NMSU QKOIL™ Capstone Team Earns “Most Outstanding Project” Award for Advancing Overhead Wireless Charging Innovation
The 2025–2026 New Mexico State University QKOIL™ Capstone Team recently reached an exciting milestone, earning a total of $4,000 and the “Most Outstanding Project” award at the NMSU Interdisciplinary Engineering Capstone Design Program Showcase held on May 1, 2026, in Las Cruces. This recognition marks the culmination of a year-long collaboration between QKOIL™ and a talented group of senior engineering students (Dereck Alberto Gastelum Renpenning, Andrea Gallegos Quintana, Pedro Alfonso Garcia Carrer, and Alejandro Holguin Prado) who took on real-world challenges in wireless charging infrastructure.
Their work advanced the QKOIL™ overhead wireless charging system through the development of a robotic gantry platform capable of autonomous tri-axial (x-y-z) positioning. The team implemented innovative solutions including rack-and-pinion motion for improved scalability, a stabilized multi-point cable system for vertical deployment, and a cost-effective vision-based alignment system to automatically locate and connect with vehicle receivers. By integrating mechanical design with electromagnetic functionality, the project demonstrated a safer, more efficient charging process that reduces floor space requirements and minimizes hazards commonly associated with traditional charging systems.
The team’s research and live demonstration were exceptionally well received at the showcase, underscoring both the strength of the Capstone program and the impact of industry collaboration. This project highlights QKOIL’s commitment to fostering innovation while delivering scalable, modular solutions with strong potential for industrial deployment. We extend our sincere appreciation to these outstanding students for their ingenuity, dedication, and forward-thinking contributions, and we also thank Brooke Montgomery, Professor of Practice at the NMSU College of Engineering, for her leadership and dedication in coordinating the Capstone program.