On Thursday, May 1st, our Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Senior Design teams, advised by Dr. Sargolzaei, presented, defended, and demonstrated their year-long capstone projects. These projects represent the culmination of the students’ undergraduate engineering experience, combining creativity, technical skill, and teamwork. Below is a brief overview of the four outstanding projects presented this year:
Automatic Checkerboard
Tony Anderson (Mentor: Mr. Lee Bennett)
This project introduces a smart checkerboard that allows players to compete against a computer opponent. Uniquely, the board physically moves the pieces on behalf of the computer, blending traditional gameplay with modern automation and embedded control systems.
Next-Generation Skyhawk Tractor: Advancing Electronic Steering, Electric Drivetrain, HMI, and Engine Integration
Brooke Kala, Nathan Robison, John Kerstiens
Building on the success of last year’s electric driveline integration, this team worked to further enhance the Skyhawk Tractor Team’s 1/4 scale competition tractor. Their efforts focused on implementing an electronic steering system, integrating a Human-Machine Interface (HMI) to display operator data, and preparing the system for a new electronically controlled engine—making the tractor more competitive and technologically advanced.
Traffic Light Controller Backup Power System
Jacob Schnepple (Mentors: Mr. Adam Griffin and Mr. Kyle Ross)
This project addresses the critical need for uninterrupted traffic light operation during power outages. The team developed a cost-effective, efficient, and user-friendly backup power system that leverages renewable energy sources—such as solar and magnetic generation—to ensure continuous intersection control during emergencies.
Neuroimaging-Driven Autonomous Vehicle Driving Simulation in Extended Reality
Curt Lynch, Kyle Byassee, Isaac Copeland, Seth Hatchett
This research-oriented project explores driver interaction with autonomous vehicles in high-stress situations. Using extended reality (XR) simulations and neurophysiological data—such as EEG, heart rate, and eye/head tracking—the team developed a platform to quantitatively study driver behavior and stress responses, offering a controlled alternative to traditional survey-based methods.
We congratulate all of our ECE seniors for their hard work and innovative thinking. Their projects reflect the strong technical foundation and real-world problem-solving skills they have developed throughout their time in the program.
