Evan was born and raised on Oahu, but graduated from
Kealakehe High School in 2024. He is currently pursuing a
Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is
considering pursuing graduate studies to conduct research
in robotics. Evan is a mechanical lead of a student-led club
called Team RoSE (Robotic Space Exploration). The team
competes in the University Rover Challenge, where teams
compete to create a rover to perform tasks simulating a
Mars rover. Additionally, he captains the 3d printing
competition for ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers),
where they have to create the lightest 2-foot-long bridge to
hold 70 lbs. He also does research in the SoMa (Soft Matter)
lab, creating a peristaltic pump to extrude silicon.
Home Island: Oahu
High School: Kealakehe High School
Institution when accepted: UH Manoa
Site: Institute for Astronomy, Hilo (IfA). Hilo, Hawaii Island
Mentors: Luke McKay & Raycen Wong
Project title: Creating a Deployable Weather Sensor System for the UH 2.2m Telescope
Project Abstract:
The University of Hawaii 2.2m telescope has multiple weather sensors on the roof to understand the
surrounding environment and determine when to open/close the shutters. Previously, the external
sensors were severely damaged due to repeated lightning strikes. This project focuses on creating a
mechanism to actuate “probe arms” containing these weather sensors, but instead of a stationary
sensor, it will be attached to the shutter so that, as the dome rotates, it can capture the conditions
that the telescope will experience. An important constraint of this project is that there must be no
interference from any sensor mount/mechanism with the dome during opening or closing
operations. The dome must still be able to close without gaps and without inducing measurable
additional force on the shutter. Additionally, the sensors must be robust enough to handle winds of
60 mph, light icing, rain, and strong UV. The mechanism itself must rely only on low-voltage devices.
Pneumatic storage, hydraulic accumulators, large springs, or heavy counterweights are considered
safety risks, so they are not feasible. Currently, the project aims to install a Boltwood Cloud Sensor
and multiple cameras to view the interior and exterior. Utilizing CAD, mounting locations will be
conceptualized, and multiple iterations will be designed until mentor approval is obtained based on
requirements, feasibility, and robustness. Prototyping will be built using in-house materials and
outside vendors. Finally, this prototype will be tested on the summit. The project resulted in the
creation of a mechanism that stands 3 ft tall with a cloud sensor that extends 4 ft horizontally out of
the dome using linear rails. In addition, a How-To guide was developed detailing the installation and
operation of this mechanism. Future plans include automation and data verification.