Capstone Design Expo 2026

Kyle Mather, Ryan Lang, Richard Hurley, Tyler Lupkas, and Eric Garcia

Dr. Mehdi Mekni

To develop a real-time, locally hosted IDE extension that analyzes code as it is written and delivers actionable feedback on style, performance, secure coding, and software design best practices. ELEVATE is intended to reinforce professional development habits — not replace the developer. The outcome will be a functional IDE plug-in by May 2026 that improves code quality and better prepares students for collaborative software development.

Jai Chandra Koochana, Abhiram Reddy Mukkala, Ryan Hunter, Max Liberti, and Likith Sai Vardhan Koganti

Dr. Mehdi Mekni

To develop a scalable, no-code robotics training platform for Architecture, Engineering, and Construction education to address rising automation needs driven by labor shortages, safety risks, and productivity demands. The simulator will integrate drag-and-drop task sequencing with BIM models and immersive VR/AR, supporting five–six robots and six–eight tasks. It will provide AI-based feedback on unsafe or inefficient plans and include embedded assessments to measure learning outcomes. The expected outcome is a validated multiuser platform that improves workforce readiness and expands robotics training access for non-programmers.

Emily King, Myles Annan, Dante White, Aidan Grise, Isaura Franco, and Arjun Aravind

Dr. Mehdi Mekni

To develop Ready2Work, a VR- and AI-enabled platform that reduces interview anxiety and improves career readiness for graduating students. The system will simulate realistic job interviews; evaluate verbal and nonverbal communication using NLP, gesture tracking, and optional biometric inputs; and provide personalized, adaptive feedback. It will also include AI-driven resume optimization and role-specific preparation guidance to improve overall interview performance.

Braeden Allen, Ryan Godburn, Anthony Ciavarella, Matthew Williams, and Quinn McEnerney

Drs. Tirthankar Ghosh and Mehdi Mekni

To demonstrate how publicly available personal data combined with AI can enable targeted password-guessing attacks, revealing gaps in current password policies. The project will use these findings to propose improved security guidelines and raise awareness of the growing risk of AI-driven credential attacks in an era of widespread data sharing.

Mohammad Abunar, Michael Rich-Fiondella, and Amari Malcolm

Drs. Tirthankar Ghosh and Elmahedi Mahalal

To develop an AI-based approach to enhance 5G network-slicing security by detecting resource-starvation attacks. Using Python, the team will build a recurrent neural network to identify attack behavior, isolate the affected slice, and help prevent impact on other virtual networks sharing the same infrastructure.

David Jervis (Computer Engineering)

Dr. Moshen Sarraf

To design and build a single-zone HVAC thermostat with a simplified touch-screen interface, stable temperature control, and a modular embedded software foundation suitable for commercialization. The system will provide intuitive user interaction, real-time control feedback, mode selection, fault monitoring, and minimum on/off timing to protect HVAC equipment. The outcome will be a proof-of-concept prototype demonstrating reliable control performance; user-friendly operation; and a robust, extensible firmware architecture.

Adem Lazri, Christopher DeSimone, and Travis Blank

Dr. Mohsen Sarraf

To design a drone that flies over a power line and identifies any damaged conductors, insulators, or hardware using AI. This system will capture high resolution visual and thermal data to flag hotspots or hazards. It will provide utility crews with fast, accurate inspection results and reduce field risk while supporting faster maintenance decisions.

Breanna Botte, Megan Leverock, and Trevor Saccone

Dr. Mohsen Sarraf

To create a reliable, wearable system prototype that can monitor critical health parameters, such as heart rate, body temperature, sweat levels, motion, and blood oxygen levels, to enhance safety and performance of emergency firefighter personnel operating in high-stress environments. This system will be able to distinguish critical health levels during scenarios to provide reliable care to emergency personnel.

Declan Mcgrellis, Elijah Espinal, and Jake Genovese

Dr. Mohsen Sarraf

To land a drone within a three-foot by three-foot or smaller square target regardless of the weather or other natural conditions that may exist. Like the instrument landing system (ILS) in aviation, ultrasonic frequencies will be used instead to project multiple frequencies to center the drone over the surface and land it safely on the intended target. With the use of multiple ultrasonic speakers and a receiver capable of reading ultrasonic frequencies, the drone could theoretically be landed at the center of the platform safely following the same generalized concept of the ILS system.

Maximus Chueka, Joaquim Bahebura, and Nicholas Quijano

Dr. Mohsen Sarraf

Shanthala Kumar, Automation Engineer, Honeywell

Honeywell, a global leader in technology and manufacturing, delivers innovative solutions in aerospace, building technologies, fire alarms, performance materials, and safety to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and performance for customers worldwide.

To design, install, and validate a camera-based inspection cell for Honeywell parts. An experiment to discover test condition limits, as well as optimal process flow, will be conducted. These results will allow Honeywell to create a robust fire-panel testing plan that is leaner and more efficient than the current process.

Sara Connelly, Ella Nenoff, and Jack Thompson

Dr. Ismail Orabi

Thomas Frosell, Director of Innovation, The Lee Company

The Lee Company, designer and manufacturer of leading miniature fluid control technology that exceeds customer and market expectations for performance and quality.

To evaluate existing market pipetting systems to identify improvement opportunities and then design a high-frequency, air-driven pipetting system that meets or exceeds current accuracy and precision standards. Hydraulic flow schematics will be developed, the control system will be programmed, and enhanced capabilities aligned with market needs will be defined.

Kenneth McGovern, Daniel Folloni, and Michael Dos Santos

Dr. Ismail Orabi

William Welsh, Sr., Technical Fellow; Joe Nicholas, Loads and Criteria Engineer; and Dave Tabak, Sr. Nondestructive Test Engineer, Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin

Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company — A global leader in supporting customers’ missions, strengthening security, and advancing scientific discovery

To enhance a fast active vibration damper to meet sponsor-defined targets for rig weight, response time, resonance frequency, and actuator force output. The system will use accelerometer and Hall-effect sensor feedback to generate adaptive counter-vibration signals and maintain stable closed-loop control, resulting in a fully operational prototype.

Zachary Freedman, and George Hallas

Dr. Ismail Orabi

Alper Arslan, Mechanical Design Engineer, and Derek Favret, Engineer Recruitment and Development, RBC Bearings

RBC Bearings, designer and manufacturer of highly engineered precision bearing components and essential systems for the industrial, aerospace, and defense industries

To design polymer rod-end bearings that reduce weight and improve corrosion resistance relative to metal alternatives while remaining simple and efficient to manufacture and cost-competitive. The bearings must be compact enough for a remote-controlled car and durable in outdoor conditions, including freezing temperatures, UV exposure, dust, and moisture.

Savanna Pantoja, Markus Schuele, and Beverly Ogbonne Ukoha

Dr. Ismail Orabi

Nicholas Schreiber, Principal Product Engineer, and Robert Knapp, Principal R&D Engineer, Medtronic

Medtronic, a global leader in medical technology, services, and solutions with a mission to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life

To design and build a robust, low-cost fluid subassembly for the Clearify Visualization System that withstands harsh shipping conditions. The redesign will strengthen structural integrity while preserving key performance requirements, including compatibility with 5–11 mm laparoscopes, specified cleaning/defogging capacity, and white-balance stability.

Jeffrey Benavides and Loydon Henry-Phillip

Dr. Ismail Orabi

Matthew Lang, Senior Automation Engineer, and Marc D’Urbano, Engineering Manager, Mechanical, Edgewell

Edgewell Personal Care, a trailblazing personal care company that leverages its employees’ creativity and passion to challenge convention and drive growth

To improve and partially automate the blade-strip weld dressing (grinding) process to reduce operator-dependent variation, improve safety, and cut cycle time. Iterative prototypes will be validated through testing and analysis using sponsor/operator feedback and tools such as SolidWorks and ANSYS.

Oluwasegun Ashely, Jason Cordone, Evan Morazzini, and Amanda Plantier (Mechanical Engineering); and Spenser Tote (General Engineering)

Dr. Ganesh Balasubramanian, F.ASME

Jeff Mazur, Mihir Desai, and Bill Dalton, Systems, Electronics & Controls, Triumph

Triumph Group — A global leader in the aerospace industry that specializes in the design, engineering, manufacturing, and repair of the aerospace and defense systems, subsystems, components, and structures

To develop a vane pump concept for aircraft applications that operates stably across a 100 percent–110 percent flow range while minimizing axial and radial thrust. The design will address limitations of unbalanced vane pumps that can overload bearings and lead to failure, and it will evaluate key risks, including cavitation, torque overload, vane wear, and bearing loads.

Michel Pascal Louissaint, Amir Soliman, and Jakub Czachor (Mechanical Engineering); and Jhoaell Ruiz (General Engineering)

Dr. Ganesh Balasubramanian, F.ASME

Jeff Mazur, Mihir Desai, and Kyle Shaughnessy, Systems, Electronics & Controls, Triumph

Triumph Group — A global leader in the aerospace industry that specializes in the design, engineering, manufacturing, and repair of the aerospace and defense systems, subsystems, components, and structures

To assess the feasibility of using jet fuel as a lubricant for rolling-element bearings, focusing on performance limitations associated with its lower viscosity and lubricity compared to those of conventional oils. The project will combine a literature review with analysis of bearing materials, designs, and configurations for full fuel immersion, evaluating life, wear, and windage under representative loads, speeds, temperatures, and fuel types. The outcome will be a comparison of candidate bearing options and a set of design recommendations to guide fuel-lubricated bearing applications.

Ryan Barry, Matthew Fermo, Alexis Fernandez, Timothy Silva, and Quan Nguyen

Dr. Ganesh Balasubramanian, F.ASME

Richard Cerniglia, Engineering Supervisor, Fluid Systems

General Dynamics Electric Boat — A recognized leader in the design, construction, and life cycle support of submarines for the US Navy.

To identify and evaluate methods to reduce noise and extend the set-to-reseat interval of pressure relief valves used by General Dynamics Electric Boat for tank venting. Through physical testing and computer simulations, the project will develop modification concepts that reduce cycling, improve valve life, and enhance overall operational performance.