Research Papers

My first research paper compares solid and hollow shaft motors: the differences in their efficiency, mechanical performance and applications in industry. I wrote it while interning at Hindustan Electric Motors.

Both shafts have the same outer profile, length (478 mm) and bearings; the only change is an Ø18 mm bore through the hollow shaft. The hollow design uses 16.8% less steel while its safety factor stays above 17, with the trade-off being an extra deep-hole drilling step in manufacturing.

What I learned

• The effect of shaft configuration on motor performance.
• The connection between torque transmission, material distribution, mass and the mechanical strength of shafts.
• How hollow shafts can reduce a motor's mass without compromising its structural strength, if the right dimensions are used.

My second paper expands my initial research on search-and-rescue drone technology, focusing on how materials with different resistance to heat affect the drone's performance, weight and efficiency.

Using data from 28 published studies, I ranked heat-shield materials by the protection they give per gram, not by conductivity alone. Silica aerogel came out far ahead: a shield around the drone's electronics costs only 6.1% of its mass and 8% of its flight time.

What I learned

• How to design heat protection that still allows the drone to fly.
• How thermal conductivity, heat resistance and density affect the structural protection of the device and its carrying capacity.
• How thermal protection affects the overall weight of the drone.