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Success Stories

Venus Wind Turbine

JPL: Dr. Jonathan Sauder
Image Credit: Dr. Michael Thorburn, California State University, Los Angeles

Team from California State University, Los Angeles.
Team from California State University, Los Angeles.
Modeling, simulation, and wind tunnel experiments to optimize Venus Wind Turbine design.
Modeling, simulation, and wind tunnel experiments to optimize Venus Wind Turbine design.

Coilable Boom

JPL: Mieszko Salamon and Dr. Jonathan Sauder
Image Credit: Dr. Daria Kotys-Schwartz, University of Colorado Boulder (additional credit to Dr. Julie Steinbrenner, Co-Program Director and Dr. Chip Bollendonk, Project Director)

Team from University of Colorado Boulder.
Team from University of Colorado Boulder.
Design, build and test a prototype half-meter boom for deployment of a reflectarray antenna feed from 2U volume.
Design, build and test a prototype half-meter boom for deployment of a reflectarray antenna feed from 2U volume.

Shapeshifter

JPL: Dr. Ali Agha
Image Credit: Dr. Javid Bayandor
CRashworthiness for Aerospace Structures and Hybrids (CRASH) Lab
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
University at Buffalo - The State University of New York 

University of Buffalo – Designed and developed a multifunctional unmanned aerial-terrestrial vehicle for extra-planetary exploration. Won the 2019 National ASME Old Guard Competition, and the award for best technical work at the ASME E-FEST.
University of Buffalo – Designed and developed a multifunctional unmanned aerial-terrestrial vehicle for extra-planetary exploration. Won the 2019 National ASME Old Guard Competition, and the award for best technical work at the ASME E-FEST. In addition, the team went on to win the International Old Guard Competition as well.

Spectral Flattener

JPL: Dr. Stephanie Leifer
Image Credit: Dr. Michael Thorburn, California State University, Los Angeles

Team from California State University, Los Angeles.
Team from California State University, Los Angeles.
Built and demonstrated a spectral flattener for the Palomar Radial Velocity Instrument (PARVI) frequency comb.
Built and demonstrated a spectral flattener for the Palomar Radial Velocity Instrument (PARVI) frequency comb.

Starlite

JPL: Thomas Peev
Image Credit: Kerry Klein, Valley Public Radio

UC Merced – Engineering students spent a semester working to recreate the flame-retardant material known as "Starlite.“ The project was reported on in the Valley Public Radio News.
UC Merced – Engineering students spent a semester working to recreate the flame-retardant material known as "Starlite.“ The project was reported on in the Valley Public Radio News.

CubeSat Self Inspect Camera

JPL: Thomas DiSarro
Image Credit: Dr. Andrew Gouldstone, Northeastern University

Northeastern University – Designed, prototyped, and tested a CubeSat self-inspect camera system.
Northeastern University – Designed, prototyped, and tested a CubeSat self-inspect camera system.
Team from Northeastern University.
Team from Northeastern University.
Designed, prototyped and tested a CubeSat actuator and a heat rejection system.
Designed, prototyped and tested a CubeSat actuator and a heat rejection system.

Prototype Demonstrations

JPL: Evan Hilgemann
Image Credit: Evan Hilgemann, Jet Propulsion Laboratory

University of Nebraska – New robotic/mobility architectures using a flexible substrate; Low-cost air bearing; Development of super coiled polymer actuators - Led to a successful proposal through the Nebraska Space Grant
University of Nebraska – New robotic/mobility architectures using a flexible substrate; Low-cost air bearing; Development of super coiled polymer actuators - Led to a successful proposal through the Nebraska Space Grant

Cal Poly Pomona Story

Description: During 2018 and 2019, Cal Poly Pomona (CPP) has contributed to 3 challenges from JUCI, and 3 more are planned for 2019-2020. These challenges provided motivation for collaborative undergraduate research within engineering and science programs at CPP. The projects collected groups of motivated students and faculty to dive into the world of space technology and concepts and opened doors of external collaborations with NASA JPL for future research projects. It has created a culture of multidisciplinary collaboration within CPP. JUCI projects are innovative, engaging, and provided mentorship opportunities. The experiences and process taught students how JPL works around challenges and design complex systems

JPL: Dr. Navid Nakhjiri