Fabrication of Functionalized Graphene Beads for Artificial Liver

In our project, we study the treatment of acute liver failure using MARS with specific attention to bilirubin removal. We understand that when MARS is applied to such treatment, bilirubin is removed in one of the adsorption processes involving activated charcoal being adsorbent. In order to significantly raise the efficiency of bilirubin removal, we propose a new material called graphene oxide beads to replace activated charcoal as adsorbent in MARS. This project will focus on functionality of graphene oxide beads, market competitiveness of the modified MARS product and feasibility of large scale industrial production. 

GENergy

One in six people in the world lack stable access to electricity.  Many people must rely on dangerous and toxic kerosene lamps as a primary source of light and spend upwards of 30% of their income on this kerosene.  With the increasing development in small scale solar technology, there is no reason why individuals and families should not have a safe, less expensive, and more reliable source of light.  Battery or fuel-powered lighting solutions have the obvious disadvantage of recurring cost and limited resources.  On the other hand, most renewable lighting solutions require expensive components and are large and difficult to ship.  GENergy’s solutions provides the means of generating energy on the go via kinetic energy resulting from natural body movements of a person.  GENergy is essentially a handlebar similar in dimensions to a toothbrush consisting of a solenoid electromagnet in full electrical communication with  small rechargeable battery, a full wave rectifier (to convert AC signal to DC) and at least one LED in full electrical communication with the rechargeable battery.

Synchronization of capillary jet for 3D printing optimization

Capillary jets can be found in many industrial applications such as 3D printing.  In this project, we propose to examine the synchronization of a self-excited capillary jet so as to be able to better understand and control the droplet size distribution and the droplet formation rate.  We will build a simple bench-top apparatus consisting of a small liquid tank (1L), computer-controlled syringe pump, capillary tubing, and a liquid catch tank.  To induce synchronization, we will use a loudspeaker to acoustically force the jet at frequencies around its natural frequency, whilst measuring its response with high-speed imaging vial a CCT camera (1000 Hz). The collected data over a range of forcing frequencies and amplitudes and examine how the jet responds to the forcing using a range of forcing frequencies and amplitudes, and examine how the jet responds to the forcing using a range of mathematical tools from nonlinear dynamical theory.   On completion this project will lead to a better understanding of the physics of synchronization in capillary jets, opening new opportunities for novel control strategies to be developed for such jets.

Automatic Cup Noodle Cooker

An automated noodle cooking machine automates the process of cooking a cup noodle.  With a cup noodle inserted into the machine, a gripper would tear off the plastic coating and boiling water would be poured into the cup noodle.  The gripping system involves a fixture system holding the cup, a rotational base for locating the cover edge, and a four-bar linkage for tearing off the cover.  The boiling system involves a heater for continuous boiling of water and a boiling water delivery system.  The whole system would be controlled by a microcontroller.  Based on the previous model build in MECH 2907, some parts would be renewed for improvement in performance and safety.  It would be tested to ensure the performance, safety, and reliability.  Upon finishing this machine prototype, such a a system may be integrated into a vending machine for commercial purposes.

Maglev Light Bulb

Maglev, short for magnetic levitation, gains its popularity through the increasing variety of commercially-available decoration designs, such as the levitation light bulb and Bluetooth speaker.  Nonetheless, it is still uncommon for such designs to be capable of positioning the floating object at a fixed height or angle as well as steadily powering the object to perform complex functions.  Therefore, the team sought to create an innovative maglev set prototype as such that would make the technology useful beyond decoration.  In the dearly stage of design, the floating object will be a simple RGB led light build powered by a dry battery.  Its vertical position and rotation on the horizontal plane will be stabilized by current-varying electromagnets.  In the later stage, employing the help of a highly efficient wireless charging technology, the dry battery will be replaced by a either a rechargeable battery or a circuit directly powered by the base wirelessly

IMECH-E 7th Greater China Design Competition

As an entry in the IMECHE competition, the topic for 2018 was unmanned robots for relief.  In real-life situations, relief materials are difficult to be delivered after natural disasters.  Owing to the destruction by disasters, damaged roads bridges and tunnels might no longer be suitable for ordinary vehicles. Therefore, it is necessary for engineers to come up with solutions for rescue and material distribution.  In the competition, the game field is a simulation of a scene after a disaster.  During the competition, rice will be loaded into the robot and unloaded at a hole in the game field.  Parts of the rigid fame field will be replaced by green beans and wooden rods for imitating the fractured roads.  Time limitations for the robot to finish one round trip and return to the starting position is set to be five minutes in order to symbolize the urgency of relieving work in real circumstances.

Fermentation system to convert Sludge to Organic Fertilizer

In this project, the student team designed a fermentation system using knowledge from CENG4630 and CENG4620.  They first created a detailed design of the whole system to treat sludge into organic fertilizer and to import the system into a prototype to enhance the feasibility of the design for the President’s Cup finals.  The prototype was constructed in the USEL lab as the lab had adequate space for the assembly and tools required.

Intelligent Dim Sum Trolley

This team enrolled in the Volvo Trolley Design Competition, which required them to present an improved dim sum car.  they modified a dim sum car and put on various safety and user friendly features, and used the car to compete in the competition.  The safety features included emergency cooling system, insulating pads, blind spot warning, sliding wheel guards, brakes, water level sensor, extendable food guard temperature monitor and object detection sensors.  The user-friendly features include the food tray lifting platform and menu display.  The team hopes that with such modified features, the dim sum car would be safer to be used in Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong and more user-friendly to both the customer and workers in those restaurants.

European Space Elevator Challenge

The project aims to build the most mass-efficient, energy-efficient, and time efficient space elevator (prototype climber) for the EUSPEC 2018.  The climber was optimized for motors, batteries, embedded systems control, and sensor usage such that the payload can be carried up and down 100m with the highest velocity, highest payload to climber mass ratio and highest energy efficiency.

iMAV 2018 Competition

iMAV is an international competition focusing on expanding the technology and usage of micro-aerial vehicles (MAV).  The competition that year was hosted by RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia.  There were a number of events in the competition.  There was an outdoor, an indoor, and a novity section.  Each team was allowed to build one or multiple MAVs to fulfill the requirements of the different sections.  There is a heavy emphasis on remote control and automation. What sets this competition apart from other aircraft building competitions is that the aerial vehicle needs not have a fixed form, so it could be a traditional looking aircraft, multi-rotor copter or even lighter than air vehicle.  This give the flexibility to create the aerial vehicles that best suit a given section of the competition.