As part of the Yonder Dynamics mechanical team, I led mechanical design efforts for the rover subsystem, focusing on robust, lightweight, and manufacturable solutions that integrated seamlessly with electrical and software components.
My responsibilities spanned design, simulation, prototyping, and assembly of critical rover components, ensuring reliability under competition conditions while optimizing performance metrics like weight, stress distribution, and load-bearing capacity.
Rover Elbow Joint Design & Optimization
I designed, tested, and manufactured an improved rover elbow joint in SolidWorks, focusing on minimizing backlash and optimizing stress distributions. Through iterative design and prototyping, we achieved a 15% weight reduction, improving load-bearing capacity without compromising reliability.
Finite Element Analysis in ANSYS Mechanical enabled topology optimization and structural validation, identifying areas with unnecessary material while ensuring compliance with URC competition load requirements.
Additionally, I prototyped a 3D-printed adjustable hard-stop to restrict arm motion, streamlining assembly and reducing testing iterations.
Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration & Design Reviews
I led design reviews within the mechanical team, coordinating closely with electrical and software engineers to ensure seamless integration of subsystems. This cross-disciplinary collaboration ensured that mechanical designs met system-level requirements while maintaining manufacturability and performance.
The iterative review process improved overall rover reliability and optimized assembly workflows, enabling the team to confidently test under competition constraints.