黑洞社区

Computer science professionals design, develop and analyze software and hardware utilized in all contexts, including business, industry, science and society. Because computers meet the needs of people, whether it be to solve their problems or enrich their lives, our graduates have a focus on the human component.

 

Mobilizing Suspenders4Hope

MEMBERS: Hannah Brumley; Chidera Okoro; Joakim Genereux

ADVISORS: Dr. Cindi Mason

Suspenders4Hope identified the need for a mobile application to transition their Wellness Cards into a virtual format to enhance accessibility and user engagement. The goal was to create an intuitive mobile platform allowing users to access and navigate wellness information readily, surpassing the constraints of physical cards.
 
The project involved analyzing the existing Wellness Cards to determine the application's structure and user journey. The core problem was the lack of instant access to these valuable resources. To address this, the team employed modern mobile application development techniques, with a particular focus on a clean and accessible UI/UX design. Key features included a dynamic card picker, simple navigation buttons, and the capacity for users to suggest new card ideas, enabling users to browse the Wellness Cards with ease.
 
The final product is a comprehensive mobile app that digitally presents the Wellness Cards, allowing users to swiftly locate and engage with specific content via a dropdown menu. Additionally, Suspenders4Hope has the flexibility to update and expand the card collection, adding new decks as needed, which keeps the content fresh and relevant.
The design ensures that the information is presented in a user-friendly format, fostering a productive and enjoyable learning environment. The application has been a significant step forward for Suspenders4Hope, offering a digital solution that not only meets the current needs but also lays the groundwork for future enhancements. These future developments aim to elevate the user experience further, ensuring the app remains a leader in digital wellness education.
 
https://youtu.be/Qq5eHy6UbAw?si=SzYgmD-xQl_9e1DJ
Dotrix

MEMBERS: Chris Farley; Everett Kernen; Liam Kilgore; Josef Matson; Quoc Tran; Micah Wallace 

ADVISOR: Dr. Cindi Mason

Dotrix is an interactive art display that takes user input using a camera detecting hand-tracked motions to control a computer-simulated animation on an LED matrix display. Dotrix uses computer vision to track a user鈥檚 hands to interact with several display modules such as fluid simulation, magma simulation, and Conway鈥檚 Game of Life. All of this is run on a self-contained computer and display and thus is portable and can be moved around to any number of buildings that can accommodate it.
 
黑洞社区鈥檚 engineering has incredible talent, and a unique way to display it would be through an artistic showcase that demonstrates the skills students learn throughout their time in the engineering program. Dotrix takes skills from areas such as computer vision and computer graphics and showcases it in an engaging and creative way.
 
The LED matrix is made up of several rows of LED strips, mounted on a frame that will also house the computer, camera, and power supplies for the LEDs. The computer vision aspect comes from the camera, which will detect hands based on an object detection model trained using machine learning and send the (x,y) coordinates of the hands to the cycling computer graphic simulations to move based on the movements of the hands, therefore creating a means for a user to control the simulation.
 
https://youtu.be/l58CxXEG-bI
 
VA Mobile Navigation App

MEMBERS: Steven Janssen; Jordan Trotter; Jackson Tran

ADVISOR: Dr. Huabo Lu

Imagine that you鈥檙e a veteran going to the VA for your doctor鈥檚 appointment, and you need to find building 61, room 159B. The fact that it is so difficult to find rooms in the VA is the problem being addressed in this project: a VA mobile navigation app. If implemented, it would save thousands of first time VA-goers from unneeded stress of finding their rooms.
The idea of this project is that the VA hospital patients and employees will implement this navigation app because of how much easier it will make it to navigate the VA hospital. When a user opens this app, they will be greeted by a map that shows the entire campus, with every room number and amenity in each building. By clicking on a room, the user can then navigate to that room from their current location, which is tracked with bluetooth beacons. Three variations of this solution were considered, and the main method used to develop this solution was response to feedback from interviews involving VA employees, patients, and technical specialists. The app has been validated against the interviewees, who have tested and approved of the app.
This product aims to relieve the stress of any VA patient who is lost and cannot find a room, making this a significant win for this type of customer.
 
https://youtu.be/IA8SS8hkTLQ
Vojo AI: Business Management Engineering Software with AI Integration

MEMBERS: David Pfeiffer; Esteban Hernandez; Udeme Ekanem; Ashman Nor Rashidi

ADVISOR: Dr. Cindi Mason

Vojo AI aims to revolutionize engineering workflow management with cutting-edge software tailored for CAD-based projects. Central to our vision is an integrated CAD system, enabling a collaborative ecosystem, model creation and modification. Our user-friendly interface facilitates seamless navigation, with features for saving and retrieving projects, ensuring no work is lost and facilitating easy reference or revision within a collaborative environment.
 
Real-time project insights via an interactive timeline enable users to track progress and make timely adjustments. This feature allows success for time sensitive tasks, goals, and adjustments throughout the project鈥檚 duration. Work boards outline tasks and goals visually, enhancing coordination and execution within teams. These boards serve as visual tool and an overall que for users to stay on top of assigned responsibilities. Our standout feature is an AI companion, available to assist users with questions, optimization tips, and software navigation, enhancing workflow efficiency and problem-solving capabilities.
 
In summary, our software combines advanced CAD modelling, project management tools, and AI support to empower engineering teams with greater efficiency and collaboration.
 
https://youtu.be/WL8nPFQPimE
IRCNorthStar

MEMBERS: Adrian Osornio-Cornejo; Austin Reischmann; Jacob Ridder

ADVISOR: Dr. Cindi Mason

IRCNorthStar is a project sponsored in part by the IRC and executed by RefuTech Solution. The project involves creating a web application geared towards refugees trying to begin an online business. The web application will function as a marketplace where refugees can sell goods and services. It will allow them to create an account and list goods for pickup or shipping. Buyers can access the marketplace, browse goods by type, area, and price, and leave reviews. At the same time, sellers will have access to training resources to enhance their technical and business skills. The web application is accessible for sellers and buyers and easy to administrate.

https://youtu.be/z7fbgAsafbs?si=VQyL5vfvOi06YjPi

Axion controls

MEMBERS: Devon Crawford; Levi Thomas; Dylan Johnson

ADVISOR: Dr. Andy Stallard

SPONSOR: Airbus, Wichita

Our vision is geared towards creating an intuitively controlled hands free low-vision aid to assist with performing detailed tasks.鈥 This hardware is suppose to be a cheap alternative to the current low tech and highly expensive alternatives for those with low vision.

https://youtu.be/4AvCZhY9p5k

Decentralized Messaging App

MEMBERS: Adrian Yip; Kevin Lam; Ben Serrano

ADVISOR: Dr. Huabo Lu

In today鈥檚 world, everyone wants their conversations to be private and safe. That鈥檚 why we鈥檙e creating a new kind of messaging app, one that doesn鈥檛 rely on big companies or single servers that can fail or be controlled by others. This app is special because it鈥檚 built on a system where every user helps to keep it running - like a community working together. This means:
 
- Your messages stay private, only you and the person you鈥檙e talking to can see them.
- It鈥檚 safer because it uses authentication technology that's tough for hackers to break.
- Nobody can block or control what you say, giving you the freedom to speak openly.
- You鈥檙e in charge of your information, not some big company.
- It鈥檚 reliable; even if some parts have problems, the app keeps working.
 
We鈥檙e making this app because we believe talking online should be as easy and safe as talking in person.
OasisDev VA Mobile Navigation App

MEMBERS: Abraham Pourdaneshian; Stockton Underwood; Ramsey Alagha

ADVISOR: Dr. Huabo Lu

SPONSOR: Robert J Dole VA Hospital, Wichita

Modular Indoor Navigation Mobile App
 
Oasis Dev has partnered with the Robert J. Dole VA Hospital to create an application targeted at patients
of the hospital. Patients have had difficulty navigating the hospital campus due to its many additions.
This app鈥檚 goal is to enable patients to easily route themselves around the hospital. This navigation app is designed to accurately map the hospital and provide effective navigation
throughout it. The application is implemented on IOS with Swift and has a digitized version of the map via Mapbox鈥檚
API. It can scan QR codes that lead to pages in the application using deep link URLs. The route
generation will be handled through Mapbox as well. Users can search through points of interest to choose start locations and destinations. They are also able
to scan QR codes posted in the facility to find their current location. The app will then generate a route
for them to follow to their destination.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNFzUPtA8zo
SAGE (Smart Automation for Gear Etching

MEMBERS: Marcela Quintanilla; Emily Knudsen; Tyler Gartner; Cruz Acosta

ADVISOR: Dr. Huabo Lu

SPONSOR: NIAR ARC, Wichita KS

We are creating a cell that automates the gear etching process. We are going to be using a robot arm that moves gears into a spray booth. The arm drops off the gear in the spray booth and the booth will spray a specific solution called nital etch. The nital etch will help reveal damage called gear burn on the gears. The robot arm will then move the gear into an inspection booth where we will have cognex cameras checking to see if the gear has any gear burn. For the upcoming presentation, we will only be presenting the inspection part of the process.

LASO's Turn-based Strategy Game

MEMBERS: Garrett Wilson; Travis Harris

ADVISOR: Dr. Rong Li

The goal is to develop a small-scale turn-based strategy video game application. The application will feature an inviting presentation, new immersive game-play, charming artwork, and (time permitting) an original story. The goal is to give turn-based strategy fans a new, fun experience within their genre. Some features may be added or removed during development.

Pedometer app

MEMBERS: Thi Tran, Emily leaming, Teresa vu

ADVISOR: Dr. Huabo Lu

Casual and cozy pedometer app called Stroll and Grow that is simple to use and features a raccoon animal mascot named Rocky that will help you on your journey. Take a walk, earn strawberries as currency, exchange them with the raccoon for seeds, and plant and watch them grow. Harvest your prizes and create cute trinkets 鈥 can you collect them all? A easygoing app without obligations; exercise at your own pace.

Face Recognition System (FRS)

MEMBERS: Kai Chun Goh; Yu Qing Leong; Khang Huynh Bao Duong; Wei Jin Gnoh

ADVISOR: Dr. Kaushik Sinha

We are planning to work on a face recognition system for our senior design project. This software product aims to identify and recognize individuals, particularly students, based on specific facial characteristics such as eyes and mouth. The primary users targeted are colleges and universities. The general architecture of our software product comprises five key components: data collection, image processing, face detection, face recognition, and database management.

ML Plant Disease Identification

MEMBERS: Andrew Lisenby; Jessy Enfield ; Joseph Sekavec

ADVISOR: Dr. Huabo Lu

This project is meant to identify plants pathology through a convenient and device-agnostic interface. Initially we will focus on our intended users working within the agricultural industry. Our product will begin its life as a simple REST API to enable communication with the model, but the goal is to eventually have a comprehensive and cross-platform product that targets multiple industries.

AI Wipeout

MEMBERS: Connor Smith, Phillip Espinosa, Keenan Lee

ADVISOR: Dr. Huabo Lu

In the fast-evolving landscape of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), our project proposes an intriguing competition between different ML-based AIs within a Unity game engine environment. Leveraging Unity's robust capabilities and the Machine Learning Agents toolkit, our aim is to showcase AI's potential by enabling these agents to learn, adapt, and compete autonomously over time. Key features include iterative training, reinforcement learning, avatar-world interaction, and complex actions in a 3D simulated space.

Library Management System

MEMBERS: Thach Dao; Emily Ledesma; Sara Kastali

ADVISOR: Dr. Huabo Lu

Many underfunded libraries require inexperienced teachers to be tasked with library duties without designated librarians, increasing the workload for teachers. In response to this issue, the library management system aims to provide librarians with an affordable and user-friendly solution, specifically designed for inexperienced librarians in low funded libraries.
 
To improve accessibility to intuitive library management software, there needs to be a low-cost application that prioritizes the user experience. The team created a user-friendly interface by repeatedly evaluating field data and modeling scenarios using Windows Presentation Foundation. To some extent, tested versions of the library management system app were created to ensure it meets user needs and performs as intended. It was crucial for us to refine and validate the throughout development to continue iterations and get input from our mentors. The product is an application that provides resource management, resource tracking, and resource monitoring including users, reservations, and books. Testing and validation were done through a test database run on a remote server for easy validation after an action. It was found that the application would allow an average yearly cost reduction of 43% for clients that currently have an existing system. In addition to the cost reduction the user interface would be easier to navigate in comparison to their existing system.
The final product will improve library management and elevate the library experience. Libraries will have the flexibility to allocate additional funds towards enhancing their facilities, potentially attracting greater interest from library patrons.
 
https://youtu.be/0g0_4gHchec
Findr

MEMBERS: Manuel Llamas; Jacobo Navarrete; Alexis Diaz

ADVISOR: Dr. Huabo Lu

Our product is named Findr. It is a web application designed for connecting interns together to find roommates for their summer internships. The companies themselves would be the ones renting the software from us at a yearly rate. The website's main purpose from then is allowing interns to connect with each other so that they鈥檙e able to find roommates for the summer together. Students will be able to sign in and see other intern profiles and have an option to contact them if they're interested in being roommates with them. The general architecture is the site itself will be deployed using Vercel. The front end is being built with Next.JS, a react.JS framework. Tailwind CSS will be the CSS framework we use for styling the front end. An AWS API Gateway will then connect it to our backend and will primarily be AWS services. Such as AWS Lambda for computing and DynamoDB for storage.

Mello

MEMBERS: Armando Picazo, Priscila Picazo, Lindsey Luong; Thao Pham

ADVISOR: Dr. Huabo Lu

Introducing a groundbreaking dating experience, our app merges the realms of music and romance to redefine the way connections are made online. Departing from traditional dating platforms, our innovative approach pivots on users' musical inclinations as the linchpin for forging meaningful relationships. At its core, the app presents users with vibrant playlists, serving as a gateway to discovering compatible matches. Employing an algorithm, we meticulously analyze users' music preferences, facilitating authentic connections with individuals who share similar tastes. By seamlessly integrating with leading music streaming services, our platform effortlessly curates user data to offer tailored recommendations and foster genuine compatibility. Moreover, users are empowered to craft comprehensive profiles that encapsulate their musical personas, igniting conversations through shared interests and collaborative playlists. Beyond matchmaking, our app transcends boundaries by spotlighting local music scenes and facilitating serendipitous encounters at live events and concerts. With every swipe and recommendation, our app sets the stage for serendipity, uniting hearts through the universal language of music. Welcome to a new era of dating, where harmonious connections await at every beat.

Jimbo: Collaborative AI Training

MEMBERS: Merven Thomas; Cale Thimmesch; Jonathan Thompson

ADVISOR: Dr. Huabo Lu

Jimbo is a machine learning AI that will take input through users' answers to slowly build up its knowledge about our tests. The tests will be hosted on a website and will consist of a randomly generated image with shapes on it. The user will be asked how many squares are present in the image, this will then be stored along with a key to train Jimbo. In the result, we want to show how user data can affect Jimbo's ability to take the test.

Social Quest

MEMBERS: Ethan Perry, Harrison Howard, Jace Crass

ADVISOR: Dr. Huabo Lu

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, society has witnessed a concerning trend: a detachment from our surroundings and a surge in isolation. Many people feel disconnected from their communities, with campuses becoming sterile spaces focused solely on academic pursuits. This cultural shift has severed the connection between people and the outside world.
 
Social Quest is a visionary project aimed at rekindling the spirit of exploration and community interaction. Inspired by the immersive experiences of games like Dungeons and Dragons, it offers a one-stop adventure hub designed to bring people together, revitalize mental and physical well-being, and reinvigorate urban exploration.
 
By leveraging the Mapbox API, Social Quest transforms mundane cityscapes into dynamic, ever-changing worlds ripe for discovery. Each locale holds its own unique tapestry of scenery, challenges, and treasures, encouraging adventurers to embark on collaborative journeys with fellow explorers.
 
Social Quest isn't just about completing quests; it's about forging connections, uncovering history, and embracing the thrill of discovery. It's a call to action for individuals to step outside, engage with their communities, and reclaim the joy of exploration. In a post-COVID world where isolation looms large, Social Quest serves as a beacon of hope, offering a pathway to rediscover the magic that lies just beyond our doorstep.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sm9BiWHKG3M
NutriTrack

MEMBERS: Zach Walden; Aaron Barrett; Quang Truong

ADVISOR: Dr. Huabo Lu

NutriTrack is a comprehensive digital tool designed to assist users in achieving their health and fitness goals. This app integrates several key features to provide a personalized and efficient experience tailored to individual needs and preferences. NutriTrack tracks users' calories, nutrition, weight, and generates individualized workout plans for the user.

Tip Distribution Web App

MEMBERS: Caitlyn Sanders; Zi Feng Mun; Nam Nguyen

ADVISOR: Dr. Bill Knechtel

A web-based application that automates the process of tip calculation. It takes in the total cash generated and divides the tips between the employees based on labor/hourly tip rate. Previous records of calculations are kept, and the user can export historical data. The goal of this project is to improve the payroll auditing process for the local restaurant Mustard Seed, located in Buhler, KS. 

ShockerSecurity

MEMBERS: Caitlyn Sanders; Zi Feng Mun; Nam Nguyen

ADVISOR:  Dr. Joel Astegiano

The project is a DIY security camera. Using a Raspberry Pi and camera module setup, the system will support features such as facial detection, a database of accepted faces, and notifications sent to users when faces are detected. The target users are anyone that desires a secure and safe home environment.

MacroMaker

MEMBERS: Carolyn Tran; Trevor Schmitt; Hyacinthe Howell; Khang Tran

ADVISOR: Dr. Huabo Lu

 There are numerous repetitive actions people do on a daily basis: tasks like opening

Outlook, logging into Blackboard, processing Excel spreadsheets, and writing End-Of-Day
reports. Macros exist to automate and streamline these repetitive tasks. However, the available
software solutions to make and use macros either require prior programming knowledge or
expensive hardware to utilize. MacroMaker鈥檚 purpose is to serve as a general purpose software
solution that is easy to use for the average user.
Many approaches have been proposed which range from cheaper hardware utilizing
mechanical switches as buttons, to a phone app wirelessly connected to a computer, to a
desktop software on a computer. We consulted with users and analyzed complaints regarding
similar products to each of our approaches. Eventually, we chose to create a desktop software
that would solely run on the user鈥檚 computer.
This approach has been successful with customers consisting of gamers and content
creators. Users expressed that the user interface is attractive, and that it is easier to use
compared to competitors. Users stated that learning to use competitors would likely take them
weeks or months, but they were able to understand MacroMaker to a usable level within a
single session.
MacroMaker allows automation of various computer tasks. These repetitive tasks are
done on a daily basis, adding up to hours worth over time. MacroMaker is highly general-use
and those outside the target audience will be able to use the software easily to start automating
tasks to save time, avoid human error, and increase productivity.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVVmpRTov9E&feature=youtu.be
Aerotag - Testing the possibilities of RFID systems in aircraft inspection processes to assess the viability and cost efficiency

MEMBERS: Carolyn Tran; Trevor Schmitt; Hyacinthe Howell; Khang Tran

ADVISOR: Dr. Andy Stallard; Dr. Gary Brooking

In the fast-paced world of aviation, every moment counts, and the safety of passengers and the efficiency of operations are paramount. Airlines face a critical need to streamline and enhance their maintenance and inspection processes to ensure airworthiness while minimizing downtime and costs.
 
Every year, airlines invest significant time and resources in the essential but time-consuming task of inspecting and repairing aircraft structures. These inspections often require invasive procedures, such as roto-probe inspections, which not only add to operational costs but can also lead to aircraft downtime, disrupting schedules and incurring revenue losses.
 
However, a groundbreaking solution is on the horizon. Integrated Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) technology has emerged as a game-changing innovation that has the potential to revolutionize the way airlines approach repair inspections. By strategically bonding RFID tags to airframe structures, airlines could gain the power of on-demand inspections. A simple scan of these RFID chips provides real-time insights into the structural health of the aircraft. No more invasive and costly inspections. No more unexpected downtime. Just efficiency, safety, and peace of mind.
 
This project is driven by the urgent need to address the challenges airlines face in maintaining their fleets, and it centers on the development of a proof-of-concept device that utilizes RFID tags bonded to aircraft structures for inspection purposes.
 
By the end of this project, this project plans to deliver a tangible solution that not only simplifies and expedites the inspection process but also quantifiably reduces the time and cost associated with aircraft repair inspections.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjTVJo65biM&t=6s
#58 WiseWater - Mobile App for Patients with Kidney Diseases to track fluid intake

MEMBERS: Marcos Vera Bareiro; Dalton Hevel; Eric Matthews; Toni Bryant; Aziya Jordan

ADVISOR: Dr. Andy Stallard

Patients who are placed on a fluid restriction diet need to keep accurate track of their fluid intake, both from liquids as well as solids, for risk of further damaging their health. Without continuous monitoring, they risk making mistakes or failing to meet their self-care goals. Having a solution where they can easily keep track of this could help a lot of people stay on a diet, saving them time and money in the long run. Patients with fluid limiting diets will use our mobile app because of Low Cost, Portability, and Availability.
 
We will develop a mobile app using .NET MAUI which uses C# and XAML where users can track their daily water intake and see the history of their water intake. We will develop using the agile methodology with multiple sprints where we add new features and multiple stages of user testing. The final product will be a cross-platform mobile application that allows users to accurately track their total fluid intake, accounting for fluids that they drank throughout the day as well as fluids present in the foods they consumed. The overall app experience will be tested by potential end users in focus groups for overall usefulness and ease of use.
 
One of the biggest challenges kidney failure patients face is managing their diet, and our application with help solve that problem. In the future, this could be expanded to a program that allows a healthcare provider to see their patients鈥 progress in real time, and allow easy two way communication with questions or concerns.
 
https://youtu.be/OO0naOfG-UA
 
Lightning Protection Project

MEMBERS: Mary Peterson; Brayden Schmidt; Caleb Stanley; Isaiah Wasson

ADVISOR: Dr. Arun Manoharan

To ensure the reliable supply of power to consumers, it is necessary to protect transmission systems against lightning strikes to the phase conductor. Generally, utilities use shield wires located on the top of transmission towers to divert lightning to ground; however, the geometry of the shield wire and phase conductor impact the probability of shield failure. This project develops a tool to compute the shield failure rate (SFR) for a given configuration to enable Evergy to maintain required service reliability. For a transmission tower utilizing a shield wire above the phase conductors, shield failure is related to the geometry of the tower and the shield and conducting wires. Since utilities have standards for how many shield failures are permitted per hundred miles of transmission line per year, the ability to project the number of failures is important for transmission planning. In this project, an SFR calculator is developed to compute the shield failure rate for a given transmission configuration, allowing engineers to determine whether the geometry satisfies lightning protection requirements. Calculations in the tool are based on the IEEE 1243 standard, and details about the model will be delivered to Evergy transmission engineers. This model will improve Evergy transmission planning and minimize lightning-induced outages. The final deliverables are a downloadable calculator tool with a report explaining how to use the tool, details about the incorporated calculations, and instructions for updating the tool.

Cosmos Twirl Game

MEMBERS: Elizabeth Statzer; Ernest Stevens; Elijah Curry, Kaelyn Godfrey

ADVISOR: Dr. Huabo Lu

Cosmos Twirl is a point-and-click first-person atmospheric horror/puzzle video game in which everyone on Earth has disappeared except for the player, and the player must explore to find out what happened. The setting starts out in a mall, but the world shifts around through time and space as the player progresses, and finds out they鈥檙e not truly alone.
 
Many video games in the indie horror genre rely on gimmicks such as jump scares and chase sequences in order to scare players. 3E Studios is aiming for the concept of slow horror, in which the ambiance and environment is unsettling. In addition, the game is stylized to resemble the Playstation1 and early 3D PC era.
 
The team has used free, open-source tools such as Godot and Blender to create this game, and develops and tests collaboratively through GitHub and Discord.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiXcgRDc3-c