MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — Penn State Harrisburg’s School of Science, Engineering and Technology recently recognized student projects presented during the Capstone Design Conference, which is the culmination of their undergraduate studies and provides the opportunity to combine classroom learning with real-life applications, as well as collaborate with industry sponsors.
Awards were given to outstanding group projects based on the criteria of communication, ability to design, teamwork, contemporary issues, and modern engineering techniques/tools. The judging committee consisted of one representative from each program: Civil Engineering and Structural Design and Construction Technology; Biology and Sciences; Computer Science; Electrical Engineering and Technology; and Mechanical Engineering and Technology.
Winning projects included:
First Place
Project: Log Splitter — Because the process of cutting and splitting logs can be a very labor intensive and difficult for one individual to maintain, the team designed and constructed a mobile log splitter. The frame carrying the splitter will be road worthy, as well as house boxes for chainsaws, PPE and gasoline containers.
Sponsor: Dan Massey
Group: Randy Day (East Berlin, Pennsylvania), Erinik Halliday (St. Thomas, Virgin Islands), Joshua Johnson (Franklin, Virginia), Luke Stouffer (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania)
Faculty Adviser: Dan Massey, adjunct professor of mechanical engineering
Program: Mechanical Engineering and Technology
Second Place
Project: LionHub — LionHub is a mobile application that helps orient incoming students to life at Penn State Harrisburg, by providing tips and tools, and access to a list of student services, bringing together everything they need to be successful in one location. Students will also be able to take a scavenger hunt throughout the campus, learning useful information along the way. Using GPS services, LionHub unlocks new clues as the students reach their goals.
Group Members: Brandon Davis (Middletown, Pennsylvania), John Deebel (Camp Hill, Pennsylvania), Clarence LaShier (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania), Ngan Ngyuen (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania)
Faculty Advisers: Sukmoon Chang, associate professor of computer science, and Donna Howard, associate director of Campus Life and Intercultural Affairs
Program: Computer Science
Third Place
Project: Inspired, Compact Multi-Story Parking Facility — A new parking facility was designed to help supplement student parking around recently built classrooms and student support buildings, and will provide parking for future classroom buildings, athletic facilities, and dorms that are already being included as part of the campus' master plan.
Group Leader: Kyle Purcell (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania)
Members: Gregory Cooper (Williamstown, Pennsylvania), Rieley Loch (Madison Township, Pennsylvania), Patrick Lumsden (Bayshore, New York), Wesley Ovens (Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania), Kristin Peckman (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania), Barry Porter (Shamong, New Jersey)
Faculty Advisers: Shashi Marikunte, senior lecturer in civil engineering, and Sofia Vidalis, associate professor of civil engineering
Program: Civil Engineering
Honorable Mention
Project: Remote Mechanized Harness Release — A model for TE Connectivity was created to demonstrate remote accessibility of a mechanized harness release to clients. The Harness Release Mechanism will be driven by a linear actuator, requiring redesign of the housing and harness release mechanism. A Raspberry Pi connected through Wi-Fi will link the two actuators to a mobile device to remotely activate the individual harness release mechanisms. A portable case was designed to hold two multi harness release mechanisms incorporating the Raspberry Pi and a rechargeable battery supply.
Sponsor: TE Connectivity
Group: Juan Aguirre (Guayaquil, Ecuador), Mark Brazee (Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania), Alessandro DeBernardo (Lansdale, Pennsylvania), Edgar Makimoto (Middleburg, Pennsylvania)
Faculty Advisers: Ola Rashwan, lecturer in mechanical engineering, and Scott Van Tonningen, senior lecturer in electrical engineering
Programs: Electrical Engineering and Technology; Mechanical Engineering and Technology