER, SR. GRANT FOR SENIOR DESIGN x 2014 SENIOR DESIGN EXPO ADVISORS xi THANK YOU xiii BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 1 $300 Oxygen Concentrator for Use in Developing Nations 3 Antimicrobial Endotracheal Tube for Pediatric Patients 4 Coated Pulmonary Silicone Stent and Delivery System 5 Device for Determining the Extent of Peripheral Neuropathy 6 Head-Controlled Mouse for Patients with Limited Upper Limb Mobility 7 High Throughput Mechanobiology Testing Assay 8 Improved Device for Passive Dorsiflexion 9 Nanoparticle-based Drug Delivery for Cancer Treatment 10 Robotic Platform to Guide and Assist Infants Who are Blind or Visually Impaired with Crawling and Exploration 11 System to Automatically Level an Arterial Line Transducer 12 Topographical Cues on Biomimetic Electrospun Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering 13 Transitional Device for Patients with Motor Disabilities 14 CHEMICAL AND LIFE SCIENCE ENGINEERING 15 Biodevice 17 Commissioning and Quality Control of Melt Blown Extrusion System for Manufacture of Polypropylene Filters 18 Electrospinning of Vegan Proteins 19 Fabrication of an Analytical Microfluidic Device 20 Photosynthetic Battery System Design with Incorporated Photosystem II 21 Sustainable Delivery Mechanisms for Type I HIV Treatment 22 Synthesis and Addition of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles to Engine Oil to Increase Lubricity Flow Chemistry 23 Table of Contents COMPUTER ENGINEERING 25 Self-Parking and Accident Aware Golf Cart 27 Smart Irrigation System 28 VoIP Security Robot 29 Wireless Transceiver Footprinting 30 COMPUTER SCIENCE 31 AMC Technology: Softphone Toolbar 33 CapTech: Oledos: A JavaScript Knowledge Repository 34 Honeypot Deployment and Malware Analysis 35 Innovative Solutions Consortium: Ranking Proposals 36 Integration of Reference Biological Networks into a Reference 37 Mobile Application for Miniature Ultrafine Particle Sizers 38 OneMind Health, Inc.: Referral Communications System 39 RAA’s Rapid Response Vehicle Positioning System 40 VCU HR eForm 41 Vehicular Network Testbed 42 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING 43 Assisted Hand Rehabilitation 45 Audio Frequency Model of a Wireless Communication System with Dynamic Spectrum Access 46 Black Silicon Solar Cells 47 Multi-Functional Intelligence UPS for High Power Electronic Devices 48 N.E.D. Noise Enhancement Device 49 Target Recognition and Deformity Reduction for UAV Platforms 50 MECHANICAL AND NUCLEAR ENGINEERING 51 Alternative Energy System for the VCU Rice Center 53 Arena Race Car Design Optimization 54 Arena Racing Chassis, Team B 55 Arena Racing Frame Optimization 56 Arena Racing Stock Car Optimization 57 Table of Contents MECHANICAL AND NUCLEAR ENGINEERING—continued Arena Racing Structural Frame Design—Team A 58 Design and Construction of an Inertial Electrostatic Confinement (IEC) Fusor 59 Formula SAE Steering System 60 General Aviation Transmission Engine 61 Harnessing the Power of the James River to Create Alternative Energy for GRTC Buses 62 Human Powered Vehicle 63 Improving the Efficiency of an Arena Racing Car Roll Cage—Team E 64 Nuclear Spent Fuel Pool Improvements 65 Remote-Controlled Aircraft 66 Robotic Tank Inspection System 67 Universal Valve Spring Compressor 68 Untapped Human Energy 69 VCU Formula SAE—Suspension Design Team 70 WTVR Tower Enhancement 71 MULTIDISCIPLINARY 73 Biomass Fuel Recirculator 75 Construction of a Freeze-Drying Appliance 76 Distal Touch V2 77 Nanomagnet Computing using SAW Technology 78 Nuclear Reactor Simulator 79 VCU SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING 81 VCU SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES 82 VCU SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES—continued 83 Preface The Senior Design program has been part of the School of Engineering curriculum since 1999 and is a requirement for graduation. The capstone experience provides an opportunity for VCU School of Engineering students to complete a hands-on design project in their chosen field of engineering. The program also teaches leadership skills in a collaborative environment and provides students the opportunity to develop projects that may lead to product innovation for the benefit of society. In 2002, the School of Engineering held its first Senior Design Expo. This free, annual public event allows the senior design teams to share and demonstrate their prototypes with the greater Richmond community. The Expo is the culmination of eight months of effort for the design teams, and is an important day for the students, the faculty advisors, and for the industrial and organizational sponsors who have supported the teams. The Expo also serves the greater purpose of inspiring the next generation of engineers. Recognizing that an introduction to the field of engineering must begin early in life and that there is an intrinsic value in having young people interact with engineers, the School of Engineering invites middle and high school students to attend the Expo to discuss projects with student team members and to learn more about studying engineering in a university or college setting. For questions or comments, please contact Dr. Afroditi V. Filippas, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, at [email protected] or (804) 827-4097. ix The Mark A. Sternheimer, Sr. Grant for Senior Design Mark A. Sternheimer, Sr. is the President of Sternheimer Brothers, Inc. Founded in 1930, Sternheimer Bros., Inc. owned and operated a chain of apparel and shoe stores in Virginia. Mr. Sternheimer has served the VCU School of Engineering as a member of the Foundation Board since 1999 and continues to be an avid supporter of the school. His generous contributions have most recently offered students the opportunity to apply for Senior Design project funding through the Sternheimer Grant process. Senior Design groups have the opportunity to apply for the Sternheimer Grant during the fall semester of their senior year. This year 32 applications were submitted to a committee of industry experts from across all disciplines. The committee has historically favored projects that are innovative in nature and have objectives that will positively impact the world. The VCU School of Engineering would like to thank the individuals who served on the Sternheimer Grant Selection Committee and congratulate the winners of the 2014 Sternheimer Grants! 2014 Sternheimer Grant Selection Committee Tyler Berry ‘12 Mechanical Design Engineer Colonial Engineered Solutions Shahrzad Grami Data and Process Manager Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc. William K. Lamp Principal Engineers Plus Behnam Moradi Fab 6 QA Manager Micron Technology Bruce Ferris Managing Partner SPARK Product Development, LLC Jim Stenglein Mechanical Design Engineer Hauni Long Nguyen ‘02 Sr. Mechanical Engineer Power Distribution Inc Vince Lovejoy General Manager Jewett Automation Michael McGarry CTO Genworth Financial 2014 Sternheimer Grant Winners A Robot Platform to Guide and Assist Infants Sean Megahan, Muhammed Naqvi, David Parker, Ross Petrella Nanoparticle-based Drug Delivery for Cancer Treatment Ashley Robinson, Munif Saza, Nitin Panwar, Dreanna Perkins Topographical Cues on Biomimetic Electrospun Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering Bhavya Vendra, Devon Mason, Imran Khatri, Sarah Ayad, Sarah Cameron Electrospinning of Vegan Proteins Austin Marvin, Cameron Brinn, Dylan Rodene, Jordan Carroll, Shadeed Drakeford Fabrication of an Analytical Microfluidic Device James Dwyer, Vesna Bacic, Thao-Nguyen Truong, Ryan Lee, Adarsh Siva Assistend Hand Rehabilitation George Brimmer, David Choe, Samuel Pak, Kenny Truong Wireless Transceiver Footprinting Jarrett Elliott, Michael Roberts Untapped Human Energy Nathan Condrey, Akhila Wijayaratne, Hussain Alaithan x Faculty and Industrial Advisors Additionally, the VCU School of Engineering would like to thank the dedicated faculty and industrial advisors and judges for their support of and participation in the 2014 Senior Design Expo. 2014 Faculty and Industrial Advisors Dr. Tom Arodz Dr. Christopher Lemmon Dr. Paul Wetzel Dr. Gary Atkinson Mr. John McKinzie Dr. Kenneth Wynne Dr. Jayasimha Atulasimha Dr. James McLeskey Dr. Weijun Xiao Dr. Supriyo Bandypoadhyay Mr. Devon Miller Dr. Hu Yang Dr. Sama Bilbao y León Mr. James Miller Dr. Meng Yu Dr. Michael Cabral Dr. Karla M. Mossi Dr. Wei Zhang Dr. Charles Cartin Dr. Ruixin Niu Dr. Daren Chen Dr. René Olivares-Navarrete Dr. Wei Cheng Dr. Dianne Pawluk Dr. Alen Docef Dr. Michael Peters Mr. Tim Ellison Dr. Peter E. Pidcoe Dr. Ding-Yu Fei Mr. Richard Rosenthal Dr. Afroditi V. Filippas Dr. Robert Sexton Dr. Stephen Fong Mr. Krisan Singh Dr. Carol Fung Dr. Vaibhav Sinha Mr. Todd Furbee Mr. Janusz Slawek Mr. Frank Gulla Dr. John Speich Dr. Frank Gupton Mr. Michael Spinelli Dr. Rebecca Heise Ms. Meredith Stockman Mr. Steve Hunt Dr. Hooman Tafreshi Mr. Rajbans Joshi Dr. Zhifang Wang Dr. Robert Klenke Dr. Jennifer Wayne Mr. Rudy Krack Dr. Xuejun Wen xi Thank you The VCU School of Engineering would like to thank the Science Museum of Virginia for their generosity and use of the museum for our Senior Design Expo. Their continued support helps to make the Expo a great success year after year! Science Museum of Virginia ● 2500 West Broad Street ● Richmond, VA 23220 (804) 864-1400 ● www.smv.org HOURS ● Monday - Saturday, 9:30 am –5 pm ● Sunday, 11:30 am –5 pm xiii BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING $300 Oxygen Concentrator for Use in Developing Nations Biomedical Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Anand Gandhi Meher Malik Shalin Shah Clint Yeaman Rebecca Heise, Ph.D. Industry Advisor Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is currently the third leading cause of death, claiming over 130,000 lives in the United States alone. COPD affects millions more worldwide, where treatment is neither accessible nor affordable. Oxygen therapy through the use of oxygen concentrators has been identified as the major treatment option for individuals suffering from COPD. Oxygen concentrators pose significant limitations for use in developing nations: (1) Frequent power shortages render the device unreliable for use, (2) Large initial cost makes it undesirable for purchase by hospitals and individuals, and (3) Maintenance is often nonexistent due to complexity of existing designs and scarcity of replacement parts. The aim of this project is to create a working prototype of an oxygen concentrator that can function in developing nations. The prototype will utilize pressure swing absorption (PSA) to obtain an oxygen purity level of at least 70%. Ambient air will be pressurized and channeled through a silica bed and molecular 5A zeolite to selectively remove water and nitrogen, respectively. Purge flow and counter-current depressurization will be employed to regenerate the sieve beds for long term use. The design will utilize readily obtainable materials that should provide for easy maintenance and replacement in the case of failure. Cost-effective polyvinyl chloride pressure vessels and readily available zeolite adsorbents will be employed to reduce the price of the product to $300. Battery backup will be integrated into the design to compensate for the inconsistent grid power found in developing nations. The device will be able to provide oxygen therapy with medical grade oxygen to patients at a low-cost in the challenging environments of developing nations. 3 Antimicrobial Endotracheal Tube for Pediatric Patients Biomedical Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Taylor Illman Santosh Mylavarapu Theodore Salter Nathan Veilleux Rebecca Heise, Ph.D. Industry Advisor Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) is a condition contracted within the hospital that affects many patients, both in the adult and pediatric settings. The prognosis of VAP can be determined by examining the outer and inner surfaces of the intubated endotracheal tubes. Circulating bacteria commonly adhere to the plastic tubing, colonizing into what is known as biofilm. Often, these biofilms can be aspired into the lungs, resulting in VAP. Current treatment protocol is entirely dependent on knowledge of the local flora and will vary from hospital to hospital, though antibiotics are widely utilized. In many cases, the development of a biofilm allows for an aggregate cell colony to become increasingly antibiotic resistant. Solutions to this problem have been researched in the adult population. Biocide impregnated tubes, surface modifications to existing endotracheal tubes and antimicrobial coatings have been tested and were fairly successful in reducing the incidence rate of VAP; however, such research is nonexistent in the pediatric setting. Pediatric patients have underdeveloped immune systems, and if they are undergoing mechanical ventilation, their host defenses may be further compromised making them more susceptible to infection. In other words, the pediatric population would benefit from a similar, modified solution. The fall semester was dedicated to research in order to find the ideal antimicrobial agent, both cost efficient and effective in its application. For the scope of the project, our proposed solution consists of a high performance bactericide/antibiotic, Silver Sulfadiazine, interspersed in a polymer matrix to minimize biofilm formation. Polyurethane will be used to optimize coating adherence to the endotracheal tube, of which will also be made of polyurethane. Cytotoxicity assays will be conducted using lung endothelial cells to first determine what effect Silver Sulfadiazine might have in a pediatric patient. In addition, in vitro bacterial testing, diffusion monitoring and mechanical stimulation will provide a means to determine the efficacy of our design. Following design completion, final testing will commence in a mucus lab to recreate the resident flora within the endotracheal tube as a more sophisticated method to reproduce clinical conditions. Acknowledgements: Bruce Rubin, MD, Mark Marinello, MD, Kenneth Wynne, Ph.D., Dennis Ohman, Ph.D., Gregory Buck, Ph.D. Rebecca Heise, Ph.D. 4 Coated Pulmonary Silicone Stent and Delivery System Biomedical Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Jessica Buckwalter Shane Diller Gretchen Schreyack Rachel Takahashi Rebecca Heise, Ph.D. Industry Advisor Narrowing of the airways, clinically labeled as pulmonary stenosis, prevents individuals from receiving adequate airflow to the lungs. It has many etiologies, some benign and others malignant. Pulmonary stenosis is treated through the insertion of a tracheobronchial stent into the airway, be it the trachea, bronchi, or both using a Y-shaped stent. Stainless steel stents are commonly used for cancerous airway occlusions, but are outlawed in the United States for use in non-cancerous causes. This is due to the tendency for granulation tissue to grow through the mesh walls of the metal stents. Full encapsulation of the metal stent by granulation tissue typically occurs within a year of implantation causing restenosis, therefore these stents are only used in cancer patients with a short life expectancy. Silicone stents, the focus for this project, are used in noncancerous patients that are considered surgical risks. Restenosis remains an issue in silicone stents due to formation of rings of granulation tissue (composed of fibroblasts) around the ends of the stents. The granulation tissue production is likely a result of constant motion of the stent during breathing and bacterial infections from inhabiting a non sterile environment. The proposed solution for resolving this issue is to engineer a stent coating consisting of a polymer and drug that will inhibit the attachment and growth of fibroblasts. Human Embryonic Lung Fibroblasts (HELFs) will be used for testing purposes. The research required will commence with coating FDA-approved food grade silicone sheets in prospective polymer and drug combinations and culturing both HELFs and normal human bronchial epithelial cells (NHBE) on the sheets. Assays including cytotoxicity, cell attachment, cell migration, and inflammatory response of the coated and uncoated sheets and later the actual silicone pulmonary stents, will be conducted to verify a reduction in migration and growth of HELFs, as well as healthy growth of NHBEs relative to the control. Alongside the establishment of a coated polymer stent is the design of a delivery mechanism. Silicone stents are folded, twisted, crushed, and on occasion inadvertently torn while forcefully being inserted into a rigid tube of a fixed diameter. This could result in improper delivery, a need for additional stenting procedures, and ultimately a waste of hospital resources. Expected deliverables of this endeavor include a fully coated silicone pulmonary stent, a functioning prototype of the delivery system, and a 3D animation of the improved delivery system/procedure. 5 Device for Determining the Extent of Peripheral Neuropathy Biomedical Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Lindsey Coover Jennifer Wayne, Ph.D. Industry Advisor Tyler Crosse Victoria Spott Peripheral neuropathy, a symptom characterized by numbness and pain in the hands and feet, is a condition caused by damaged and diseased neurons of the peripheral nervous system. Because it is associated with many chronic conditions such as diabetes and AIDS, and also with anti-retroviral treatments, peripheral neuropathy is prevalent worldwide. If left untreated, complications can arise such as foot ulcers, infection, and amputation. The idea for this project came from Engineering World Health’s Legacy Projects, a list of device ideas for development that are aimed at addressing prevalent medical conditions in developing countries. The most widely used method of diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy utilizes detection of vibration on the foot. The team will construct a device that is low cost, automated, and easy to use that can be utilized by non-medical professionals to determine the extent of peripheral neuropathy present in an individual. The design incorporates vibrators strategically placed at bony prominences on the foot, specifically at the hallux and malleolus. The foot bed of the device will be constructed from 3D-printed plastic that fully encloses the operating circuitry of the device. This device will automate the application of vibration and regulate the diagnostic process while making it administrable by non-medical professionals. This information will allow healthcare workers to determine which individual s are most at risk for complications, which can be lifethreatening in resource-limited settings. Acknowledgements: Dr. Simon Mest, podiatrist 6 Head-Controlled Mouse for Patients with Limited Upper Limb Mobility Biomedical Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Matt Bienvenu Akkarin Chirachaturaphak Neil Leutze Hung Nguyen Kimberley Overby Paul Wetzel, Ph.D. Industry Advisor People with limited to no mobility of their upper limbs are unable to navigate a computer using a traditional mouse. There are alternative mouse options available such as, the Quadmouse, Headmouse, and Easy Input, but they are costly and do not fully address the problem. The objective of our project is to design a cost efficient, head-controlled alternative to a traditional mouse with all the functions available. The device will allow physically impaired patients the ability to interact with and navigate a computer. The proposed product is an affordable head-controlled mouse for patients with high spinal cord injuries (SCI) or limited mobility of their upper limbs. The design of the head-controlled mouse utilizes a position, motion and switching sensors, and a central processing unit. Taking costs and the user’s physical capabilities into consideration, the switch and method of performing clicking functions will be selected. Once the hardware components are chosen and obtained, circuitry and software will be developed.The device will be compatible with standard computers, requiring additional software. Then the hardware and circuitry will be encapsulated into a single housing unit for each individual. The goal of this project is to design and develop an alternative, affordable way for people with SCI to interact with a computer. Enabling these users with SCI to use a computer by means of a hands free mouse will provide them with infinite opportunities to learn and communicate via a computer." 7 High Throughput Mechanobiology Testing Assay Biomedical Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor David Bedford Dalton Berrie Hillary Hardiman Illya Kajan Christopher Lemmon, Ph.D. Industry Advisor In order to standardize research involving cell interaction with surface characteristics a standardized mechanobiology assay kit is proposed, whose surface properties closely approximate biological tissues. Many researchers could benefit from a ready made assay to test cell-surface interactions. These types of interactions could affect cell signaling further affecting cellular differentiation, proliferation, and morphology. Some interactions could even cause changes in DNA uptake, transcription, and cell-cell adhesion. It is therefore highly desirable for researchers to be able to test these interactions to ensure accurate conclusions. The proposed kit will allow researchers to bypass the need to first create and test their own hydrogels before being able to test cells and collect relevant information. For researchers without a background in mechanics the step of making the surface to interact with the cells. Furthermore, the kit will standardize results across the field creating reliable reference points and reproducible results. Polyacrylamide hydrogels are made within a 48-Well Tissue Culture Plate. To produce the different stiffness gels within the well plate, polyacrylamide will be made in varying stiffnesses. The stiffness is modified by changing the percentage of acrylamide to bisacrylamide monomers. Each stiffness will be tested using a texture analyser to ensure accurate properties. It is also important to ensure that an appropriate volume of the gel is used in the plates to guarantee optimal hydrogel-cell interactions. After plating cells on the hydrogels, a mixture of adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation media will be used to test how the surface influences cellular differentiation given the factors available for differentiation down any morphology pathway. The cells will then be stained biologically and immunofluorescently to test for differentiation markers. The kit will also include software to control a microscope and reagents to test for desired cell functions. While production of the well plates is in process, open source software will be used to compile a platform which will run a microscope and collect data. The end result should be able to run the microscope and move the microscope platform to collect images. 8 Improved Device for Passive Dorsiflexion Biomedical Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Khaled Alhajeri Craig Hamman Nadiah Hassan William Hutchens Wyatt Taylor Ding-Yu Fei, Ph.D. Industry Advisor A significant clinical problem that patients face during and after major surgery is the formation of a blood clot due to poor circulation, known as Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). Complications arising from DVT, such as pulmonary embolism, cause one in 100 hospital fatalities (Hirsh et al., 1996). In order to prevent DVT in postoperative patients, a device was designed to flex the patient’s foot at a set interval to improve blood circulation. The initial design used a pneumatic pump to raise the patient’s foot. The pneumatically driven system was too loud, and was replaced with an electric motor drive system powered by a 12V rechargeable battery. This system was not ideal due to the awkward mounting of the motor, loud operation and uncomfortable fit. Two new systems were proposed: one based on a hydraulic pump and the other based on a rear latching system. Both systems will be quieter and more practically mounted. The final prototype will be chosen based on efficiency, ease of use, and price. Planned additions include an EMG circuit to monitor muscle activity, programmable flexing intervals, and aesthetic improvements to make the device more commercially attractive. A microcontroller will be used in conjunction with the EMG to shut off the device in the event of abnormal muscle activity. The microcontroller will also be used to offer programmable flexing intervals. The aim of the final device is to be safe, comfortable, and efficient. Acknowledgements: Richard J. Freer, James Ailsworth, Tri Nguyen Literature Cited Hirsh, J., and J. Hoak. "Management of Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism." American Heart Association (1996): 2212-245. Print. 9 Nanoparticle-based Drug Delivery for Cancer Treatment Biomedical Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Nitin Panwar Dreanna Perkins Ashley Robinson Munif Saza Hu Yang, Ph.D. Industry Advisor Melanoma is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer and results in 45,000 new cases a year in the United States alone. Despite medicine’s best efforts to treat the disease, it inevitably causes 8,000 deaths per year. Following the surgical resection of a cancerous lesion, the exposed wound’s leading edge may still contain cells which are prone to malignancy, possibly resulting in a recurrence of cancer in the patient. Direct topical application of anti-cancer drugs such as Doxorubicin and Daunorubicin in an appropriate carrier can reduce the likelihood of such recurrence though many current carriers are limited by both the diffusion rate and carrying capacity, which severely limits the efficacy of the drugs. Our team proposes using diatoms which are nanoscaled silica based algae have a porous exoskeleton that offers a viable option for drug delivery. Their high surface area is able to be functionalized for a wide spectrum of pharmaceuticals. Additionally the diversity of frustule morphology amongst diatoms allows for the attainment of a desired drug elution rate which can be measured by in vitro testing. Furthermore, cross-linking the diatoms within a PEG (poly(ethylene glycol)) diacrylate matrix will allow for secondary compound* delivery as well as anti-microbial features to assist in wound healing ,further enhancing patient recovery. 10 Robotic Platform to Guide and Assist Infants Who are Blind or Visually Impaired with Crawling and Exploration Biomedical Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Sean Megahan Muhammed Naqvi David Parker Ross Petrella Dianne Pawluk, Ph.D. Peter E. Pidcoe, Ph.D. Industry Advisor In order to help teach an infant who is blind or visually impaired to crawl and explore, the SIPPC robotic platform (originally developed by Dr. Pidcoe for infants with cerebral palsy) will be modified to allow it to detect the surroundings of an infant, and help him/her navigate towards a target using haptic feedback and variable assistance from the motors. For this initial prototype, rather than tracking individual targets, the robot itself will be tracked in relation to the target. This will be done by the parent (equipped with a smartphone} focusing a camera at the robot from behind the target. The camera will ascertain the distance and orientation from the parent to the child by comparing the number of pixels in a calibration image of the spherical marker to the pixel ratios in the phone video stream. This data is passed to the robot. The robot will inform the infant by providing haptic feedback (information about the distance and orientation of desired movement). In order for the infant to learn this association between feedback and desired movement, there will be a combination of training scenarios paired with robot movement Initially, the robot will be used extensively in order to move the infant in the correct direction. However, with practice the association between haptic feedback and desired movement should be learnt. As a result the supporting movement provided by the robot (but not the haptic feedback) is faded. Thus, the infant will be able to use solely the haptic feedback to be aware of the location of rewarding objects. Doing this without physical contact with the parent will teach the infant how to explore independently, which is very important for cognitive development. 11 System to Automatically Level an Arterial Line Transducer Biomedical Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Jessica Arble David Dasco Melissa Sinclair Paul Wetzel, Ph.D. Industry Advisor An arterial line is a medical device used to continuously measure blood pressure of patients, usually those in intensive care units. An arterial line consists of a pressure bag, a pressure transducer, and a needle and tube that are placed into a peripheral artery. In order for the arterial line to properly measure blood pressure, the transducer must be level with the fourth intercostal space of the patient’s chest. For patients who must be monitored continuously, an inaccurate reading could be dangerous. If a nurse has multiple patients to attend to, she may not see if a patient with an arterial line has changed positions. The patient may then experience a rise or fall in blood pressure, but the machine may not register it as being at a critical level even though it is. Also, the patient’s movement itself may cause the machine to sound a false alarm, causing the nurse to stop whatever work they were doing to attend to the patient. This can lead to errors in the workplace if false alarms pull nurses away from more serious issues. A system to automatically adjust the arterial line transducer with the heart has been proposed. The system will include sensors, a microcontroller board, a motor and track, and various other electrical and hardware pieces. The system will determine vertical position based on the location of the sensor placed on the patient. Any change in position will be transmitted through the program, and the motor will adjust the level of the transducer accordingly to keep the transducer level with the heart. This system will save time, since nurses must spend time at least once every two hours adjusting the arterial line. Our system will automatically check every five minutes to ensure the patient’s heart is still level with the transducer, ensuring a timely and accurate reading. If the heart and transducer are not level, our system will move the transducer to be level with the patient’s heart. The development of this system will help prevent medication errors and result in more efficient nurses. 12 Topographical Cues on Biomimetic Electrospun Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering Biomedical Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Sarah Ayad Sarah Cameron Imran Khatri Devon Mason Bhavya Vendra Rene Olivares-Navarrete D.D.S, Ph.D. Industry Advisor Fractures and other bony defects place a significant burden on the US healthcare system, but current solutions either fail to stimulate bone growth or are inconsistent in their efficiency. By stimulating the body’s natural regenerative capabilities using an osteoinductive scaffold, we aim develop a novel biodegradable scaffold designed to mimic the extracellular matrix after osteoclast resorption of bone to induce new bone formation by initiating mesenchymal stem cell differentiation into osteoblasts. Electrospun scaffolds will be produced with micron-scale fibers of varying topography using incorporated hydroxyapatite to create an osteoinductive surface. Several methods will be employed to vary the fiber geometry, thus modifying the surface topography to induce osteoblast formation. Human mesenchymal stem cells will be seeded on our scaffolds and their osteogenic qualities will be evaluated by quantifying levels of mRNA and proteins commonly associated with stem cell differentiation into osteoblasts. We have fabricated several iterations of scaffolds by varying five design parameters, including polymer concentration, hydroxyapatite concentration, and scaffold geometry. These scaffolds vary in fiber alignment, macro- and micro-scale roughness, and chemistry, all factors that have been demonstrated in the literature to affect stem cell differentiation. We are now in the process of finalizing our design before fabricating scaffolds for cell studies. Our scaffolds will provide a template for osteoblast formation by mimicking the extracellular hierarchical structure of bone, which will promote the natural healing process. Ultimately, we aim to yield scaffolds that can be used to regenerate tissue in small bone defects without the dependence of fixators, grafting materials, or exogenous bioactive molecules. Our final product will act as a replacement for traditional therapies and be superior to emerging bone tissue engineering products. Acknowledgments: Sharon Hyzy M.S, Tea Arapovic PhD, Ryan Clohessy B.S. 13 Transitional Device for Patients with Motor Disabilities Biomedical Engineering Project Members Matthew Hirsch Kristin Serwan Natalie Sympson Faculty Advisor Paul Wetzel, Ph.D. Industry Advisor Motor disabilities present challenges for many daily tasks. Most people want to keep their independence and be able to travel outside of their homes. The process of getting into and out of a car becomes much harder when one has a disability such as paralysis caused by a spinal cord injury. The goal of our project is to assuage this issue through a well-designed transfer system to allow transfer to and from a wheelchair and other locations such as cars, a bed, or a mat table under an individual’s own power or with the assistance of one additional individual. Our design is focused around our client whose abilities are restricted by a level C-5/C-6 spinal cord injury. Over the course of the semester, different design iterations have been considered. One design included a sliding board with a seat and a strap that the user would pull on to move the seat to the next position. Another consideration was an isolated board with a center scissor lift that would allow the board to be leveled to the height of the desired transfer. This was not feasible however due to the fact that the isolated system would have to start on a level surface. A final consideration was having one end of the board fixed to the wheelchair and the other free to move with a scissor lift. The side with the scissor lift would be able to be raised or lowered to become even with the transfer destination. The current and likely final design has a board bridging the distance between the wheelchair and the place to which the person is planning to move. This frame encloses a wheeled track with a seat on it, and a geared system linked to a crank on the chair. The user moves onto the seat and straps themselves in with an elastic belt closed by Velcro panels. They then use the crank that is next to or in front of them to move the seat across the track from the starting position to the ending point. The seat will incrementally climb the track every time the lever is pulled, using a cog or rack railway design. The deliverables are a working prototype as well as a video of our client utilizing our assistive device to accomplish a transfer with the help of one individual. We are also considering a pulley system in place of the gear system. Prototypes are in the process of being completed to determine which system will suit the user more based on the forces required to move the chair. In order for the device to be used by an individual with motor disabilities the whole apparatus must be as light and small as possible. We are looking into alternative materials such as composites to make a lighter structure. Currently we think the lightest materials with the necessary strength and versatility of structure is fiberglass or carbon fiber. Based on cost and the need to have a completed prototype before March, we will likely settle on fiberglass for the prototypes made in this class. 14 CHEMICAL AND LIFE SCIENCE ENGINEERING Biodevice Chemical and Life Science Engineering Project Members Cabell Lamie Aaron Rowane Carolyn Song Adil Suleman Allison Yaguchi Faculty Advisor Xuejun Wen, Ph.D. Industry Advisor This project aims to use a technology called cell microencapsulation to secrete drugs to the body using a mutated human cell line. In this case, the target application is neutropenia, the drastic decrease of white blood cell counts that often accompanies chemotherapy treatments. The current treatment for neutropenia utilizes injections of human granulocyte stimulating factors (hG-CSF). hG-CSF increases white blood cell counts over time. For many, treatment can be unaffordable, especially when coupled with chemotherapy and hospitalization costs. Dosage of G-CSF is also based on weight, but weight categorization is limited to two dosage groups. This project aims to make a much more manageable, affordable, and appealing device that can produce similar or better results than previous methods on a more personalized basis. Our approach is to create a hollow fiber tube that will house cells transfected to produce and secrete hG-CSF. The permeability of the tube and number of cells within the tube will be altered to achieve the desired secretion of the protein. This approach will be exponentially more cost effective and much less invasive to the patient. Figure 1: Cell Microencapsulation 17 Commissioning and Quality Control of Melt Blown Extrusion System for Manufacture of Polypropylene Filters Chemical and Life Science Engineering Project Members Sudan Abdur-Rahman Carter Berry Armand Melendez Jessica Nicholson Chelseay Reynolds Faculty Advisor Frank Gupton, Ph.D. Rudy Krack Industry Advisor Todd Furbee Delta Pure Filtration Melt blown processes are a developed technology; however, advances in die formation have allowed for the production of finer fibers and presented additional manufacturing difficulties. Impediments to continuous and reliable production have been fiber breakage and hardness. This project addresses these difficulties and will further enhance the consistency and economic viability of melt blown filters. A statistical approach has been chosen for increasing the reliability of the melt blown extrusion process. Manufacturing recipes will be determined utilizing a full factorial design of experiment using every combination of critical process parameters. The optimal combination will be determined by the parameter setting that produces filters that are the most statistically coordinated with industry standard weight, uniform diameter, and greatest particle removal efficiency. A filter cartridge test stand has been designed and will be assembled in order to objectively measure removal efficiency. This project will provide operating recipes that will increase the manufacturing rate and profitability of filters produced through melt blown extrusion. The filter cartridge test stand is crucial to the identification of effective filters, and, hence, the formulation of process recipes. 18 Electrospinning of Vegan Proteins Chemical and Life Science Engineering Project Members Cameron Brinn Jordan Carroll Shadeed Drakeford Austin Marvin Dylan Rodene Faculty Advisor Frank Gupton, Ph.D. Rudy Krack Industry Advisor Nutriati Krisan Singh Michael Spinelli Rapid population growth on a global scale has been seen in the last half century contributing to a proportional increase in a demand for reliable and sustainable food production. The object of this project is to create a meat analogue to mimic the texture of muscle fibers using the process of electrospinning to form fibers constructed from vegan proteins. The first step toward achieving these vegan fibers is to benchmark the electrospinning process by replicating processes from publications known to result in electrospun nanofibers. The literature consulted specified conditions for the spinning of gelatin and zein proteins. Once these benchmarks were successfully completed, they will provide a starting point for spinning more nutritionally valuable proteins such as those found in chickpeas and soy beans. The largest foreseeable challenge will be the identification of a suitable solvent with which to spin the proteins. Most conventional electrospinning solvents are not safe for use in food production. In order to overcome this problem, a food grade solvent or solvent system should be used to create the spinning solution. Barring this approach, it must be demonstrable that any hazardous solvents used are completely evaporated in the electrospinning process and that no trace amounts exist in the fibers produced. The end goal of this project is to yields edible vegan proteins that can be safely and reliably electrospun. Electrospun proteins could eventually lead to the development of an inexpensive meat alternative. This product, produced by chickpeas, would have the potential to mitigate the harmful environmental effects associated with raising livestock. Additionally, due to the simplicity of the process and the inexpensive nature of the feedstock, this product could serve as an alternative food source for famine stricken countries and by so doing, help to alleviate global hunger. Acknowledgements: Hu Yang, Donald Aduba, Xuejen Wen 19 Fabrication of an Analytical Microfluidic Device Chemical and Life Science Engineering Project Members Vesna Bacic James Dwyer Ryan Lee Thao-Nguyen Truong Adarsh Siva Faculty Advisor Kenneth Wynne, Ph.D. Wei Zhang, Ph.D. Industry Advisor Analytical chemistry is currently facing a dire deficit of cheap analyte identification devices that are both reusable and compact. In developing countries where lab testing is not readily available a market exists for a portable tool that could test biological samples in real-time. Microfluidics, a broad category dealing with the manipulation of fluids on a small scale, offers a potential solution to this problem. Through the development of a one-time use, easily disposable microfluidic “lab-on-a-chip,” many of these problems could be solved. In order to create the microfluidic device, a polymer coating can provide the hydrophilic and hydrophobic gradient for necessary for confined flow in a microfluidic chip. The glass surface and polymer coating will represent the hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions, respectively. The channels for fluid flow will be constructed by the exposure of the photosensitive polymer through a process known as photolithography. A change in analyte concentration can be measured using variances in what is known as the streaming potential. Several fluid flow control options will also be evaluated, including the integration of a small-scale valve needed to manipulate pulsed-flow. So far, our senior design team has obtained the necessary training for fabrication work in the Wright Virginia Microelectronics Center at VCU, and several group members already have experience working in the clean rooms. The goal for the end of this spring semester is to have a working prototype that meets the entire criteria outlined above. If successful, this device and research could provide valuable insight into the manufacturing feasibility of a “lab-on-a-chip” as a disposable, affordable analytical tool as well as promote VCU as a pioneering university in the field of microfluidics. 20 Photosynthetic Battery System Design with Incorporated Photosystem II Chemical and Life Science Engineering Project Members Dilan Bellinghoven Paul Lee Kelly Lipps David Nichols Daniel Tiea Faculty Advisor Stephen Fong, Ph.D. Industry Advisor Sustainable fuel sources have become a large area of interest in the energy industry. A potential method of energy production is the utilization of photosynthesis in electrical systems. Photosynthesis is the biological process by which plants convert sunlight into metabolic energy. Sunlight is the most abundant energy source, yet it is not being utilized to its full potential. Photovoltaics attempt to harness the sun’s energy through synthetic processes that convert light into direct current electricity; however, it too has several disadvantages such as its high inefficiency and lack of storage capacity. The proposed project will aim to utilize solar energy by combining aspects of safe, biological components of photosynthesis, the storage capability of batteries, and the energy sustainability of photovoltaics. There have been efforts made to isolate the photosynthetic reaction centers and relocate them to a synthetic environment where the energy produced can be harnessed and stored. So far, there has been minimal success in creating a photo-bioelectrochemical device that produces electrical power using this integrated process. This project will replicate a previous experiment using photobiofuel cells to generate fuel in aqueous solutions. We will try to mimic and improve upon a prototype where a photosystem II-functionlized photoanode and electrically wired bilirubin oxidase/carbon nanotubes-modified cathode system are used to generate and store solar energy without the production of any wastes. So far, the project has been in the preliminary research phase. Because this is a new and emerging field of research, few experiments of this nature have been conducted, and thus very little literature exists currently. Essentially all of the information needed to begin the prototype design and testing phases has been collected. The actual construction of the prototype will begin in March of 2014. The technology of this new and emerging field has the potential to improve upon the efficiency of converting a limitless energy source into a usable form with no waste products. A device of this nature could lead to sustainable and clean source of energy that can be used anywhere sunlight is plentiful, providing electricity where it may otherwise be unavailable. Acknowledgements: We would like to thank Dr. Fong and Dr. Jenson for their help with the Senior Design project. 21 Sustainable Delivery Mechanisms for Type I HIV Treatment Chemical and Life Science Engineering Project Members Firas Al-Shatti Rebecca Banton Laura Hayward David Presnall, Jr. Shivani Shah Faculty Advisor B. Frank Gupton, Ph.D. Michael Peters, Ph.D. Industry Advisor More than 35 million people worldwide are living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and more than 70% of these individuals live in Sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, the HIV patients residing in the third world countries of Africa are faced with the burden of traveling back and forth from their village to a health facility in order to receive medication. This is met with the added difficulty of limited access to transportation resulting in the process of getting treatment more inconvenient. In order to alleviate some of the burden of travel, sustained delivery mechanisms for the HIV treatment drug Nevirapine will be designed. The goal is to reduce the required health visits to approximately twice a month, while providing a convenient form of drug delivery based on the patients preference. These mechanisms are targeted specifically towards third-world countries, with Mali selected as an example polity. To meet this goal, it is necessary to design a system that is simple to use, reliable, and convenient. To accomplish this, we propose two options. The first is a pump similar to that used by diabetes patients for insulin administration. This device will be mounted outside of the patient’s body, with a subcutaneous auto-injection mechanism. It will be easy to operate and will contain the option to either be placed on the patient’s arm or hip, depending on the patient’s preference. As an alternative, for patients who prefer not to utilize a needle, we propose a modified oral delivery system. Currently, Nevirapine is administered as an oral tablet or suspension. The objective is to design a lipid nanoparticle to contain the drug within an oral tablet. This would presumably permit it to target the lymphatic system more directly (since HIV primarily affects this structure). By this method, the requisite dose could theoretically be reduced since Nevirapine would be deposited where needed rather than evenly distributed throughout the body. Additionally, the use of nanoparticles will allow for control of the release rate, reducing the drug concentration ‘spike’ associated with an initial dosing. These options will provide patients with the ability to take more control over their treatment by choosing the delivery mechanism that would work best for them, while at the same time reducing their time spent traveling for treatment. Acknowledgements: We would like to thank Dr. Christopher Brooks from VCU’s School of World Studies for his insights into developing societies, and Dr. Edwards from Intelliject for his advice and direction. 22 Synthesis and Addition of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles to Engine Oil to Increase Lubricity Flow Chemistry Chemical and Life Science Engineering Project Members Kathleen Barron Michael Burkholder Maricarl Hidalgo Clayton Miller M. Aziz Suleman Faculty Advisor B. Frank Gupton, Ph.D. Industry Advisor The purpose of the project is to implement a more suitable and efficient process to create nanoparticles that reduce friction in engines and machinery when added to lubrication oils. Our project will focus on progressing from a batch process to a microwavable continuous flow process for nanoparticle synthesis. We will focus on zinc and copper oxide nanoparticles, which will derive from their respective acetate or nitrate. After honing in on experimental parameters which have proved to produce the ideal nanoparticle shape, we will then test the particles to identify which variety most effectively reduces the friction coefficient. The methodology of the project has been divided into three phases: the research phase, the lab stage, and the testing stage with Afton Chemicals. The first stage was dedicated to understanding t he chemistry in both batch and flow processes, and comparing the results of the two. The conventional and microwave batch heating will be completed during the fall semester; continuous flow chemistry will conclude at the beginning of the spring semester. During the lab testing, concentration, temperature, time and pH will be the manipulated variables. Lastly, testing of the nanoparticles for reduction of the friction coefficient will be conducted during the end of the spring semester. Developing a continuous flow process that creates nanoparticles while reducing the friction coefficient of machinery will cause a more efficient engine. This will cause a decrease in oil consumption and improved efficiency of the machinery. The use of continuous flow chemistry will demonstrate its advantages over batch processes. Batch-to-batch variabilities will be eliminated and it will also cause a lower consumption of oil, which will have a positive effect on the environment. The ability to use less oil will cause less contamination in water systems and soil when the machinery is discarded or in case of an oil leak. Acknowledgements: We would like to thanks Ph.D. candidate Kendra Woodberry for her guidance and Afton Chemicals for their partnership in this project. 23 COMPUTER ENGINEERING Self-Parking and Accident Aware Golf Cart Computer Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Greg Brown Caleb Johnson Michael Elkins Omar Youssef Charles Cartin, Ph.D. Robert Klenke, Ph.D. Industry Advisor Self-Parking and Self-Driving Vehicles are one of the most significant technological leaps that mankind has developed. However, as with many technologies there are failures that can occur and a resulting need to repair these failures. J. Sergeant Reynolds Community College is starting a program to train students to repair selfparking vehicles. To build this training program, they want to develop their own modifiable, self-parking vehicle that is cheap to build and easy to repair. Our project is to continue the development of a cheap and easily repairable simulation of a self-driving vehicle for student training. This project has been in development prior to our working on it so our first approach was to identify what progress has been made on the vehicle, as well as what parts are currently available to us for use. We have also looked into how some autonomous vehicles currently function as to design the closest thing possible to an actual self-driving or self-parking car. We have recently identified the optimal sensors and placement of the sensors for the final design of our vehicle. We have also found out how we will be communicating with these sensors as well as what processing platform we will be using to accomplish the task of self-parking. We have also designed our program flow chart and begun our pseudo-coding so once the parts have arrived we should be prepared to start working on the vehicle immediately. In summary, we are designing a cheap and easily repairable Self-Parking Golf Cart in order for J. Sergeant Reynolds to train students on how to repair this new technological advancement. We have analyzed what was currently in the vehicle as well as what current autonomous vehicles use today and found the optimal parts for our vehicle. We then designed our program flow chart and are currently waiting for the parts we require to arrive to begin working on the vehicle. Acknowledgements: Salah Garada, Charles Swaim, Alan Crouch, Lawrence Schwendeman, David Barrish and Melissa Gay 27 Smart Irrigation System Computer Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Scott Francy Gaurav Shah Robert Klenke, Ph.D. Industry Advisor Modern irrigation systems have the ability to operate on a schedule and even sense if it is raining to disable the system. These systems are still inefficient though because the potential still exists to overwater or underwater the lawn. There are more sophisticated ways to control the overall water output combining both feedback control and feed forward control. An irrigation controller could make better decision to maximize efficiency if it had access to the necessary data. This project seeks to provide this necessary data allowing the controller to make control decisions proactively rather than solely relying on sensors and feedback, which is reactionary. The next evolution of irrigation system create a watering schedule not only based on time or schedule, but also dynamically adapts based on forecasted weather conditions. Research yielded two options: statistical based, predictive control based on past weather conditions and the second was through a direct interface to the weather forecast. A decision was made to use the real-time and multiple day forecast information due to the options available for the interface. To reach maximum efficiency, it was determined the controller would need to have advanced notice of the weather, current measurements of weather conditions and also track recent weather. By combining these three concepts, a base-watering schedule can be created and then altered if locally connected sensors contradict the weather report. Also, through tracking of the total rainfall and watering volume, the controller can identify when enough water has been delivered and the program can be dynamically altered to not run again until the next weekly time period begins. This solution would not only result in cost savings, but could conserve a significant amount of water. The concept of this controller could not only be applied to small-scale irrigation systems such as residential installations, but also large-scale systems that would be found in agriculture or golf courses. 28 VoIP Security Robot Computer Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Jeremy Eaker Casey Ferguson Mohammed Hossain Robert Klenke, Ph.D. Industry Advisor As the market for home surveillance explodes, our goal was to design a simple, user friendly, consumer grade surveillance robot. We set out to ensure that users will have the same capability of a high-grade surveillance systems including ease of use and wide surveillance area. By using mobile platform that will host one surveillance camera we would lower cost of a multi-camera system and potentially ensure blind spots in the surveillance area do not occur. To control the mobile platform, we chose to have a user give the robot voice commands through a web connect using a microphone so that extra hardware such as a joystick or control pad are not necessary. These voice commands will be sent to an Avent mini module that hosts the website and will translate the specific direction commands into hexadecimal values to be sent via Bluetooth to the mobile platform. The timeline of the project is going better than expected, preliminary tests using a Bluetooth compatible Nintendo Wii remote demonstrates that the communication between the devices is working properly. The next step is to build a website so that the user then can control the robot remotely. 29 Wireless Transceiver Footprinting Computer Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Jarrett Elliott Michael Roberts Robert Klenke, Ph.D. Industry Advisor In our security-conscious age, cyber identity is a critical issue for data security and information assurance. Due to MAC and IP address spoofing capabilities, it is nearly impossible to confirm the identity of a device communicating on a network. This project will research and implement capabilities for identifying a wireless device based on its unchangeable physical characteristics which factor into its electromagnetic transmissions. By discovering and identifying these distinguishable features, and establishing benchmarks used to identify each device, trust of a wireless device’s identity can be established at a higher level of certainty. Security would therefore be established not only through password protection, but also by the physical characteristics of data transmission nuances for each device. This will enable networks to keep a higher standard of security that to date has not been possible within the information technology community. The project will utilize a BladeRF Software Defined Radio, along with open-source Linux-based GNU radio software to observe and record the WiFi frequency spectra of any devices requesting access to the wireless network. Signal processing algorithms developed in this project will be run to find distinguishable features of different WiFi devices. The features will be then fed into a neural network algorithm, which will be trained to determine if there is a match between the known features of trusted WiFi devices and the features of the device being observed. If the neural network determines a match, the device will be allowed to connect to the network. 30 COMPUTER SCIENCE AMC Technology: Softphone Toolbar Computer Science Project Members Faculty Advisor Industry Advisor Michael Defibaugh Alex McKibben Iryna Wilson Janusz Slawek Rajbans Joshi Customer service is a very important function of every organization. In order to provide good customer service a company must use reliable software. Implementing a client application using technologies like asynchronous communication and SOAP based Web Services could significantly improve not only customers’ experience, but provide better work environment for customer service providers. While developing softphone toolbar we used a virtual environment provided by AMC Technology in order to test the asynchronous communication with the Web Services. We used an Agile development methodology to first create a prototype, and then added functionalities on each iteration. We were able to develop a fully functional softphone toolbar that satisfies all the requirements. The software works in the real environment, provides clean, simple user interface, and has an extensible design that can be enhanced in the future. Although the softphone toolbar is built mainly to improve the customer service provider’s work environment by providing user friendly interface and displaying customer information, it also ensures better connection between an agent and a client, thus improving overall customer service quality. 33 CapTech: Oledos: A JavaScript Knowledge Repository Computer Science Project Members Faculty Advisor Industry Advisor Brittany Davis Brandon Hughes Stefanie Kenyon Janusz Slawek Tim Ellison JavaScript today is one of the most widely used technologies in web development. Over the past few years, many new JavaScript frameworks and libraries have been created. There are many JavaScript frameworks and libraries which have functionalities that others do not and others are simply built on top of other frameworks or libraries. With this in mind, where can a web developer go to make decisions on which JavaScript framework or library to use? We have worked with CapTech this academic year to create a website, called Oledos, which will help its developers make better websites in a shorter amount of time. The website will have the ability to show basic information of the 12 most popular JavaScript technologies including how difficult it is to learn the technology, which JavaScript technologies it is compatible with and create a sample application which utilizes the compatible technologies. If a developer is uncertain about a particular technology, a colleague will have the ability to vote and show whether or not a particular technology works well with another. In this project, we designed and built a website. While working on our prototype, we used the Agile Development methodology in which we discussed our progress with our mentor, Tim Ellison, every week. After researching the different JavaScript libraries, we have some basic information, which JavaScript libraries are compatible with one another, and a sample application. The sample application includes the code and a simulation of a Dice Game. Even though there are many different JavaScript frameworks and libraries to choose from, many of them are compatible with one another. Most the JavaScript frameworks and libraries that we were working with were compatible with jQuery, one of the most popular JavaScript frameworks. 34 Honeypot Deployment and Malware Analysis Computer Science Project Members Faculty Advisor Sujoy Chatterjee Paul Morck Robert Stump Carol Fung, Ph.D. Industry Advisor To create an automated system of malware collection, monitoring, and analysis that can be deployed and maintained easily. This project is important because it allows protection against the compromising of a computers integrity. The design approach started with research, and then went to building separate modules, testing those modules, and then finally integrating all the modules together into the honeynet. A virtual network linking the honeypots and honeywall together has been created. Data collection and analysis has started. With the data we collect using the honeypots, we can help better protect against further attacks by analyzing what the attacker uses to get into the system. The honeypots can also serve as a warning sign of an attack in progress. This system could be implemented in many different scenarios, from a personal computer to a bank's server. 35 Innovative Solutions Consortium: Ranking Proposals Computer Science Project Members Faculty Advisor Industry Advisor Chunghao Hsieh Michael Kessinger Justin Risch Janusz Slawek Steve Hunt Richard Rosenthal Assigning ranks is a classic and long standing challenge in Computer Science. We are ranking the proposals submitted by third parties in order to see how well they met the needs of a project, which is defined by Innovative Solutions Consortium (ISC). This should ultimately lead to a more efficient means of finding the optimal solution to a given problem on the criteria provided by ISC. For example, if there was a project submitted by ISC to build a bridge, the solutions submitted for that would answer criteria related to that project, such as how much time it would take, how safe the bridge would be, and how much it would cost. Safety is paramount and so we would not want to accept an unsafe solution. From there, it’s up to ISC to choose if they want the most inexpensive solution, or the timeliest? Based on the parameters ISC selects when reviewing the proposals, our algorithm should find the most optimal solution. The design we are implementing is based heavily on the previous method of completing this process, in order to reduce the amount of time needed for learning the new system for those who had previously used the pen and paper method. It is a website that allows ISC to submit a project, which others will submit their proposals for. Once the submissions are in, a select group of judges will be able to evaluate their responses, and give them scores for each category. On the final page of the site, ISC will be able to sort the proposals based on their scores. To achieve a measure of how well a solution suits their needs, ISC can then choose how important each category is. From there, the solutions are re-sorted by their newly calculated scores. Acknowledgements: Jack Jackson 36 Integration of Reference Biological Networks into a Reference Computer Science Project Members Faculty Advisor Brett Ellerson Myounghun Kang Tim Voll Tom Arodz, Ph.D. Industry Advisor The purpose of this project is to develop a database-based pipeline for integrating multiple biological networks into a single unified network. The ultimate goal of the project is to construct a unified human reference metanetwork covering all major types of functional element that play a role in cell functioning and their known interactions. The database stores known information about multiple types of biological entities that are collected from online knowledge repositories. It also holds relational information of the structure of connections between biological entities that are extracted from existing sources of biological network. We successfully designed a relational database using Python data processing and integration methods to populate the database with information collected from online repositories. The output of this project will be the prerequisite information for computational discover of disease-related pathway from multi-assay studies. 37 Mobile Application for Miniature Ultrafine Particle Sizers Computer Science Project Members Faculty Advisor Taylor McCorkill Nathan Taggart Lucas Schronce Daren Chen, Ph.D. Meng Yu, Ph.D. Industry Advisor According to US EPA, ultrafine particles (UFPs), considering as air pollutants, are defined as airborne particles with the diameters less than 100 nm. Primary emission of UFPs is from combustion sources, such as motor vehicles and coal-fired power plants. UFPs are thus omnipresent in the ambient, especially in the residential proximity to highways and urban area, and in the areas where the traffic density is expected to be high. Recent heath studies have evidenced that UFPs may be particularly relevant to pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases, cancer and mortality. At VCU we are developing a miniature sensor to measure the size distribution of UFPs at the personal level. Both the hardware and software are under the development. In order to tap into the computing power of smart phones, this project calls for the development of an app for Android or IOS system to process the raw data collected and display the personal UFP exposure level. Input: raw data (voltage and current) detected by external hardware sensor Output: ultrafine particle sizer distribution Develop an app for Android or IOS system to process the raw data collected and display the personal UFP exposure level. This process is based on the “constrained least square method”. So far we have proven that smart phones possess sufficient computing power to compute the necessary calculations. Since we have established that the computations are possible on a smart phone, it serves as encouragement for the development of the hardware device since we now know that we can easily add the computational power of the smart phone to the sensor. Acknowledgements: Jingjie Zhang 38 OneMind Health, Inc.: Referral Communications System Computer Science Project Members Faculty Advisor Industry Advisor Ryan Bell Benjamin Le Eric Stansbury Janusz Slawek John McKinzie The application being developed is an online web application for communication of referrals between general practitioners/dentists and specialized providers. The motivation behind the development of this application is to find a secure, regulated way to transfer medical data and referrals, which is not allowed by simple web communications and email as that constitutes a HIPAA violation, that will allow for faster communications and saving natural resources by avoiding the use of standard communications of physical mail and faxing. The construction of the application is performed in Microsoft development environments of Visual Studio for Web, ASP.Net, and C#, all used to develop a system of classes which interact with each other and use communications with databases. The basis around this construction is based off of an agile/scrum style approach to development with short sprints of work being done and delivered each week, and based off of a similar system already created by OneMind Health, Inc. As of now, the current state of the application provides basic database operations to be performed with the database for users. The main focus of the project up until this point, for now, was to set up the project with in a very abstract architecture to provide a system that will be very loosely coupled to make maintenance, testing, and changing much easier and less costly upon the system. In conclusion, the current state of the project, as based on the problem, emphasizes basic user capabilities on separated objects within the system as the general early focus was to set up a stable and well-designed architecture. Acknowledgements: Matthew Thomas 39 RAA’s Rapid Response Vehicle Positioning System Computer Science Project Members Faculty Advisor Farheen Azam Joshua Hensley Prathika Kasireddy Carol Fung, Ph.D. Industry Advisor The Richmond Ambulance Authority (RAA) was looking to add rapid response vehicles (RRVs) to their arsenal of vehicles that responds to medical emergencies. RRVs are equipped to deal with most emergencies and are smaller than ambulances so that they can respond faster and reduce costs at the same time. Their current system deploys only ambulances to all of their calls; the RAA is meeting their time and coverage goals, however, the survival rate can still be improved. They would like to have the RRVs respond to the truly lifethreatening calls (deemed “Priority 1+”) in order to minimize response time and maximize the survival rate of patients with such emergencies. Knowing that the RAA currently responds to 90% of Priority 1+ calls in their jurisdiction within 8 minutes and 59 seconds, we planned on shrinking the time constraint down to 4 minutes and 59 seconds for ambulances and RRVs alike. We gridded the city of Richmond into one kilometer squared blocks. Then, given the call volume data for the last 5 years, we plotted out the probabilities of a call coming from each block in a 12-hour interval. We added on the possible combinations of ambulance placements and their 4:59 coverage of the city based on the ambulance posting locations also provided by the RAA. We then placed the RRV in each block and placed it in the spot which offered the highest percent of call volume coverage We created a program that takes in the number of the ambulances, the number of RRVs and the time of the day, to output the optimal locations for the given number of RRVs. An HTML output file is created to show the coverage maps for both ambulances and rapid response vehicles as well as the percentage of calls covered for the corresponding map. After placing the ambulances and RRVs, we achieve 90% call coverage with 4 ambulances and 3 RRVs, regardless of the time of day. Introducing the Rapid Response Vehicle system will significantly improve the emergency medical service coverage in the City of Richmond, provided the vehicles are positioned in the right places. Our program strives to accomplish this goal, but we only work on the placements of RRVs since ambulance positions are already optimized. Our results show that in order to comply with the standard of reaching 90% of calls within the time period and cutting down response time to four minutes and 59 seconds, the RAA needs to have at least 7 cars in total. For the survival rate, going by the general formula, this means that 90% of callers can be reached within 5 minutes, and the survival rate is at a minimum of 50% (whereas 10% with the old standard). Although the survival rate doesn’t seem to be high enough, we predict it is much higher than 50% in reality. Acknowledgements: Danny Garrison, Rob Lawrence, and Janusz Slawek 40 VCU HR eForm Computer Science Project Members Faculty Advisor Industry Advisor Richard Kotulski Peter Lee Joseph Pennington Brandon Webb Janusz Slawek Meredith Stockman In today’s day and age, the use of paper and ink has been surpassed by technology. Documents, books, and other paper materials have now been converted into electronic form, allowing them to be distributed easier. Not only does this allow for easier distribution, but it allows for a cleaner, greener product for the consumers. The goal for our VCU HR eForm project was to create an application for the VCU Human Resource Department that provided a paperless way to send forms to new employees. From this application, employees would be able to complete the forms and send them back, all electronically without any paper. Filled out forms then populate into a PDF file. This allows HR to directly send these eForms into their system instead of having to scan in a packet of paper, creating a faster and more efficient application process for both sides. Not only did we want to make this a paperless project for HR, we also wanted to make an efficient and easier process for the department. The application stores all the new employee information, from the application, into a database where HR admins have access to create, delete, and look up the employees. In conclusion, we have created an user-friendly, secured application for the new employees to fill the necessary forms out for HR. The information is stored into a database, where HR admins can create and delete. But most importantly, this application allows for a paperless process for HR. 41 Vehicular Network Testbed Computer Science Project Members Faculty Advisor Lily Hood Elliot Shapiro Matthew Shifflett Wei Cheng, Ph.D. Industry Advisor In this project, we will be designing and implementing a system in which drivers (of the remote control cars) can tell where they are on a particular road with specifications as far as what lane they are in, what tag they have just passed (indicates location), street, city, state, country, speed limit, school/construction zone, and what type of lane they are in (one way, turning lane, HOV lane, exit ramp). The drivers and other users can view this and other gathered information either in a web or a mobile application. Information about a particular RC car is gathered as the car drives over RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags embedded in the road surface. RFID readers as well as the Linux Development Board (LBD) are installed on the RC cars. The RFID reader will be used to collect the information from the RFID tags, which will be sent through the LBD to the MySQL database via Internet. By querying a database using the ID of the tags and RC Car ID, information about the car's location and other things can be procured. This information can be accessed through a web application or smart phone application. So far we are in the process of integrating the Linux Development Board with the RFID reader and connecting them to the server. We have successfully developed a prototype for a web service and android application that for now is accessing and displaying pseudo-data, but will eventually display the information that is stored on the RFID tags once everything is completely integrated. There are several reasons for creating a tracking system with specific detail. Knowing which lane one is in can help drivers negotiate complicated intersections or road exchanges by providing better directions. Sometimes the commonly used G.P.S will think that you are continuing onto a road when you have exited just because the roads are so close in proximity. This is one thing we hope our design will help solve. Additionally, in the case of an emergency, rescue personnel can know exactly where an accident occurred (i.e. the last RFID tag that the car was recorded as passing) and make their way directly to the scene. Drivers whom an accident might affect will be directed around the accident or given a different route. Finally, a potential for having very specific location data would be for the development of automated automobiles. For example, if there are multiple RFID readers on a car, maybe the location of different parts of the car could be recorded and used to keep cars from hitting each other. Acknowledgements: Janusz Slawek 42 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING Assisted Hand Rehabilitation Electrical Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor George Brimmer David Choe Samuel Pak Kenny Truong Michael Cabral, Ph.D. Weijun Xiao, Ph.D. Industry Advisor Every year, 700,000 people in the US suffer a stroke – the equivalent of a stroke every 45 seconds. It is believed that the majority of recovery takes place within three months of a stroke, but recent studies have shown that a recovery length of more than a year may be necessary to achieve close to full recovery. In addition, the physical toll on both patient and therapist can slow or exacerbate existing injuries. The prohibitively large cost of rehabilitation has produced the opportunity to design a cost-effective alternative solution. This project’s primary goal is to create a portable device that can provide similar results to rehabilitation with a trained professional. The team has employed an iterative design process and the current revision utilizes a linear actuator to provide the movement needed to clasp and unclasp the hand. This design will minimize the amount of effort required by a medical professional, as well as simplify the manufacturing process necessary to build it. 45 Audio Frequency Model of a Wireless Communication System with Dynamic Spectrum Access Electrical Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Amos Ajo Mohamed Keita Rahel Mekonnen Bethel Temesgen Ruixin Niu, Ph.D. Industry Advisor As society’s usage of wireless devices and services continues to increase at a staggering rate, the industry and consumer demand for access to the wireless spectrum is far outpacing the FCC’s antiquated spectrum allocation policies and the wireless industry today faces a scarcity of available spectrum. In 2002, the FCC released the “Spectrum Policy Task Force Report,” calling for smarter and more efficient approaches to spectrum management and allocation. This was the impetus for engineers to develop designs for Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) networks. DSA is a broad term but defined by a taxonomy of methods in which secondary users (SU), an unlicensed users of the wireless spectrum, may opportunistically access spectrum allocated to, or owned by, a primary user (PU) so long as the PU quality of service (QoS) can be minimally affected. In our project we will model such a system of a PU and SU, but rather than using RF devices for wireless communication we will use soundcards of computer laptops as ‘radios’ to wirelessly communicate via audio waves. Using MATLAB we will program a PU transmitter (TX) to modulate digital data over an audio carrier, as well as PU receiver (RX) which will record, demodulate, and recover the binary source sent by the TX. To make this design more interactive, we design a GUI which will allow users to type brief text messages for the PU transmit and receive, providing users a tangible example of how wireless spectrum is used. Packaging the PU transmissions to be transmitted in bursts, we will simulate bursty wireless traffic and underutilization of the PU spectrum. A SU radio will be programmed in a software-defined radio (SDR) toolkit called GNU Radio, such that it may opportunistically access the PU channel during the null periods of the PU transmissions. It will employ a spectrum sensing algorithm to recognize the presence of the PU, ensuring that it fully relinquishes the PU channel spectrum when PU bursts commence. Performance of our system will be measured based upon the error rate performance of our PU transmissions, particularly a comparison of PU error performance with and without the presence of an active SU. We will also use GNU Radio to create a visible FFT waterfall plot to visually display the audio spectrum activity which the will audibly heard. We hope for our project to be an academic exercise which will, in a novel and intuitive way, convey the potential which DSA systems and methods have in reforming the current spectrum management and allocation policies. 46 Black Silicon Solar Cells Electrical Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Chase Anderson Dominici Nguyen Kamaldeep Singh Yevgeniv Mikutin Gary Atkinson, Ph.D. Industry Advisor Black silicon (b-Si) solar cells are the current industry standard in semiconductor solar cell fabrication because of their higher efficiency characteristics over traditional solar cells. The traditional or basic solar cell fabrication contains simply a junction between positively doped and negatively doped silicon, and metal contacts to extract excited electrons. Though effective, these traditional cells introduce losses in the form of reflection, transmission, and heat. B-Si solar cells combat reflection by utilizing a textured surface to redirect reflected wavelengths back into the substrate, and combat transmission by applying a reflective surface at a strategic depth beneath the junction to redirect escaping wavelengths back into the substrate. The focus of this project was to develop a more economical way to texture the surface of silicon, while still exploiting the other key features of industrial b-Si solar cells: bulk thinning and reflective rear surface. Currently in industry, advanced and expensive patterning and etching techniques are used to texture the silicon surface. The approach around the industrial process was the utilization of a glass nano-particle solution. In theory, the solution would simply be spun onto the silicon wafer, allowing a random distribution of particles across the surface. The areas of exposed silicon would be etched, leaving a peak at the location of a nanoparticle, thus creating a textured silicon surface. Successful development of this theorized process can revolutionize the processing of b-Si solar cells, significantly reducing production costs, and provide the public with a cheaper energy alternative. Water Cross Section Industrial b-Si Surface Texture Photo: U.S Department of Energy NREL 47 Multi-Functional Intelligence UPS for High Power Electronic Devices Electrical Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Jasdeep Kandola Rameez Khimani MacPherson Stevens Raleigh Waters Zhifang Wang, Ph.D. Industry Advisor Our project aims to solve electrical power issues and enhancing the micro-grid capabilities in the VCU School of Engineering West Hall. Dr. Dmitry Pestov, who is scientist the Nanomaterials Core Characterizations (NCC) lab located inside the building, presented us with an opportunity to investigate an issue that remains problematic for the high-end equipment within the NCC lab. The lab experiences a “flickering” problem caused by power outages that can cause serious damage to the extremely sensitive equipment running experiments. This flicker is caused by the delay in initial startup of backup generators located within the VCU School of Engineering’s micro-grid, and does not provide enough quality power to allow stable operation or shutdown of the important equipment that is not protected by an expensive Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Device. By understanding how power is supplied to the NCC and how the devices react to the power in normal and outage conditions we designed and implemented an intermediate device that can detect low power quality conditions and alert the host device to safely shut down. The device is a multi-functional intelligent UPS system which conditions the power based on the type of dirty power being applied to it, as well as communicate to the device during extended power outages to safely shut it down. The system enables protection of equipment that could be subject to otherwise very "dirty" power, which would potentially damage the expensive equipment. A method was developed to ensure that power delivered to sensitive equipment is within acceptable operating parameters, as well as document and collect data. Our device will allow students and faculty to successfully and accurately conduct experiments using the devices in the NCC without the fear of unexpected disturbances or damage. It also continues the schools green micro-grid initiative and expands upon its previous success within the small scale micro-grid that the School of Engineering uses, and could allow expansion of the micro-grid to automate the efficient use of resources campus-wide. 48 N.E.D. Noise Enhancement Device Electrical Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Allan Christie Ellis Gillespie Michael Cabral, Ph.D. Industry Advisor As the US economy moves further into the service industry, more and more people find themselves working in cubicles and industrial office buildings. In these spaces, the workers are subjected to industrial noises coming from HVAC units, computer servers, etc. The tones heard in industrial noise can be described as dissonant. Dissonant tones produce a negative emotional response. What can be done to combat the noise? If a corresponding frequency is added to the dissonant noise, different chords can be created, depending on which frequency is chosen, and how they correspond to the frequency of the noise. A corresponding frequency can be chosen that creates a major chord with the noise. Major chords produce a positive emotional response. If we create an environment with a major chord instead of dissonant tones, it’s possible that the emotional response in that environment can be improved. This is achieved through digital signal processing. The noise is collected through a microphone. The signal is amplified through a pre amp, which outputs into an analog to digital converter microcontroller input. The microcontroller performs Fourier analysis to determine the frequency and amplitude of the noise. Using this information, the microcontroller determines the frequency and amplitude that will create a pleasant sounding major chord. This frequency is output through a digital to analog converter, amplified and sent to a speaker. This could be applicable not only in the work place, but also in the home kitchen, next to the refrigerator. The design is relatively simple, and the cost of manufacturing is very low. Once people experience having their rooms “tuned” to be more pleasant, it will become the norm. 49 Target Recognition and Deformity Reduction for UAV Platforms Electrical Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Luis Castrillon Benjamin Young Alen Docef, Ph.D. Robert Klenke, Ph.D. Industry Advisor Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) have a large potential in the commercial industry due to their size and cost. Visual operations such as land surveying, topographical measurements, crop monitoring, and many other applications can be implemented into a UAV much more economically than a manned vehicle and without the restrictions of using a pilot. One major setback that is keeping the UAV industry from expanding is the limited means of interfacing the UAV to its surroundings without the use of a teleoperator all while producing only the most relevant of information to a given situation. Providing basic algorithms for clearing deformities seen in many aerial images from a UAV will create a base upon which specific target recognition algorithms may be developed with reduced difficulty. The UAV lab at VCU annually takes part in the Student Unmanned Aerial Systems competition in which an aircraft must fly within an allocated airspace and spot targets. The airspace is small enough so that the aircraft is banking more often than not. We will be filtering and designing our algorithms based on the requirements of the competition. First, each image will be run through a few basic filters where noise will be eliminated, and features of interest will be exaggerated. If the image is moderately deformed then it will be run through noise reduction filters, such as Gaussian and Median, to eliminate as much of the deformities as possible. Then the image will be tested for targets. Methods for detecting targets include histogram analysis, bimodal color distribution, edge detection, and alphanumeric comparison. The first step taken has been to utilize Matlab to develop the experimental algorithms since it has many prebuilt toolboxes involved in image processing. Simultaneously, hardware is being constructed for the purpose of running and developing our software. To be able to process the images from the competition, a stand-alone, modular system is needed so that our hardware does not interfere with the UAV’s hardware. For this we have created a physical server to manage the image stream while running filters on the Graphical Processing Unit. As it stands, the hardware is nearing completion, and a select number of algorithms have been evaluated and chosen for experimentation. To finalize, processing images taken from an unmanned vehicle can impact the scope of commercial utilization and acceptance of this technology. The reduction of deformities and implementation of specific target recognition can ease this transition. Our aim is to have all developmental stages for software and hardware completed by the end of 2013. We will begin next semester by implementing our algorithms in C and test benching them on the hardware. 50 MECHANICAL AND NUCLEAR ENGINEERING Alternative Energy System for the VCU Rice Center Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Donielle Bibby Tyler Kimbrough Paul Phau Emilie Soares James McLeskey, Ph.D. Industry Advisor The primary focus of this project is to decrease the carbon dioxide footprint of the VCU Rice Center by creating a sustainable alternative energy system. Through the Dominion Foundation, and support from the Carbon Awareness Partnership (CAP) Program, the team is designing an integrated system composed of solar panels, wind, and hydro-powered turbines, along with a curriculum that will educate local teachers on how nature can be harnessed to produce sustainably generated energy. In order to place the wind and hydro turbines correctly, feasibility studies will be performed in order to determine their optimum location. These studies consist of mounting anemometers in different locations for an adequate time period and collecting the wind and flow data. Solar panels are already installed on the roof of the Rice Center’s dock; therefore the team must integrate these with the new components to create a holistic system. Attempts to record the flow of the river have been made. Due to limited, inconsistent flow, integrating hydro turbines has not proven to offer any benefits. Anemometers have been mounted in a possible prime location and will be recording data for the month of December. The implications of this feasibility study have the potential to provide a great service to the VCU Rice Center by providing a source of alternative energy to assist in the cost of power usage. The system will also be a small step in the right direction in conserving our precious natural resources. Acknowledgements: The Dominion Foundation, James T. McLeskey - Project Faculty Advisor, Anne B. Wright - VCU Rice Center Coordinator, Bradley Rodriguez - Graduate Assistant, John Devincinzi - VCU Rice Center Facilities, and Carl Beckelheimer - Energy Manager 53 Arena Race Car Design Optimization Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Benjamin Lootens Michael Murphy Matthew Vold Frank Gulla, M.S. Industry Advisor This project is to evaluate and improve on the existing design of an Arena Racing car. The improvements are necessary in order to reduce barriers to entry into the sport, facilitating the its expansion. The main areas for improvement are ease of manufacture, cost of manufacture, and driver safety. Team F has selected to simplify manufacture, with an anticipated reduction in cost, while maintaining the current level of safety for the driver. To this end the team intends to investigate the cost savings of a welding machine versus human labor, perform stress simulations using a variety of and different amounts of material, and different methods of fastening the components of the roll cage together. Thus far, the team has taken measurements of the car's chassis and created a 3D electronic model based on those measurements. Stress simulation using a variety of materials will allow economic comparisons between chassis designs based on the price of materials. Stress simulation using reduced material in the roll cage will allow safety comparisons between different amounts of materials. Acknowledgements: Ricky Dennis 54 Arena Racing Chassis, Team B Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Jihad Alsaffar Ryan Boler Andrew Knox Kevin Kopp Frank Gulla, M.S. Industry Advisor Arena Racing USA desires the ability to expand their business to multiple cities within the U.S., and eventually other parts of the world. The current method of chassis fabrication is inefficient due to the fact that they can only construct one chassis at a time, which takes several days to complete. Our team is exploring new methods of fabrication which can cut down on manufacturing time and financial costs. 3D computer models are being developed and analyzed in order to provide a basis for actual construction. We would also like to enable the process to be conducted locally, in Richmond, to reduce shipping time and cost. Welding of materials has become a primary focus because this process takes up a considerable amount of time and money. By reducing the number of welds required, Arena Racing USA will be able to fabricate the chassis quicker and cheaper. A new chassis design which can be mass produced will enable Arena Racing USA to keep up with the demand required to expand beyond Richmond, VA. Acknowledgements: Ricky Dennis, Founder & CEO of Arena Racing USA 55 Arena Racing Frame Optimization Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Ryan Holleran Austin Kirkland Brian Grimm Muktadir Rahman Frank Gulla, M.S. Industry Advisor This report presents engineering analysis with the intention to improve manufacturability of the chassis used for Arena Racing cars. The purpose of this design is to allow the Arena Racing USA to expand to 5 different cities next year. There are many possible ways to improve manufacturability; however, this design focuses on analyzing two different improvements. The first is providing a detailed drawing and the second is simplifying the shape of the chassis. To improve manufacturability the design of the current chassis was simplified. This was done by removing members as well as taking out any unnecessary bends. In order to test how much we can simplify the design without sacrificing too much safety, two different chassis models are analyzed. The first model was built by just reducing the amount of members, while the second was built by slightly reducing the members but also rearranging the current ones in a more efficient way The current progress to date is a clear definition of the term manufacturability, a full Solidworks model (shown below) of the frame, some force/displacement analyses, and several new conceptual designs. The simulation results from the unmodified design confirm that the current design is sound, but is possibly over designed. The results from the modified designs will confirm if the new models are safe and more efficient. After all models have been simulated the hope is that the new designs will be lighter, cheaper, while at the same time retaining safety. The current achievements are very promising and there is a better idea of how to optimize the frame. It is also the hope that a representation of the time and money saved can be given to the organization to better evaluate their options. Acknowledgements: Special thanks to Ricky Dennis, founder of Arena Racing USA, for the opportunity to work on this project and for his continued support. 56 Arena Racing Stock Car Optimization Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Robert Haley Rebecca Pidcoe Seth Seav Micheline Zakhary Frank Gulla, M.S. Industry Advisor This project addresses concerns presented by Arena Racing USA, a stock car racing company founded in 2002. The Arena Racing USA 2013-14 race schedule runs from November to April. Currently, it only exists in Richmond, VA, at the Richmond Coliseum. In the next ten years, Arena Racing plans to spread to multiple cities around the United States. Before expansion can begin, their current stock car needs to be improved. Conceptualizing, designing, testing, and implementing these improvements is the objective of this project. The focus of this project is on the car’s roll cage. The goal is to make it cheaper, quicker, and easier to build. Currently, the roll cage takes around 9 hours to weld, and uses tube mild steel. The new design decreases this time by simplifying roll cage design and weld locations. Current safety standards will be at least maintained and possibly improved in the process. The roll cage previously had no design drawings or stress test data available. Several computerized models were made, including that of the current design, in which changing variables are weld spots, geometry, tube cross-section, and material. Mechanical stress tests on these models were analyzed under crash loading conditions, and an optimized model is derived. Acknowledgements: Ricky Dennis Founder of Arena Racing 57 Arena Racing Structural Frame Design — Team A Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Austin Booher Adam Morris Trudy Stewart Matt Viveiros Frank Gulla, M.S. Industry Advisor The Arena Racing organization is looking to optimize their current design and manufacturing process of the Arena Racer car. With plans to expand rapidly in the years to come, a revised design to replace the current outdated frame is much needed. The chosen approach is one that has been selected for realistic results. First, the team is analyzing the current frame using modeling software and CAE analysis to understand the extent at which the current frame is designed. This approach was chosen because it is obvious that the current frame was not engineered, rather built to mimic the frames used in racing organizations like NASCAR®. After completion of the analysis the team will be able to see how much the design can be simplified and appropriately do so. To date, the team has completed an accurate 3D model of the current frame in SolidWorks®. This model is now under analysis using the SolidWorks® plugin ANSYS Workbench®. The team is looking to get results soon that will give us an insight of how much simplification can be done to the current chassis. In conclusion, the team is pushing for a new design that successfully improves the manufacturability without compromising the safety for the Arena Racers. Acknowledgments: Ricky Dennis, Phillip Viveiros 58 Design and Construction of an Inertial Electrostatic Confinement (IEC) Fusor Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Nibras Adbalameer Matthew Giffen Paul Harper Caleb Massey James Miller Sama Bilbao ý Leon, PhD. Vaibhav Sinha, Ph.D. Industry Advisor The VCU Inertial Electrostatic (IEC) Reactor capstone senior design project will provide the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering a neutron generator. An IEC fusion reactor uses a high voltage cathode within a vacuum chamber to ionize deuterium gas within the chamber. The resulting charged particles accelerate along the potential difference to the center of the chamber to collide at high velocities, thus overcoming the coulomb barrier to produce fusion between the deuterium ions. This deuterium-deuterium (DD) fusion yields a measurable fast neutron flux. Governed by the ideas of simplicity, ease of maintenance, and safety, the assembled device consists of six integrated systems: the vacuum vessel, power supply, deuterium system, instrumentation, vacuum system, and shielding. These systems are modular in design to allow for streamlined upgrades and/or modifications in the future. This completed device will serve as both a learning and research tool for future students and faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University in the areas of radiation detection, fusion, neutronics, and materials science. We would like to acknowledge and thank both Richard Hull for his help and assistance and Dominion for its partnership and monetary support of this initiative. 59 Formula SAE Steering System Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Hussain Al Khawajeh Joseph Cannella Tucker Matthews Zachary Mullins Savraj Singh Charles Cartin, Ph.D. Industry Advisor The purpose of this project is to design a steering system suitable for the Formula SAE race car here at VCU. This car has been a work in progress for many years now and in order to make progress towards getting it on the track, a steering system is critical. Getting this car up and running within the next few years will be a monumental step for the VCU engineering school as it shows our students are capable of taking challenging work into their own hands to compete with the best of the best. If successful this will be a major stride in the overall completion of the vehicle and towards the success of the FSAE race team. We are working in conjunction with another design group whose main task is to design the suspension for the vehicle because there are several key parts to both projects that intersect and rely on one another. This system is being designed from the ground up, taking multiple possible solutions into consideration that are plausible to work with the existing structure. After research was done on other similar cars we decided on a rack-and-pinion design based around an existing rack that was already in the possession of the FSAE team. Currently we have done much of the SolidWorks CAD modeling for the design, and we are almost done with a MATLAB code that will give us crucial calculations to base the rest of our design off of. The most important factor in our design is the safety of the driver so all designs will be thoroughly analyzed to ensure the quality of the work. By the end of the start of the next semester we plan to have all the elements designed and analyzed on the computer and be ready to start the fabrication and installation on the car. The final results of both this project as well as the suspension system will place the Formula SAE car in an excellent position for design teams next year to begin the final stages of construction before the vehicle is ready to compete. 60 General Aviation Transmission Engine Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Thompson Acquah Ryan Andrews Eian Dyer Darin Stiefvater Kyle Williams Charles Cartin, Ph.D. Industry Advisor General Aviation is dying; those who leave are not being replaced because of the high cost of entry and ownership. This is where our group has the chance to change this. The project will utilize two 130 HP fuel injected Yamaha three cylinder engines that will drive a contra prop for a fixed wing aircraft. Our focus will be on designing the bearing assembly for the shafts and improving the motor mounts with the capability of flying without motor modifications. This project was proposed to us from an Industrial Engineer/Safety manager, Mr. Michael Arndt. We plan on accomplishing this by using the two engines with aftermarket ECUs driving a contra prop, with each engine turning its own propeller. This will increase efficiency and eliminate asymmetric torque. The idea of our project is to design and build a general aviation engine that improves upon the reliability, power per unit fuel, reduces noise emissions and increase the life term of the engine. A motor mount has been designed in SolidWorks to give us a blueprint for the physical model to be manufactured in the spring. To this date we have a feasible product designed and prepared for fabrication. Since what we have designed is only a prototype, the true results of the product will be revealed when the product goes through multiple vigorous testing. We cannot recreate tests with our resources. In conclusion, our goal is to design an engine system that can be built by any competent machine shop with off the shelf parts to a set of open source instructions. If we succeed in our goal to design, build and test this engine, others will take our design and build copies of it. Acknowledgements: Michael Ardnt, Charles Cartin 61 Harnessing the Power of the James River to Create Alternative Energy for GRTC Buses Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Justin Farmer Anel Mesic Douglas Self Edin Smajlagic Frank Gulla Industry Advisor The goal of this project was to use the James River as an alternative power source for the GRTC Buses. The motivation for this project was to use a clean energy source to improve air quality and reduce fuel cost. Different techniques for river power generation were analyzed along with energy storage and distribution. A cost analysis and the feasibility of each option were examined. A run-of-the-river system was selected as well as battery powered buses. Distribution and the charging system will be done through traditional power lines and a central hub respectively. This project can be implemented at other cities that have a river source and public transportation system (buses). 62 Human Powered Vehicle Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Spencer Boice Kendall Caskie Abdiwahab Hassan Geoffrey Oldland Mohini Ved Charles Cartin, Ph.D. Industry Advisor The purpose of our design was to challenge us engineers to create, develop, and expand on the advantages of using a human powered vehicle. Our design advantages provide a safe and efficient mode of transportation that is easy to drive and cost effective. Above all, the human powered vehicle does not use any fossil fuels, but instead, uses free energy that will can stored making it renewable and eco-friendly. Our team has performed extensive research into previous projects on human powered vehicles. We evaluated many types of designs for safety, ease of manufacturing, competitive pricing, and performance. Selecting the finest features from these previous designs helped us make clear and precise calculations. The strength of the vehicle was tested using Matlab codes for varying forces on the frame based upon the ASME challenge requirements. This approach guided us in making a three dimensional model in SolidWorks which visually demonstrates the structural strength and stability of the vehicle. The final design chosen for the human powered vehicle resembles a recumbent style bicycle with two wheels in the front, one in the back, and a single seat. The gears on the bicycle were bought to give speeds up to 20 miles per hours and are capable to be driven over different terrains. In additional to our recumbent vehicle, our team has installed a Dynamo that will harness the free energy from the bicycle. This added feature will charge a 12 Volt battery which can be used to power lights, cell phones, or even emergent medical situations. Our team brainstormed and analyzed various ways and methods to build our design based upon the safety of the vehicle, budget, bicycle performance and material strength. This approach led us quickly into the design phase where we made three possible designs and further improved them into one coherent design. The best design was constructed into a three dimensional model using SolidWorks and was built here at Virginia Commonwealth University. Using the principles of engineering and good teamwork, our group strengthened one another skills making the design effective and successful. Acknowledgements: Agee’s Bicycle shop 63 Improving the Efficiency of an Arena Racing Car Roll Cage, Team E Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Russell Galiano Jonathan Oaklander Ethan Wade Frank Gulla Industry Advisor The group’s design project focuses on improving the roll cage of an Arena Racing car based on various design constraints. One of the main problems about the roll cage that the project group is looking to improve is the time it takes to weld the roll cage. The group is focusing on getting the welding time below nine hours. There are also many other aspects such as safety and cost that the group is focusing on improving. The project group’s approach to the problem starts off with drawing the roll cage in Solidworks since there are no CAD drawings of the roll cage already made. After this is done, the group will perform stress tests in Solidworks for different scenarios. These scenarios include actions such as removing certain bars from the roll cage and/or decreasing the diameter of the tubing where possible. The main design goal this project group is striving for includes improving the safety of the roll cage while also reducing the time it takes to weld it. The group has started working on producing a CAD drawing of the roll cage using Solidworks. The group has also begun coming up with different ideas on how to improve the safety and also ways to test this physically. One idea that is not finalized includes building a guillotine-like structure that will have an arm attached to it. The arm attached will be dropped onto different types of surfaces including a bar similar to those used on the roll cage and a flat surface. This guillotine-like structure is being used because the project group is determining whether a flat plate or tubing should be used in the design of the roll cage. The team will continue to explore various ways to improve the roll cage. The CAD drawing is proving to be more difficult to create than it seemed and is not completed quite yet. Once the drawing is complete, the project group will have a better idea on how to improve the roll cage. Acknowledgements: Ricky Dennis - allowing the project group to take measurements of the roll cage. 64 Nuclear Spent Fuel Pool Improvements Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Danny Conde-Delapena Eric Hogarth David Mazzocco James Miller, M.S. Industry Advisor The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant catastrophe of March 2011 was a reminder that if spent nuclear fuel assemblies are not immersed within a spent fuel pool (SFP), then airborne radioactive material can be leaked into the environment. This project studies how different arrangements of spent nuclear fuel assemblies can affect the sensitivity of the time that is required until the tops of these spent fuel assemblies are exposed. Using information from the Fukushima Daiichi and other facilities like it, results were obtained using multiple computer programs to simulate the unregulated heat within the SFP. These programs were analyzed for several different arrangements of the fuel assemblies within the SFP in order to determine their effect on the time require to expose the tops of the spent fuel assemblies. Above: Example of a Spent Fuel Pool (SFP) 65 Remote-Controlled Aircraft Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Jacob Gentry Austin McCoig Joseph Santuk Aaron Scholze Jayasimha Atulasimha, Ph.D. Industry Advisor The SAE Aero Design is a Series of competitive engineering events that are held in the United States every year. This competition invites colleges from all around the United States to construct a model airplane within the constraints issued by the SAE rules committee. These include designing the airplane within certain dimensions, weight, engine requirement, and being able to care a given payload. Our team was given the task of redesigning and constructing such a remote aircraft based on last year’s airplane. The initial objective had been to simply redesign the aircraft built by previous team at VCU, but due to crashes and unsuccessful flights, the aircraft was unlikely operable. Therefore this year we elected to build and design and new aircraft. Are advisor, Jayasimha Atulasimha, had us redesign an airfoil, wingspan, and body length for our aircraft. With our new design considerations, we were confident that we would be able to obtain a stable and successful flight. According to SAE rules committee, the plane could only use specific types of RC airplane engines. We redesigned a fuselage decrease the total drag that the aircraft would experience partnered with a larger wing span to increase lift. One major goal was to correct deficiencies such as stability issues that previous teams had experienced. We studied the old wing, and realized the gap between the wing and the aileron. Numerous calculations were then performed to design, optimize, and build a new wing and ailerons using such engineering programs as XFLR5, SolidWorks and MatLab. This project gave us an opportunity to learn the basics of aeronautical engineering and the study of fluid dynamics. This project tested us on our knowledge that we obtained while being Mechanical Engineers at Virginia Commonwealth University. Also we learned how to do basic electronics and wiring, painting and refinishing, working with different brittle materials (foam and balsa wood), and how to fly an RC aircraft. The flight tests will be used for performance data and further analysis on the plane to better enhance the design. 66 Robotic Tank Inspection System Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Industry Advisor Nicholas Baldwin Joshua Bruns Cody Jones Christopher Strickler John Speich, Ph.D. Devon Miller The visual inspection of complex shipboard storage tanks by workmen is a difficult, time-consuming, and potentially hazardous task. Huntington Ingalls Industries - Newport News Shipbuilding has a desire for a semi-autonomous device to perform these inspections thus limiting the time needed for manned entry. Design criteria and performance expectations were outline by Newport News Shipbuilding and detailed by the design team as the project progressed. The most influential of these criteria are: the device is to be deployable by a two man team into a series of 4’x4’x4’ linear tanks through a 20” opening in the bottom of one of the bays. Once in the tanks the device should be able to move from bay to bay through the existing openings and inspect the entire interior volume of each using an onboard camera. The unique geometry and limited accessibility of the tanks renders off the shelf robotic systems unable to address the problem. The design team’s approach utilizes a unique carrier platform to deliver a robotic arm along a lightweight flexible rail system. A camera mounted to the end of the robotic arm is capable of inspecting and recording the tank’s interior. The mount used to attach the camera allows it to carefully inspect around known obstructions within the tank bays. A two rail system is attached to a single expandable support beam that is mounted between the vertical surfaces of each bay. Installation of the lightweight but robust support rod is simple and rapid. The rails are flexible and allow for offset alignment between individual bay openings within the tank. The carrier is also designed for maximum support while remaining flexible enough to traverse the linear tanks. Spring loaded wheels, on top and bottom, capture the rails and allow for fluctuations in the rail’s surface and location. The calculations and simulations performed by the design team have shown this design to be a lightweight, strong, and financially viable approach to the stated criteria. At the end of the Fall semester the major dimensions have been finalized and components sourced. The work performed during the Spring semester will include a four bay mock-up (provided by Newport News Shipbuilding) to help with design optimization and testing. Further development and testing should also prove the design capable of additional tank refurbishment tasks such as sampling, blasting, and coating. Acknowledgements: Huntington Ingalls Industries -Newport News Shipbuilding 67 Universal Valve Spring Compressor Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Chris Davis Joshua Eubank Bryce Melton Charles Quann Charles Cartin, Ph.D. Industry Advisor It is a reoccurring challenge for auto repair shops to compress the valve springs of large cylinder heads or cylinder heads with canted valves. Devices on the market are inadequate for many cylinder head geometries, leading to delays in repair time, and even danger to the parts and operator. Eubank Automotive has sponsored a project to develop a single device that will provide the necessary force and degrees of freedom to work on a wide variety of engine models. This tool must be able to be constructed with a budget of $3000. A tool like this could significantly improve the speed and efficiency of removing the valves from automobile cylinder heads. The design team began by identifying the shortcomings of current mechanisms and addressing each in turn. Following this, the design team brainstormed, sketched and discussed the most cost effective way to meet the criteria. After choosing a preliminary form of the design, preliminary drawings in SolidWorks were created, incorporating the necessary degrees of freedom and range of motion for the device. Stress analysis was conducted on this model, and necessary adjustments were made. Forces for this analysis were based off of the maximum spring force that would be generated from the largest valve springs Eubank Automotive would service (1200 lb.) including a 1.5 factor of safety. Thorough brainstorming and application of analysis tools has led to a viable solution, which is several hundred dollars below budget. The device will have five degrees of freedom and compression will be achieved by means of a rack and pinion. To date, a SolidWorks model has been developed, a parts list has been constructed, and a stress analysis has been analyzed. The design team is confident that the prototype, when constructed, will meet the expectations and requirements set forth before conceptualization. While the implementation of this device will not be radical or widespread, this design will be quite useful for Eubank Automotive, and possibly for similar automobile repair shops. The universal nature of the design will lead to reduced service time and contribute to overall efficiency. Acknowledgements: The Design team would like to acknowledge Dr. Charles Cartin, and Eubank Automotive for their advice and support throughout this project. 68 Untapped Human Energy Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Hussain Alaithan Nathan Condrey Akhila Wijayaratne Karla M. Mossi, Ph.D. Figure 1 – Predicted temperature distribution of the human body with the device on. Units in C° Industry Advisor The constant fear of over-heating, exhaustion and dehydration amplifies the dangerous conditions our soldiers are exposed to on the battlefield. Each year, the Department of Defense reports at least 5,500 soldiers affected by heat related injuries. To reduce these heat injuries, the military has introduced convection cooling systems for the soldiers to wear underneath their body armor. These current systems are extremely heavy, have limited operation times and require heavy battery packs that require frequent recharging. Compact, lightweight, high efficiency thermometric generators are being proposed to replace the current power source and eliminate many of the struggles faced by the present system. These generators would convert the excess radiating body heat into usable electrical energy to power the cooling system. The suggested upgrades to the military cooling systems will improve the working conditions of our soldiers while reducing their chances of a heat stroke. Extensive research on thermoelectric technology has been conducted by the design team. Preliminary computer automated drawings of the human torso, body armor and the cooling fans have been illustrated with respect to research results. As shown in Figure 1, a heat transfer analysis of the human body has been performed to calculate the most efficient areas to place the thermoelectric generators. Mechanical, thermal and impact testing is being executed to ensure the thermoelectric generators will survive the rugged working conditions of the military. By late April 2014, the team will construct a functioning prototype of the enhanced military cooling suit. Acknowledgements: A special thank you goes out to Dr. Karla M. Mossi for lending equipment and instrumentation. This project would not have happened without her expertise and guidance. 69 VCU Formula SAE—Suspension Design Team Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Michael Albensi Steven Carlin William Hutt Thomas Rodina William Sanderson Robert Sexton, Ph.D. Industry Advisor Automobiles are one of the most technologically advanced pieces of machinery that almost all of us interact with every day, and take for granted. Rarely do we consider the amount of innovation and problem solving involved to produce a safe, reliable, consumer driven product. In the case of Formula SAE, the goal is to produce a Formula-style, budget-conscious product that meets the requirements of a weekend autocross racer. The experience gained by students participating in an FSAE program is valuable to leaders in any engineering industry and provides exposure to the students and their university. A current and pressing issue faced by VCU’s FSAE program is the practical manufacture of a working and tunable suspension system. This requires a design that is cost effective, reasonable to manufacture, inherently adjustable, and adaptable post-production. Utilizing existing parts for the race car as the starting point and constraints, we have performed research gathering information about fundamental suspension design, trends within the FSAE community, as well as information on available tools and techniques to develop a working concept. Using CAD modeling programs such as SolidWorks, Performance Trends Suspension Analyzer, and CarSim we have successfully created a working virtual prototype. This detailed model gives us the ability to simulate, analyze, and modify the system under a range of conditions so that an optimum design can be realized before it is manufactured. We have begun by designing a solid suspension geometry as well as the fabrication of key constraining components. Upon the culmination of the design process, we will move forward to purchase and manufacture remaining components of the system. The project goals will be substantiated by both track-based and simulation-based testing. The successful completion of this system will demonstrate many concepts used in the automotive industry and further the goals of FSAE at VCU. Our design aims to provide a reliable racing platform that will enable future design teams to drive the project to its completion. 70 WTVR Tower Enhancement Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Project Members Faculty Advisor Xavier Becker Kirsten Bright Alicia Cella Andre Galante Jessica Gerrald Robert Sexton, Ph.D. Prentiss Hyde Paul Kurth Bianca Spinelli Industry Advisor The objective of the project is to perform static and dynamic analyses on the existing tower, and to explore possibilities of retrofits, if needed. The WTVR tower was constructed in 1953 and is known as the ”First TV Tower of the South.” This is a selfsupporting tower constructed by Lehigh Structural Steel Co. The tower is located on West Broad Street in Richmond, Virginia and towers over the city at a total height of 761 feet. The first objective was to convert the original drawings from the 1950s into a 3-D model in SolidWorks. The current stage of modeling can be seen in the figures below. The next phase in the modeling process is to generate models of the existing equipment on the tower, so that the team can accurately analyze the effects of wind, ice, etc. Then, a static dead load analysis will be performed, along with a vibrational analysis to determine if the tower can withstand the effects of nature. 71 MULTIDISCIPLINARY Biomass Fuel Recirculator Multidisciplinary Project Members Faculty Advisor Juan Deynes Justin Hicks Jonathan Jarratt Alexander Laake Joshua Sidhu Marlon Wilkins Michael Cabral, Ph.D. Robert Sexton, Ph.D. Industry Advisor Dominion Virginia Power recently converted the Hopewell Power Station from using coal to biomass, or waste wood, as fuel to generate electricity. The Biomass Fuel Recirculator project arose from an identified deficiency of the existing biomass fuel feed system at the power station. Under normal operating conditions, the current fuel feed system in the Hopewell Power Station drops fuel from the fuel silo onto a drag chain inside of a long and enclosed horizontal shaft. The drag chain then plows the fuel across the tops of two sets of metering bins, one for each boiler; the fuel falls into these bins, is weighed (to determine flow rate), and is inserted into the boiler for combustion. At the end of each set of metering bins along the horizontal shaft, a dribble chute collects excess fuel. Each dribble chute contains a screw conveyor that can carry the excess fuel in one of two directions, either into the base of the metering bin system, or through another chute to a collecting cart at the bottom floor of the station. Once these carts are full, the fuel has to be taken manually back into the wood pile. This multidisciplinary project seeks to develop an engineered solution for the described problem, namely an open system that requires manual removal of excess fuel. After multiple design considerations and CAD simulations, a tubular drag chain with circular steel plows covered in a low friction polymeric material was chosen to solve the problem. This tubular drag chain will transport the excess fuel back into the fuel silo eliminating the dribble chute and the carts at the bottom of the station floor. With this new and optimized system design, the team aims to reduce unnecessary waste of man hours with the automatic re-circulation of leftover biomass fuel, therefore making the Hopewell Power Station more efficient and successful. Acknowledgements: The project team would like to thank Dr. Robert Sexton, Dr. Michael Cabral, and all the numerous employees and contractors of the Hopewell Power Station that provided expert advice, current system specifications and operation scenarios, and professional insight. 75 Construction of a Freeze-Drying Appliance Multidisciplinary Project Members Faculty Advisor Stephen Farmer William Gerhardt Robert Muse Parker Short Michael Cabral, Ph.D. James McLeskey, Ph.D. Industry Advisor Currently the choices for consumers wishing to freeze dry their food for long term preservation are limited. Models are available; however they are generally expensive, and bulky. We have designed a consumer model, single meal capacity freeze drying machine. There is a rise in the interest among common demographics for “being prepared”. Understanding that the freeze drying technique can extend the life of existing food stores to 25 years, our design aims to vastly increase the usage of lyophilization as a food preservation technique. Bringing this device to market will allow our team to be among the first of those to capitalize on this emerging market demographic. Now that our team is nearing completion of our design we propose to create a fully functioning prototype for presentation at the senior design expo in the spring. Our approach was to use thermal electric coolers to create a small scale sublimation chamber, as well as a small scale cold trap. This allows the size of the device to meet the requirement of achieving a table top model. Further, we have designed the device to operate on a single 20A, 120 volt circuit. This allows the device to be powered by readily available counter top power outlets. Lastly our approach focused on ease and practicality of using the device. We have calculated that our device can run on a 12 hour cycle time with set it and forget it operation. We have completed our theoretical design and calculations. All of the system components have been specified and the design documents are currently being created. Our next design goal is to build a working prototype and complete sufficient empirical testing to show the actual device indeed meets the engineered standards, and conforms to the design requirements outlined in the design proposal. Figure 1: Sublimation Chamber 76 Figure 2: Electrical System Overview Distal Touch V2 Multidisciplinary Project Members Faculty Advisor Lindsey Carr Shannon Howard Stephen Miller Thomas Mooney Michael Cabral, Ph.D. Robert Sexton, Ph.D. Industry Advisor Our project’s aim is to promote safety in workplace environments that require precision by distancing workers from potential hazards, while still providing the same level of precision as current tools. For our project, we decided to prototype a product that replaces the thick rubber gloves in current chemical containment glove boxes. The first version of our project, which was completed two years prior to our own, was a glove interfaced wirelessly with a robotic hand. Unfortunately, the previous team ran out of time, and did not complete their project; only three of five fingers worked, and the responsiveness of the system was not fully debugged. Our goal is to finish their project, and from there create an arm. By finishing the previous team’s work, we analyzed their methods, and improved on their design. This included minimizing production costs as well as making the design as simple and efficient as possible. Once analysis was complete, we initiated the following processes: simulating the armature in Solidworks to ensure it is a plausible design, recalculating values to compensate for the reduction of microcontrollers from six to one, and writing a basic code for the interface between input from the glove and output to the armature. Our model takes into consideration the need for dexterity within the enclosure, so the hand itself has five separate fingers with all of its respective joints to allow for the most natural motion possible. This is also true for the arm, where each joint is designed to emulate human anatomy in order to make each gesture comparable to the user. We will use a high-tolerance 3-D printed plastic for the entire hand. In contrast, the rest of the armature will be made from a lightweight yet durable metal, such as aluminum. From the programming standpoint, we will be using a moving average noise reduction filter to account for input noise and smooth the signal. We have concluded that our project is another step to improving the lives of workers in potentially hazardous environments. Based on our results and considerations, we feel as though our project can be a viable tool in the workplace. 77 Nanomagnet Computing using SAW Technology Multidisciplinary Project Members Faculty Advisor Sam Bower Harrison Brooks Hennessy Fraher David Gawalt Michael Roberts Gary Atkinson, Ph.D. Supriyo Bandypoadhyay, Ph.D. Joshua Smak Industry Advisor As microelectronic components continue to decrease in size, it is essential to develop new technology for smaller and more energy efficient microelectronics. Currently, transistors are the leading technology for computer chips and logic; however transistors dissipate a significant amount of energy from parasitic capacitances, resistances, and leakage current. An alternative, nanomagnet logic, is much more energy efficient but lacks a clocking mechanism other than applying an external magnetic field. Switching of nanomagnet polarization states by surface acoustic waves (SAWs) will serve as a proof of concept for further nanomagnet clocking applications. Aluminum interdigital transducers are deposited onto black lithium niobate piezoelectric substrates, and then a voltage is placed across the two sides. This launches a SAW across the surface, rotating the magnetic polarity of the less elliptical nickel nanomagnet in a pair. figure 1. Thus far, we have successfully created our mask layouts, documented process steps, and fabricated one mask. Nanomagnet polarization based logic may prove to be an energy efficient method for future logic based computer chips. Fabrication of this design will enable us to test proof of concept and analyze efficiency. Acknowledgements: We would like to acknowledge Mr. Vimal Sampath for all his aid in our project. Mr. Noel Souza for his knowledge and experience. Dr. Atulasimha for his direction and specific knowledge to our project. 78 Nuclear Reactor Simulator Multidisciplinary Project Members Faculty Advisor Roclun Barber Eric Davies Timothy Downing Daniel Metz Andrew Miller Nicholas Morton Sama Bilbao y León, Ph.D. Afroditi V. Filippas, Ph.D. James Miller, M.S. Industry Advisor The VCU Nuclear Simulator provides a solid technical and visual approach to simulating a commercial pressurized water nuclear power plant. The simulator provides several benefits for VCU including: a hands on learning instrument that can be used in various nuclear engineering courses, an opportunity for undergraduate students to gain experience in nuclear modeling and simulation, as well as a community outreach tool to expand the public’s knowledge of nuclear technology. The 2013/2014 Nuclear Reactor Simulator Senior Design Team plans to upgrade the current simulator model by interfacing LabVIEW with RETRAN, a professional computer program used by major nuclear utilities to model the thermal hydraulics of a nuclear power plant. The coupling of the RETRAN model with the LabVIEW visual operator interface allows for increased design flexibility, real world accuracy, improved calculation time, and accelerated development of additional reactor models. Other modifications to the simulator include developing the capability to simulate basic accident scenarios and the creation of a streamlined instructor’s terminal with the ability to display and control all simulator parameters. Acknowledgements: Justin Osborne, Allison Bell 79 VCU School of Engineering The VCU School of Engineering, located on the Monroe Park Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, was founded in 1996. The School initially had four departments: Mechanical, Biomedical, Electrical and Computer, and Chemical and Life Science Engineering. Computer Science was transferred to the School of Engineering from the College of Humanities in 2001. The Mechanical Engineering Department became the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering in 2010. Each of these departments offers BS, MS, and PhD degrees. The founding class graduated in May of 2000. The VCU School of Engineering, housed in three state-of-the-art engineering facilities, boasts more than 300,000 square feet of the very highest quality classroom and laboratory space, including East and West Halls, the C. Kenneth and Dianne Harris Wright Virginia Microelectronics Center, and the Institute for Engineering and Medicine. In 2007, the School of Engineering partnered with the Schools of Business and the Arts to create the VCU da Vinci Center, a place where students learn to develop innovative products in an interdisciplinary team environment. The School is currently working with the School of Medicine and VCU Life Sciences to develop the VCU Institute for Engineering and Medicine. The School has also successfully partnered with the College of Humanities and Sciences to establish a $3.5 million Center for Nanomaterials and Characterization to serve faculty and students in engineering, chemistry, physics, and medicine. Since the founding class, enrollment has grown to over 1,500 total undergraduate students and approximately 240 graduate students. There are 77 members of the teaching and research faculty. Our goal is for VCU Engineering to be the national model for innovation in engineering and research. VCU SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING SENIOR ADMINISTRATION AND DEPARTMENT CHAIRS Dr. Barbara D. Boyan, Dean, School of Engineering Prof. L. Franklin Bost, Executive Associate Dean, School of Engineering Dr. Afroditi V. Filippas, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies, School of Engineering Dr. Zvi Schwartz, Associate Dean, Strategic Initiatives, School of Engineering Dr. Gerald Miller, Chair, Biomedical Engineering Dr. B. Frank Gupton, Chair, Chemical and Life Science Engineering Dr. Krzysztof Cios, Chair, Computer Science Dr. Robert Klenke, Chair, Electrical and Computer Engineering Dr. Gary Tepper, Chair, Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering 81 VCU School of Engineering Foundation Board of Trustees CHAIRMAN Mr. William H. Goodwin, Jr. Chairman CCA Industries, Inc. PRESIDENT Mr. Clifford A. Cutchins, IV Partner McGuire Woods LLP The Honorable George F. Allen Mr. Wayne L. Hunter Managing Partner Harbert Venture Partners Mr. Jason Roe ‘01 President ERNI Electronics Mr. Arthur D. Hurtado Mr. John Sherman, Jr. Chairman and CEO Invertix Corporation Mr. Hugh A. Joyce President James River Air Conditioning Co., Inc. President George Allen Strategies Mr. Bill Lamp Ms. Jennifer Boykin Vice President, Engineering Newport News Shipbuilding Mr. John A. Luke, Jr. Mr. Bradford A. Crosby ‘01 Contracting Officer US Navy Mr. Mark Cruise Principal Engineers Plus Chairman & President & CEO MWV Mr. Oscar Martin, Jr. Ph.D. ‘09 Chief Innovation Officer Dupont Teijin Films Vice President, Applied Technologies Altria Client Services President VCU School of Engineering Alumni Board Mr. Larry Cummings Mr. Richard E. Posey Marketing Leader, Strategic Partnerships TRANE Retired President & CEO Moen, Inc. Ms. Marguerite Davis Mr. E. Bryson Powell Mr. Mason Dirickson Mr. Martin Prakken Mr. Hans de Koning Ms. Anne G. Rhodes Owner The Davis Collection Sr. Vice President, Human Resources Infilco Degremont President FLEXiCELL President Midlothian Enterprises, Inc. CEO BluePrint Automation Group Community Leader Mr. Brian Riopelle Ms. Mary Doswell Sr. Vice President, Alternative Energy Solutions, Dominion Resources Mr. Thomas E. Gottwald President & CEO NewMarket Corporation Mr. Lewis Edwin Harvie President KSB, Inc. 82 Chair, IP Litigations/Patents Department McGuire Woods, LLP Mr. Paul F. Rocheleau Chairman Cupron, Inc. Chairman Va. Life Science Investments, LLC Director Applied NanoTechnology, Inc. Former Vice Chairman Scott & Stringfellow, Inc. Mr. Greg Sitkiewicz Cuff Business Manager GE Healthcare—Patient Care Solutions Mr. Kirk E. Spitzer Retired President & CEO Alfa Laval, Inc. Mr. Jeffrey T. Stanfield Human Resources Director DuPont Teijin Films Americas Region Mr. Mark A. Sternheimer, Sr. President Sternheimer Brothers, Inc. Mr. Charles A. Williamson CEO CapTech Ventures, Inc. Mr. Robert W. Woltz, Jr. Retired President Verizon Virginia VCU School of Engineering Foundation Board of Trustees FOUNDING & EMERITI TRUSTEES Mr. Malcolm S. McDonald Mr. Hugh R. Stallard Mr. John L. McElroy, Jr. Mr. Richard G. Tilghman Retired Chairman & CEO Signet Banking Corp. Retired President & CEO Bell Atlantic—Virginia, Inc. Mr. William W. Berry* Retired President Vepco Chairman Emeritus Wheat First Union Retired Chairman SunTrust Banks, Inc., Mid-Atlantic Mr. James C. Cherry Retired Chairman, Mid-Atlantic Banking Wachovia Bank, N.A. Mr. William S. Cooper, Jr. VP & Deputy Director, Diversity & Inclusion Federal Reserve Bank Mr. Thomas D. Eilerson Chairman EDC Mr. Joseph C. Farrell * Retired Chariman, CEO & President Pittston Company Mr. Thomas F. Farrell, II Chairman, President & CEO Dominion Resources, Inc. Mr. J. Carter Fox Retired President & CEO Chesapeake Corp. Mr. Robert M. Freeman * Former Chairman & CEO Signet Banking Corporation Mr. David L. Milby * Former Sr. VP of Operations & Procurement Service Philip Morris USA Vice President CREE Chairman & CEO Carpenter Company Mr. E. Bryson Powell President Midlothian Enterprises, Inc. Retired President & COO Dominion Virginia Power Retired Chairman & CEO Reynolds Metals Company Mr. Sean Hunkler Vice President, Manufacturing MEMC Mr. E. Morgan Massey Mr. Kenneth Wright Chairman Wright Properties, Inc. EX-OFFICIO TRUSTEES Michael Rao, Ph.D. Mr. Walter S. Robertson, III President & CEO Scott & Stringfellow, Inc. President Virginia Commonwealth University and VCU Health System Mr. E. Clairborne Robins * Barbara D. Boyan, Ph.D. Mr. Bruce A. Henderson * Mr. Richard G. Holder * Chairman Emeritus James River Corporation Mr. Robert E. Rigsby Mr. Dwight Schar Former President NVR, Inc. Mr. C.T. Hill Former Chairman, President SunTrust Bank Chairman Emeritus CSX Corporation Mr. Robert C. Williams Mr. S.F. Pauley Mr. Bruce C. Gottwald Former Chairman & CEO Imation Corporation Chairman Ukrop’s Super Markets/First Market Bank Mr. Hays T. Watkins Mr. Wayne K. Nesbit Former Chairman & Director Wyeth Consumer Healthcare Chairman NewMarket Corporation Mr. James E. Ukrop Mr. Wolfgang Schubl Former President Weidmuller,Inc. Alice T. & William H. Goodwin Chair in Biomedical Engineering Dean, School of Engineering Virginia Commonwealth University Mr. R. Scott Rash, CFRE Executive Director Chief Development Officer School of Engineering Foundation Mr. Thomas Seifert Advanced Micro Devices Mr. Richard L. Sharp Managing Director V10 Capital Partners * Deceased Mr. Jeremiah J. Sheehan Retired Chairman & CEO Reynolds Metals Company Chairman Evan Energy Company 83 For more information about the senior design program or VCU School of Engineering, please contact: VCU School of Engineering 601 West Main Street P.O. Box 843068 Richmond, Virginia 23284-3068 804.828.3925 www.egr.vcu.edu