A four student design project was formed to investigate the
design of a Navy robotic fire fighter. The project goals were
centered around identifying appropriate Mechanical Engineering
(?'E) masters thesis topics while accomplishing a worthwhile
engineering project. As an ME involvement, the project was
approached as an exercise in machine preliminary design. A 13
week format was used with time equally distributed between
background building and design. Lecture hours were minimized (to nine) and one-on-one and group tech leal discussions were
maximized. None of the students had p. r background in robotics.
Each student selected a task in robot c oign in which to become
"expert". The four tasks investigated were: manipulator mechanism
design; end .effector design; motion control; and man/machine
interfaces
.
The students results^ are presented as submitted. Alternative
engineering design concepts are discussed for each of the major
system components. The evolution of system design requirements is
discussed. A recommended system configuration is identified.prepared for: Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Californiahttp://archive.org/details/mechanicalpredes00smitN
