Summary
Circle Optics recently supported a Senior Design project at Rochester Institute of Technology focused on ruggedizing a 360 degree camera enclosure to prevent water ingress and withstand impact. Led by intern Pavel Peshkovsky and guided by Professor Carlos Terrero, the team developed both the enclosure and a live demonstration to validate performance under real conditions. The project reflects the growing demand for imaging systems that can operate reliably in demanding environments across defense, aerospace, and autonomy. Students applied hands on engineering methods, gaining experience in design, testing, and team-based problem solving. This collaboration highlights how academic work, when grounded in real world constraints, can directly inform field ready system development.
Circle Optics recently supported a Senior Design project at Rochester Institute of Technology focused on ruggedizing a 360 degree camera enclosure system designed to prevent water ingress and withstand impact forces. The work reflects a growing need for imaging systems that can perform reliably in real world environments where exposure to water and physical stress is expected.
The project was led by Circle Optics intern Pavel Peshkovsky, with team members Emily Willow, Joshua Annis, Bradley Baybutt, and Sandra Quinn, under the guidance of Professor and Mechanical Engineer Carlos Terrero. Together, the team developed both the enclosure system and an interactive demonstration that allowed visitors to engage directly with the design and observe a water chamber used to test waterproof conditions inside the camera.
Interactive Design Grounded in Real World Performance
The interactive component was a key part of the project. Rather than presenting the system as a static display, the team created a way for visitors to see how the enclosure performs under testing conditions. This approach made the engineering decisions more visible and grounded the work in real world performance rather than theoretical design.
As imaging systems are deployed across defense, aerospace, and autonomous platforms, reliability at the point of capture is essential. Failures related to water ingress or physical impact can compromise system performance and limit operational effectiveness.
This project focused on validation as part of the design process. By testing the enclosure under controlled but realistic conditions, the team was able to demonstrate how the system behaves when exposed to environmental stressors.
Professor and Senior Mechanical Engineer Carlos Terrero shared,
“It was great to see this team apply their classroom knowledge to a real engineering challenge. They worked closely with us, made thoughtful design decisions, and used advanced analysis methods to explore complex problems. The camera system enclosure and water test chamber they developed are not only well executed, but provide a foundation we can immediately build on as we continue bringing robust, field-ready imaging systems to market”
Student Perspectives
Project Leader and Circle Optics Intern Pavel Peshkovsky shared,
“Working with Circle Optics for 6 months has taught me a lot around developing a product and following through with full design methods. I have learned many tips and tricks to speed up design time and how to approach a problem and find a good first solution. No solution is perfect the first time around, but through my time with Circle Optics I can confidently say my critical thinking, engineering and soft skills have increased greatly. Through my time with Circle Optics, I have been a part of a handful of company-wide projects and have helped support these projects. I observed various employees as project managers and gained exposure to setting up timelines and how to think about a project’s approach with a team. What was hardest for me to learn was letting go of control to other team members, but working under Carlos Terrero has shown me how to think of others in a team setting and let others explore their own way to approach a problem. I have a lot to learn when it comes to leading a team, but working with Circle Optics has brought me a step closer to being a leader worth leading a team.”
Emily Willow shared,
“It was extremely rewarding to have a role in the progression of this project, and to work with such a fantastic team of mentors and future engineers.”
Joshua Annis noted,
“I enjoyed working on this team and incorporating the code and electronics into the system”
Bradley Baybutt reflected,
“I am grateful for learning about the engineering process through solving technical problems of this project with a hands-on approach. Having real-world applications led to a fulfilling design and better understanding of how a multi-disciplinary group operates.”
Sandra Quinn added,
“It has been rewarding to work with such a prestigious team at Circle Optics. I enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate Mechanical Engineering and optics in practical applications, while seeing our design through it’s life cycle.”
The collaboration between Circle Optics and the RIT Senior Design team reflects the value of connecting academic work with industry context. When students are able to work on problems that mirror real world constraints, the outcome is more relevant and more applicable to how systems are ultimately deployed.
Projects like this demonstrate how emerging engineers are approaching not only how systems are built, but how they are tested, validated, and prepared for use in demanding environments.
