Class Work

Project Objective: Design, manufacture, and test a pneumatic- powered robot that is capable of moving and switching directions when prompted 

Role: Mechanical Lead

My Contributions:

• designed and manufactured the chassis, propulsion, and steering mechanisms for the robot 

• collaborated with the electrical and controls members to successfully intgerate all electrical hardware 

• performed hand calculations to determine accurate Ackerman steering angles that provide the robot with mobility to steer in multiple directions  

Skills Developed:

• calculated gear ratios and designed gear assemblies in Solidworks to maximize speed and torque 

• learned how to use various wood-cutting tools to manufacture all of the pieces for the chassis 

• practiced Design for Manufacturability and identified importance of tolerances for structural integrity 

Final CAD assembly and the manufactured design

Experience building parts in 2D and 3D sketching and using solidworks assemblies and drawings to created detailed maps of parts.

FEA on the loads acting on the satellite panels on the gimbal cylinder assembly

For my final project in my MAE 52 Solidworks class, I chose to make Skylab because I have always had a fascination with space and space technology. I did a research project on an agricultural system unit in the ISS in high school, and now I created an important element of the ISS in solidworks. This project helped me understand the mechanics, detail, and kinematics of skylab. Simply by using reference pictures, I was able to dissect the 6 integral components of the Skylab configuration including the command and service module, multiple docking adaptor, apollo telescope mount, airlock module, instrument module, and orbital workshop, and the whole process of creating the parts for each of these elements, as well as hinges and mounting features that need to be created to connect parts to one another, taught me a plethora about design features, planning ahead, and attention to detail. Building a structure I am so passionate about was an exciting project for me because it challenged me to use my imagination to determine the configuration and orientation of each component in the entire structure.