Design for Innovation
January 2015 - May 2015
The goals are to introduce the design and teach how mechanical engineering relates to the "bigger picture."
Trebuchet Launcher
In this proect, my teammate and I were required to construct a trebuchet and launch a Ping-Pong ball filled with water to a distance of more than 8 meters.
We completed analysis and after three tries of manufacturing the trebutchet, we succesfully launhed our ping pong ball 12 meters.
Sustainable Foam Core Chair
This is my favourite project that I worked on. It was my first engineering project in university. The requirements were it had to be less than 500 grams and it was able to support an individual who weighed 81kg.
My teammate and I were able to design and manufacture it with a weight of 400 grams. It also supported an individual who weighed 81kg.
Bio-Inspired Robot
My teammate and I were required to look to nature for inspiration. We finalized on a design of a snail to complete the obstacle course. The design, coding and manufacturing were done to ensure that the robot would complete the obstacle course autonomously.
Computer Aided Design
August 2016 - December 2016
Principles of geometric modeling, finite element analysis and design optimization. Curve, surface, and solid modeling. Mesh generation, Galerkin method, and Isoparametric elements. Optimum design concepts. Numerical methods for constrained and unconstrained optimization. Applications of CAD/CAE software for mechanical design problems.
Garage Door Opener
An individual project where the requirements was to design a garage door opener which fits functional requirements of:
5% standard deviation all dimensions, 99.9% fit in the opener, 99.9% operation, 10mm length between sensors, 40mm length of the opener and 10mm height of sensor of box.
The design was modeled in SOLIDWORKS and various stress analysis including thermal analysis was done using Abaqus CAE.
Based on the stress analysis, changes were made to the button to have a flatter top and the button holder thickness was increased to reduce stress. With this change, all objectives were met.
Coffee Table
Our group of five individuals were tasked to create a new product, model in SOLIDWORKS and perform analysis using ABAQUS CAE. We set out on designing a coffee table with a central column that could hold liqour bottles and glasses. This central column would rise and fall at the push of a button powered by pistons. We managed to successful design after conducting iterations of various stress analysis.
Animation of Coffee Table Central Column
Design for Machine Elements
January 2016 - May 2016
Basic elements used in machine design which include the characteristics of gears, bearings, shafts, keys, couplings, fasteners, springs, electric motors, brakes and clutches, and flexible elements. Also studied are mechanism types, linkage analysis, and kinematic synthesis.
Potato Cutter
Our group of five people set out looking for horrible products in the market and analyzed them. We set out to make the product better by performing structural analysis on them and making the necessary changes to make it more efficient. For this project, we bought a potato cutter and performed our own structral tests on it. We modelled in it in SOLIDWORKS and conducted stress analysis tests on it. Finally, we made changes to it and presented our findings to our entire class.
Building Information Modeling (REVIT)
January 2017 - May 2017
Fundamentals and practical use of information technologies in design; basic concepts of building information modeling (BIM); review of software and technology available for BIM; practical use of BIM in design for creating a site, viewing a model, starting a project, working in the AutoDesk "Revit" Environment, adding basic building elements to a project, conceptual energy analysis, designing a preliminary layout, and presenting a project.
Building Design
An individual project where requirements were to design a structure with levels, grids, curtain walls, windows, doors. Also, basic 3D Revit models were developed from engineering redline sketches
Design of Thermal Systems
January 2017 - May 2017
Application of principles of fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and thermodynamics to design of components of engineering systems. Examples are drawn from power generation, environmental control, air and ground transportation, and industrial processes, as well as other industries.
Contactless Bicycle Charger
The group project was intended to provide cyclist with a convenient and attractive way to charge their phones.
Our design allowed us to provide a 5V charge to phones at 2A. This was designed for the average healthy biker. We were able to design our product in such a way that a cyclist would lose a negligible amount of energy while also charging his or her phone. It would be similar to the cyclist having gained a few pounds and then using cycling to try to burn some extra calories.
The solution consists of having some number of magnets attached to the spokes of the bicycle wheel in proportional intervals. For example, four magnets attached 90 degrees from one another at the same radial distance from the center of the wheel.
Attached to the bicycle frame, there will be a coil that will be oriented beside the bicycle wheel in such a way that it is in a position where the magnets pass by it when the wheel spins. The purpose of this is that, when a coil moves in a magnetic field with an orientation that allows the magnetic field to “cut” it, an electromotive force is generated
Interprofessional by Design: User-Centered Product Design Innovation Workshop
August 2015 - December 2015
Product design naturally leverages the skills of engineers (e.g., aerospace, biomedical, electrical, mechanical) and architects, but the class will be interesting and relevant to all disciplines. Students who are interested in design, entrepreneurship, prototyping, and product development (obviously) are encouraged to sign up.
Disposable Bathtub Cover
Objective
Formulated an idea to keep the bathtub clean.
A sheet over the bathtub which were heat resistant, water-proof & slip resistant.
Description
Completed risk analysis for different types of competitor products.
Pioneered sourcing of material from various locations throughout the country & found the material.
Introduced Fabric Enhanced with Nanowhiskers from Nan-otex which fit requirements. Sold by Target.
Conclusion
The material worked perfectly with our design whereby it was fitted on the bathtub by pins at four locations at each end & was easily removable to be cleaned in the washing machine.
Interprofessional Project: Defining How Houses SHOULD Be Built
August 2016 - December 2016
According to estimates from the US Green Building Council and the US Department of Energy, by the time three percent of the design budget for a new house has been spent, 70 percent of the energy use over its lifetime has been set in stone. With 35 percent of building energy loss occurring through its walls, it is critical to integrate the most cost-effective and high-performance solution into the design. The construction industry is slow to adopt new materials/techniques due to the lack of a comprehensive comparison addressing cost, performance and payback. Providing a side-by-side comparison of possible wall assembly options for any given design will allow the building industry to move forward in adopting the best available energy saving strategy for a given building design.
How Houses Should be Built
Objective
Find an innovative wall system that is efficient & complies with Chicago code.
Description
Incorporated sources from Department of Energy & other com-panies showing why Structurally Insulated Panels (SIP) were the best option.
Orchestrated a matrix containing wall systems based on R-value, thickness, compression strength & cost per square foot.
Based on the data obtained, eliminated wall systems that did not meet Chicago codes.
Conclusion
Only Mooney wall system meet Chicago codes.
SIP wall system did not meet code due to prefabrication. SIP wall sys-tem was considered as it had considerably higher strength but more ex-pensive. SIP took less amount of time to build compared to other walls.
To meet Chicago code, SIP manufacturers could get involved directly with the city as there are no companies using SIP in Chicago.