Pupil designer, Sophia will see her engineering idea the ‘Focus Band’ turn into a reality by Thales Glasgow. Her idea is a headband which makes it a little easier to focus on school work with features such as noise cancelling, a smart camera, a desk projection plus a customisable look.

Introduction to the prototeam

The Thales Glasgow second prototeam (Team DELTER) consists of six members, each bringing different skill sets to the table:

• Des Jemwa
• Emma Russell
• Luke Brand
• Tomi Akintunde
• Ellen Taylor
• Ronaldo Mupudzi

Why did they choose this design?

It was chosen as the engineering professional who originally graded the competition entry identified the product as being extremely beneficial to those who have the likes of ADHD or autism who struggle to concentrate in class, this was highlighted as a personal struggle amongst family members/friends. In addition, the focus band will help eliminate noise within the classroom that might distract them and maximise their engagement and learning at times.

Prototype planning

Features:

• Headwear:
• Elasticated, colourful band
• Noise cancelling, adjustable earbuds
• Circuitry integrated into band, including:
• Accelerometer for motion tracking
• Bluetooth for software connectivity
• Optional microphone for lesson recording and text to speech

Functions:

• DB Meter
• Optional speech to text (teacher preference)
• AI Generated work
• Mirroring Screen
• Data Storage
• Feedback
• Engagement levels

Software:

The software on the Headband

• C++ using the Arduino IDE.
• The goal will be to collect and handle the data in a sensible fashion
• Then send this data to the application to be interpreted

The application software

• Using JavaScript in react native to create a cross platform code base (IOS and android)
• The app will receive data from headband. Interpret it into user friendly, insightful and fun format.
• The app will also work as a study companion app to further push the idea of focus, this will where the ‘AI’ capabilities will be utilized.

Timeline

The team plan to visit the pupil designer’s school in February to update her on their plans and get any feedback. Then visiting again in March with the initial prototype before a design review.

Next steps

The team are excited to be working on a project that aids teaching and learning whilst having the fantastic opportunity to upskill team members taking on a new challenge. We can’t wait to see the next update.

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Pupil designer, Sophie, will see her engineering idea ‘The Reach-Up Wheelchair’ turned into a reality by Thales Templecombe. Her idea makes life a little easier for wheelchair users, helping them reach the things they might not normally be able to. The chair features a button to extend the chair upwards up to 1 metre, raise the seat at an angle plus a safety strap.

Introduction to the ProtoTeam

The Thales Templecombe prototeam consists of six members, each bringing different skill sets to the table:

• Freya Morris – Project Manager
• Daniel Fearn – Systems Engineer
• Zacary Leighton-Ditchburn – Mechanical Engineer
• Harris Cutts – Manufacturing Apprentice
• Prasanna Lamgade – Mechanical Engineer
• Ben Mammatt – Hardware Apprentice

Project Overview

From initial estimates of a motor operated scissor lift, the students intended design would be too costly and hazardous as a product. As such an alternative design has been chosen.

An air jack or air bag, will be our method for lifting the user. Air fills the bags via a compressor powered by a battery and expands – raising the user. Stability will be provided by a metal rod within the air jack and utilising the sides of the scissor lift to lock the user at the intended height for safety.

A linear actuator will be used as the tilt method for the design. This is a simple and cheap method of tilting the user for ease of access.

Ease of use luxuries will be added such as a panel to allow the user to adjust their height, angle and provide additional information.

Changes may occur to the design as it develops. Certain issues such as height limitations not meeting initial requirements, H&S issues or excessive noise from the compressor may cause a reflection in design choices which will be discussed with the student before any significant changes.

Starting the prototype

The team launched the project in January and now they are in the design stage, plan to meet the pupil designer a few times in the coming weeks to present initial ideas and make any necessary adjustments.

Next steps

We are looking forward to the next update!

The post Thales Templecombe creating the Reach-Up Wheelchair prototype first appeared on Primary Engineer.

Pupil designer, Alex, will see his engineering idea ‘The Hummingbird 3000’ turned into a reality by Thales Crawley. His idea is a miniature green energy factory which could be easily fitted to the wall or roof of a house, producing enough electricity to power a household.

Introduction to the ProtoTeam

The Thales Crawley prototeam consists of six members, each bringing different skill sets to the table:

• Henry Fuller – Project Manager
• Andrew Lucas – EDM
• Benji Beedles – Engineer
• Isabella Anderson – Engineer
• Matthew Hodges – Engineer
• Alex Carlyn – Engineer

Starting the prototype

First phase will be run using agile methods, to allow for flexibility during the design process. Planned to be run across four sprints. Second Phase will switch to normal waterfall method as activities move towards manufacture. More detailed plans will be developed after receiving training in SCRUM method.

Plan to have regular customer meetings, with updates either every month or every fortnight.

Three in-person visits planned:

• First at the school, focused on allowing the customer to meet the team and review final design of solution.
• Second at Thales site, potentially using COREF labs to provide virtual representation of final solution.
• Third back at school, presenting final solution for user acceptance.

Next steps

We are looking forward to the next update!

The post Thales Crawley creating the Hummingbird 3000 prototype first appeared on Primary Engineer.

Pupil designer, Malachy, will see his engineering idea ‘I can Swing’ turned into a reality by Thales Belfast. His idea is a swing specifically designed for individuals with reduced mobility or wheelchair users, was selected because the pupil identified a significant gap in the market.

Introduction to the ProtoTeam

The Thales Belfast prototeam consists of six members from the Thales Early Careers program, each bringing different skill sets to the table:

• Will Primrose (Bids and Projects Graduate)
• Jay Gibson (Engineering Apprentice)
• Zahra Syed (Software Graduate)
• Rory Squire (Engineering Apprentice)
• Joe Castle (Software Graduate)
• Scott McGilton (Engineering Apprentice)

With expertise in areas such as software design, 3D printing, CAD modelling, and project planning, the team collaborated to review the submission, considering several factors including:

• Design complexity
• Parts required
• Budget
• Competitors
• Manufacturing Timeframe

Why did they choose this idea to build?

The “I Can Swing,” a swing specifically designed for individuals with reduced mobility or wheelchair users, was selected because the pupil identified a significant gap in the market. Currently, there is no swing specifically designed for this purpose. During their market research, the team found only swings that were either manually operated or those that simply rocked back and forth, highlighting the innovation and necessity of the “I Can Swing.”

Starting the prototype – planning

The primary challenge for the team was to transform the design into a tangible product within the given timeframe. After careful deliberation, it was decided to proceed with creating a tabletop model of the “I Can Swing” design. A full-scale model was deemed too large and impractical to produce within the timeframe, and it would also present logistical challenges for transportation and display.
Currently, the team is in the design phase, meticulously considering all the key requirements and working on converting these into a fully functional tabletop prototype.

Next steps

The group looks forward to meeting the pupil soon to discuss their design and to learn more about the backstory behind this amazing and thoughtful concept!

We are looking forward to the next update!

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Pupil designer, Adam, will see his engineering idea ‘Trampcharger’ turned into a reality by Thales Glasgow. His idea is a device-charging trampoline that generates electricity when bounced upon and he wants to make this fun and exciting product available to all, for free, in the local park.

Introduction to the ProtoTeam

The team that shall endeavour to produce this creation is made up of six members of our Early Careers Community – three graduates and three apprentices. The graduates are Tom Warburton (Systems Engineer), Sakaria Sallah (Systems Engineer) and Jamie Read (Bid & Project Manager), while our apprentices are Neave Kelly (Manufacturing), Darcy Weatherby (Technical Publications & Training) and Connor Scott (Obsolescence). They are very excited to take on this challenge, and feel they have a good variety of skills and knowledge to make this a success.

Why did they choose this idea to build?

There were a variety reasons that ‘Trampcharger’ was selected, many of which directly targeted modern day societal needs or vitally important topics. The concept presents a unique fusion of play and functionality – by harnessing the kinetic energy generated from the physical activity, this innovation promotes an active lifestyle, which is vitally important considering that 15% of children aged 2-15 are obese (Health Survey for England 2022) and 64% adults are either overweight or obese.

Another major reason for selection was the obvious focus on the environment and renewable energy. Adam himself repeatedly mentions the positive environmental factors of the design, pointing out the charger “uses green energy, the best energy for the environment”. This creation fosters awareness by encouraging people to engage with sustainable practices and think about renewable energy, all while making energy generation fun. The environment and global warming are major topics that are the focus of governments and organisations around the world, so it is great to see such an interest on this from Adam.

The convenience of the idea was another attractive aspect to Adam’s proposal, allowing users to charge their devices during outdoor recreational activities, seamlessly integrating leisure and technology. Furthermore, the design has significant potential for evolution, not just for this particular apparatus, but for an entire playground. The potential for adding mini-wind turbines to the top of the swings or turning the roundabout into a turbine is there, just needs refining. Essentially any moving part of a playground could evolve to produce energy.

Starting the prototype – planning

The team currently have two potential solutions with which we are moving forward into our testing phase with. One option is to create a ring of piezoelectric discs around the frame of the trampoline. When someone bounces on the trampoline and creates vibrations, these discs produce a small amount of electricity. By having a large number of these small discs all around the trampoline, we may be able to generate enough electricity to charge a device.

The second solution involves creating motors using springs and magnets. A magnet is wrapped in a coil and attached to a spring at both ends. As the trampoline is used, the magnet will pass horizontally through the coil as springs expand and contract, creating an EMF. Wires will be connected to the coil, feeding the electricity straight to the battery pack for charging.

Next steps

The next stage of our project is the testing phase. The team will be testing the two different solutions in a number of ways and under a number of conditions. They will then continue experimenting with each option until they decide upon their final design for producing the most amount of electricity. They are also planning to visit Adam and his school, so they can get his feedback on our suggestions and ensure that he is thoroughly involved throughout the process.

We are looking forward to the next update!

The post Thales Glasgow creating the Trampcharger prototype first appeared on Primary Engineer.

Pupil designer, Millie, will see her engineering idea ‘Rainbow Glasses’ turned into a reality by Thales Cheadle. Her idea is a pair of glasses with interchangeable coloured lenses to help people with Dyslexia read easily.

Introduction to the ProtoTeam

• BPM Lead / Outreach Lead = Sam Hassan
• Manufacturing Lead / Security Liaison = Ben Butcher
• Risk Manager / Test Lead = Hassan Shabbir
• Procurement Lead / Research Lead = Tyler Creagh
• Finance Controller / Quality Lead = Chris Moloney

Starting the prototype – planning

We are looking forward to the next update!

The post Thales Cheadle creating the Rainbow Glasses Prototype first appeared on Primary Engineer.

Pupil designer Maisie, a pupil in Year 3, will see her engineering idea the ‘4 Bin Swopper’ turned into a reality! Her idea is a bin with robotic hands that will automatically move the rubbish into the right sorting bin category.

Introduction to the ProtoTeam

The University of Southampton School of Engineering offers challenging Group Design Projects to small teams of final year undergraduate students.

Five engineering students decided to pursue the design of a smart recycling bin eco-design, inspired by Maisie’s ‘4 bin swopper’ concept: Duvayndren Jegathesan (Mechanical Engineering), Zhe Wen Teh (Mechanical Engineering), Hiroki Yamashita (Mechanical Engineering), Darcy Kirwan (Mechanical Engineering) and Ji Kit Lee (Aeronautical Engineering).

Kit had relevant experience working on image recognition using artificial intelligence. He is working on the system to recognise waste items from taking a photo as it is deposited in the smart bin and training a single board computer to match that photo to similar photos of known waste items.

Why have they chosen this pupil idea?

The University of Southampton chose this design because, as Maisie suggests, recycling works best when waste items are collected in the correct compartment for collecting and processing them. Placing waste items in the correct part of a bin remains challenging. Some people need assistance to avoid waste becoming mixed or contaminated.

Maisie correctly identified the challenge for partially-sighted people, or those who do not understand instructions for recycling. She proposed a mechanism for automatically sorting waste items in her concept. The concept also attracts interest in using it through its fun design and provides information to users through a screen.

There are worthwhile engineering challenges, both in identifying waste items and transferring them to suitable containers ready for collection. Also in understanding the interface needed for promoting recycling to users such as primary school pupils.

Starting the prototype

The GDP team’s initial task was to understand the benefits of adding automation to a bin. They researched existing bins and the few smart bins which have not currently become mainstream. They are also exploring the needs of primary schools to segregate their typical waste items.

They began sketching design ideas for the mechanisms needed to safely receive a single item of waste deposited in the bin to hold it for a photograph to be taken, then moving it to drop it into one of 4 containers. The bin also needs to provide access to collect the 4 containers when they are full so the waste can be transferred for recycling and ideally monitor when the containers are getting near full.

The sorting of waste uses image recognition. Like people need to be taught what distinguishes a plastic bottle from a glass bottle, a machine learning algorithm (a form of artificial intelligence) needs to be trained using suitable images of typical items of waste. The team have found databases with such images and started experimenting with training.

Fig. 2 Example Data Set for Waste Classification a) plastic containers b) paper

The overall design was modelled using computer aided design (CAD) software and presented to Maisie and to Primary Engineer staff in November. Maisie and her teachers kindly agreed that illustrations for the front of the doors could be prepared at her school. These can be used to make the 4 different types of recycling look more interesting.

The team plans to refine the detail of the components of the design to start prototype manufacture in February to be able to test the first version of the mechanisms, as well as the camera and waste recognition system.

The team hope to visit Maisie and her class at Evendons Primary School to discuss their design and how they are addressing the challenges of the project. That will help their learning towards becoming a professional engineer.

We are looking forward to the next update!

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Pupil designer Adela, a pupil in Year 7, will see her engineering idea the Medicine Calendar turned into a reality! Inspired by her own experience and sometimes forgetfulness when taking medication, her idea would help a variety of people when it’s medication organiser and alarm feature. It also makes taking medication more fun with music availability.

The ProtoTeam at Canterbury Christ Church University selected this idea because they felt it had great potential to support people in their everyday lives.

The team consists of Nicola Joyce and Adam Bayliss, who will focus on the electrical aspects of the build, while Breeshea Robinson (Senior Specialist Technician) will be responsible for manufacturing the calendar itself.

Their plan is to begin building the prototype in January, with the aim of having it functional by March.

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Pupil designer Libby, a pupil in P7, will see her engineering idea the ‘Bench Bed’ turned into a reality! Her idea is a bench by day but can become a bed by night, folding down to become a bed with walls surrounding it making it a warm environment for homeless people to sleep in.

Introduction to the ProtoTeam:

Imogen Heard, Specialist Technical Officer (STO) (Co-Electrics Lead and Ergonomics): “I have been with The university of Edinburgh for almost 3 years as a Specialist Technical Officer. My focus is on Embedded Systems, utilising digital electronics & programmable microcontrollers to develop automation, sensing and data acquisition systems for research & teaching experiments.”

Steven Gourlay, Mechanical workshop Technical Support Officer (TSO) (Co-Design Lead): “I have been involved in Design/ Manufacturing for over 37 years. I join the university of Edinburgh in 2007 as the technician for Chemical Engineering. In 2011 I took on the role of Technical Support Officer (TSO) and I am responsible for the introduction, development and management of the current manufacturing facility in the School of Engineering. I also look after the design and development of research equipment within the Institute of Materials and Processes as well as assisting with other institutes when required.”

Alasdair Christie, Assistant Laboratory Technician (Co-Electrics Lead and Comms Lead): “I have been with the University of Edinburgh for 7 years starting as a lab assistant and working my way up the ranks. Thanks to the support of the university I have recently graduated with a BEng Electrical and Electronic degree and I am enjoying being able to apply what I have learned over the years to the exciting projects Primary Engineer has produced.”

Dr Katie Grant, Student Recruitment and Outreach Officer (Schools Lead): “I have been with the School of Engineering for a year and a half, but have been at the University of Edinburgh for 10 years having started as an undergraduate student and going on to complete my PhD here too. My current role involves working with schools to engage young learners with engineering and helping them on their journey to becoming an engineer! I lead the public engagement and schools programme in the team, and am overall project manager too.“

Tom Bolland, MakerSpace Supervisor (Materials): “I have over 6.5 years of experience working with cool projects. For the past 3.5 years, I’ve been a MakerSpace supervisor, helping people build things like rockets and race cars. Before that, I spent 3 years making electronics for escape rooms, creating fun puzzles. I love taking fun ideas and turning them into reality with hands-on work and creativity.”

Iain Gold, Technical Support Officer (TSO) (Budget Lead): “I have been with the University of Edinburgh for nearly 10 years starting of as the technician for the electronics teaching laboratory. I have worked my way up and became Technical Services Officer (TSO) for the Electrical and Electronic Group. I have always had a passion for engineering and love taking things apart and seeing what makes them tick.”

Matthew Proudfoot, Assistant Mechanical Workshop Technician (Co-Design Lead): “My job is to help with manufacturing mechanical parts for research projects for the school of engineering. I have been with the University for over 4 years mainly as an apprentice where I learned a variety of technical skills for an engineering workshop from industry experienced professionals.”

Mathew Hunton, Assistant Mechanical Engineering Technician (Mechanical): “After over a decade in the oil and gas sector in Alberta, Canada, I returned to school and completed a diploma in Nanosystems Engineering Technology at NAIT before moving to Scotland to join the Civil and Structural Engineering department at University of Edinburgh.”

Dr Marcelo Dias, Reader in structural engineering (Structures): “I’m currently is a Reader in Structural Mechanics at the University of Edinburgh, leading the “Mechanics and Geometry of Advanced Structures Laboratory” (MEGA SLab) in the Institute for Infrastructure and Environment at the School of Engineering. I’ve been in the school for 3.5 years.”

Why have they chosen this pupil idea?

There were a variety of reasons the Bench Bed was chosen, but primarily it was the social responsibility aspect they liked. It was brilliant to see a young person caring for those in a less fortunate position than themselves, putting in time and effort to think of how to improve their situation by giving them a safe, warm, and dry place to sleep. It was particularly heartening to see that the pupil was thinking of more than just her community, stating “there are millions of homeless people all around the world”. It also has the potential for use by a wide range of people in the public and provides us with the opportunity to engage with local communities and schools by asking them to help design the outer shell of the bench.

The ProtoTeam also liked the clear design and detailed explanation of how the Bench Bed would work. It showed how the bench would fold in and out, as well as the extra features like blankets, pillows, and lights. The pupil demonstrated how it could be used in the day and not just at night.

Commercial potential was also seen in the design. The adaptability of the design features to fit different budgets really highlighted that this product could one day be taken up by charities and councils.

Last, but not least, they liked its potential. In the selection meeting, it was discussed how the design could be expanded to include many features to help people. Features such as phone chargers, Wi-Fi, help alerts, and monitoring of the homeless population (something that is lacking unfortunately) were all discussed. It also has the potential for the design to be modified to fit in with its surroundings.

Initial Design Meeting:

After selecting the Bench Bed, the ProtoTeam had an initial design meeting where they brainstormed ideas and designs for how they would make the Bench Bed a reality.

It was a robust discussion where they explored many concepts, from box-shaped beds to cylinders to canopies. A key part of the discussion was visualising how the mechanics of the design could be used. They also discussed what materials could be used, what the aesthetic could be, what electrics could go into it, and potential manufacturing methods.

At the end of the meeting, they had two designs we planned on creating with Computer Aided Design (CAD) and presenting to Libby.

Presenting to Libby

On Friday 27th of September the team held a design meeting with Libby and her parents. The key aims of this meeting was to introduce her to the team and to have her feedback on the proposed changes to her original design. After pitching the designs to Libby, she decided to go with design two. The team were very clear with why they had made the changes they had, and explained that by using a cylindrical design the mechanism would be much easier for people to use. Libby liked that the second design could be a shelter during the day as well as turning into the bed at night, she was also happy with the change in design from a box to a cylinder.

After further discussion, it was decided the following would be good to include, if possible, in the storage compartments:

i. Pillow and covers

ii. Heated blanket

iii. Mattress

iv. Towel

v. Basic first aid kit

vi. Hygiene supplies

vii. Defibrillator

For the electrics, Libby liked the idea of the following:

i. USB charger

ii. Solar panels

iii. Lights that come on when it’s dark

iv. Lights that can be switched off

v. GSM, communications system for those without a phone

A few more advancements that were developed in the meeting by Libby and the team included:

• discussion of an internal foldable structure to reflect the heat and/or a ventilation system to ensure the structure doesn’t overheat
• the idea of having a hook at the back of the design along with some sort of drying rack for clothes
• discussion of 3D printing the light switch with glow-in-the-dark filament or adding an LED to it
• a possible water filtration system to capture rainwater and provide drinking water

One aspect that Libby was keen on, which shows great social responsibility, was the Bench Bed being open to everyone so it not to have a locking system to access.

Next steps

Invigorated from their discussions the team will finalise the design and develop a timeline for construction. As Libby is a keen budding engineer, showing enthusiasm for both the construction and electrical parts of the design, the university plan to have her along to assist with part of the construction and soldering of the electrical components.

They will also reach out to Social Responsibility and Sustainability team at the University of Edinburgh to discuss working with homeless charities to ensure that they are considering all aspects of rough-sleeping, an aspect Libby is also interested in being involved in.

We are looking forward to receiving the next update from the ProtoTeam.

The post University of Edinburgh Creating the Bench Bed Prototype first appeared on Primary Engineer.

• Design and assemble the bodywork
• Build a remote to control the CWAB

Bodywork
There were a few options available to the team for the bodywork. The roll-bars on the vehicle provided a natural support structure for fixing on the panels, along with some additional framework that was secured to the rear of the vehicle. Initial discussions considered the manufacture of the bodywork panels from a variety of materials to make use of the teams’ expertise and capability. These included plastic and metallic sheet materials, 3D printed materials, as well as lightweight composite carbon fibre panels. In the end, for time and cost reasons, it was determined that plastic sheet materials would be the most feasible. These sheets of plastic were cut to shape and then assembled onto the support frame.

Remote
To allow easy use of the C.W.A.B, the team were keen to stay faithful to Ben’s original design by having a very simple remote interface (one button!). They started by determining what the remote needed to do: send a signal to the electronics in the car to carry out the programme(s) stored on-board. It was decided to have two on-board programmes:

1. Lower the hose arm, turn on the pump, turn off the pump, raise the arm
2. Same as programme 1 but also with driving included

As a result, they connected two buttons (one for each program) to an Arduino circuit board that when pushed, would send their corresponding signal via a radio transmitter to a receiver on-board the car. When the car received the signal, it would begin the program. All of this was housed inside a 3D printed casing, with an antenna protruding out the top to boost the range of the signal.

CWAB On The Road
Having finished the bodywork and remote, the CWAB was ready to be unveiled at the South West Leaders Award exhibition held at the University of West England on the 5th July. The GKN Aerospace ProtoTeam gave a presentation at the event about their prototype, explaining the design, manufacture and operation of the C.W.A.B. before inviting Ben to the stage to unveil it for the first time! The team then gave a live demonstration of it in action.

The next event in the calendar was a visit to Ben’s school. The team gave an interactive presentation about GKN Aerospace and the wider industry, before revealing the C.W.A.B to Ben’s classmates and having a show-and-tell session where they could get up close, ask questions, and see it in action!

The final stop on the C.W.A.B’s summer tour was to Farnborough Airshow for the ‘Pioneers of Tomorrow’ STEM event. The prototype was showcased (next to a GKN Aerospace jet engine) alongside several other interactive STEM activities GKN Aerospace had been working on, with visitors coming and going from the GKN Tech Hall all day. This was a real highlight of the project, where all of the teams’ hard work was shown off to members of the public and the industry alike.

Upon finishing the project, the GKN Aerospace team reflected that ‘the project as a whole has been an amazing experience for those involved, inspiring us with the creativity and innovation of Ben and all of the other designs submitted to the competition, and hopefully allowing us to inspire some of the next generation of engineers to pursue careers in STEM’.

The post The final update on the CWAB Prototype first appeared on Primary Engineer.