Platypus, LLC. is a Carnegie Mellon University spin-off that collects and analyzes water data using autonomous robotics. Its technology and services gather information about water ways and water bodies such as topography, pH, composition and more, so that clients have more information and can make better decisions on how to improve and protect our water resources.
about the project
The manufacturing and assembly process for Platypus’ three unmanned, autonomous boats was tedious, time consuming, and expensive. I redesign each boat so that it could be more cheaply manufactured and assembled more efficiently. The designs still allowed for versatility in sensor integration and one-off customization.
skills & services provided
CAD – Fusion 360
Design for Manufacturing and Assembly
Rendering
the redesign
Below you can see before and after photos of the redesigns. The body of the boats were rotomolded to reduce the number of parts. The size of the compartments were expanded to give more room for components and designed to fit a standard commercial hatch. Boat surfaces were shaped to promote water run-off away from the compartments and electronic components.
product in action
testimonial
“Platypus gave Lauren a tough, open-ended, time and budget constrained design task and she exceeded all expectations. Not only were the final designs excellent, but the way she worked through multiple iterations with our demanding engineering team and the stubborn manufacturers was amazing. We’ll definitely be working with Lauren again and would recommend her for all challenging design tasks!”
– Paul Scerri, President of Platypus
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