2012 Senior Design Projects
ALS I²C Controller
Poster 1
The goal of this project is to design, build, and test a I²C interfaced controller for configuring and reading data from an Ambient Light Sensor (ALS).
Team Members:
- Robert Allender - Electrical Engineering
- Ian Hill - Computer Engineering
Sponsor:
- VLSI Sensors Research Group
Adviser:
- Dr. Suat Ay
Mentor:
- Dr. James Frenzel
Analog Gauge with Digital Display
Poster 2
Our team has designed an alternative speedometer gauge that displays information with optics and solid-state electronics instead of the traditional mechanical analog moving pointer.
Team Members:
- Kim Baird - Electrical Engineering
- Kamran Khan - Electrical Engineering
- Rory Riggs - Electrical Engineering
- Brent Kisling - Electrical Engineering
- Jeremy Wright - Computer Engineering
Sponsor:
- Biketronics Inc.
Adviser:
- Dr. Chris Wagner
Mentor:
- Mike Meehan
Applications of CFD: Renewable Energy and Entropy Generation
Booth EE 1
We have examined examples of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) applications, including simulation of a floating offshore wind turbine and simulation of entropy generation of fluid flow over a flat plate.
Graduate Students:
- Sean Quallen - Mechanical Engineering
- Landon Owen - Mechanical Engineering
Sponsor:
- National Science Foundation
Adviser:
- Dr. Tao Xing
ASME Micro-Baja Competition
Booth CC 1
The goal of this project is to design and manufacture a fully functional remote controlled car to compete in the ASME Micro - Baja Regional Competition. Key features include four wheel drive, four wheel steer, fully locked differentials and a cam actuated suspension.
Team Members:
- Eric Sprague - Mechanical Engineering
- Ryan Kahre - Mechanical Engineering
- Chris Doudy - Mechanical Engineering
- Corbin Basler - Mechanical Engineering
- Ian Clarke - Mechanical Engineering
- Jenny Madsen - Mechanical Engineering
- Colby Nahas - Mechanical Engineering
- Richard Broaddus - Mechanical Engineering
- Andrew Gregory - Mechanical Engineering
Sponsor:
- ASME
Adviser:
- Dr. Steven Beyerlein
Audio Integration
Booth EE 2
Technical Session #3
We are designing a product that takes in multiple inputs such as radio, ipod, and GPS and outputs which ever device the user wants by setting the priority of each. In addition our device enables the user to filter the sound using a three band equalizer.
Team Members:
- Josiah Savino - Mechanical Engineering
- Jacob Preston - Computer Engineering
- Ben Jochen - Electrical Engineering
Sponsor:
- Biketronics Inc.
Adviser:
- Dr. Gregory Donohoe
Bassoon Fingering Finder
Booth TE 1
Bassoon fingerings are difficult to learn. There are many variations, not well codified, and different fingerings can be used to produce the same note. We have developed an application to help both beginning and professional bassoonists find optimal fingerings for specific notes, using a graphical interface.
Team Members:
- Max Stillwell - Computer Science
- Sasha Solomon - Computer Science/Mathematics
- Jacob Flynn - Computer Science
Sponsor:
- Susan Hess
Adviser:
- Dr. Gregory Donohoe
Mentor:
- Dr. Terence Soule
Biketronics Control-Measure-Analyze Device
Poster 3
The purpose of this project is to design a user scriptable device that will automate testing of manufactured parts. The device will control inputs to the part under test, capture the output's reaction, compare results with user defined parameters and indicate results.
Team Members:
- Caitlin Bond - Electrical Engineering
- Nicholas Canto - Electrical Engineering
- Carlos Solis - Computer Engineering
Sponsor:
- Biketronics Inc.
Adviser:
- Dr. Chris Wagner
Mentor:
- Dr. Richard Wall
Biodiesel Biosensor
Booth LW 1
Technical Session #1
The purpose of this project is to design, fabricate, and test a handheld biosensor that uses a modified pH meter combined with an immobilized enzyme electrode to detect the amount of free and total glycerol in a sample of biodiesel.
Team Members:
- Megan Templeton - Biological and Agricultural Engineering
- Matt Yourek - Biological and Agricultural Engineering
- Ben Wilson - Mechanical Engineering
Sponsor:
- University of Idaho Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering
Adviser:
- Dr. Dev Shrestha
Mentor:
- Dr. Joe Thompson, Sam Wos
Bullet Tools Composite Decking Shear
Booth TE 2
Technical Session #2
The design team was charged with constructing a test apparatus for the Bullet Tools EZ Shear product in order to determine stresses during cutting. The team is also redesigning the shear blade to improve the cut surface on composite decking materials.
Team Members:
- Brian Norman - Mechanical Engineering
- Craig Daniels - Mechanical Engineering
- Wesley Anderson - Mechanical Engineering
- Ted Florence - Mechanical Engineering
- Vincent Mayer - Mechanical Engineering
Sponsor:
- Guntech Mfg. Inc. / Bullet Tools
Adviser:
- Dr. Jay McCormack
Mentor:
- Tyler Flowers, Chris Eacker
Caldwell Industrial Airport Expansion
Poster 4
The City of Caldwell, Idaho is expanding the Caldwell Industrial Airport to accommodate larger planes and increase business with more hangars and parking areas. Our project includes the design of taxiways, aprons and taxilanes and controlling the rainfall runoff from the airport with a stormwater system.
Team Members:
- Wendy Banzhof - Civil Engineering
- Jed Zook - Civil Engineering
- Mike Dunahoe - Civil Engineering
- Ed Stowe - Civil Engineering
Sponsor:
- Toby Epler, Kimley - Horn and Associates, Inc., Boise Office
Adviser:
- Dr. Fritz Fiedler, P.E.
Characterizing Battery Rejuvenators
Booth EE 3
Technical Session #3
This project designed a procedure to characterize battery rejuvenators for lead acid batteries for the US Navy Acoustic Research Detachment in Bayview, Idaho. The procedure uses battery testing at full rejuvenator power, computerized data acquisition, advanced mathematics, and human in the loop to make its recommendations.
Team Members:
- Timothy Blake - Electrical and Computer Engineering
- David Bankhead - Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Travis McMillen - Electrical and Computer Engineering
Sponsor:
- James Klein (Acoustic Research Detachment)
Advisers:
- Dr. Herb Hess, Dr. Gregory Donohoe, Dr. Touraj Assefi
Mentor:
- Dr. Herb Hess
Clean Snowmobile Challenge
Patio 1
Our team designs a snowmobile that meets and exceeds current Environmental Protection Agency and National Park Standards for emissions and efficiency and competes nationally against other collegiate teams.
Team Members:
- Drew Hooper - Mechanical Engineering
- Jeremy Nichols - Mechanical Engineering
- Neil Miller - Mechanical Engineering
- Christian Weston - Mechanical Engineering
- Chris Hill - Mechanical Engineering
Sponsor:
- National Institute for Advanced Transportation Technology
Advisers:
- Dr. Karen DenBraven, Dr. Dan Cordon
Mentor:
- Austin Welch
Colfax Water Transmission Line
Poster 5
The purpose of the project is to replace the current water transmission line in Colfax, WA. It will include hydraulic analysis of the pipe, permitting, construction options, routing, and investigation of installation specifications.
Team Members:
- Jacob Sevigny - Civil Engineering
- Robert Combs - Civil Engineering
- Abigail Radle - Civil Engineering
- Rachel Hill - Civil Engineering
Sponsor:
- Dr. Erik Coats, P.E.
Adviser:
- Dr. Fritz Fiedler, P.E.
Commodity-Off-the-Shelf Robots
Booth CC 4
As part of a special topics course, we have been building, programming, and testing robots based on Commodity-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) design principles. By using a smartphone or netbook for the “brains" of the robot, we get power and flexibility for comparatively low cost.
Team Members:
- Tevis Cox - General Studies
- Logan Evans - Computer Science
- Jonathan Lamb - Computer Science
- Curtis Bower - Mechanical Engineering
- Keith Denney - Mechanical Engineering
- Travis DeVault - Computer Science
- Juan Marulanda - Computer Science
- Daniel Mathewson - Mechanical Engineering
- Maxwell McKinnon - Computer Science
- Daniel Norris - Computer Science
- Joshua Rubini - Computer Science
- Michael Stinger - Computer Science
Sponsor:
- University of Idaho Department of Computer Science
Adviser:
- Dr. Terence Soule
Data Acquisition on Mobile Devices Using Non-Standard Transfer Methods
Poster 6
The emerging ubiquity of smartphone devices is changing human - machine interaction. Many existing devices, using the RS - 232 communication protocol are unable to communicate with newer smartphones, and multiple device dependencies complicate matters. Thus, investigating a robust communications methodology and protocol would prove useful if it requires minimal setup by the customer.
Team Members:
- Lee VanGundy - Computer Science and Mathematics
- Joran Beasley - Computer Science
Sponsor:
- Decagon Devices, Inc.
Adviser:
- Dr. Gregory Donohoe
Mentor:
- Dr. Bob Rinker
Design Synthesis with CAD
Booth CC 5
Final projects in ME 301 (with Solidworks) feature virtual dissection of a steam engine created from legacy drawings. Final projects in ME 421/521 (with CATIA) feature new learning spaces, CAVE 3D visualization, and mechanical devices.
Team Members:
- ME 421/521 class
- ME 301 class
Sponsor:
- University of Idaho Mechanical Engineering Department
Advisers:
- Dr. Edwin Odom, Dr. Steven Beyerlein
Mentors:
- Ben Reed, Kurran Kelly, Zach Wuthrich
Earthen Home
Poster 7
This project is the design of a residential home in Viola, Id. The home is to be built into the side of a hill with one to five feet of soil on the roof. The three main aspects of our design will include structural, hydrologic, and geotechnical analysis.
Team Members:
- Jamie Dunn - Civil Engineering
- Anibal Hidalgo - Civil Engineering
- Erica Kober - Civil Engineering
- Levi McPhee - Civil Engineering
Sponsor:
- Paul Hopkins, P.E.
Adviser:
- Dr. Fritz Fiedler, P.E.
EcoData
Booth TE 3
The EcoData project gives scientific data management a simple web - based interface and simplifies data analysis. Users upload data to a server where it is stored in a database. From there it can be filtered, sorted, and transformed before being visualized through graphs, charts, and other graphical representations.
Team Members:
- Michael Solomon - Computer Science/Mathematics
- Colby Blair - Computer Science
Sponsor:
- Dr. Alex Fremier, University of Idaho College of Natural Resources
Adviser:
- Dr. Gregory Donohoe
Mentor:
- Bruce Bolden, M.S.
Electrochemical Study of Zr(IV) Diffusion in the Molten LiCl/KCl/Cd System
Poster 22
Idaho National Laboratory is currently using an electrochemical method to process used metallic nuclear fuel. During this process zirconium can build up in the system requiring its recovery, for which diffusion is an important factor. In this work, the diffusion coefficient of zirconium at 500 C is experimentally determined.
Graduate Student:
- Robert Hoover - Chemical Engineering
Sponsor:
- Idaho National Laboratory
Adviser:
- Dr. Supathorn Phongikaroon
Feasibility Analysis of a Large - Scale Hydroponic Growing Operation
Booth LW 2
Technical Session
This project analyzes the energy and economic cost that would be required to feed a global population using hydroponic growing techniques. This analysis includes a survey of human nutrition, an investigation of available lighting sources and efficiencies, and a proposal for the treatment of fruit and vegetable waste.
Team Members:
- Josi Lemke - Chemical Engineering
Adviser:
- Dr. David Drown
Mentor:
- Dr. David MacPherson
Gene Day Pond
Poster 8
Located in Idaho's Silver Valley, the Gene Day Pond Site is to be converted to a clean recreational facility with a put-in/take-out trout fishery. It is on a Bunker Hill Super Fund Site, and is located in a historically active mining region.
Team Members:
- Bryan Tappel - Civil Engineering
- Brian Lindgren - Civil Engineering
- Derek Rick - Civil Engineering
Sponsor:
- Cara Haley, TerraGraphics, Inc., Moscow, ID
Adviser:
- Dr. Fritz Fiedler, P.E.
Greenleaf, ID Oxidation Ditch
Poster 9
The City of Greenleaf, Idaho plans to construct a wastewater treatment system based on an oxidation ditch with a secondary clarifier. Effluent disposal will involve surface water discharge during the winter months, and beneficial reuse using Class B reuse water during the summer months. The design includes project planning, environmental design, geotechnical design, and structural design.
Team Members:
- Kevin Ducar - Civil Engineering
- Eric Rico - Civil Engineering
- Pat Edelblute - Civil Engineering
- Randal Brunello – Civil Engineering
Sponsors:
- Riley Mahaffey, Lochsa Engineering; Stuart Hurley, SPF Water Engineering
Adviser:
- Dr. Fritz Fiedler, P.E.
Greenleaf, ID Secondary Clarifier
Poster 10
The City of Greenleaf, Idaho plans to construct a wastewater treatment system based on an oxidation ditch with a secondary clarifier. Our team is designing a secondary clarifier that follows an oxidation ditch in a two part system. The clarifier must allow the bacteria to settle and be returned to the oxidation ditch.
Team Members:
- Amanda Lee - Civil Engineering
- Austin Hakala - Civil Engineering
- Ben Watson - Civil Engineering
- Jose Lara - Civil Engineering
Sponsor:
- Riley Mahaffey, Lochsa Engineering
Adviser:
- Dr. Fritz Fiedler, P.E.
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
Patio 3
Technical Session #2
This project will advance the development of an in house hybrid electric vehicle for use in testing Dr. Dean Edwards' experimental lead acid batteries.
Team Members:
- Daniel Taylor - Electrical Engineering
- Tomothy Lenberg - Electrical Engineering
- James Kast - Mechanical Engineering
- Andrew Kuharske - Mechanical Engineering
Sponsor:
- Dr. Dean Edwards
Adviser:
- Dr. Jay McCormack
Mentor:
- Dr. John Canning, Thomas Bean
Infinity Planting: Conceptual Precision Seed Planting System
Booth LW 3
Technical Session #1
We are adapting iO DuPont’s patented variable - speed transmission for use in the precision agriculture industry, by providing a prototype of an automated variable - rate seeding mechanism. This will enable an optimization of the input to output crop yield and a reduction in the environmental impact of farming.
Team Members:
- Kendra Hildreth - Mechanical Engineering
- Douglas Kippes - Biological and Agricultural Engineering
- Kara Kleppen - Biological and Agricultural Engineering
- Zack Wuthrich - Mechanical Engineering
Sponsor:
- Tony Dupont, founder of iO DuPont
Adviser:
- Dr. Jay McCormack
Mentor:
- Curtis Bower, Daniel Mathewson
Infrared Communications Chip (Transceiver)
Booth EE 4
Technical Session
We designed an infrared(IR) communications chip (transceiver) that will allow wireless signal transmission from one electronic device to another over a distance of several meters. We are using an LED as transmitter and a photo - diode as the receiver element (optical 'antenna').
Team Members:
- Markus Geiger - Electrical Engineering
- Chris Goodale - Electrical Engineering
- Pin-Jen Wang - Electrical Engineering
Sponsor:
- Kenneth Corbett Endowment
Adviser:
- Dr. Suat Ay
Mentor:
- Dr. Gregory Donohoe, Dr. Touraj Assefi
Intelli-Chess: The Intelligent Chess Board
Booth TE 4
The goal of this project is to design and fabricate an intelligent chess board with marketing potential that will assist in teaching beginning chess players the game of chess while playing. This chess board is unique and brings new and exciting features and opportunities to the game of chess.
Team Members:
- Ben Reed - Mechanical Engineering
- Russell Bennett - Mechanical Engineering
- Donny Geiger - Electrical Engineering
- Abhay Patil - Computer Science
Sponsor:
- GL Design Associates (Greg Vanderford)
Advisers:
- Dr. Gregory Donohoe, Dr. Touraj Assefi
Mentor:
- Curtis Bower, Dan Mathewson
Long Lake Hydroelectric Dam Station Service
Poster 25
Our team is designing a more modern substation service supply for Long Lake hydroelectric dam.
Team Members:
- Weston Ricks - Electrical Engineering
- Henry Thompson - Electrical Engineering
- Hemraj Shahi - Electrical Engineering
Sponsor:
- Avista Utilities
Adviser:
- Dr. Brian Johnson
Mentor:
- Achyut Lamichhane
Miniature Glove Box for Electrochemical Research in Molten Salts
Poster 11
Technical Session #4
Traditional molten salt experiments are conducted in large, inefficient glove box systems. The need for an alternative has created a demand for inexpensive small - scale glove boxes that maximize efficiency while remaining fundamentally simple and easy to use. The glove box constructed in this project is designed to meet this demand.
Team Members:
- Brady McNall - Materials Science and Engineering
- Patrick McHail - Materials Science and Engineering
- Brad Burroughs - Materials Science and Engineering
- Stuart Whitman - Chemical Engineering
Sponsor:
- Dr. Batric Pesic
Adviser:
- Dr. David Drown
Mentor:
- Dr. Batric Pesic
Moscow High School RISE Program
Booth CC 3
Idaho RISE (Research Involving Student Engineers and Educators) is the University of Idaho Near Space Engineering program supported by the NASA Idaho Space Grant consortium, the purpose of which is to encourage students to pursue science and engineering studies in college. Moscow High School students can participate in Idaho RISE by enrolling in the math - based physics class at MHS and registering for ENGR 205/206, a dual enrollment course at the University of Idaho.
Team Members:
- Moscow High School students
Sponsors:
- Idaho Space Grant Consortium, University of Idaho
Adviser:
- Pat Blount
NASA Steckler Flywheel Storage for Lunar Colonization
Booth EE 5
Technical Session
Funded by the NASA Steckler Space Grant, our team is developing a flywheel energy storage system. Flywheels provide an efficient, reliable, and low maintenance method for storing renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. NASA hopes to use a flywheel system to power a lunar colony.
Team Members:
- Sierra McFarland - Mechanical Engineering
- Marcus Charles - Mechanical Engineering
- Bridget Wimer - Electrical Engineering
- Kevin Ramus - Electrical Engineering
- Juliet Petersen - Electrical Engineering
- Caitlin Owsley - Mechanical Engineering
Sponsors:
- NASA Glenn Research Center, The Boeing Company
Advisers:
- Dr. Joseph Law, Dr. Edwin Odom, Dr. Christine Berven, Dr. Matthew Riley
Mentor:
- Christopher Mirabzadeh, Kysen Palmer, Dan Mathewson, Brent Kisling
NASA Tensegrity Robot
Booth TE 5
Technical Session #2
We are creating a self - propelled tensegrity structure made of components that are only in tension and compression. The mechanical structure of this robot is inspired by a model of a spinal column. This NASA funded project will be transported to the Ames lab by University of Idaho graduate students for further research.
Team Members:
- Andrew Davis - Mechanical Engineering
- Danny Elsbury - Mechanical Engineering
- Charlee Hendrickson - Mechanical Engineering
- Alex Hanson - Mechanical Engineering
- Joshua Plumb - Mechanical Engineering
- Michael Wheless - Electrical Engineering
Sponsor:
- NASA Ames
Adviser:
- Dr. Jay McCormack
Mentor:
- Dave Gardner, George Korbel
Oxygen Sparging with Molten Salts
Poster 24
Molten LiCl - KCl salt is used in an electrorefiner to recycle uranium from spent nuclear fuel. Oxygen sparging is used to remove unwanted radioactive material in the salt by making it insoluble. To understand this process, optimization and determining mass transfer characteristics is necessary.
Graduate Student:
- Michael S. Pack
Sponsor:
- Idaho National Laboratory
Adviser:
- Dr. Supathorn Phongikaroon
Panel Antenna
Booth EE 6
Technical Session #3
The purpose of this project is to design, construct, and test a 900MHz panel antenna using printed circuit board technology for Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories.
Team Members:
- Allan Davis - Electrical Engineering
- Carlos Gonzalez - Electrical Engineering
- Cooper McBride - Electrical Engineering
Sponsor:
- Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
Advisers:
- Dr. Greg Donohoe, Dr. Touraj Assefi
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) Battery and Cabin Thermal Management System
Patio 4 (poster only)
Technical Session #4
The UI Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) is an ongoing project to develop and test the use of lead - acid batteries in electric vehicles. To ensure optimal performance and longevity, a thermal management system utilizing drawn - air convection was developed to maintain the batteries and cabin at their proper operating temperature.
Team Member:
- Jason Brubaker - Mechanical Engineering / Materials Science & Engineering
Sponsor:
- Dr. Dean Edwards
Advisers:
- Dr. David Drown, Dr. Dean Edwards
Mentor:
- Tom Bean, Dr. John Canning
Pneumatic Pumpkin Launcher
Patio 5
Technical Session #1
Our project is to design, build, and test a pumpkin cannon for public use at the Clearwater Corn Maze sponsored by the University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Kaufman Farms and the Lewiston Roundup Association. Our finished product must meet rigorous distance, accuracy, and safety requirements.
Team Members:
- Kara Peer - Mechanical Engineering
- Joshua Bouma - Mechanical Engineering
- Andrew Schmohr - Mechanical Engineering
- Ramzi Sadeddinsarama - Biological & Agricultural Engineering
- Shelby Smith - Biological & Agricultural Engineering
Sponsor:
- University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
Advisers:
- Dr. Steven Beyerlein, Dr. Tom Hess
Mentor:
- Curtis Bower, Daniel Mathewson
Power Management Chip
Booth EE 7
Technical Session #3
The uMax chip is a low-power integrated circuit for harvesting energy from low-power, low-voltage sources using a maximum power point tracker (MPPT) and power management system.
Team Members:
- Anthony Kanago - Computer Engineering
- Valerie Barry - Electrical Engineering
- Benjamin Sprague - Computer Engineering
- John Sandmeyer - Computer Science
Sponsor:
- VLSI Sensors Research Group
Advisers:
- Dr. Gregory Donohoe, Dr. Touraj Assefi
Mentor:
- Dr. Suat Ay
Phase Shifting Transformer Tap Changer
Booth EE 8
Technical Session #3
Transformers and tap changers are utilized in the power industry to regulate the amount of electricity traveling through power lines. The goal of this project is to design a functioning mechanical tap changer that effectively alters the windings in a transformer and thus the load in the power lines.
Team Members:
- Zach Browning - Mechanical Engineering
- Kirkwood Hines - Mechanical Engineering
- Victoria Kampfer - Mechanical Engineering
- Thomas Long - Mechanical Engineering
- Mike Smith - Mechanical Engineering
Sponsors:
- Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, University of Idaho Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
Advisers:
- Dr. Steven Beyerlein, Dr. Brian Johnson
Mentor:
- Stacey Page, Tyler Flowers
Purification of Molten Salts via a Potassium Drawdown Reaction
Poster 21
Technical Session
Molten salt mixtures are used in an electrorefiner to separate constituents of nuclear waste streams. A potassium drawdown reaction was tested for its viability to recycle the molten salt solution and increase the overall efficiency of the electrorefining process by selectively removing heavy metals.
Team Members:
- Neil Sing - Chemical Engineering/Chemistry
- Michael Christenson - Chemical Engineering/Chemistry
- Nicholas Eimers - Chemical Engineering
- Jacob Bow - Chemical Engineering/ Mathematics
Sponsors:
- University of Idaho Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Idaho National Laboratory
Adviser:
- Dr. David Drown
Mentor:
- Dr. Supathorn Phongikaroon
Rear Drive Snowmobile
Patio 2
Technical Session #2
The team created a rear drive system for the clean snowmobile in order to improve its efficiency and handling.
Team Members:
- Neil Miller - Mechanical Engineering
- Jeremy Nichols - Mechanical Engineering
- Chris Hill - Mechanical Engineering
Sponsor:
- National Institute of Advanced Transportation Technology
Adviser:
- Dr. Karen DenBraven
Mentor:
- Drew Hooper, Austin Welch
Reverse Osmosis Pretreatment with Back-flushing Filter Technology
Booth LW 4
Technical Session #4
Feed water for RO membranes must be pretreated to remove particles which can cause membrane fouling. Disposable cartridge filters used for shipboard RO pretreatment require frequent replacement while providing inadequate filtration. This project employs filter technology capable of being back - flushed and removing particles as small as 0.1 microns.
Team Members:
- Nathan Yergenson - Chemical Engineering/ Chemistry
- Timothy Darnall - Chemical Engineering
- Kevin Lee - Chemical Engineering
Sponsors:
- University of Idaho Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering Alumni, Micron, Perma-Fix, TC Program Solutions, Apex Manufacturing Solutions
Adviser:
- Dr. David Drown
Idaho Space Grant Consortium’s RISE Program
Booth CC 2
Idaho’s Research Involving Student Engineers (RISE) program is a student led, project orientated class. The class specializes in launching high altitude weather balloons carrying student built payloads to 100,000 feet. Recent projects include collaboration with NASA Ames and JPL. Students gain hands - on learning and interdisciplinary experience.
Team Members:
- Moscow High School
Sponsor:
- Idaho Space Grant Consortium
Adviser:
- Dr. David Atkinson
Miniature Shock Tester
Booth TE 6
Sandia National Labs requires their equipment to be tested under shock conditions of 1 to 200 g's, and within a time limit of 1 to 10 milliseconds. Our device simulates these conditions and records the data for subsequent analysis.
Team Members:
- Cameron Hjeltness - Mechanical Engineering
- Travis Nebeker - Mechanical Engineering
- Nicholai Olson - Mechanical Engineering
- Fernando De La Garza - Mechanical/Electrical Engineering
- Michael Brewster - Mechanical Engineering
Sponsor:
- Sandia National Labs
Adviser:
- Dr. Steven Beyerlein
Mentor:
- Kysen Palmer, Sam Wos
Separation of CsCl from a ternary CsCl - LiCl - KCl Salt via a Zone Freezing Method
Poster 23
Zone freezing has been proposed as a method to purify and recycle LiCl - KCl salt to reduce waste volume. Experimental results show that up to 57% of the salt at one third the original CsCl wt% can be recycled via this process.
Graduate Student:
- Ammon Williams - Chemical Engineering
Sponsor:
- Idaho National Laboratory
Adviser:
- Dr. Supathorn Phongikaroon
Solar Refrigeration Compressor
Booth LW 5
Technical Session #1
We are providing a proof of concept for a new approach to vapor compression refrigeration. This new method utilizes solar energy to provide a cooling effect. This technology has a wide range of applications including residential and commercial refrigeration and air conditioning.
Team Members:
- Chris Katus - Mechanical Engineering
- Jessica Aldecoa - Mechanical Engineering
- Tim Hellickson - Mechanical Engineering
- Zane Kindred - Mechanical Engineering
- John Petrofski - Mechanical Engineering
Sponsor:
- Mark Hall
Adviser:
- Dr. Steven Beyerlein
Mentor:
- Tyler Flowers, Chris Eacker
State Highway 81 Southside Canal
Poster 13
The purpose of this project was to replace or improve the SH - 81 bridge over the Southside G Canal in Declo, ID. The existing bridge was constructed in 1938 and no longer met safety regulations. The team was responsible for all hydraulic, hydrological, geotechnical, structural, and transportation aspects of the design.
Team Members:
- Jordan Reich - Civil Engineering
- Michaela Petersen - Civil Engineering
- David Zubizareta - Civil Engineering
- Austin Petersen - Civil Engineering
- Liz Warner - Civil Engineering
Sponsor:
- Steve Tonks, Idaho Transportation Department
Adviser:
- Dr. Fritz Fiedler, P.E.
State Highway 41 Pedestrian & Bicycle Improvements
Poster 14
Currently, a two - foot wide, dirt-worn trail exists east of State Highway 41 in Post Falls, Idaho near the Centennial Trail. We are developing a design for a ten-foot wide, paved trail to provide safer access for a variety of trail users.
Team Members:
- Neil Walsky - Civil Engineering
- Danny Ward - Civil Engineering
- Greg Reince - Civil Engineering
- Edwin Rubio - Civil Engineering
Sponsor:
- J-U-B Engineers, Inc.
Adviser:
- Dr. Fritz Fiedler, P.E.
Steptoe Booster Pump
Poster 15
The goal of this project is to design a pump station that will provide residents currently living in a high elevation area in Steptoe, WA with consistent, pressurized water in their homes. We are designing the pump station layout, hydraulic components, and housing structure.
Team Members:
- Hailey Woodruff - Civil Engineering
- Tal Glass - Civil Engineering
- Andrew Reed - Civil Engineering
- Kristian Henrickson - Civil Engineering
- Amana McDowell - Civil Engineering
Sponsor:
- Dr. Erik Coats, P.E.
Adviser:
- Dr. Fritz Fiedler, P.E.
TARS
Poster 16
This project is a cost-management software application. Users will be able to enter work time and attribute it to a specific task or project. A manager will be able to view and approve user's timesheets.
Team Members:
- Nathan Mazur - Mathematics/Computer Science
- Zeke Long - Computer Science
Sponsor:
- Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
Advisers:
- Dr. Gregory Donohoe, Dr. Clinton Jeffery
Thermal Depolymerization of Used Tire Rubber
Poster 17
Technical Session
Discarded tires take up significant space in landfills. Tires are difficult to recycle because of crosslinked polymer chains. However, Thermal Depolymerization can break down these chains into basic components, essentially crude oil. An energy analysis was performed to determine the cost effectiveness and the environmental impact of recycling tires.
Team Members:
- Bryce Eaton - Chemical Engineering
- Natalie Kirch - Chemical Engineering
- Steven Sitler - Chemical Engineering
- Nathan Wilkerson - Chemical Engineering
Sponsor:
- Department of Chemical & Materials Engineering
Advisers:
- Dr. David Drown, Dr. Mark Roll
Mentor:
- Dr. Dave MacPherson, Dr. Thomas Bitterwolf, Charles Cornwall
Treatment Technology Validation for Water Softening Technology
Booth LW 6
Technical Session #4
Numerous water treatment technologies are marketed to condition hard water. While marketing claims are often ambitious, the reality is that some technologies do not live up to the end users' expectations. A standardized testing method was developed to evaluate the effectiveness of any particular water treatment technology.
Team Members:
- Keith Christopher - Chemical Engineering
- Morgan Harding - Chemical Engineering
- Kylie Jarvis - Chemical Engineering
- Danielle Milligan - Chemical Engineering/Mathematics
Sponsors:
- TC Program Solutions, Micron, BP, Pajarito Scientific Corporation, Perma-Fix
Advisers:
- Dr. David Drown, Dr. Wudneh Admassu
Mentor:
- Dr. Dave MacPherson, Dr. Eric Aston, Charles Cornwall
University of Idaho Finger Therapy Robot
Booth TE 7
We are developing a robotic device to administer and investigate movement therapy following impairment due to stroke. The robotic device provides assistance as needed during computer therapy games while simultaneously monitoring and recording patient performance. The goal is to better understand the factors that promote functional recovery.
Team Members:
- David Gardner - Mechanical Engineering
- Kyle Gray - Mechanical Engineering
- Curtis Bower - Mechanical Engineering
- Keith Denney - Mechanical Engineering
Sponsor:
- National Institute of Health
Adviser:
- Dr. Eric Wolbrecht
University of Idaho FSAE Hybrid
Booth CC 6
Technical Session #2
The 2011 - 2012 formula hybrid race car is the result of years of intensive design and work by both graduate and undergraduate students. This vehicle was built and completed to compete in this years’ International Formula Hybrid competition in New Hampshire.
Team Members:
- Zack Porter - Mechanical Engineering
- Nathan Repp - Mechanical Engineering
- Justin Ruegsegger - Mechanical Engineering
- Stephen Hieb - Mechanical Engineering
- Corey Adrian - Mechanical Engineering
- Cody Brumett - Mechanical Engineering
- Bobby Jackson - Mechanical Engineering
- Dylan Rinker - Mechanical Engineering
- Travis Shiell - Mechanical Engineering
- Justin Archer - Mechanical Engineering
- Joshua Foss - Mechanical Engineering
- Jordan Anderson - Mechanical Engineering
- Chris Enzler - Mechanical Engineering
- Tom Zirker – Electrical Engineering
Sponsor:
- University of Idaho Department of Mechanical Engineering
Advisers:
- Dr. Edwin Odom, Dr. Steven Beyerlein
Mentor:
- Samuel Wos, Tyler Flowers, Pietro Boyd, Chris Eacker, Josh Ulrich, Brett Bashford
Victor, ID Intersection Upgrade
Poster 18
The goal of this project is to improve safety and traffic flow at the intersection of State Highways 31 and 33 in Victor, ID. Design alternatives include a roundabout and signalized intersection.
Team Members:
- Leisha Anderson - Civil Engineering
- Christopher Davidson - Civil Engineering
- Alex Grover - Civil Engineering
- Kyle Meschko - Civil Engineering
Sponsor:
- Ben Burke, P.E., Idaho Transportation Department
Adviser:
- Dr. Fritz Fiedler, P.E.
Weather Station Power Supply
Poster 19
Develop a more robust weather station with coupling capacitive recharging, ultracapacitor for energy storage, with a uniform and clean layout and to determine an appropriate solar panel sizing for installations away from the transmission lines.
Team Members:
- Neelima Dahal - Electrical Engineering
- Jeff Osterberg - Electrical Engineering
Sponsor:
- Idaho Power
West Pine Creek Bridge
Poster 20
Our team is re-designing the stream channel to accommodate fish habitat, and is designing a new bridge to replace the existing bridge.
Team Members:
- Casey Brown - Civil Engineering
- DeAnn Brown - Civil Engineering
- Jeremy Wilson - Civil Engineering
- Thomas Norris - Civil Engineering
- Christina Jordan - Civil Engineering
Sponsor:
- Ben Burke, P.E., Idaho Transportation Department
Adviser:
- Dr. Fritz Fiedler, P.E.
Wood as a Natural Material for Heavy Metal Adsorption
Poster 12
Technical Session #4
Waste streams produced in industry commonly contain heavy metals that are environmentally toxic. Finding an efficient and inexpensive process to remove these metals is of great importance. The natural tendency of cellulose for sorption of heavy metals is a promising pathway for developing the needed process, which this project explores.
Team Members:
- Brady McNall - Materials Science and Engineering
- Bradley Burroughs - Materials Science and Engineering
- Patrick McHail - Materials Science and Engineering
Sponsor:
- Dr. Batric Pesic
Adviser:
- Dr. Batric Pesic
Mentor:
- Dr. Batric Pesic