2018-2019 Team Members

My name is Patrick Barrera, and I am a senior mechanical engineering student with a focus in mechatronics. Once I graduate, I hope to go into at least one of my areas of interest: electronics, programming, biotechnology, and machine learning. Some of my hobbies include staying in shape by working out and biking, doing DIY electronic and coding projects, and spending time with my family.

Working on the Spartan Superway project interests me because I would like to be a part of the future ... the future of transportation, the future of technology, and the future of society. I like working in interdisciplinary teams, especially with focuses in mechanical design as well as mechatronics, because I am able to learn things from outside my areas of knowledge. I would also like to expand my knowledge and skill set into areas that I do not know, such as welding and other machine tools, and to get hands-on experience with the concepts I learned from the theoretical classes, such as control systems.

I plan to contribute a considerable amount of my time and efforts to the Superway team. Also, I try to live by the mantra "Never Stop Learning," so I hope to learn and grow everyday while on this journey.

Hi all, my name is Karen Tan. I am someone who thrives to learn and try new things. My passions involve design, environmental safety, and outdoor adventures. I enjoy swimming and warm weathers and would like to volunteer and provide aid to other countries that need it. My next career goals are to find internship opportunities in product or thermal design. Working on automobiles have been an interest of mine that have not yet been explored. I would like to take this opportunity with the Spartan Superway as my senior project at SJSU to further my knowledge in this field through and to see where this may take me in the future.

My name is Jaspreet Singh and I am currently pursuing my BSME at San José State University. I am entering my senior year this fall 2018. I transferred from Ohlone college in fall of 2016.  Last semester, me and my team created a successful dustpan system which helped older individuals clean trash from the ground without bending over. In that project, I was in charge of CAD and prototyping.  Transportation is a major issue, especially in the bay area. I would like to utilize my skills towards the Spartan Superway project to help alleviate transportation issues. I believe that the Spartan Superway is a unique design idea, which will help people get around the city in a speedy, fun, and less stressful manner.  I am interested in being a part of the Full Scale Bogie Team for my senior project, where I can utilize my CAD and prototyping experience.

Hi there, I am a senior mechanical engineer at SJSU, expected to graduate Fall 2019. I am a problem solver and a team player. Technology and innovative solutions inspire and motivate me. I love to learn. Whatever I can reach to or get into, I learn as much as I can. I lead by example. Whether it be at work, school, or on the field (I used to be a captain of a soccer team) I become further motivated working in a team with like-minded individuals. Transportation always entertains me, especially innovative solutions such as magnetic levitation bullet trains or hybrid electric vehicles. My passions are cars and fitness. I am a huge car enthusiast, which is reflected in my "project" car. This is also shown on some external projects I've tackled in my free time (car parts). Creativity is important to me. I like to create my own solutions to problems, CAD is amazing for offering an endless realm to creativity.

Why do I want to work on automated transit networks?

As a daily commuter with the light rail, I understand the necessity of providing a long term transportation solution which is safer, faster, and more innovative. Having an opportunity to become a part of this team is exciting. I am eager to apply my knowledge to make a positive impact, while learning much more from teammates and mentors.

Hi, my name is David and I am a Mechanical Engineering senior at San José State University. I am currently working on the Full-Scale High Density Motor to power the Full-Scale Bogie chassis at the Spartan Superway. My main tasks include designing the components for the motor as well as its casing in SolidWorks and be in charge of its fabrication.

My name is Karandeep Binner and I am a senior at San José State University studying Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Mechanical Design.

I am pretty inquisitive and someone who pays attention to detail. I love to learn by doing things and I don't mind getting my hands dirty at all when it comes to learning something new. In addition, I like listening to music, trying new dishes and also like to workout. After, I graduate I am planning on going to Trade school to learn the nitty gritty of welding and get to work with more tools. I also want to learn more about cars, how they function and how to fix them. I also plan to travel more after I graduate as I haven't taken a vacation in a long time as of now. I hope this semester proves to be a great learning experience.

I am a 4th year Mechanical Engineering student and I dedicated to my passions. I like to regard myself as a jack-of-all-trades, trying to learn a variety of things to make myself a well rounded individual. I am interested in music, stocks/finance, and exercise, always trying to learn more about each subject and how to better myself. 

I am interested in the Spartan Superway project because of exposure I had to group presentations at the end of last semester, seeing how thorough everyone was. I would like to be exposed to this environment and see the growth that I can have in this project, along with the contribution I can make to this illustrious project.

My name is Tyler Shearer and I'm a mechanical engineering student graduating in Spring 2019 focusing in the HVAC design field. My interests include sci-fi movies, video games, and riding and working on my motorcycle. I'm an avid traveler and enjoy visiting new places. I look forward to working on the Spartan Superway project in the hopes that we can alleviate some of the silicon valley traffic.

My name is Adhithyan Vaiyapuri, and I am going into my fourth year of BSME at San José State University. I hope to specialize in Thermal Design. I want to work on the Spartan Superway project because I am passionate about the public transportation.

As someone who uses the public transportation system regularly, I am often dissatisfied with the current system and it's inefficiency. The Spartan Superway project is an exciting new method of public transportation that will make the system better, and I am excited to have the chance to be a part of it's creation.

My name is Matthew Leal and I am a 4th year Mechanical Engineering student at San José State University. I have always been interested in how things work. I was inspired to pursue Mechanical Engineering after watching the first Iron Man movie. I am currently an intern at a startup medical device company and I have learned a lot in my short time there. Having relied on VTA for the past couple years, the Spartan Superway seems like it would be a great alternative. 

I'm Nikolas Mifsud. I am a Mechanical Engineering major focusing in Mechanical Design. I am set to graduate in December of 2019. I am passionate about cars and the automotive industry and follow the computer hardware sector closely. I play Ultimate Frisbee on the SJSU Club Team. The Spartan Superway approaches the issue of transportation in a unique and, I think, very viable way. I would like to be a part of and do my best to assist in advancing the project.

I have experienced the lacked of development in terms of mass transportation system in the United States. I believe that a successful and efficient mass transportation system can reduce carbon emission and enhance the effectiveness in travelling around the city, hence my involvement in the Spartan Superway project.

My name is David Cabezas and I am a Mechanical Engineering Student at SJSU. I am expected to graduate Spring of 2020 and I am interested in being a part of the Spartan Superway Design team. I think this project has the potential to radically change the way people move around within the city and can solve numerous safety problems that the commuter faces everyday.

I am going to be a senior the upcoming semester as a mechanical engineering student, and my goal is to graduate next year in May. My interests are to watch sports, and TV shows when I'm not studying. I am interested in the automated transit system for many reasons. However, one of the main reasons is to help solve the problem of growing traffic in developing urban cities. Secondly, this new system of transit provides a safer method of transits for humans which is important. The mistake one driver makes on the road can lead to injuring many, and an automated public transit system can help in avoiding this problem.

Hi, my name is Francisco Trejo I'm a 4th year ME student who's eager to contribute to the Spartan Superway project. This project attracted me because I see the passion that is going into this project, its evident from the professor all the way down to the students and I want to be a part of that and help contribute and learn along the way. I'm excited to see where we end up by the end of the school year, really looking forward to it.

Hi, my name is Tynan and I am a senior in Mechanical Engineering at San José State University. I will be on the Wayside Power Team at the Spartan Superway where I aim to research, design and build a full-scale current collecting powertrain utilizing supercapacitors as the primary energy device for propelling the bogie when wayside power is not available.

My name is Brandon Tarter, I am a fourth-year mechanical engineering student at San José State University and expect to graduate fall of 2019. My interest is primarily in outdoor sports and technology. I have a passion for rock climbing, hiking/camping, fishing, and surfing.  I have a hope of discovering new interests and hobbies in the Spartan Superway project. I am specifically interested in the mechanical design and improving my coding/experience in microcontrollers and any areas I am weak in. I am also looking forward to working in teams on projects that everyone benefits from and takes seriously.

My name is Brandon Chow and I am a third year Mechanical Engineering student expecting to graduate during the Fall 2019 semester. Some of my interests include playing video games as well as participating in various forms of athletics which include weightlifting and bowling. I want to work on the Spartan Superway because I have always had an interest in renewable energy and how we can take advantage of it for our own benefit as a society. In addition, as my personal experiences with public transportation haven't always been the greatest, I strongly advocate projects and research pertaining to improvements or alternative systems of public transportation.

My name is David Bunker, I am a mechanical engineering major set to graduate in spring 2019.

I have always been passionate about various modes of transportation, especially personal transportation as it gives one the freedom to travel where they want at their own pace. I grew up riding my bicycle everywhere until I got my drivers license. I was then heavily into cars, and then motorcycles, for years until I got back into cycling and began commuting on Amtrak.

I think sustainable, public, transportation is the future. While personal vehicles are great for their convenience they cause a huge environmental. Creating more accessible paths for walking and biking, as well as much improved public transit is the only way we are going to be able to make a sizeable reduction in our dependence on automobiles. The Spartan Superway project fits along the lines of what I believe we need more of, sustainable public transportation, while providing a level of convenience much closer to personal vehicles that will make it much more appealing to the public.

My name is Evelia Leyva and I am an aspiring Mechanical Engineer attending San José State University. I am working towards my Bachelor's Degree and my focus will be design. I have some background within the Electrical Engineering department due to an internship I participated in Summer 2017. My future interests include working at companies such as Tesla or Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). I am interested in this project because it is innovative and a great service to our community of San José. The system at hand can be a beneficial service and I would like to be a part of the team that helps make this a success.

My name is Alex Krause and I am entering my 5th year as a mechanical engineering major at SJSU. I am attracted to being a part of the Superway project because of how well-established and well-respected the group is, and it provides a more accurate representation of how real-world engineering works by having multiple groups with different skills sets collaborate to accomplish one common goal. I have also always had a passion for automobiles, and I believe that this is the perfect gateway into that industry. I look forward to making great strides in this project in the coming months.

Hello, my name is Kristopher Kwandy and I am an International student from Indonesia. I am currently majoring in Mechanical Engineering and is expected to graduate in 2019. I am mostly interested in the mechatronic system of the Spartan Superway and am excited about transforming the future of public transportation.

My name is Evelia Leyva and I am an aspiring Mechanical Engineer attending San José State University. I am working towards my Bachelor's Degree and my focus will be design. I have some background within the Electrical Engineering department due to an internship I participated in Summer 2017. My future interests include working at companies such as Tesla or Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). I am interested in this project because it is innovative and a great service to our community of San José. The system at hand can be a beneficial service and I would like to be a part of the team that helps make this a success.

Hello my name is Hector Gomez and I am pursing Mechanical Engineering Design. I work as a server part time at Left Bank, a restaurant in Santana Row. I am very out going and likes to have fun. I like meeting new people and what they like to do. I have a strong passion for cars and I would love to get a job in the automotive domain. Spartan Superway interested me by how it is creating a new system to transport people around the city.

I am a student in San José State University studying Mechanical Engineering. i am expecting to graduate in spring 2019. I am the first of my family to go to university. the main thing that interests me about engineering is robotics. i hope to be find a job where i get to work with robotic prosthesis.

My name is Justin Guro. I am currently a fourth year engineering student with majors in Mechanical Engineering and Computation Mathematics. I enjoy learning new aspects of the engineering and mathematical fields and looking into new ways of solving complex problems. I enjoy playing sports in my downtime and am looking forward to contributing to the Spartan Superway.

The Spartan Superway seems like a great entry into the field of controls with I am pursuing. With the amount of work that has been done on the project already, I feel like it is a great opportunity to gain valuable experience while contributing to a diverse project that has been going strong the last several years.

My name is Logan and I worked on the 1/12 Scale Bogie Team where I was tasked with designing various cabins in SolidWorks and rapidly prototyped these designs out of PLA filament them to be integrated with the electronics and 1/12 Scale Track.

I am a mechanical engineer student graduating in the Fall of 2019. Growing up in many regions in Peru, I found a love for how things work. My uncle owns a company in Peru “EMRECOS GROUP” which is dedicated to the investigation, development and manufacture of equipment for artisanal, mining, agro-alimentary and the installation of protection against the atmospheric discharges (lightning rods). At age 9, I have started working with the industrial machinery lathe, Bridgeport milling machines to name a few. By 18, I was soldering mining equipment’s for gold mining extraction. Since my elementary school, I was inspired by my uncle and became passionate about machines and how they work and the realization of the end product. today, I am interested to learn mechanical process in daily life, structure of vehicles, as well as the fabrication process in a factory and most importantly the power to control  the products through the  electromechanical  systems they posses. I would love to be part of this important project, Spartan Superway and be part of the professionals and students who share the same passion to contribute in any way possible to make the Spartan Superway a closer to reality.

I see the future in this project! Something that possibles a clean, efficient and cheap solution to everyday people to get from place to place. This is one of the best solutions to sustainable transportation which does not rely on fossil fuels and provide a clever solution to get places faster without worrying about congestion.

My name is David Mapapa and I am an international student from the Republic of Congo. I am a senior in Mechanical Engineer and I am interested in Spartan SuperWay. I was introduce to the program last year through a friend of mine that was part of the program. I also attended the Makers Fair last spring were I saw the final project displayed. I enjoy playing soccer and watching anime and I hope to be a part of the team and meet you all.

My name is Jason Paul D. Ragar. I am a senior mechanical engineering student with an expected graduation date of May 2019. I want to be a part of the Spartan Superway project so I can use the skills that I have gained from the classroom in a meaningful way. There are several other ways I can use what I have learned, but I feel that this is one that will benefit my community in a great way.

To learn more about the 2018-2019 Spartan Superway team, visit their team blog below.

2018-2019 Team Blog