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Swimming Simulator Redesign

Redesigning a custom test rig used simulate swimming with a wearable device

DESCRIPTION ​

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Towards the end of my co-op at Intel I took on the task of redesigning the swimming simulator shown above on the left. This involved making it more visually appealing, more robust and durable, more flexible, and easier to use. . I only had about a month to work on this before leaving so I had to hand off the design shown above to an outside consultant to finish the project. 

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FEATURES​

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Completely waterproof and rust-proof with backup tank incase of spillage

Other Features

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  • Sleek, Stainless Stell/Acrylic design

  • Desktop level

  • Quieter motor

  • Properly designed shaft and key

  • Drain and inlet water connections

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Doors instead of curtains

Casters for mobility

Touch-screen display/controls with custom designed mount

High strength framing to support 200-gallon water tank -designed with FEA

Highly modular and adaptable for different devices 

Custom 3-D printed wrists with locking balljoint for device angle adjustment

Robust CAD Skeleton 

PROCESS ​

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  1. Product Definition

    • What was missing​?

      • Broken parts​

      • Leaking/rusted parts

      • Visual appearance

    • What it could be?

      • Touch screen​

      • More flexibility

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2. Subassembly Design

3. CAD Design

4. Part Selection and Bill of Materials

5. Ordering Parts and Finalizing Plans

Structure and tank

Hub/Arms

Device Mounts 

Controls

CHALLENGES

LEARNINGS

  • Working on a large project, independently, in free time, on a tight timeline

  • Working with an outside consultant

  • Many useful techniques and parts for this type of fixture design  (from an experienced consultant 

  • Creating a robust skeleton, with detailed assembly instructions and BOM

  • Brainstorming all possibilities and narrowing down to what was achievable 

  • Very tight timeline (6 weeks)

  • Had to prioritize other tasks

  • Making everything waterproof

  • Designing to hold 200 gallons of water w/ high FOS

  • Creating a touch screen

  • Optimizing adaptability and features while minimizing cost and timeline

  • Never built a structure this large

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