Programs

S.U.N.

Summer Undergraduate Network
Gain hands-on experience turning ideas into real engineering solutions through interdisciplinary projects.

About

What is S.U.N.?

The Summer Undergraduate Network (S.U.N.) is an applied engineering program that brings students together to transform ideas into functioning systems. Participants build on their academic foundation while developing the practical judgment required to solve real technical challenges.

Working in interdisciplinary teams, students contribute to design, software, electronics, fabrication, integration, and testing. The experience emphasizes collaboration, project ownership, iterative improvement, and professional engineering practice.

S.U.N. submarine project team
Process

How S.U.N. Works

A structured progression from foundational training to a validated engineering system

1
Learn

Develop core skills through guided workshops in SolidWorks, Raspberry Pi, and Python.

2
Design

Translate project requirements into custom CAD models and fabrication-ready components.

3
Build

Integrate mechanical components, electronics, control hardware, and software into a complete system.

4
Test

Evaluate performance, identify improvements, and validate the system through iterative testing.

Projects

Engineering in Action

Two multidisciplinary teams, two ambitious systems

Computer vision tracking software developed for the S.U.N. drone project

Drone Project

A compact 4S Micro Toothpick FPV drone with a custom 3D-printed frame and autonomous surveillance capabilities.

  • Computer vision using Python, OpenCV, and YOLO
  • Target tracking and autonomous movement commands
  • Mechanical design, electronics, and flight control
CAD model of the S.U.N. remotely operated underwater vehicle

Submarine Project

A compact four-thruster remotely operated vehicle designed for pool testing, live video, and depth sensing.

  • Raspberry Pi 4 control and live camera feed
  • Custom 3D-printed frame and sealed electronics tube
  • Mechanical, coding, and electronics subteams
Team

Meet the S.U.N. Leads

Guiding project planning, technical learning, and team collaboration

Patricio Beltran

Patricio Beltran

S.U.N. Co-Lead · Director of Academics
Aerospace Engineering

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Jose Osuna

Jose Osuna

S.U.N. Co-Lead · Academics Chair
Mechanical Engineering

LinkedIn
Gallery

S.U.N. in Progress

Collaboration, fabrication, and testing behind the projects

S.U.N. members collaborating around laptops
S.U.N. member soldering electronics
Electronic hardware under construction for a S.U.N. project

Interested in S.U.N.?

Contact the chapter to learn about upcoming cohorts and project opportunities.

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