Applied Engineering

Small-scale farmers and agricultural operators lack access to affordable and efficient aerial spraying technology, as current drone systems are primarily designed for large-scale operations and remain cost-prohibitive. This creates a need for a scalable, low-cost alternative solution that improves efficiency and effectiveness.

 

The purpose of this project is to develop a single drone spraying system tailored for small-scale agricultural use. The system integrates a GPS-guided drone with a lightweight tank and pump mechanism to deliver controlled applications of herbicides/pesticides. Key design considerations include payload limitations, battery efficiency, spray coverage, and regulatory compliance.

 

The team is developing CAD models, selecting system components, and validating design decisions through performance analysis and consultation with agricultural drone operators. The resulting system is intended to provide a cost-effective alternative to traditional manual spraying methods.

 

This project demonstrates the feasibility of small-scale drone spraying and provides foundation for future development.

 

The‍ E‍co-Util⁠it⁠‍y‍ Trailer project⁠ aims t‍o devel‍op⁠ a compac‌t, en‍closed trailer that redefines usability by integrating garage compatibility‌, towing efficiency, and sustainable des‌ign‌ into a‌ singl‍e opti‌mized soluti‌on. Current trail‌er desi⁠gns of⁠ten‍ f‌ail to meet ever‌y‌day use‍r constraints, particularly in⁠ terms of resi⁠den‌tial storage limita‌tions, vehicle comp‌atibility, and co⁠st-effective construction. This project addr‍esses these‌ gaps by establishing a design that fits withi‍n s‍tandard garage dim‌ensions‌ while mainta⁠in⁠ing structural reliabilit‌y an⁠d practi‌cal functio‍nality.

 

An⁠ extensive research phase was conducted to e⁠valuate d‌imensional con‍straints acro‌ss residential ga‍rages, ve‌hicle c‍lasses (‌ sedan‌s, S⁠UV s, and trucks), and existing t⁠railer configurations. These fin‌dings were integrated into a dec⁠isio⁠n matrix⁠ used to sys‍tematically comp‌are and rank d⁠es‍ign a alternat‍ives b‌ased on s‍ize, towing feasibility, manufacturability, and market competitiveness. This ap‌proach e‍nsur⁠ed that the⁠ fi‌nal design is both da‌ta -driven an⁠d aligned‍ with real-world conditio⁠ns.

 

Engineering analysis played a cri‍tical role in the developmen‌t process. Hand calc⁠ulatio⁠ns were perform⁠ed t‍o⁠ evaluate load di‍strib⁠u‌tion, structural balanc‌e, and safety‌ factors, providing initi‍al validation of the trailer frame⁠ desi‌gn⁠. These‍ results will guide the development of‌ a detailed‌ C‌AD mode‌l an⁠d support further validation through fabrication planning and testing.

 

Additionally, ma‍ter‍ia‍‌l‌ selection a‌⁠nd‌ pr⁠ototyping strateg‌ies were explor‌ed in coll‍abor‍ati‌on wi⁠‌th‌ CAD an‍d fab‌r⁠ication‌ exp⁠erts, consi‌d‌ering wood, m‌et‌al, and‌ hybrid con‍structio‍n metho‌ds. The f⁠inal ou‍tcome i‍s a p⁠racti‌cal, struc‌turally sound, a‌nd⁠ mar‍‍ket-‌ready traile‌‍r design‌ that demon‌strates the integration of engin⁠eerin⁠g prin⁠ciples, research-driven dec‌ision-making⁠, and‌ u‍se‌r- cent⁠ere⁠d inn‌⁠‌ova⁠tion.

 

This project evaluates the feasibility of reusing treated industrial wastewater from the on-site treatment plant at AGCO by redirecting it back to Plant 8 for operational use. Currently, treated effluent is discharged despite having potential value as a reusable resource. This work focuses on assessing water quality characteristics and determining whether the treated effluent can be reliably integrated into the existing reverse osmosis (RO) system with appropriate pretreatment or chemical adjustments. Reuse cycles are centered on long-term system performance and potential impacts such as scaling, fouling, and infrastructure degradation.

 

The methodology includes laboratory testing of key water quality parameters (e.g., TDS, hardness, silica, and metals), along with process evaluation and mass balance modeling to understand system behavior under reuse conditions. A process flow design is developed to illustrate the proposed integration of treated wastewater into Plant 8 operations.

 

Two options are evaluated: a lower-complexity approach that utilizes existing infrastructure with selective pretreatment, and a more comprehensive treatment strategy that introduces additional treatment steps to further improve water quality prior to RO purification. A comparative cost analysis is performed to assess each option in terms of required investment, operating expenses, and expected water savings.

 

The project addresses challenges such as variability in wastewater composition, meeting RO system requirements, and minimizing system degradation over time. The goal is to reduce freshwater demand, lower operating costs, and meet sustainability goals.

 

Nearly 55% of U.S households partake in gardening due to their vast nutritional and personal benefits. However, it can be quite intimidating to start a garden because of the upfront costs, time restraints, and unique needs of each crop. Each day the U.S uses upwards of 9 billion Gallons of water for landscaping and agricultural purposes. Many current irrigation systems tend to overwater the desired area, which can lead to higher costs as a result of excess water usage. Rootonomous is a user-friendly autonomous irrigation device that optimizes water use while mitigating uncertainty associated with gardening. The solar powered device analyzes a garden’s condition based on real-time soil and weather data, predictive modeling, and user customization. The system then precisely and automatically waters a user’s plants with the exact amount of water needed.

 

Ideally, Rootonomous would be sold as an easily installable and modular kit with options to expand the water coverage, data collection, and software-based garden insights. This would ensure users can easily reduce water usage, improve self-sustainability, and garden with confidence.

 

Rootonomous can improve garden’s health and reduce a user’s water usage through advanced data analysis and automated precision irrigation. This cost-competitive product would provide value to users in an underserved market.

 

Electrical power is essential for the operation of medical centers & equipment, while most places have backup generators for emergencies or field operations. These generators require fuel and maintenance which is not always feasible in remote or rural areas. Clinic-in-a-Can primarily uses solar panels to generate power for the mobile medical centers they manufacture.

 

Our modular wind turbine design offers a supplemental power source and can provide energy to the clinics when there is no sunlight available. Designed with simple installation and reliability in mind, the turbine & generator is robust and easily assembled using household tools. The turbine efficiently delivers power in both open environments with high wind and obstructed areas with turbulent wind flows and low-quality wind.

 

The approach employs a vertical axis wind turbine with a helical blade configuration to enable omnidirectional wind capture. Built with modularity in mind, users can increase blade surface area and number of generators without increasing the footprint of the turbine.

 

With a swept area of 706.84 cm2 per blade, and a constant wind speed of 12.97 mph the design generates 121.65 Watts of power daily. Primarily a supplement for existing solar power, the turbine can keep emergency medical equipment running in the event of an outage.

 

This work demonstrates a feasible pathway for integrating wind energy into mobile Healthcare units in remote areas, and supports future development focused on performance testing, environmental testing, and field deployment.