Michigan Tech’s Blizzard Baja Enterprise builds a single-seat, off-road competition
vehicle to compete in the SAE Collegiate Design Series-Baja events held in various
locations across the US. The team prepares and presents a written design report, cost
analysis, and sales presentation for a panel of SAE judges. After passing a rigorous
safety and technical inspection, we compete with other collegiate teams on acceleration,
hill climb, maneuverability, suspension, and endurance. The Blizzard Baja Enterprise
also organizes and hosts the Winter Baja Invitational event, along standing University
tradition dating back to 1981.
Project Overview
Blizzard Baja is completing several projects this year including a new four-wheel
drive system, lightweight brakes, front suspension optimization, and a digital cockpit
system. The four-wheel drive team is implementing a new engine into the car and changing
the drivetrain layout to be more efficient. This involves new gearboxes, differentials,
and driveshafts. Brakes is designing an all-wheel braking system. The front suspension
optimization team redesigned the suspension to be lighter and perform better than
the previous design. The digital cockpit team is installing a C.A.N network with sensors
including wheel speed, engine RPM, temperatures, orientation, acceleration, suspension
travel, and more. The data is shown on a display and recorded to a computer. Algorithms
detect anomalies and report them to the driver.
Project Photo
Blizzard Baja competition vehicle racing at Backwoods Baja
Photo by Conner Marshall
Team Photo
Team Leads
Greg Jowett, Mechanical Engineering
Zach Reed, Mechanical Engineering
Advisor
Kevin Johnson, Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology
Steven Ma, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Michigan Tech’s Clean Snowmobile Challenge Enterprise builds snowmobiles to compete
in the SAE Collegiate Design Series Clean Snowmobile Challenge held in Eagle River,
Wisconsin. As part of the competition, the team submits an engineering design paper,
determines a justified MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price), and presents
an oral design presentation outlining its approach to clean snowmobile conversion.
Following a comprehensive technical inspection, the vehicles undergo dynamic testing,
including acceleration, handling, cold start, noise, and emissions. The Clean Snowmobile
Challenge Enterprise typically competes in both the gasoline and diesel categories.
Project Overview
The team’s primary goal is to make cleaner burning, quieter snowmobiles that are still
fun to ride. This year we competed with a Yamaha Viper chassis and a Ski-Doo Skandic
chassis powered by a diesel engine provided by Kohler Engines.
Project Photo
2023 Competition Snowmobiles: Ski-Doo Skandic (left) and Yamaha Viper (right)
Photo credit: Sophie Bollin
Team Photo
Team Leads
Ben Houck, Mechanical Engineering
Carter Spoutz, Electrical Engineering
Advisor
Jason Blough, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Scott Miers, Mechanical Engineering—Engineering Mechanics
Michigan Tech’s Formula SAE Enterprise builds a competition vehicle based on the concept
of an affordable race car geared toward the weekend autocrosser. The team competes
in SAE Collegiate Design Series Formula SAE events held in various locations nationwide.
For the competition, the team prepares a written design report, a cost analysis, and
a business case to present to a panel of judges. After passing a technical inspection,
the vehicle competes in a series of dynamic events, including acceleration, skid pad,
autocross, endurance, and efficiency. Michigan Tech Formula SAE has a long history
of top-performing cars and has gained a reputation for developing cutting-edge designs
that help shape the future of racing.
Project Overview
This year, we have several projects bringing advanced technology to our car. We are
implementing an electronic limited slip differential, carbon fiber monocoque, active
aerodynamics, a drag reduction system, an electronic throttle, and a combustion analysis
system. We also have a large undertaking as we are converting one of our previous
cars, the F-276, into the e-276. This will be the first electric FSAE car that Michigan
Tech has ever constructed! This car and its developments will allow the team to explore
new technologies we can implement on our internal combustion engine vehicle and an
emerging EV program.
Project Photo
X22 Aero design, Brendan Rzeppa
Team Photo
Team Leads
Zander Worm, Mechanical Engineering
Cade Engen, Mechanical Engineering
Advisor
James DeClerck, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Supermileage Systems Enterprise (SSE) is a part of the Advanced Motorsports team and
the goal of SSE is to build a single-occupant, high-efficiency vehicle that competes
every year in April. SSE most recently placed 3rd with 958 MPG at the 2022 SAE Supermileage
Competition with the previous vehicle. Now, the team is designing a brand-new vehicle
to compete at Shell Eco-Marathon. For the powertrain, the team currently has a small
displacement internal combustion engine. The team is structured similarly to a company
putting emphasis on project management, mentorship, project coordination, and team
management. SSE is composed of three technical teams, the Body, Engine, and Electrical
teams. The team is taking on new projects every semester with the goal of continuously
improving the efficiency of the vehicle in order to stay competitive against national
and international teams in April. While at competition, the team must pass a technical
inspection, the vehicle must complete a dynamic performance event where miles per
gallon (MPG) is measured.
Project Overview
Supermileage Systems' focus this year is to manufacture a new vehicle to compete at
a different competition. To complete this task, there are three Senior Design projects
taking on this challenge by redesigning the suspension, powertrain, and driver interface
controls. One other Senior Design team is also looking to improve the dynamometer
test cell to have more accurate data collected in future years. These projects will
help the team not only be able to compete at competition, but also continuously improve
the vehicle looking into future years.
Project Photo
SSE vehicle in the middle of manufacturing
Photo Credits: Christopher Sirosis
Team Photo
Team Leads
Olivia Zinser, Electrical Engineering
Ben Klein, Electrical Engineering
Advisor
Rick Berkey, Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology
Advanced Metalworks Enterprise (AME) is composed of a diverse team of students who
execute research and development projects for industrial sponsors. Interdisciplinary
teams of four to five students model, fabricate, and characterize metallic systems
such as aluminum, iron, zinc, titanium, and nickel-based alloys. AME helps industry
sponsors increase productivity, identify causes of material failures, design near
net castings, develop advanced material modeling techniques, and more.
Project Overview
The AM Toughness team project is focused on determining the ductile to brittle transition
temperature of a third-generation high-strength steel. This is being done because
Q&P steel is an extremely promising metal in industry, and understanding at what temperatures
this steel exhibits either brittle or ductile behavior is very important to its future
applications. It also provides insight into other mechanical properties of the material
without demanding as much speculation.
Project Photo
Au-Sn Phase Diagram
Team Photo
Team Leads
Drew Kolodge, Materials Science and Engineering
Sam Vellequette, Materials Science and Engineering
Advisor
David M. Labyak, Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology
Nicholas V. Hendrickson, Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology
The Aerospace Enterprise was established to provide hands-on aerospace education and
experience to Michigan Tech undergraduate students. The Enterprise works together
on innovative and relevant aerospace-related projects, with all members contributing
toward achieving specific project goals. The Aerospace Enterprise emphasizes space
mission design and analysis, vehicle integration, systems engineering, and comprehensive
ground testing and qualification.
Project Overview
Auris: The Auris mission is a satellite project based on demonstrating the technical
feasibility of CubeSat’s ability to provide situational data. In collaboration with
the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the objectives of the Auris mission are
to enhance Space Situational Awareness (SSA) by providing activity and location knowledge
of space-based assets from orbit. This is achieved by measuring and characterizing
radio frequency (RF) emission patterns of a target satellite, as well as by providing
an estimate for the location of that target. Additionally, the Auris mission is intended
to serve as a pathfinder toward increasingly complex space systems that leverage CubeSats's
low cost and small form factor to achieve the performance of traditional, monolithic
systems.
Project Photo
Aerospace Enterprise Cleanroom Testing
Photo Credit: Dalton Headley
Team Photo
Team Leads
Seth Quayle, Mechanical Engineering
Kyle Bruursema, Electrical Engineering
Advisor
L. Brad King, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Alternative Energy Enterprise (AEE) provides opportunities for students in multiple
academic disciplines to research and develop alternative energy sources. Projects,
research, and development are done in conjunction with industry sponsors to produce
viable solutions to real-world energy problems. Each team is interdisciplinary and
receives rewarding hands-on experience while working on challenging real-world problems
and seeking innovative solutions.
Project Overview
The Alternative Energy Enterprise's Pumped Underground Storage Hydro (PUSH) team currently
focuses on the site assessment and feasibility of potential PUSH systems installed
in abandoned mining infrastructure. The main planning areas include civil site construction,
economic analysis, environmental testing, and powerplant design. The team aims to
provide site planners of power utilities and cooperatives with adequate information
to make an initial feasibility assessment of a proposed PUSH site. This encourages
the deployment of energy storage in the form of PUSH and provides electric grid stability
during the clean energy transition.
Blue Marble Security (BMS) Enterprise is a student-led Enterprise that focuses on
securing the future through the thoughtful use of technology. The team specializes
in engineering design and product development. BMS has developed a culture that fosters
high professional standards, creativity, and productivity. BMS defines the word “national
security” through the provision of technological support to the defense, corporate
economy, and personal well-being of the nation and all its people.
Project Overview
BMS Enterprise continues to demonstrate its ability to tackle a diverse set of projects,
with seven projects spanning several industry sectors. One GM team is developing a
commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) vision system for unexpected part detection in the
manufacturing process. Another team is working with Emulate3D to simulate plant machinery.
We have two defense-related projects sponsored by SERC, one of which is working on
a power simulator, and the other includes the development of a tablet. Members of
the Oshkosh team designed an electric actuator to be used in extreme environments.
Another team is reverse engineering MTU’s moving bookshelf system to make it safer
and easier to use. Lastly, the Powerpack team is developing a prototype of a lithium
battery system in the frame of a Molle 2 rucksack.
Project Photo
BMS GM Pickpoint Project
Team Photo
Team Leads
Breanna Gorman, Electrical Engineering
Quin Bray, Electrical Engineering
Advisor
Glen Archer, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Sponsors
General Motors, Systems Engineering Research Center (SERC), Michigan Tech J. Robert
Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library, Oshkosh Corp
The Built World Enterprise (BWE) addresses challenges typically solved by civil and
environmental engineers including designing infrastructure and solving waste management
problems.
Project Overview
The Built World Enterprise participates in a wide range of civil and environmental
engineering-related projects. One of the projects is through the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) Rainworks Challenge, which focuses on green infrastructure. There are
two teams in the WERC Environmental Design Competition run through New Mexico State
University. Some members from the Steel Bridge team and Engineering Without Borders
(EWB) are a part of the enterprise. The Timber Strong competition is new to the enterprise
this year. Its members are gaining hands-on experience in building wooden structures.
Project Photo
The WERC Environmental Design Competition Team at their bench scale demonstration
set up at the competition in New Mexico
Team Photo
Team Leads
Clark Fadoir, Environmental Engineering
Francine Rosinski, Environmental Engineering
Advisor
Audra Morse, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Sponsors
General Motors, Spicer Group (Steel bridge and timber strong)
The CinOptic Communication and Media Enterprise enables students to develop video
design and production skills. By balancing the creative and technical aspects of video,
the primary goal is to focus on client needs and expectations, while developing artistically-engineered
products. Capitalizing on team member creativity and technical strengths, CinOptic
provides an opportunity for those involved to broaden their education in the media
industry through real-world business experiences.
Project Overview
The CinOptic enterprise team is working with the Enterprise program to develop a podcast
series to showcase the various teams, educate people about them, and increase visibility
and recruitment efforts. Currently, we are producing a pilot episode with the intent
to produce future episodes highlighting different enterprise streams. In addition
to the podcast, CinOptic is working in tandem with the Isle Royale National Park Service
to create a flagship video for the promotion of the park.
Project Photo
The podcast team is hard at work in the development stage of the podcast
Team Photo
Team Leads
Matthew Brisson, Communication, Culture, and Media
McKenna Kusmack, Theatre and Entertainment Technology
Advisor
Erin Smith, Humanities
Sponsors
Isle Royale National Park, Erika Hersch-Green, Enterprise Program (Podcast Project)
Consumer Product Manufacturing (CPM) Enterprise aspires to empower students with the
entrepreneurial, technical, and professional skills to conceive, develop, and successfully
market products in a company-like setting. Students on the team come from many disciplines
and use hands-on experiences to identify and solve real-world engineering problems.
CPM aims to exceed company sponsors' expectations, improve consumers' lives through
innovation, and develop our team members into highly marketable professionals.
Project Overview
The Clean Diesel: Generating Biodiesel from University Waste subteam aims to analyze
and convert used soybean oil from campus dining halls into usable biodiesel fuel.
The produced biodiesel can be blended with petroleum diesel for other uses on campus.
Past semesters have studied reaction chemistry to optimize the reaction needed to
make biodiesel. Currently, the team is in a feasibility analysis to determine the
possible economic and environmental benefits of implementing a commercial biodiesel
processor on campus.
Project Photo
Jars of products showing the transformation of used fryer oil to purified biodiesel,
ready for use
The focus of the General and Expedition Adventure Research (GEAR) Enterprise is to
design, model, test, prototype, and manufacture a wide variety of goods and equipment
used in recreational outdoor and commercial expedition endeavors. Team members analyze
and develop innovative solutions on both internal and industry-sponsored projects.
GEAR has worked on soft and hard goods related to backpacking, camping, climbing,
snowshoeing, kayaking, canoeing, mountaineering, and military applications.
Project Overview
The team has been asked to help Stormy Kromer hat manufacturer of the Upper Peninsula,
to develop a solution to reduce the hat fitment variance in their hand-sewn manufacturing
line. This involves quantifying hat fitment and developing a product that consistently
measures the size of hats. The facility currently has a subjective quality check that
allows them to check a small batch of products. The G.E.A.R. team has developed an
automated device to be used in place of subjective quality checks. This effort will
increase customer satisfaction for Stormy Kromer's customers by providing better hat
fitment.
The H-STEM Enterprise provides students with project-based experiences aiming to
improve human health. The team includes students from various backgrounds (e.g., biology,
biochemistry, biomedical engineering, exercise science, electrical engineering, mechanical
engineering, medical lab science, and robotics). These students work collaboratively
on rehabilitation engineering, healthcare, and public health projects.
Project Overview
This project aims to design, construct, and deliver a cost-effective and locally available
body-weight supported treadmill. Specifically, the treadmill will be able to accurately
offload ~10-90% of body weight to facilitate walking and running with less impact
on the ankle, knee, and hip joints. This treadmill will enable clinicians to treat
patients with balance and mobility impairments (e.g., stroke, osteoarthritis, major
joint surgery).
Project Photo
Model of supported treadmill system prototype
Photo Credit: Tyler Ryynanen
Team Photo
Team Leads
Nathan Luczak, Mechanical Engineering
Magen Radke, Biomedical Engineering
Advisor
Steven J. Elmer, Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology
HotForest aims to innovate technologies and services that advance the circular bioeconomy.
An alternative to the current make, use and dispose practice of the linear economy,
the circular bioeconomy is a model for renewable, regenerative practices where we
extract maximum value from resources we use, keep them in use as long as possible,
and recover and regenerate materials for additional service lives.
Project Overview
Hotforest Enterprise has two project sub-teams. The Mycelium Project team is working
on a project to design a product for the furniture industry using mycelium (vegetative,
root-like structure of fungi). The goal is to test the growth and performance of one
fungal species on various bio-based substrates. The other project team is working
on the Solar Table Project. This team focuses on repurposing less efficient or retired
solar panels. A solar table was made using beetle-killed wood, and a solar panel was
used as the tabletop surface. The table includes four USB charging ports to charge
small devices. The next goal is to produce additional tables with a more efficient
design incorporating collapsibility, benches, or eliminating the use of metal screws.
Project Photo
Hotforest Solar Table
Team Photo
Team Leads
Abbey Herndon, Sustainable Bioproducts
Nicole Mcginn, Sustainable Bioproducts
Advisor
Mark Rudnicki, College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science
Sponsors
Michigan Tech - Tech Forward Initiative on Advanced Materials and Manufacturing
Humane Interface Design Enterprise (HIDE) team members collaborate to design, develop,
and evaluate user interfaces. The goal is to make daily work more efficient and easier
to manage. The team works together to design and test different applications for industry
sponsors that can be used on Android, iPhone, and other devices. HIDE accomplishes
these projects by combining knowledge from multiple disciplines (e.g., computer science,
psychology, and human factors). HIDE team members can get involved in various stages
of the design process, from developing an app by programming to evaluation by designing
usability tests and analyzing data.
Project Overview
The Humane Interface Design Enterprise (HIDE) worked on ten projects over the past
two semesters, but we would like to highlight four. The CCLC Queue is a Canvas plug-in
for Computer Science students to ask questions and get help directly from learning
center coaches/instructors. The GDLS Team at HIDE is building a web scraping tool
and classifier Machine Learning model for General Dynamics Land Systems. Third, GVSC
is a simple real-time strategy game (RTS) with different Heads-up Display(HUD) options
to test the effectiveness of the Virtual Reality(VR) HUD’s design and user ergonomics.
Lastly, the Human Factors team works with other HIDE teams and other enterprises to
evaluate existing interfaces and assist in designing new ones.
Husky Game Development (HGD) is a student-run Enterprise focused on developing video
games. This semester, HGD has 15 sub teams working on different game projects. Students
experience a full game development cycle including ideation, design, playtesting,
and releasing a final product. HGD uses a diverse set of tools and engines. Our games
target a variety of platforms including desktop, web, mobile, and an on-campus arcade
cabinet.
Project Overview
Railyards have never seemed so hectic in Train Shunting Puzzle Remaster. Take control
of your train and navigate various cars to their destination on time. It takes care
and skill to organize your cars as efficiently as possible. Flip track switches to
access different tracks, connect and disconnect your cars to reorganize your railyard,
and get each car to their specific destination on time in this top-down puzzle game.
Innovative Global Solutions (IGS) pursues solutions for the needs of developing countries,
making contributions toward solving Grand Challenges. Team members improve technical
skills and gain hands-on experience with an international engineering project. Typical
project areas focus on energy, water, health, education, entrepreneurship, transportation,
infrastructure, and more.
Project Overview
This project aims to design and build an aquaponics system located in Vihiga County,
Kenya, to increase the efficiency, functionality, and viability of aquaponics systems
by minimizing waste and maximizing yield. The current focus of this team is to develop
a nutrient management feedback control system that autonomously manages dissolved
oxygen levels in the aquaponic system's fish pond. During the Summer of 2022, the
team completed the prototype and implemented it on-site in Kenya. Currently, the team
is working on testing the second prototype of this nutrient management system.
Project Photo
The Aquaponic Systems team's aeration device being tested at the MTWave facility
IT Oxygen is a student enterprise dedicated to developing student skills through real-world
industry experience. We provide the experiences necessary to progress in the ever-changing
world of cutting-edge software development, networking, security, system administration,
and business. This includes problem-solving, teamwork experience, and sharpening communication
skills.
Project Overview
The AI team analyzes Weld Data to find parts and components. Once labeled, the data
is used to find inconsistencies in the welding process such as missed welds.
Project Photo
Team Photo
Team Leads
Dan Curtiss, Electrical Engineering
Kyler Bomhof, Computer Science
Advisor
Nagesh Hatti, Enterprise
Sponsors
Client-name: confidential. A leading welding equipment manufacturer
The Multiplanetary INnovation Enterprise (MINE) seeks to design, test, and implement
innovative technologies built to withstand extreme conditions in space or here on
Earth. MINE works in interdisciplinary teams across multiple projects to solve current
and future challenges across multiple fields, especially in the emerging field of
space mining.
Project Overview
The Multiplanetary INnovation Enterprise team focuses on innovation in multiple areas,
including aerospace mining and flooded subterranean mapping and sampling. The team
is currently working on three different projects in these areas. First, Lunabotics,
a competition sponsored by NASA, focuses on designing and building a lunar rover using
a systems engineering approach. Second, DIVER (Deepwater Investigation Vehicle for
Energy Resources) focuses on exploring the flooded mineshafts of Quincy Mine. And
finally, Lunar Trencher focuses on proving that the bucket ladder excavator concept
is the best method for lunar mining.
Project Photo
Lunabotics Rover at Beach after 2022 Competition
Photo Credit: Timothy Hamilton
Team Photo
Team Leads
Brian Geiger, Mechanical Engineering
Karson Linders, Mechanical Engineering
Advisor
Paulus Van Susante, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Sponsors
Planetary Surface Technology Development Lab (PSTDL), Ashworth, Consumers Energy,
TSG Tooling Systems Group, Janet Callahan, MiSUMi, Bill Widman, Donn Stowe, Michigan
Space Grant Consortium, General Motors, and Milwaukee Tool
Open Source Hardware specializes in building low-cost alternatives to expensive hardware/software,
and then sharing the designs with the commons so that collaborative improvements can
be made rapidly. Anyone can make changes or updates to the designs the Enterprise
team creates—through this process, designs are improved at a much higher rate than
would be possible within the Enterprise alone. Open source is all about collaboration.
Project Overview
Our team is concurrently working on seven open-source senior design projects. These
include a remote ornithological attractant and deterrent device, a portable version
of our BREAD system, open-sourcing Immersion Circulators, an open-source system for
automating chemical balance in pools, a text-to-speech slice for BREAD, BREAD Vision
for quality control analysis, and KeWee Energy Meters for affordable home energy use
monitoring. Our projects span several years, and we will release all necessary files
to replicate our work.
Project Photo
Open Water, Off-Grid BREAD, and Bird Attractant & Deterrent project materials
Photo Credit: Anders Smitterberg
Team Photo
Team Leads
Anders Smitterberg, Electrical Engineering
Noah Adams, Suhayb Zeqlam, Kevin Fogg, David Hoffman, Lily Hubbard, Ian Huff, Justin
Rish
Advisor
Shane Oberloier, Electrical and Computer Engineering
The Robotic Systems Enterprise (RSE) focuses on seamlessly integrating exceptional
knowledge in electronics, robotics, and programming to solve real-world engineering
problems. All majors are welcome—the team depends on more than just the skills and
talents of engineering and science majors. RSE produces solutions that contribute
to industry, recreation, and medical research.
Project Overview
This academic year, the RSE team focused on completing Year 2 of the AutoDrive Challenge
II competition hosted by SAE. 7-sub teams focused on breaking all components of the
competition down to group sections, including the perception team, mapping and path
planning team, build team, controls team, innovation team, simulation team, and project
management team. The goal of Year 2 is to migrate developed systems from an autonomous
vehicle test bench used in Year 1 to the sponsored Chevy Bolt EUV that will be used
for the remainder of the competition.
Project Photo
"Caerus Polaris" Perception Cart at Year 1 of AutoDrive Challenge II at MCity Test
Track
The Strategic Education through Naval Systems Experiences (SENSE) Enterprise’s mission
is to enable the workforce of tomorrow to redefine the boundaries for air, land, sea,
and cyber supremacy through experiential learning and discovery. Students will design,
build, and test engineering systems with a focus on Navy applications in all domains:
space, air, land, sea, and undersea. Get hands-on experiences with cutting-edge defense
technologies that directly impact the safety and success of the armed forces. Prepare
for civilian employment opportunities in Department of Defense research labs or with
DoD contractors.
Project Overview
As technology evolves and becomes more connected, the attack vector of the target
increases. In order to combat this issue, ArRobAut focuses on evaluating the security
robustness of autonomous robots through penetration analysis and threat analysis.
SASI is producing a sampling device for a microbial mat found in sinkholes in Lake
Huron. The device will couple with an ROV called the SAAB Seaeye Falcon to autonomously
capture a sample and return it to the surface intact. Partnering with Ford, the MEFASO
team looks to develop a noise identification system that uses machine learning to
recognize and pinpoint the source of noises commonly found in a vehicle's environment
so that the roadways of the future may be a safer place for all. The Marine Energy
Collegiate Competition is sponsored by the DOE and NREL and tasks competitors with
designing, prototyping, testing, and completing a business plan for some form of wave
energy converter. This semester, the team is building a surge converter with its potential
application being shore protection for coastal communities. The team is currently
in the process of finalizing the design and is hard at work with the business plan
and community outreach. The Buoy Retrieval and Deployment device will be a large claw-moving
device that can autonomously grab Spotter Buoys from the Great lakes using an autonomous
boat. This project is to be produced for and sponsored by the GLRC. The SWAB team
is tasked with improving small robotic bugs in regards to reducing the weight, implementing
the ability to “swarm”, improving the fuel efficiency, and various other features
related to the robots moving capabilities. These bugs are modeled after a water bug
and “hop” across the water via the release of a surfactant (isopropyl alcohol in this
case). This project is supported by our co-advisor Dr. Hassan Masoud and his recent
NSF grant. SISU is tasked with organizing our movement of labs and other various internal
projects (drive organization, cabinet organization, assignment of team storage space
ect…). This is not a formal project, but it has been a great way to get students more
involved and ensure that our space is working for each team!
Project Photo
Projects MEFASO and NEEC (completed) gather data at Prince's Point
Velovations is a bicycle design Enterprise dedicated to collaborating with the bicycle
industry to develop new products and processes. The goal is to educate team members
in the fundamentals of product development— from customer need through product and
process design and testing, manufacturing, supply chain management, marketing, and
distribution. Velovations leverages multiple majors including mechanical, electrical,
business, and technical communications to deliver product and process innovations
to the bicycle industry.
Project Overview
Velovations is currently working on four bicycle-related projects. * The Simple Dropper
Post project is engineering a bike seat dropper post with high reliability and low
cost that is easy to install, operate & maintain. This year we explored customer needs
via I-Corps program and will fabricate an aluminum prototype for weight savings since
previous prototypes were made out of steel. * The Steel Frame project aims to construct
a bike out of Cleveland Cliffs advanced high-strength steel to explore the viability
of using this exciting material. Currently the team is testing different joint methods
to determine the strongest frame. * The Heated Contacts project goal is to design
a rechargeable heated grips and a heated water bottle sleeve for riding during colder
temperatures. The team has started testing the grip and sleeve to dial in the temperature
range and measure how long the battery will last. * Finally, the Voodoo Hub project
aims to help bring Senger Innovations’ revolutionary rear wheel hub freewheel system
to market. The team is creating testing methods and fixturing to test out the design
and benchmark current competitors.
Project Photo
Hands on machining parts for the Simple Dropper Post project
Photo Credit: Louis Hindman
Team Photo
Team Leads
Ethan McKenzie, Mechanical Engineering
Michael Balentine, Mechanical Engineering
Advisor
Steve Lehmann, Biomedical Engineering
Sponsors
Cleveland Cliffs, Tongy Senger Innovations, Milwaukee Tools
The Wireless Communication Enterprise (WCE) focuses on wireless, optical, renewable
energy, user interface, and biomedical technologies. WCE functions much like an engineering
company with a variety of different project teams. These small project teams allow
team members to be very involved in project work and provide ample opportunity for
them to gain technical skills, business presentation skills, and leadership experience.
Project Overview
Wireless Communication Enterprise (WCE) is currently supporting 6 different project
groups from mostly internally pitched projects and 1 corporation sponsored project.
The sponsored project worked on this year with Stellantis involves intelligent battery
cell balancing algorithms and embedded systems design. These types of projects are
important and impactful to the sponsors—we are prototyping the next generation of
products and services. Some internal projects involve a lot of wireless communication,
such as our portable 5G network tower, while others such as our Smart Pill dispensing
system or LED sign repair group has little to none. The end goal is to have students
work on what they find interesting while developing key engineering skills. Our lab
enables students to work on all these projects with the support of 3D printers, PCB
printers, microcontrollers, and almost anything else an electronics lab could need.
Project Photo
WCE's Projects
Image Credit: Ryan Peckham
Team Photo
Team Leads
Ryan Peckham, Electrical Engineering
Benjamin Stier, Computer Engineering
Advisor
Christopher Cischke, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Sponsors
Stellantis
125. High School Enterprise – Dollar Bay School SOAR
The SOAR Enterprise team designs, builds, and deploys underwater remotely operated
vehicles (ROVs), provides technical solutions to water-related research challenges,
and serves as a resource for additive manufacturing investigations for local businesses.
As a place-based service learning Enterprise, SOAR partners with local community organizations
to monitor, research, and improve the local watershed. They support local businesses
with rapid prototype and small-quantity part runs. Clients of SOAR present their needs
and requirements to the Enterprise, and SOAR works to exceed their expectations with
the delivery of the product. Current clients include Isle Royale National Park, Delaware
Mine, OcuGlass, and Michigan Tech Great Lakes Research Center.
Project Overview
The current underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) built by the SOAR team are
proof-of-concept prototypes and have outlived their life expectancy. The team has
set a course to redesign and replace two classes of team-built ROVs. First, the Isle
Royale National Park service ROVs. Improved design features will focus on reduced
size, decreased thruster power consumption, and rapid in-field power pack replacement.
Second, the demonstration ROVs used by the team during student demonstrations and
community festivals. Enhancement features will include a cleaner driver’s station
with operator controls fitting for young hands, a bright screen for outdoor viewing,
and compact size for operation in the demonstration tank.
Project Photo
SOAR built ROV prepares for deployment below the ice on Keweenaw Bay
