2022 College of Engineering and Science Design and Research Conference

Mean Green Cocoa Machine

Team Name: Up a Ladder With No Logic

Team Members: Erika Dortch, Jaylen Kelly, Jacob Pulse

Advisor: Dr. David Hall

This project addresses the issue of needing dry ingredients measured for drinks and mixed together quickly on a regular basis. This machine could be used by athletes that prefer to make their own protein beverages or by parents with babies to save time making heated baby formula. Sometimes measuring tools like labeled spoons or cups are not available and specific amounts of ingredients are required. This machine handles all of that automatically and requires no external tools from the user. For experimental purposes, this project will be using cocoa powder to make hot chocolate.

Bogard Track Renewal

Team Name: Utopian Design

Team Members: Stephen Burkholder, Nathan Compton, Damien Gautreaux, Dhillon Poblete

Advisor: Mr. Michael Theodos

The conveyor system in Bogard needed refurbishing. A new programmable logic controller (PLC) and a human-machine interface (HMI) were added along with andon signaling lights and emergency stops. Performance was enhanced with a configurable track speed for tact time with standardized settings as needed. A closed-loop system was designed and implemented using a proximity sensor to sense the speed of the track. This enabled tight control over motion to conform to the College’s needs for assembly line simulation.

Earthly Estates

Team Name: Kinetic Vision

Team Members: Hannah Jones, Christon Sadler, Dalton Tackett, Adam Wellborn

Advisor: Mr. Ronald Gill

A fully functional automated greenhouse was designed and fabricated to control humidity, temperature, soil hydration, and light, through the use of a controlled gravity-fed watering system, light bulbs, and fans. An automation direct programmable controller (PLC) and a human-machine interface (HMI) will control the system and allow input and visual monitoring of the system.

NUFLO Sensor Troubleshooting Algorithm & Testing Loop

Team Name: Encabulator Solutions

Team Members: Mark Allen, Alex Reine, Logan Watterson

Sponsor: Sensia Global

Advisor: Dr. William Long

For the development of a NUFLO sensor troubleshooting algorithm, our team developed a testing platform to read data from sensors. The testing loop consists of a large water reservoir, a pump, diversion valves, and two flow sensors. Water flows at 26 gallons per minute through the loop and is diverted along different paths to only allow a percentage of the flow to enter each sensor. Connected to the sensors is a totalizer device that reads flow rate and total flow volume. This totalizer can communicate with a programmable logic controller (PLC). The PLC will use data from the totalizer to determine if a rotor blade in the sensor is broken or bent, or if there is an abnormal reading from interference. The output result will be displayed on a screen to be accessed by a technician.