Name: Evan Ross

Email: Bigorca66@gmail.com

Phone: (385)-319-0898

 

Major: Engineering

Minor: CAD/CAM Technology

Number of Credits Completed: 146

Anticipated Year and Semester of Graduation: Spring 2017

 

Title of Project: STORC (Special Transport or Requisition Contraption)

 

Abstract

My project spanned two semesters and fulfilled the requirements of both my engineering capstone and the EDGE Creativity Engagement Center. I was a member of a team that designed, fabricated, and tested a mechanical device in cooperation with Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. The device was designed to be used in conjunction with a remote control drone and was capable of lifting an object weighing up to one pound. My role on the team was that of mechanical engineer. I was in charge of designing the physical structure of the device in a way that minimized weight and ensured lifting capability. Periodic meetings were held with China Lake to review progress.

 

Project Goal

For my EDGE project I made a device capable of connecting to a remote control drone and lifting an object weighing up to one pound.

                As a design team, we initially started the design process by defining requirements and constraints associated with our project. These included the weight of both the device and the payload that it would carry, the size of the device and possible size of the payload, the types of accelerations and loads that the device would have to endure while securing the payload, and the availability of electricity during different parts of the flight. Based on these constraints and requirements, we began brainstorming designs that could meet each one. We presented multiple designs to our advisors and client, and we made a recommendation for the design that we thought met the requirements best. The chosen design utilized an aluminum frame for weight reduction and elastic bands for securing payloads with a wide range of shapes and sizes.

                Once the design was approved, more concrete plans were created. We purchased materials and fabricated the prototype. We enlisted the help of the South West Applied Technology College (SWATC) for welding the aluminum frame. We then machined the pieces of the frame to connect hardware.

                After the prototype was fabricated, a simple test plan was created. One of the design specifications set by China Lake was that the device must be able to secure a payload while undergoing 20 g’s of acceleration. I programmed an accelerometer to test and log the acceleration that the device experienced. We analyzed this data and determined that the device met specification.

Original Deliverables

The ultimate goal is to produce fully functional prototype, but there are additional deliverables associated with design. Some of those additional deliverables will include preproduction drawings/3D models and testing results. All of these steps will also be displayed in a Festival of Excellence booth which is required by the engineering department.

 

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B8o25nmpEY8rQndKa0tzMVowVGc?usp=sharing