Key Terms: Mechanical Design, Robotics, Fluid Mechanics, Design for Manufacturing
Research with Dr. Michael West from 2019-2021.
Nekton is a remote operated/ autonomous underwater vehicle (ROV/AUV) capable of traversing the ocean beneath Antarctic ice shelves. The slim vehicle is designed to fit through narrow bore holes while containing comprehensive oceanographic sensors. The modular chambers can be swapped out between deployments, providing flexibility based on the needs of the scientific mission.
The top photo is the model of the full system. The yellow coating is syntactic foam to provide buoyancy. I primarily worked on the design of two chambers shown above: the navigation bay and the flooded science bay. Part of my tasks were to redesign the internal structure and to incorporate the needed sensors.
Working on an underwater vehicle came with several interesting design challenges. First, there were tight space constraints. The vehicle descends through a hole drilled in the ice shelves, narrow enough to comply with international regulations. Components were chosen to optimize the layout. Second, the flooded science bay, is an open chamber that collects water quality specimens and contains sensors to survey the ocean floor. Additional consideration was needed to ensure adequate lighting and water proofing. Third, the electronics bay relied on heat sinks and the cold water flowing across the exterior to dissipate heat. Channels were carved through the foam to ensure an adequate water supply and prevent the electronics from overheating.