Capstan drive transport system for motion picture film

The work presented describes the development of a capstan drive system for the transport of motion picture film. From a model description of the plant and computer aided system design analysis, control algorithms are formulated. The work shows how these relativity complex control algorithms are implemented by making use of the parallel processing capabilities of the transputer. A critical investigation of current film transport methods is undertaken leading to the design and testing of a prototype capstan drive mechanism. The capstan drive system is shown to eliminate problems of sprocket drives and their associated mechanisms. A multi-input multi-output controller is presented using state-space methods of design. The developed control strategies are fully tested on a model of the plant before hardware testing. The control outputs of the system are speed and tension. The final control solution is shown to be a combination of full-state feedback, integral control, and a Kalman filter estimator for the elimination of system disturbances. The transputer implementation of the developed control strategies is presented together with a comparison between simulation and experimental results. It is shown that computational times can be reduced by using multiple transputers and placing computation-intensive sections of the control algorithm on separate processors. Transputer configurations and interconnections are shown. The capstan system has been shown to allow faster printing speeds with improved transport accuracy leading to better quality of the final picture print. The system has been shown to be 'robust' to external disturbances and changes in plant parameters

Wave Energy Converter for Marine Vessels and Isolated Communities

California Polytechnic State University’s 2023 Marine Energy Collegiate Competition team, Surf Supply, has developed a floating dock that transduces wave energy into electricity. The following report aligns with MECC requirements, and our design changes since CDR are present in the User Manual in Appendix F. Our primary market research of the Blue Economy identified electric marine vessel charging and isolated communities as early adopters that could benefit most from the first generation of our wave energy converter (WEC). Surf Supply’s design concept provides a reliable, affordable, and renewable energy source that reduces dependency on conventional fossil fuels, allowing blue economy industries to have increased energy independence. Our design uses a winch mechanism to generate rotational mechanical power from swells, that, when coupled with a generator, produces electricity. The electrical energy is stored in an on-board battery, so power can be supplied to end users on demand. A key advantage of Surf Supply’s WEC is its small, modular design, which allows for operation in low-energy sea states and ease of scalability. Further, the design maximizes use of commercial, off-the-shelf parts, minimizing the costs associated with custom manufacturing. Through our participation in the Build and Test challenge, we were able to test the mechanical and electrical system designs and identify areas for improvement. With continued development, a commercial-ready product promises to increase Surf Supply’s early adopter market share, eventually expanding into adjacent markets such as desalination. We feel confident that Surf Supply’s wave energy concept could prove to be competitive in the market and experience sustained growth as the demand for clean, independent energy rises

Automation of garment assembly processes

Robotic automation in apparel manufacturing is reviewed and investigated. Gripper design for separation and de-stacking of batch cut fabric components is identified as an important factor in implementing such automation and a study of existing gripper mechanisms is presented. New de-stacking gripper designs and processes are described together with experimental results. Single fabric component handling, alignment and registration techniques are investigated. Some of these techniques are integrated within a demonstrator robotic garment assembly cell automating the common edge binding process. Performance results are reported

Health maintenance facility system effectiveness testing

The Medical Simulations Working Group conducted a series of medical simulations to evaluate the proposed Health Maintenance Facility (HMF) Preliminary Design Review (PDR) configuration. The goal of these simulations was to test the system effectiveness of the HMF PDR configurations. The objectives of the medical simulations are to (1) ensure fulfillment of requirements with this HMF design, (2) demonstrate the conformance of the system to human engineering design criteria, and (3) determine whether undesirable design or procedural features were introduced into the design. The simulations consisted of performing 6 different medical scenarios with the HMF mockup in the KRUG laboratory. The scenarios included representative medical procedures and used a broad spectrum of HMF equipment and supplies. Scripts were written and simulations performed by medical simulations working group members under observation from others. Data were collected by means of questionnaires, debriefings, and videotapes. Results were extracted and listed in the individual reports. Specific issues and recommendations from each simulation were compiled into the individual reports. General issues regarding the PDR design of the HMF are outlined in the summary report

Ground Robotic Hand Applications for the Space Program study (GRASP)

This document reports on a NASA-STDP effort to address research interests of the NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) through a study entitled, Ground Robotic-Hand Applications for the Space Program (GRASP). The primary objective of the GRASP study was to identify beneficial applications of specialized end-effectors and robotic hand devices for automating any ground operations which are performed at the Kennedy Space Center. Thus, operations for expendable vehicles, the Space Shuttle and its components, and all payloads were included in the study. Typical benefits of automating operations, or augmenting human operators performing physical tasks, include: reduced costs; enhanced safety and reliability; and reduced processing turnaround time

Methods for Mass Data Acquisition of Whiskey Webs.

Whiskey webs are a recently discovered phenomenon in which the monolayer collapse during evaporation of diluted American whiskey results in self-assembled, web-like structures. It was found that the pattern of weblike structures were unique between different American whiskey products. It is desirable to use these unique patterns as a “fingerprint” which can be used to identify whiskeys, their chemical constituents, and perhaps even counterfeits. In pursuit of identifying whiskey products based on their web pattern, it is necessary to have a large database of samples imaged for each product. The device discussed herein is the realization of an apparatus capable of automating the droplet deposition and imaging of whiskey webs. The apparatus was shown to produce droplets with a smaller volumetric deviation than traditional methods. The apparatus will standardize the droplet deposition procedure and serve as the foundation for statistical studies of whiskey web uniqueness and chemical characterization

Sensor.IO

ME450 Capstone Design and Manufacturing Experience: Winter 2021The Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living (AACIL), an organization led by people with disabilities to empower the lives of people with disabilities, wants an electronic input/output device that gives a unique sensory experience for their members. The device must map user inputs to outputs, enabling users with varying levels of ability to interact with the device and giving them autonomy in the final output of the device. This need was identified by our three primary stakeholders: Sean Ahlquist (A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning Professor), Claire Moore (AACIL’s Visual Arts teacher), and an AACIL Visual Arts participant. Through an ideation phase, screening using requirements and specifications, and evaluation using a Pugh chart, we selected our final design: an input/output device that manipulates a textile to alter the projections of lights shining through the textile. Based on a theoretical model of the system, experiments to characterize the interaction between lights and textiles, and preliminary electrical analysis, we created a detailed CAD model. We then moved into manufacturing, ordering purchased components, and assembly. We conducted extensive user testing and verification of our requirements and specifications. The team verified 8 of our 10 requirements, including our user engagement and accessibility requirements. Some of our requirements were not met due to time and budget limitations, including durability and safety labeling. Overall, the device achieved its purpose of providing an accessible, interactive, engaging input/output device for self-expression.Sean Ahlquist; Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living: UM Architecturehttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/167649/1/Team_34-SensorIO.pd

The Wellness Companion Portable Fitness Device

Designed to combat the unhealthy effects of sitting for long periods of time, the wellness companion is a portable treadmill that one can easily bring to school, to the office, to the library, or anywhere else one may be at for long periods of time. The companion can shrink up to one-third of its extended length using interlocking drawer sliders. In its collapsed form, the companion exists as three panels stacked on top of each other. In its extended form, these panels can slide out to tension the belt and provide a smooth walking surface. The current prototype makes use of a pre-existing treadmill from which a 2.5 HP motor, circuit board and speed controller was salvaged, and was built using medium-density fibreboard from Home Depot. A budget of $250 was allotted for this project, of which$137.67 was used. The wellness companion can easily hold over 200 lbs, and can be easily set up or put away in less than a minute. Future improvements are being considered, which include additional belt tension, a motor casing and a carrying suitcase for easy storage

Small business innovation research. Abstracts of completed 1987 phase 1 projects

Non-proprietary summaries of Phase 1 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) projects supported by NASA in the 1987 program year are given. Work in the areas of aeronautical propulsion, aerodynamics, acoustics, aircraft systems, materials and structures, teleoperators and robotics, computer sciences, information systems, spacecraft systems, spacecraft power supplies, spacecraft propulsion, bioastronautics, satellite communication, and space processing are covered