Jumping Robot
Analytical Engineering
Technical Drawing
CAD
CFD
FEA
- I engineered a jumping robot using mathematical and computational engineering analysis to meet strict criteria. The second year universirt project was awarded the highest mark in the year.
This project involved designing a theoretical jumping robot to meet the following criteria: a jump height and distance of 300mm, a cost below £100, a mass below 200g, and an ip54 rating. The design rationale behind the robot was to be fully justified, starting with morphological design, a full mathematical analysis, considerations of manufacture and cost, biomimicry, computer simulations of a fully developed CAD model, and concluding with a suite of technical drawings and general assembly drawings.
Self-Righting Geometry
Propulsion
The robot uses a variable pitch propeller mechanism that allows it to control the forwards thrust. The propeller is driven by the unraveling winch as the robot launches. A servo connected to a small cam controls the pitch angle.
Variable Pitch Propeller Mechanism
Transmission
The winding mechanism is driven by a small DC motor that uses a harmonic drive as transmission. This gives advantages such as high gear reductions in minimal space, no backlash, reversibility and minimal components. the output of the transmission winds up a sprung leg, that stores the potential energy the robot needs to launch. By reversing the motor the helical gears change the direction of their axial thrust and the trigger mechanism disengages, allowing the robot to spring upwards.
Gearbox and Transmission Mechanism
CFD
I conducted an iterative flow simulation on the propeller and rudder assembly in order to verify the manual calculations. The thrust force on the propeller blades was the goal of the study and the angle of the blades was automatically changed each time the study was run. This allowed me to predict which angles produced the largest thrust.
Flow Simulation Animation
FEA
FEA was conducted on areas of potential failure. The results informed iterative design changes.
FEA Process
A full mathematical analysis was conducted on the design, starting with an iterative Matlab code to find the launch velocity required to achieve the desired jump distance. The geometry of the gears and shafts were calculated to withstand the predicted torques and mitigate any key failure modes. Aerodynamic calculations were also carried out in order to find the force required on each propeller blade to achieve the horizontal distance. Full calculations and technical drawings along with much more are detailed in the report below.
