Student Hexapod Design wins WPI ME Provost Award

The “Design and Manufacture of a 3D Printed Wireless Hexapod” won the 2015 WPI Mechanical Engineering Provost Award. The multi-discipline engineering team of Tyler Collins, Cody Woodward-Wallace, Aras Nehir Keskin, Andrew Beaupre brought together mechanical design, engineering analysis, electrical design, computer engineering, software programming and control theory to take the top prize.

The Master Qualifying Project, MQP, senior capstone, is an advanced, team based, 1 year project, that culminates what students have learned in 4 years of engineering study.

The Provost award recognizes the most outstanding student team MQP for design excellence in a chosen academic discipline.

Competing against 57 teams, judges from industry and academia had a difficult decision. The Hexapod team stood out by designing and constructing a working prototype that was low cost, reliable, serviceable, modular, and wireless control for research use.

Students made difficult decisions on the design of components for their terrestrial Hexapod (six legged robot) and the use of additive and subtractive manufacturing techniques based on functionality, time and cost. For example,

Multiple design iterations with SolidWorks and SolidWorks Simulation
Gears in PLA using a MakerBot 3D Printer
Complex ball joint legs in ABS with Stratasys Dimension 3D Printer.
Laser cutting acrylic for shell of control box and cover of the Hexapod to view internal components

Scoring was based on technical content, competence, poster layout and oral presentation skills.

WPI, Founded in 1865 and is one of the oldest engineering and technology schools in the US. WPI Team Hexapod, thank you for sharing with the SolidWorks community. Marie (WPI – MSME).

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Marie Planchard

Senior Director, Early Engagement, 3DEXPERIENCE Works at Dassault Systemes

Marie Planchard is an education and engineering advocate. As Senior Director of Education & Early Engagement, SOLIDWORKS, she is responsible for global development of content and social outreach for the 3DEXPERIENCE Works products across all levels of learning including educational institutions, Fab Labs, and entrepreneurship.