Assessing Micro-Hydropower in Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh is the largest producer of hydroelectricity in India, and boasts a 99.8% rural electrification rate. However, micro-hydropower is electrical power with off-grid applications that does not cause the negative impacts of large-scale projects. Our team researched the viability of using micro-hydro turbines to power individual households. We conducted interviews with 39 people across eight locations to understand the electrical needs of the community as wells as opinions on micro-hydro projects. We then constructed a micro-turbine prototype and tested it at a local river site. Finally, we made several recommendations for improvements to our prototype as well as continued research on the feasibility of micro-hydro technologies

Design of an MAV for the 2019 SAE Aero Design Competition

The goal of this project was to design a Fixed-Wing Micro Aerial Vehicle in compliance with the rules of the Society of Automotive Engineers 2019 Aero Design Competition. These rules included carrying a payload of 2 inch inner diameter PVC pipe, fitting the unassembled aircraft within a box of dimensions 12.125" x 3.625"x 13.875", and assembling the aircraft in under 3 minutes. The project team conducted analysis and testing in the areas of aircraft structures, stability and controls, aerodynamics, and propulsion. The final aircraft was constructed with laser-cut plywood and balsa, monokote, carbon fiber, and 3D printed components, weighed 2 pounds unloaded and 3.85 pounds loaded, while still meeting all competition requirements