Mechanical Engineering Student Soars After Program
02/26/2020
By Katherine Vail
During my first semester of school after attending RAMP I was able to accomplish a lot, aside from just focusing on my classes. I joined the Design Build Fly team which is part of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Chapter at the school and was later appointed vice president. We are designing an airplane that can complete certain tasks during flight and will compete at a competition in Arizona in the upcoming weeks.
During my second semester I have continued with the DBF Team and have also received an Honors Fellowship that has allowed me to conduct research under David Willis, associate professor of Mechanical Engineering and associate chair for Undergraduate Studies. This research project assesses the viability of using Soft Robotics to create a bio-inspired wing.
Right now, I am working on designing a McKibben actuator which will be able to control the shape of the wing during flight using custom braid biases on the outside of the actuator that promote elongation, twist and combined elongation and twist. I am researching, prototyping, and testing this theory and will complete the Fellowship by writing a paper on the project as well as presenting my work in front of the Honors College staff, my mentor, and members of the Mechanical engineering department.
I have also been invited to present my research at the America East Conference Research Symposium in April. This Fellowship has helped me learn how to plan and structure a research project and carry out the experiments and writing involved. I have learned amazing things through all these opportunities and am very grateful to have been able to be a part of them.
This summer I will continue working toward my degree in Germany as part of the “Engineers Made in Germany” program. I will be taking three classes and exploring the country with our mentors while I am not studying. When I return, I will continue to work on my research project under Dr. Willis to create a working prototype and test it in the Wind Tunnel at the university.