Greg Smith a Mechatronics,
Masters Student, at Loughborough University had a task to design and
manufacture an autonomous bi-pedal robot.
A design package was to be selected for rapid design and development
of the robot, as University time scales are short and rapid project
progression was essential. The Software to be used was for conceptual
ideas and experimentation, together with creating the final robot design
and deliverables such as production drawings for manufacture.
The critical requirement of the software was ease of use to keep
development time to an absolute minimum without compromising on modelling
power. The selected software also needed the breadth of mechanical
design and analysis capabilities. A number of different CAD packages
were reviewed for this project including readily available software
within the University. The student edition SolidWorks was chosen because
it was the most functionally superior, had integrated analysis and
the openness to develop specific visual basic applications.
Greg comments "One key benefit that I gained from the project
work was the simplicity of creating and changing assembly relationships
in order to gain the required motion from my assembly, which was tested
using physical dynamics. This delivers a realistic test of physical
movement. Further to this, advanced assembly mating conditions such
as gear ratios and limit conditions were essential in the development
of this dynamic product."
Visual Basic Applications were developed and used to make rapid,
visual assembly changes from an input dialogue form in order to develop
a walking gait for the robot. After discrete movements were determined,
it was necessary to use the existing SolidWorks assembly to simulate
dynamic motion that could be driven from a distributed control system.
The software that enabled this dynamic functionality was Visual Nastran
4D integrated with MATLAB; its seamless data transfer enabled a transfer
of data that could be updated from SolidWorks at any time.
Within a short timescale Greg found that familiarity of all areas
of SolidWorks was made simple with the use of tutorials and detailed
help functionality. The value SolidWorks has given to this design project
has given Greg invaluable Industrial skills that will be of significant
benefit in the commercial world as well as aided in the rapid development
of his machine design.
A constructional animation was created using SolidWorks Animator
and rendered using PhotoWorks enabling professional marketing material
to be created rapidly. "All the tools within SolidWorks enabled
the communication of my ideas and solution in a professional and Industry
Standard manner preparing me for future work." comments Greg.
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