Collection

2025 ASEE -GSW Annual Conference

Authors

Joshua Hicks-Ward, The University of Texas at San Antonio; Kevin Nguyen, The University of Texas at San Antonio; Cody Gonzalez, The University of Texas at San Antonio

Paper ID #49669Comparison, Design Review, and Prototype Model of Robotic Tool Changersfor Multi-Purpose Unmanned Ground Vehicle Applications: Learning ThroughIndustry PartnershipMr. Joshua Hicks-Ward, The University of Texas at San Antonio Joshua Hicks-Ward is a Graduate Student at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and Production Manager at Renu Robotics. He received his B.S. in Physics from Southwestern University in 2019 and is currently pursuing his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering at UTSA. Mr. Hicks-Ward’s professional career has led to over four years of experience leading technical operations with three

Collection

2025 ASEE -GSW Annual Conference

Authors

James K. Nelson Jr. P.E., Texas A&M University System RELLIS Campus; Celeste Arden Riley, Texas A&M University - Kingsville; Jeffrey John Hatala, West Texas A&M University; Andrew Crawford, Tarleton State University; London Knight, West Texas A&M University; Victoria June Vinzant, Texas A&M University - Kingsville

available to students in Houston. He also served on the Texas State Board of Education committee preparing the standards for career and technical education. In addition, Dr. Nelson served as the chair of the academic advisory committee for the Texas Board of Registration for Professional Engineers, and chaired the task committee to enhance faculty licensure.Celeste Arden Riley, Texas A&M University - Kingsville Dr. Celeste Riley is an Assistant Professor of Practice in the Department of Psychology and Sociology at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, RELLIS Campus. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025

Collection

2025 ASEE -GSW Annual Conference

Authors

Ahmed Hasan, University of New Mexico; Alex V Maynes

materials, perform confined space inspections, and conduct specific taskswithin hazardous environments.IntroductionThe mechanical engineering department at UNMintroduced a new course in the spring of 2019 titled“An introduction to modern Mechanical Engineering,ME-150” to increase the retention of engineeringstudents. The objective of this course is to introduceengineering freshman students to the variousEngineering technologies related to mechanical Figure 1. 3Dengineering careers, while describing the science and Printing with 1,2 DOBOT’smath behind them . The class offers non-traditional Robotic Armeducation experience to the students, where morethan 80% of the class

Collection

2025 ASEE -GSW Annual Conference

Authors

Randall D. Manteufel, The University of Texas at San Antonio

tutoring systems increase student learning and engagement. AI techniques alsooptimize resources and improve educational institution operations, highlighting the importance ofintegrating AI thoughtfully [11]. Group InterviewsTwenty-two senior-level mechanical engineering students were interviewed in the Fall 2024semester. The interviews were conducted in two groups of eleven students each. About 50% of thestudents were finishing the BSME program that semester and the others anticipated finishing inSpring 2025 or shortly thereafter. All students described how they would be starting theirengineering career after graduation and none intended to pursue graduate studies. The students wereinterviewed in groups since

Collection

2025 ASEE -GSW Annual Conference

Authors

Sandipon Chowdhury, West Texas A&M University; Swastika Bithi, West Texas A&M University

everyday life. This approach not only buildsknowledge but also inspires future careers in STEM fields and environmental stewardship.Students gain a comprehensive understanding of wastewater treatment by constructing small-scalesystems that incorporate sedimentation, filtration, and biological treatment. This activityintroduces key processes such as sedimentation, where solids settle due to gravity, reducingturbidity and preparing water for further purification. Filtration follows, using layers of gravel,sand, and activated charcoal to remove finer particles and chemical pollutants, helping studentsmeasure turbidity changes and understand how filtration improves water clarity. Finally, biologicaltreatment utilizes microorganisms to metabolize

Collection

2025 ASEE -GSW Annual Conference

Authors

Pedro Cordeiro Povoa Cupertino, Wichita State University; Adam Carlton Lynch, Wichita State University

engineering, and design for sustainability in theircurricula. By involving project-based instruction with hands-on applications that are reflectionsof true DoD issues, students will be better able to prepare for careers in aerospace and defense RQ2: Industry Focus: Which challenges should be the top priority to address?Among these, Security, Dependability, and Sustainability emerged as the most criticalchallenges, being associated with 69% of the budget allocation to CPS and UAV technologies.These three areas not only address critical operational needs but also align directly with all DoDCyber Strategy goals, showing where the defense industry should focus their efforts whenworking in CPS and UAV.The KEEN framework played an essential role in

Collection

2025 ASEE -GSW Annual Conference

Authors

Mohammad Waqar Mohiuddin, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas; Jonathan Weaver-Rosen, Texas A&M University; Carlos R. Corleto P.E., Texas A&M University; Joanna Tsenn, Texas A&M University; Shadi Balawi, Texas A&M University

Tagged Topics

Diversity

undergraduate education enables students to complete projectsmore effectively and equips them with essential competencies for their future careers. By fosteringthese abilities, engineering programs can better prepare students to navigate the collaborative nature Proceedings of the 2025 ASEE Gulf-Southwest Annual Conference The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX Copyright © 2025, American Society for Engineering Education 2of professional engineering work. Therefore, integrating teamwork skill development into theengineering curriculum is critical to cultivating the next generation of engineers

Collection

2025 ASEE -GSW Annual Conference

Authors

Mostafa Mohammad, Wichita State University; Adam Carlton Lynch, Wichita State University

continuouslearning. This approach prepares them to excel in academic endeavors and equips them with theskills needed to thrive in professional environments.In addition, Lean Six Sigma is a powerful methodology that equips students with the skills to excelin their careers by focusing on continuous improvement and operational excellence. By learningto identify inefficiencies and implement data-driven solutions, students gain a competitive edge intheir professional journeys. Lean Six Sigma’s emphasis on reducing costs and improving qualitydirectly translates to measurable business value, which is highly attractive to employers. Thiscapability not only enables students to contribute effectively to their early roles but alsodemonstrates their potential for