Team 510 Senior Design 2023

Abstract

This senior design project aims to create a fuse-switching device that switches out broken or damaged fuses on power poles from the ground. Fuses are positioned towards the top of utility poles. Fuses protect the power lines from experiencing too much current, when the current is too high the fuse blows before damaging a residential property or business. The method used for fuse switching now relies on the operator manually controlling the height of the telescoping stick, balancing the stick with their hands as they maneuver the stick around the fuse cutout, this causes a significant amount of strain on the operators’ upper body and back as well as fatigue from repeating this process multiple times. A design was chosen by identifying the sponsor's needs and breaking down the steps needed to replace a fuse. The issue of user discomfort caused by the current fuse-switching equipment needed to be addressed in the new design while being remotely controlled and transportable for the customer’s needs. The final design for the fuse-switching pole consists of a robotic arm connected to an automated extendable telescoping pole. This new fuse-switching device will allow for an increase in safety for operators with a reduced risk of falling debris and less strain on the user with it being remotely controlled. The fuse-switching robotic arm would allow the operator to spend less time fuse-switching than the current equipment. Operators would be able to increase their efficiency by reducing the downtime between each pole. To validate the design multiple prototypes were made and tested against a selected fuse cutout. The group started with a full-scale prototype of the robotic arm that can support 5 pounds and two separate telescoping pole prototypes that can reach a height of 5 feet and 10 feet.

Ebony Bland

Controls Engineer

Ebony Bland is a senior at Florida State University studying Mechanical Engineering. Her interests interests include robotics, mechatronics, and control systems. She has experience working in robotics through her undergraduate research at FSU and internship experience at NASA. After graduation, she wants to work in the aerospace industry doing projects involving robotics.

Davis Goolsby

Fluids Engineer

Davis Goolsby is a senior at Florida State University studying Mechanical Engineering. Davis pursued a specialty in thermal fluids and heat transfer, reflecting his background working in HVAC. After graduation, Davis intends to pursue a career in project management for mechanical contractors in Jacksonville.

Garfield Murphy

Materials Engineer

Garfield Murphy is a senior at Florida State University studying Mechanical Engineering with an interest in Materials Engineering. He is the vice-president of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering ASME Student Chapter. After graduation, Garfield will pursue a job in Design Engineering where the skills he obtained can be used in the industry.

Electrical and Computer Engineering Department

Austin Bruen

Power/Test Engineer

Austin Bruen is a fourth year student at Florida State University studying Elecctrical Engineering. He had an internship with Tampa Electric Company during the summer of 2022. He is a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. Austin has interests in Energy Delivery and Power.

Emilio Manzo

Power/Design Engineer

Emilio Manzo is a senior at Florida State University studying Electrical Engineering. He has interests in Power Systems and Renewable Energy. He is the chair of the FAMU-FSU IEEE Student Chapter and an undergraduate researcher at FSU's Center for Advanced Power Systems. After graduation, Emilio will start his Master's degree in Electrical Engineering at FSU and join Florida Power & Light as a Protection & Control summer intern.

Advisors and Sponsors

Advisors