Renato Vilca Valderrama

About Me

Hi! My name is Renato. I’m a recent graduate of The City College of New York where I studied Electrical Engineering. Here is what I’ve been up to.

Current Projects

IoT Doorbell: While working at the Queens College Makerspace, I programmed and designed a smart doorbell that alerts the Makerspace Slack channel that someone is at the door. I iterated my design across three circuits, each using a different programming language (Python, MicroPython, CircuitPython) running on a different microcontroller (Raspberry Pi 3, HUZZAH ESP8266, Feather M4 Express). Here is a link to images of the soldered circuit using the HUZZAH ESP8266. (Summer, 2021)

HLA CX-6 Rocket: As part of the Harlem Launch Alliance, a student-run rocketry organization, I am continuously cooperatively designing the CX – 6 rocket’s electrical recovery system and assisting in its integration into the airframe. I also oversee the electrical section’s competition compliance and am helping develop solutions to the design constraints imposed by the CX - 6 Rocket Technical Specifications. Additionally, I have used EAGLE to design the later fabricated PCB for use in test launches as a flight computer. The final product (made in-house at CCNY!) can be seen here. (Spring, 2020)

N95 Mask Attachment: For the AECOM & CCNY MTM COVID-19 Design Challenge, I worked with a team of five to design an N95 mask attachment that reduces contamination. Currently using awarded competition funding for further prototyping and to submit a provisional patent. Here is an article featuring our project for Einstein Magazine. (Summer, 2020)

Past Projects

Microfluidic Bioprinter: As our capstone project, a group of classmates and I created a bioprinter capable of printing microfluidic structures out of hydrogel. We modified a 3D printer to use a 3D printed pump and an adjustable laser to extrude and cure material into the desired shape with modified G-Code. Here is an album showing what it looks like in action. (Spring, 2021)

Elevator Controller: Using Quartus Prime Lite and Modelsim, I programmed and simulated a Finite State Machine Elevator Controller which follows input from various floors. Set to open only for clock cycles after reaching the designated floor and receptive to resets for maintenance. Submitted as final project for Digital Design Using Verilog class at CCNY. Accompanynig presentation can be found here. (Spring, 2021)

Spreadro: For the 2021 MakeMIT Hardware Hackathon, I collaborated with a team of three to design an automated seeding and ice-melt rover. Prototype was awarded prizes in the ”Sustainability” and ”Best Home Robot” categories. Here is a link to the Devpost for the project. (Spring, 2021)

Scorpion Rocket: For a Level 1 HPR Certification, I built a single-deploy Scorpion model rocket kit (courtesy of the good folks at Mac Performance Rocketry). Launched in late May at the Pine Island site of the METRA Rocket Club along with other members of the Harlem Launch Alliance. Here are photos of the build and launch process and here is a video of that launch. (Spring, 2021)

Arduino Controlled Fan: I created an Arduino controlled fan whose speed can be either controlled by a potentiometer or by the current temperature. A remote control is used to switch between the two modes. A LCD screen shows the temperature being read in Fahrenheit and what mode the fan is currently in. Here is how it looks like as well as two videos of it in action. Here is a slideshow presentation with some background on the project. (Fall, 2020)

6-Node Network Design: To compare routing algorithms, I used the Riverbed Modeler software to simulate a 6-node network and compare average delay, utilization, and speed of convergence. My results favored the Routing Information Protocol. Here is a report detailing the entire project. (Spring, 2020)

Audio Amplifier: To create a PA amplifier, a classmate and I assembled and combined a common emitter amplifier and a push-pull power amplifier using integrated circuits on a protoboard. I tested the final product using inputs from a function generator and then a microphone. (Spring, 2019)