First contender:
This model was based off of our super simple design which looked like an elegant, efficient design on paper. However, it did not reliably cause the wings to flap. We tried doing a similar model with two cams, which had even more problems. As it would have taken a lot more effort with unclear results and adding more parts to this design would compromise its appeal, notably its charming simplicity, we decided to scrap this idea.
Second contender:
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| Conveyor Belt |
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| model with wing |
This model was based off of a conveyor belt where a rod with an attached wing would mimic the flapping motion. We were brainstorming this idea while trying to come up with a fifth sketch. We couldn't understand each other and were unable to communicate in pictures, so we decided skip to making a lego model. However, our instructor advised us against using this design based on the difficulty to execute properly in plastic.
The lack of usable ideas left Hande and I without a clear plan. However we became inspired by this model made by previous Wellesley engineers.
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| A rough sketch of our idea |
Some of the highlights of our design decisions:
- We decided to make wings that resemble forks. We figured that we could cover them with paper so that they could resemble wings. This cuts down slightly on the weight of the wings, which would allow us to use slightly less durable housing.
- We decided to make our big circle 0.95 inches in diameter. We had to scale down the previously made model because the backbone was larger than 6 inches and that is a piece to fit in a base. We scaled down the circle less than the other pieces because the size of the circle limits the amount of movement possible.
- In the previous model, pieces were hitting each other when moved where they should not have. We wanted to fix this by making sure that all of our pieces were small enough to clear each other, albeit by a minuscule amount.
