The Concept
As the Fall 2025 semester concludes, the Proportion-Air sponsored capstone team at Purdue Polytechnic Institute has achieved significant progress on an innovative project: a virtually controlled pneumatic digging arm equipped with a bucket. This concept, originally proposed by Dr. Jose Garcia-Bravo, aims to demonstrate Proportion-Air’s advanced pneumatic control capabilities through the integration of a second loop feedback system.
The Team’s Objective
The team’s objective is to develop a fully functional system where a virtual reality (VR) headset enables real-time manipulation of a robotic digging arm. This requires precise coordination between pneumatic actuators, sensors, and control algorithms to ensure smooth, accurate motion under varying load conditions. By leveraging Proportion-Air’s second loop feedback control, the system will maintain stability and responsiveness, showcasing the potential of pneumatics in applications traditionally dominated by hydraulics or electromechanical systems. QBX Industrial Electronic Pressure Regulator | Proportion-Air
Purdue’s Goal
Capstone projects at Purdue Polytechnic span the entire academic year, providing students with an opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to complex, real-world engineering challenges. These projects emulate professional engineering environments, incorporating structured roles, defined milestones, and rigorous technical documentation. Under the guidance of faculty mentor Dr. Jose Garcia-Bravo, the team is navigating the intersection of mechanical design, control systems engineering, and human-machine interaction.
By year’s end, the team aims to deliver a fully integrated prototype capable of demonstrating virtual-to-physical control of a pneumatic digging arm.
Meet the Team
Joaquin Colon serves as the Project Schedule Manager and Secretary, overseeing team timelines, documentation, and communication to ensure efficient project execution. A senior in Robotics Engineering Technology, Joaquin brings expertise in both CAD design and programming, contributing to the development and integration of critical system components.
Outside of his academic and project responsibilities, Joaquin is an active member of the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band and enjoys gaming in his free time.
Nathaniel Grimm serves as the Electrical Design Lead, where he is responsible for all electrical systems development, including signal conditioning, power distribution, and sensor interfacing for the pneumatic crane arm. A senior in Computer Engineering Technology, Nathaniel brings strong knowledge of embedded systems, circuit design, and hardware/software integration. Outside the lab, he enjoys playing guitar and hiking.
Vishali Kumaran serves as the Budget and Cost Manager as well as the FMEA Development Leader, where she identifies potential failures in systems, products, processes, assesses their effects, and implements preventive measures to mitigate risks. She is also responsible for tracking the project’s budget and expenses. Primarily working on the software team, Vishali focuses on bringing functionality to the robot.
A student in Robotics Engineering Technology, Vishali brings strong engineering and leadership skills, shaped by her internship experience at UNIBAN as a Robotics Engineering Intern. Beyond the lab, she is actively involved in campus life, serving as President of Tamil Sangam of Purdue, and Marketing Head for the Cricket and Social Outreach Club.
Destinee Simon is a senior in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Las Vegas, Nevada. She serves as the Assistant Project Manager and Mechanical Design Lead for her Proportion-Air capstone team, focusing on CAD development and designing custom sensor mounts for the pneumatic demonstration system. Destinee’s passion for engineering comes from her love of building and her fascination with rollercoaster design. Outside of class, she is a team lead in Purdue’s Theme Park Engineering & Design club, where she co-created a 3D-printed miniature roller coaster.
Angel Torres from Lafayette, Indiana is both the Project Manager and Prototype Development Manager on the Robotic arm Human Machine Integration project at Purdue University. He is currently developing the control system for the pneumatic arm. A student in Mechanical Engineering Technology, Angel brings knowledge in engineering and creative problem-solving. Outside the lab he enjoys basketball and MMA.
Justin Vasquez serves as the Project Schedule Manager and Testing/Validation Manager where he oversees project timelines and leads the development and execution of prototype validation
testing at both the component and system levels. He primarily works on the software team, establishing communication between the robot and the “operator”. A senior in Robotics Engineering Technology, Justin brings knowledge engineering and strong technical skills in robotics coding. Outside the classroom he enjoys gaming and backpacking.
Bret Weesner serves as the Prototype Development and Manufacturing Process Manager, focusing on developing and assembling early prototypes while establishing a reliable manufacturing process to ensure the system can be built, integrated, and refined efficiently. He is a senior in Mechanical Engineering Technology and brings strong technical skills in mechanical design and pneumatic systems. Outside the lab, Bret enjoys working on cars and attending Bible studies with RUF at Purdue.
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