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Previous RASS Projects and Publications

Learn about past RASS projects and publications

Projects are an integration of automation hardware and software

Each team of three students designs and fabricates a proof-of-concept system that solves a Laboratory problem. These multi-disciplinary projects require students to collaborate across engineering and science disciplines.

2025 Projects

Automating the measuring of high explosives and binder into a container before securing it in a Resodyn acoustic mixer. Sponsor and Collaborator: Engineering Technology Maturation and Q-5

Excavate parts from a powder print bed and autonomously remove the excess powder from the parts. Sponsor and Collaborator: Engineering Technology Maturation and MST-7

Acquire LiDAR data while addressing distortions caused by reflective surfaces which can degrade data accuracy. Sponsor and Collaborator: NA-191 – Science, Technology, and Program Offices - Nuclear Material Management and ALDWP

Autonomously position and tune an antenna array based on various sensor inputs. Sponsor and Collaborator: WRS and A-3

Past Projects

Past Project 1

A laser foil printing system was developed capable of depositing and welding material on both 2D and 3D substrates, such as on a flat plate and spherical geometry, respectively. The system will utilize 6-axis collaborative robot arms (Universal Robots UR10e) to manipulate the metal foils and a laser beam to weld the thin sheets of metal foil to yield a final 3-dimensional product. 

Sponsor and Collaborator: Directed Stockpile Work Program Integration Office and E-2

Past Project 2

Robotics and computer vision are used bolt and unbolt shipping containers. The system utilizes a camera and machine learning model to locate the container’s assembly bolts with a high degree of precision. An integrated nut runner located on the end of the system’s robotic arm uses a magnetic socket to thread or unthread the bolts.  

Sponsor and Collaborator: Directed Stockpile Work Program Integration Office and Y-12

Past Project 3

This prototype tested the viability of teleoperation (teleop) robotics for glovebox operations. The controls consist of the Phantom Omni Touch and a live camera feed. An end effector was designed to facilitate attaching a winch hook to a mounting point.

Sponsor and Collaborator: ALDWP and ARIES

Past Project 4

This project prototyped a conveyor in a glovebox trunkline. The travel system is a wheel that is directly driven by a stepper motor and controlled by a programmable logic controller. Additionally, a robotic arm was used for payload delivery. The robotic arm was located at a designated location and was capable of picking and/or placing items from the conveyor cart. The system locates the conveyor cart by using a stepper motor encoder and multiple inductive proximity switches along the length of the glovebox.

Sponsor and Collaborator: ALDWP and ARIES

Past Project 5

Canisters are initially located on a storage shelf. A robotic arm is used to locate and retrieve a specific canister. Next, the robotic arm places the canister at an inspection station before using its attached camera to record images used in determining if there is any damage to the canister. The robotic arm then moves the canister from the inspection station to the conveyor belt. At the other end of the conveyor belt, another robotic arm moves the canister to a second inspection station before placing the canister into a new storage location. 

Sponsor and Collaborator: Directed Stockpile Work Program Integration Office and ARIES

RASS at Waste Management Symposium

Publications

  • Beth Boardman, Jessica Mendez, and Matthew Hammond “Developing a Talented Workforce through the Robotics & Automation Summer School Student Pipeline” Waste Management Symposia, Phoenix, AZ (2025)
  • Aravind Ramaswami, Colin Fricke, Aakriti Acharya, Matthew Hammond, Bryan Carlton, and Beth Boardman “Robot Arm Teleoperation for Improved Glovebox Operations” Waste Management Symposia, Phoenix, AZ (2025)
  • Olyvia Hanken-Arlen, Grayson Martin, Anunth Ramaswami, Jessica Mendez, Colin Sanders, Matthew Hammond, and Beth Boardman “A Mobile, Autonomous Bolting and Unbolting System for DOE Shipping Containers” Waste Management Symposia, Phoenix, AZ (2025)
    Award - Superior Level Rating
  • Julia Hansen, Charlie Killian, Joseph Krahn, Nathan McLeish, Aneesh Pawar, Matthew Hammond, Beth Boardman “Laser Foil Welding on Curved and Planer Surfaces using a Robotic Arm” Waste Management Symposia, Phoenix, AZ (2025).
    Award – Papers of Note, Superior Level Rating
  • Ritvik Dutta, Angelika Canete, William Escobar, Jackson McFall, Gregory Ford, Matthew Hammond, Beth Boardman “Precision Conveyor System for Hazardous Waste Handling” Waste Management Symposia, Phoenix, AZ (2025)
  • Desiree Dominguez, Meredith Osborne, Malacki Ehlers, Matthew Hammond, Luke Moy, Beth Boardman “Material Tracking for an Automated Canister Tracking and Storage System” Waste Management Symposia, Phoenix, AZ (2024)
  • Richard Kovalcik, Aaron Torgesen, Chantal Morales, Gregory Ford, Nathan McLeish, Matthew Hammond, Beth Boardman “Automated Hazardous Material Transport and Storage” Waste Management Symposia, Phoenix, AZ (2024)
    Award - Superior Level Rating
  • Natalie Nguyen, Matthew Coleman, Jason Pieck, Javier Ruiz, Robert Schloen, Matthew Hammond, Beth Boardman “Automated Cannister Tracking System Robotics” Waste Management Symposia, Phoenix, AZ (2024)