Month: May 2021

This week we spoke with Rusit Patel about his team, Best Team No Cap, a Capstone Design Group sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company. His team set out to create a methodology for optical data collection as well as a comprehensive software package for data analysis. Below is his interview with us; keep reading to learn more!

Q: Could you give us a brief description of your project for those who may not know about it?

A: Sure, our project focused on improving optical measurements of sugar mixing processes to yield the best mixing processes for Coca-Cola’s new Freestyle machines that are in development. We utilized a planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) laser to illuminate dye in various high-fructose corn syrup mixtures to capture images and develop algorithms to measure the sugar concentration at an accuracy of +/- 0.5° Brix

Q: Where did you first draw inspiration for the idea of the “Optical Measurements of Beverage Mixing,” for your Capstone Design Project? At first, we weren’t sure how we would tackle this problem.

A: We decided to consider the applications of the technology we were trying to create, and how it could be used in the field. For example, we thought about how this issue falls into quality and how the solution we create could be implemented in a manufacturing application. This helped us come up with ideas that we ultimately brought to fruition. Coca-Cola had already established the problem of not being able to take accurate measurements. Utilizing our team’s various backgrounds and experiences in mechanical engineering and computer science projects and internships, we were able to create a solution and exceed the expectations set by Coke.

Q: What was the design process like and how did you and your teammates come together to finish your project?

A: It definitely involved a ton of Microsoft Teams calls and GroupMe messages. As we came up with ideas we would send them in GroupMe and discuss on Microsoft Teams, letting everyone voice their opinions and ending meetings with decisions made and ideas decided upon. Sometimes, we would also spend a day or two brainstorming to ourselves and then coming back to the team and discussing what we came up with.

Q: What were some of the problems that you faced along the way and how did you overcome those obstacles?

A: One major hurdle to tackle was creating a procedure for gathering data. Figuring out the ideal settings for dye concentrations, camera settings, and laser settings involved input from all teammates. Since we had to be in the lab to gather data in person, we had certain members assigned to the same tasks to ensure consistent data was being gathered. We would also consistently test for COVID-19 before meeting in person.

Q: How did it feel to present your project virtually?

A: I think it was definitely more comfortable and easier to manage being able to present virtually. After figuring out how to use Gatherly and having people on the team ready to present and screen share the PowerPoint, it was very easy to present the project and answer any questions that judges and attendees had.

Q: How did it feel to work with a Coca-Cola company and how did they help you with the creation of your project?

A: We were quite fortunate to work with a company as massive and innovative as CocaCola. They were very helpful and supportive of any ideas we had and helped us with the initial equipment setup, any troubleshooting from past engineers on the project, and were always willing to meet with us to hear about updates and give feedback.

Q: What do you think made your team successful in creating your project?

A: I think having a team that was different in their backgrounds and had a serious interest in the project really helped us succeed. Having a growth mindset and curiosity to learn across the board definitely helped us accomplish more than we thought we would have. We also played to each other’s strengths and assigned tasks based on people that were well-suited to take them on.

Q: Do you have any advice for future teams?

A: Be passionate about what you are doing and the problem you are trying to tackle. If you are genuinely interested and want to learn, there are no limits to what you and your team can accomplish!

Thank you Rusit for sharing your project with us!

This week we spoke with Baran Usluel of Flightie Talkie, a Capstone Design group sponsored by the 3D Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment to create a speakerphone payload for drones to communicate.

Q: Could you give us a brief description of your project for those who may not know about it?

A: Drones are used by the military, law enforcement and other industries to remotely navigate and surveil hazardous situations. However, there are no available solutions on the market for two-way communication with people around a drone. Our project was to design a long-range speakerphone payload for the FLIR SkyRaider R80D.

Q: Where did you first draw inspiration for the idea of the “Speaker Integration with SUAS,” for your Capstone Design Project?

A: The project was proposed and sponsored by the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment of the US Army. They needed a solution to easily communicate with civilians or troops in combat zones through their existing unmanned aircraft.

Q: What was the design process like and how did you and your teammates come together to finish your project?

A: The design process firstly started with defining and understanding the problem, doing all the relevant research, and then moving on to concept ideation and selection. After selecting our initial concept and starting design, we discovered new constraints that took us back to the drawing board and brought us to our final design. Our ME and ECE members worked as two subteams, designing and validating the relevant subsystems mostly separately. We relied on prototyping, experimental tests and theoretical analyses to validate the engineering requirements.

Q: What were some of the problems that you faced along the way and how did you overcome those obstacles?

A: The biggest challenge for the team was the fact that we did not have hands-on access to the drone, for security and inventory reasons. There was also limited information available online as it is a defense industry product. We circumvented this obstacle by coordinating with our sponsor representatives to collect measurements of the drone, which we used to make CAD and low fidelity mockups that we leveraged in our design process.

Q: How did it feel to present your project virtually?

A: Presenting our project virtually at the capstone expo was certainly more comfortable because we were at home, but I believe it made it more difficult to connect with the judges and have natural conversations. I also felt like the ability to walk around and look at posters as in an in-person expo was lacking, although the Gatherly platform was definitely an improvement over typical web meetings.

Q: How did it feel to work with the 3D Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment and how did they help you with the creation of your project?

A: We were fortunate to work with the Rangers on such a high-impact project. Simply put, it was really cool! They proposed the project, gave us guidance on the problem as needed, and arranged for us to visit Fort Benning to test our prototype.

Q: What do you think made your team successful in creating your project?

A: Our team members had a variety of strengths, so we were able to divide responsibilities, work individually and communicate well. We cared about the project and wanted to produce something we were proud of. Put together with helpful advisors and sponsor representatives, this set us up for success.

Q: Do you have any advice for future teams?

A: The initial project planning stages before you get to designing are more useful than you think; they can save you a lot of time later if done right. And once you get to the design stage, the semester will fly by so try to make sure you are constantly making progress! Finally, make sure each team member is clear about what is expected of them; overcommunication is better than a lack of communication.

Thanks Baran for speaking with us this week!