Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez, UPR
Presenter: Alex Demel-Pacheco, Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez, UPR
Project: Gantry Crane Digital Twin
Description of the project: This project was based on the construction of a physical, small-scale replica of a gantry crane, which was then integrated into a digital environment for advanced simulation. By developing this “digital twin” of the physical hardware, a precise acceleration pattern was found that allowed the crane to move rapidly between the two extremes of its rails while eliminating the swinging of its payload containers. The success of this methodology demonstrates the power of digital modeling for solving complex mechanical stabilization challenges, proving that virtual simulations can provide highly effective real-world motion control strategies.
Biography:
Alex Demel-Pacheco is a Computer Engineering student at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, with a passion for autonomous systems and robotics. With extensive experience at the Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, Alex has developed autonomous navigation stacks, semantic segmentation systems, and remote operation interfaces for heavy machinery. As a published researcher in machine learning and computer vision, Alex has also designed modular sensor architectures and optimized warehouse logistics through reinforcement learning. Proficient in Python, C++, and ROS, Alex combines hardware expertise in PCB design with advanced full-stack and AI development to solve complex engineering challenges.