Design and Simulation of a Honeycomb Sandwich Panel as a Heat-resistant and Durable Construction Material
One of the main factors that contribute to fire incidents and the excessive heat people feel during a heat wave is the building materials used, and one such material that possesses durable and heat-resistant properties is sandwich panels. A possible structure that can be used to model sandwich panels is honeycomb structures; however, further research has yet to be conducted on its applications as a heat-resistant urban construction material. This study aims to design a three-dimensional model of a honeycomb sandwich panel and simulate its performance under different thermal and structural stressors. A 3D model of the honeycomb sandwich panel was generated using Autodesk Fusion 360. Then, multiple versions of the panel were generated with varying heat-resistant core materials—namely, aluminum, nickel, nickel-copper alloy 400, and copper—along with polystyrene as the core material for the control model. The following properties of every panel were assessed using finite element analysis (FEA): static deformation, stress distribution, strain distribution, total heat flux, and thermal gradient. Results showed that when subjected to varying structural loads (2 kN, 5 kN, 7 kN), the nickel-core panel demonstrated the best results in terms of static deformation and strain distribution due to its relatively lower deformation and elongation values, respectively. Meanwhile, under the same structural loads, the aluminum-core panel performed better than other core materials in terms of stress distribution due to it having the relatively highest difference between its simulated von Mises stress and its yield strength. The honeycomb sandwich panels have also shown to possess heat-resistivity when subjected to a thermal load of 90°C, with polystyrene being the most promising material overall in terms of heat-resistance due to its relatively lower heat flux and thermal gradient. The results from this study would contribute to future research on honeycomb sandwich panels and may be used in real-life applications.
A Humanoid Robot on the Basis of Modules Controlled Through a Serial Half-Duplex UART Bus
This thesis presents the design and construction of a small-scale humanoid robot, covering all aspects from 3D modeling to electronics design and programming. The robot is built entirely from custom 3D-printed components, with a new servomotor developed specifically to meet the project’s requirements. During the robot’s development, custom electronics were also designed, leading to a modular platform that enables easy interaction with diverse modules like servomotors and inertial measurement unit (IMU) modules. This modular approach allows these components to be programmed and controlled with minimal adjustments, as well as making development of potential future modules straightforward. The robot is operated via a computer application that includes a graphical user interface for displaying real-time data from the robot.
Beyond Limits: An Intelligent Wheelchair for Inclusive Living
The aim of this project is to enhance the mobility of individuals with disabilities, particularly aiding them in navigating stairs and challenging terrains. Across the world, powered wheelchair employ various methods, primarily categorized into two: 1) tracked mechanisms and 2) robotic wheelchair utilizing intricate robotic systems. The design presented by our team belongs to the latter category, which is recognized for its lighter build when contrasted with the former. However, despite its lightweight structure, this wheelchair design incorporates equipment that renders it more cost-effective and practical than conventional designs within the same category. Our design integrates three distinct mechanisms to adjust the height and center of mass of the passenger during stair climbing and maintain balance and surface contact. Utilizing an array of sensors, it continuously monitors the position of the person on the wheelchair and the wheelchair on the surface. This data guides adjustments in the mechanisms, ensuring stability. This innovation harbors the potential for enhancing various functionalities, including: GPS integration for user navigation. Real-time monitoring of vital signs (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature). In an emergency, this data can be transmitted to ambulance centers to pinpoint the individual's location and immediate assistance. A simplified ambulance request system, accessible via a single button press. Overall, this innovative wheelchair prototypes aims to revolutionize accessibility, granting enhanced mobility and independence to individuals with disabilities.
The Future of Carbon Capture Technology
Carbon capture and storage technology (CCS) has tremendous potential to enable the use of fossil fuels while reducing the emissions of CO₂ into the atmosphere, and, consequently, combating climate change. CCS faces several challenges such as energy consumption, cost, low practical applications and environmental friendliness. In this work, a new approach to carbon capture that is not energy intensive is proposed.