Berks student members of B.E.A.N. include (back row, left to right): Christian Clarke, Xander Van Wyk, Ugochukwu Ike-Egolum, (front row, left to right): Brynna Bentz and Grace Yost. (Not pictured: Jacob Piehl)
WYOMISSING, Pa. — A team of Penn State Berks students are in the process of creating an AI-powered filtration robot that will remove microplastics, oil residues, toxic chemicals and heavy metals from water to help ensure the safety of wildlife and to protect clean water. The robot’s name is B.E.A.N., which stands for Bio Environmentally-friendly Aquatic Navigator. The six Berks students behind this project include Grace Yost, Christian Clarke, Xander Van Wyk, Brynna Bentz, Ugochukwu Ike-Egolum and Jacob Piehl.
The B.E.A.N. team recently was awarded $4,500 in the Prototype Phase of the Nittany AI Challenge, an annual competition sponsored by the Nittany AI Alliance that provides Penn State students from all campuses the opportunity to use AI and machine learning to address pressing global issues while gaining hands on experience and competing for a prize pool of $30,000. The challenge was held in December 2024.
Teamwork is evident throughout this project. Each member of the B.E.A.N. believes that their robot can be the next step in climate protection.
Yost, the chief innovator of B.E.A.N., developed the conceptual foundation of the robot and how it would operate. She is the team leader and is in charge of the robot’s development. Yost was part of a dual-enrollment program in high school, in which she earned college credits, and she holds an associate’s degree in general studies. Yost is pursuing a degree in electrical engineering.
“I am now the chief innovator of B.E.A.N., meaning I guide the project and have the final say on a lot of the decisions regarding parts, competitions, etc. However, I am also an engineer and love to be hands-on, so I am also the spearhead of the physical robot design,” Yost explained.
Bentz and Van Wyck assist with the physical design and future construction of the robot. Bentz is a sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering and Van Wyck is a first-year aerospace engineering major. Bentz has spent her time in B.E.A.N. conducting research on the best course of action moving forward with the physical aspects of the project. Van Wyck works to understand how the physical aspects of the robot would actually fit together.
“In my life I realized that experience is the best way to improve. That means starting somewhere,” said Van Wyck when asked on why he joined the project.
Clarke is a senior pursuing an information sciences and technology degree. He oversees the development of AI for the robot and also has a big role in the marketing, which includes customer discovery and client outreach.
Assisting Clarke with AI development is Piehl, who is pursuing a computer engineering degree and is very interested in AI and robotics. He is the team’s coding expert.
“In most of my classes, I mainly learn about theoretical concepts about computers and electrical stuff. With B.E.A.N and the AI Challenge, I can ask myself, 'Okay, I learned this thing. What can I do with it?’ " Piehl said.
Finally, Ike-Egolum is in charge of media and production. His degree in computer science and background as a gamer on YouTube, where he is known as Obiyu, has provided him with the expertise to head the team’s filming and editing needs.
For more information on the Nittany AI Challenge, visit the website.
