AutoBleedr: An Automated Hydraulic Brake Bleeding System; An Actor-Network Theory Analysis of the HealthCare.gov Failure 17 views

My technical work and my Science Technology and Society research are connected through the concept of network formation, specifically emphasizing the integration of human and nonhuman actors. In my technical project, my team and I had to construct a network of engineering students, mechanical components, and electrical sensors to automate a complex task. We had to coordinate our individual efforts and align our technical modules to achieve our group goal. Conversely, my research explores a catastrophic breakdown where the failure to integrate human developers and software components led to the collapse of a massive government portal. While my technical work demonstrates how proper human and technical alignment creates a functioning machine, my research analyzes how failing to forge these connections results in systemic collapse. My technical work automates bicycle maintenance through the creation of the AutoBleedr. Hydraulic brake bleeding is a complex procedure requiring precision to remove compressible air bubbles from fluid lines. My capstone team designed a mechatronic device that mounts directly to a bicycle to automate this manual process. The device uses a microcontroller to coordinate a linear actuator for syringe control, a stepper motor to squeeze the brake lever, and a sensor to autonomously detect when all air bubbles have been eliminated. Our goal is to provide cyclists and mechanics with an accessible method to maintain brakes without specialized expertise. My research explores sociotechnical integration by examining a historical failure. The paper investigates the disastrous launch of the HealthCare.gov website. I argue that the collapse was a fundamental failure of sociotechnical network formation rather than simple political mismanagement. Using Actor Network Theory and Michel Callon's framework of translation, my research examines how the selection of an unprepared network builder and misaligned incentives doomed the project. The paper demonstrates how these administrative decisions physically prevented developers and software modules from communicating effectively, leaving the network fragmented and unable to function upon launch. Reflecting on my technical work through the lens of STS research provided invaluable insights. Navigating the complexities of an extended team project in my capstone gave me the practical experience I needed to properly analyze the organizational and technical dynamics in my research paper. Having completed my capstone project before writing my research paper, applying Actor Network Theory to a historical failure highlighted the critical importance of actively aligning both human and nonhuman actors. If I could repeat the capstone experience using the lessons from my research, I would have prioritized establishing clear interface agreements early on, ensuring that our hardware components and software state machines were in constant dialogue. Understanding the mechanics of network formation would have allowed me to better facilitate both our group coordination and the technical integration of our subsystems, preventing the bottlenecks we faced and proving that sociotechnical connections are just as essential as the individual technical specifications.

BS (Bachelor of Science)

HealthCare.gov; Actor-Network Theory; Hydraulic Brakes; Automation

School of Engineering and Applied Science Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Computer Engineering Technical Advisor: Caroline Crockett STS Advisor: Benjamin Laugelli Technical Team Members: Landon Campbell, An Huynh, Binh Huynh, Thomas Keyes

English

All rights reserved by the author (no additional license for public reuse)

2026-05-07