Made in makerspace: Top tech developed at UC in 2024

Made in makerspace: Top tech developed at UC in 2024

Items large and small were perfected at UC's makerspace last year. Here are 2024's top designs.

The University of Cincinnati's Ground Floor Makerspace ranks as the most advanced makerspace in Southwest Ohio, and it attracts makers from throughout the region.

Situated in the 1819 Innovation Hub, this workshop offers over 12,000 square feet of prototyping and fabricating space for builders and entrepreneurs.

The 1819 Ground Floor Makerspace isn't just a creative space; its equipment has been used to produce revolutionary technologies. In 2024 alone, advanced prototypes were developed at UC's premier makerspace to improve airport safety, upskill educators in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) and provide UC students with entrepreneurial expertise.

Below are a few ways the 1819 Ground Floor Makerspace significantly impacted Cincinnati and beyond in 2024.

Airtrek Robotics: Advancing airport safety

Airtrek Robotics prototype at UC's 1819 Innovation Hub. Photo/Mary Dwyer

Damage from foreign object debris (FOD) may be one of the most expensive problems you've never heard of, costing the aviation industry approximately $22.7 billion annually. FOD refers to objects on an airport tarmac that shouldn't be there, and it can endanger both aircraft and airport personnel.

1819 Innovation Hub partner Airtrek Robotics is on a mission to solve this critical safety issue. The company designed a "runway Roomba" that uses advanced sensors and artificial intelligence to deliver a precise, automated and cost-effective fix for unexpected debris on airport tarmacs.

Airtrek Robotics' AI-powered technology was developed via prototypes built in the 1819 Ground Floor Makerspace. The company needed an advanced space with sophisticated maker tech, and UC's facility delivers with its 3D printers, laser cutters, computer numerical control (CNC) routers and additional equipment.

"Our partnership with the 1819 Innovation Hub gave us access to invaluable resources, funding and mentorship," says Chris Kyoochul Lee, co-founder and CEO of Airtrek Robotics. "Now, we're excited to bring this technology to airports nationwide."

Read our full story on Airtrek Robotics here.

ADAAPT: Launching entrepreneurial artists

Storefront for the ADAAPT studio in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine. Photo/Gregory Glevicky

UC's College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) is recognized across the U.S. as a leading creative program. In partnership with the 1819 Innovation Hub, DAAP now showcases its talented students' work at a brick-and-mortar store in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood.

ADAAPT, a creative gallery where community members can purchase DAAP students' work, opened in December 2024 and sold out almost immediately. The pop-up shop is constantly replenished with new products, many of them designed and built in the 1819 Ground Floor Makerspace.

By linking DAAP's brilliant students with the world-class resources of UC's leading makerspace, Bearcat creatives can show off their expertise and sell art. "Booking a permanent place for this showcase is huge and just shows the impact it makes on the students, faculty and shoppers who come," says DAAP industrial design alumna Ally Widzinski.

Read our full story on the ADAAPT Studio here.

Kinetic Vision: Leveling up co-op students' skills

UC co-op student at the Kinetic Vision makerspace boot camp. Photo/Gregory Glevicky

Cincinnati-based tech consulting firm Kinetic Vision ranks as one of UC's largest co-op employers, and many of these Bearcats are hired full time upon graduation. A significant reason why Kinetic Vision finds UC students appealing is the hands-on experience they receive during college.

Kinetic Vision collaborated with UC's 1819 Ground Floor Makerspace to hold a digital fabrication boot camp to further develop its co-op students' skill sets. The goal was to introduce students - and potential future employees - to the processes behind the scenes of every technological breakthrough.

"Partnering with the 1819 Innovation Hub for this boot camp allowed students to not only design parts but also work directly with the machinist to learn firsthand the impact their design choices have," says Justin Rost, lead design engineer at Kinetic Vision. "It was great for students to be able to collaborate with their peers, build rapport with one another and learn how to work as a team in a challenging environment."

Read our full story on the Kinetic Vision boot camp here.

Makers in Education: Promoting STEAM education

Teacher training at the 1819 makerspace during Makers in Education. Photo/Gregory Glevicky

Makerspaces can provide schoolchildren with a new and exciting learning method, but they require specialized training for teachers. That's an issue since few educators are fully aware of how makerspaces work - much less how to incorporate them into their students' education.

The Makers in Education program, hosted by UC at the 1819 Ground Floor Makerspace, offers K-12 teachers a deep dive into the world of makerspaces. This free, two-week intensive lets educators experience hands-on, maker-centered learning and provides training on how teachers can incorporate similar teaching models into lesson plans.

Amanda Sopko, a gifted intervention specialist at Indian Hill Elementary School, found great value in attending Makers in Education. "Hands-on making teaches students to approach challenges creatively and persistently," she says. "We push students out of their comfort zones, nurturing flexibility and a hands-on approach to learning that transcends disciplines."

Read our full story on Makers in Education here.

Vertetrain: Healing pediatric scoliosis

Vertetrain designers working on a prototype in the 1819 makerspace. Photo/Alex Dudash

More than 100,000 children in the U.S. are diagnosed with scoliosis each year, according to data from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Three University of Cincinnati students are determined to make pediatric scoliosis easier to manage through an innovative design that could revolutionize current treatments.

Enter Vertetrain, a groundbreaking scoliosis implant designed and prototyped at UC's 1819 Ground Floor Makerspace. The design allows for more precise spinal adjustments as children grow and evenly distributes force across the spine during treatment, leading to an improved quality of life.

Judges at a UC-led engineering exposition immediately recognized the significance of the design: "Vertetrain is more than just an engineering achievement; it represents a tangible step forward in pediatric health care," judges said. "The project's victory at the competition highlighted the talents of UC's engineering students and underscored the university's commitment to fostering innovation that can make a real difference in the world."

Read our full story on Vertetrain here.

Featured image at top: Man working in the 1819 Ground Floor Makerspace. Photo/Gregory Glevicky

Innovation Lives Here

The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.

Related Stories