Exploring the characteristics of an Appropriate Medical Equipment label to aid the intended use of equipment in low-and-middle-income countries

In Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), a significant challenge lies in the misalignment between available medical equipment and the specific needs of these regions. For example the needs of being adapted to low resource settings. A lot of medical equipment is not adapted to be operated in low-resource settings. This situation has prompted a...

Comparing Design Synthesis Methods: A Study on Frame Design

The Lunar Zebro is a small moon rover that needs an advanced chassis to endure the harsh environment that the moon brings. To arrive at a solution for such a frame or chassis creativity and hard work are necessary. Whereas hard work is a given, creativity is not and it may need a helping hand. Design synthesis methods, of which brainstorming is...

Design of a Distal Radius Fracture Immobilisation Device: A Modular Device Designed for Adjustability

Immobilisation devices are commonly used for the treatment of extra-articular distal radius fractures. However, conventional immobilisation devices such as plaster casts and fibreglass casts may lead to complications and discomfort. Another disadvantage of present-day conservative fracture treatment is that the casts have to be replaced after...

Reclaimed Concrete Use in Double-Curved, Compression-Only Structures: Design and Evaluation

Cement production is responsible for 8% of the anthropogenic CO2 emissions [1]. Reducing this share will be a strenuous task as the global population and urbanization rates are increasing and, therefore, the need for concrete will remain high [2], [3]. Simultaneously, despite the alarming statistic, a vast majority of demolished concrete...

Mijn Hulplijn: An intervention to empower youngsters in decision making in (j)-GGZ therapy

Extensive waiting times for youth Mental Healthcare have a significantly negative effect on youngsters well-being. The Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sport (Ministry of VWS) therefore commissioned Shoshin to research the cause of waiting times in order to address them. Shoshin is a social design agency that believes waiting times are not...

Responsible Design Thinking for Sustainable Development: Critical Literature Review, New Conceptual Framework, and Research Agenda

In the 1960s, influential thinkers defined design as a rational problem-solving approach to deal with the challenges of sustainable human development. In 2009, a design consultant and a business academic selected some of these ideas and successfully branded them with the term “design thinking.” As a result, design thinking has developed into...

Reducing the Environmental Impact of Syringes at the Intensive Care Unit

This research project, part of the Green Intensive Care Unit (ICU) initiative at the Erasmus University Medical Center (EMC), is focused on reducing the environmental impact of syringes at the ICU by designing solutions based on circular economy principles. Based on a Material Flow Analysis of the EMC ICU, syringes and their packaging have been...

Topology and variable optimization of a planar quasi-zero stiffness mechanism for motion isolation during the installation of wind turbine blades

Current service and installation activities for offshore wind turbines are carried out by jack-up vessels, which eliminate wave disturbances to a large extent. The use of these vessels imposes several disadvantages, including high operational costs and the limitation of operating in restricted water depths. An alternative is a crane mounted on a...

Design Study on the Feasibility of a Self-closing Flood Barrier: A Case Study of the City of Arcen, Limburg

Flood risks and its consequences become more and more challenging and are demanding for the currently present dike systems and hydraulic structures in the Netherlands. This automatically raises the question for the possibility of adjustable temporary deployable flood defences that work autonomously. Nowadays it is more likely that a standard...

Horizontal Tail and Aileron Sizing for Distributed Electric Propulsion Aircraft

The concept of Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) aircraft holds great promise in achieving the goals outlined in Flightpath 2050. This involves utilizing electricity to power propellers and enhancing overall flight performance through interactions between the wings and propellers. This thesis investigates the stability and control aspects of...

Image-based AI for Industrial Design: How aligning semantics among desingers helps them use AI tools more effectively

This research explores the opportunities and limitations of image-based AI tools for industrial design. In collaboration with designers at Royal Gazelle, several tools were tested. AI tools can broaden and speed up the creative processes but also lack control for the user. AI models and designers use different terms to articulate perceptions and...

Exploration of a Reverse Turbo-Brayton Cryocooler for Carbon Neutral Aeronautical Applications: Integrated Cryocooler Design and Tank Modeling for Cryogenic Liquid Hydrogen in Long Range Flight

Climate change is a pressing issue. Hydrogen aircraft are an excellent alternative to current kerosene aircraft, and appear to be the most viable long-term solution for net-zero flight. One of the main challenges for hydrogen aircraft is to sustain a low boil-off rate. This research explores the solution of active cooling of the LH2 mixture in...