UCSB ecologists Dr. Carla D’Antonio and Dr. Ryoko Oono struggled to take samples from the tops of trees and plants in inaccessible locations like cliffs and canyons. To solve this problem and streamline their research, I worked on a team of five to develop a Sampling Drone Arm that could attach to the 3DR X8+ octocopter that collects and retrieves plant samples for physiology and tissue research. After extensive analysis, design, testing, and revision, we arrived at the design pictured above, which employs Arduino control to actuate a sophisticated grabbing mechanism that feeds samples through a circular saw blade and secures them for retrieval. The cutting mechanism is suspended by a 4 foot carbon fiber arm that is allowed to swing freely to allow stable flight and easy takeoff and landing in any environment. Along with safety and reliability, weight was a major concern in maximizing the drone’s flight time and ensuring stable operation. To ensure that our design was as light as possible, we carefully optimized the geometry of each part and selected appropriate light-weight and strong materials. Fabrication of these optimized components was achieved using a variety of techniques, including CNC and conventional machining, laser cutting, waterjet cutting, and 3D printing.
The goal of this project was to design a 6-bladed horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) optimized for operation at a low Reynold’s number of 10,000. The resulting design has a diameter of 1 meter and was designed to be used with an existing miniature turbine hub. Working on a team of three, I researched and analyzed the design requirements involved in finding a balance between performance and structural stability. After evaluating several airfoils, we found that the NACA 2418 struck an appropriate equilibrium with its high lift-to-drag ratio allowing for high power output and its thickness providing adequate structural stability. Blade Element Momentum theory was then applied to this airfoil and our operating conditions to generate a chord and twist distribution. The airfoil was then imported into SolidWorks at various points along the span of the blade, then resized and rotated about its aerodynamic center according to this distribution. These sections were then lofted together to produce the design above.
The magnetic wall outlet pictured above is the result of a one quarter (3 month) junior project in which teams of five are assigned with designing and fabricating a product of their choosing. Our team sought to create an improved wall outlet that would be at least as safe and easier to use than the NEMA outlets that have been in use in North America for several decades. Interviews with UCSB students identified a demand for an outlet that is easy to operate, can withstand high current for use with any device, has a ground pin, and is safe to use. After evaluating many possible designs, our team settled on a design that was radially symmetrical and utilized a magnetic attachment. The circular radially symmetric design allows users to easily plug in to outlets in any direction while still maintaining good contact.
The first prototype produced exposed a problem; getting the three contacts to simultaneously connect with one another. If one contact was even the smallest length out of dimension, it would not allow for the other two contacts to connect, causing a serious electrical danger. This problem was solved by inserting rubber springs into the housing, allowing the contacts to move slightly and ensuring that all three contacts could connect without requiring exact tolerances. To ensure safe operation, the contacts on the live half were recessed so that they could not be touched. Due to time constraints, the housing was 3D printed from ABS plastic, which has a very low melting point. The product thus could not be tested with actual devices, but a resistance of < 0.1 Ω was measured across each contact when plugged in, indicating that the design could be used with common devices if a more suitable housing material was used.