Part IV Project Management System

#1: Smart robotic surface for prevention and management of decubitus

Allocated

A soft robotic surface is proposed for prevention and management of surface ulcers or decubitus. The surface is robotic and involves a distributed soft actuation, soft sensors for physiological states of pressure ulcer occurrence, soft sensors for body-surface interactions, closed-loop control and HMI. You will need to define the problem, specify the technical requirements of the surface, develop solutions to ... Read more

Biomechatronics Mechatronics

Mechatronics Engineering

#3: A needle-tip Raman sensor for in vivo biopsy

Allocated

We have aimed to develop a Raman sensor using optical fiber that is embedded at the tip of a medical needle for the purpose of in vivo, real-time biopsy. A few prototypes have been developed. You will need to be part of the research team, to contribute to the improvement of the sensor, develop more algorithms for signal propcessing and ... Read more

Biomechatronics Mechatronics

Mechatronics Engineering

#4: Soft-robotic throat for evaluation of management approaches of dysphagia

Allocated

Dysphagia is present in up to 80% of patients with neurological disorders, up to 92% of patients with community acquired pneumonia and in 20% of the adult population. Management of dysphagia is pathophysiologically specific; however systematic evaluation of efficacy of new approaches is problematic in human participants due to imposed risk and heterogeneity of presentation.This research will develop a robotic ... Read more

Biomechatronics Dynamics and Control Mechatronics

Mechatronics Engineering

#5: Flexible, Self-Adhering Sensors for Electromyography (EMG) Recording

Allocated

The electromyography (EMG) signal has proven to be useful in bio-mechanical and locomotive motion studies, as a human-machine interface, and in studies in exercise science. These applications all use the EMG signal to identify and quantify muscle activations while the body is in motion. However, it is this motion that causes one of the main sources of noise in an ... Read more

Smart Materials and Microtechnologies

Mechatronics Engineering

#6: Wearable flexible stretch sensor

Allocated

This project involves designing electronics interface with Bluetooth of the peize-resistive soft stretch sensor that was developed. The stretch sensor is based on the change in resistance, hence representing the amount of stretch. This change of resistance needs to be converted in digital information and then wirelessly transmitted over to a computer or smartphone to graphically show the amount of ... Read more

Mechatronics Smart Materials and Microtechnologies

Mechatronics Engineering

#7: National Instrument Autonomous Robotic Competition

Allocated

his is an annual competition in Australia. The aim is to build from scratch an autonomous robot capable of completing the required tasks. Labview and MyRio are to be used and there is no exception since this is a NI sponsored project. This year, we will use what we have learned in 2016 and develop a robust autonomous robot to ... Read more

Mechatronics

Mechatronics Engineering

#8: Energy Harvesting from Human Motion

Allocated

The aim of this projec tis to harvest energy from human motion. It can be wearable energy haverster o harvesting from the ground. The expected end goal is to build a prototype to dlemonstrate the idea. Read more

Mechatronics

Mechatronics Engineering

#9: Energy Efficient Solar Desalination System

Allocated

This projects aims to develop a solar desalination device that is highly energy efficient, simple and economical. In this project, a new desalination device is to be designed and built. Special emphasis is to be given to selection of the materials used. Experiments are to be carried out to study the performance of the device. Design optimization and cost analysis ... Read more

Aero-Fluid-Hydrodynamics Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer

Mechanical Engineering

#10: Energy Efficiency Improvement of a Heat Pump System with an Expander

Allocated

A conventional heat pump system typically does not use the available expansion energy since the traditional expansion devices (e.g. capillary tube or expansion valve) do not allow that. This energy can be tapped by installing an expander to increase the overall energy efficiency of such systems. In this project, an expander is to be designed and built. It is then ... Read more

Design/Systems Engineering Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer

Mechanical Engineering

#11: Energy Efficiency of HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) Systems

Allocated

HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems consume large amount of energy globally. In this project, an in-depth study on the energy usage of HVAC systems is to be carried out experimentally using the available test-rig. Various alternative methods to improve the energy efficiency are to be explored and tested. Read more

Aero-Fluid-Hydrodynamics Dynamics and Control Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#12: Characterization of Electroosmotic Pressure in Closed-End Microchannels

Allocated

Electrolyte flows in a microchannel when an electrical potential difference is applied across the ends. This phenomenon is known as electroosmotic effect. When the ends of the microchannels are closed, the effect causes a pressure build-up, which can be exploited for various applications. This unique phenomenon is to be studied in this project. An experimental setup is to be built ... Read more

Aero-Fluid-Hydrodynamics Smart Materials and Microtechnologies

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#13: Localising kiwi birds from their calls in NZ bush

Allocated

Have you ever spotted kiwi birds in NZ bush? Can you imagine how many of them are living in a forest? It is actually quite rare that you come across birds like kiwis because of their declining population and nocturnal lifestyle. Therefore it is a quite challenging task for the rangers and researchers to study the ecology of such birds ... Read more

Acoustics

Mechatronics Engineering

#14: Investigating loudspeaker/microphone configuration for real-time speech masking system

Allocated

Speech masking is a technique being used to hide confidential information in a target speech where a jammer sound (called masking sound) is played to hinder understanding by the human auditory system. Since the masking sound could cause annoyance for listeners, the supervisor’s team has been working on a research that will identify a novel design of masking system that ... Read more

Acoustics

Mechatronics Engineering

#15: Internet of Things enabled Smart AGVs for Industry 4.0

Allocated

Smart factory, one of the key concepts in Industry 4.0, refers to a highly automatic and intelligent manufacturing environment equipping with advanced technologies like Internet of Things (IoT). It requires logistics automation within a manufacturing site such as a shop floor. Automated guided vehicle (AGV) systems may be one solution. When using an AGV for automatic logistics within manufacturing sites, ... Read more

Industry 4.0 Smart Manufacturing Systems

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#16: Internet of Things enabled Real-time Visibility in Industry 4.0

Allocated

Real-time visibility of various manufacturing objects is significant in an Industry 4.0 enterprise. This research firstly attempts to use real-time equipment twining with IoT technology to track and trace the manufacturing resources. Students are likely to build an AR model to demonstrate the real-time status of various manufacturing objects such as workers, materials, machines, tools, and tasks. This solution is ... Read more

Industry 4.0 Smart Manufacturing Systems

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#17: IoT-enabled Cloud Manufacturing Platform for Industry 4.0

Allocated

There are large numbers of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in New Zealand which are facing the next generation industry termed as Industry 4.0. After a comprehensive survey on these companies, several challenges are identified when they are implementing Industry 4.0 based solutions, for example high risk of using high-tech, high investment, and high expectations. In order to tackle these ... Read more

Industry 4.0 Smart Manufacturing Systems

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#18: N-dimensional presentation model for RFID Big Data from smart factory

Allocated

Smart factoring is one of key components under Industry 4.0 era which is our next industry generation. Radio frequency identification (RFID) has been widely used in manufacturing industry for creating a smart environment where large number of real-time data could be captured and collected. RFID Big Data are thus generated. How to make full use of this data for further ... Read more

Industry 4.0 Smart Manufacturing Systems

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#19: Reduced order analysis of industrial air blast freezers

Allocated

Air blast freezers are used to freeze food after packaging. As part of their design it is important to predict the pressure drop and heat transfer. CFD will be used to develop a reduced order model that can be used for initial design of plant. Read more

Aero-Fluid-Hydrodynamics Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer

Mechanical Engineering

#20: Analysis of fire rating of insulated walling using CFD

Allocated

Cool stores make use of flamable insulation in their walls. However, this places restrictions on the distance to boundary allowed by the building code. In this project the fire restance of wall panels will be investigated, and the distance to boundary permitted by the building code will be established. Read more

Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer

Mechanical Engineering

#21: Inverse design of yacht sails

Allocated

Inverse aerodynamic design allows the calculation of a wing geometry that has a desired pressure distribution. This project will involve the writing of an inverse design program using Matlab, which will allow the inverse design of yacht sails. Read more

Aero-Fluid-Hydrodynamics

Mechanical Engineering

#22: The ability of CFD to rank yacht sail designs

Allocated

RANS CFD is often used to compare different designs of yacht sails. While RANS may have an error of more than 10% in the predicted aerodynamic forces, it is thought by many that it will at least rank the relative performance of different designs. However, it is hard to see how a method can rank sail designs if it does ... Read more

Aero-Fluid-Hydrodynamics

Mechanical Engineering

#23: Aerodynamics and acoustics of UAV propeller shrouds

Allocated

You will conduct CFD and experimental investigations of the aerodynamics of a UAV propeller shroud. The CFD simulations will consist of simple 'actuator disc' simulations which you will use to (1) understand how the shroud can be used to generate lift and (2) design an optimised shroud. You will also conduct experimental measurements to validate the CFD simulations. Experimental measurements ... Read more

Acoustics Aero-Fluid-Hydrodynamics

Mechanical Engineering

#24: Acoustic levitation using an array of ultrasonic transducers

Allocated

You will use an array of ultrasonic speakers to levitate and manipulate small objects (we have levitated 5mm diameter polystyrene balls). You will adjust the phase and amplitude of the sound produced by each speaker to achieve this levitation/manipulation. The project will involve experiments where you actually levitate objects as well as COMSOL simulations of the phenomenon. Read more

Acoustics

Mechanical Engineering

#25: Aerodynamics and acoustics of contra-rotating UAV propellers

Allocated

In this project you will investigate the aerodynamics and acoustics of a co-axial contra-rotating UAV propeller. The project will be experimental and will involve designing and building an experimental rig for measuring propeller thrust, rotational speed and for changing propeller blade pitch. The rig will be mounted in the anechoic chamber in the acoustics laboratory and you will use a ... Read more

Acoustics Aero-Fluid-Hydrodynamics

Mechanical Engineering

#26: Hospital acoustics

Allocated

In this project you will conduct measurements and numerical simulations of the noise within a hospital ward. The measurements will be undertaken at the North Shore hospital and will require you to develop simple codes to automatically analyse the noise data based on observations of noise sources made during the measurements. The idea will be to process the data so ... Read more

Acoustics

Mechanical Engineering

#27: Experimental and theoretical analysis of vibrations of a nearly periodic structure

Unallocated

Spatially periodic structures are effectively used for sound and vibration mitigation purposes in various technological applications, from composite materials and micro and nano structures to building frames and bridge trusses. One of the important features of such structures is the presence of frequency band-gaps, i.e. frequency ranges in which traveling waves attenuate, with the result that vibration is suppressed. Real ... Read more

Dynamics and Control

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#28: Mitigation of vibrations by nonlinear tuned vibration absorbers

Allocated

Recently, nonlinear tuned vibration absorber (NTVA) has been proposed as an extension of the conventional linear tuned vibration absorber for vibration mitigation in mechanical systems. It effectively suppresses vibration in wide ranges of excitation amplitudes. The present project implies studying the possibility to implement such an absorber by utilizing granular materials, e.g. in the form of a volume filled with ... Read more

Dynamics and Control

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#29: Synthesizing a structure featuring unidirectional invisibility

Allocated

Synthesizing non-reciprocal structures, i.e. structures that can feature unidirectional invisibility, is of considerable importance for various applications, e.g. in acoustics, naval, building industry, etc. Materials and structures featuring unidirectional invisibility are particularly relevant to realize one-way filters and isolation. Several innovative ideas on how to synthesize such structures have been recently proposed, e.g. utilizing coupled spatial-temporal modulations of structural parameters ... Read more

Dynamics and Control

Mechatronics Engineering

#30: Parametric amplification of vibrations of a model micro electromechanical structure

Unallocated

Parametrically excited structures are now extensively used in many fields of science and technology, especially in micro- and nanoscale applications. Term “parametric” implies that the excitation affects certain parameters of the structure, e.g. its stiffness, damping, or mass properties. This type of excitation can lead to relatively large vibration amplitudes of structures and many micro- and nanoscale sensors, amplifiers, and ... Read more

Dynamics and Control

Mechatronics Engineering

#31: Co-ordinated Multi Drone Transportation of Cargo

Allocated

Student-initiated project to investigate the dynamics and control of multiple multirotor drones to carry a common payload. Read more

Dynamics and Control Mechatronics

Mechatronics Engineering

#32: Integrated Heater Control System

Allocated

The purpose of this project is to design a control system for various humidifier heater tests. Because different heaters have different characteristics and parameters, we need to control heater’s voltage (or current) by setting temperature, sensed temperature or applied wattage. Read more

Biomechatronics

Mechatronics Engineering

#33: Power Management Circuit Design for Random Vibration Energy Harvesting

Allocated

Power management is a critical component for efficient energy harvesting from ubiquitous vibrations existing in our environment. Conventional power management circuits were designed based on a simple vibration source input with a single frequency. However, the practical scenarios are that the majority of the vibration sources, such as, the vibrations of a window near a busy street or the vibrations ... Read more

Mechatronics

Mechatronics Engineering

#34: CFD Simulation and Experiment on Thermoacoustic Engine based Waste Heat Energy Recovery System

Allocated

Thermoacoustic phenomenon deals with the coupling and interaction between thermal and acoustic fields. Devices utilizing thermoacoustic effects can convert heat into sound energy, or in a reverse way, sound energy is consumed to pump heat. The thermoacoustic engines (TAEs) have great advantages of high efficiency, high reliability, simple structure, low cost and capability of utilizing low-grade thermal energy, showing a ... Read more

Acoustics Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer

Mechanical Engineering

#35: Smart Helmet

Allocated

This project aims to fabricate a helmet that integrates wind energy harvesting component and sensing electronics to improve the experience of cyclists.* The wind energy harvesting component will be designed based on a small turbine or galloping mechanism (wind flow induced vibration which is further converted to electricity).* A power management circuit based on low-power microcontroller will be designed.* Flashing ... Read more

Aero-Fluid-Hydrodynamics Mechatronics

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#36: Ground Vehicle Dynamics Simulation with Virtual Reality

Allocated

This project aims to establish a ground vehicle model using open source physics computing engine (e.g., Open Dynamics Engine, PhysX). The dynamics and control system of the ground vehicle (accelerating, braking, gear change, suspension, etc) will be simulated in the VR environment. Read more

Dynamics and Control

Mechatronics Engineering

#37: A Bio-inspired Adaptive Sugar Glider

Allocated

In this project, we will focus on modelling, analysis and development of a bio-inspired, adaptive robot sugar glider that will be able to climb, jump and fly. To do so, we will investigate alternative uses of structural compliance for the development of under-actuated robot mechanisms. The sugar glider will be affordable and light-weight, will exhibit increased dexterity and will be ... Read more

Dynamics and Control Mechatronics

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#38: Augmented Reality based Humanlike Telemanipulation with a Dual Robot Arm Hand System

Allocated

In this project, we will focus on the formulation of a humanlike telemanipulation scheme for a dual robot arm hand system that will provide intuitive control to the user. The experimental setup that will be used consists of two 6 DoF anthropomorphic robot arms (Universal Robots UR5 & UR10) and two underactuated and compliant robot hands designed by the New ... Read more

Dynamics and Control Mechatronics

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#39: Reimagining the OpenBionics Adaptive, Humanlike Robot Hand

Allocated

This project will focus on the development of a new version of the OpenBionics adaptive, humanlike robot hand. The new design will demonstrate the adaptive behavior of compliant, under-actuated robot grippers and hands and their superior grasping capabilities under uncertainties. To do that, we will explore alternative uses of structural compliance for the development of adaptive grasping mechanisms. This project ... Read more

Biomechatronics Design/Systems Engineering Dynamics and Control

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#40: Autonomous Package Delivery with a New Class of Drones

Allocated

This project will focus on the development of a new class of reconfigurable drones for aerial grasping, perching and autonomous package delivery. The drone(s) will take advantage of the adaptive behavior of compliant, under-actuated robot mechanisms and will be of minimal weight, complexity and cost.The work will be based on a filed patent application and will be confidential. Read more

Design/Systems Engineering Dynamics and Control

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#41: Multi-material 3D printing of functional electronic structures

Allocated

3D printing, the recreation of specified objects directly from a digital file, has the potential to significantly change the manner in which objects are designed, prototyped and manufactured. One of the largest potential changes is in the ability to use multiple materials, including functional materials, within a single object during the fabrication process; this raises possibilities in manufacturing smart structures ... Read more

Mechanics of Materials and Manufacturing Processes Mechatronics Smart Materials and Microtechnologies

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#42: Design, build and validation of an open source bubble tensiometer

Allocated

In microscale flows, as encountered in microfluidic applications such as inkjet printing, surface energy plays a key part in determining what happens. Surface tension, the balance between cohesive and adhesive forces at a liquid vapour interface, is the main fluid property that controls the outcome of this surface energy interaction. The value of surface tension of a given fluid is ... Read more

Aero-Fluid-Hydrodynamics Mechatronics Smart Materials and Microtechnologies

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#44: Material Suitability for High Voltage Electrical System Enclosures in Formula SAE

Allocated

The aim of this project is to research materials for use in high voltage Formula SAE (FSAE) electrical systems such as the accumulator and the inverter. The project will involve determining suitable test materials, manufacturing composites and then conducting tests of both manufactured and standard materials. Read more

Mechanics of Materials and Manufacturing Processes

Mechanical Engineering

#45: Brake chutes for electric land speed record vehicle

Allocated

--- Summary --- The project assignment is to suggest a brake chute design for the new electric land speed record vehicle “Green Envy” that will be built in New Zealand 2018-2019. Green Envy is a sidecar streamliner motorcycle, very similar to its predecessor “KillaJoule”, which is built and raced by the project supervisor Eva Hakansson (http://evahakanssonracing.com/greenenvy/). The goal with ... Read more

Aero-Fluid-Hydrodynamics Mechanics of Materials and Manufacturing Processes

Mechanical Engineering

#46: Adaptive active sound control in 1 dimension: noise control and acoustic cloaking

Unallocated

An active sound control system comprises microphones to measure incoming sound, loudspeakers to produce anti-sound and digital control to predict the correct cancelling signals. In practice the signal processing is normally adaptive, to compensate for varying or unknown system properties. You will build on a 2017 project that developed a rig to cloak sound in 1-dimension. The rig comprises a ... Read more

Acoustics Dynamics and Control Mechatronics

Mechatronics Engineering

#47: Assembly Simulation with Virtual Reality

Allocated

A prototype assembly simulation system has been built to validate the feasibility of assemblies in the form of CAD files. The system allows the user to assemble the parts in virtual reality with their bare-hands. However, currently the prototype system has very limited capabilities. For example, it cannot recognise many different types of assembly features; it provided little feedback to ... Read more

Design/Systems Engineering Industry 4.0 Smart Manufacturing Systems

Mechatronics Engineering

#48: MTConnect-based Cyber Physical Machine Tool

Allocated

Cyber-Physical Machine Tool (CPMT) is the integration of machine tool, machining processes, computation and networking, where embedded computers and networks can monitor and control the machining processes, with feedback loops in which machining processes can affect computations and vice versa. The core of the CPMT is the Machine Tool Cyber Twin (MTCT). MTCT is a digital abstraction of the physical ... Read more

Industry 4.0 Smart Manufacturing Systems Mechatronics

Mechatronics Engineering

#49: Cyber-physical 3D Printing System - a Smart 3D Printer

Allocated

The use of 3D printing is widely increasing in the manufacturing industry. It is not only replacing old techniques, but also aids in producing new products with new material properties. To aid the integration of 3D printing into the next industrial movement, this project aims to create a smarter 3D printer that is autonomous, adaptable, efficient, reliable and has functionality. ... Read more

Industry 4.0 Smart Manufacturing Systems

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#50: Design and failure analysis of hardpoints for use in a Formula: SAE car

Allocated

Investigate the effects of varying hardpoint properties (geometry, core material, skinthickness, etc.) on the failure of hardpoints during in plane and out of plane loading. The project willaim to serve as an investigation into the viability of a new ‘composite’ hardpoint designs consisting ofa low density, lightweight core reinforced with carbon skins. A key output of the project will bethe ... Read more

Mechanics of Materials and Manufacturing Processes

Mechanical Engineering

#51: Influence of Processing Parameters Flammability of Additively Manufactured FDM Parts

Allocated

This project seeks to explore the range of production variability that occurs with repetitive fused deposition modelling (FDM) of aircraft components. Air New Zealand is currently exploring the 3D printing of interior, non-structural components in ULTEM 9085 (Aerospace Grade) to reduce component lead time, reduce production costs, and increase flexibility. CAANZ regulations require all interior components on board aircraft to ... Read more

Mechanics of Materials and Manufacturing Processes

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#52: Tree Branches as Windborne Debris during Storms

Allocated

During strong wind events branches break of trees and can end up doing damage to buildings and other structures. Much of the research related to windborne debris has focused on simple shapes such as rectangular rods, flat plates, cubes or spheres. This wind tunnel based project will look at natural debris, endeavor to characterise its aerodynamic characteristics and consider its ... Read more

Aero-Fluid-Hydrodynamics

Mechanical Engineering

#53: Interaction of tilted co-planar UAV rotors

Allocated

Current research being undertaken in the department includes consideration of station-keeping for UAVs under windy conditions. One possible design involves an octocopter (8 rotors) with these tilted by angles up to 45 degrees. This project will look at the interaction between pairs of rotors under such conditions. The interactions between the rotors and the influence of the wind will be ... Read more

Aero-Fluid-Hydrodynamics

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#54: Design, Build and Validation of an open source high shear viscometer

Allocated

Inkjet printing of functional materials is being heavily investigated for potential applications in fields as diverse as flexible electronics and tissue engineering, as well as more traditional graphics applications. Whatever the application, for a successful print it is necessary to repeatably generate a series of identical droplets under control of a digital signal. The process of forming a droplet is ... Read more

Mechatronics Smart Materials and Microtechnologies

Mechatronics Engineering

#55: A computer model of design coordination to support engineering management

Allocated

This project will research the coordination among individuals involved in the design of an engineering product. The focus is on how information flows back and forth within a team of people working together on a design, and how this can be effectively managed.WHY IS THE TOPIC IMPORTANT? Effective coordination can assist with timely completion of a design project. Ineffective coordination ... Read more

Design/Systems Engineering

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#56: Assessing advantages and limitations of VR for visualising advanced design information

Allocated

Approaches have been developed to support design by showing how a design’s functionality is embedded in the interaction between its parts and their surfaces. However, these approaches are difficult to use because the 3D information is difficult to visualise when an assembly is projected onto a 2D display (computer monitor, engineering drawing, etc). This project will investigate whether an immersive ... Read more

Design/Systems Engineering

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#57: Developing an immersive VR system to visualise "design margins" in a mechanical design

Allocated

A design typically includes margins in many areas (e.g. factor of safety on a shaft, motor providing greater power than necessary, etc.) Margins can help ensure a design's reliability, and can also provide the designer "room to maneuver" in case the requirements change. While they are necessary and important, margins typically deteriorate the performance of a design (such as cost, ... Read more

Design/Systems Engineering

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#58: System for collecting engineering project data allowing simulation of projects in a "virtual environment"

Allocated

This project focuses on the coordination among individuals involved in the design of an engineering product. The main focus is on how information flows back and forth within a team of people working together on a design, and how this can be effectively managed.WHY IS THE TOPIC IMPORTANT? Effective coordination can assist with timely completion of a design project. Ineffective ... Read more

Design/Systems Engineering

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#59: Implementation and Testing of a Remote Teaching Laboratory for VEX Robots

Allocated

It is proposed to use a remote teaching lab for MECHENG 201 where students log into a remote computer, upload their code, and control the VEX robot wirelessly over the network. This project builds on the progress done in 2017 where wireless download of compiled code was implemented successfully to ensure that we offer the students a reliable and fair ... Read more

Mechatronics

Mechatronics Engineering

#60: Vehicle Simulator for Robotic Driver Testing

Allocated

To test the UoA robotic driver hardware and software thoroughly, a test rig was developed. This test rig is to be used to emulate the forces applied on the robotic driver when driving a real car. This project will focus on further developing the force-feedback/haptic system where a suitable resistance force is applied to the steering wheel of the car ... Read more

Dynamics and Control Mechatronics

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#61: Demonstration Equipment for Dynamics Concepts

Allocated

In-class demonstrations are very effective tools to convey certain difficult-to-grasp concepts to students and we don't do enough of these in our lectures. This project is aimed at creating portable demonstration equipment for several challenging concepts in Dynamics (e.g. relative motion, angular momentum, etc.) to enhance the learning experience by students. This project is suitable for mechatronics students or a ... Read more

Design/Systems Engineering Dynamics and Control Mechatronics

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#62: 3D printing using an industrial robot

Allocated

Additive manufacturing is a process that creates physical parts directly from 3D CAD files. The 3D CAD data may come from a CAD tool, e.g. Creo, or a 3D scanning/digitising process (using a 3D scanner, or other photographic methods).This project uses an industrial robot, i.e. Kuka for additive fabrication process, i.e. 3D printing. A Kuka robot at the Manufacturing Systems ... Read more

Industry 4.0 Smart Manufacturing Systems

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#63: Design, Optimisation and Manufacture of Carbon Fibre Wheel Shells for a Formula SAE Car

Allocated

The project done in 2014 by Barugh and Norton, along with earlier projects established viability targets in order for CFRP wheels to be fit for competition, (mass reduction targets etc.), but did not do several things that we think would benefit from being investigated further.• The wheel prototype that they produced did not save enough mass to be viable for ... Read more

Mechanics of Materials and Manufacturing Processes

Mechanical Engineering

#64: Inertial measurement error sources and OC-IMUs

Allocated

Many mainstream applications from drones to indoor navigation would benefit from high performance inertial measurement units (IMUs) that are less expensive than existing solutions. As micromechanical devices IMUs are temperature sensitive. By analogy to oven-controlled crystal oscillators (OCXOs) OC-IMU is proposed to meet tightening precision requirements. OC-IMU using off the shelf MEMS accelerometer and gyro will be developed and the ... Read more

Dynamics and Control Mechatronics Smart Materials and Microtechnologies

Mechatronics Engineering

#65: Metal wire laydown in 3D printing

Allocated

3D printable carbon and metal nanoparticle and polymer composite materials have already been developed to create conductive traces inside objects. However, even the most conductive materials available have resistivity many times greater than solid metal. Deposition of real metal wires promises negligible resistance interconnections to sensors inside mechanical parts as well as printed traces with sufficient current capacity to drive ... Read more

Mechatronics

Mechatronics Engineering

#66: Dynamically updating a mixed reality environment based on stereo vision

Allocated

What if VR systems did not need prepared rooms, and obstacles or objects appearing in the real would could be detected and added to a simulation whilst running? Computer vision will be applied to detect new objects and insert approximate models - can a person catch a soft ball thrown to them that is tracked and displayed in their VR ... Read more

Mechatronics

Mechatronics Engineering

#67: 3D printing of silicone for soft devices

Allocated

Stretchable, bio-compatible silicone rubber based devices have promising applications such as for pneumatic actuators in soft robotics. This project will further develop 3D printing of silicone silicone, and make steps towards demonstrating fully 3D printed soft pneumatic actuators. Read more

Mechatronics

Mechatronics Engineering

#68: Early Detection of Drivetrain Failures

Unallocated

Drivetrains are used for transmission of power in several applications such as vehicles, energy generation, aircrafts, etc. A drivetrain is essentially an assembly of motors, generators, gears, shafts and/ or couplers. A failure in drivetrain has a potential to cause accidents and significant loss of capital. Therefore, it is imperative to detect faults in this assembly before they escalate into ... Read more

Dynamics and Control Mechatronics

Mechatronics Engineering

#69: Control of a self-driving car

Allocated

The basic controllers for self-driving cars are described based on formation of vehicle platoons and their stability. Consider a case of self-driving vehicle platoon on a motorway. The basic manoeuvres required for a given vehicle in this platoon are (a) merging, (b) following, and (c) exiting. As the number of vehicles in a platoon increases, the stability of the string ... Read more

Dynamics and Control Mechatronics

Mechatronics Engineering

#70: Development of Helmholtz resonator designs for application in insulating walls

Allocated

Traditionally the Helmholtz Resonator (HR) has been regarded as a mechanism for dissipating relatively small amounts sound energy. However, it is being realised that it has wide applications when considered as a tool for changing or matching acoustical impedance. This project is focussed on how to understand the design of HRs so they can fit within typical wall thicknesses and ... Read more

Acoustics Dynamics and Control

Mechanical Engineering

#71: An impact-based technique for determine Flanking transmission of sound in Buildings

Allocated

In a 2017 FYP project a novel method was proposed for applying measurable impacts to building components. Theoretically this would enable impacts to be made on all surfaces whatever their orientation and therefore not merely on floors as with the traditional Tapping Machine. This project will be concerned with verifying the potential of this method, proving that it can cope ... Read more

Acoustics Dynamics and Control

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#72: An investigation of the mechanical properties of reeds used in musical instruments and using additive manufacturing to reproduce playable ‘reeds’ w

Allocated

Additive manufacturing is attractive both for research tool and personal low-volume production and prototyping. Some players of reed instruments (clarinet, saxophone, oboe etc) are keen to investigate the potential of 3D printing for producing well-performing reeds that can match a players preferences and which can be consistently produced without the variability inherent in reeds from cane. The first stage of ... Read more

Acoustics Dynamics and Control

Mechanical Engineering

#73: Multifunctional properties of nanoparticle-reinforced polymer composites

Allocated

Reinforcing thermoplastic polymers with nanotubes or nanoplatelets to form composites is a way to extend the usage of polymeric materials by improving their overall properties. Further, additives to the polymers can also be useful to impart UV resistance and fire resistance. The amount, shape, dimension, aspect ratio, and surface characteristics of the reinforcements play a key role in determining the ... Read more

Mechanics of Materials and Manufacturing Processes

Mechanical Engineering

#74: Application of time-reverse acoustics and frequency shifting in public address and communication systems

Unallocated

This project is an investigation of the possibility of using deconvolution or time reverse acoustics to perform suppression of the reverberation of sound from public address systems in rooms. This is similar to the method by which we might suppress the feedback in conferencing telephone systems. However, in the case of room reverberation the challenge is that the impulse responses ... Read more

Acoustics Dynamics and Control

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#75: Multilayer part produced through rotational moulding

Allocated

Rotational moulding is used for the production of hollow plastic articles with a wide range of sizes, shapes, and thicknesses. Multilayers of different composition and thickness can be produced through this process. Three-layer rotomoulded parts with different characteristics will be the focus of this project; the part will consist of a particle or fibre-reinforced PE outer layer, foamed PE middle ... Read more

Mechanics of Materials and Manufacturing Processes

Mechanical Engineering

#76: Wind Tunnel Investigation of the Pedestrian Wind Environment Around a Standard Building Layout Using Several Experimental Methods

Allocated

This project is an investigation of the wind environment around a particular layout of buildings, as specified by members of the APEC-Wind Workshops in the Asia-Pacific Region. The building arrangement has been chosen as it is very typical of building arrangements used in practice, and it is such that some areas are expected to be uite windy when the wind ... Read more

Aero-Fluid-Hydrodynamics

Mechanical Engineering

#77: Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Drag Reduction System for the wings on a FSAE car

Allocated

Aerodynamic wings on cars have been proven to decrease lap times of racing vehicles. They can also be used to direct flow away from high drag components such as the open wheels in the Formula student competition. However this comes at sacrifice by increasing drag and making the car less efficient. We wish to investigate whether the implementation of a ... Read more

Aero-Fluid-Hydrodynamics

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#78: Accurate belt speed estimation on heavy duty conveyor system

Allocated

Trimble is an established world leader in Navigation and Measurement Systems, with over 6000 employees in more than 30 countries. Based in Auckland, Trimble Loadrite focuses on creating technological solutions to improve the productivity and efficiency of heavy equipment operations such as quarries, mines, waste management and construction. The aim of this project is to investigate methods of non-contact belt ... Read more

Mechatronics

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#79: Development of Novel Structural Housing Solutions for In-road Wireless EV Charging Solutions

Allocated

With the increasing uptake of electric vehicles (EVs), convenient and cost-effective methods are being sought for the charging of vehicle battery packs. Surface mounted Inductive Power Transfer (IPT) based wireless charging solutions will reach the market in the next few years, designed for use within garages. The next generation solutions will be built into pavements, for static and dynamic (charge ... Read more

Design/Systems Engineering Mechanics of Materials and Manufacturing Processes

Mechanical Engineering

#80: Target tracking system for understanding neural deficits in developmental disease

Allocated

Developmental diseases (e.g., cerebral palsy, and “lazy eye”) often affect a patient’s ability to process sensory stimuli (sight, sound, touch) and to execute motor behaviors. These deficits are caused by abnormalities in brain structure and function which are poorly understood and, moreover, may vary from patient to patient. This project concerns the design and implementation of a computer-based test of ... Read more

Biomechatronics

Mechatronics Engineering

#81: Electromechanical system for precise finger-tip stimulation

Allocated

The human finger tip is exquisitely sensitive to vibration, enabling us to perform an impressive range of object manipulations. Understanding the neural basis of this sensitivity is centrally important to the development of biologically inspired robotic hands. This project concerns the design of an electromechanical system for use in experimental settings. The system must be programmable to deliver precise sinusoidal ... Read more

Biomechatronics

Mechatronics Engineering

#82: Conveyor Belt Weighing via Energy Input Measurement

Allocated

This project aims to develop a novel weighing system for conveyor belts by measuring the energy input into the conveyor system. Traditionally conveyor belt weighing systems are based around loadcells attached to a scale frame that spans 1 or more idler-assemblies that support and guide the belt. These scales frames are usually retro-fitted to the conveyor structure and need to ... Read more

Design/Systems Engineering Dynamics and Control Mechatronics

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#83: Investigation of Lifting Body Technology for Quadcopters

Allocated

This project seeks to blend the boundaries between conventional quadcopters and fixed wing UAVs through the application of lifting body technology to standard quadcopters. The development of conventional quadcopters has focused primarily on weight reductions, control systems, and propulsion so little work has been done on the aerodynamics of these craft. The body of a quadcopter has the potential to ... Read more

Aero-Fluid-Hydrodynamics

Mechanical Engineering

#84: Skydiver UAV – GPS Tracking and Recovery

Allocated

The aim of the project is to develop a skydiver tracking system for a unique UAV platform that uses adjustable vanes to control the aerodynamic forces. Only the yaw flight axis will be considered but tests will span simulation, wind tunnel, and skydive experiments. The inclusion of a recovery parachute will also be considered. Read more

Aero-Fluid-Hydrodynamics Dynamics and Control Mechatronics

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#85: Autonomous Drone Navigation for Tunnel Inspection

Allocated

The internal inspection of large pipes or tunnels can often be a dangerous undertaking by a person but may be feasible by a multirotor UAV (drone). The aim of the project is to integrate range sensors on a drone for assisted manual flying or autonomous navigation down a tunnel. Tasks include sensor selection, sensor integration, testing of radio communication, simulation, ... Read more

Dynamics and Control Mechatronics

Mechatronics Engineering

#86: Flight Control of a Tilted-Rotor Quadcopter

Allocated

This project investigates the trade-off between endurance and flight control performance of Multirotor UAVs (drones) that have tilted rotors. Tasks including modifying an existing quadcopter, analysing the dynamics using a numerical model, and flight testing in a wind tunnel at different wind speeds. Read more

Aero-Fluid-Hydrodynamics Dynamics and Control Mechatronics

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#87: Development of Preforming Techniques for the Manufacture of High Performance Yacht Structures via Resin Infusion

Allocated

High performance yachts utilise a large amount of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastics (CFRP) in masts, booms, hulls, decks, etc. The commonly applied manufacturing method is consolidation (applied pressure at raised temperatures) of fibre reinforcements pre-impregnated with thermoset polymer resins (a.k.a. Prepreg). Prepreg composites are typically processed within large pressurised ovens (autoclaves), after the time consuming and mostly manual process of ... Read more

Mechanics of Materials and Manufacturing Processes

Mechanical Engineering

#88: Dynamic characterisation of polymeric foam cores for marine applications

Allocated

When considering structural failure during an impact, the energy that can be absorbed by the material can be more important than its ultimate static strength. Often the dynamic energy absorption is assumed to be approximated by the strain energy accumulated during a quasi-static test before failure, which depends as much on the elongation at break as on the maximum load ... Read more

Mechanics of Materials and Manufacturing Processes

Mechanical Engineering

#89: Optimising Rugby Sidestep Performance using Wearable Technologies and Motion Capture

Allocated

Background: The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is one of the most common and detrimental knee injuries in athletic activities. Non-contact ACL injuries most commonly occur during movements that involve sudden decelerations, often accompanied by a change of direction, such as the rugby sidestep. Augmented feedback used in ACL injury prevention programs have shown potential to reduce injury risks and ... Read more

Biomechatronics Mechatronics

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#90: Artificial Intelligence algorithms to automatically prescribe Robot-Botox therapies

Allocated

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common cause of childhood disability and is associated with spasticity (over-tight muscles that can lead to permanent joint contractures), muscle weakness and disordered motor control. Botox has emerged as clinical best practise for treating spasticity, as injections reduce stiffness for a period of time, however then intense physiotherapy is needed to gain more ... Read more

Biomechatronics Mechatronics

Mechatronics Engineering

#91: Automatic Floor Roughness System for the Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel (BLWT)

Allocated

This wind tunnel, located at Newmarket, has a smooth floor. However, to generate models of the natural wind at different scales, e.g. 1:250, 1:2000, and for different terrain roughnesses, e.g. smooth desert, or city centres, different sizes and densities of blocks are required to be located by hand on the wind tunnel floor. This takes time and is tedious to ... Read more

Aero-Fluid-Hydrodynamics

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#92: Develop new wireless "artificial muscle" robotic devices

Allocated

Background: We recently developed a soft diaphragm based “artificial muscle”, made from a novel magnetic polymer composite material, capable of wireless actuation. When exposed to an external magnetic field, the wireless artificial muscle can contract and expand to achieve motion. Potential applications include implantable artificial organs, robotics, drug delivery, fluid pumping/propulsion. Aim: The aim of this project is to ... Read more

Biomechatronics Mechatronics

Mechatronics Engineering

#93: Development of a method to 3D print pressure-tapped yacht sails reliably

Allocated

The Yacht Research Unit has undertaken the most wind tunnel sail investigations of any organisation in the world, and it has to continually improve its capabilities to undertake this work.In the past, we have made some semi-rigid sails by hand using fibre-glass. Sometimes the pressure tubes have been sandwiched between the layers of fibre glass. We need to upgrade our ... Read more

Aero-Fluid-Hydrodynamics

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

#94: Investigation of fire reaction behaviour of composites for aircraft interior applications

Allocated

Flammability of composites is a critical issue in determining their uses in transportation application. Especially, the aviation industry has got the stringent regulations regarding fire properties of interior materials. AIM Altitude (aircraft interior design and manufacturing organisation) has found that unknown burning characteristics of the products lead to high variability of heat release results. As the most aircraft interior panels ... Read more

Mechanics of Materials and Manufacturing Processes

Mechanical Engineering

#95: Parametric Study of Polymer Pulverisation for Production of Plastic Powders

Allocated

The use of polymer powders for various processing methods is essential for the quality assurance of the final plastic products. However, the raw polymeric materials often come in the pellet form, so the process of pulverisation is necessary to turn the polymer pellets into powders of various sizes. A large-scale commercial pulveriser often has more complete parametric control and setup ... Read more

Mechanics of Materials and Manufacturing Processes

Mechanical Engineering

#96: Recyclability Study on Natural Fibre Reinforced Composites on Mechanical and Flammability Properties

Allocated

Production of natural fibre reinforced composites (NFRCs), such as kenaf/PE, RH/PE, wool/PE, Kenaf/PP, RH/PP or wool/PP, have been the main research activity for the development of composites in the last decade. However, in order to enhance the value of promoting these materials based on their environmental benefits, the recyclability of these materials needs to be systematically studied to understand the ... Read more

Mechanics of Materials and Manufacturing Processes

Mechanical Engineering

#97: Development and Testing of a Lab-scale Rotational Moulding Machine with an Alternative Heating Method

Allocated

Currently, the first generation lab-scale rotational moulding machine used at the Centre for Advanced Composite Materials (CACM) has been electrically heated which is different from the commonly used gas-fire machines employed in the industry. However, even the gas fire method has gradually been deemed as an uneconomical heating method. Some initial design ideas of a new generation of RM machine ... Read more

Mechanics of Materials and Manufacturing Processes

Mechanical Engineering

#98: Investigation of the Effects of Binder on the Quality of Rice Husk Based Composite Particleboards

Allocated

In this study, rice husk (RH) of a certain species will be manufactured into composite particleboards with a variation of polymeric (could be thermosetting or thermoplastic, synthetic or biodegradable) binders (to be identified) for the potential of enhancing the mechanical properties of the resulting boards. It will be benchmarked again the existing commercially available wood-based particleboards. It is envisaged that ... Read more

Mechanics of Materials and Manufacturing Processes

Mechanical Engineering

#99: Design and Analysis of Concentric Magnetic Gearboxes

Allocated

Gearboxes allow for speed and torque conversion between the input and driven sides in a drivetrain. For several applications, such as marine and energy generation, the system is designed for a lifetime of twenty years or more, but the gearboxes tend to fail on an average in 7 – 8 years. This necessitates a critical look at the design of ... Read more

Design/Systems Engineering Dynamics and Control

Mechanical Engineering

#100: Development of novel fire retardant from animal based natural fibres

Allocated

In order to reduce the risk of flame hazard of polymeric materials and harmful effects from conventional flame retardant to human body, various kinds of flame retardants have been developed. Among them, intumescent flame retardant (IFR) composed of the phosphorus compound is becoming a promising candidate to replace the conventional halogenated flame retardant due to its high performance and eco-friendliness. ... Read more

Mechanics of Materials and Manufacturing Processes

Mechanical Engineering

#101: An Adaptive Exoglove for Human Capabilities Augmentation and Motion Rehabilitation

Allocated

In this project we will focus on the design, modelling and development of an adaptive exoglove for human capabilities augmentation and motion rehabilitation. Read more

Biomechatronics Dynamics and Control

Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering

Projects for 2018