Disclaimer: I signed an NDA so I cannot include any photos or much detail. Below is a general overview of the project and skills learned.
Zipline International currently delivers medical supplies in Africa with the Platform 1 small plane. They developed and engineered a small, lightweight plane that can deliver crucial supplies to remote regions mostly in Ghana and Rwanda; now, they are working on a Platform 2 drone that will be able to deliver supplies to the United States.
I worked as a Mechanical Engineering Intern in their Structures, Mechanisms, and Integrations team during the 2023 Summer where worked primarily on their safety systems. I expanded and developed new testing procedures for their parachute system on the main drone, then redeveloped parts of the safety system based on the data.
I saved 8g on the safety system and increased our margin of safety by double on some parts. I worked with the full-time engineers and other interns to collaborate on simulations and testing procedures.
Most of the photos/media are private information, but some useful skills I utilized/developed:
- Quick turnaround fabrication and prototyping
- NX CAD; designed testing jigs, new parts, and edited old parts
- Drawings and GDNT for several parts
- Procedural Testing, helped create and implement a testing schedule, guidelines and carried them out
- Data tracking and Load Cells, including creating a Load Cell calibration tutorial
- Budgeting and creating BOMs
- Documentation, and lots of it haha
- Working with many people from different departments since the safety system utilized basically every branch of engineering
- Working towards a meaningful project!
- NX CAD; designed testing jigs, new parts, and edited old parts
- Drawings and GDNT for several parts
- Procedural Testing, helped create and implement a testing schedule, guidelines and carried them out
- Data tracking and Load Cells, including creating a Load Cell calibration tutorial
- Budgeting and creating BOMs
- Documentation, and lots of it haha
- Working with many people from different departments since the safety system utilized basically every branch of engineering
- Working towards a meaningful project!