Razorbotz: Collegiate Space Mining Competition
Sponsor: Andrew Burroughs, University of Arkansas Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Razorbotz is the University of Arkansas robotics team that typically competes in NASA’s Lunabotics Competition. This year, they are competing in CoSMiC, the Collegiate Space Mining Competition. Our team will take the lessons learned from the competition and advance objectives for improving performance, including creating a simulation of the robot and the arena to virtually test code, programming the robot’s autonomous functions, overhauling the GUI, and moving the robot’s communications from TCP to UDP.
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Whippet Dog Platform
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Whippet Dog Platform is a project by the Continental Whippet Alliance (CWA), a nonprofit dedicated to promoting and preserving Whippet racing. The platform will replace over a dozen spreadsheets with a centralized database that tracks registrations, meet results, racing points, standings, and titles. Features include a web front end with mobile-friendly access, role-based permissions, and scalable reporting. Planned enhancements include Jotform integration for registration applications and automated post-race meet result uploads.
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3D Printer Module
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The 3D Printer Module project aims to design and build an automated Z stage and powder bed for a selective laser sintering system, integrating with existing laser scanning capabilities. The stage will enable precise height adjustments for powder loading, support affordable implementation under $1000, and achieve ~10 micron motion control. Additional powder feeding components may also be incorporated to advance the development of a fully automated laser 3D printer.
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HiDEC Online Scheduler
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HiDEC Online Scheduling System is a project to replace manual SharePoint-and-Excel workflows with a self-service lab reservation platform that enforces training/certification-based permissions, ties door access to reservations (with a small time buffer), sends automated confirmations, generates monthly invoices, and gives staff admin tools to manage user access.
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Kotlin Animation GUI
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The Kotlin Animation GUI project focuses on developing desktop applications that showcase and execute artifacts from the open-source Kotlin Simulation Library (KSL). Using Kotlin Compose Multiplatform, the team will build three interrelated applications: an Input Analyzer, a Model Executor, and an Output Analyzer. These GUI tools will provide a consistent and reusable framework for teaching, learning, and extending KSL-based simulation models.
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Formula 1 Driving Style Analysis
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The Formula 1 Driving Style Analysis project develops a telemetry-based analytics tool for Cadillac F1 to better understand driver behavior independent of lap time. The system will cluster drivers by driving style, identify which styles yield higher speeds, and analyze correlations with tire wear while controlling for external factors such as compound, traffic, and weather. Deliverables include a clustering algorithm, a visual dashboard for style comparison, an anomaly detection module, and a tire wear correlation model.
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Stock Market Predictor
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The Stock Market Predictor project challenges students to design an AI system that can forecast profitable trades using real-world financial data. By training models on historical stock market datasets, news, and government publications, the AI will learn to identify trading patterns and test its predictions on both historical and live data. The project develops skills in machine learning, data science, and financial analytics while offering the potential to refine, showcase, and publish results.
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Data Center Monitors
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The Data Center Monitors project expands on a previous environmental sensor system by enhancing monitoring, reporting, and predictive capabilities for datacenter operations. Using existing sensors, an MQTT server, and a web front end, the new system will incorporate standardized embedded firmware, a streamlined gateway model, and real-time data streaming. Planned improvements include a floor plan–based interface, advanced reporting, AI-driven predictive models, and automated alerting with email notifications, along with 3D modeled sensor enclosures.
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Onyx Coffee Machine
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The Onyx Coffee Machine project pilots a subscription-based loyalty program that gives members unlimited drip coffee at Onyx cafés. The system combines hardware and software deliverables, including retrofitting “Free Pour” coffee taps with Wi-Fi-enabled NFC controllers, building a customer onboarding and account portal with Stripe integration, and developing a central database to track usage across locations. Documentation and support materials will ensure long-term maintainability, with the goal of deploying the system to Northwest Arkansas cafés after the Capstone cycle.
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Campus Cruze
Sponsors: J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc., Carl Pegue, and Belinda Musgrave
The CampusCruze project proposes a smart micro-transit system for corporate campuses to reduce car use and improve employee mobility. Using a reservation-based platform with simulated GPS and device data, the system will support scooters, e-bikes, and similar tools, featuring employee authentication, predictive availability analytics, and AI-based fraud detection. The two-semester capstone will focus on scalable design, UI/UX development, and the delivery of a working reservation and tracking system.
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Cybersecurity Plan
Sponsors: Fortinet and NCREPT faculty leadership
The Cybersecurity Plan project supports NCREPT, HiDEC, and MuSIC in adopting modern cybersecurity standards using the CMMC framework. The goal is to create a roadmap to cybersecurity maturity, beginning with immediate protections, progressing to near-term compliance with CMMC 2.0, and advancing toward long-term resilience aligned with CMMC 3.0. Students will conduct assessments, implement protections, and modernize cyber policies to secure core research facilities and strengthen eligibility for government funding.
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Collaborative Transit Platform
Sponsors: Dr. Suman Mitra
The Collaborative Transit Platform project addresses transportation insecurity in small towns like Pea Ridge, Arkansas, by creating a community-driven paratransit system. Students will design a mobile and web platform that supports shared community-owned vehicle coordination and social network-based ride matching. The system will feature trip scheduling, driver assignment, trust-based ride-sharing circles, user notifications, and administrative dashboards, providing a scalable solution for rural mobility challenges.
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Collaborative Food Access Platform
Sponsors: Dr. Suman Mitra
The Collaborative Food Access Platform project tackles food insecurity in underserved communities by developing a community-driven digital platform to improve food access. Through mobile and web applications, the system will support shared grocery runs, volunteer-based delivery services, mobile food markets, collaborative logistics, and neighbor-to-neighbor food sharing. Students will design intuitive interfaces, build AI-powered logistics modules, and develop coordination tools that strengthen community resilience and improve access to nutritious food.
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LLM-Powered Cybersecurity Repository
Sponsors: Dr. Qinghua Li
The LLM-Powered Cybersecurity Repository project aims to create an all-in-one website that aggregates publication information from major cybersecurity conferences and enhances it with advanced LLM-based search and analysis tools. Building on an existing prototype, the system will expand conference coverage, automate the retrieval of new publications, and provide researchers with enriched analytics capabilities to explore trends and find relevant work more efficiently.
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Sanitrack Handwashing Compliance Device
Sponsors: Washington Regional Hospital (Compliance Officer Kristy Spruell), Dr. Alexander Nelson, Dr. Mostafa Elsaadany
The Sanitrack Handwashing Compliance Device project proposes a smartwatch-based system to monitor and improve hand hygiene among healthcare workers. Using proximity sensor stickers at sinks and a companion watch app, the system tracks wash duration and frequency, providing compliance data to hospital administrators while encouraging users through reminders, feedback, and gamification. By increasing compliance, the project aims to reduce healthcare-associated infections, promote antimicrobial resistance, and generate economic savings.
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Stable Step Balance Sensor
Sponsors: Heather K. Vaughn (UAMS Orthopaedic Physical Therapist) and Vito A. Villa (UAMS Occupational Therapist)
The Stable Step Balance Sensor project introduces a wearable insole system designed to monitor foot pressure, motion, and balance in real time to support stroke rehabilitation. Embedded pressure sensors, accelerometers, and gyroscopes transmit data via Bluetooth to a central system, enabling therapists to create more personalized treatment plans. With a low-cost design of about $41 per insole, the system provides a portable alternative to expensive clinic-based gait analysis setups, empowering patients to track progress outside therapy sessions.
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Wireless EEG Device
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The Wireless EEG Device project introduces a more comfortable, affordable, and user-friendly alternative to traditional electroencephalogram systems. Designed as a lightweight headset with built-in nodes, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and Bluetooth connectivity, the device enables sleep tracking both in clinics and at home. With an estimated cost of about $70, it fills a market gap for sub-$100 EEG-based sleep trackers, aiming to improve patient comfort, accessibility, and data usability while addressing safety, privacy, and regulatory considerations.
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NASA Psyche AR
Sponsors: NASA Psyche Mission, Dr. Alejandro Martin Gomez, Dr. Cassie Bowman (Arizona State University)
The NASA Psyche AR project engages students in developing augmented and web-based experiences to enhance public understanding of NASA’s Psyche mission, which launched in 2023 to study the metal-rich asteroid Psyche. Using QR-coded 3D asteroid models, the AR/WebXR applications will allow museum visitors and students to simulate orbiting the asteroid and collecting data. Completed projects will be shared on the Psyche website and with NASA’s Museum & Informal Education Alliance for use in museums and public events.
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HAZMAT Detection Drone
Sponsors: Daniel Schwartz, Honeywell (Kansas City Plant)
The HAZMAT Detection Drone project focuses on designing a compact, waterproof device that measures environmental parameters to ensure safety in confined spaces. The system will operate either as a standalone unit or as a payload on a medium-sized drone, transmitting real-time data via radio link to a remote display. This project combines electronics and drone integration to enhance hazardous materials detection and safety monitoring.
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PhishWise Scam Trainer
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The PhishWise Scam Trainer project develops a scam awareness and training platform designed for older adults, simulating phishing emails, scam calls, texts, and fake pop-ups to teach users how to spot red flags and respond safely. Sessions use randomized, interactive scenarios with feedback and adaptive difficulty to build real-world digital safety skills. By targeting a vulnerable population often overlooked in cybersecurity education, PhishWise aims to reduce online fraud risk and increase user confidence.
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