Introduction: For this project, we were tasked with learning how to 3D model in AutoDesk, and then use these new skills to design our own helmet that meets current safety standards. In order to learn how to 3D model, our teacher gave us a set of video tutorials that guided us to create our own model of an F0 racing helmet. From these videos, we learned how to create basic shapes in AutoDesk, how to mould these shapes, and finally how to render an image of our final product. After watching these videos, our group initially decided that we would model a firefighter's helmet, as our project mainly involved working with firefighters. However, we quickly realized that the basic skills we learned were not enough to help us create this helmet. Instead, we decided to model a skateboarders helmet around the safety standards that exist in the US.
My F0 Racing Helmet:
Our Group's Skateboard Helmet
Helmet Safety Standards: There are four areas that are checked when a helmet is examined by the Department of Transportation and the SNELL foundation. These four areas are the helmet lining, chin straps and rivets, weight, and design. The inner lining of a safe helmet should be made of a firm polystyrene foam that is approximately one-inch thick. Safe chin straps should be sturdy, and rivets should be extremely solid. Helmets that match federal safety standards also tend to be approximately three pounds in weight, due to the necessary safety precautions. If a helmet weighs under one pound, it is designated as unsafe. Most styles are considered safe, as long as they are able to pass the above requirements, however helmets with external designs such as horns or other protruding decorations are considered unsafe, as DOT standards require decorations to extend no further than two-tenths of an inch from the outer surface of the helmet.
Concepts: There are many different concepts of physics that play into creating a helmet and making it safe for general use. Unlike many other helmets, skateboard helmets have to be made to sustain multiple impacts rather than just one large impact like a bicycle helmet. This means that you should rarely have to replace skateboard helmets. Acceleration: The rate of change of an objects speed over a certain period of time. Coefficient of Friction: The measurement of the level of friction that a certain material possesses. Crumple Zones: The areas of an object specifically designed to crumple inwards in an impact to absorb the collision force. Drag: A term used in fluid dynamics that is sometimes referred to as air of fluid resistance. Inertia: A tendency of an object to remain still or in uniform motion. G-Force: Gravitational force, the force acted upon all of us by the Earth Friction: A force that resists motion between two objects. Force: An influence that causes a change of movement, direction or shape. Represented by the equation F=MA Kinetic/ Dynamic Friction: A friction that occurs when two objects are moving relative to each other and rub together.
Reflection: This project was much harder than a both of the previous projects this year, mostly because we were working on both our capstone project and this project. We found ourselves having to constantly switch between doing certain parts of this project and certain parts of the overall project. However, when we were able to work on solely this project, we managed to create a very detailed model of the skateboard helmet we were trying to create. As individuals, I think our whole group did a great job efficiently running through the tutorial videos to have basic knowledge of 3D modeling. We managed to get this part of the project done in a little over a week. Shortly after, we found ourselves struggling to find an object/helmet we wanted to model, finally deciding on the skateboard helmet, yet wasting a bit of time. If we were to do this project again, I believe everyone in our group would like to model a more detailed and interesting helmet or even create our own. Overall\, this project was a great learning experience for the basics of 3D modeling and was quite interesting as well.