Calculated Imagination

Using parts from a universal kit of materials, I created two robots to score points on a Willy Wonka-inspired game board. One robot climbed a 60º slope and used a tape measure extending mechanism to pull a lever and lift an object. The other robot used a telescoping linear lift to lift a 10N object. I received the Edison Award (for persistence and dedication) and the Golden Broom Award (for commitment to maintaining the shop).

The W8X Pro is a hardware fitness device that uses an electric motor to create variable resistance. This removes the need for weight stacks and allows for dynamic resistance variation within each repetition. The device measures velocity, force, and power metrics to ensure each athlete gets the ideal workout. The modular device mounts to various surfaces to provide a workout for all muscle groups without additional equipment.

Flat light, a condition caused by the refraction of light through clouds and snow in the air, is one of the most dangerous problems for winter sports. In collaboration with Shred Optics, my team and I built an apparatus to simulate these conditions. We then captured and analyzed both images and athlete percepts for a variety of goggles in simulated flat light conditions.

Intro to Design

Working with two small teams of engineers, I designed and built unique devices for two design projects. For the first project, we created an apparatus out of limited materials to retrieve a ball from a nest located nine feet away. The second project involved user testing and research to create a product to lift a shelf of CDs for our elderly user.

Using impedance control theory, I modeled human upper body motion as a spring system. I used MATLAB to solve the system of differential equations for various stiffnesses and simulate (visualize) the motion. I then worked with human subjects to collect data on impedance perception to inform future. My conference paper was accepted to IROS 2017, and I received the Douglas G. and Sara G. Bailey fund to support undergraduate mechanical engineering research.