For the final year project of my mechanical engineering degree at Imperial College London, I decided to improve on an existing design for an animatronic to aid in the convservation of nightjars in the UK.
With the support of my supervisor, I began by planning the steps of my project. This included detailing the specifications for my final product to achieve which I chose with the help of the DNSG (Dorset Nightjar Study Group). Additionally, I made a Gantt chart to help organise my time for this year-long project.
To improve upon a wing-flapping mechanism made in a previous year, I sketched and prototyped my own concept mechanisms. After deciding upon the most suitable solution, I modelled the mechanism in Python to calculate the correct dimensions and motor torque required to operate the system.
Using SolidWorks CAD, parts were manufactured in-house through laser cutting and 3D printing techniques. Other off-the-shelf parts were ordered to complete the constuction of the final prototype. This allowed for testing and comparison with my Python model which showed less than 1% error.
My final deliverables for this project involved writing a 30-page technical report on the manufacturing and testing results, a 20 minute seminar with Q and A, and finally a poster session open to public.
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