2024 | Project at Technical University of Delft | Team of 6 | 12 weeks
My role: 3D-CAD | Production technician Lead
Assignment
The objective of this design project was to develop a Verti-Go-Car that can travel down a track, pass underneath a bridge, and then move upward again, returning as far as possible. The car was allowed to use two springs to store and release energy in order to achieve this motion.
Because the car is needed to pass underneath a bridge, the available space for the drive mechanism was limited. The design therefor uses a single torsion spring combined with a cone-shaped axle that gradually changes the effective diameter as the rope winds around it, creating smooth and controlled propulsion. Once the spring energy is fully used, the mechanism disconnects so the remaining motion of the car is not transferred back into the spring
My Design Process & Learning
This project was carried out as a collaborative team effort in which we were responsible for the full trajectory from design to realization. We shaped laser-cut sheet metal by bending it into the required form and produced additional components through 3D printing. Working together through concept development, fabrication, assembly, and testing provided insight into how design decisions translate into physical parts and influence performance. This hands-on process strengthened both my technical understanding and my confidence in working with engineering materials and tools.
Skills acquired during this project
- Team-based engineering design and production
- Applying workshop safety procedures
- Translating a design into manufactured components
- Integrating springs and mechanical motion into a functional system
- Completing a full design-to-production workflow collaboratively