Student Projects
Come see what we're building...
Our students are among the most innovative thought leaders in the STEM arena. At Capitol Tech, we provide the means to success through education, research, and industry partnerships to support student development.
Our students graduate with hands-on experience in creating, building, and engineering real machines, conduct research using industry-grade equipment, and step into their field with job-relevant skills that put them ahead of their peers.
Points of Contact: Admissions Academics
See below for the types of projects our students lead!
Student Projects
RC Moon Rover Project
During our 2024 Student Project Fair, student Jacob Nussbaumer presented his remote-controlled (RC) moon rover replica vehicle featuring 6-wheel drive and a point-of-view camera with a rocker-bogie suspension similar to that used by NASA's Mars Curiosity Rover.
Affordable Robotic Prosthesis Project
During our 2024 Student Project Fair, student Turner Howard presented his affordable robotic prosthesis design with intuitive controls intended to provide a more cost-effective, patient-friendly alternative to traditional myoelectric prosthetics in the healthcare marketplace.
Satellite Ground Station Terminal Project
As a part of our Astronautical Engineering and Space program, the Satellite Ground Station Terminal Project was developed as a low-cost software-integrated mechanism to recognize and track satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), collect spacecraft telemetry, and perform spacecraft ranging to calculate a satellite’s orbital path. The new stations also allow signal-to-noise ratio calculations, radio frequency (RF) telemetry spectrum analysis, telemetry collection, and development of a hands-on understanding of spacecraft ground station operations and automation. The overall goal of the project is to increase spacecraft ground coverage for CubeSat missions.
ALPHA Observatory Research
The ALPHA Observatory provides Astronautical and Space Engineering (ASE) program students with a unique opportunity to contribute to scientific research and improve our overall understanding of near-Earth objects (NEOs). Students perform research and collaborate with organizations like the Minor Planet Center (MPC) to plan and execute observations for space objects, with the ability to remote into ALPHA to monitor statuses and retrieve data for tracking and exploration.
BalloonSat Payload Project
Our Aviation and Astronautical Engineering department works with students to develop high altitude balloon flights to simulate the conditions that a space payload will experience during a rocket launch. Capitol Tech collaborates with the Maryland Space Grant Consortium for these balloon tests, which prepare students for future projects with NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI). To date, six payloads have been successfully launched!
Mobile Application Project
Chargers Link is a mobile application developed by one of our talented students, Nelson Alvarez. Through use of the Flutter UI toolkit and the programming language Dart, he has constructed an app for Android and iOS devices that aims to improve communications and alerts for students by providing a one-click access to our university’s online resources.
Watch Nelson talk about his experience and app project at Capitol!
Facial Recognition Security Module Project
During our 2023 Student Project Fair, Computer Science student Mason Rosten developed a security module with facial recognition software using three distinct programs within Python and a Raspberry Pi. This device works by sending a timestamped alert notification to a registered user when a face or motion is detected around or near the connected device. This very practical design can be used as an added security feature for computers and cell phones to help prevent unauthorized access, especially for those within high security clearance environments.
Log Chip PCB Board Training Device Project
In an effort to make learning more accessible through the availability of hands-on training instruments, students Elijah Mister and Owen Coffee developed a Log Chip PCB Board with an interactive circuit training platform and comprehensive user manual. This device was designed to fill a gap they noticed in learning the fundamentals of circuitry work including soldering, connectivity, voltage testing, and components identification, expanding on theories taught in the classroom.
Solar Powered Sun Tracking System Project
Electrical Engineering students developed a solar powered sun-tracking system–all within a simple cardboard box! This device was designed to move with the rotation of the sun to optimize the best absorption of light to better fuel solar panels. The circuitry involves a complex system of moving components, a motion sensor, sun panels, relay module, charge controller, DC voltage regulators, grids, connectors, and wiring. This device has a wide range of potential applications in agriculture, home improvement, energy research, and beyond.
Temperature Display Thermostat
Computer Science students developed a new take on a temperature display thermostat device that uses remote control technology. They created the device by integrating multiple components to transfer codes between a computer and a remote control, and they programmed the thermostat using Arduino C and Bash coding. The device’s customizability, practicality, and optimized display panel make it an appealing potential product for future home and commercial uses.