In the field, a lot can go wrong. Ideally, we would like to identify potential failures and take swift action to rectify them before any major issues arise. The run-to-failure test rig is a miniature truck that allows us to generate ‘controlled’ failures through rapid prototyping. These prototypes cover a wide range of fields including 3D printing, MEMs sensor technology and open source platforms such as the Arduino.
A multidisciplinary project requires a diverse team. Here are the past and current team members involved with the run-to-failure test rig.
Bio’s:
Linden Blair completed his Mechanical Engineering degree in 2014 and has since graduated to join Woodside Energy. Together with Chris, he was one of the first to begin work on this truck and was responsible for a lot of the initial design and construction.
Lyle Campbell completed his Mechanical Engineering degree at UWA in 2014. He was responsible for most of the test rig’s mechanical redesigns over the course of 2015. He is currently volunteering as an English teacher in Russia as he waits to commence his PhD.
Ashwin D’Cruz is a 4th year BPhil student majoring in Engineering and Computer Science. He currently works as a research assistant for the system health lab specialising in the electrical and electronic requirements of the test rig.
Chris McFarlane completed his Mechanical Engineering degree in 2014 and has since graduated to join Bain and Company. Together with Linden, he was one of the first to begin work on this truck and was responsible for a lot of the initial design and construction.
Praveen Sundaram is a 4th year Mechatronics Engineering student at UWA. He brings a mixed well rounded set of skills to this project thanks to his background with the UWA Motorsport team.