NW Valley Times

The College of Engineering and Technology at Grand Canyon University hosted its annual Capstone Showcase at the Global Credit Union Arena and the Quad, presenting 121 student projects that encapsulate years of academic study. The variety of projects ranged from a hiking alert system to AI chess programs, drone technology, and more.

Phoenix introduced a trail closure program in 2021 to address the extreme summer heat, significantly reducing rescue operations at popular hiking spots. In an effort to reduce these numbers further, GCU students designed a real-time outdoor alert system for hikers. "The goal is to prevent people from getting heat-related illnesses," said software engineering senior Samson Becenti.

The hiking alert system, created by Becenti's team, features LED signage powered by a Raspberry Pi computer and sensors, employing machine learning to process temperature and humidity data. This project, the Preventative Hiking Injury Initiative, aims to add safety measures to local trails.

Mechanical engineering major Eric Trickey, involved in the project, mentioned ongoing plans to position the visual alert system at Echo Canyon Trailhead in collaboration with a city planning team. Despite facing obstacles such as slow governmental processes, Trickey acknowledged the realistic experience they gained.

Dean Paul Lambertson and director Samantha Russell highlighted the increase in industry partnerships and the collaborative nature of the projects this year. "We’ve had a lot of good growth," Russell observed, particularly noting cooperation with the Colangelo College of Business.

Another team of students worked on a Tactical Autonomous Cavalry Operation project, coordinating an unmanned ground vehicle with an aerial drone. Electrical engineering senior Alexander Flores described how the drones are designed to communicate, "where the aerial drone tells the ground drone what to do."

In an innovative chess project, computer science majors David Smical and Jordan Scott developed an AI model to learn the game independently. Smical explained this venture stemmed from curiosity about an AI's capacity to master chess without prior strategic input.

Additional projects included a digital cookbook app developed by Saralyn Poole, which digitally stores family recipes. Marin Miller created a tourist map-style app for pilots, facilitated by the Arizona Pilots Association, to encourage visits to various state airstrips.

Lastly, a team designed an e-bike dynamometer for Lectric eBikes, spearheaded by mechanical engineering major Justin Begay. Begay noted the broad skills acquired during the project, ranging from programming to welding.

The variety of projects showcased broad multidisciplinary intersections and represent practical solutions to real-world challenges, showcasing significant growth in collaboration and innovation at the University.

Manager of Internal Communications Lana Sweeten-Shults can be reached at [email protected] or 602-639-7901.