CT College of Technology and MET2 Cohort Presentations

The National Science Foundation funded National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing sponsored the latest Connecticut College of Technology meeting, held at the University of Hartford on Friday, April 17th, 2026. This meeting offered the 2026 Mechanical Engineering Technologies & Manufacturing Engineering Technologies ( MET2) cohort an opportunity to showcase their project progress, and the University of Hartford kindly arranged a tour of the campus's manufacturing and engineering labs. Additionally, the 2026 NASA CT Space Grant Consortium Community College Drone Challenge was held at the university, allowing meeting participants to watch the challenge live from their conference room.

Student volunteers at the University of Hartford for the check-in of the NASA Community College Drone Challenge.

The College of Technology convened to address several key agenda items that are pertinent to the ongoing development and enhancement of educational programs within the state. A significant focus of the meeting was a discussion surrounding the federal workforce Pell grant initiative. This initiative is designed to provide financial assistance to students pursuing career technical education, particularly in fields that align with workforce demands.

During the meeting, participants examined the implications of the Pell grant initiative for Connecticut institutions, specifically how it could affect enrollment, program offerings, and overall institutional funding. The discussion highlighted the potential benefits that the initiative could bring to students from diverse backgrounds, particularly those who may face financial barriers to accessing higher education. The outcomes of these discussions are expected to shape future policies and initiatives aimed at fostering an educational environment that meets the needs of both students and employers alike.

The following information details the presentations by College of Technology students, both from Connecticut State Community College and from four-year institutions. One of the College of Technology's upcoming initiatives is to expand its reach to other partners in Connecticut and neighboring states.

The MET2 students watch the livestream of the 2026 NASA CT Space Grant Consortium Community College Drone Challenge.

Team Maker Motion:

Anders Maxilus, CT State Community College Gateway

Latosha Murray, CT State Community College Gateway

Jeannie Tran, CT State Community College Gateway

Hanif Barrett, CT State Community College Middlesex

The Maker Motion project, sponsored by the Northwest Connecticut Housing and Innovation Center (NCHIC), aims to design and develop a mobile cobot pedestal system for the Revopoint Vbot 3D scanning platform. The system will be used for demonstration, training, and practical applications. The project involves integrating a commercially available 80/20 pedestal structure with a custom-designed mounting interface to securely support the scanner while maintaining stability, mobility, and ease of use. The team is responsible for assessing structural requirements, creating CAD models, selecting materials, and producing a functional mounting solution that meets both technical and practical needs. This project provides hands-on, application-driven engineering experience that emphasizes real-world system integration over theoretical design.

This project enhanced engineering judgment by requiring consideration of fabrication,

assembly, and system integration constraints throughout the design process. Decisions were assessed not just for theoretical performance, but also for constructability and real-world implementation. Additionally, the project emphasized the importance of clear communication, thorough documentation, and iterative development when collaborating with a team and a project sponsor.

Team UpTime:

Michael Miranda, University of New Haven

Alexander Valdivia, CT State Community College Gateway

Victor Paez, CT State Community College Gateway

Ibraheem Rana, CT State Community College Manchester

Uptime set out to create a machine learning algorithm to classify and predict the remaining lifespans of CNC bits. Using machine learning programs to digest the data collected to then give precise and accurate estimates on the parts, being able to tell how certain processes or materials could further degrade or extend lifespan as well. The purpose of this program would be to allow for accurate predictions of needed maintenance before the problem occurs, removing maintenance downtime. Uptime created a variety of programs to achieve this going through several algorithms and iterations, all in the hopes of creating maintenance Uptime

Team MEK Additive Manufacturing:

Kenyce Johnson, University of Bridgeport

Emma Dargenio, University of Hartford

Matthew Lynch, University of Hartford

The objective of this project is to go from a 3D scan of a physical pipe, create a 3D model of the pipe, and complete an FEA analysis and a flow simulation of the pipe's 3D model. With the results of the FEA and the flow simulation, we aim to make a more organic model of the pipe that will be 3D printed, to find potential efficiencies that can be made in both the pipe design and the documentation of the part details. By 3D-printing the pipe, the team is looking allow a reduction in manufacturing time while maintaining part complexity.

Team BEEZ KNEEZ:

Alissa Pace, Central Connecticut State University

Jahmal Bynum, Central Connecticut State University

Dang Ly, University of Connecticut

Justin Tran, Central Connecticut State University

This project is to develop a robotic assistant that can serve food to the disabled. 3D modeling and printing the external components of this robot will be utilized to develop ESP32 microcontroller along with a variety of sensors, including, but not limited to: infrared, inertial measurement unit (IMU), and ultrasonic will be used. These components will be programmed to allow the robot to act autonomously. 

The project is composed of two main parts: the modified mini fridge and the mobile robot. The modified mini fridge will respond to the input for a selected meal and will release the meal container for the mobile robot to retrieve. The mobile robot will retrieve the food from the mini fridge and then deliver the meal first to the microwave (located on top of the mini fridge), then to the table. 

Team Motion Forms:

Diego Angeles, CT State Community College

Thomas Roberts, University of Connecticut

Jacob McCann, Central Connecticut State University

Our project focused on designing and assembling a reliable system to consistently transmit power from a servo motor to an abrasive polishing disk for a research initiative at Central Connecticut State University. The primary goal was to engineer and optimize a servo-driven power transmission system that minimizes vibration from external sources, ensuring smoother operation and improved precision. This work supports the broader objective of developing a fully autonomous robotic arm capable of manufacturing aircraft turbine blades, consistency and accuracy which are critical to reducing the number of defective or scrapped parts that helps reduce cost and time spent machining. Our project focused on designing and assembling a reliable system to consistently transmit power from a servo motor to an abrasive polishing disk for a research initiative at Central Connecticut State University. The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing would like to acknowledge all of the partner universities and Connecticut State Community College for their support of the MET2 program.

John Birch of The Birch Group, alongside the aforementioned MET2 students, as well as Professor Eric Flynn of Gateway Community College, and Steven Longpre from the Northwest Connecticut Housing and Innovation Center and BSS Additive Manufacturing.