The Final Design Review (FDR) for the Awearables project was held on April 21, 2026, marking the culmination of months of design, prototyping, testing, and iteration.

During the review, the team presented the complete Awearables system across five report volumes. Key elements of the presentation included the device’s physical and functional architecture, a full bill of materials with a prototype unit cost of $98.01 (meeting the $100 MSRP target), and detailed acceptance testing procedures and results. The team also presented the manufacturing and assembly process for the CNC-machined polycarbonate enclosure and custom PCB, along with field test results from the April 8 evaluation at the FDOT Gainesville Operations Center.

The Awearables Project Poster.

Performance metrics demonstrated that the prototype met or exceeded many critical design requirements. Notably, the system achieved a time-to-alert under 133 milliseconds, a communication range exceeding 1,000 feet, reliable drop survivability, USB-C charging capability, and a worker onboarding time of just 5-10 minutes. Feedback from FDOT personnel also confirmed strong worker acceptability, with usability and attachment methods performing well in testing.

Of the twenty Product Design Specifications established at the start of the project, the majority were successfully met. These included targets related to cost, weight, usability, training time, uptime, communication performance, and durability. However, several specifications remain open or unmet. Battery life reached 12.3 hours, falling short of the 14-hour target, and formal IP55 water and dust resistance certification has not yet been achieved. Additional areas for improvement include reducing overall device volume, increasing audio loudness and vibration strength, and completing long-term lifetime and vibration testing. Feedback from FDOT field workers also emphasized the need for stronger alert outputs in high-noise, heavy equipment environments.

The Awearables Project Video.

Another key limitation identified at FDR was incomplete end-to-end integration testing with the Road Response system. While communication functionality was validated using a substitute transmitter, full system validation with the partner team’s hardware remains an important next step.

Despite these remaining items, several major deliverables were accepted as complete at FDR, including the primary report volumes, functional prototypes with multiple attachment configurations, acceptance testing documentation, the bill of materials, and both product and developer manuals. Outstanding items include additional environmental and durability testing, full system integration validation, and final report revisions based on feedback from the review.

The Awearables at FDR.

The Final Design Review represents a significant milestone and the formal conclusion of the Awearables project’s development phase. The team successfully delivered a functional, field-tested prototype that meets the majority of its original design specifications and demonstrates clear potential for real-world application. While several areas remain for future improvement, the foundation established through this project is strong.

Overall, the Awearables system reflects a comprehensive engineering effort that integrates mechanical design, electrical systems, and wireless communication into a cohesive solution. The progress achieved, combined with clear next steps, positions the project well for continued development beyond FDR.

See you next year…or not.

This week marked a major step forward as we continued transitioning from development into validation and final deliverables. With key testing completed and presentation materials underway, the team is making strong progress toward the Final Design Review.

One of the highlights of the week was conducting joint testing with Road Response at the FDOT facility. This opportunity allowed us to evaluate system performance in a more realistic environment and assess how well our device integrates with external hardware. The testing provided valuable insights into communication reliability and overall system functionality, helping us identify areas that may need further refinement before final submission.

We also analyzed the results from surveys on our earlier nonfunctional prototypes. Reviewing this feedback helped us pinpoint specific areas for improvement, particularly in terms of usability, attachment methods, and overall design preferences. These insights continue to guide our final adjustments and ensure that our design aligns with stakeholder expectations.

We also made significant progress on our final deliverables by completing a draft version of both our project video and poster for the Final Design Review. These drafts establish a strong foundation for clearly communicating our design process, technical decisions, and results.

The polycarbonate prototype.

This week marked a major step forward as we continued transitioning from development into validation and final deliverables. With key testing completed and presentation materials underway, the team is making strong progress toward the Final Design Review.

One of the highlights of the week was conducting joint testing with Road Response at the FDOT facility. This opportunity allowed us to evaluate system performance in a more realistic environment and assess how well our device integrates with external hardware. The testing provided valuable insights into communication reliability and overall system functionality, helping us identify areas that may need further refinement before final submission.

We also analyzed the results from surveys on our earlier nonfunctional prototypes. Reviewing this feedback helped us pinpoint specific areas for improvement, particularly in terms of usability, attachment methods, and overall design preferences. These insights continue to guide our final adjustments and ensure that our design aligns with stakeholder expectations.

We also made significant progress on our final deliverables by completing a draft version of both our project video and poster for the Final Design Review. These drafts establish a strong foundation for clearly communicating our design process, technical decisions, and results.

Matt hard at work recording Emilio hard at work.

This week marked an exciting milestone for our team as we successfully presented two working prototypes during Prototype Inspection Day. Demonstrating fully functional systems was a significant achievement and highlighted the progress we’ve made in integrating our electrical, mechanical, and communication components. The event also provided valuable feedback and validation as we move into the final stages of the project.

In addition to the prototype presentations, we continued refining our enclosure design by researching improved methods for water and dust sealing. Ensuring the device can withstand real-world environmental conditions is critical, especially for long-term reliability and field deployment. These insights will help guide final design decisions for the enclosure.

We also reviewed feedback from surveys conducted on earlier non-functional prototypes. This input has been useful in identifying key areas for improvement, particularly in usability, attachment methods, and overall design preferences. Incorporating this feedback ensures that our final product is not only functional but also practical and user focused.

As we move forward, our attention is shifting toward final deliverables and comprehensive system validation. In the coming week, we will begin drafting our presentation video and poster for the final class showcase. At the same time, we will start working on each section of the Final Design Report to ensure a thorough and well-documented submission.

On the testing side, we are preparing for joint communication testing with Team 6 at the FDOT facility on April 6. This will be an important opportunity to validate system integration in a more realistic environment and ensure compatibility between both teams’ hardware.

With successful prototype demonstrations completed and clear next steps ahead, we are entering the final phase of the project with strong momentum and a focus on refinement, validation, and presentation.

PID went well for the Awearables.

This week marked another major step forward as we continue refining both our hardware and system integration. With steady progress across electrical, mechanical, and communications efforts, we are getting closer to completing a fully functional prototype.

On the electrical side, we successfully finished the second PCB prototype and confirmed that it is fully functional. This iteration builds on what we learned from the first version and provides improved support for our system components. Having a reliable second prototype gives us greater confidence as we move toward full system assembly.

The mechanical team also made important progress by refining the enclosure design to ensure a proper fit with the PCB. Achieving a precise fit is critical for both durability and usability, and these adjustments help move the design closer to a final, manufacturable solution. We continued researching CNC manufacturing as a potential method for producing a stronger and more robust enclosure.

Our communications system also saw improvements this week. We enhanced the protocol to increase both security and reliability, which is essential for consistent device performance in real-world conditions. These updates will support more dependable data transmission as we continue testing and integration.

In addition to technical progress, we began preparing for the upcoming PID presentation by outlining key goals and identifying the content we need to communicate. This preparation ensures that we can clearly present our design, progress, and next steps.

The prototype coming together.

This week marked an important milestone for the team as we successfully completed our first PCB prototype. After receiving the boards, we soldered all of the electrical components onto the PCB and verified that the device code ran correctly on the new hardware. This step represents a major transition from early breadboard testing to a more stable and integrated system design. Ensuring the code worked properly on the PCB gave us confidence that the circuit layout and component selection are functioning as intended.

Building on this progress, the electrical team also began developing the second iteration of the PCB. This updated design will support improved actuators and provide greater flexibility for future testing and refinement. On the mechanical side, the team continued investigating CNC manufacturing as a potential method for producing the enclosure. Exploring CNC machining allows us to evaluate options for creating a stronger and more durable housing compared to earlier prototype methods. We also made improvements to the device’s code to ensure more reliable system performance.

Over spring break, the team plans to focus on preparing the Final Design Report. This will involve documenting the progress we have made so far and clearly outlining the final system design and testing results. In addition, we will continue working on the communication protocol to improve the reliability and performance of device communication.

Overall, the completion of the first PCB prototype represents a significant step forward for the project, and we are excited to continue refining the system as we move toward the final stages of development.

The team hard at work.

Emilio hard at work on the second PCB.

Matt Brown hard at work.

Tyler hard at work.

This week our team continued advancing the project through electrical testing, manufacturing planning, and coordination with partner teams. These efforts are helping us transition from early prototyping toward more refined and durable hardware.

On the electrical side, we continued testing our circuit and successfully received the first batch of PCBs. Having the physical boards in hand allows us to begin the next stage of development, which includes assembling the components and validating the circuit in its finalized layout rather than on a breadboard. This step is important for confirming reliability and performance as the system becomes more integrated.

The mechanical team explored improved manufacturing options for the enclosure. We met with the lab manager to discuss the possibility of using the CNC machine. This led us to adapt the enclosure design so it can be more easily produced using this process. CNC machining may allow us to create a stronger and more durable prototype compared to previous iterations, which will be beneficial for long-term deployment.

We also took steps to gather structured feedback from stakeholders. A survey was completed and sent to our liaisons so they can evaluate the prototype enclosure and provide input on factors such as size, usability, and attachment style. Their feedback will play an important role in guiding future mechanical refinements.

Collaboration with other teams also continued this week. We met with Team 6 to better understand their hardware timeline and ensure that our communication systems will integrate smoothly with their platform. Aligning progress between teams is essential for successful system-level testing.

Next week we will focus on reviewing the feedback from the enclosure survey and mechanical prototypes to identify any necessary design improvements. On the electrical side, we plan to begin soldering components onto the PCB and continue circuit testing. The team will also work on improving the communication protocol and actuator code to ensure reliable system performance. Additionally, we will continue researching CNC manufacturing methods to develop a stronger and more refined enclosure prototype.

Overall, the project continues to move forward steadily as we refine our hardware, gather stakeholder feedback, and strengthen integration with partner teams.

Electrical circuit for the prototype.

This week marked an important checkpoint for our team as we completed QRB2 and continued with prototyping across all sub teams.

One of the biggest milestones this week was delivering our QRB2 presentation and completing the corresponding feedback response memo. The feedback we received provided valuable insight into both technical and implementation considerations. We are incorporating those recommendations into our next steps. Also, our Final Design Review (FDR) outline has been completed and is ready to be sent to our coach and liaison engineers for revision and input. This ensures we stay proactive in structuring a clear and well-supported final presentation.

On the communications side, the team successfully paired two LoRa modules and met with Road Response to synchronize progress. This alignment strengthens our integration plan and ensures both teams are moving forward cohesively.

The mechanical team finalized the latest 3D printed enclosure and attachment designs and is preparing to ship them to FDOT. Getting these physical prototypes into stakeholder hands will allow us to gather meaningful feedback on usability, attachment security, and overall form factor.

Next week will send the FDR outline to our coach and liaisons for review, ship finalized enclosure prototypes to FDOT, coordinate with Road Response and our liaisons to schedule joint testing and develop a structured feedback survey for FDOT employees to evaluate our prototype.

The team meeting to prepare for QRB 2.

This week marked significant progress across all sub teams as we move closer to external validation and formal review. The project continues to remain on schedule, with strong coordination between mechanical, electrical, and communications efforts.

The mechanical team successfully printed multiple enclosure designs and attachment styles. These prototypes will be sent to FDOT for early-stage feedback on size, weight, and mounting feasibility. Getting this physical hardware into stakeholder hands is an important step toward refining usability and ensuring our design aligns with real-world deployment needs.

On the communications side, the team achieved a major milestone by successfully establishing communication between two LoRa modules. This validates our long-range wireless approach and provides confidence as we move toward system-level integration testing.

The electrical team also made strong progress. The PCB order has officially been approved, marking a transition toward a more integrated hardware platform. Actuator testing continues, helping us evaluate alert effectiveness and overall system responsiveness.

Additionally, the team confirmed the testing methods that will be presented during QRB2. This testing aligns with our coach and liaison engineers. Establishing clear validation procedures ensures that our evaluation metrics are structured and measurable.

The team is entering an important phase where subsystems are beginning to connect, and stakeholder feedback will directly inform refinement decisions. With communication validated, hardware progressing, and testing protocols defined, we are well-positioned for the next stage of development.

This week marked a strong step forward in both our hardware development and wireless communication integration. The project remains on schedule as we transition from early prototyping into testing and validation phases.

On the electrical side, we finalized Version 1 of our PCB. The board has officially been designed and ordered, representing a major milestone as we move beyond breadboarding toward a more integrated and reliable system. We also successfully established a working connection between the Arduino and the LoRa module, laying the groundwork for long-range wireless communication capabilities.

From a mechanical standpoint, multiple enclosure concepts and snap-attachment mechanisms were 3D modeled and sent to print. These iterations will allow us to evaluate fit, durability, and ease of use while gathering feedback from stakeholders.

In the coming week, our focus will shift toward performance testing and coordination. We will begin evaluating actuator effectiveness to determine whether upgrades are necessary to meet project requirements. Mechanical prototyping will continue as we print multiple enclosure variations for shipment to FDOT.

On the communications side, we plan to establish a verified connection between two LoRa modules to ensure reliable device-to-device transmission. We will also coordinate with Road Response to confirm successful communication integration with their system.

Additionally, we will work closely with Road Response and our liaisons to schedule and confirm joint testing sessions.