Engineering case studies.

MECH 4342, Mechatronics in AI-Driven Robotics2026

Controls & Robotics

Unicycle Navigation Controller

A path-following controller for a nonholonomic unicycle robot navigating a known warehouse map. A* planning with uniform path resampling, heading-error speed scheduling, and near-goal deceleration reached 95 percent success on the nominal test and 100 percent on the stress test, against 35 and 30 percent for the provided baseline.

PythonControl TheoryA* Path PlanningRobot Kinematics+3

MECH 4360, Biomaterials Design2026

Biomaterials & R&D

Eggshell-Alginate Microspheres

Development and characterization of eggshell-incorporated alginate microspheres as a low-cost scaffold for bone tissue engineering. Eggshell food-waste supplies bioactive calcium; the microspheres were fabricated by ionic crosslinking and evaluated with FTIR, compression testing, rheology, and electrospinning.

BiomaterialsFTIR SpectroscopyCompression TestingRheological Analysis+3

MECH 4692, Renewable & Sustainable Energy Design2026

Energy Systems

RED House Net-Zero Energy Retrofit

A whole-home energy retrofit to make an existing Winnipeg house fossil-fuel-free. Solar PV, solar thermal, wind, battery and thermal storage, a biomass stove, and an EV raise the Renewable Energy Ratio from 20.1 to 99.9 percent and reduce about 7,688 kg CO2e/yr to near zero, for $86,699 against a $100,000 budget, with a positive 30-year cash flow.

Energy Systems ModellingSolar PV & Thermal SizingWind Resource Analysis (Weibull)Combustion Stoichiometry+4

MECH 3992, Mechanical Laboratories in Thermofluids2025

Fluids & CFD

Hovercraft Aerodynamic Optimization

A Phase 2 redesign of a laser-cut foam-board hovercraft built to maximize top speed. SolidWorks Flow Simulation, analytical momentum and Bernoulli analysis, and load-cell testing guided two changes: a 14 degree flow director that splits airflow cleanly into the skirt channels, and graduated intake holes that even out flow from back to front. The craft reached 6.42 m/s with a more balanced skirt flow, though the added mass cut top speed 12.5 percent against a Phase 1 setup that benefited from a misplaced splitter gap.

SolidWorks Flow Simulation (CFD)Momentum & Bernoulli AnalysisConservation of MassLoad-Cell Thrust Testing+2

MECH 3892, Mechanical Laboratories in Solid Mechanics2025

Structural Analysis & FEA

Ground Rover Structural Redesign

A Phase 2 structural redesign of a prototype four-wheel ground rover with an HDF body, PLA wheels, and four 24 V motors. Hand calculations, SolidWorks FEA with mesh convergence, and static, aggregate, and obstacle testing validated two changes: chassis lightening holes and larger 4 in paddle wheels. The rover stayed well under the 0.1 in deflection limit at 7 lbf (0.042 in), dropped weight, and raised obstacle clearance from 2.25 to 3.75 in.

SolidWorks FEAMesh Convergence StudiesBeam Bending & Stress AnalysisLoad-Cell Testing+2

MECH 3652, Machine Design2025

Machine Design

Lightweight Cantilever Support Structure

A floor-mounted steel structure carrying a 1000 N horizontal load applied 500 mm from the floor without touching the adjacent wall. Five concepts were screened in a weighted matrix, then the selected frame was optimized through a cross-section study, topology study, and a seven-step mesh convergence to 3.06 million elements. The final four-member I-beam design weighs 2.964 kg with 77.6 MPa peak stress, 3.80 mm deflection, and FOS 3.22, with welds, anchor bolts, Euler buckling, and Marin-Goodman fatigue all verified for 10,000 cycles at 99 percent reliability.

SolidWorks FEATopology OptimizationMesh ConvergenceASTM A36 Steel+4

MECH 3652, Machine Design2025

Machine Design

4:1 Tractor Speed Reducer

A 4:1 speed reducer carrying 60 hp from a diesel tractor engine at 640 RPM to a 160 RPM output at 2670 N·m. Complete chain, gear, and belt drives were designed and compared on transmission efficiency, contamination resistance, and packaging; the gear train won with two stacked 2:1 spur stages in AISI 4140, sized by AGMA bending and contact methods. The 42 in output shaft was designed end to end with Marin fatigue at four critical locations, iterating material from 1020 CR to 1050 CR steel to hold FOS above 2, and verified by FEA converged at 31.85 ksi.

AGMA Gear DesignLewis BendingShaft Fatigue (Marin)Stress Concentrations (Kf, Kfs)+4

Capstone CAD deliverable2025

SolidWorksDetail DrawingCNC MachiningAluminium 6061-T6+1

End Effector Mount

A SolidWorks part and detail drawing for the inspection-cell end effector. The mount carries the Mitutoyo dial gauge on the FR10 robot and aligns the probe tip with the Tool Center Point.

Capstone CAD deliverable2025

SolidWorksDetail DrawingAluminium 6061-T6CNC Machining+1

Inspection Table Components

A multi-part detail drawing for the inspection table's centering system: slider bars, profile blocks, keys, and sliding racks that index and lock each cone size on the table.

Manitoba Hydro, GDD (issued for fabrication)1-00194-DD-60060-0004, Rev 00

Autodesk InventorFabrication DrawingASTM A36 SteelWeldment Design+2

Proximity Probe Bracket (Fabrication)

A fabrication drawing for the generator guide bearing proximity probe bracket at Long Spruce Generating Station, drawn in Autodesk Inventor. The bracket holds a vibration proximity probe at a fixed position on the lower bracket of the generator unit.

Manitoba Hydro, GDD (issued for construction)1-00194-DE-60060-0001, Rev 00

Autodesk InventorInstallation DrawingAssembly SectionsJoint Torque Specification+1

Proximity Probe Bracket (Installation)

An A0 installation drawing, drawn in Autodesk Inventor, that defines how the generator and turbine bearing proximity probe brackets and the key-phasor bracket are installed on the hydro generator unit, with sectioned assembly views and a joint torque table.