Author: Yehyun Lee, Email: leey93@unlv.nevada.edu
Date Last Modified: 05/11/2025

On Thursday, I visited the senior design showcase in front of AEB with some of the lab members to support Tommy’s project. The event featured a wide range of impressive engineering projects from various teams, and it was exciting to see the results of so much hard work and creativity. Since I had just completed my own capstone design project before coming here, it was especially interesting to compare the differences in scale and presentation. Although I couldn't visit every booth, many of the projects stood out—such as a two-wheeled exploration robot, a pulse jet interceptor, and an underwater engine. I was genuinely impressed by the high quality of these student projects, which felt almost like professional-level work. I’m not sure if this is unique to the U.S. or just to UNLV, but it seemed like students had access to generous budgets that allowed them to fully explore their ideas and take bold design risks. It was a motivating experience, filled with the passion and ambition of future engineers.

At the Senior Design Showcase, I had the chance to meet Tommy’s teammates for the first time. I stopped by their booth, greeted them, and listened to their presentation. I was genuinely impressed by how confidently and clearly each team member explained their project. In many team projects, it’s common to see uneven participation or lack of commitment from some members, but this team seemed truly cohesive and dedicated. It was clear that every member had played an active role and taken ownership of the project. Their project focused on developing a sensor to prevent fatalities caused by tasers—a technology aimed at saving lives. I thought it was both meaningful and admirable that they chose a theme centered on real-world impact and public safety.

I realized that cars in the U.S., especially in Las Vegas, are viewed more as practical tools than status symbols. Due to the country’s vast size and limited public transportation, people rely heavily on personal vehicles. I was surprised to see many cars that were clearly old or damaged, yet still used daily without concern—as long as they ran. In Korea, where cars often reflect social status, such worn-out vehicles are rarely seen. This contrast highlighted how differently transportation is perceived across cultures.

I realized that I tend to start things with enthusiasm but sometimes struggle to finish them. Even though I know how important it is to complete tasks properly, my perfectionist side often gets in the way. If I’m not fully satisfied with the outcome, I hesitate to wrap things up or share the result at all. I think this might be because I’m afraid of negative feedback. But I’m learning that honest feedback is what helps me grow and improve. I need to accept that even imperfect work can lead to better results next time, and that finishing and sharing what I’ve done is part of the process.

I’m currently working on embedded system development using the Crazyflie drone platform. Compared to my previous capstone design project, which used Arduino, this project involves a more complex structure based on RTOS and modular firmware. I learned how to create and manage system tasks within a real-time environment, use a manual build system with Makefiles, and interact more directly with hardware components. This allowed me to experience more advanced and low-level embedded development.