My task at MAPC was to design an actuated railing system that is able to fold out of the way of the launch, operation and recovery of a tow-able UAV. The railing system is compliant with all US Naval Railing Guidelines. Additionally, it must achieve an operation readiness of at least 97%. This was achieved through the design and implementation of a diagnostic system that detects malfunctions of single railing segments and stops that individual segment. The system works by monitoring the power draw of the electrical motors in the first iteration and shuts them down if they are drawing too much power, indicating a malfunction or a bind. The second version of this system is to be hydraulic in nature. For this version the diagnosis system relies on monitoring the pressure differential across the hydraulic motor. 

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This system has been validated several times through at sea trials, including recently about the USS Zeypher patrol class ship. The Press release video for this testing can be found here.

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Key skills demonstrated:

• Life critical structural design

• Code compliance

• Mechatronics

• Diagnostic system design