Summary of processes and experiences.
Project group members: Owen Wagner [Manager], Vince Ventresca [Administrator 1], Tahreem Malik [Administrator 2], Ayah Dabbagh [Coordinator], Mohammad Mahdi Mahboob [Coordinator].
Figure 1. Team Portrait.
This project aimed at creating two components of a system designed to facilitate the sterilization of surgical tools using robotic components and autoclaves. This system would allow for the operation of remote surgeries so that people who are ill in areas that do not have medical professionals equipped with the skills required to perform life-saving surgeries can receive adequate medical attention. The group focused on two sub-system of the remote surgery system: the controlling of the robotic arm, which was designed by the Computation sub-team; and the Modelling sub-team handled the production of a container that securely held an assigned surgical tool (surgical clamps) and facilitated its transportation into a given autoclave footprint (Footprint 1) for sterilization. I worked in the Modelling sub-team alongside Tahreem Malik.
The Modelling sub-team first identified necessary objectives that permitted the creation of an ideal container, then narrowed down on constraints and specifications to create a container that best met the needs of the assigned tool and footprint. The sub-team drew concept sketches of different solutions to criterion such as handling the container and securing the surgical tool. They then went on to creating low-fidelity prototypes of the different design proposals, before moving on to solid modelling designs and refining specifications in the final design. The final design was 3D-printed at a 1:2 scale as a high-fidelity prototype, which showcased all the functionalities of the container. The container comprised of 4 parts, a base and 3 covers that press-fit into place. Not only was the part optimal in reducing the amount of material used during printing and allowed for the efficient passage of pressurized steam, but it was able to fit inside of the given footprint from either end. This expanded the mobility of the container immensely.
Figure 2. High-fidelity Prototype of Disassembled Container Components.
Being part of the Modelling sub-team for this project was a unique experience for me. I hadn't done much work with solid modelling and physical components prior to this project, and I found it a very informative and enlightening experience. I got to use many new features in Inventor, such as assemblies, that allowed me to model parts separately and showcase how they worked together in my system. I also refined my skills using different tools such as the pattern and mirror tools, that allowed me to create my design quicker. I also learned about solid model prototyping, which was different to computer program prototypes in the sense that the adjustments that we made during 3D-printing were of a separate nature compared to those made in program tests and drafts. This experience gave me a good exposure to solid modelling, and has inspired some ideas that I have for future projects.
Figure 3. Container Part that Press-fits into Place in Final Container Design.
Figure 4. Final Container Holding Surgical Clamps, Placed in Given Footprint.
Figure 5. Final 3D-printed Container, Fully Assembled.
Like the previous project, this one also brought me out of my comfort zone: I tended to stray away from sketching and solid modelling in the past as I felt I was not as skilled in that area. The previous project gave me some experience with Inventor, but I thought that some of the processes would still be too complex to carry out with the experience I had coming into this project. However, I soon realized that it was not as complex as I originally had thought it to be, and in fact, with practice from the concurrent engineering labs, I had the skills necessary to do my part of the project in a timely manner, as well as help teammates with their struggles. I also got to 3D-print an object for the very first time, which was an amazing experience. 3D-printing taught me about high-fidelity prototypes, which is an essential part of the engineering process, and I also learned that for prototypes, it is not always necessary to have the full dimensions and functionality of the final design. In fact, this adjustment allowed us to create a scaled model of our container that demonstrated the press-fitting of our parts exceptionally.
One part of the process that I especially learned from was Milestone 2. I had not understood the assignment correctly and had created a system that did securely hold the container in place, but it did not do so in a way that held the tool securely. During that assignment, I was too worried about following objectives of simplistic design and part size limitations, even though those were not issues that required consideration in that specific milestone. This experienced let me learn to only deal with the task at hand, and since we were still in the initial design planning stage, it also taught me to stick to creative ideas for as long as possible.
This project also had an interview component in it, where we were asked different questions about our design as well as our competency in different concepts in our given sub-teams. I feel like I did really well in that interview as I was able to answer questions confidently and with a strong understanding of the process and tools that I used. This was a good learning experience for me as I had never done a project interview before, but this interview taught me the importance of being able to communicate design and findings in a new way, especially to people who are unfamiliar with the entire design process. I also believe that this better equips me for interviews and meetings that I might have with potential employers and clients in the future.
In this project, I took the role of coordinator, which was not something I had done previously before the start of the project. This gave me a fresh perspective on team dynamics, as this job was more about documentation and following instructions as opposed to giving instructions to team members. This expanded my understanding of team leadership and taught me the importance of giving clear instructions, as well as communication. As a coordinator, I was always documenting information in case it needed to be referenced later. This was also a useful tool in communicating any concerns that I or my team had identified during the project, and allowed us to ask for help in a much better manner. I also helped out the Computation sub-team with their programming issues since I had a plethora of experience in that field, while some of their members helped me out while I was designing the container since they had solid modelling experience. This taught me the value of the various different skills people bring to the table, and helped me realize the many benefits of working in teams with different people. I am more confident now in my ability to work in teams with new people, and I look forward to doing it more in the future.