Robotic Search and Rescue
I built a robot that is able to improve safety in mines. The robot takes a series of sensor readings, do 3D mapping to compare deteriorating physical conditions in time, detect CO and CH4 levels and record video footage. All of this information is then sent back to the user. The project aims to build a robot that could decrease the amount of casualties in mines due to gas or instability. A strict engineering process, which comprised researching different features on a robot, was followed. A prototype robot was built, tested and improvements made. Some of the challenges faced, while building the prototype robot, included manoeuvrability over any type of terrain, even rough and rocky terrain. Choosing the correct driving mechanism (wheels, tracks, suspension and steering) also proved to be a very important feature that had to be kept in mind. The sensors used included, a temperature, humidity, carbon monoxide gas, as well as a methane gas sensor. A Gyro, Accelerometer and compass for easier navigation were also used. Two cameras which included a front camera for navigation and 3D mapping as well as a back camera for navigation were installed. The robot was tested over various terrains, it was able to retrieve sensor data and all of the engineering goals were reached. After the robot was built it was tested on various terrains. The robot achieved all of the engineering goals. The sensors was able to give readings, the robot 3D mapped an area and was also able to manoeuvre over rough terrain.
Development of a rotor blade with optimized aerodynamics to propel a quadcopter
Sustainable mobility concepts are playing an increasingly important part in today's social developments. As a promising mode of future transportation, quadcopters play a special role, and their further development and optimization is being advanced along many disciplines. Even in my hometown of Zurich this trend has not passed by without leaving its marks. Since 2019, the Swiss National Postal Service has been testing autonomous means of transport together with the Zurich University Hospital as part of a pilot project. However, quadcopters are not exclusively used for transportation purposes. Geologists use them for landscape modeling and the insurance industry utilizes them for damage assessment. Quadcopters have also become an integral part of photography and agriculture, where they are used for pest control, for example [2]. I first became intensively involved with quadcopters in 2017, when I received a hobby model for my birthday in the form of the Mavic Pro from the Chinese company Da-Jiang Innovations Science and Technology Co., Ltd (DJI). In October of the same year, I completed an internship in the biofluid mechanics department of the Institute for ImplantTechnology and Biomaterials e.V., where I studied the aerodynamics of airfoils. With my Mavic Pro in my backpack, I had the idea to develop and prototype my own functional rotor for my quadcopter as part of my upcoming Swiss Matura thesis paper. The rotor would be considered functional if it generates enough lift to keep the quadcopter hovering. The focus of this project was the investigation of aerodynamic properties. The influence of other factors, such as the material used, was not the primary focus of the work and therefore not investigated in detail.