Innovations, Arts, and Beyond

Competing in VEX Robotics – Siyul S. (’29)

Hi, my name is Siyul and over the course of a year I competed in VEX Robotics (77174Y / 77174A). VEX has been one of the most challenging experiences of my academic career. VEX Robotics is an international engineering competition in which teams design, construct, and program autonomous and driver controlled robots to complete a unique game challenge each season. Success of a team requires strategic thinking, CADing skills and collaboration. Figure 1. Vex Pushback Field An important aspect of VEX is the Engineering Design Process. The development of a robot involves identifying constraints, researching solutions, constructing prototypes, conducting testing,… Continue reading Competing in VEX Robotics – Siyul S. (’29)

STEM in the Wild: Learning Science Through Discovery Program – William P. (’28)

Some of the things we’ve done include learning natural navigation techniques like using the sun to estimate time and direction, studying avalanche safety and snowpack layers during winter backcountry trips, and analyzing how terrain, weather, and weak snow layers affect avalanche risk. We also did presentations on different weather phenomena and learned about how changing weather conditions impact outdoor environments and safety. A big part of Discovery was also environmental observation and field-based learning. We spent a lot of time looking at ecosystems, sustainability, and how human activity affects natural spaces. Being outside while actually applying science to real situations… Continue reading STEM in the Wild: Learning Science Through Discovery Program – William P. (’28)

Automatic Pill Crusher – Matthew A. (’27)

Hello! My name is Matthew, and the article below is a summary of my innovation in the Fusion Cohort. Pill crushers are devices used to turn solid medication tablets into a fine powder, making them easier to swallow or administer via feeding tubes. However, electric forms of these devices can be extremely expensive for medical facilities rendering them inaccessible for many. I’ve designed a model with hospitals in mind to make electrical pill crushers more cost-effective, environmentally friendly, sound-proof, and easy to use (for hospital staff and patients). Here are some design photos: The crusher works via a lead screw… Continue reading Automatic Pill Crusher – Matthew A. (’27)

Astro AI – Felix H. (’27)

I’m Felix Hang, and this blog is a summary of my work in the Fusion 10 Cohort. Last year, I developed Astro AI — an AI application for exoplanet habitability analysis. The Primary goal of the project was to give definitive, instant habitability scores/answers from sparse astronomical data and make analysis accessible via natural-language queries (e.g., “How habitable is TRAPPIST-1 e?”). In the end, I successfully developed a conversational chatbot interface equipped with AI-powered analysis of NASA Exoplanet Archive data and visualizations to convey habitability factors. Visualizations included: Implementation: Testing & feedback: If you’re interested in the full report, you… Continue reading Astro AI – Felix H. (’27)

Clash of Clans relations to STEM – Denny W. (’27)

I do have extensive experience in long-term strategic planning, where resource allocation today determines capabilities months from now. My specialty is infrastructure development, where every investment decision has compound effects over time. I’ve operated environments where upgrade timelines spend days, all weeks, requiring careful sequencing. I’ve learned that patient systematic development beats inpatient scattered investment, and that strategic planning requires thinking 3 to 6 months ahead while executing daily tasks. Offensive planning and risk mitigation to find my approach. I understand that successful operations require detailed preparation and precise timing. I’ve operated where protecting core assets required lay security, and… Continue reading Clash of Clans relations to STEM – Denny W. (’27)

Wildfire-Detection System – Tim D. (’27)

Figure 1. Heat map produced by the system from a container of ice cream. I’m Tim, and last year I developed a low-cost wildfire-detection system using an Arduino-based payload (infrared sensor, GPS, microSD, and communication modules). The system was intended for deployment on lightweight drones and ground stations, prioritizing rapid detection and geolocation of small fires to reduce responder arrival time. Over a two-month timeline I iterated hardware prototypes, validated GPS and thermal sensing with field tests, and logged data for refinement; design choices favored simple, inexpensive components to keep the detection module below CAD 500 (target under CAD 100… Continue reading Wildfire-Detection System – Tim D. (’27)

Geared CVT – Joe Z. (’27)

My name is Joe, and this final report and related project are a culmination of my experiences in the fusion cohort. To begin, what is a geared CVT? A geared CVT (continuously variable transmission) employs a complex system of gears (as opposed to belts) to improve torque handling, efficiency, and connection between the engine and wheels. My initial project objective was to solve the inefficiency problems of electrically-powered performance cars. The following graph illustrates this performance ineffiency: Figure 1. Relationship between Tesla Model S plaid and Lamborghini Aventador SVJ BHP As seen in Figure 1, Tesla’s fastest production car produces… Continue reading Geared CVT – Joe Z. (’27)

Kpūtlolît Ktetōt (Language of the People) – Allen D. (’28)

I am Allen Ding, and I am currently a grade 9 student interested in linguistics. Lately I’ve gotten into ./conlanging (creating fictional languages) and I wanted to share a project I’ve been working on. I have created a language called Kpūtlolît Ktetōt [kpʰuː.tɬo.ˈliː ktʰɛ.ˈtøː] (Language of the People), and it features a VSO system inspiried by latin. It’s been very fun and interesting learning about the composition and progression of languages, and I definitely intend to create more idioms and words on Kpūtlolît Ktetōt in the future. This is the current alphabet and some examples of using it. Continue reading Kpūtlolît Ktetōt (Language of the People) – Allen D. (’28)

Bad Apple – Michael L. (’25)

There’s a saying on the internet that goes: “If it exists, you can play Bad Apple on it.” And I have a 0.96” 128×64 OLED Display. I think you can see where this is going. Getting this to work was no easy task. First of all, I didn’t have an SD card, so the only way of getting video and audio in time was to stream it through serial via USB. Another problem was that the base library function of writing a pixel with a colour takes several instructions to run even though many of them are not required for… Continue reading Bad Apple – Michael L. (’25)

Ozone Hand Cleaner – Milton H. (’25)

Hello, my name is Milton Hwang and I’m currently in grade 11. In my grade 10 year, I had the privilege of joining a cohort of 22 STEM enthusiasts to explore the wide field of technology and engineering: Fusion 10. In this program, we were assigned a final project to complete before the end of the year that involved making a finished product of any interest. As for me, I created an ozone hand sanitizer—a device that produces ozone, a bactericidal compound, through electric arcing. I will be explaining how I initially got this idea, the process involved in creating… Continue reading Ozone Hand Cleaner – Milton H. (’25)