Draper Spotlights 11 Undergraduate Engineering Projects in Capstone Projects Research Exhibition
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Draper held its annual Capstone Projects Research Exhibition on April 29 at its corporate campus in Cambridge. This year's event featured key findings from 11 undergraduate engineering projects completed during the 2025-2026 academic year.
The goal of the Capstone Program is to provide students with hands-on experience solving complex, constraint-driven problems. Draper partners with universities on projects to expand educational outreach, strengthen connections with students and faculty, and explore innovative solutions aligned with real-world needs.
The 43 students participating in this year's exhibition represented six universities: Boston University, the United States Military Academy at West Point, the University of Connecticut, the University of Massachusetts Lowell, the University of Rhode Island, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
The projects ranged from system design concepts and workforce optimization to edge computing and collaboration for unmanned air and ground vehicles.
"At Draper, we're driven by solving meaningful problems, and it's exciting to see that same mindset reflected in these outstanding student projects," said Corin Williams, a biomedical engineer at Draper. "The talent and ingenuity on display at this year's exhibition was so impressive. It's inspiring to see the next generation of engineers already tackling challenges that matter to Draper and the world."
Each of the teams' posters were judged for the clarity of the project intent, the process of inquiry, the graphic content, and the project's results and conclusions. The teams were also scored for their presentation skills and question and answer responses. The top three projects were:
- Project ASTRA: Automated Staff-to-Role Assigner Optimization-Driven Staffing (University of Massachusetts Lowell)
- Drone-Augmented Ground Sensors for Area Denial (U.S. Military Academy at West Point)
- UAV-UGV Collaboration for Sustained Mapping & Navigation (Worcester Polytechnic Institute)
Since its inception, Draper has actively supported the next generation of technical leaders in science, technology, engineering and math through its education programs. Draper's university partnerships bridge the gap between academic research and real-world application.
In addition to the Capstone Projects, the Draper Scholars Program provides master’s and Ph.D. students with the opportunity to engage and work with experienced engineers and scientists while conducting graduate-level research in technical fields of mutual interest. Since its creation in 1973, the program has supported more than 1,300 graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in engineering and the sciences. Over the past three years, the Draper Scholars program has grown from 55 to 115 participants. To learn more about the program, visit the Draper Scholars Program webpage.
"Draper's core commitment to promoting and supporting advanced technical education for more than 50 years as an independent not-for-profit, and for more than 90 years in total, is unmatched. We are extremely proud that students at all levels have always been an integral part of Draper," said Chris Yu, Draper Scholars Program Director.
About Draper
Draper is a non-profit research, development, and manufacturing company that solves some of the nation’s most important challenges. With more than 2,500 employees working in collaboration across 12 locations, Draper delivers transformative, mission-driven solutions that successfully meet our customers’ requirements. These efforts focus on four critical mission areas: Strategic Systems, Space Systems, Electronic Systems, and Biotechnology Systems. To extend our legacy into the future, the Draper Scholars program engages with the next generation of innovators while DraperSPARX™ seeks to partner with startups and small businesses that can further our mission. To learn more about Draper, visit www.draper.com. Follow Draper on Linked In and Instagram.
Released May 13, 2026
