Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Angelica: Week 3- Life in Olin 504

When I got offered this REU, I was beyond excited and obviously extremely intimidated at the thought of working at a research lab when I came from a school with basically no research opportunities. I even bought some outfits to comply with the safety video that we had to watch before we started this journey. After Week 1 at Purdue, I definitely felt a lot better meeting all you wonderful people.

When it finally came time to go to lab for the first time I walked in and was greeted and got my own personal intern desk. I met the people in my lab and was told a little about the project and was immediately immersed into reading papers and finally working on designing some parts that were needed for the robot.  I also felt like I was in this stereotypical position where I was the only girl in a room of 5 guys. So, basically the whole intimidation thing started again.  After some time though, I came to realize just how awesome the grad students in my lab were and how great the other intern working on my project was and also it was nice to see a familiar face in Justin.

After the first couple of weeks Anna came back from her vacation in Germany and I was no longer the only female in the room.. It was quite nice I may add. Everyone in the lab has their own personality and I enjoy every single one of them. With there being two interns on the project, each on of us works closer with one grad student over the other. Bryn, who I would like to call "my grad student mentor," really helped lighten the mood and make me feel like I belonged to the lab. One day I was really struggling with my computer and CAD and of course Bryn states, " If it's any consolation, tomorrow will be worse than today." Surprise Surprise... the next day I got a cold and struggled focusing.. his response,  "Didn't I promise it would be worse?"  That actually lifted my spirit and I started laughing and by all means it made my day so much better.

Also the other intern, got his position through the VISE (Vanderbilt Initative in Surgery) Program, and since I am also working on the same project, I got invited to go to all of the meeting he goes to. I have gotten the chance to tour other labs where they are using engineering to help make surgery more successful, and I am even giving a small presentation about our internship at the end of the summer to the rest of the VISE interns. Being able to do the stuff with the VISE interns was an added treat that I didn't think I would have.

There seems to be a lot of "lab jokes" that I now feel in the loop about, and it feels amazing. I realized how chill of an environment it is and the combination of work and fun make the day go by super fast. Since all of our projects are in small scale, the dress code thing isn't as intense as in labs with large equipment, so it turned out I really didn't need all those extra clothes. but its nice to have them :D.

Overall I am really glad I get to work with the people I do in Olin 504. I feel like I ended up where I needed to be :).


Angelica: Week 2

Living in a city, such as Nashville, means that there is constant construction. It really does seem that everything around you has some sort of hydraulic or pneumatic component to it. I noticed it most though when I was riding the bus. The constant noise of the opening and closing of the doors was super obvious that they used fluid power. Also the bust lowers and rises in order to accommodate older folks riding the bus, which is also obviously fluid power. Also about a block from Vandy is the Caterpillar office building and I thought about all of the items that they build with hydraulics. Even entering my building I realized it had hydraulics as it slows down before it closes in order to not slam and also uses it to hold the doors open for handicapped accessibility.  Needless to say, it really is everywhere you turn and it is one of those weird things you never noticed before but notice it constantly now that you are aware of its presence.

Week 4

As I have stated before, my research doesn't have much to do with fluid power directly, but could definitely be applied to fluid power projects. My project is trying to find a way to use surface textures to reduce friction between sliding surfaces. A lot of research has already gone into this but a vast majority of it has only looked at symmetric surfaces. These surfaces create normal forces through cavitation - the spontaneous creation of bubbles. This normal force reduces the friction coefficient. However, when those bubbles pop or break down, they can wear down the surfaces that are in contact. In my research, we are using asymmetric surfaces. The asymmetric pressure gradients create the normal forces here reducing the friction coefficient even more than symmetric textures and without the wear on the surfaces as no cavitation is produced. Our research goes even further than this, however. Traditionally, these experiments are tested using Newtonian fluids as lubricants between the sliding plates. My research this Summer will have a focus on non-Newtonian fluids, as they're unique rheological properties can also produce normal forces and reduce friction. While this is not fluid power, the success of this project can be used in the future to reduce friction between sliding surfaces which has many applications in most fields of engineering.

Week 3

Working in a research lab has taught me a lot beyond the research itself. Back at USC, every engineering student I know intends to take their skills with them to industry. I haven't heard of any who intend to pursue a PHD in their field or go into academia. So being in the lab here at the University of Illinois is very interesting as I'm working daily around 8 or 9 students working on their PHD all of whom intend to continue work in academia. I see now why some choose that option. Research is fascinating because as a researcher, you're developing the worlds knowledge on particular topics. With every experiment you get closer to a paper and with every paper the world of engineering gets a new piece of knowledge or technology or method that will help move the world forward in some way.

Monday, June 29, 2015

Tanisha's Week 4 Blog Post


In the past couple of weeks my objective aside from understanding the graduate student process, is to develop a simulation that captures the entire scope of my project. The challenge for me in this is the system coding and programming as I have not done coding in a few years. I have however had to dive into some books and articles in addition to networking to be aware of my options. If realized my project will certainly impact the health industry and improve mobility. The thought of this system I am partaking in the development of, makes me excited in and of itself.

I hope everyone else is enjoying their experience and growing from each of the challenges they will face.

Back To Basics


My research group at Vanderbilt is conducting energy efficiency research by examining a pneumatic strain energy accumulator.  Essentially, the accumulator allows us to store energy for a limited amount of time using pneumatics at much lower costs than using traditional batteries.  Often, the energy we’re trying to salvage is energy that would normally go to waste during some kind of a process; for example, the energy lost when a vehicle comes to a stop by applying the brakes.  We’ve designed a number of tests to determine the accumulator’s efficiency as an individual component and as part of a larger system, and to test its durability via fatigue tests.  By learning more about this kind of technology, we hope that our research will one day be used in industrial applications, vehicle design, and even biomedical research, as evident from the accumulator’s more recent successful application in an Ankle Foot Orthosis medical assist device. 

Thursday, June 25, 2015

30 Seconds Starting Now



My project is intended to develop upon an existing design concept for the primary actuator of an active ankle-foot orthosis (AAFO). The actuator itself is to be designed as an internal combustion cylinder and optimized for expected pressure and force loadings. The design should take into consideration the application and thus the natural human ankle torques. If time allows, work will be completed to characterize a predicted pressure-volume curve for the cylinder’s power cycle.

Tanisha Week 3 Blog on Research Culture and Environment

WEEK 3 BLOG TOPIC:   Your Thoughts: Research Culture and Environment
Every one of you will have unique and individual experience when it comes to the research environment and culture you've been invited to join this summer.  Faculty, even institutions, have their own identity and way of conducting research, and not one works the same as another.  What is your impression of the research environment, in contrast to what you may have been expecting?  Have you discovered something about working in a research laboratory (or other) that surprised you, something you didn't expect?  What has been positive from the research environment, what has been less positive?  Pray tell!

Greetings & salutations to all! I'm a tad bit late on blog 3 but accounted for nonetheless. In response to the prompt regarding the environment I research in, I would say the lab I work in is comfortable and easy going. Because I am the only student assigned to the graduate I work under, I am able to glean from everyday one on one interactions. I've also been an undergraduate research student since the start of the spring 2015 semester, thusly, I am not in a new environment. Nonetheless there was certainly a transition from 10 hours a week to 40 hours. I am one that typically has a short attention span so that part has been difficult but hopefully by the end of it all I will at least be able to sit still for more than 2 hours at a time while reading and or writing. One of the things that helps me to get refocused is changing the environment I'm in. Some days I may take my laptop outside while I am reading and writing to get some sun and fresh air. I will certainly say I am enjoying the experience in preparation for my graduate endeavors.

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Its all starting to make sense

To remind everyone, the project I was dealt at the beginning of this program was to research, design, and build a mobile filtration cart to be used throughout the labs here on campus. At this point in time I have been researching, researching, and researching for the best circuit design to make filtration efficient, cost effective, and timely. I have sourced most of the components that will go into my system based off of requirements I gave myself to make this filter cart low cost, but effective. The main problem I am facing is whether to use a cheaper spin-on filter with cellulose media, or go for the longer lasting, more expensive drop-in fiberglass media for my filters. Other than filter selection I have designed a platform for all the components to be mounted to so that it can be fitted to a steel hand truck for mobility.

Today I went to Eaton's Research Labs to have a look at one of their filter carts and this reassured my design choices. Tomorrow, I am presenting my research and proposed design for my filter cart in our lab meeting, hopefully they will like my design and sign off so that I can start ordering the parts.

Week 3

I have now been working on my research for 3+ weeks and what I can tell you that that what I didn't  expect from this experience was how fast the weeks go by! I guess I never realized how long it takes to research even the smallest of details in a project, so that everything will comes together in the end. Though time is zooming by faster then I would like, my experience in the lab has been very educational. I have had some hands on work with mechanical assembly in my lab with putting our hydrostatic transmission test bed together. Going into this program I really hoped for as much hands-on work as I could. I seem to learn better when I can see all the components coming together.

I have really enjoyed the environment of my research where I have my own space to work and try to solve my problems in my own time. Unlike homework, research is more or less at your own pace and you get out what you put in. By putting in the hours looking up parts and researching the best circuit design pays off at the end of the week when you have some part of your work accomplished.

Back to the Basics (Week 4 Post)

Our research involves investigating nurse usage of the Hoyer Patient Lift within the healthcare industry. Currently, new technology and equipment are introduced regularly to the healthcare industry and it is important to capture the response, acceptance, and overall adaptation of new technological advancements amongst healthcare personnel. Now that we’ve gained an understanding of the hydraulic systems included in the composition of the Lift, the advancements in the current design of the Lift, and current usage, our inquiries have segued into how new technology is introduced and adapted into healthcare facilities. Many innovations have been made with technology to reduce the occurrence and risk of musculoskeletal disorders on the job. It seems as though many new advancements are made, but the actual purchasing, training, and utilization thereof by these healthcare facilities does not match the same vigor. We are hoping to answer why that is. Any significant discovery will help innovators and manufacturers of such technologies know what approach to use when introducing new technology to the healthcare industry and how to gain the response, enthusiasm, and adaptation of their products to the end users they aim to help.

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Opportunities Are Endless! (Week 3 Post)

The way I would describe the research culture and environment here at North Carolina A&T would be “inclusive”. The network, camaraderie, sense of duty, and helpfulness in our department and College of Engineering is remarkable. If at any point you need help, answers, or direction/guidance there is always someone to point you in the direction you need to go or put you in contact with those who can help! Another way to describe our culture and environment would be motivational. Once we are given instructions for our next action item, it is left to us to take initiative for a problem solving approach. The students here are encouraged to learn from one another, and being surrounded by such scholastic advancement, it is only natural to adapt with ease.

The only less positive aspect thus far has been the restructuring going on which causes everyone to relocate to different labs and offices, seemingly, every week. 

Monday, June 22, 2015

Back to basics

Hello All,

I will try to make this as least boring as possible for you all. The problem I am trying to solve starts with the inability to time the opening of specific valves in our labs prototype pump (which is pretty cool but I won't get into that). Fluid is deemed theoretically in-compressible but in fact you can compress the fluid at high pressures. This compressibility becomes a problem when there is a time delay between when fluid is introduced into a component and when the fluid reaches a high enough pressure to open the release valve allowing the fluid to escape once a desired pressure is reached. This timing issue results in many inefficiencies and is the basis of my research.

By designing a sensor that can relate the pressure achieved by a given volume displacement, we can record what is called the Bulk Modulus of the fluid contained. The inverse of the bulk modulus is the fluids compressibility, which we can relate to the time needed to open a valve given a certain compressibility factor. The "Stiffness" (fluids ability to resist volume displacement under pressure) is greatly modified when gas bubbles find their way into the system, which can be a common occurrence in most systems. So a controlled gas/fluid mixture will be introduced into the sensor to find the different Bulk modulus values for a given mixture.

Finally when this is all done, I will then find a way to integrate this sensor into a system to record the bulk modulus of the fluid in real time and plot it against the opening and closing of valves within the system to see how they relate.

Hope that wasn't too dull!

Alek

Week 3

Hello all,

All of your projects sound fascinating and I can not wait to hear more about your progress. I really enjoy working on new technology and coming up with new ideas to solve the problems facing industry engineers today. This is why I have come to enjoy the research environment here at the University of Minnesota.

Research all comes down to you, and your ability to continue working on a project that could take you years to complete. This can prove to be difficult for many people for they think they have all the time in the world and fail to make progress each week. For this reason, our lab meets once a week during which we present our findings in an informal presentation. This makes sure you stay on task so you will have something to present to everyone.

Best,
Alek

Back to the Basics

So let's get back to the reason you're all with CCEFP this summer -- the research!   You've had several weeks to become integrated with the organization, your institution, your lab, and your project.  It seems everyone is working at a slightly different pace -- some continue to read literature and get a basic understanding of the technology, others are actively designing or creating prototypes, others are working on simulations.  All very necessary and useful work to do -- you're learning something at any given moment.  So... remind us what your research project is all about.  What is / are the challenge(s) you are trying to solve?  What are the goals of the project?  If realized, if successful, what is the impact of your research project?  Give us your 30 second (written) research pitch.  What's super exciting about the objectives of your work??

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Week 3 Post: Jesus Partida (Gatech)


For this week three blog post it has been interesting to see the research culture here at this institution of Georgia Tech. The research here at Georgia Tech is very independent more independent than I was expecting. As I have seen so far research has more of a Get-it-done attitude versus a more here a set of very specific goals. Granted there are specific goals in the research I am currently conducting; however the path is not very defined. Although, despite this new found independence it is also very nice to see that people will come and help you if you ask and need help. So the environment is very independent but also very supportive should you choose to seek that support. Overall I kind of like this independence, but at the same time it is a double edged sword since it is very easy to get off track and lose your path, but because of this supportive network here at Georgia tech it is also very easy to find your path once more. Good luck on your research everyone! 

Oh by the way I am finally beginning to learn how to tame Solidworks! So those components are starting to take shape a lot easier as well as separate components; now onwards to new learning and more research!!!

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Week 3 Post: Briana Geary

Prior to beginning this program, I was under the impression that I would be continuing with a past REU student's research by delving deeper into understanding the relationship between relative humidity and hydraulic fluid. As I mentioned in my last post, my new project revolves around analyzing the moisture and particulate content in various blends of biodiesel fuels as well as seeing how this fuel relates to fluid power.

In regards to the research environment, I am discovering that it's an extremely dynamic culture. Variables are always changing, so you must be able to adapt to an unexpected situation and respond accordingly. Although I am not a fan of surprises at times, the skills and concepts that I will walk away with from this experience will be extremely valuable as I continue my education.

You're Famous!

CCEFP Hosts 20 Research Interns for the Summer

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Week 3 Blog Post: Miles Garwood

Last week I told you all the topic of my research: an attachable hydraulic pump for a Basic Utility Vehicle. Now I'm getting into the research and I've realized that although it will be a pump, there will be a lot of components coming together to make it work. In the design will be a reservoir, pressure relief valve, hydraulic cylinder, breather vent, and of course the pump, among others. In order to size the pump and the system the graduate students in my lab have been teaching me to use MATLAB Simulink software. It’s a powerful tool and it’s awesome to be learning how to apply it during my research experience. I’m very grateful for the help I’m getting from the grad students as well as my professor’s flexibility, giving me time to learn a new tool.

As far as the research environment, I’ve found it is highly dependent on your professor. I had always thought of research as grueling, results driven and stressful. Although it can be just that, I've found that my professor cares just as much about learning useful skills and concepts as he does about the results of my project. It’s possible this is a rare case, but I suspect otherwise. Either way, it has definitely changed my perspective on the pace and atmosphere of the research world.

Janetta Brown (Week 2 Post)


Finding out how fluid power and hydraulic systems are employed in day-to-day technologies have been quite surprising as our findings develop further. Applying these concepts into the healthcare industry and medical field serves as an aid in ergonomic intervention!

In a nutshell, musculoskeletal injuries occur way more often than they should on the job. Particularly within hospital settings. Nurses are often required to transport, readjust, and/or lift obese patients. This can result in strain, pressure, and stress on their muscles! The Hoyer Patient Lift utilizes hydraulic systems to alleviate the load often placed on nurses by lifting the patients and transporting them itself.


It is exciting to be a part of the reduction of such physical trauma and the implementation of beneficial equipment towards the advancement of everyday tasks. The exposure and new awareness that I have gained in just a few short weeks will undoubtedly influence the mark I plan to make within the healthcare industry! The versatility that fluid power and hydraulic systems has is remarkable.

Hello! From Janetta (Week 1 Post)

I am excited for this summer experience with the CCEFP REU program!

I will soon begin my PhD in Industrial and Systems Engineering after having completed a Math degree from Spelman College and Industrial and Systems Engineering degree from North Carolina A&T!

Having a limited scope on fluid power only serves to make this summer's discoveries that much more exciting. I look forward to all there is to learn over the next 10 weeks and can hopefully apply much of it towards my doctoral studies.

When I first started this summer, here at North Carolina A&T, I discovered that our project is centered around correlating hydraulic systems within a Hoyer Patient Lift to the principles and concepts of Human Factors and Ergonomics! You can say that this area is the "bread and butter" of an Industrial Engineer! By utilizing a user-centered methodology, we plan to assist with the advancement of employing Hoyer patient lifts within hospitals.


More to come soon!

Here's your project. By the way you're presenting tomorrow.

Coming into this summer I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I knew I would theoretically be working on a project that would involve some design work in concert with my research, but what I would be researching and designing was unclear. From what I could piece together, I thought I would be assisting my advisor on one of his projects.

In a certain sense my assumptions were not completely wrong. What was mainly different is that I am working on an actuator for a concept system that my advisor hasn't worked on much for about a year. My work focuses on the design, optimization, and gas-cycle characterization for the internal combustion cylinder specified in the "Actuation system for a joint" (Publication Number: US20140260950 A1) patent application that was filed by Milwaukee School of Engineering last year, my advisor was the inventor.

So far the most stressful part of the experience has been being required to give my first presentation approximately 24 hours after my project topic was finalized. It came together alright, but hopefully I will have a better handle on the material and have some at least preliminary results for the next presentation that I have to give.

Monday, June 15, 2015

Your Thoughts: Research Culture and Environment

It's Monday night and you're likely back at it -- I hope you were able to find time over the weekend for some rest and relaxation!

Week 3 Blog Topic:   Every one of you will have unique and individual experience when it comes to the research environment and culture you've been invited to join this summer.  Faculty, even institutions, have their own identity and way of conducting research, and not one works the same as another.  What is your impression of the research environment, in contrast to what you may have been expecting?  Have you discovered something about working in a research laboratory (or other) that surprised you, something you didn't expect?  What has been positive from the research environment, what has been less positive? 

Alyssa

Fluid Powered Gears?

It is odd to be part of a program designed to promote fluid power yet find myself tasked with reducing the weight and size of an entirely mechanical linkage in order to translate linear displacement into rotational motion.


So, the basics of this particular Ankle Foot Orthosis: Two pneumatic cylinders are extended & retracted under about 100 - 150psi.  This linear motion must then be transferred into rotational motion at the ankle to facilitate an assistive torque for both dorsiflexion and plantarflexion.


The set of gears above (not to scale) should reduce the weight and size of the current gear system by increasing the size of the large, rack-driven cog (green) and decreasing size of the sector gear (blue).  This should also allow for the same degree of rotation which the model currently accomplishes with a cluster gear (green) comprised of two small, equally sized gears along with a very large sector gear.



It is exciting to work with a design at such an advanced stage.  In school projects, I have rarely gotten past a second, let alone third iteration, and this is where some polishing work comes in, it seems.  It has been a pleasure to piggyback on the countless hours of work of everyone has put in on this AFO.  It's an impressive machine, with impressive design components -- all the result of talented engineers.


-Aaron