Welcome to my Week 4 update! In my previous blogs, I shared insights into our initial project setups, early challenges, and the exciting progress we’ve made. You can check out my Week 2 and Week 3 blogs to catch up on how my SEED internship has been shaping up so far.

This week brought even more growth as we moved our EARTI and Drain Saver projects closer to real solutions, acquired new technical skills, and even celebrated Independence Day in true American style!

EARTI: Bringing It All Together
After resuming on Monday, our team met with Naveed, our EARTI client, to update him on our progress since our last discussion. We discussed what’s working, the blockers we’re addressing, and how we plan to move forward this week.

Tuesday was focused on preparing for our design review with Dr. Holmes, where we showed him our latest improvements and plans. Over the week, we also found a workable solution to pan the entire system by adding a servo motor for rotation, which we successfully mounted to our wooden workpiece.

One big win this week was editing our code to enable preset movements; the user can now select which level or plant tray the camera should move to. We also designed and 3D-printed the camera mount, which holds the Raspberry Pi and camera securely on the moving plate of the belt mechanism.

Another upgrade: we switched from an Arduino to an ESP32. The ESP32 is smaller and makes it easier to communicate with the Raspberry Pi, which means our system is more compact and efficient.

This progress wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing EARTI team; everyone has shown so much energy, compassion, and determination to push this project forward. I’m grateful to be part of such a supportive group.

 

Drain Saver: Testing in the Real World
For Drain Saver, we started Monday bright and early in the autoclave room, installing our medium-fidelity prototype on the condensate pipes. This prototype was built over the weekend, so it was exciting to see it in place.

While there, we met Clint, a medical equipment technician who helps maintain Rice’s autoclaves. We explained our idea to reduce how much water the autoclaves use, and he offered us great advice and encouragement. He even shared his number so we can reach out anytime for extra guidance.

By the end of Monday, we returned to the autoclave room to measure temperatures with and without the prototype in place. We compared this new data to our previous baseline and noticed a slight temperature drop, progress, but we know there’s more work to do!

On Wednesday, we had our design review with Dr. Holmes, showing him pictures of the prototype installed and sharing our data. He noticed temperature fluctuations along different points of the pipe, something we hadn’t expected. Together, we returned to the autoclave room to take fresh measurements and figure out what was causing this. Clint helped explain why temperatures varied in certain spots.

Later in the week, Dr. Holmes assigned me to test the small radiator he gave us earlier. I passed hot water through it using a 12V DC water pump, measuring how much it cooled the water down with the help of a fan. To control the pump speed, we used an Arduino, a relay, and a potentiometer, which let us experiment at different speeds and record the temperature drop.

I’m incredibly proud of the Drain Saver team for their hard work, focus, and willingness to test every idea until we find what works best. Special thanks to them for staying locked in all week.

 

Skills Sharpened This Week
This week wasn’t just about testing; it was about learning by doing. I picked up some valuable practical skills:

• This week, I developed valuable hands-on skills. I learned to use a polishing machine to refine 3D-printed parts, smoothing rough surfaces to achieve a professional finish for components like our camera mount. The process involved carefully operating the machine, adjusting pressure, and selecting appropriate polishing compounds to enhance durability and aesthetics.

  

• Additionally, I sharpened my soldering skills by wiring connections for the radiator and water pump setup in the Drain Saver project. Using a soldering iron, I carefully joined wires to create secure, reliable connections between the pump, relay, and potentiometer, ensuring stable operation for our cooling tests.

  

These small but critical skills, from precise soldering to effective polishing, are adding up, equipping me with practical expertise for tackling complex prototyping challenges in future endeavors.

Independence Day & Community Moments
Thursday ended on a high note with a lovely team dinner, thanks to Elijah, who treated the international students to a great meal.

On Friday, we celebrated the American celebration of Independence Day on July 4th. It was my first time experiencing the holiday, fireworks everywhere, full of energy and patriotic pride. It was amazing to see how much it means to people here!

In all, Week 4 reminded me that teamwork, curiosity, and small steps forward make the biggest difference. I’m so grateful to our supervisors, sponsors, and my fellow interns for making this week productive and fulfilling.

Can’t wait to share what Week 5 holds, stay tuned for my next update! 🚀

 

Hey there, and welcome back to my blog! If you’re new here or need a quick refresher, you can catch up on all my earlier updates. This summer, I’m diving into two really exciting projects: one’s a smart egg prototype supporting conservation efforts for the Attwater Prairie Chicken, and the other a vertical inspection camera system to monitor microgreens in an indoor hydroponic farm. Both are fast-paced and hands-on, full of new challenges and plenty to learn.

This past week was a mix of technical breakthroughs, design hurdles, and some well-deserved downtime. From soldering tiny components and refining CAD designs to learning how to use the bandsaw and milling machines, it’s been a busy week that pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best ways.

Whether you’re here for the engineering deep dive or the behind-the-scenes moments, I’m excited to share it all with you. So, let’s jump right in!

Before diving into Week 3, let’s quickly recap: last week, our egg team made great progress connecting the substation wirelessly to Firebase using an ESP32, tested various camera setups for the hydroponic farm, built early breadboard circuits, and documented key design reviews. Building on that momentum, this week we tackled new challenges and refined our approaches across both projects.

Egg Project Progress
This week for the Eggcellent Imposters project, we tested our breadboard connection and saw everything worked, so we decided to solder wires directly to the Nicla Sense ME board to mount it on a perfboard. But after damaging two out of our three boards during soldering (harder than it looks!), we pivoted. Instead, we soldered header pins onto a perfboard, added the Nicla, battery, and tiny optimized resistors (my first time seeing resistors that small!). But then we hit a setback: the circuit was too large to fit inside the egg. I forgot to mention that one nicla sense board cost $50

To fix this, we designed a custom PCB using KiCad before translating the design to the Carvera CNC machine at the OEDK for milling. Since none of us had used it before, an OEDK staff member stepped in to help get the machine ready. But the PCB design wasn’t fully ready by the end of the week, as the staff member also needed to get familiar with the machine and figure out the best way to print smoothly on both sides of our board. Meanwhile, we explored using light PolyLite PLA to 3D print a shell that mimics a real Attwater Prairie Chicken egg and planned out the internal compartments for the circuitry.

Early in the week, we also had our design review with Dr. Holmes, where I drafted our documentation and reviewed it with my team before the presentation. We discussed our problem statement, constraints, CAD sketches, prototype expectations, and a detailed timeline breaking down daily tasks for each group member.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Camera Inspection Prototype Progress
For the light, camera, action team, we kept pushing our camera prototype further. We advanced the vertical inspection camera prototype by configuring it to auto boot so it starts up automatically when powered on. We also set up live streaming via RTSP, matching Navid’s preference for Trollmaster integration. Remembering Navid’s request for night vision and time-lapse, we brainstormed cameras that were waterproof, programmable, and compact, and finally found one that ticked all the boxes, so we ordered it. Navid shared something that stuck with me:

“Don’t cut costs at the expense of reliability.”
It’s something I’ve kept in mind as we choose components and refine our design.

Later in the week, we had our own design review with Dr. Holmes. As the first team to present that day, we shared our mounting design, client feedback, and next steps. Dr. Holmes advised us to build a wooden mock-up to visualize the camera’s fit inside the hydroponic frame. By Thursday, we fabricated that wooden platform, I even learned to use the JET JBS-14 bandsaw to cut the parts! We spent the rest of the week refining the design, brainstorming improvements, and sourcing food-safe materials, ordering a few motors that are relevant to our project and prepping for a higher-fidelity build.

Just before the weekend, we had an SLA printing class, where we tried printing our first egg model on the Formlabs printer. The first attempt failed (classic prototype life!), so the print rolled into next week. Also we went thrifting on Wednesday at the binz store where I got 14 pounds of clothing items for $31

Cutting out wooden part and mounting it well to our 2nd prototype

Weekend rewind: balancing life and academics
Back home, I’m still juggling final-year projects and coursework. My weekend was spent catching up on assignments, studying, and having quick calls with course mates. And because cooking always helps me reset, I made rice and beans with panla fish stew, a true Nigerian comfort meal, while unwinding with some movies.

Week 3 was long, busy, and full of new lessons, but every challenge made it worthwhile.
Thanks for following along, and don’t forget to check out my earlier posts if you haven’t yet!

Stay tuned for next week’s update, where we’re hoping to finally mill our custom PCB, test our camera mount, and see if that next egg print succeeds!
See you soon!

Eniola 🙂

Welcome to my Week 3 update! If you haven’t seen my Week 2 recap, you can catch up here.

This week was all about moving from early prototypes to more refined, testable solutions. Here’s how things unfolded for EARTI and Drain Saver, plus a few moments that made the week extra memorable.

EARTI: Tackling Real-World Details
We started the week strong on Monday by meeting our client, Naveed, at 10 AM to present our first working prototype for EARTI, the hydroponic grow system with a vertically moving camera. Naveed was impressed with our progress and encouraged us to continue, but he also shared concerns about material safety, as the system must be food-safe for hydroponic farming. He suggested helpful ideas which we noted down, and websites to source suitable materials.

Later that day, we had a 2 PM design review with Dr. Holmes. He provided us with valuable feedback on our mounting design, specifically on how to fix the top and bottom mounts inside the actual EARTI structure. He advised us to create a wooden workpiece to visualize and test the mounting in a real-world scenario. Throughout Wednesday, the EARTI team focused on addressing Naveed’s concerns and refining the mounting plan. By Thursday, we mounted our prototype onto the wooden piece to get a realistic sense of how it will fit inside the hydroponic setup.

On Friday, we scheduled a follow-up meeting with Naveed for next Monday to ask further questions about his ideas and material suggestions. With each prototype and review, we’re getting closer to a practical, build-ready solution.

 

Drain Saver: Simulating Better Solution
Meanwhile, the Drain Saver team kept busy, too. On Monday, we brainstormed updates for our low-fidelity prototype. We’re working to replace the continuous water flow in the autoclave cooling process with a more efficient cooler or heat exchanger. On Tuesday, we finalized our improved prototype design and had a 2 PM design review with Dr. Holmes. He liked our progress and we recommended we will run simulations to test our ideas before full-scale building which he gave a go ahead. I also powered up a small radiator (a “toy” that Dr. Holmes loaned us) which we plan to use for experiment with cooling hot water, a good learning moment for future iterations.

So, on Wednesday, we kicked off MATLAB simulations, using different libraries to model how our system could reduce the steam temperature effectively. Thursday was all about testing and comparing. I ran a Fusion simulation to see how heat dissipates in standard pipes versus pipes fitted with finned clamps for extra cooling.

By Friday, we started ordering parts to build a more accurate Drain Saver prototype. Although our simulation results didn’t exactly match the real data from the autoclave pipes, Dr. Holmes advised us to build a working physical model to gather more precise readings. It’s all part of the learning process!

New Skills: SLA 3D Printing
SLA 3D printing uses a light source to cure liquid resin into three-dimensional objects by exposing a vat or tank of resin to a light source, which hardens it. On Friday, I joined an SLA 3D printing workshop led by Erin. We learned how to operate the printer, wash, and cure printed parts. It was amazing to see digital designs transform into tangible, precise parts, another tool I’m excited to use in future builds.

In conclusion, I’m so thankful to the SEED sponsors, My team members and mentors(Dr. Holmes & Prof. Michelle) for making all of this possible. Every week is full of learning, experimenting, and connecting with brilliant minds. I can’t wait to see where Week 4 takes us!

See you next week for more updates!

Hey there, and welcome back to my blog! If you’re new here or need a quick refresher, you can catch up on everything so far in my earlier posts. I’m currently working on two exciting projects this summer: one, a smart egg prototype that supports conservation efforts at the Houston Zoo, and the other, a vertical inspection camera system designed to monitor microgreens in an indoor hydroponic farm. Both are hands-on, fast-moving, and full of learning curves, just the way I like it.

This past week brought a little bit of everything: deeper technical progress, new design challenges, some much-needed rest (hello public holiday!), and even a weekend filled with cooking, culture, and community. From fine-tuning sensors and building circuits, to sharing meals with fellow interns and wandering through living history, it’s been a week that stretched me in the best ways.

So whether you’re here for engineering, the everyday moments, or the little surprises along the way,  I’m excited to take you through it all. Let’s get into it!

Egg Project Progress
As a quick refresher, our egg prototype is being developed to support conservation efforts for endangered birds, like the Attwater’s prairie chicken. The idea is to track key environmental factors such as light, temperature, and humidity during incubation. That data will be sent wirelessly to a nearby substation, helping conservationists better understand how to manage eggs outside of natural habitats. This week, the egg team focused on getting our substation,  the device that collects data from the egg to connect smoothly to both Wi-Fi and Firebase using an ESP32 board. Like many hardware adventures, it didn’t go perfectly at first, so we spent a good amount of time troubleshooting and brainstorming alternatives (spoiler: Raspberry Pi is looking like a promising option).

We also printed a scaled-up version of the egg using a cream filament, tested how components would fit inside, and started building the breadboard version of our circuit. One of my key contributions was optimizing the photoresistor, and helping lay out the egg’s internal circuitry. On Wednesday, we measured the communication range between the egg and the substation and created both a hand-drawn circuit sketch and a digital schematic using KiCad. To wrap things up, I helped write our design review documentation, reflecting on the progress, lessons learned, and what’s next.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspection Camera Prototype
Our first prototype was pretty basic but invaluable, we used aluminum extrusion for the frame, a belt system to move the camera up and down, a retractable power cord, and an old bulky camera mounted on some cardboard. This setup helped us understand how the belt-drive mechanism would work in practice and made us think hard about how to securely fasten the vertical frame to the ceiling. But it quickly became clear the prototype had some limitations. For one, the camera could only pan about 180 degrees, while we needed it to cover at least 270 degrees to capture the full growing area. Also, the bulky camera and the whole prototype were just too large to fit neatly in the space we have.

So, in our second prototype, we kept the aluminum extrusion and belt but swapped out the bulky camera for a much smaller Raspberry Pi camera (though we’re still considering other options). We found some mounting parts online to attach the camera to the cart and to secure the extrusion to both the ceiling and floor of the indoor farm space. We 3D printed these parts and tested their fit, and so far, everything snaps in place nicely.

Because this system needs to work smoothly with the existing Trolmaster software, we programmed the stepper motor that moves the camera up and down, as well as a servo motor that rotates the entire extrusion 360 degrees for full panning. Right now, these motors respond to joystick controls, but once we get access to the Trolmaster firmware, we’ll replace those signals with commands from the software itself, making the whole process automatic. Helena and I also began drafting the design review for this project, documenting both the technical work and the thought process behind our design decisions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fusion Class & 3D Design Lessons
Wednesday also came with a creative twist, we had a 3D design class using Fusion 360, where I tried my hand at designing a 3D model from scratch. I created “Umbra,” a vase concept that plays with curves and light, designed to capture the soft shadows that wrap around its surface. It’s not the most perfect model, but it was a great exercise in digital sketching and form exploration. I’m excited to iterate on it and get better with each design.
Outside the class, I also 3D printed a laptop stand and a phone holder to support my devices, a small but satisfying personal project. Unfortunately, the print didn’t quite hold up; the way I sliced it affected its strength, and it started collapsing soon after. Lesson learned, and next time, I’ll be more mindful of how print orientation and infill affect durability.

 

 

 

 

Rest and Cooking Break
Thursday and Friday were public holidays, and to be honest, I was grateful for the break. I had pretty uncomfortable menstrual cramps on Thursday, so I gave myself permission to rest, stay cozy, and take a full day off. Friday was a complete shift in energy, grocery shopping, cooking, and a whole lot of joy. I teamed up with other international interns and our amazing student hosts, Dohoon, Tasia, and Helena, for a cooking session. I mixed and baked brownies from scratch, cooked some beef using good ol’ Nigerian seasoning (Knorr, of course), and helped Tasia fry up fries.The final menu? Chipsi Mayai (a Tanzanian-style fries-and-egg dish), sautéed veggies, cookies, strawberry smoothies, and plenty of laughter in between. It felt like a warm blend of cultures coming together in one happy kitchen.

On Saturday, I visited the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum, which was hosting a family-friendly lawn festival behind the building. There were living history reenactments of the United States Colored Troops, hands-on games, and thoughtful exhibits that brought Black history to life. I left feeling inspired and proud. After that, I made a quick stop at Ross Dress for Less, where I scored a 12-pack of socks for just $9.99, a small win, but a satisfying one! Later that evening, my team and I met up at the OEDK to continue troubleshooting our second camera prototype. While we’re getting closer to something reliable, the session revealed a few more constraints we’ll need to tackle next week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking Ahead
This week was the perfect balance of building and breathing. We moved both projects forward, tackled new challenges, and still made time to rest, cook, connect, and explore. I’m learning that engineering isn’t just about solving problems , it’s also about finding joy in the journey and building community along the way.

Next week promises more testing, prototyping, and refining, and I can’t wait to see where it takes us.

Thanks for reading and as always, stay tuned.

Eniola 🙂

 

 

My name is Daniel Olatinwo Opeyemi, a beneficiary of Rice 360’s Summer Experience Engineering Design(SEED) and an Industrial & Production Engineering student from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Kicking off my journey to the United States, which began on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at exactly 11:55 PM, when I boarded my very first international flight, a plane from Lagos, Nigeria, alongside my colleague from the University of Lagos, Eniola. It was an 11-hour flight to Washington, D.C., followed by another 3-hour flight to Houston, Texas. We finally arrived at George Bush Intercontinental Airport around 11 AM on Thursday, June 5, 2025.

The first thing that greeted me was the blazing Texas sun and a friendly driver who had been assigned to pick us up. He drove us straight to Rice University, where we were warmly welcomed by Michelle. She gave us a quick tour of Martel College and showed us our room, where a lovely welcome package awaited. That afternoon, we had a delicious lunch at Sammy’s, located at the student center, with Michelle and Gabriel, a great way to settle in.

The next day, Friday, we had our first official tour of Rice University and a brief meeting with Marjorie from Rice 360°. We also had lunch at the American Island Grill, where we met some of the key people we’ll be working with: Dr. Kelvin Holmes, our supervisor at OEDK(Osman Engineering Design Kitchen); Erin, the lead intern for the SEED program; Helena, a fellow SEED participant; and several others.

On Saturday, Helena kindly volunteered to take us to Hermann Park, where I joined the other international SEED interns visiting the zoo. It was fun exploring the park, seeing different animals, and enjoying nature in a whole new environment. Sunday was peaceful. Eniola and I attended church at St. Mary’s Chapel, a perfect way to reflect and prepare for the week ahead.

By Tuesday morning, I had been selected for my two preferred projects:
• EARTI is an innovative hydroponic farming system designed to optimize plant cultivation in controlled environments. As part of its advanced monitoring capabilities, the system requires a vertically moving camera that can travel along the height of the growing structure. This camera will be responsible for capturing real-time images of the plants at various levels, enabling researchers and farmers to closely monitor growth patterns, detect issues early, and ensure optimal plant health throughout the farming cycle.

• Drain Saver is a sustainability-focused project aimed at minimizing water waste in autoclave systems. Typically, autoclaves release hot steam during their sterilization cycles, which is cooled using a continuous flow of water before its condensate can be safely drained. The Drain Saver project seeks to reduce the volume of water used in this cooling process by exploring alternative cooling methods, improving thermal management, and optimizing system efficiency. The goal is to design a solution that conserves water without compromising the safety or performance of the autoclave.

The rest of the week, Wednesday through Friday, was spent getting to know my teammates on each project, and we also had our first client meetings on each project, where we got to see their workspaces and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges they’re facing. I was impressed by how open and supportive the clients were. I also took part in the laser cutting workshop, where I got hands-on experience using the laser machine. During the session, I learned how the machine precisely engraves designs and cuts through various materials like wood and acrylic using focused laser beams. We were introduced to the design software(Adobe Illustrator) used to prepare files for cutting, and I even had the chance to create and engrave a personalized item. It was exciting to see how digital designs could be transformed into physical objects with such accuracy and speed.

Saturday, June 14, was a highlight of my week. I went ice skating for the very first time with Doohan, Helena, and a group of international SEED students. We also explored downtown Houston and did a bit of window shopping. Stepping onto the ice was exciting, even though I took a few spectacular spills; every stumble was pure adrenaline and so much fun. I can’t wait to lace up and do it all over again!

In conclusion, I’m incredibly grateful to be part of the SEED program. This first week has been a perfect blend of learning, bonding, and exploration. It’s inspiring to witness how real-world problems are tackled here, and I’m looking forward to what the next six weeks will bring.

A heartfelt thank you to the incredible sponsors of this program, your generosity is not just opening doors, it’s transforming lives. Your support is empowering students like me to dream bigger, learn deeper, and grow beyond borders. I’m truly grateful for the opportunity you’ve made possible.

Just one week in, and I already have many stories to tell.

Stay tuned for more this Sunday.