Each spring, the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics (MEAM) hosts Senior Design Day, an annual event showcasing the capstone projects of its graduating seniors. The event marks the culmination of a two-semester experience in which students design, build and test solutions to real-world engineering challenges.
Senior Design is a central component of the undergraduate curriculum. Working in teams, students apply technical knowledge from across the curriculum while developing skills in design, collaboration and communication.
From Concept to Creation
On Design Day, these efforts come to life. The event features an interactive exhibition of student work, including working prototypes, live demonstrations and project presentations. Students engage with faculty, peers, alumni and guests to discuss their design process, technical decisions and outcomes.
Projects span a wide range of applications, from autonomous robotic systems to consumer devices and environmental testing tools. This year’s projects included GAIA, an autonomous robot that creates field graphics by bending grass without paint, a multi-functional robotic gripper designed for adaptable household use and a testing chamber to evaluate adsorption materials for sustainable chemical processes. Each reflects months of iteration, testing and refinement.
This year, 13 judges, including alumni and industry professionals from organizations such as DesignThink, Boeing and the Philadelphia Phillies, evaluated student projects. Their perspectives provided valuable feedback and helped recognize outstanding work across the cohort.
2026 Teams
TerraFix is a unified system designed to streamline the installation of concrete anchors, reducing the need for multiple tools and minimizing inconsistencies in installation quality. The system integrates simultaneous drilling and cleaning, vacuum-assisted debris removal and simplified epoxy injection into a single process, while maintaining industry-standard strength requirements. The team has developed and validated a prototype anchor capable of meeting expected performance limits. Team TerraFix includes Michelle Lin, Grayson Roberts and Marissa Teitelbaum and is advised by Jordan Raney, Associate Professor in MEAM. The team received the John Couloucoundis Prize for the best presentation of a senior design project.
HangLogic is a smart training device for rock climbers that provides per-finger load tracking to improve strength training and reduce injury risk. The portable system uses a combination of piezoelectric sensors and a load cell to deliver real-time feedback through a connected mobile application, allowing users to monitor performance and customize training routines. Team HangLogic includes Jonas Ho, Kunwoo Kim, Jun Kwon and Peter Shen and is advised by Mark Yim, Asa Whitney Professor in Mechanical Engineering.
Palaemon is an underwater propulsion system that enables divers to maintain mobility while keeping their hands free for tools and tasks. Mounted to a diver’s backplate and controlled at the hip, the device provides multi-axis propulsion and is designed to meet operational requirements for depth, weight and battery life in underwater contracting environments. Team Palaemon includes Mathew Cruise, Ian Holly, Wyatt Johnson, Raphael Kalatzis and Ryan McGuirk and is advised by Nathaniel Wei, Assistant Professor in MEAM. The team received the Judges’ Choice Award, recognizing excellence at the discretion of the judges.
GAIA is an autonomous robot that creates large-scale images on grass surfaces by bending blades rather than applying paint or chemicals. Using a system of rollers and airflow, the robot produces temporary, reusable graphics such as logos and field markings while preserving grass health. Team GAIA includes Theodore Kang, Christine Meng, Megan Murray, Riya Nandakumar and Christopher Takoudes and is advised by Bruce Kothmann, Senior Lecturer in MEAM.
LymphSense is a wearable device that provides continuous pressure monitoring for patients with arm lymphedema. Embedded sensors track compression levels and transmit data to a mobile application, enabling both clinicians and patients to monitor treatment in real time and maintain effective therapeutic pressure. Team LymphSense includes Sonali Chandy, Lindsay Fabricant, Vanessa Gong, Lucy Liu and Hannah Youssef and is co-advised by Cynthia Sung, Associate Professor in MEAM, and Michelle Johnson, Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The team received the William K. Gemmill Memorial Prize for outstanding creativity.
AutoField is a semi-autonomous, GPS-guided system designed to streamline the process of lining athletic fields. The system reduces time and labor compared to manual methods while maintaining accuracy and affordability, allowing users to input field dimensions and automate line placement. Team AutoField includes Roisin Keenan, Jake Wolfe, Kayla Bleier, David Kukoyi, Rebecca Scheinmann and Abigail Nibauer and is advised by Nat Trask, Associate Professor in MEAM. The team received the Best Poster Award, recognizing clarity, creativity and impact.
Allevia Arm is an assistive exoskeleton designed to support independent feeding for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The device restores natural arm motion through powered joints while maintaining a lightweight, wearable structure and incorporating safety features for reliable daily use. Team Allevia Arm includes Amar Mohamed, Angelo Sali, Joshua Tiu, Rebecca Wang and Alvaro Dominguez and is advised by Mark Yim, Asa Whitney Professor in Mechanical Engineering.
Corallus is a modular, underactuated robotic gripper designed to grasp objects of varying shapes and sizes without complex sensing or control systems. Featuring compliant joints and a single-motor actuation system, the design emphasizes simplicity, adaptability and accessibility for assistive and household applications. Team Corallus includes Zihao Zhou, Yinjie Wang, Winston Lee, Sunny Yu and Ellis Davenport and is advised by Mark Yim, Asa Whitney Professor in Mechanical Engineering.
Polaire is a robotic inspection system designed to assess the interior condition of commercial heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) ductwork without invasive procedures. Equipped with cameras and environmental sensors, the mobile robot enables early detection of damage and debris, supporting more efficient maintenance and improved indoor air quality. Team Polaire includes Andrew Ahn, Oscar Capraro, Tyler Gong and Luca Thorson and is advised by Jessica Weakly, Lecturer in MEAM. The team received the Francis G. Tatnall Prize for an outstanding project demonstrating ingenuity, proficiency and usefulness.
LoAdsorb is a customized testing chamber developed for the startup Tidal Metals to characterize the adsorption properties of a specialized material used in magnesium extraction from seawater. The system simulates adsorption-desorption cycles in a controlled, vacuum-sealed environment while tracking water uptake over time and recording key conditions such as humidity, pressure and temperature. By enabling more accurate performance data, LoAdsorb supports ongoing optimization of the technology and helps advance its commercial viability. Team LoAdsorb includes Emma Chu, Achala Kankanamge, Peyton Jenkins and Medha Patel, and is advised by Igor Bargatin, Associate Professor in MEAM.
Engineering with Impact
Many projects are developed in response to real-world needs or in collaboration with industry partners. Students must balance technical performance with constraints such as cost, manufacturability and usability.
By Design Day, teams present not only prototypes, but also fully developed engineering solutions informed by analysis, testing and iteration.
