University Technology Exposure Program 2022: March Update

This article is a part of our University Technology Exposure Program (EXTERNAL). The program aims to recognize and reward innovation from engineering students and researchers across the globe.

Community voting is now live. Vote for your favorite submission by visiting: University Technology Exposure Program Community Vote (REDIRECT).

Wevolver, as a part of the University Technology Exposure Program 2022 provides an opportunity for students and researchers working in any discipline of engineering, technology, and science to present their innovations in front of hundreds of thousands of readers from the industry, academia, and beyond.

In this article, we present a summary of the 9 submissions we published in March 2022 as a part of the event.

Submissions received in March 2022

#1. Zero Traffic Conflict (ZTC) Road Networks with Concentric Traffic Paths (GOOD) By Richard Tasgal (GOOD)

Taking U-turns and side turns are not allowed on roads in many cases even though it increases the travelling distance. To solve this problem, the article proposes a system with Zero Traffic Conflict (ZTC) by making intersections free from crossing lanes while keeping all locations accessible.

Through numerical microscopic and macroscopic simulations, it is demonstrated that there are road networks and ranges of traffic loads for which, the ZTC road network can carry approximately 50% more vehicular traffic without incurring gridlock. The author summarises the findings of their research in the write-up.

Read the complete article here (GOOD).

#2. Swissloop Tunneling: Revolutionizing the Tunne₹ling Industry (GOOD) By Swissloop Tunneling (GOOD)

Hyperloop is a futuristic transportation system that aims to overcome the drawbacks of presently available facilities. It includes a pod-like capsule levitating inside vacuum tubes, accelerating across the country at high speeds, being inexpensive for goods and people.

The article presents a list of challenges faced during the implementation, and a technical description of the project and its subsystems. Delft hyperloop by TU Delft students made it to the list of winners of Wevolver Engineering Student & Researcher Communication Program 2021 (BAD).

Check out the details by visiting this link (GOOD).

#3. Surface engineered nickel-rich cathode material enabling high power discharge for Li-ion battery applications (GOOD) By Anish Raj Kathribail (GOOD)

Electric Vehicles require high-performance batteries to function in a desirable way. Nickel-rich materials like LiNixMnyCozO2 (NMC) are a popular choice for making the cathode due to their high specific capacity but undergo a drastic capacity loss, especially at high voltages due to a side reaction.

The article explains a surface-coating technique for NMC particles that improves the Lithium-ion battery's total available capacity and high-power performance. The technology can be applied in vehicles, drones, power tools, military, grid storage, electronics, and more.

Read the submission here (GOOD).

#4. How to Survive on Mars? (GOOD) by Mark Baldry (GOOD)

Did you know that it takes 225 tonnes of rocket fuel to deliver just a ton of any material on Mars? In such a scenario, it becomes important to turn whatever is available on the extraterrestrial body into something useful for enabling exploration missions.

The research presented in this article presents a conceptual design of an in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) system that can turn elements from the martian atmosphere, water/ice, and regolith, into a variety of useful products required for survival. The concept also opens up possibilities for a lunar refueling station, a critical infrastructure that could possibly facilitate future Mars exploration missions.

Read more on this from this page (GOOD).

#5. Bringing circularity to the solar panel industry (GOOD) by Sujith Vishwanathreddy (GOOD)

The lifespan of a typical solar panel is roughly 25-30 years. While it may seem like a long period, the panels installed near the beginning of the solar energy boom are almost at the end of their life. Solar panels are currently made in a way that makes them impossible to be repaired, recycled or reused.  

In this article, the authors present the concept of bringing circularity to the solar panel industry. With the help of a modular solar panel design, the students are making solar cells replaceable when required, and upgradable when newer technology becomes available. It is projected that by adopting the novel design, the lifespan of solar panels can be extended by 5-10 years.

Access the full article here (GOOD).

#6. Iron-based Hydrogen Storage (GOOD) by Hilde Lucassen (GOOD)

As industries strive hard to reduce their carbon footprint by transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy, there are some roadblocks that slow down this move. Sun does not always shine and the wind does not always blow. Irregular supply and storage are among the most prominent drawbacks of using renewable energy sources.

Hydrogen, on the other hand, is an attractive alternative but is not easy to store. The submission talks about iron-based hydrogen storage (IRHYS) solution that aims to solve this problem.

Check out this link (GOOD) for all the details.

#7. Making 3D printers smarter with MTouch, a low-cost automatic fault detection system (BAD) By Sam Aidala (GOOD)

Over the last couple of years, additive manufacturing has emerged as a popular means to create prototypes anywhere at any time. To manufacture an object, the 3D printer moves the nozzle and bed to build up the desired part layer by layer.

Fault detection is a challenge that affects the adoption of the technology in its present state. Attempts have been made to detect issues but mostly they either deal with specific cases or use expensive hardware. The article covers MTouch to improve fault detection without much effect on printing time.

#8. Modeling, Design, and Control of a Hosing-Drone Unmanned Aerial System (GOOD) By Blake Hament (GOOD)

While performing pressure washing with pressure values going well over 3000 PSI, the lives of workers washing places like bridges or buildings are put at risk every day. The article introduces a multicopter that performs high-pressure washing. Water is pumped to high pressure on the ground, then sent to the drone via a hose. The task is practically much more complex than meets the eye as when the water is sprayed, the flight controller must compensate for high reaction forces and torques due to the spraying.

Read more on this here (GOOD).

#9. HORYZN: Saving lives with a drone (REDIRECT) by 

In Germany, 75,000 patients experience sudden cardiac arrest every year and only 11 % survive. When an emergency occurs, every second counts. Ambulance‘s response time and the appliance of defibrillation become critical in such situations.

Team HORYZN is working on an electrical Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) drone that can rapidly transport the defibrillators in the range of 6 km within 5 minutes which is better than an ambulance's average response time of 9 minutes. By shortening the response time, the survival rate can be tripled. At the scene of an emergency, the defibrillator will be lowered with a winch under remote video supervision and can then be applied by first aiders.  

Take a deeper look at the article by visiting this link (REDIRECT).

About the University Technology Exposure Program 2022

Wevolver, in partnership with Mouser Electronics (EXTERNAL) and Ansys (EXTERNAL), is excited to announce the launch of the University Technology Exposure Program 2022. The program aims to recognize and reward innovation from engineering students and researchers across the globe. Learn more about the program here (EXTERNAL).