INVISIPOLE
Time Period: March 2017 - April 2017
Organization: Bay Area Engineering Consulting
Skills Developed: Design Thinking, Iteration, 3D Printing, Problem Solving
Software Used: SolidWorks, Cura Type A
Project Background
Consulting for VR at Berkeley, our task was to design a stand for the 360 degree Ricoh camera so that the members of the VR club could film their stories and ideas at the end of the semester. This project involved a lot of research and creativity in order to come up with a design that would satisfy all the client's desires. As a team, we went through iterations of brainstorming and designing the best base for the stand, how to keep it stable on various types of terrain and in different weather conditions, and allowing for a minimum height of 2 feet and a maximum height of 7 feet, all while keeping the stand hidden from the images and videos captured by the camera.
Research
After the initial meeting with the client, we got together as a team to perform research. We studied the camera, taking pictures to see whether there was a blind spot. It turns out there was! So, we continued by measuring it and seeing how far out it extended to gauge how to fit the stand in this small plane. Furthermore, we researched current camera stand designs, paying attention to common features and overall shape and size.
Ideation and Brainstorming
To begin designing, I led a brainstorming session where the team sat down and brainstormed ideas individually, and later we came together to share. We discussed and narrowed the ideas down to our top 5. However, during this process, I noticed that a lot of the ideas happened to have similar features. So we spent time looking at these shared features and discussing some of the original ideas and how we could modify and develop them. We decided to begin with a tripod where all three legs are in the same plane. The outer two are attached to a ski-like sheet of acrylic for stability. Finally, the middle leg contains the mechanism for adjusting the height.
Design Pitch and Proof of Concept
Now that we had an idea, it was time to pitch it to our client. We created a proof of concept to show that the tripod will not be seen in the images and videos captured by the camera. We also presented logistics and our next steps to designing a more advanced prototype. We received positive feedback from the client, which was a good sign, as well as some feedback and more clarification regarding the goals of the product.
Design, Testing, and Iteration
Based on the feedback, we made some minor adjustments and began creating CAD models of all the components and the assembly. We began purchasing parts and 3D printing parts to make the first prototype. After assembly, we tested the product and noticed it was very unstable, especially when extended to the maximum height. So, we made some adjustments to the design and repeated the process. This occurred several times until we obtained a design we were satisfied with.
REFLECTION
From this project, I learned a lot about consulting and designing for a client. It was a great experience getting to work with another organization and designing a product that fits their needs and desires. It was an iterative process that involved a lot of communication between the team and the client, which was also a new aspect for me. I thoroughly enjoyed working on this project and hope to implement the skills I learned, both technical and professional, in future projects.
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The team's deliverable was a fully functioning prototype. Thus, if we were to continue working with VR at Berkeley on this, we would have the product manufactured and polished to be used more widely. This would increase the strength, robustness, and aesthetics of the tripod. Furthermore, we would continue to design and iterate to improve the product.