JHU Engineering

Design Day

Johns Hopkins Engineering Design Day is the Whiting School’s premier event that showcases the innovative works of Hopkins engineering students. Come see how students implement their classroom knowledge, creativity, and problem-solving skills to develop inventions and processes that solve real-world problems and create a better future.​​

Countdown to Design Day 2026 has begun.

Save the date April 28th.

Enchante X

Enchante X is a mobile platform that revolutionizes online makeup shopping by combining ultra-realistic AR virtual try-on, AI-driven personalized recommendations, and seamless in-app retail. Users upload a selfie; AI analyzes their skin tone, facial features, and preferences to generate lifelike makeup previews that move naturally with their face. Curated product lists and direct purchase links eliminate guesswork, reduce returns, and boost confidence. With a freemium model, subscription tiers, affiliate commissions, and targeted advertising, Enchante X addresses the $61 billion U.S. beauty-ecommerce market and the $3.7 billion global AI beauty-tech sector. Designed for tech-savvy consumers aged 18–40, GLAMAI delivers truly effortless, engaging, personalized beauty experiences.

Autonomous and Adaptive Leader-Follower Protocol for Collaborative Robotics

In this project, we further developed our robust leader-follower protocol which autonomously coordinates a group, or swarm, of devices. The system is designed to seamlessly adapt to devices dropping out of the swarm unexpectedly and to any new devices joining the network. We focused on two main tasks this year: formal verification of the protocol and developing a demonstration with mobile robots. The formal verification proved that our protocol satisfies both safety and adaptability requirements.

At Design Day, we will have an interactive simulation, which shows how our protocol can coordinate up to 50 robots. We will also present a video of our robot demonstration, which uses five TurboPi robots as devices which autonomously work to each perform a task within different quadrants of a large grid.

Scanning Spectroscopy for Next-Generation Solar Cells

We measured the photoluminescence (PL) of next-generation MAPbI2.6Br0.2Cl0.2(TA) perovskite solar cells, working with our collaborators at NIST and the University of St. Andrews, to evaluate their performance for indoor energy harvesting applications. Using a custom optoelectronic scanning setup, we extracted the quasi-Fermi level splitting (QFLS). The setup incorporated a custom-designed sample holder and mask, which controlled the illumination spot size and enabled normalization of measurements to a defined area. By analyzing the high-energy region of the PL spectrum based on the generalized Planck equation, we generated a QFLS map at a 25 μm resolution across a 3 mm × 6 mm device area. The map shows spatial non-uniformities and highlights regions with reduced energy levels, suggesting non-radiative recombination and compromised device performance. The insights support the evaluation and development of photovoltaic cells that work at the low power levels associated with indoor lighting, allowing for novel applications harvesting waste energy.

Design and Optimization of the Separated Interface Nerve Electrode for a Freeform Stimulator in Vestibular Restoration

The Separated Interface Nerve Electrode (SINE) is a critical component of the Freeform Stimulator (FS) system, a novel neuromodulation technology designed to delivery ionic direct current (iDC) for vestibular. Neuromodulation technologies are integral to rehabilitative applications that require precise control over neural activity; however, current SINE designs face challenges such as mechanical kinking and gel dehydration, which affect long-term performance. This project aimed to optimize the design of the SINE to improve flexibility, stability, and consistent iDC delivery. To address these challenges, we developed a SINE incorporating a double network hydrogel composed of ionically and covalently crosslinked networks. This formulation enhances both ionic conductivity and mechanical resilience. To prevent dehydration and ensure mechanical integration, the hydrogel is chemically bound to a flexible elastomer substrate with coupling agents. This hybrid design advances the reliability and performance of the Freeform Stimulator system in vestibular rehabilitation.