Software Projects / Research
TreeSync
AI-Powered Email to Calendar Automation, Feb 2024
TreeSync is a desktop app that utilizes AI to automates the organization of your schedule by transforming events mentioned in emails to Google Calendar events
Key Features & Accomplishments:
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Developed with Python, integrating Gmail and Google Calendar APIs for seamless event synchronization.
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Utilized Together.ai's LLM for natural language processing, enhancing accuracy in event detection and classification.
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Implemented a real-time notification system using Google Cloud's Pub/Sub and ngrok for consistent background email scanning.
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Designed for minimal user setup, TreeSync operates discreetly, requiring users to "set it and forget it."
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Built with: Flask, Google Cloud Services, Together.ai LLM
Finding Elo: Restructuring Chess Ratings
CS109: Final Project - Silver Medalist, Jan 2023 - March 2023
Developed a new chess rating system that dynamically adjusts player ratings based on game recency, delivering a more accurate reflection of current rating compared to the Elo system. 2nd place out of 200+ students.
Key Features & Accomplishments:​
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Identified a significant gap in the Elo system and created a nuanced rating algorithm that incorporates the time since a player's last match into rating adjustment
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Applied statistical methods with Python, using Gaussian distributions to model player performance as opposed to traditional logistic regression
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Ran predictive simulations of top players’ games using Bayesian Inference to validate the model, revealing shifts in player rankings that traditional systems don't account for.
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Built with: Python (numpy and scipy)
Computer Science Research
Data Alignment and Fine-tuning LLMs, Sept 2023 - Present
Our research focuses on refining the fine-tuning process of Large Language Models (LLMs) by emphasizing data alignment over dataset size.
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Accomplishments:
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One paper accepted to ICLR 2024 Tiny Papers (archival)
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Another paper accepted to DMLR @ICLR 2024
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Key Findings and Features:​
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Demonstrated a strong negative correlation between data alignment and model perplexity loss, emphasizing the need to prioritize data quality.
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Utilized standard GPT-2 to establish a baseline for fine-tuning in the context of autoformalization.
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Leveraged a variety of Huggingface datasets ranging from code-based to proof-based data, split them into informal and formal statements, fine-tuned our model, and analyzed results.
Electronic/Hardware Projects
Electronic Locking Device
IB Higher Level Design Technology Final Project, Jan 2020 - Feb 2021
Designed and manufactured a 1:1 full-scale, high-fidelity prototype of an Electronic Phone Locking Device––an innovative product designed to reduce distractions by securely locking away phones for designated periods. Created for students seeking to increase their productivity during study hours, it resonates with parents' desires to manage their teenagers' screen time effectively.
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Key Features:
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Constructed using a CNC Milling Machine; Laser Cutter; and includes PCB, IC, LCD-display, and switches.
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Utilizes a solenoid lock to secure up to four phones for a chosen amount of time by the user
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Clear acrylic panel enables the visibility of phones, blending functionality with a modern aesthetic.
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Intuitive Interface: Simplified controls, including a time-set feature, allow for user-friendly operation.
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Built using ash wood for durability and a contemporary style, teak oil finish
Electronic Voice Alarm
IGCSE Systems and Controls Final Project, Jan 2018 - March 2019
Designed and manufactured a 1:1 full-scale, high-fidelity prototype of an Electronic Phone Locking Device––an innovative product designed to reduce distractions by securely locking away phones for designated periods. Created for students seeking to increase their productivity during study hours, it resonates with parents' desires to manage their teenagers' screen time effectively.
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Key Features:
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Constructed using a CNC Milling Machine; Laser Cutter; and includes PCB, IC, LCD-display, and switches.
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Utilizes a solenoid lock to secure up to four phones for a chosen amount of time by the user
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Clear acrylic panel enables the visibility of phones, blending functionality with a modern aesthetic.
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Intuitive Interface: Simplified controls, including a time-set feature, allow for user-friendly operation.
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Built using ash wood for durability and a contemporary style, teak oil finish
Mechanical Candy Dispenser
ME102 Final Project, April 2022 - June 2022
The Mechanical Candy Dispenser is an amalgamation of hours of physical and digital prototyping, 3D printing, laser cutting techniques, and iterative development, converging into a final product that accurately and reliably dispenses "candy"––intended to represent medicine for older medical patients. Scored 97.3/100.
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Key Features:
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Leveraged mechanical principles: designed a mechanism that reliably dispenses a single candy per crank, utilizing a crank and shaft mechanism, d-shaft and cam, and spring for
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Incorporated a combination of 3D printed components and laser-cut acrylic
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Enhanced user experience with one-handed operation through an intuitive, self-resetting, and torque-friendly crank handle.
Automata
Systems and Controls Project
Through an exploration of mechanical principles and design, this project delves into the creation of an automaton, leveraging detailed motion analysis and mechanical components to bring a dynamic sculpture to life.
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Key Features:
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Employed an eccentric circular cam to generate a displacement graph, mapping the motion trajectory for cam and follower interactions across varying degrees.
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Analyzed forces and loads including gravitational, applied (crank), and dynamic loads, utilizing mechanical energy conversion for motion.
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Identified key mechanisms such as the 1st class lever for the dog mouth motion, and bevel mechanisms to convert rotary motion through 90°, enhancing the automaton’s functionality.
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Integrated a thoughtfully designed bevel mechanism and housing components, ensuring durability through finger joints and managing forces with strategic material choices.
555 Timer-Based LED Circuit
Systems and Controls Project
This project harnesses the versatility of the 555 Timer IC to create a blinking LED circuit, demonstrating foundational electronic principles while exploring the timer's astable mode operation. Aimed at educational purposes, it offers a hands-on approach to understanding circuit design and timer functionalities.
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Key Features:
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555 Timer in Astable Mode: Utilized the 555 Timer IC to generate a pulsating signal, resulting in an LED that blinks at a set frequency. This mode of operation underscores the IC's capability to function without an external trigger, oscillating between on and off states.
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Input Mechanism: Incorporated a latch switch, enabling control over the electrical flow from the anode to the cathode, thus initiating the LED's blinking action upon activation.
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Output Delivery: The circuit culminates in a Light Emitting Diode (LED) that illuminates in response to the electrical signals processed by the 555 Timer, providing a visual representation of the circuit's functionality.
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Frequency Calculation: Engaged in precise calculations to determine the blinking frequency at 1.53 Hz, equating to 1.53 flashes per second, highlighting the direct impact of resistor values on the flashing rate.
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Capacitor Role: Analyzed the capacitor's charging and discharging cycles within the circuit, emphasizing its significance in controlling the LED's blinking speed by establishing the time constant.
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Resistor Impact: Experimented with varying resistor values to modulate the LED's flashing rate, illustrating the relationship between resistor magnitude and the circuit's overall flashing frequency.
Bridge Engineering Challenge
Systems and Controls Project
This project involves the conceptualization, design, and testing of various bridge models, culminating in the development of an optimized Pratt truss bridge. Aimed at distributing loads effectively while minimizing material costs, this project combines foundational engineering principles with innovative design strategies.
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Key Features:
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Utilized balsa wood for testing, complemented by card gusset plates for structural reinforcement
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Employed Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to anticipate and mitigate potential stress points, ensuring durability under load.
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Incorporated 28 gussets to prevent joint splaying, enhancing the bridge's resilience and longevity.
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Adopted diagonal butt joints to increase surface area and reduce shear force, distributing loads evenly across the structure.
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Withstood force of 48.8 Newtons during testing, one of the highest among 70+ peers.
Upcycled Street Furniture
Higher Level Design Technology Project
Aiming to merge environmental consciousness with urban aesthetics, this project focuses on crafting plant holders/stands from upcycled EURO pallet parts. Intended for both household and park settings, the design emphasizes greenery promotion and environmental protection.
Key Features:
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Explored six distinct design concepts, prioritizing functionality and visual appeal, to develop versatile plant stands conducive to urban and home environments.
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Committed to sustainability, all components were fashioned from repurposed plywood, derived from EURO pallets, underscoring the project's eco-friendly ethos.
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Constructed a physical prototype, transitioning from concept sketches to tangible models, showcasing the practical feasibility and aesthetic of the proposed design.
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Leveraged CAD tools to create detailed models and orthographic projections, refining the design's ergonomic and aesthetic features.