Projects

Masters Thesis Project

Using Unmanned Aircraft Systems in Municipal Power: A Cost Analysis

My graduate thesis (link above) focused on the cost and efficacy of using commercially available unmanned aircraft systems in the inspection of power distribution systems. This was accomplished by determining the tasks involved in the inspection of power distribution systems, determining which tasks could be accomplished using UAS, fielding a survey to determine the cost of current methods (i.e., manual inspection), and creating a cost model which could be used to determine the cost of current methods of inspection for municipalities of varying sizes. A cost model was then developed which calculated the cost of inspecting a system with UAS; this allowed for the direct compairson of the two methods.

Custom Computer Build

While I've been happily using computers for as long as I can remember, I didn't build one from scratch until I was in graduate school. That machine has been given upgrades over the past few years, but with the new Ryzen processors, I couldn't resist starting from scratch with a new build.

So here's my new baby!

Optimization Code

One of my favorite classes in graduate school was focusing on engineering optimization techniques. For our final project, my group created a genetic algorithm and applied it to a smart thermostat, allowing it to optimize the set point and operation of the thermostat to allow for the maximum occupant comfort and energy savings while the homeowner is away. (Obviously, this was pre-quarantine, and was therefore slightly more relevant.)

Product Redesign

My undergraduate research project was focused on the analysis and redesign of a fluid transfer spike. During the course of the project, I investigated and identified the cause of a fluid flow problem of the product. I utilized computational fluid dynamics and experimented with real-world conditions to determine the root cause of the issue, then redesigned the fluid transfer spike to provide a solution. Shown above is a 3D printed scale model of the revised spike.

Home Desk

The most recent project I've completed is building a custom desk for my study. The original plan was to create an L-shaped desk with two pieces of maple wood butcher block, but unfortunately, cost and schedule constraints necessitated a reduction in scope. That's not to say that the effort didn't involve quite a lot of work! It certainly did, but in the end, I'm very pleased by the result.

HTML and CSS

Unsurprisingly, there wasn't a huge focus on learning HTML and CSS in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department at school. But I do think web design is a pretty cool skill to have, so I've been (very slowly) learning some of the basics. You can find my rudimentary attempts at an online resume at this link, if you're interested!

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