Mechanical Engineering: Technical problems

Photo Glass with Eye lid sensing.
Multi Engine Automobiles - for fuel efficiency - at lesser loads only use one engine
Lizard Robot - Robot that can climb the walls.
Walking shelter covered with solar panels for power generation - where ever the walking shelters are provided, they are to be covered with solar panels instead of aluminum or GI sheets
Tap the energy from the running water while filling a bucket to charge a battery- The device can be easily fit to the tap and can store energy received from the running water.
Energy absorbing slate - Make a slate that can absorb heat energy from the clothes when ironing. The clothes are to ironed on the slate and the slate absorbs the excess heat from the clothes and can convert into useful form.

Window Socket - Solar Energy Powered Socket

The Window Socket offers a neat way to harness solar energy and use it as a plug socket. So far we have seen solutions that act as a solar battery backup, but none as a direct plug-in. Simple in design, the plug just attaches to any window and does its job intuitively

Source: yankodesign.com

New Mechanical Project Topics / Ideas / Brainstorming

1. Flexible Mirror - Roll a 6 feet mirror and pack it along with your luggage. As and when required unroll the mirror and use it.

2. Imagination Travelling - A neuroscience project to travel in your imagination and get the required things. For Example you have read a book and now you are unable to remember the required information then you travel through your imagination and get the required information. This is based on the fact that the brain is capable of storing all the information that has come across during one's life time.

3.Use the exhaust energy of an automobile for refrigeration inside the automobile.

4. A horizontal lift similar to a rope way that can travel horizontally with less energy in places where there is difficult to construct a road and also in places such as forests where the cutting of trees can be avoided. This can also be an option for tourist places.

5. Anti-Rainfall books - Books doesn't get wet or the content will not be lost. Books that can be used in heavily rain prone areas.

6. Innovative science city.

7. Villas in an apartment.

Project Ideas / Topics for Mechanical Engineers

1. A battery charging shoe/ sandal - Use the energy during walk to charge your re-chargeable batteries
2. A cooking equipment - Select the item you would like to cook and provide the necessary inputs such as salt, sugar, ghee, oil etc in the trays / buckets of the machine. After the required time you get your item ready whether it is a fry or a curry or boiled items etc.
3. Auto Train Ticket allotment for RAC seats based on a ticket punching machine installed in the coaches. The ticket will have a barcode or a unique number that needs to be entered after entering into the train. Based on the auto check availability the seats will be allotted.
4. Garbage collection from Railway Tracks - Firstly Install garbage collection points inside the train and secondly the last compartment of the train may have a special system to attract / collect all the garbage being thrown out of the train by some vacuum sucking arrangement.
5. Go Green - Tree plantation across the road and rail tracks with sufficient distance to avoid any tree falling during cyclone.
6. Auto rail coach cleaning once the train enter the garage through robotic arms similar to a car water washing.
7. Advance Rain water harvesting system - Drill the earth with small bore pipes that has puncture holes all across its surface and these pipes are to be installed all across the river water streams horizontally / vertically / with some inclination. Because of this arrangement the water flowing in the river stream will enter easily deep into the earth and replenish the ground water reserves.
8. Modern Railway Coach - Design a modern railway coach with all basic amenities, sufficient lighting and ventilation, self-cleaning surfaces and necessary electrical points, water bottle points, hangers etc.

Project Ideas

An ink spraying portable printer.
A website of articles with each word hyperlinked to its meaning - read the article and then know the meanings of various words used - for better vocabulary.
Variable mirrors arrangement for selecting/diverting sun rays to solar panels and to farming as per the seasonal requirement.
Digital Book : pdf/word; can play video and slide show at the same time in the middle of the book.
Designing an innovative science city - which covers the past technology and compare with the current technology.

Technical Problems on Robotics

Problem 1 :

The objective of this contest is to complete the course in the shortest period of time while accurately
tracking the course line from start to finish. In this problem the ROBOT SHOULD BE SELF-CONTROLLED AND SELF-PROPELLED WITHOUT ANY TETHER.

You need to design a robot that moves as quickly as possible without losing the line. If it loses the line, it then needs to be able to get back to the point at which it left the line or from a prior point on the course. You may need to slow your robot down so that you electronics have enough time to react. If you are programming your robot, try to push the speed limit. If you go off the line, put in a function for finding the line again.
After positioning and starting the robot, no remote control, power, positioning, or other help can be provided. The robot must care for itself until the round ends. The given path is 4 cm wide, and the details regarding shape would be given at the time of EVENT only. The Path which is given to traverse is of Black Colour and rest around will be White.

1. Size and Weight Limits: dimensional and weight as described in Manual Part.
2. Course Time: time is measured from the time the robot crosses the starting line until the time it crosses the finish line.
3. Time Limit: Maximum Limit will be updated soon.
4. Autonomous Control: once a robot has crossed the starting line it must remain fully autonomous, or it will be disqualified.
5. Arena Edges: a robot that wanders off of the arena surface will be disqualified. A robot shall be deemed to have left the arena when any wheel, leg, or track has moved completely off the arena surface.
6. Losing the Line: any robot that loses the line course must reacquire the line at the point where it was lost, or at any earlier (e.g. already traversed) point.
7. Second Attempt: any robot that loses the line course and fails to reacquire it will be allowed a single reattempt. The robot must start the course again from the beginning, and if it loses the line course on its second attempt it will be disqualified.
8. Course Specifications: There is a starting area at the beginning of the course and an exit area at the
end. The line course starts inside the starting area and ends inside the exit area (This would be entrance
for Manual Area).
The start and end points of the line course will be clearly marked via a transverse line no more than 2mm
wide.
Characteristics of the line course:
1. There are crossovers (e.g. places where the line crosses itself)so while crossing the arena both must not lose it’s original path.
2. The line course would have 1 or more sharp right-angle, and have turns having obtuse angle.
3. The closest approach of the line course to the edges of the arena is not less than 15cm, measured from the center of the line.

Problem 2:

The sumo's basic rule is that the one who first makes his opponent step outside of the ring (Dohyou ) or makes him touch the ground with any part of his body wins. This is what you have to do during second part of the problem.
Two (self-driven/wired/wireless) robots are placed in a ring. The robots must try to avoid falling out or avoid being pushed out by the opponent robot. The first robot that touches outside of the ring loses the round.
The first robot to win two rounds, wins the match. Different robots compete one-on-one against each other
throughout the contest. The robot that wins the most matches wins the contest.

WEIGHT:
The Robot may be Autonomous or manual. As per the mass is concerned, Sumo robots may have a mass of 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds) or less. As long as all other requirements are met, Sumo robots can be made out of any material. They can use any type or size of electric motor or electric-powered locomotion. They can contain any kind of processor, electronics, sensors, or batteries desired.
DIMENSIONS:
At the start of each round, Sumo robots must not exceed a specified width and depth. Sumo Robots can be 25 centimeters or less in length and width and 25 centimeters or less in depth. Also, as soon as movement is allowed in a round, the robot may then twist, fall, or expand without size limits.
HARMLESSNESS:
At all times, robot behavior must be non-offensive, non-destructive, and non-harmful to humans, robots, and the facilities. During inspection (and at any time during the event), the judges may require safety changes or other modifications to meet the harmlessness requirement. Harmful robots are either not allowed to compete at all or are later disqualified if potential harmful issues are proven or revealed in battle.
Failures due to exposed wires or unsecured or flimsy parts shall be the responsibility of the robot with such
Weaknesses.
At all times, Sumo Robots must not:

Emit smoke or fire
Leak, stain, or soil
Disperse powder, grit, or grime
Spray, throw, or use projectiles
Jam, shock, or electromagnetically interfere
Snare, entangle, or employ nets/rope
Scratch, gouge, or scrape

POSITIONING:
The contestant may place his or her robot in any position, angle, or location on the ring except that no portion of the robot may cross the extended starting line nearest the contestant. The robot must fit within the required starting dimensions (25 cm x 25 cm). By the way, after the initial placement of the first robot, it isn't permissible to alter its starting position. Even though this may be desired in reaction to the placement of the second robot! So the order will be decided by Toss-Up.

At the referee's discretion, the referee may choose to restart a round if:

Three minutes have expired
No progress has been made in some period of time
The robots fail to touch each other for some period of time(in case of Autonomous System Only).
The robots are hopelessly entangled or otherwise deadlocked
Both robots fail to start or both contestants signal stoppage.

At the referee's discretion, the referee may choose to end a round and choose the round winner if:

Smoke, fire, damage, or any other violation has occurred
No progress is likely to be made even if the round is restarted

OUT:
A robot loses a round when any portion (including touch sensors, whiskers, scoops, or skirts) of the robot touches outside of the ring. It doesn't matter if the robot falls out on its own or is pushed out. The first robot touching outside of the ring loses, even if the second robot subsequently touches outside of the ring. If the referee determines that both robots touched outside of the ring at the same time, the round is nullified and started over.

If any piece of the robot, more than 5 grams if detached, touches outside of the ring, the robot is considered out. For example, if a nut drops off a robot within the ring, the robot doesn't immediately lose. However, if the nut is then pushed out or rolls out, the robot loses.
If a robot lands outside the ring atop a whisker, scoop or any portion of the opponent robot, the opponent robot is out. This is consistent with the policy that the robot that touches outside first is out, even if the second robot subsequently touches outside the ring.

NOT OUT:
Starting to fall or breaking the plane of the ring isn't considered out. Some portion of the robot must actually touch outside the ring.

DURATION OF MATCH :
The first robot to win two rounds, wins the match. This means there can be as few as two very quick rounds to win a match. These are three-minute rounds . Each robot must have won a round to force the third-round tiebreaker. This Tie-Breaker will be decided during event by judges only. Of course, a match may also end if a contestant or robot is disqualified or otherwise unable to complete.
NOTE:
During match any participant can take 2 minutes time out, if he gets any trouble in BOT. He can utilize it in either in Some Technical Fault, or during Robot Failure. The maximum number of TIME OUT IS 3.

Think and try to solve the problems from Tech. fests

Problem 1:

To make a catapult/a shooting arrangement that throws the balls to demolish a given structure in minimum number of tries.
Round 1:
Abstract submission- Submission of an abstract with brief details about the shooting mechanism, triggering mechanism, expected cost etc. The abstract will be judged on the basis of innovativeness, creativity and feasibility of the model.
Round 2:
Preliminary round -For eliminations the students are required to present their catapults which will be judged on the basis of the performance in terms of range, reloading time, effectiveness of the shooting mechanism and how well it resembles your abstract
Round 3:
Final Round –This will be the final round in which you are required to demolish a given structure (structure similar to angry balls).

Structure that has to be demolished will be at a distance of 2.5m to 3.5m and structure will be spread in 1m distance.
Structure will be made of plywood and thermocol blocks. Instead of pigs there will be balloons and will be made in such a way that a small hit may lead its death so all u need to just build a good catapult that fires the way you want.

For the final round, 5 balls of different weights will be given and their sequence will be decided by coordinators.
Uses of electric fields, magnetic fields, gun powder or any explosive will not be allowed to demolish the structure.
Shooting mechanism (setting the angle of projection) and throwing mechanism should not be operated manually. It should be by a motored arrangement or any mechanical system (e.g.- Gear system). Using mechanical system will be preferred.
It is not necessary to make a reloading mechanism however you can make it to get bonus marks.

Marking scheme:
1- Round 1 and 2 will be judged in 50 marks (20+30).
2- For round 3, marking will be given as given below criterion-
If ball only hits on structure nothing else happens - 5 marks/ ball
If ball hits on structure that lead to kill the bubbles- 8 marks/killed bubbles.
If ball hits bubble directly (any contact made between ball and bubble may be directly or after rebound) and kill it-10 marks/killed bubble.
If ball makes a large collapse to structure (at least 5 columns should be fall) – 20 marks.

Problem 2:

To design an automobile using an unconventional power source.
Automobile could be of any size but remember heavier the vehicle more power it will require. Designed vehicle may or may not involve any steering mechanism.
ROUNDS:
1. Abstract Submission- Submission of an abstract with brief details about the design, driving mechanism, expected cost etc. The abstract will be judged on the basis of innovativeness, creativity and feasibility of the model.
2. Elimination Round- The students are required to give a 5 slide presentation. The round will be judged on basis of presentation. The presentation should be able to tell the function of every part used in the vehicle.
3. Final Round-The students will give the presentation in front of judges followed by the testing of the actual model. It should be able to move a minimum distance of 10 times its length. Design should involve a power source.
RULES :
1. Design should involve a power source other than conventional sources. Thus use of electricity and design of conventional IC engine will not be entertained.
2. It should be able to move a minimum distance of 10 times its length.
MARKING SCHEME:
1. Round 1+ Round 2 = 50 marks Round 3 = 150 marks
2. In final round marking will be done on basis of total length the vehicle will travel (don’t worry for exact length, the distance will be relative to the size of the vehicle) thus compactness will be of great importance.
3. If your power source is able to provide power in periods it will fetch you bonus marks.
4. Additional points for steering mechanism if added.

Problem 3:
To design a cryptex which should have a password for opening and a destruction mechanism if tried to open force fully.
ROUNDS:
1. Abstract Submission- Submission of an abstract with brief details about the design, destruction mechanism etc. The abstract will be judged on the basis of innovativeness, creativity and feasibility of the model.
2. Elimination Round- The students are required to give a 5 slide presentation. Will be judged on basis of presentation.
3. Final Round-The students will give the presentation in front of judges followed by the testing of the actual model .It should have a password for opening and a destruction mechanism if tried to open force fully
JUDGING CRITERIA :
1. Round 1+Round 2=50 marks Round 3=150 marks
2. In final round judging will be done on basis of working of cryptex (whether it works or not ),destruction mechanism, its aesthetic value, length of password (minimum 3 letters),and its resemblance with abstract and presentation.

Mechanical Tasks from Tech. Fests

Problem 1:
You have to build a contraption cum burglar alarm which includes three goals based on this theme. The goals have to be completed in order but can be completed at any stage of the contraption, apart from the third goal which has to be the end of your contraption.

Goal 1 - Lighting of a bulb. (The bulb should not be less than 60W and greater than 200W.)
Goal 2 - Triggering of an alarm bell. (You can use a cycle bell electric bell or even a triangle the bell should be loud enough (up to the discretion of judges) and should ring for at least 10 sec)
Goal 3 –Throwing of a stone on a cardboard human figure (5 ft) from a distance of 3ft

The number of steps utilized to complete all the goals must be between 10(ten) to 25(twenty-five).

Problem 2:
Make a contraption to Plant Seeds and Water them using a sprinkler in the Farm

All Dimensions of Fig. in meters and all boxes square
Each hole has a radius of 3cm.
Whole Setup will be at a Height of 0.5m from the ground.

TASK 1: Plant Seeds into the give Holes
TASK 2: Water the seeds by simply rotating the sprinkler

RULES:
1. No intervention between TASK 1 and TASK 2.
2. No of Seeds to be planted per hole should not be more than 2.
3. The Contraption should not fall into the farm.
Points:
1. 5 points per seed for getting seeds into outer most square (2 X 2).
2. 10 points per seed for getting seeds into middle square (1 X 1).
3. 15 points per seed for getting seeds into inner most square (0.5 X 0.5).
4. Rotating the Sprinkler 20 Points per revolution.

Problem 3:
Perform following tasks:
1. Displacing a load of at least 300 grams by exactly 1 meter.
2. popping up 3 balls one after the other with exactly 1 energy conversion between each pop.
3. Hoist a flag by 1 meter height.
RULES:
1. There should be at least 12 distinct energy conversions while performing these tasks.
2. There should be no intervention once the contraption starts.

Mechanical Engineering Interview Questions

· What is water hammering?

· What are the available tests to check pH?

· What is turbidity and what is the cause for it?

· Differences between COD and BOD?

· Differences between reactive silica and colloidal silica and their effects?

· What happens to the turbine blades when silica is present in the dm water?

· What is the limit for storing inergen cylinders inside the plant without any PESO approval?

· What are the limits to consider a pipe line or a tube to be IBR?

· What is the difference between a tube and pipe?

· What are the advantages of using Natural Gas over HSD or LSHS?

· What are the different valves that you encountered till now?

· During HCl filling in the tank, HCl fumes will generate, what are the means to absorb these fumes?

· Why PVC balls are used in DM water tank?

· Which has a higher COP, Vapor compression or vapour absorption?

· What is flocculation?

· What are the effects if minerals are present in DM water?

· What is the function of anthracite in a water treatment plant?

· What is the effect of free chlorine on resins?

· What are the different losses in a cooling tower and what is their percentage

· What is the difference between Furnace oil and LSHS?

· What is the function of Tatory stripper in Process Plant?

· What are the checks to be performed before starting a motor?

· What is the maximum NOx level permitted?

· What are the factors that affect corrosion?

· What are the factors that influence scaling?

· What are the factors that influence fouling?

· What are the various types of cooling water corrosion?

· What are the ways and means to control corrosion?

· Why clearance between impeller and back plate needs to be maintained, what happens if it increases or decreases and how is it measured?

· What all are the types of level transmitters available?

· What all are the types of flow transmitters available?

· Bicarbonates of Ca & Mg are responsible for _____________ and chlorides, sulphates & Nitrates of Ca & Mg are responsible for ________________

· What are the steps to be followed in gun cleaning activity?

· What are the methods of Boiler preservation and when are they preferred?

· What is the material used for cold insulation?

· What are the steps followed in Laser alignment?

· What is the equation for temperature and pressure compensation for flow calculation?

· What is the low level alarm set point for Deaerator?

· What is fuel gas minimum pressure control loop in boiler?

· What is the minimum capacity of a hydrocarbon tank required for PESO approval?

Mechanical Engineering

Innovations for the day-to-day applications

Artificial Clouds Producing machine

Automatic waste collection Truck- Automatically collects from the Dust Bins - Pick it unload and drop it back

Quick Glance on the latest trend, innovation and technology

Robot for a tough rocky, hilly terrain

Apple Peeling & Cutting

This New Bottle Cap will Remind You to Drink Water - Interesting Engineering

Intelligent Chess Playing Machine

Mechanical Project Ideas - Energy Saving Ideas