UA_Engineer_25_FINAL_spreads (1) - Flipbook - Page 27
Did you know the sideline privacy tent you see during
football games was developed and patented right here
at The University of Alabama? Two former College of
Engineering students played a key role in designing the
tent alongside Jeff Allen, director of sports medicine for
Alabama Football, to protect player privacy during injury
evaluations and medical care. This innovation is now
utilized by teams nationwide.
Jonathan Clayton, a third-year doctoral student
studying environmental engineering, was named a
2024-2025 Fulbright Scholar for his research on arsenic
in drinking water systems in Hungary. In partnership with
Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, Clayton’s work
employed field sampling and predictive modeling to
identify risk points for contamination, a research effort
that directly impacted a local village in southern Hungary.
He also shared his passion for water science by teaching
middle school students in Kecskemét. Fulbright is one of
the world’s most prestigious academic exchange programs,
and Clayton’s selection speaks to his global mindset and
commitment to using science for community good.
Senior civil engineering student Madelyn Stonecipher
recently introduced students at Muscle Shoals High School
to the world of traffic engineering through a hands-on
presentation on traffic microsimulation. Drawing from her
experience in Dr. Alex Hainen’s CE458 “Traffic Engineering”
course, she demonstrated how SUMO (Simulation of
Urban Mobility), an open-source Python-based traffic
simulation software, can be used to model and analyze
urban transportation systems. This outreach effort not only
showcased the innovative work being done in UA’s civil
engineering program but also inspired the next generation
of engineers!
If you’ve ever wished for a device
that could make your back more comfortable
and safe during strenuous activities—like moving
heavy items, bending, squatting or stooping—
look no further. A recent project developed in the
Agile Robotics Lab in the College of Engineering
aims to reduce the risk of low back pain using
tensegrity robotics, which uses a balance of
tension and compression to achieve strong,
flexible structures. Called the Second Spine,
this bioinspired exosuit works in harmony with
human biomechanics by mimicking the muscletendon-bone arrangement of the spinal column.
The University of Alabama’s EcoCAR team
completed Week 1 of competition in Yuma,
Arizona, with strong results and national
recognition. The team earned first place in
both the Thermal Derate Event and CARB Dyno
Testing Preparations. Dean Clifford Henderson
visited during Ride and Drive, offering support
as they demonstrated their engineering
expertise on the track. Week 2 begins in
San Diego as the team continues advancing
sustainable mobility solutions through
innovation and collaboration.
FALL 2025 | CAPSTONE ENGINEER | 27
