2021

Interning with Artimus Robotics

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Interning with Artimus Robotics Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 02/16/2022 - 00:00

Andrew Brown , Evan Mossel

Andrew Brown and Evan Mossel are undergraduate students in Mechanical Engineering. They interned with Artimus Robotics during summer 2021.

Andrew Brown and Evan Mossel

Evan, can you tell us a little bit about the company where you both interned?

Evan Mossel: Artimus Robotics was founded out of Christoph Keplinger’s lab in 2018. It’s built around HASEL actuator technology, which uses electrostatic forces to create artificial muscles with high energy density and soft touch capabilities. The muscles are part of a new industry that’s using material science to bring smarter, more life-like robotics to market. As a result of external interest in the new product, they were encouraged to take their company as far as it could go.

Artimus currently sells two standardized products: an expansion development kit and a contraction development kit. They also work directly with clients on products that require unique research and development.

Andrew, what was your role as an intern with Artimus Robotics?

Andrew Brown: My role as a Mechanical/Electrical Engineering Intern at Artimus Robotics was shaped around my interests and the needs of the company. Through one of Artimus’s main grant proposals, NASA showed interest in the self-sensing capabilities of the HASEL actuators. My internship focused on supporting that work by creating programs in Matlab that can demonstrate the sensors’ self-sensing capabilities and the applications of that capability. For example, the sensors could detect failure and excess friction when the actuator has contacted another object or detect if the actuator will fail in the near future.

The project took on a few different forms as I tested different methods. I started with LabView, which had problems with efficiency. I then moved to Python, but ran into a roadblock due to package bugs. Then I moved to Matlab, which had shown the most promise through the use of the Matlab App Designer, and which I used to create a deployable app. There have been many smaller projects within this larger project, such as gathering data for the creation of actuator calibration curves where I get to deploy my programs.

Evan, your role was to focus on the company’s website redesign. What did this entail?

Evan Mossel: The redesign required producing detailed and functional SolidWorks models as well as dimensioned and marketing drawings. The thought process behind this redesign was to be completely transparent about all standard products that Artimus offers. The customer can see photos and detailed dimensions of the products and can download the models I created to input them into their own SolidWorks assemblies for a mockup of their product.

I quickly realized that modelling soft-body electronics was difficult in a program that relied on block or surface based models. The project pushed me to develop familiarity with SolidWorks equations and multi-body modelling, which allowed me to complete the project while also expanding my modelling skills. The end result was a website that looks both professional and complete, allowing customers to interface with my models and dimensioned drawings and to download them for their own use.

Andrew, how did this internship experience add to your engineering education?

Andrew Brown: This internship taught me a lot that I could never have learned through class experience. I learned a ton each day through my mistakes and got to do my best work on my projects, which contrasts with school where mistakes result in lost points and I might only have time to do the bare minimum. I also got to collaborate directly with people who know more than me every day. This is not an experience you can get in the classroom and it is priceless.

I was able to learn what I had planned to do over the summer - circuitry and programming for systems. I was able to get into the weeds of signal processing using programming tools, which is what I set out to learn from the beginning.

Evan, what was the most rewarding part of the internship?

Evan Mossel: The internship was an incredibly fulfilling and unique experience. The start up aspect revealed an entire new set of opportunities that I would never have learned about in a larger company. I was able to see my work directly benefit the company, aid in researching and mockup creation for both government and industry partners, and much more. When I initially received the email for this program, I was unsure of what it was and almost did not apply. However, I am very happy I put myself out there as the internship built up my skill set, gave me real world engineering experience and allowed me to make connections that will last a lifetime. I learned to never be hesitant to pursue an opportunity, even if it does not appear to be a perfect match.

If you asked me where I saw myself as an intern, a robotics company would probably not have been mentioned. After this experience, that has certainly changed. The experience has taught me that there is always much more nuance and complexity to a company’s work than simply the name, therefore I should always look deeper and see where my value may lie.

Andrew Brown and Evan Mossel are undergraduates in Mechanical Engineering. They interned at Artimus Robotics during summer 2021.

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Interning with ShoeSense

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 17:41:32 +0000

Interning with ShoeSense Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 02/14/2022 - 10:41

John Cunningham

John Cunningham is an undergraduate in Mechanical Engineering. He interned with ShoeSense during summer 2021.

John Cunningham

Can you tell us a little bit about the company where you interned?

ShoeSense is a startup company that began when its CEO, Connor Winter, was a mechanical engineering undergraduate at �� Boulder. The company’s idea is to create an application that is paired with a wearable sensor. The app can provide advice on what type of running shoes to wear, insight into the user's running form and exercises that will help improve their form.

What was your role as an intern with ShoeSense?

The majority of my time was spent collecting and analyzing data. I wrote and executed a lot of test plans with the sensor on our treadmill. Analyzing the data on Matlab was a huge part of my job, as I was trying to calculate key running metrics using just the sensor data. We had access to an industry standard testing system, so I could verify if my calculations were accurate by comparing them to those test results.

What was the most unique aspect of the internship?

I had a lot of freedom in my role, which is something quite unique. I was not simply told tasks to complete. Rather, I was allowed to create my own test plans and execute them. The amount of trust and responsibility given to me was unique and one of my favorite parts of the experience.

What advice do you have for future interns?

Do not be afraid of feeling like you do not know enough. I had this same feeling on the first day of my internship, but I was impressed with how much I was actually capable of. If you are not capable of doing something, ask for help or advice. That is always okay and expected, especially in an internship role. It is all about learning!

John Cunningham is an undergraduate in Mechanical Engineering. He interned with ShoeSense during summer 2021.

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Interning with unspun

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 16:46:09 +0000

Interning with unspun Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 02/07/2022 - 09:46

Ella McQuaid

Ella McQuaid is an undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering. She interned with unspun during summer 2021.

Ella McQuaid

Can you tell us a little bit about the company where you interned?

Unspun is a robotics and digital apparel company that makes on-demand, custom jeans by scanning the customer’s body and generating a virtual avatar as a reference for the garment pattern. The company focuses on reducing waste, with the goal of decreasing global carbon emissions by one percent.

What was your role as an intern with unspun?

My primary project at unspun was to modify the machine’s pre-existing fabric collection system into one that better fit unspun’s needs. I started the project by meeting with one of my mentors at unspun to go over the current system and talk about the issues the testing team wanted to address. After brainstorming possible solutions and making rough SolidWorks models, I presented several ideas to the rest of the team. Their feedback and ideas helped me choose a design to move forward with. I built a prototype that did not work initially, but when I asked for advice from the mechanical team, they gave me some great ideas that helped me get to a working model.

How will this internship impact your future in mechanical engineering?

One of the main things I originally hoped to gain through this internship was hands-on experience that I felt I missed out on during the year of remote classes. At unspun, I got to reconnect with all the aspects of engineering that I really enjoyed in previous semesters. Getting to work on a machine, design, prototype, and contribute to a mission that really resonates with me was incredibly encouraging. I saw what it means to be an engineer in a professional capacity which helped me gain confidence in my future.

What are the biggest takeaways from this internship?

The most rewarding and interesting part of this internship was getting to meet everyone at unspun and observe how a startup tech company works from the inside. I tried to absorb all the advice I was given – how professional engineers work, communicate and approach problems, and how the different teams in a small company all work together. Another rewarding experience was seeing something I built working in the way I imagined and producing results that I felt proud of. It was exciting to leave something behind that could continue being used once I left the company.

To other students considering this program, especially those who have not done other internships, I would like to say that you do not know what It is going to be like to work as an engineer just from school. This is an extremely valuable experience for determining your future path.

Ella McQuaid is an undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering. She interned with unspun during summer 2021.

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An inside look: Interning with CleanRobotics

Anonymous — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 17:14:53 +0000

An inside look: Interning with CleanRobotics Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 01/31/2022 - 10:14

David Betz , Abby Browne

David Betz and Abby Browne

David Betz and Abby Browne are undergraduates in Mechanical Engineering. They interned with CleanRobotics during summer 2021.

Abby, can you tell us a little bit about the company where you interned?

Abby Browne: CleanRobotics is a robotics company that has designed a flagship product called the TrashBot. A significant issue with the recycling process is that it is difficult for people to remember the many confusing rules surrounding recycling. This causes people to incorrectly deposit landfill material into recycling bins, potentially contaminating properly recycled material. The TrashBot detects and sorts recyclables from landfill materials using a combination of robotics, artificial intelligence and computer vision. Cloud connectivity allows units to learn from each other and become more intelligent over time and data from the sensors can be sent to a dashboard that allows the client to easily monitor bin fullness and run waste audits.

David, what was your role as an intern with CleanRobotics?

David Betz: Our primary role as Mechanical Engineering Interns was to improve the design of the newest model of the CleanRobotics TrashBot ZeroTM. That involved addressing common failure points of the existing product and redesigning the systems to make them more robust. We also worked to improve the manufacturability of the TrashBot ZeroTM by redesigning parts that are difficult to fabricate and providing full step-by-step documentation of the manufacturing process.

In addition to this main project, we helped develop the next generation TrashBotTM from the ground up. The redesign of the TrashBot ZeroTM gave us experience with formal design reviews. It also provided an opportunity to combine creativity with the mechanical engineering tools that we’d learned in school and throughout the rest of the internship.

David, what skills did you learn that will help you succeed as a mechanical engineer?

David Betz: For the current TrashBot model, all of the design projects that I worked on focused primarily on design for manufacture and included cost analysis. I was also tasked with solving specific problems involving sustainability, including designing a reusable chamber liner made from recyclable plastic.

The new TrashBot model project gave me a good introduction to product design. I was able to create a new product by using what I had learned from working on the existing TrashBot models. Additionally, redesigning the door mechanism for this project introduced me to robotic system design, primarily through the use of linear actuation mechanisms. The fabrication of TrashBot units made me more comfortable using power tools such as angle grinders, bench-top grinders, impact and hammer drills, rivet guns, and sheet metal finishing tools.

Abby, what are your biggest takeaways from the summer and what advice would you have for a student starting their first internship?

Abby Browne: I think it was very helpful that we had to build the robot from start to finish. That gave me the foundational knowledge I needed to take on the special design projects and come up with useful solutions. I also appreciated the design projects that we worked on. Though they were intimidating at first, I got used to the process as time went on and grew to enjoy the challenges they presented. I found it very helpful when my supervisor gave me topics to research that would help me with the next day’s tasks. Going into projects with background information allowed me to perform more efficiently and do better work.

Reflecting back on the summer, the most rewarding part of my internship experience was the confidence and direction I have gained as an engineer. I came into the internship with very little confidence in my abilities. However, as I worked through the internship, I learned so many things that gave me confidence for Senior Design and beyond. I want to tell next year’s students that this is a great learning experience no matter what level you come in at - as long as you are willing to learn.

David Betz and Abby Browne are undergraduates in Mechanical Engineering. They interned with CleanRobotics during summer 2021 through the department's Internship-for-Credit Program. Learn more about the program and how to get involved.

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An inside look: Interning with FieldLine Inc.

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 17:35:06 +0000

An inside look: Interning with FieldLine Inc. Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 01/24/2022 - 10:35

Julia Beattie , Bennett Verderame

Julia Beattie and Bennett Verderame are undergraduates in mechanical engineering. They interned at FieldLine Inc. during summer 2021.

Julia Beattie and Bennett Verderame

Julia, can you tell us a little bit about the company where you interned?

Julia Beattie: FieldLine Inc. is a small engineering company located in Boulder, Colorado. Its primary product is a sensor that can detect miniscule changes in a magnetic field. There are many applications to this technology, but FieldLine’s specialty is the HEDscan or MEG helmet, which is a wearable helmet containing dozens of sensors that can be used to measure magnetic brain signals. Hospitals and medical researchers can use this in studying and treating brain conditions.

Bennett, what was your role as interns with FieldLine Inc?

Bennett Verderame: Our main project was to design and prototype a chair the company could use for their brain scanning system. We researched chairs used in medical settings by going in-person to hospitals and other centers, buying chairs off online advertising sites to examine them hands-on, and conducting tests with the company’s other employees to determine the most comfortable sitting position.

When we got to the design phase, we started with a generic chair design that utilized the angles we determined were comfortable and stress tested different variations in Fusion 360. Then, we had brainstorming sessions where we sat down with our sketchbooks and pitched different aesthetic ideas to each other until we decided on one we liked. From there we prototyped our design using a single sheet of plywood and fasteners. We went through multiple iterations and were able to work our way to a proof of concept.

The final steps for the project were to figure out how to get the chair manufactured and how to attach the helmet onto the chair. We helped a little with this, but it was mainly the job of our supervisors to take over for this final stage.

HEDscan, the brain scanning system Beattie and Verderame were developing a chair for.

Julia, what was the most challenging part of your main project?

Julia Beattie: One of the most challenging parts of our project was figuring out a way for the chair to adjust to accommodate different heights. This was brought up only a few days into the internship, and design adjustments continued all the way until the final week. We cycled through multiple iterations before deciding on a satisfactory final design.

Bennett, what technical skills did you gain during the internship?

Bennett Verderame: We gained a lot of experience modeling in Fusion 360, with our supervisor helping us to create drawings that better communicate with manufacturers. Another skill we gained is woodworking. I went from having never built something life-size with wood to building a sturdy chair. Through working on the height adjustment mechanism for our chair, we learned about component design and how different parts fit into moving mechanisms. We also gained 3D printing skills, as we used the MakerBot software to set up and print parts. Lastly, we began to learn the skill of design for manufacturability. We went through multiple iterations of the chair design due to having to take out certain features that were not manufacturable and add in ones that were.

What was the most rewarding part of your internship and what advice would you have for a student starting their first internship?

Julia Beattie: It is very rewarding to know that I helped develop a product that could potentially be used in hospitals and research centers around the world. I would encourage incoming interns to ask as many questions as possible. Take advantage of the many smart people you are working with and the learning opportunities given to you.

Bennett Verderame: The most rewarding part of the internship was that we had a definite impact. Even if the company does not end up using our exact chair design down to each nut and bolt, the research Julia and I did will influence what they decide to use for their MEG system. Something I would advise for future students in the program is to take advantage of the opportunity to gain insight from everyone more experienced than you. Whenever there was something I wasn’t sure how to do, or even some advanced scientific topic relating to our product I was just curious about, I was always able to find great information just by asking.

Julia Beattie and Bennett Verderame are undergraduates in mechanical engineering. They interned with FieldLine Inc. during summer 2021.

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New speakers announced for the Rocky Mountain Mechanics Seminar Series

Anonymous — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 21:21:34 +0000

New speakers announced for the Rocky Mountain Mechanics Seminar Series Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 01/18/2022 - 14:21

The Rocky Mountain Seminar Series provides �� Boulder faculty, staff and students with the opportunity to hear from researchers across disciplines from various institutions. The spring session begins on Friday, Jan. 28.

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2021-22 Rocky Mountain Mechanics Seminar Series

Anonymous — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 19:36:33 +0000

2021-22 Rocky Mountain Mechanics Seminar Series Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 01/18/2022 - 12:36

The Rocky Mountain Seminar Series provides �� Boulder faculty, staff and students with the opportunity to hear from researchers across disciplines from various institutions.

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How does Marshall Fire smoke affect indoor, outdoor air quality?

Anonymous — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 21:30:29 +0000

How does Marshall Fire smoke affect indoor, outdoor air quality? Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 01/14/2022 - 14:30

Professors Michael Hannigan and Marina Vance join scientists from CIRES and NOAA to install instruments in surviving houses to understand the smoke impacts on indoor air quality.

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Alumnus Will Brown donates engineering scholarship in honor of his mother

Anonymous — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 15:52:56 +0000

Alumnus Will Brown donates engineering scholarship in honor of his mother Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 12/21/2021 - 08:52

Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering alumnus Will Brown (MechEngr’92) has established the Connie Faye Brown scholarship to benefit mechanical, chemical or electrical engineering students.

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In 2022, consider these 5 climate resolutions

Anonymous — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 20:09:05 +0000

In 2022, consider these 5 climate resolutions Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 12/17/2021 - 13:09

When possible, choose electricity over gas at home. Using natural gas makes your home a hidden source of air pollution, according to research from mechanical engineering faculty.

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