L-R: Audrey Park, Jacqueline Nguyen, Yashvi Deliwala, and Amanda Lucker at the AME Senior Design Expo
In the laboratories of USC Viterbi School of Engineering, student teams are transforming theoretical concepts into groundbreaking technological solutions, demonstrating how cutting-edge research can solve complex challenges across automotive, robotic, and space exploration domains.
Noise reduction to optimize racing performance
Ana Basave, Janis Corona, Samuel McCarthy, Will Parma
USC Racing is addressing a significant challenge in racing performance: balancing noise reduction with engine efficiency.
Using a quarter wave pipe exhaust system, the student-run team is investigating how to reduce engine noise without compromising power, a delicate balance that has historically been a struggle for the team during technical inspections. The quarter wave pipe system is already a well-known technology in racing, but USC Racing’s work will apply it in a more precise and effective manner – potentially transforming how noise reduction is achieved in high-performance vehicles.
“Our goal is to reduce noise without choking the engine,” says Samuel McCarthy, lead suspension engineer. “By using a quarter wave pipe, we aim to achieve better noise control while maintaining engine performance.”
USC Racing competed in the SoCal Shootout, earning 3rd place in the region
The prompt for the senior design project came during a competition technical inspection, in which USC Racing struggled to meet the sound test requirements. “Everything else went smoothly, and we were performing at a level that could have earned us a podium – except for the noise test,” explains McCarthy. “We knew we had to address this to perform better next year.”
As the team collects more data from their current setup, they will fine-tune their simulations for future projects, including the next competition car, SCR 25.
“By establishing parameters for our system, we’re refining the design SCR 25,” says McCarthy. “This will allow us to pick the best configurations and optimize the quarter wave pipe system for real-world conditions.”
Proprioceptive Robotic Leg Leaps Towards Space Exploration
Irie Cooper, Jake Futterman, Jacob Meseha, Eduardo Rosales Jr.
Each year, the AME Senior Design Showcase features a number of inventive robotics projects.
Inspired by the way animals and humans navigate their environments, this project explores robotic sensing by developing a direct-drive robotic leg that integrates proprioception – the ability to sense body position and motion.
The innovative robotic leg doesn’t just move, but actively “feels” the terrain. Sensing its environment, the robot can identify the material characteristics of the ground it traverses – a functionality which will be important for missions to Mars.
“We’re essentially replicating how cats and dogs move,” explains project member Jake Futterman. ” Our leg uses motors not just for movement, but for sensing, saving energy and gathering detailed, continuous data.
The “Traveler Leg,” designed and built for proprioception
“Although the leg itself won’t be going to Mars, the goal is to test whether the technology behind it actually works,” said Futterman. “Each time the leg takes a step, it collects force data from the ground, enabling us to determine material properties. If we can prove this works while the leg is jumping, we could implement it on a robotic dog designed to explore Mars.”
The concept of proprioception as applied to robotics was advanced at USC’s RoboLAND lab. The lab, headed by Dr. Feifei Qian in the Electrical Engineering department, focuses on spatial data collection. “Robotics is inherently challenging because it combines multiple engineering disciplines – that’s why it was so helpful to collaborate with the lab,” shared project member Eduardo Rosales. “Mechanically, we had to machine a precise and robust leg that can withstand high loads. Electrically, we needed to make circuits that could transmit data very quickly while minimizing losses. And on the controls side, programming the leg to hop is far from straightforward.”
The robot’s control systems had to be carefully tuned to ensure that the leg responded accurately without overshooting its target position. Every time the leg moves, it adjusts to the environment – comparable to how animals react to their surroundings.
The potential impact on space exploration is significant. Traditional rovers often struggle on uneven terrains and need to cease moving in order to collect data. A robot with proprioception could reach areas inaccessible to wheeled rovers, investigating previously unreachable parts of a planet.
Super-elastic tires to revolutionize Mars missions
Yashvi Deliwala, Amanda Lucker, Jacqueline Nguyen, Audrey Park
Another team addressed a critical challenge in Mars rover technology, the durability of aluminum tires which often fail on the planet’s rugged terrain.
Communicating with NASA Glenn Research Center engineers Colin Creager and Santo Padula for guidance and mentorship, the team’s innovative solution involves crafting tires from Nitinol, a super-elastic material capable of “deforming” under stress and returning to its original shape.
CAD model of tire and wheel assembly
“The goal of our project is to use this new material because it improves efficiency, range, and performance of the rover by allowing the tire to shape-shift with the terrain,” explained project member Audrey Park. This technology could also enable the exploration of harsher Martian terrains with significantly less damage to the tire than previous aluminum tires.
The team faced unique obstacles, including “shape-setting” the Nitinol wire into a durable coil, a process that required precise heating to maintain the material’s properties. NASA engineers provided critical support, offering guidance and a $1,000 supply of Nitinol. “It was really exciting to work with experts who’ve spent decades researching this exact topic,” Park adds.
Their 10-inch prototype tire represents a significant improvement from prior projects and incorporates new methods for analyzing both local and global deformation. “Local deformation looks at how the springs themselves deform, while global deformation examines the entire wheel’s performance, like how the axle moves,” explained project member Jacqueline Nguyen.
The team’s breakthrough not only promises enhanced rover durability and efficiency but also demonstrates the potential of lightweight materials like Nitinol to lower costs in space missions. “Every pound sent into space costs thousands of dollars,” project member Amanda Lucker said. “This material is significantly lighter than aluminum, making it a game-changer for space exploration.”
This is just a selection of some of the top projects in this year’s showcase, a testament to the ambition and applicability of the work taking place among undergraduates at AME. When they graduate next year, entering into their industry or further graduate study, their hands-on experience will ensure they’re well prepared for when the rubber – or the robot – hits the road.
Published on December 18th, 2024
Last updated on December 23rd, 2024
