Autonomous Mapping Robot

Oct 2008 - Dec 2008

I designed, built, and programmed a low-cost robotics platform from the ground up that can autonomously map a terrain and communicate wirelessly to other robots and computers. I designed the electrical and mechanical systems including part selection, PCB design, and system integration.

SolidWorks model of robot

final, assembled robot

front view

side view

overhead view

Dan Grieneisen, Jacob Izraelivitz

poster, mechanical drawing, circuit schematic

demo

robotics, circuit design, mechanical design, embedded systems, Olin College

CERN Detector Systems

Jun 2008 - Aug 2008

During the summer of 2008, I worked with physicists from Oak Ridge National Labs at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). I helped integrate the front-end electronics for the photon spectrometer (PHOS) and electromagnetic calorimeter (EMCal) of A Large Ion Colidor Experiment (ALICE).

engineering model of an array of EMCal supermodules on the support structure (source: CERN)

Large Hadron Colider near Geneva, Switzerland (source: CERN)

rendering of ALICE detector (source: CERN)

at the detector site

test setup for front-end electronics

PHOS module

EMCal data aquisition GUI

ROOT display of ALICE (source: CERN)

Dr. Terry Awes, Dr. David Silvermyr

detector control systems, CERN, electronics, nuclear physics

Beat Detection Software

Apr 2008 - May 2008

As a final project in our Modeling and Control class, a classmate and I created a MATLAB program that would detect the beat from audio and video files and would then adjust the frame rate of the video so that the tempos of the two samples were in sync.

spectrogram of audio clip from Africa by Toto

Daniel Grieneisen

demo

beat detection, Fourier transform, comb filter, spectogram, Olin College

OLED Synthesis

Apr 2008 - May 2008

As an independent project in my Material Science course, several classmates and I synthesized our own organic light-emitting diode, or OLED, using the organic compound Tris(bipyridine)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)₃²⁺). Our measured emission spectra matched other documented tests and showed that the released photons had a wavelength around 590 nm (visible orange light). We performed several tests with the devices and noted the relationship between brightness and film thickness.

model of Ru(bpy)32+ complex (source: Wikipedia)

initial test of OLED

thinner films are more effective

measured emission spectrum

OLED degridation (15 min, 30 V)

Keerthikk Omanakuttan, Albert Setjoadi, Arash Ushani

materials science, organic light emitting diodes, Olin College

Miniature Cannon Casting

Mar 2008 - Apr 2008

As a material science and historical study, several classmates and I cast miniature bronze cannons modeled after a Revolutionary-era 12-pound British cannon. We then bored out and proofed the cannons in order to see how the proofing process affected the microstructure of different alloys.

cannons cast in different bronze alloys

wax models used for casting

pouring molten bronze into mold

historical drawing of 12-pound British cannon

proofing of miniature cannon

etched sample showing dendritic microstructure

Annie Bowlby, Laura Firstenberg, Zach Kratzer

materials science, bronze, phase diagrams, casting process, cannons, Revolutionary history

Baja SAE Autimotive Design

Oct 2007 - Dec 2009

Interested by the inner workings of cars, I joined the Olin College Phoenix Racing team. Along with a team of other engineering students, we designed and built an off-road vehicle in our spare time to compete in the SAE Mini Baja competition. As part of the team charged with designing the chassis, I helped design a rules-compliant frame and performed a series of structural engineering tests (finite element analysis). I further helped with machining and designing the electrical system.

finite element analysis of 2008 chassis

vehicle during testing

team at competition

final adjustments

vehicle at competition

team of 20+ students

mechanical design, FEA, machining, Olin College