Renewable Energy Systems for Orchard Irrigation
This research project leverages mechanical engineering practices to develop sustainable solutions for a large orchard donated to Cal Poly. By applying expertise in areas such as heat transfer, thermodynamics, and control systems, the project aims to reduce the electrical power consumption of the ranch’s irrigation systems using multiple solar installations. Rooted in Cal Poly’s learn-by-doing philosophy, this interdisciplinary effort bridges mechanical engineering and agriculture to create practical, scalable solutions that can serve as a model for sustainable orchard management across the region and beyond.
Museum
Completed an on-site internship designing and building custom furnishings and display cases for museum installations. Worked closely with curators and designers to create exhibition solutions that effectively showcased historical materials, handling everything from constructing display cases and mounting systems to configuring lighting. Ensured all exhibit and lighting systems were properly installed and fully functional through comprehensive testing.
Rover Chassis and Suspension Design
- Created detailed part models in SOLIDWORKS and defined dimensions and tolerances using Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) to ensure proper fit and assembly.
- Manufactured components utilizing water jet cutting, laser cutting, lathe operations, CNC milling, and 3D printing.
- Performed iterative prototyping and testing throughout the design cycle to verify feasibility, and conducted further system-level testing post-assembly to validate overall performance.
Depoliticization Shapes Technological Impact
Authored a research paper analyzing TSA millimeter wave scanners and their ATR algorithms, demonstrating how defining a “normal” body shape introduced screening limitations across diverse populations. Examined how the shift to automated imaging prioritized technical performance over inclusive design, and proposed solutions including AI-driven adaptive detection to improve reliability.
Gear Box
Incorporated analytical and empirical equations to calculate stress distributions across shafts, gears and bearings, while automating bearing selection based on design parameters to enable rapid gearbox development under timed conditions.
Dual Purpose Furniture
Developed a detailed CAD model and motion animations in SolidWorks to demonstrate the transformation sequence from desk to couch while validating the mechanism’s functionality.
Air Motor Production
- Completed team-building exercise for batch production of air motor parts
- Deployed machining processes to create parts, including Computer Numerical Control (CNC) for mills and lathes
- Inspected quality of parts using geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T)
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