Hello,
I’m a Graduate Mechanical Engineering Student studying at the University of Colorado Boulder. Creating things is my passion, and changing the world gives me my drive.
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Featured Work
Sierra Space | Debris Net Launcher
Orbital space debris poses a significant threat to current and future space missions, from damaging satellites to hindering the ability for future space travel. Sierra Space tasked the team to develop a Net Launcher to identify, capture, damp, and retrieve space debris of varying sizes. This project contains several mechanisms, sensors, and control systems to enable net capture of an unresponsive satellite.
Custom Fender Mirrors
This project is a set of powered vehicle fender mirrors, designed with inspiration from the sleek, classic aesthetics of the 1960s and 1970s. These decades were known for their distinct automotive styling, where form and function blended seamlessly into striking designs. I want to capture that same essence while integrating modern functionality through powered adjustability.
My vision was to create mirrors that hold the charm of vintage bullet-style fender mirrors, commonly found on classic European and Japanese sports cars. These mirrors, characterized by their rounded, streamlined housings and round glass lenses, contributed to the unmistakable look of cars from that era. Unlike modern side mirrors mounted on doors, fender mirrors provide a unique aesthetic and a different viewing angle, often improving visibility by reducing blind spots.
Rather than simply replicating these retro designs, I incorporated an organic flow in the structure—one where the mirror assembly appears to emerge seamlessly from the vehicle’s hood, forming a continuous, elegant curve into the mirror housing. This integration will give the mirrors a more intentional, sculpted look rather than appearing as a tacked-on accessory for my retromodded 1982 Datsun 280zx.
I felt very torn between two designs, one which more gradually arises from the hood with no frontal overhangs, and one that better pays homage to the fender mirror styling. To resolve this, I chose to take another side profile image of the car with greater context for the vehicle's lines. My resolution was to pursue the former.
The mirror's design prioritizes printability. It includes mounting posts for attaching a recycled power mirror regulator assembly and features a cable pass-through that integrates seamlessly with the assembly. The assembly itself is securely attached to the fender with a bolt hidden in the base, while the housing pivots on the base, secured by a concealed fastener
My design process started by taking side profile images of the vehicle I intended the mirrors to go on. I edited the background from the image and placed the vehicle on a blank white canvas to sketch on. I often find my greatest success when I can design within a greater context of the aesthetic. I created and iterated several profiles that matched my internal vision and consolidated the ideas that I liked most.
While working on modeling a mirror in Solidworks, I encountered a significant challenge: sizing the housing to fit the mirror glass appropriately. Initially, I was hesitant about using a 4" mirror, considering it too small for safety based on my experience with fixed mirrors. The recycled mirrors I found were primarily 4" acrylic, which easily scratches—particularly problematic for removing ice. Thus, I decided to order a 5" mirror and proceeded to model the housing in CAD. To visualize the fit, I edited the model onto an image of my car, using the current mirror for scale. The result seemed slightly large but acceptable. However, when I printed the prototype and tested it on the car, its size was comically large. Laughing at the mismatch, I resigned myself to using the 4-inch mirror, rationalizing that making it power adjustable and positioning it closer to the driver could compensate for its smaller size.
The final print came out rather well. There are still strongly visible seams that I wish I could have made more inconspicuous. I am however overjoyed with the final shape and styling of the mirror. My aesthetic goals have been met and exceeded as these mirrors stand as a massive improvement of my current fixtures.
Considering my functional goal, I also could not be happier. I will finally be able to remotely control my fender mirrors from the comfort and convenience of the driver's seat. They are capable of pivoting such that one design will be applicable to both sides of the vehicle, the original mounting solution is maintained such that I will not needlessly drill more holes in my car, and my safety will be preserved with the precise adjustability of the lenses.
Next for the fender mirrors is mounting them to my car and consolidating the electronics I used in development into a clean user interface. I think that there is opportunity for these mirrors to be used by others, there is a large following in this aesthetic, and I really believe that this design will make a big impact.
Flow Visualization | FSAE Competiton Vehicle Intake
The goal of this project is to visualize the airflow through the intake plenum I designed on the CU Boulder FSAE racing team vehicle. This project showed be potential points of vorticity and trapped flow in the intake system, and demonstrated some interesting flow phenomenon such as Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities exiting in the backflow of the intake runners
In “Ebb & Flow” I utilized a smoke machine to create visible particles and emulated the oscillating flow of air through a vehicle's intake system. The model used is an exact cross section of the vehicle on the car.
In “Velocity Stacks” the principals of the visualization are much the same, however it used a generic prototype geometry and dry ice fog to visualize the flow.
In the future I want to recreate the Ebb and Flow experiment but with dry ice fog, as it has better texture and visibility which helps convey the exact phenomenon of the system to the viewer.
Bluetooth iPod
Upcycling Outdated Tech for the Wireless Age
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The Bluetooth iPod: A Project to learn about Bluetooth connectivity and short-range radio communications. Enhancing my fine soldering skill through the installation of a Bluetooth module, upgraded battery, and a solid state drive.
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Fine connections made to the audio output with 1mm wire
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Full Assembly Before sealing with bluetooth module, activation switch and upgraded battery and memory
The 6’ Longboard
Made to capture the feeling of surfing while riding on concrete waves
Inspired by products like the Hamboards Classic 74” Surf Skate, I wanted to practice some of my surfing fundamentals while far from the beach. I created a 16” wide deck rolling on Waterborne Surf Skate Adaptors that gave me the freedom to practice my pop-ups, cross stepping, drop knee turns and cutbacks. While smaller boards can also grant a flowy feeling, the full length of the board gives room to simulate much of the footwork that might otherwise get left out
The deck is made from laminated sheets of birch plywood cut from a 4’x8’ blank that I contoured with mild rocker for less board chatter when turning and mild concave on the longitudinal axis for bending resistance across the 72” deck
After spending hours in the woodshop, the shape of the deck took hold. I finished it carefully with stain and epoxy to seal the wood from the elements. A thin blue strip was painted down the center of the deck as on homage to classic surf patterns, and as a useful tool to find my center of gravity over the deck.
While being a silly image, I will never forget the feeling of riding the board for the first time. I am dazzled with fear at the speed which I found myself, and immensely excited by the flowing ride that I had created.
In hindsight, I wish I took a better image of the blank for the board. Pictured above is the initial sketch of the pattern on the blank. Notice the many drywall screws that serve as clamps at the edge of the blank and the gentle camber rolling across the short plane of the deck
Custom Desk & Shelf with Built-in Monitor
Moving into my first apartment afforded me the opportunity to create some of my own furniture. With a cost coming in far lower than that of a local furniture store, and features not seen in commercial products, a custom solution became obvious.
While my first attempt at SolidWorks before formal education was leaving much to be desired, I explored the software and self-taught many features setting me up for success in my later classes. I was able to design a desk that could house my PC and shelving while serving as a display for items, and an elegant shelf that houses a monitor that can fold away for visual impact.
In manufacturing the folding monitor, I found myself far in over my head. I relied on iterative design and rapid prototyping by mounting a model to my workbench and testing multiple hinge geometries.
I was excited to get back to my roots as a welder’s apprentice for the frame of the desk. It is designed to bolt together from three pieces, enabling easy transportation.