Engineering Students ‘CREATE’ Winning Invention

On May 4, College of Engineering and Computing Sciences students Logan Edwards, Abdul Raafay Irfan, and Ashwin Joseph earned third place and $5,000 for their invention, Mesh Screen Quality Controller, at the New York State Industries for the Disabled’s (NYSID) 12th annual Cultivating Resources for Employment with Assistive TEchnology (CREATE) Symposium in Albany.

Teams of engineering students collaborate each year with NYSID member agencies that support individuals with disabilities. The groups are tasked with inventing technological solutions that break down workplace barriers and help employees with disabilities succeed in completing their everyday work responsibilities.

Edwards, Irfan, and Joseph partnered with Spectrum Designs, a custom merchandise business that creates meaningful employment opportunities for those with autism spectrum disorder. The team’s Mesh Screen Quality Controller—also called the SpotBot—aims to create a simpler, safer method for employees to detect unwanted leftover paint and debris on the mesh screen used for screen printing.

The Spectrum Designs employees’ current cleaning method includes chemicals, rags, and holding the screen up to light at a very steep angle to spot any leftover materials. With the SpotBot, a visual detection system will identify stubborn debris on the mesh screen and alert the employee to clean the noted areas. The invention ensures safety and enables a simpler, more thorough cleaning process to avoid wasted time and product.

A second team of College of Engineering and Computing Sciences students also presented at the symposium. In partnership with AHRC Nassau, which hosts services like employment readiness and job placement, Maha Bukhari, Ashley Brown, Jaden Sookraj, and Theo Tilus created the Condition Observation and Recognition Apparatus (C.O.R.A.).

Designed to assist workers in identifying their physiological well-being so they may receive assistance or adjust work tasks as needed, C.O.R.A. monitors employees’ vitals to ensure their safety and create a safer and healthier work environment. The lightweight wearable will alert employees to take a break when signs of fatigue are detected.

As seen on News10 ABC, Edwards expressed how participating in the symposium is a unique opportunity: “After discovering NYSID CREATE through New York Tech, I finally found something that not only challenges your engineering abilities but also makes a difference with the impact and technology you create,” he said. “Being on a team, working with the company, getting feedback, and really seeing how your invention can change other people’s lives is something you don’t get anywhere else.”

This year’s CREATE symposium marks the fourth in a row that College of Engineering and Computing Sciences student teams received prizes for their inventions. Read about the 2025, 2024, and 2023 winners.