Hi, I'm
Dragoș Paraschiv

The idea came to mind as a next step after the course Control of a flexible robot system. I enjoyed controlling the robot so much, that I decided I wanted to work on all parts of it myself. Since there was no opportunity for me to do that in the University, I made my own robotic arm.

I started my design by researching how other people tackled this problem. After finding a couple of online resources, I was confident I could begin sketching a few prototype ideas. Moving through the design process, I eventually had a few parts ready for printing in Siemens NX.

Of course, there were multiple iterations and refinements along the way. This robot is still being continuusly improved, helping me learn how to transfer the theories I learned in my classes, into a real working robot.

This project was completed as part of the Mechanics of Materials module. The brief was to model a Pratt truss under a distributed pedestrian load of 5 kN/m and evaluate stress distribution, nodal deflections, and likely failure modes.

I built the truss geometry in ANSYS Mechanical using beam elements, applied pinned-roller boundary conditions, and ran a linear static analysis. Results were then compared to analytical calculations done by hand using the method of sections.

The simulation and hand calculations agreed within 4% for all member forces — the discrepancy was traced to joint eccentricity in the FE model. Two lower chord members near mid-span were identified as critical; I proposed increasing their cross-section from 50×50 mm to 60×60 mm hollow section.

Written for the Thermodynamics module, this model takes user-defined inlet temperatures, flow rates, and fluid properties, then calculates outlet temperatures and heat transfer rate using both the Log Mean Temperature Difference (LMTD) and effectiveness-NTU (ε-NTU) methods.

The script sweeps across a range of NTU values (0.1 to 5) and plots effectiveness curves for counter-flow and parallel-flow configurations on the same axes — making the performance advantage of counter-flow immediately visible.

A secondary parametric study varied the hot-side flow rate from 0.01 to 0.2 kg/s and tracked how outlet temperature and effectiveness changed, producing a surface plot useful for design selection.

The brief was to design a functional desktop object that could be manufactured from flat sheet stock and assembled without adhesives or fasteners — relying only on press-fit joinery.

I chose a modular desk organiser with interlocking slot joints. The key design constraint was parametric control: every slot, tab, and panel dimension is driven by two master variables — material thickness and grid pitch — so the whole model updates correctly when either changes.

The final version was cut from 3 mm MDF on the university laser cutter. Assembly took under five minutes with no tools. A follow-up iteration explored 4 mm birch plywood, which improved rigidity noticeably.

This simulation was built as a self-directed extension of the Engineering Dynamics module. The goal was to explore where the small-angle approximation (sin θ ≈ θ) breaks down and how drag changes the system's behaviour.

Using MATLAB's ode45 solver, I integrated the full nonlinear equation of motion for a damped pendulum across a range of initial angles (5° to 60°) and drag coefficients. The results are plotted as phase portraits and time-series overlays between the linear and nonlinear models.

An animation was added using MATLAB's built-in animation loop, showing the pendulum bob in real time alongside the live energy plot. At initial angles above ~20°, the approximation error becomes clearly visible.

The team of four was tasked with designing a gripper capable of picking and placing objects of irregular geometry — a cylinder, a hex bolt, a foam cube, a PET bottle, and a flat disc. The constraint was a single-acting pneumatic actuator at 4 bar supply pressure.

My contribution was the mechanical linkage connecting the actuator piston to the two finger bodies. I designed a symmetric toggle mechanism that converts the linear actuator stroke into a parallel jaw motion, maintaining even grip force regardless of object width within a 15–60 mm range.

I also produced the full GD&T drawing set for the finger bodies and pivot pins, specifying tolerances to ensure consistent assembly and repeatable grip force. The prototype was machined from aluminium and assembled in the university workshop.