D.A.C.K
Introduction
In a world that is becoming more reliant on renewable energy, our client, Lindsay Stretch hopes to convert his sailboat from diesel power to renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydro power. The last one is where our project comes in. Our team designed and built a half-meter turbine that attaches to the back of his boat and generates electricity while the boat is moving. Each component of our capstone, such as airfoil design and a retractable mounting system,could be capstone projects on their own. However, within three months, we not only had to tackle airfoil designs and a mounting system, we also had to address shaft alignment between various components as well as design and spec a transmission system. Designing our turbine to be on a vertical axis makes it innovative and exciting for our team as this is the first time such a design has been applied this way. This opportunity for innovation has kept team D.A.C.K. motivated to develop a design capable of meeting our client’s performance expectations.
Acknowledgements
Team D.A.C.K would like to thank Lindsay Stretch for bringing us an exciting project, our instructors and lab technicians for their support and ideas, and our community supporters for their guidance and material contributions. We are very excited to dive into this sector of the renewable power industry using our knowledge built through the Mechanical Engineering Technology Program.
Team Members
Dawson Bikadi
(CAD Lead)During the Mechanical Engineering Technology program at Camosun College, Dawson developed a strong foundation in SolidWorks, C++, manufacturing processes, and collaborative engineering. He has a passion for photography, mechanics, design, and hands-on problem solving, and enjoys understanding how things work and finding ways to improve them. Through a combination of academic training and practical experience, Dawson has developed both the technical and mechanical skills needed to tackle real-world engineering challenges. He looks forward to applying his knowledge, creativity, and passion for continuous learning as he begins his career in mechanical engineering.
Amanda Curi
(Manufacturing Lead)Amanda grew up surrounded by a family of engineers and artists who encouraged her to use creativity and problem solving in her daily life and heavily contributed to her passion for design. Through Camosun’s Mechanical Engineering program, Amanda developed her manual skills, knowledge and curiosity. There she found a path where she can continue to use her love for the arts to design and develop prototypes to achieve the best results possible. Using her new found skills in machining, programming/coding, CFD & FEA simulations, and CAD, she aims to work on challenging and innovative projects throughout her career. Amanda is excited to showcase her dedication and perseverance in achieving the goals of this project, where she was able to learn and apply many new skills while working with a great team.
Chris MacLeod
(Documentation Lead)With a background in competitive cycling, and many years of work experience in the cycling industry, Chris has a deep appreciation for the attention to detail required in high-performance sport and bike design. Years of working as a bike fitter, helping all walks of life improve their cycling performance through refining their bike position, has helped Chris build his problem-solving skills and reinforce his attention to detail. Working on this project has been a perfect opportunity to apply his skills developed through his work experience and the Mechanical Engineering program while developing turbine prototypes. Chris looks forward to sharing the results of all the hard work put into this project.
Kiera Griffiths
(Team Lead & Accounting Lead)From a young age, Kiera was always interested in how and why things behaved as they do. This curiosity led her to engineering to gain an understanding of what makes objects tick. The experience gained through the Mechanical Engineering program at Camosun has provided Kiera with a well-rounded foundation for this discipline, the most interesting one being fluid dynamics and hydraulics as Kiera wants to go into the marine industry after graduation. This project has given Kiera first-hand experience working through the variables that have to be considered when designing something for marine use. Kiera is excited to unveil a product that reflects the team's hard work and dedication.