Mechanical Systems Design
I took the Mechanical Systems Design course in winter 2018. The course description is as follows:
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How to design mechanical systems through iterative application of ideation, analysis, computation and prototyping. Design of custom mechanical components, selection of common machine elements, and use of electric motors and transmissions to meet performance, efficiency and reliability goals. Emphasis on systems with dynamic motion designed for low mass and energy use.
Mechanical Jumping Robot Project
Task: Design and build a mechanical system with a single motor that executes a jump of at least 1 meter high after a pause of 5 seconds with a small team
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Final design: biomimetic, four-bar linkage, single-motor, winching system for delay, maximum jump height of 9 feet
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Drew from jumping robot designs from many different research papers
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Full motor efficiency and material elasticity analysis for part selections
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Designed and modeled in Fusion 360
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Motor analysis, material testing analysis, force and torque calculations, and energy analysis and stress analysis done with Python
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My Contributions
Co-designed mechanical structure with one other student in Fusion 360
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Full analysis of motor performance and energy analysis of system for efficiency and energy optimization
Selection of motor and gear system
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Stress analysis of several candidate materials
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Force analysis of various candidate elastic materials
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3D printing and laser cutting of several components in the design
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Co-author final design report, creation of figures, and preliminary design research
Salamander Snatcher Robot
Task: design and build a robot to fit inside a tunnel and pick up an object at the other end, and return it to the start, while minimizing energy consumption (under 10J)
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Final design: quad car with whegs, single motor with gear reductions, adhesive covered plate to adhere to the salamander object for transport
Successful performance, under 10J energy consumption, completed mission in sufficient time
Won 3rd place among peers for best efficiency
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Comprised of mostly lego parts
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My Contributions
Co-designed mechanism for obtaining object and vehicle transmission
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Motor efficiency analysis to optimize energy consumption
