Platt Tech Students Advance to Final NASA HUNCH Design Review in Houston

Milford IT students develop AI assistant for astronauts through national NASA program

MILFORD, CT. — Four students from Platt Technical High School have earned the opportunity to present their work directly to engineers at NASA in Houston, Texas, after successfully completing a rigorous national design review.

German Cabrera-Demora, Dameon Maldonado, Nathen Mendez, and Tyler Walsh — all students in Platt Tech’s Information Technology program — developed an artificial intelligence assistant designed to support astronauts in space. The students created the project through NASA HUNCH (High Schools United with NASA to Create Hardware), a national program that challenges high school students to design and build hardware and software solutions for NASA’s real-world missions.

On March 10, the Platt Tech team presented their project during a Critical Design Review, where NASA engineers evaluated the system’s technical design, functionality, and potential applications. Following the presentation, NASA selected the team to advance to the program’s Final Design Review, scheduled for April 29 in Houston.

The advancement places the Platt Tech students among a select group of teams nationwide invited to present their work directly to NASA engineers and program leaders.

The project’s success carries significant potential. Software designed and developed by the students could ultimately support NASA missions in an operational capacity.

“These young men dedicated countless hours to this project and went far beyond the expectations of their regular coursework,” said Edward Martinez, IT Instructor. “Their hard work, creativity, and determination led to an incredible achievement, and we are extremely proud of them.”

The school is currently raising funds to help cover travel and lodging expenses for the students’ trip to Houston. Community members interested in supporting the team are encouraged to visit the project’s GoFundMe page.

About Platt Technical High School
Platt Technical High School, located in Milford, is part of the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System. The school provides career and technical education across a wide range of trades and technology programs, preparing students for college, careers, and industry certifications.


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