Category Archives: Team Member Spotlight

Team Member Spotlight – Zelin Cai

Zelin Cai

Computer Engineer

Expected Graduation: May 2021

Hardware and Software Locker Team

 

I was born in China on October 22, 1997 and moved to San Francisco when I was around 2 years old. Because I moved so early in my life, I don’t know too much about my Chinese culture. As I grew up, I got into video games especially the difficult ones because it taught me how I can overcome obstacles if I apply myself. Another hobby that I got into was building miniatures because I like the feeling of putting something together by myself. Both of these hobbies pushed me go into computer engineering because while it is difficult, I can become better and eventually succeed and it allows me to build things in lab that I can show people.

 

Initially, I picked EPICS because I needed a tech elective and I didn’t have the requirements for the other electives. As the weeks went by, I learned a few things like how to work in a team and why the whole team needs to be informed. These lessons can help me later in life when I work with other engineers on projects. This class has also taught about things that I wouldn’t learn in my other class like how to write a resume and what to do in an interview.

 

After graduating, I hope to find a full-time engineering job but it might be difficult since I haven’t found an internship yet. I’ll also probably pursue my Master’s Degree so that I have better opportunities in the future.

Team Member Spotlight – Prabhpreet Singh

Prabhpreet Singh
Software Engineer
Expected Graduation December 2018
Project Software Designer
I was brought up in Punjab, India for my first decade of lifetime. As growing up I always had a passion for technology and art. With these two passions I was able to create some very unique projects throughout my lifetime. My first project was a waterboat made with paper which was powered by a small electric fan. I also have a great passion for photography and video making. Combining both of these skills allowed to learn much more about computers and how technology works.
I joined EPICS mainly because it was a requirement for my technical elective. But after choosing this project I could see how important this project could be for the homeless people. I always believed that everyone has the ability to help the needy. From this project I get inspiration to help people with a secure place to keep their belongings.
In the future, I would like to continue building for the better of this society. I would like to find a job in the front end development of softwares and create easy and meaningful softwares.

Team Member Spotlight – Sabrina Miller

Sabrina Miller

Mechanical Engineer

Expected Graduation December 2018

Co-Project Manager

 

I am born and raised here in San Jose, CA. One of my main hobbies is volunteering with dog rescue. I have been a foster and adoption coordinator to help rescue dogs. My other sort of hobby would be music, particularly going to live music. The way music events bring people together but each person has their completely unique experience of the music is just really amazing and I love going to all types of music shows.

 

I joined EPICS because I liked that I would get to work on a project to directly make an impact. We have a unique opportunity to do something for community good with our design projects which is something I hope to carry over into where I find a job after graduation.

 

My future plans are to hopefully find a job with a technology company where the work were doing makes an impact for good. There are so many struggles that people in the world currently face could be solved with new technologies. I hope to get to be a part of that.

Introducing Smart Lockers 2.0

Purpose

Smart Lockers 2.0 strives to design and construct smart lockers for our Community Partner, the Gilroy Compassion Center. Our main objective is to improve upon the first design of the locker so it is able to fit the short term and long term needs of both of our community partners. The lockers will not require an attendant to assign lockers and passcodes. Such tasks will be handled by the user through a connected tablet. The insides of the locker will also have power outlets to charge electronic devices while they are securely stored. Ideally, the maintenance of these lockers will be very low while also being secure and reliable.

Our Partners

Our Community partners, AtHack Inc. and Gilroy Compassion Center, have an interest in this project. The GCC was established in 2011 and has been providing help, services, and shelter to homeless people. They treat their people with compassion as they are going through the tough time in their lives. The lockers for the GCC center acknowledge the rising homeless population and the need for impoverished people to store their belongings when searching for jobs and housing. AtHack Inc. is a non-profit corporation that strives to combat modern slavery with technology. They rose to fight traffickers who use technology to exploit others. They want to support initiatives that can further help these programs help victims in shelters get back to a normal life.

Meet our team

Eric Luong

Mechanical Engineering — Expected Graduation date: 2019

Co-project manager —Liaison

Sabrina Miller

Mechanical Engineering — Expected Graduation date: 2019

Co-project manager — Liaison

Garrett Fonseca

Mechanical Engineering — Expected Graduation date: 2019

Mechanical design

Axel Hugo

Computer Engineering — Expected Graduation date: 2019

Software design

Daniel Maloney

Mechanical Engineering — Expected Graduation date: 2019

Mechanical design

Prabhpreet Singh

Software Engineering — Expected Graduation date: 2020

Software design

Irina Gail Tabor

Mechanical Engineering — Expected Graduation date: 2020

Technical writer