2025 9H Internship Program
At UplinkRobotics, in partnership with the 9H Research Foundation, we believe in mentoring the next generation of engineers through hands-on, impactful projects. In 2025, interns Kalin Hicswa and Cassidy Powers took on the challenge of creating a Culvert Inspection Crawler, gaining real-world experience in design, prototyping, and testing while building the technical skills and confidence that will carry them into their future careers.
Meet The 9H Research Foundation
Discover the powerhouse organization that's transforming student experiences at the University of Wyoming
The 9H Research Foundation is a game-changing non-profit organization dedicated to bridging the gap between classroom theory and real-world application. With over $2 million invested in University of Wyoming programs, they provide students with unparalleled opportunities through funding for practical projects, scholarships, internships, awards, competitions, and prototype building. Their commitment to hands-on learning has been instrumental in making our 2025 internship program possible, providing not just financial support but also mentorship, resources, and a network of industry connections that have elevated our interns’ experiences to unprecedented levels.
Ready to learn more about the organization that’s changing the game for University of Wyoming students?
Navigating Uncharted Territory
From Idea to
First Field Tests
During Summer 2025, UplinkRobotics partnered with the 9H Research Foundation to host interns Kalin Hicswa and Cassidy Powers. Their challenge: develop a culvert inspection crawler capable of withstanding long-term water exposure. Early prototypes revealed just how difficult this would be. Motors failed within weeks, cameras fogged, and electronics quickly broke down, turning waterproofing into the central engineering focus of the internship.
Limits of Conventional Waterproofing
The interns’ first tests used off-the-shelf waterproofing methods, but standard solutions proved insufficient. Bearings rusted, brushes degraded, and housings leaked under repeated exposure. Each round of testing uncovered new weak points, showing that conventional IP-rated protection could not survive in real culvert environments.
Developing Multi-Layer Protection
Over the course of the internship, Kalin and Cassidy designed and refined a layered waterproofing approach. Motors were protected with shaft seals, O-rings, epoxy encapsulation, and housing pods. Cameras gained sealed dome enclosures that balanced optical clarity with durability. Battery compartments were coated internally and designed with sealed wire pass-throughs. Through trial and error, they transformed initial failures into a functional prototype system.
156 Hours of Beta Testing
By the end of the internship, the crawler had reached 156 hours of continuous motor operation in accelerated life testing, while still meeting cost, speed, and torque requirements. Weekly water exposure and submersion trials are ongoing, but the results so far are promising. The crawler is not yet complete, but the interns’ work laid the foundation for a more durable platform.
Internship Outcomes and Next Steps
Highlights from Summer 2025
Throughout the summer, Kalin Hicswa and Cassidy Powers focused on developing and testing waterproofing systems for motors, cameras, and batteries. Their work produced a multi-layer motor protection system, a sealed camera dome that preserved clarity, and an internally coated battery enclosure. By the end of the program, the crawler had achieved 156 hours of continuous motor operation in accelerated testing and was integrated into a unified chassis for further evaluation.
What Comes Next
The next stage will focus on refining seals and gaskets, expanding testing across larger sample sizes, and optimizing the motor couplers and battery container design. Improvements to the camera dome mounting and the addition of protective roll bars are also recommended. With continued trials, this work will move the crawler closer to achieving a full one-year operational lifespan in the field.