DESIGN FOR INNOVATION PROJECTS
BIO-INSPIRED ROBOT
The goal of this project was to create a robot, with a movement technique seen in nature, that could autonomously move 10 ft and back. The following material constraints were required:
1/8" mdf board
Glue or screws for fasteners
180° servo motors
Arduino, breadboard, and battery pack
Initially a movement technique was chosen, and a design created with a torque analysis to confirm feasibility. The servos could only provide 350 N-mm torque, so weight was a major concern. All components were modeled in Inventor, then cut using a laser cutter. The Arduino was programmed manually to properly control the servo motion. I had a lot of fun with this project and was the second person in my class to complete it successfully.
TREBUCHET
For this project, we were asked to design and build a trebuchet that could launch a 27g rubber ball at least 8m, using a 450g counterweight and a remote trigger. The following material constraints were required:
10 pieces or less of 24”x18”x1/4” MDF
10 pieces or less of 24”x18”x1/8” MDF
1/4” acrylic rod
Wood screws or glue
String or rope
Fabric of your choice
Matlab scripts were used to find the theoretical optimal dimensions and launch angle. We designed a piece for three adjustable launch angles, to account for experimental launch differences, and a duct tape pouch to keep the projectile secure until the launch point.
SUSTAINABLE CHAIR
For this project, we were asked to design and build a chair made entirely of 18" x 24" x 3/16" foam core board that could hold an 80kg person. The total chair mass had to be less than 500g, dimensions within the constraints shown (mm), and be assembled without any fasteners, glue, tape, etc. The focus of this project was creating a sustainable design, so removing excess material and taking advantage of the material's high compression yield strength were crucial.
