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Bomb squads across the nation put their lives on the line everyday to protect others. But who is working to protect them when they are out in the field?

A group of seniors in the��Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering are working to fill that gap by developing an automated X-ray device during their senior capstone class used to help explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians scan for hazardous materials.��

The project, sponsored by��, is the first of its kind in the��Senior Design program. It’s designed to address key efficiency and safety issues that bomb squads encounter when dealing with explosive devices.

“Currently, EOD technicians are holding a tripod with an X-ray panel connected to it and manually scanning for explosives and other objects. It’s dangerous and it’s not nearly large enough for the objects they want to scan,” said project manager Thomas Montgomery. “We want to make sure the technicians are safe and they can do their job with more consistency and precision.”��

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The team's automated X-ray bomb disposal device, sponsored by Los Alamos National Laboratory.��

To do this, the team attached an X-ray panel to a two-armed system powered by a series of motors with a torque output equivalent to a Prius. This allows the arms to swing and swivel to capture images anywhere within a 68-by-56 inch view without anybody getting too close.��

The group says their automatic device also allows for faster setup and image processing capabilities—both of which are very important when bomb squads are working against the clock.

“Sometimes when the operators are scanning for objects, they come across overlaps in the images that are inherent in a manual process,” Montgomery said. “Our device keeps the operator further away from the danger, and it’s repeatable. It can precisely combine all of these images with consistency and that’s incredibly crucial during these high-stakes situations.”

It’s a novel approach to a tangible issue. But despite their success, the group said it wasn’t always easy.��

The biggest challenge came all the way at the beginning of their capstone journey. When the team began brainstorming different designs and solutions, it became clear that there were quite a few dissenting opinions on how they should tackle this project.

“I was definitely one of the biggest voices of dissent on some of our original ideas,” said logistics manager Luca Voeller. “I think it was actually a good thing for our team. It really forced us to identify the flaws in our designs and come back to the group with solutions.”

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Graduating student and team member Mateo Medellin fabricating parts of the automated X-ray EOD device.

Once they settled on a design, the group encountered their next big challenge: budget.��

They found out right away they were going to need a motor capable of producing enough power to keep each of the 15-pound arms steady and moving. But purchasing one would blow a devastating hole in the rest of their project.��

“Two weeks in we realized we needed a $3,000 motor and we most likely weren’t going to be able to do the project,” Montgomery said. “We spoke to support staff and they were miraculously able to get us one.

“It really shows you the importance of the resources here at the��Idea Forge. Sometimes [the staff] brings you into some random closet somewhere and just pulls something out that saves your entire project.”

Navigating obstacles and issues is a staple in the senior capstone class. Whether it’s managing team dynamics or budget constraints, the program is designed to prepare graduating undergraduate students for industry experiences.

For this group, it was a rollercoaster ride. But they believe their struggles taught them a valuable lesson for the future.

“Don’t be afraid to fail. Fail early, fail often,” said Voeller. “The best way we learned all year was by messing up and making mistakes.”

This year’s��Engineering Expo is on Friday, April 25 at the CU Boulder Indoor Practice Facility from 2-5 p.m. Make sure to drop by and check out all the exciting projects in action!