DCU Expo 2023 Final Year Projects

30 12. ArtistConnect ArtistConnect is a social media application designed for music fans and artists to communicate, promote, and discover events and songs. The app aims to provide a platform for artists to promote their events andmusic, as well as connect with their fans, while also enablingmusic enthusiasts to discover new and exciting events they will be interested in. Class Computer Applications Project Area Multimedia, Social Networking, Software Development, Web Application Project Technology AngularJS, HTML5, JavaScript, Nodejs, REST Student Name(s) Karl Doherty  |  Yury Chupahin Email karl.doherty27@mail.dcu.ie   |  yury.chupahin2@mail.dcu.ie Supervisor Prof Gareth Jones 13. Optimisation of the Rear Derailleur Cage for the Time-Trial Bicycle This study aimed to optimise the rear derailleur cage for the time-trial bicycle by balancing both the aerodynamic and drivetrain efficiencies. Previous literature concluded that larger drivetrain geometries, namely sprockets and bearings, increased drivetrain efficiency. However, no previous study investigated the effect these larger components had on aerodynamic efficiency. CFDwas used for aerodynamic testing andmathematical models were used for drivetrain efficiency testing. This study found that there was indeed a trade-off between aerodynamic and drivetrain efficiency as the most efficient drivetrain at mitigating frictional losses was not the most efficient systemoverall when aerodynamics were considered. An overall improvement of 1.29Wor 0.32%was found. Class Mechanical andManufacturing Engineering (Year 5) Project Area 3-DModelling, FluidMechanics, Simulation, CFD/Drivetrain Testing Project Technology ANSYSWorkbench, Solidworks, ANSYS Fluent Student Name(s) Cian Ibbotson Email cian.ibbotson2@mail.dcu.ie Supervisor Dr James Carton 14. A Smart Floor for Energy Harvesting This project aims to create a triboelectric/piezoelectric energy-generating smart floor for energy harvesting using two oppositely charged triboelectric sustainable materials. It takes wasted mechanical energy frompeople’s footfall and converts it into electrical energy to power small devices to supply clean energy and relieve the pressure off our energy infrastructure. The aim is to investigate the capabilities of triboelectric nanogenerators and obtain the highest power output achievable whilst still having ideal characteristics for a smart floor and for energy harvesting. Class Mechatronic Engineering Project Area AdvancedMaterial Engineering, Arduino, Device Design, Electric Generation, Energy Conservation, Mechanical Design andManufacture, Mechatronic Systems, Renewable Energy Technology, Sensor Technology, Materials Testing Project Technology C/C++, Excel/VB, Solidworks, Arduino IDE, Kickstart and Origin Pro Student Name(s) Aimee Shanley-Brookes Email aimee.shanleybrookes6@mail.dcu.ie Supervisor Dr Shirley Coyle