Mechanical Engineering Senior Design Teams Awarded ASME Grants

Brooklyn Curtin and Julie Kasunic present the proposal for a variable-delay polarization modulator re-designed for the CLASS telescope, on which they are in collaboration with Dr. David Chuss of the Physics Department.

This fall, five teams of senior Mechanical Engineering students submitted proposals for their capstone design projects to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Philadelphia section in the hopes of obtaining grants of $600 each. Proposals required a technical discussion (design, system, process, etc.); project plan and cost, including a detailed and itemized budget, followed by a written explanation and defense for the need for ASME funds; and a letter of support from a faculty sponsor. The following projects were presented during an “Engineering Slam” event held at Drexel University. The first four were awarded funding:

• Rehabilitation device for Bell’s Palsy: presented by Richard Annan and Hunter Gaudio
• Variable-delay polarization modulator re-designed for CLASS telescope: project in collaboration with Dr. David Chuss of Villanova’s Physics department, presented by Brooklyn Curtin and Julie Kasunic
• Experimental robot to investigate ornithischian (dinosaur) jaw: presented by Lauren Garofalo and Opeyemi Oladunjoye
• Design and comparison of PCM-assisted rooftop solar water heater: Andrew Puglisi and Michael Monagle
• MATE underwater robotics competition: presented by Brandon Conway and Michael Masciale

Serving as faculty advisors to the five teams are Dr. Deeksha Seth, assistant teaching professor, and Mike Simard PE, associate professor of the practice.