Here is a brief description of some of the projects I have worked on.

     Please click the titles to get a more detailed description.

          Autonomous Legged Intelligence Exhibiting Navigator (A.L.I.E.N)

This six degree of freedom (DOF), four legged walker , used an on board intelligent controller and a standard automobile battery as a power source. Photoelectric sensors were used to create a primitive but effective vision system. Wiper motors helped provide the locomotion. All the parts used were salvaged from junkyards or taken from "useless" equipment.

Thermal analysis of an automobile radiator

An analytical simulation was performed on the radiator of a Formula SAE race car. Single and double radiators were compared for their performance and efficiency. An analysis was also done on series and parallel configuration radiators. The analytical results were corroborated by computer simulations done on ICEPAK.

Analysis and Simulation of Coulomb friction

Standard friction models were studied and simulated. A spring-mass-damper system was modeled with no friction, Classical friction model, Dahl's friction model and Karnopp's friction model. The simulation was carried out in the SIMULINK environment and the results were compared to actual data from a spring-mass-damper system.

Micro hinges for MEMS applications

Designs were presented for MEMS hinges fabricated using the MUMPs process. Three types of hinges, fixed; hinge up and hinge down, were designed using L-Edit layout software.  These hinges allow planar fabrication processes to be used for out of plane construction. A 360° hinge was also designed. MEMS hinges were first designed by Dr. Kris Pister in 1992. (K. J. S. Pister, et. Al., Microfabricated Hinges, Sensors and Actuators A, 33 (1992) 249-256)

Sub-micrometer needles for neuronal applications

The utility of microneedles and microprobes in biomedical applications were studied. An exhaustive literature survey of these devices was done. Their designs, construction, implementation and effectiveness were discussed. Issues such as bio-compatibility and bio-fouling in microneedles were described

A variable focal length micromirror for optical applications

High deflection electrostatic actuators were used in the design of a metal micro mirror with variable focal length. Similar devices are employed in laser cavities and virtual reality systems.

Self assembled high precision XY micro mirror for optical switching applications

A high precision vertical micro mirror was designed and analyzed. Scratch Drive Actuators (SDA) were used to self-assemble the mirror .The same set of SDAs provide XY motion. Innovative ideas in this  design include a bi-directional SDA. COSMOS/DesignSTAR was used to perform a structural analysis and a motion simulation of the mirror.

                                          Thesis Topic

A high accuracy MEMS based 3 DOF robot for biomedical applications

In-plane and vertical thermal actuators were employed to move a 3 DOF robot. The MUMPs process was used in the fabrication. The accuracy of the device was dramatically improved by using calibration algorithms written in MATLAB. Errors caused by the mechanical reaction of polysilicon to stresses; and random errors; were mathematically modeled and minimized. Coupled field finite element simulations were run in ANSYS to corroborate the analytical results with the simulated results. Please follow the hyperlink to see the entire documentation of this project.

Animations and Simulations

This section has details of and results from a few of the simulations I have worked on. Most of them are MEMS simulations. You will find ANSYS analyses of thermal actuators, COSMOS analysis of a DMD and FLUENT simulation of an automobile radiator to name a few.

Hope you enjoy it.