New Glenn Avionics Battery Cell Pick-and-Place with Serial Number and Location Recording

Blue Origin's New Glenn Avionics Hardware team is sponsoring a project to design and build an automated pick-and-place apparatus for battery cell assembly. The student team will create a system that scans individual battery cells, records their serial numbers, places them into designated locations within a battery pack, and maintains a database linking each cell to its installed position. This project sits at the intersection of mechanical design, electrical engineering, and software development—requiring the team to integrate robotic actuation, barcode/data matrix scanning, precision placement, and database management into a cohesive, automated workflow. 

This project supports Blue Origin's mission to build a road to space by improving the efficiency, traceability, and reliability of hardware assembly processes for the New Glenn orbital launch vehicle. As launch cadence increases, automating repetitive assembly tasks ensures consistent quality while freeing skilled technicians for higher-value work. Success will require strong skills in mechanism design, controls and sensor integration, programming, and systems-level thinking to bring mechanical, electrical, and software subsystems together into a working prototype. 

Faculty Advisor:

• Jessica Townsend

Team Members: