This product development project was aimed at creating a gadget that enriched the lives of the elderly in some way. Our group decided to create a toy that improves concentration, motor skills, and dexterity for the elderly.
Managed a dedicated team of four individuals in the conceptualization, design, and manufacturing of an innovative toy tailored for the elderly demographic, specifically addressing challenges related to loss of dexterity. Leadership responsibilities included scheduling team design meetings and allocating tasks based on individual expertise in 3D modeling, sketching, and manufacturing. In addition, I completed an Additive Manufacturing certificate to gain access to my university's fabrication center.
The project commenced with the creation of 40 sketches and the development of a 3D model, ultimately selecting the final design through a comprehensive decision matrix considering quality, ergonomics, aesthetics, and affordability. In addition, we utilized the predicted bill of materials for different designs as a factor in our decision-making.
The toy was designed to mimic the dynamics of a double pendulum, introducing an element of controlled unpredictability. The device's interactive nature challenges users to engage in coordinated movements, promoting enhanced motor skills, concentration, and cognitive engagement. The final product emerged from a meticulous Additive Manufacturing process, exclusively utilizing fused deposition modeling to ensure a balance between cost-effectiveness and weight management.
This project represents a holistic approach to product development, emphasizing not only the technical aspects of design and manufacturing but also the profound impact on the end user – in this case, the elderly. The toy serves as a testament to the team's commitment to creating purposeful and enriching solutions that cater to the unique needs of the target demographic.
This project integrated an airfoil-inspired car exterior with the primary objective of minimizing drag. The process involved imported airfoil geometry, Solidworks design, computational fluid dynamic simulation, and a final empirical wind tunnel test of the physical prototype. I gained experience testing and analyzing differences between numerical/finite body simulations against real-world physical results.
This project aimed to create a 3D model with a specific volume that would minimize the drag force when subjected to fluid flow. The model had to meet a defined volume under 50 cubic inches and be 3D printed. The project shape constraints required a definite width dimension (A needle-shaped prototype was not permitted). My first instinct to get design inspiration was to get a NACA airfoil profile from airfoiltools.com. After some research on the best airfoil specifically aimed at reducing drag, I found that the NACA 6 series had the best profile characteristics for our project. After importing the airfoil coordinates into Solidworks, I edited and scaled the design to satisfy volume design constraints.
After testing multiple NACA variants, the final design was chosen based on Solidworks fluid simulation results that illustrated the fastest surrounding airflow velocities. This project was my first introduction to fluid flow simulation and allowed me to study ways to optimize airfoil geometry and airflow testing parameters to improve drag system performance. In addition, this project demonstrated ways I can contribute to real-world applications such as improving vehicle performance and fuel efficiency.
To evaluate the aerodynamic efficiency of my design, I employed the Virtual Dynamics Analysis System (VDAS) software in conjunction with the AF1300 subsonic wind tunnel. The process involved importing the 3D model of the car into the VDAS software, defining appropriate boundary conditions, and simulating the airflow over the vehicle. The AF1300 wind tunnel facilitated a detailed analysis of the design's performance under controlled conditions, allowing for the assessment of drag reduction strategies. This comprehensive testing approach enabled me to refine the aerodynamic features of the car design, ensuring optimal performance in terms of reduced drag and improved overall efficiency.
Through this project, I honed my engineering skills by integrating theoretical knowledge with practical application in aerodynamics. The hands-on experience with Solidworks, VDAS software, and wind tunnel testing not only strengthened my proficiency in fluid flow simulations but also deepened my understanding of the balance between design and real-world performance.
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TL;DR – Designed and manufactured an innovative toy for the elderly, enhancing dexterity and cognitive engagement. Developed and tested an airfoil-inspired car exterior, minimizing drag through CFD simulation and wind tunnel experiments.