Use the table below to check out this year’s Interdisciplinary Senior Design projects. Each project is multidisciplinary and will need team members from multiple departments across the Haslam College of Business and Tickle College of Engineering. Projects are still being added and it is possible one or more of these projects will be revised or eliminated. Check back frequently!
Any student interested in participating in one of these projects should apply for Interdisciplinary Senior Design.
Not ready to apply? Fill out this form to learn more about the program.
| Sponsor | Project Title | Description | Disciplines Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jenga Tanzania | Waterfall Hydroelectric Powerplant System Feasibility Design and Cost Modeling Study | Develop and simulate a system-level design for a waterfall-driven hydroelectric power system for a farm and rural communities in Tanzania. Specify the major system components and assess the costs of acquiring the system—including the costs for system implementation based on local cost structures and logistics. The study should include considerations for routing the power to the farm and tying into the existing electrical grid. | 1-2 Bus, 2 CE, 2 EE, 1 ME |
| JM Forest Products | Pallet Deck Board Loader Automation Design, Prototype and Digital Twin | Design a cost-effective decking board loading automation system for wooden pallet fabrication. Develop a business model for in-house use and for producing and selling the system. Deliver detailed design drawings, Bill of Materials, PLC programming and HMI design. Verify system throughput via scaled physical system, simulation and a virtual/digital twin to demonstrate the innovation to potential customers or investors. | 1 Bus, 1 EE, 1 ISE, 3 ME |
| Lockheed Martin | Novel Joining Mechanisms for Scalable Hybrid Thermofluidic TPS of Hypersonic Vehicles | Analyze, design, and test a joining/bonding mechanism for a hybrid thermofluidic TPS that maintains structural integrity and protection for full-sized hypersonic vehicles. Guide design efforts with make/buy analyses and evaluate producibility and manufacturing costs at scale. | 1 Bus, 2-3 AE, 2-3 ME |
| Marcus-Levi Group | Fetch – Building a Better Recruiting Model: Leveraging Skill, Individual Strengths, Network and AI | Organizations and top talent struggle to connect due to reliance on AI-driven tools that make matches based upon resumes and social media profiles, neglecting cultural fit. Develop a scalable decision-support system that matches skills, experience, culture, and preferences while leveraging Marcus-Levi Group’s executive network. Develop a plan to monetize the tool for executive recruiting and consider future offerings for entry-level positions for college graduates. | 2 Bus, 4 CS, 1 ISE |
| Nissan Group of North America | Wiring Harness AI Routing, Bundling and Vision System Integration | Augment a proof-of-concept automotive wiring harness automation system with AI wire route planning, vision systems to eliminate snagging during routing, and wire bundling management to enable taping. Update the business model for incorporating this technology across Nissan operations. | 1 Bus, 1 CpE, 1 EE, 1 ISE, 3 ME |
| Nissan Group of North America | Connector and Wire Termination for Wiring Harness Assembly Innovation | Develop a cost-effective system to automate wiring harness fabrication for automotive manufacturing applications. | 1 Bus, 1 EE, 1 ISE, 3 ME |
| ORNL/UT Battelle | Material feedstock manufacturing/preparation for continuous fiber manufacturing processes | Develop a cost-effective system to create custom fiber composite filaments for additive manufacturing. Create a business model for the system identify the market for commercial application. | 1 Bus, 1 AE, 1 CpE, 3 ME |
| Old Castle APG | Automated BPD Box Folding Operation | Design and prototype a working machine to fold flat cardboard sheets into an open box for use in Old Castle Building Products (BPD) kitting operation(s). | 1 Bus, 1 EE, 1 ISE, 3 ME |
| Trimble MEP | Touchscreen Support for LiveCount Digital Takeoff Software | Design and implement touchscreen support for the web-based Trimble LiveCount application. Refine the prototype system through usability testing. Develop the supporting business case and value proposition for the enhanced functionality. | 1-2 Bus, 0-1 CpE, 3-4 CS |
| University of Tennessee Research Foundation | Implantable robotic system for prosthesis control and sensory feedback | The project will develop and test a prototype of a medical implant that creates a virtual mechanical interface between a prosthetic hand and the musculoskeletal tissues of patients with transradial amputation, enabling more realistic control and sensation of movement. | 1-2 Bus, 2 BME, 1 CpE/EE, 2 ME |