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Graduating seniors from the��Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering (ECEE) are set to showcase their capstone projects at the��2025 Engineering Project Expo��on April 25. This highly anticipated �鶹��Ѱ�����Engineering event highlights the creativity, technical expertise and problem-solving skills of students as they tackle real-world challenges.

At this year’s expo, 17 ECEE capstone teams will present a diverse range of projects that push the boundaries of technology and innovation. Featured designs include a solid plastic cube embedded with electronics that can be activated by a magic wand, a remote sensor designed to monitor soil health and a three-axis motor controller developed for robotic surgery.

The projects address critical areas in sustainability, advanced environmental sensing, robotics and biomedical applications, demonstrating the students’ ability to design, test and propose solutions for real-world impact.

The capstone experience: from concept to prototype

A teammate from Wavegen Warriors runs calibration tests.

The��ECEE Capstone Design course is a two-semester program required for all graduating�� students in the department. Over the course of the year, students collaborate in teams to bring a product from initial concept to functional prototype. Each team partners with an industry or faculty sponsor to define a product, explore possible technologies and develop custom electrical and computing solutions.

“The most memorable aspect of being part of the capstone experience has been going through the technology research and development process,” said Andrew Ausonio, an electrical engineering major leading the team Wavegen Warriors.��

“Celebrating the victories as a team, pushing through the moments of trial and error and getting excited when someone comes up with a quick solution on the fly is such a wonderful and exhilarating experience,” he said.��

This hands-on experience prepares students for engineering careers by immersing them in the full product development cycle from brainstorming and design to testing and implementation.

Innovative student projects to look out for

Among the standout teams at Expo 2025 are:

• Wavegen Warriors��– Exploring an approach to imaging objects based on their interaction with RF fields. This tomography-based technology could one day be used to detect buried landmines.
• OGCAD – Collaborating with�� to build an automated measurement system for component characterization, complete with a web-based interface.
• Wired and Tired – Developing a Power over Ethernet-powered air purification system with�� designed for hotel rooms, with remote control functionality and enhanced energy efficiency.

Wired & Tired: Smart air quality control over Ethernet

One of this year’s innovative projects comes from the Wired & Tired team, which is developing an air quality control system powered entirely through Power over Ethernet (PoE). Partnering with Sinclair Digital, the team is designing a plug-and-play air purification system that integrates seamlessly into smart buildings.

Wired and Tired team collaborate to develop an air purification system using Ethernet power.

“PoE is typically used for networking, but it also offers a more efficient way to power devices without needing a separate power infrastructure,” said Kira Goo, an integrated design engineering student with an electrical engineering emphasis. “Our system is designed to be easy to install and maintain within existing PoE networks.”

Their system features sensors that monitor particulate matter, temperature, humidity and pressure, triggering an air purifier when pollutant levels exceed acceptable limits. Data is then stored both locally and in a web cloud, hopefully allowing building managers to monitor air quality in real-time.

“Sinclair Digital gave us the overall concept, but a lot of the design choices were left up to us to work with,” Goo said. “We’ve had regular meetings with them to refine our approach and ensure our solution aligns with their needs.”

The team has faced challenges in learning PoE technology, which is not typically covered in depth in ECEE coursework. They also had to explore HVAC concepts, such as airflow dynamics and static pressure, to design an effective purification system.

Beyond the technical aspects, teamwork has been a vital component of their success. The team uses a Discord server for coordination and has benefited from team bonding activities, such as holding a team dinner. Building camaraderie is an important component to the project, the team noted.

Now in the final stretch, the team is focused on integrating and testing their system to meet performance benchmarks. The main push now is integration, testing and making sure their air purifying system can use power over Ethernet, which is a key requirement for their project.��

“A memorable aspect of being part of our capstone team was learning to divide and conquer,” Goo said. “Whether that was coding, building circuits, constructing hardware or eating a 12-person ice cream cake between the six of us, we always found a way to get it done while having fun.”

Industry collaboration

Under the leadership of Scholar in Residence Eric Bogatin, the capstone design program partners with professionals from industry organizations who want to provide a collaborative hands-on experience for students.��

This year’s sponsors include leading organizations such as��, the��Colorado Space Grant Consortium,��,��,��,�� and��. Their mentorship and support provide students with invaluable insights into industry insights and professional engineering practices.