Moderator: Leslie Ouellet, Project and Contracts Administrator

Industry Partners: Analog Devices, Juniper Networks, Brooks Automation, ENEL Green Power, Collins Aerospace, Entegris, MKS Intruments

Mentors: Frank Tredeau, Jean Francois Millithailer, Ph.D., Steve Deyoreo, Dohn Bowden, Hunter Mack, Ph.D., Zhu Mao, Ph.D., Marianna Maiaru, Ph.D., David Kazmer, Ph.D., Hongwei Sun, Ph.D., Noah Van Dam, Ph.D.

Open Loop Output Impedance Tester

Sponsor: Analog Devices
Project Description: The objective of our project is to create a robust, accurate, and easy-to-use measurement system for the open-loop output impedance of ADI’s op-amps. Analog Devices currently does not feature open-loop output impedance on most of their data sheets, due to a lack of an effective testing procedure. A system that can collect more accurate data pertaining to the open-loop output impedance of an op-amp will help to improve simulation accuracy considerably. Our project consists of three components: a conditioning board (printed circuit board) to serve as an interface between the device under test (DUT) and an Analog Discovery, an EMI-safe enclosure and socketing for the DUT, and software to perform data acquisition and calculations.
Mentor: Frank Tredeau, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Joe Taylor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Ashley Nguyen, Mechanical Engineering
  • Christopher Pepi, Electrical and Computer Engineering & Computer Science
  • Yun-Chang Teng, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Lawrence Timothy, Mechanical Engineering
  • Jingxian Shi, Electrical and Computer Engineering & Computer Science

LoopBack Cable Tester

Sponsor: Juniper Networks
Project Description: Juniper Networks is seeking a system that can evaluate both QSFP28 and QSFP56-DD network loopback testing devices due to their malfunction producing false failures in QSFP switch product testing. This evaluation, consisting of electrical and mechanical tests, should produce a simple pass or fail test result such that faulty loopbacks can be reliably identified and replaced before usage. Mechanical tests of the devices should assess their dimensions are perfectly in line with MSA standards due to the effect that wear and tear have on loopback performance. Electrical tests should use PAM4 eye monitoring to assess the signal fidelity each loopback supports.
Mentor: Jean-Francois Millithaler, Electrical & Computer Engineering
  • Peter Mendre, Jr. , Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Sampson Phan, Mechanical Engineering
  • Stefan Comparini, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Thomas Tawadros, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Ryan Gursky, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Transmitting Power in a Vacuum

Sponsor: Brooks Automation
Project Description: Currently, machines used in the semiconductor manufacturing process do not have electrical systems inside the vacuum chamber, as it is difficult to send power and data into the chamber without sacrificing overall system durability. This project explores the use of wireless power systems to power machines located in a vacuum chamber. The device consists of an LED light source outside the vacuum chamber and a photovoltaic cell inside the vacuum chamber. The photovoltaic cell powers a microcontroller which controls machinery within the chamber. The light source is modulated by a microcontroller to send data into the chamber.
Mentor: Jean-Francois Millithaler, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Steve Wink, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Lee Dalton, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Ben Dolan, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Cameron Hardie, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Muqeet Ahmad, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Autonomous Canal Cleaning Robot – Electrical

Sponsor: Enel Green Power
Project Description: The project sponsor, Enel, asked for the Canal Trash Cleaning System to be fully autonomous. Enel needs the canals to be cleared of trash in order to produce hydroelectric power more efficiently. Additionally, clean canals promote higher community pride and engagement. The pre-existing Canal Trash Cleaning System is currently remote controlled; however, our team’s proposed design will have a LIDAR unit, ultrasonic sensors, and a mechanical bump sensing edge installed to create a collision avoidance system in order to achieve semi-autonomy. This design creates a steppingstone for future capstone groups to achieve full autonomy.
Mentor: Steve DeYoreo, Electrical and Computer Engineering alumnus
  • Marilyn Saha, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Nathan Weidman, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Omar Jameel, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Mustafa Jameel, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Jenny Dinh, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Tim Volpe, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Autonomous Canal Cleaning Robot – Mechanical

Sponsor: Enel Green Power
Project Description: The Lowell Canals, owned by Enel Green Power, are filled with trash floating on the surface of the water. The goal is to design and fabricate mechanical improvements to an existing trash skimming device.   These mechanical improvements will further the progression towards the ultimate goal of making the device fully autonomous.  The major focus of these improvements is to increase the buoyancy of the device to accommodate the added weight of additional operating systems, and to engineer properly working doors to increase the functionality of the device.  Achieving this goal will bring the vessel one step closer to being a fully autonomous trash skimming device that will be utilized by Enel to clean the canals of Lowell.
Mentor: Dohn Bowden, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Sara Grube, Mechanical Engineering
  • Emily Hatfield, Mechanical Engineering
  • Kelsey McColgan, Mechanical Engineering
  • Matthew Powers, Mechanical Engineering

Robotics Band Tension Control

Sponsor: Brooks Automation
Project Description: A SCARA (Selective Compliance Articulated Robot Arm) type manipulator does not implement a precise calibration technique for the tension associated with steel bands in the arm. Once the robot is in operation, it is hard to verify whether the band tension is within the specification. It is important to notify customers about predicted operational failures without risks in their production. To address these problems, a device and technique that allows for an accurate measurement of tension will be developed. Additionally, a machine learning model will be trained to predict band failures.
Mentor: John Hunter Mack, Mechanical Engineering
  • Emi Aoki, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Nicolas Minasian, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Brendan Fallon, Mechanical Engineering
  • Evan Stentiford, Mechanical Engineering

Physical Vibration Simulator

Sponsor: Brooks Automation
Project Description: Our sponsor is looking to replicate vibration patterns found by customers in their labs using a Raspberry Pi single board computer and a shaker device. This method is desirable as it will remove the need to send a Brooks engineer to the customer site, and instead allow them to recreate their customer’s environment in house to perform troubleshooting. Using an accelerometer and PID control algorithms, our system will be capable of accurately administering complex vibration patterns to a device-under-test in a way that is both efficient and portable.
Mentor: Zhu Mao
  • Derek DeCost, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Gil Matos, Mechanical Engineering
  • Keisuke Tomizawa, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Tom Piskorski, Mechanical Engineering

Design Optimization for Additive Manufacturing

Sponsor: Collins Aerospace
Project Description: The 19-308 capstone team was tasked with reducing the total mass of an airborne reconnaissance pod Electronics Support Bracket (ESB), while upholding critical mechanical operational requirements. Collins Aerospace additionally requested for a decrease in the cost and lead time of component manufacturing. To accomplish this, our team utilized software-based topological optimization tools for the algorithmic removal of non-structural material from the initial bracket design. Manufacturing methodologies to produce the resulting optimized component were evaluated. 
Mentor: Marianna Maiaru, Mechanical Engineering
  • Maxwell Dumerant, Mechanical Engineering
  • Kyle McLaughlin, Mechanical Engineering
  • Newton Rufino, Mechanical Engineering
  • Matthew Clancy, Mechanical Engineering
  • Susie Johnson, Mechanical Engineering
  • Jonathan Nguyen, Mechanical Engineering

3D Printer Filter Spacers

Sponsor: Entegris 
Project Description: Entegris manufactures liquid filtration systems that are used in highly sensitive industries. The team has been develop and manufacture an improved filter support structure that will provide numerous filtration benefits. The team aims to improve flow through the filter, reduce inherent contamination, and reduce both the manufacturing cost as well as the production time of the filtration devices. To accomplish this, the team will devise and construct a pilot production line in order create samples which are provided to the company for further testing.
Mentor: David Kazmer, Plastics Engineering
  • Corey Girard, Mechanical Engineering 
  • William Hennessy, Mechanical Engineering
  • Stiven Kodra, Mechanical Engineering
  • Jun Yu, Mechanical Engineering 
  • Shihao Wang, Mechanical Engineering 
  • Michael Welton, Mechanical Engineering

Cooling of High Temperature Sensor

Sponsor: MKS Instruments
Project Description: MKS produces capacitance manometer pressure sensors, which often need to operate at high temperatures. The electronics housed in the sensor do not have a cooling system, which places limits on how the sensor can be used. MKS desires a system of cooling these electronics using a flow of pressurized air. For this project, the existing system will be analyzed and a cooling solution implemented which will lower the temperature of the electronics. 
Mentor: Hongwei Sun, Mechanical Engineering
  • Candide Ahouandjinou, Mechanical Engineering
  • Kwanho Chan, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Sebastian Cruz, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Joshua Rabbitt, Mechanical Engineering
  • Sonpreet Singh, Mechanical Engineering