Project Overview
I spent the summer at the Center for Marine Robotics in the Applied Ocean and Physics Engineering department. The CMR hopes to "revolutionize how humans and machines work in the ocean," and focuses mostly on Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV). As WHOI is a large research institution, CMR recently launched a program called Dunkworks, which "is a rapid-prototyping facility that facilitates collaboration and enables development and testing of new technology before being deployed," to help foster an entrepreneurial environment within the larger organization.
My Project
Over the course of the summer, I worked on developing an integrated systems engineering platform to improve the speed and efficiency of design iterations of AUV's. My project involved learning the governing equations and methods for designing and underwater vehicle and then creating a GUI for the end user. While using the platform, the user would be prompted to input their design constraints and design parameters, then the program would return the respective dimensions and specifications for the AUV. Additionally, the user would be able to quantitatively see exactly how changing one variable affected the entire system. This program contributed to the goal of a fast-paced AUV developmental process because it allowed a user to quickly iterate through different designs without going through all the complex and time-consuming math she or he would normally have to do.
What I Learned
I learned a lot of various skill sets over the course of the summer. In terms of technical skills, I learned how to design and write my own multi-faceted GUI as well as the design process and calculations of a complex autonomous system. While each of these skills make me feel like a more accomplished and capable mechanical engineer, the most valuable skill I learned was how to think of a mechanical system with a systems engineering mindset. As I dove deeper in the driving math of the platform, I realised how complicated changing one small variable can become and how that simple change can have drastic cascading effects on every aspect of the vehicle. Now, as I approach mechanical engineering problems, my eyes are opened to the importance of big-picture thinking when designing even the simplest of components.
I spent the summer at the Center for Marine Robotics in the Applied Ocean and Physics Engineering department. The CMR hopes to "revolutionize how humans and machines work in the ocean," and focuses mostly on Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV). As WHOI is a large research institution, CMR recently launched a program called Dunkworks, which "is a rapid-prototyping facility that facilitates collaboration and enables development and testing of new technology before being deployed," to help foster an entrepreneurial environment within the larger organization.
My Project
Over the course of the summer, I worked on developing an integrated systems engineering platform to improve the speed and efficiency of design iterations of AUV's. My project involved learning the governing equations and methods for designing and underwater vehicle and then creating a GUI for the end user. While using the platform, the user would be prompted to input their design constraints and design parameters, then the program would return the respective dimensions and specifications for the AUV. Additionally, the user would be able to quantitatively see exactly how changing one variable affected the entire system. This program contributed to the goal of a fast-paced AUV developmental process because it allowed a user to quickly iterate through different designs without going through all the complex and time-consuming math she or he would normally have to do.
What I Learned
I learned a lot of various skill sets over the course of the summer. In terms of technical skills, I learned how to design and write my own multi-faceted GUI as well as the design process and calculations of a complex autonomous system. While each of these skills make me feel like a more accomplished and capable mechanical engineer, the most valuable skill I learned was how to think of a mechanical system with a systems engineering mindset. As I dove deeper in the driving math of the platform, I realised how complicated changing one small variable can become and how that simple change can have drastic cascading effects on every aspect of the vehicle. Now, as I approach mechanical engineering problems, my eyes are opened to the importance of big-picture thinking when designing even the simplest of components.
