The Snotbot collects data from whale spouts, but lacks a reliable landing gear.

Devynn Diggins, a first-year mechanical engineering student at Olin, accepted the challenge and worked on the Snotbot for over a year. Drew Bennett is a professor of robotics and systems, and Diggins is the head of the Intelligent Vehicles Department. Together, the two have found solutions to make the Snotbot saltwater-resistant and to protect the rotor blades from strong waves. The most efficient designs are required here because high weight consumes a lot of battery power, but lightweight parts are often too fragile.

Get better with Markforged

The original landing gear was made of traditional carbon fiber layers. The new one had to be more flexible, yet still very strong. A quick solution was also required, as the time window for good whale research is small, and there was no time to wait for a delivery of spare parts. A new landing gear based on the original design was 3D printed using the Markforged 3D printer. The part was just as light but stronger than the old one. The team experimented with different designs and materials. The short production times allowed for rapid test runs. The designs were adapted immediately based on the results, so it didn't take long to find the right landing gear. The even lighter version was soon manufactured from Kevlar-reinforced nylon. This material combination offers great strength while maintaining flexibility.

The Snotbot's new landing gear.

The Markforged landing gear, originally intended as a temporary replacement part, offered new possibilities. It became clear that 3D printing could dramatically improve and accelerate construction processes. Next, the drone arms were redesigned to enable safe navigation and eliminate the risk of submersion. The new arms extend from the drone body in such a way that the motor is held higher above the water. Here, too, the material needed to be as light as possible but very strong. The bent carbon fiber tubes originally used were quite expensive. Once again, the problem was solved with the Markforged 3D printer.

Take off with Markforged

The Snotbot is equipped with its new Kevlar reinforced landing gear.

The engineers were very pleased with the upgrades. Since the modification, the Snotbot no longer breaks upon landing. The drone arms have not yet been tested on the Snotbot, but the team is confident. Bennett is proud of his student's work: "Without the Markforged, she would never have been able to build the right design." With the 3D printer, Olin now produces prototypes faster, more sturdily, and more cost-effectively. Bennett is excited to see the students using the Markforged creatively.

"With the Markforged 3D printer, we were able to change the fiber type in the polymer, and thus the properties of the part. This allowed us to find the right part for our vehicle and solve the problem." Drew Bennett