Our Team

Meet the passionate individuals behind our mission to transform the beach experience.

Minha Kim
Minha Kim
Mechanical Engineer

Overall design of product, CAD of custom internal components, Integration of electronics, Testing

Reflection

This project taught me valuable lessons in design and execution. A major challenge was finalizing an idea we were excited about, which delayed prototyping. Starting earlier and seeking expert feedback could have saved time and reduced obstacles. During construction, precision was critical, especially when aligning electronics with external panels. The first iteration lacked a complete CAD assembly, making alignment difficult. In the second iteration, a full CAD model streamlined the process and improved accuracy. Overall, I learned the importance of early prototyping, attention to detail, and iterative design. Moving forward, I’ll prioritize faster prototyping and structured feedback to avoid delays.

Skills used on this project

CAD DesignMechanical DesignProject Management3D Printing
Sarah Kate Ashton
Sarah Kate Ashton
Mechanical Engineer

Creative designer focused on crafting beautiful and intuitive user experiences.

Reflection

Working on ROOT allowed me to apply my engineering skills to a real-world problem while collaborating with an amazing team.

Skills used on this project

Mechanical DesignProduct DevelopmentPrototypingTechnical Documentation
Aryan Kothari
Aryan Kothari
Computer Scientist

My primary responsibility within the group was to develop the SMART component, which we decided would be represented by the LED matrices. To achieve this, I configured the matrices using an ESP32 and its Bluetooth capabilities and created a mobile app that enables users to change the lighting modes. Additionally, I served as the primary point of communication with the MEMs, ensuring collaboration between teams.

Reflection

As a Trinity student, I was genuinely excited when I came across this class—it felt like a rare opportunity to explore electrical and hardware components, areas I hadn't had the chance to dive into during my time at Duke. This course has been incredibly rewarding in many ways. Some standout aspects for me include gaining hands-on experience with circuits, navigating the challenges and triumphs of working in a team setting with responsibilities and deadlines, and creating something with the potential for meaningful impact. Although I faced moments of uncertainty and confusion, the overall experience was an invaluable learning journey.

Skills used on this project

UI/UX DesignUser ResearchPrototypingWireframing
João Carvalho
João Carvalho
Electrical Engineer

Solving problems by asking questions and building things.

Reflection

Working on ROOT allowed me to apply my engineering skills to a real-world problem while collaborating with an amazing team.

Skills used on this project

Electrical DesignCircuit AnalysisPCB DesignCAD Design3D PrintingWeb Development