I am leading a team of four MEng and undergrad students to design, build, and test two 1:50 scale wave energy converters.
I am responsible for project scoping, timelining, requirement setting, and detailed technical mentoring for all aspects of the project, including the hydrodynamics, powertrain, structures, power electronics, low voltage electronics, embedded software, controls, manufacturing, and testing.
The prototypes will be tested in the Cornell wave tank in the coming weeks, and I will use the data collected to validate the wave energy simulations I've been conducting in the past year.
The designs include a two body floating point absorber (DOE Reference Model 3) and an oscillating surge flap (Reference Model 5). The devices use a fully electric powertrain, with a brushless motor/generator and VESC controller, model predictive control and reactive control running on a STM32F4 microcontroller, and mechanisms including a leadscrew and timing belt drive.
Credit:
Mechanical: Haley Merchant (RM3) and Robert Iverson (RM5)
Controls: Miriam Levesque
Electrical: Andrea Miramontes-Serrano
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