2 CMA students advance to International Science and Engineering Fair

King Lok Wang ’26 and Carl (Feiqi) Chen ’27 each won first prize for their grade level at the Hoosier Science and Engineering Fair, qualifying them to present their scientific innovations at the prestigious International Science and Engineering Fair.

Eight Culver Academies students competed at the Hoosier Science and Engineering Fair at Indiana University-Indianapolis on April 5. Those students started at the school level, advanced to the regionals and then to state, with Wang and Chen advancing to the international competition.

David Lawrence, a senior instructor in computer science and engineering at Culver and the adviser to students entering the ISEF competition, said the competition at the state level was stiffer this year not only because of an increase in the number of entries, but also in the quality of entries.

“The quality of the projects definitely went up this year,” Lawrence said. “I am very pleased we had two students advance to ISEF because of the level of competition. It is very impressive.”

Wang and Chen will compete at ISEF in Columbus, Ohio, May 12-16. This will be the fourth time Culver Academies is sending students to the international competition. Last year four Culver students qualified.

Wang won first place for his project called: “Dual Mode Soft Gripper With Tunable Stiffness Achieving Large Scale Robust Grasping Tasks.” Wang works in chemistry frequently and wanted to create a device that would protect people from being spattered with hazardous substances while handling chemicals.

His solution was to develop a “soft” gripper powered by air pressure that can be used to hold fragile objects in confined spaces. He uses two finger-like grippers covered with a silicone-gel solution to grab objects.

 

 

 

Wang used SolidWorks a 3D computer-aided design software to design his fingers and then used a 3D printer to make a mold and cover it with the silicone-gel solution. He then attaches the grippers to a robotic arm.

He uses air pressure to bend the grippers so they can pick up objects. Wang said the grippers can lift something as heavy as 300 grams (10.5 ounces). Using a “negative pressure channel,” Wang can regulate the stiffness of the fingers for heavier objects.

“That’s what make my grippers unique, regulating the stiffness of the soft grippers,” Wang said.

The device uses a camera and an algorithm to determine the best way to grip an object, Wang said.

“Once it detects the object, it learns the dimension of the object and the detection algorithm decides how to grab the object,” Wang said.

The IU-Indianapolis School of Science also awarded Wang a $2,000 scholarship renewable for four years and an IU swag bag. He also won an Air Force Award for Outstanding Science or Engineering Project, certificate and gift backpack.

 

 

Chen won for his project called: “Biorock Grip: A Bio-inspired Gripper With Integrated Rock Hardness Sensing for Extreme Terrain Navigation.” He said he was inspired by seeing workers where his father works using ropes to lower themselves along steep rock walls to determine the best positions to place explosive charges.

“I thought it was too dangerous, how they were hanging in midair,” Chen said. “I was inspired by Spider-Man. I wanted to create something that could climb a vertical wall and conduct inspections like the workers did.”

He decided to mimic a beetle’s claw to climb rough surfaces.

While many inventions looking to climb walls depend on suction, Chen decided to use spring-loaded needles that mimic the claw of a beetle to latch onto rough surfaces.

“I saw that a beetle’s claw is pointed and curved (and) is an effective tool for climbing, so I decided to borrow the design,” he said.

Chen said the beetle’s claws are curved and pointed inward to lock into smaller surface features to maintain a stable grip. His device mimics that to ensure a secure grip.

“When the micro-spines make contact with the surface, the spring contracts so the spines have a stronger grip,” Chen said. “I have four sensors on the grippers. When all of the sensors detect contact with the surface, the gripper will find the best anchor point.”

He said his device can move about a foot a minute. He said it also is capable of using a rebound hammer to determine if the rock is stable to determine the best place to place explosives or to put an anchor for construction.

He built the device using a 3D printer, keeping the cost minimal. Chen said he hopes to eventually sell the device.

Chen has three different prototypes that show steady progress, Lawrence said.

“I think he has a really strong product for a possible award at ISEF because engineering-wise they want to see that progression,” Lawrence said.

 

 

The IU-Indianapolis School of Science also awarded Chen a $3,000 scholarship renewable for four years and an IU swag bag.

Chen said he hopes to eventually incorporate artificial intelligence so he can more efficiently analyze the stability of the rock surface.

Wang and Chen also qualified for the Diversity and Innovation Institute Award, Certificate and invitation to apply to participate in the Young Innovators Quest or the IDEAA Summer Program.

Lawrence said at ISEF the judges will begin by going over all of the materials the students have entered online and then will review their posters. They then give an oral presentation and answer questions.

“All of that goes into whether a student wins an award or not,” Lawrence said.

Lawrence said he will have Wang and Chen meet with instructors with The Ron Rubin School for the Entrepreneur at Culver to help them prepare for ISEF. He said students in past years have been stymied when they’ve been asked entrepreneurial type questions.

“I want to make sure that they’re prepared for any business/entrepreneurial questions that might pop up,” he said. “I want to make sure they understand the questions they are being asked.”

Several other Culver students were recognized at the Hoosier Science and Engineering Fair:

·        Diego Jimenez ’25 was awarded the Naval Science Award medallion, senior division, and $75 gift card sponsored by the Office of Naval Research, for his project titled: “Delaying the Formation of Cavitation on High-Speed Hydrofoils Through Suction-Based Laminar Flow Control Systems.” Jimenez also won a best engineering related project certificate from the Yale Science and Engineering Association.

·        Samuel (Zhenhe) Shi ’26 won an Application of 21st Century Tools to Rural Community Problems certificate and cash award for his project titled: “Non-Contact Sleep Protection System.”

·        Ray (Xinlang) Fan ’25 won a certificate for best use of biophysics and related sciences in a project, sponsored by the BioPhysical Society, for his project: “Effect of Combining Biosynthesized Metal Nanoparticles on Antibacterial Efficacy.”

·        Irene (Sau Fong) Lin ’25 won an Environmental Science Award certificate from the Indiana Association of Environmental Professionals for her project: “Overexpression of C-Type Cytochrome CymA in Shewanella Oneidensis MR-1 for Improved Wastewater Bioremediation.”