Whether it’s creating a design for lightweight recreational kayaks, devices to help golfers control the speed of their putts, or scale models of wind turbines to evaluate new concepts, any number of exciting projects take place in Sears think[box] on any given day. Get to know a few of the latest featured projects to take root in our facility.
Tubercle Blades for Wind Turbine Efficiency
Researchers added tubercles to the leading edge of wind turbine blades for a 4.8% increase in lift-to-drag ratio. This increase in performance is expected to…
Hovercraft
The goal of this design project was to design and build a steerable hovercraft capable of transporting a 200 pound person at speeds of 10 mph or greater. Contact…
Ken Price Sculpture Replica
This sculpture, sold at Christie's Fine Art Auction house in New York City, was 3D scanned at Christie's warehouse and replicated in medium density polystyrene.…
Climbing Minier Whegs
Climbing Minier Whegs is a smaller version of the Climbing Mini Whegs project in the CWRU Center for Biologically Inspired Robotics. This is a light (62 gram) wall…
Hedgemon
Hedgemon, LLC is a biomimicry start-up developing hedgehog-inspired impact protection technology for concussion prevention. Contact: Nathan Swift, nate@hedgemon.…
Geometric Laser-Cut Paper Art
This intricate paper-cut artwork is part of a series titled "A ∪ B" inspired by the laser cutter. Multiple pieces of solid colored poster board were cut with an…
Plasma Assisted Fuel Nozzle
This fuel nozzle demonstrates a more efficient way to burn fuel in jet engines. Plasma is used to break apart fuel and air molecules before they are burned, which…
Kevlar-Reinforced Denim Motorcycle Pants
These motorcycle pants have the look and feel of denim with hidden kevlar panels for added road rash protection when riding on a motorcycle or scooter. Contact: …
Fighting Unicorn Circuit Board
This uniquely-shaped circuit board was fabricated for an FRC robot built by the FIRST robotics team, the Fighting Unicorns, at Hathaway Brown, a women's high school…
Aerodynamic Adhesive
The dimpled surfaces found on golf balls are increase lift and reduce aerodynamic drag of the spinning sphere as it travels through the air. While these effects are…