In the past few decades, supermarkets and online grocery alternatives have been chipping away at the revenue of small local stores. This trend has only accelerated during the corona pandemic of 2020. Right now, the online grocery sector is the fastest-growing e-commerce sector in the world. At the same time, there is a trend in shorter food chains. The past few years have been particularly good for small alternatives of locally produced food. Companies like Boerschappen' and 'Support Your Locals' have been growing explosively in 2020. These companies try to sell products directly from the farmers to the customers. Local Heroes (LH) is a start-up located in Amsterdam that intends to exploit this growing market of locally produced food to the advantage of local speciality stores. By providing small stores with an online platform to sell their products they want to make them more resistant to the growing online supermarkets. And by including initiatives of shorter food chains they try to keep the customers close to where the food comes from. To achieve this goal, LH uses an app and a mobile distribution centre (DC). This DC is located on the outskirt of a local daily food market. Customer order food from various vendors located in the neighbourhood via the app. LH then collects all the products at the DC and distributes them to the customer. The DC also functions as a pick-up point for people in the neighbourhood. LH wants to expand its business to other markets in Amsterdam, and possibly the Netherlands. For this to happen they need a DC which they can put anywhere to start operations. This graduation project describes the design process of this mobile DC. Firstly, the analysis of the current DC is described. From this research came several focus areas regarding product flow, customer contact and ergonomics. By incorporating the wishes of the employees and by working at the DC myself improvements were made to the existing DC. Thanks to close relations with the production company (InnovaN) it was possible to build and test ideas in the real world. This ensured a well thought out design was possible for the final product. The final product is the result of an evolutionary design approach. By learning about the pros and cons of certain ideas in real-world operations, designs were altered and improved. The final design improves product flow within the operations and increases efficiency by removing unnecessary steps in the process. The entire DC has also been decreased in size to increase the placement options for LH. These design choices ensure LH can continue to grow to other markets. Enabling them to help local speciality stores in their struggle against online competitors.

This report presents a design proposal of a product-service system that is supposed to facilitate cardiologists in their auscultation responsibilities. Auscultation today is usually still performed with an acoustic stethoscope, in which the cardiologist tries to recognize abnormalities concerning the patient’s heart through attentive listening. The efficiency driven practices of modern healthcare have forced cardiologists and other medical professionals to become even more economical with their time. Currently, doctors only have a timeframe of 600 seconds to see a new patient. Since the stethoscope is almost always the first tool used for diagnosis, it can be seen as the first factor that determines if the patient reaches the “further testing threshold”. Therefore it is paramount for the general quality of healthcare that auscultation is performed in the best way possible, since this can determine whether further testing is done on the patient, or the patient is sent home. The relevance of this auscultation success is backed up even more by the fact that heart-disease is responsible for 45% of European annual deaths alone. The problem, which is a concoction of the efficiency driven practices in healthcare combined by the neglect of auscultation in medical education and the available tools at hand, was attempted to be improved and solved by the design proposal in this report. Together with doctors, a product-service system was created that makes use of Artificial Intelligence, seamless automation, improved ergonomics and feedback loops in order to facilitate the cardiologist during auscultation. The design proposal aims to increase medical effectiveness and diagnostic potential, facilitating cardiologists in their auscultation responsibilities by creating a new and improved diagnostic tool in the form of an electronic stethoscope that harmonises with the efficiency of the auscultation process in an unobtrusive way; benefiting both the cardiologist and the patient. The main part of the design consists of a physical product in the form of an electronic stethoscope supported by a system consisting of a simple Bluetooth Forwarding Application and Desktop Application. The design proposal was qualitatively evaluated with several cardiologists during a presentation at Maasstad Hospital. It was received with great positive response on the fronts of both appearance and presented functionality. In order to substantiate the promising outlook the design proposal elicits, long term testing with a 0-series product- service system will need to be done.

This thesis describes the development of an innovative product, The EcoModule. The innovation enhances a marine infrastructure called, Reef Enhancing Breakwater (REB), developed by the startup Reefy. This breakwater prevents coastal erosion and it provides a habitat substrate for marine organisms, with the aim of boosting biodiversity. The Reeflocks used for this purpose provide habitat to micro-organisms, however, macro-organisms are also needed to keep an ecosystem running. Therefore, The EcoModule focuses on attracting and providing habitat to macro-organisms. The habitat described is this document was developed for the endangered European Eel. This document offers a concise step-by-step design process on how to design a habitat for a specific marine organism. In the future, when a different organism is targeted, this thesis can be used as a guideline, with the EcoModule functioning as a basis because of its user-friendly customisability. First, an introduction of the context is described followed by a case study on the European Eel. The aspects for habitat development that need to be taken into account are described, after which the final design is presented. The structure of the product is visualised, clearly showing which parts are designed for what and why. It has been proven that the EcoModule can be attached to the REB and does not adversely affect its operation. A test in a relevant environment has been conducted to investigate the behaviour of the European Eel across different materials and habitat dimensions. This has resulted in a proof of concept that will be the first step towards building ecosystems and boosting biodiversity.

In the dynamic realm of medical technology, innovation to improve the lives of those with chronic conditions like Parkinson's Disease (PD) is paramount. This graduation report represents the culmination of a project aiming to address prevalent symptoms in individuals with PD. Client and Objective: The project aims to develop a concept product for Dopple B.V., a Dutch tech company specializing in head-worn audio smart wearables, seeking to expand into the medical market. The focus is on utilizing their existing product line to create a solution. Scope: The project focuses on creating a smart wearable audio device equipped with modern technology to alleviate symptoms of PD, particularly "freeze of gait & festination." Symptoms: Freeze of gait (FoG) refers to a sudden inability to move forward despite intending to walk, significantly impacting mobility and increasing fall risk. Festination involves a rapid, short-stepped gait, leading to balance issues and difficulties in movement control. User Testing: Tests conducted with PD clients showed promising results in evaluating the effectiveness of feedback mechanisms. Product Features: The "Dopple Earbuds" utilize advanced technology such as smartphone integration, neural networks, and Bluetooth data transmission. Beyond addressing FoG and festination, they offer a range of functionalities including object detection, heart rhythm monitoring, fall detection, posture correction, and more. Design: The Dopple Earbuds are designed with considerations for aesthetics, ergonomics, and materials, tailored to the needs of elderly users. The involvement of neural networks necessitates careful management of memory, battery consumption, and data flow. Collaboration: The project involved collaboration with healthcare professionals, Dopple engineers, and coaching, aiming to pioneer novel solutions in medical technology beyond traditional pharmaceutical approaches. In summary, this project represents a significant step forward in leveraging technology to improve the quality of life for individuals with PD, showcasing the potential of medical assistance technology in complementing existing treatments.

In the dynamic realm of medical technology, innovation to improve the lives of those with chronic conditions like Parkinson's Disease (PD) is paramount. This graduation report represents the culmination of a project aiming to address prevalent symptoms in individuals with PD. Client and Objective: The project aims to develop a concept product for Dopple B.V., a Dutch tech company specializing in head-worn audio smart wearables, seeking to expand into the medical market. The focus is on utilizing their existing product line to create a solution. Scope: The project focuses on creating a smart wearable audio device equipped with modern technology to alleviate symptoms of PD, particularly "freeze of gait & festination." Symptoms: Freeze of gait (FoG) refers to a sudden inability to move forward despite intending to walk, significantly impacting mobility and increasing fall risk. Festination involves a rapid, short-stepped gait, leading to balance issues and difficulties in movement control. User Testing: Tests conducted with PD clients showed promising results in evaluating the effectiveness of feedback mechanisms. Product Features: The "Dopple Earbuds" utilize advanced technology such as smartphone integration, neural networks, and Bluetooth data transmission. Beyond addressing FoG and festination, they offer a range of functionalities including object detection, heart rhythm monitoring, fall detection, posture correction, and more. Design: The Dopple Earbuds are designed with considerations for aesthetics, ergonomics, and materials, tailored to the needs of elderly users. The involvement of neural networks necessitates careful management of memory, battery consumption, and data flow. Collaboration: The project involved collaboration with healthcare professionals, Dopple engineers, and coaching, aiming to pioneer novel solutions in medical technology beyond traditional pharmaceutical approaches. In summary, this project represents a significant step forward in leveraging technology to improve the quality of life for individuals with PD, showcasing the potential of medical assistance technology in complementing existing treatments.

The e-bike market is growing rapidly. E-bikes are becoming a viable alternative to the car for the daily commute, mainly because of better batteries and lighter frames. For Mokumono, a small company that produces sheet metal formed bicycles, this is a great opportunity. A sheet steel formed e-bike frame was designed to fit the image and style of Mokumono, while improving the manufacturability of the frame. By changing the construction of the frame, the manufacturing process is streamlined and more appropriate for potential automation. By using laser brazing to bond the shells instead of laser welding, the post-processing costs have been greatly reduced. The brazing takes place at lower temperatures, which reduces the warping in the material and maintains the strength of the material around the joint. This lowers the overall production costs of a frame compared to the frames produced using the current production process. This e-bike is fitted with high-end parts to create a product of high quality, creating an opportunity for Mokumono.

Today, more and more households are generating their own solar power. This helps us to come closer to a circular economy, since less fossil fuels are required to meet our energy needs. However, excessively generated energy is often wasted, since transporting or storing it for later use is challenging. Lithium ion batteries provide a solution, however their short lifespan and environmental problems that are caused during production make them far from green. A mechanical storage system was proposed, minimizing the environmental problems of Li-ion while providing the household with a storage solution for excessively generated solar energy. After exploring multiple energy storage methods and analyzing their potential suitability to residential energy supply & demand, Flywheel Energy Storage was chosen as the applied storage technology due to its high energy density and mainly mechanical components. ScriptEssential calculations were extended into a full simulation script, used to analyze different scenarios of use. It is capable of the following:• Confirming chosen rotor dimensions• Determining required rotational speed• Characterization of rotor losses & spin-down times • Characterization of torque losses• Reading supply/demand data from external source • Visualizing 24h supply/demand/storage profilePrototypeThe script was partially validated using a functional model and performing tests concerning spin-down times with two different rotors and vacuum levels.LEFtAs a final deliverable, a full mechanical storage system was designed. LEFt, which stands for Leftover Energy Flywheel technology, is a mechanical battery that stores an excess of residential solar power in the form of kinetic energy by spinning a flywheel in a vacuum. It comes in three main form factors; Flat, Slender and Extra Slender. These types all suit different scenarios and therefore different households. LEFt was designed using a subsystem approach to cope with all co-dependent aspects of the system.The most essential part, the flywheel rotor, was dimensioned according to the script.RotorDifferent versions of LEFt include differently dimensioned rotors. A large height over radius ratio makes LEFt suitable for short term storage. It can be applied to store electricity that is generated during the afternoon for evening use.Changing the application and storage limit result in different configurations and dimensions. A rotor with a small height over radius ratio can be suitable for longer term storage. A setup with a certain supply & demand makes this type potentially capable of 24h storage and might allow off-the-grid living in the future.SuspensionThe flywheel rotor is suspended nearly frictionless in the vacuum, by levitating it using a magnetic bearing system.The main vertical thrust is supplied by a Halbach Array of passive magnets, whereas radial displacement is corrected by two Active Magnetic Bearings that are handled by an advanced control system.Motor/GeneratorDriving the rotor and regenerating electricity is done by one machine; an electric motor that is positioned outside the vacuum. Using a single phase motor allows easy installation without the need for a transformer.Magnetic couplerTo drive the rotor from outside the vacuum, a magnetic coupler was designed, making use of two discs with a pattern of passive magnets. A control system allows smart coupling and decoupling, resulting in a freely spinning rotor in idle situations.Vacuum housingEnclosing the flywheel rotor is done by a depressurized housing.This has proven to reduce resistances, increasing storage times and therefore the applicability to longer term storage.Market implementationSelling LEFt is done best by a lease plan, in collaboration with solar panel suppliers. The full retail price of over €10,000 will be too high for a one-time investment.Sustainability assessmentThe environmental impact of the design is done by comparing it to a competing lithium ion battery. The results of an Eco Audit show that the impact of LEFt is lower, but still significant because of the large amounts of steel that are needed. ConclusionA conceptual design for a flywheel energy storage system was proposed and partially validated. It was concluded to be a better alternative for lithium ion batteries in residential energy storage, since it minimizes social and environmental problems. Further development and extensive analysis is required to fully validate and make the design ready for production.

An ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) is a medical aid that helps individuals with deficient walking patterns achieve a more natural gait. There are various types of AFOs prescribed for different reasons. This thesis specifically focuses on passive dynamic ankle-foot orthoses (PD-AFOs) and even within that branch a very specific type: the carbon dorsal leaf spring orthosis. This type of AFO leverages the body’s biomechanics and gravitational forces to store and release energy at precise phases of the gait pattern, helping to restore some of the ankle function. Furthermore, they address the issue of excessive plantar flexion during the swing phase of gait, which can result in foot drop or an undesirable foot-slamming motion. To ensure optimal fit and functionality, these orthoses are custom-made to provide the best fit for the lower leg and foot of each individual. Currently, the manufacturing process for these orthoses involves labour-intensive carbon composite layering techniques, which require significant effort and expertise. An alternative AFO concept was designed, which aims to replicate the behaviour of existing carbon dorsal leaf spring orthoses using SLS-3D printing. This direction was explored as additive manufacturing excels in one-off production and eliminates the need for manual labour, offering cost-effective and efficient production of personalized items. This case is therefore carried out for the companies Parts on Demand, a selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D-printing company, and Livit Ottobock Care, an orthopedics company, to further investigate the feasibility of such an orthosis. This study involved multiple design iterations, primarily focused on the stiffness behaviour of the AFO to create a novel SLS printable design that exhibits similar stiffness characteristics and gait influence compared to the existing carbon dorsal leaf spring AFOs produced by Livit Ottobock Care, whilst maintaining comparable weight and cost. A model was created to parametrically refine SLS printable AFOs based on scanned lower leg and foot data for repeatable results using different feet. Subsequently, prototypes were fabricated using this model to validate the quantitative stiffness behaviour and qualitative correction of user gait resulting in an orthosis with a comparable function to the baseline carbon dorsal leaf spring orthosis. Initial results seem promising for the feasibility of SLS printing PD-AFOs, but requires further validation, as many aspects related to their longevity were excluded from this study. These factors include its fracture resistance over longer periods of time, whether stiffness fatigue will occur, or how the AFO will behave mediolaterally. Nonetheless, producing an SLS-printed orthosis can provide benefits in the long run which for example include not only customized and well-fitting orthoses but also tailored stiffness characteristics for each individual, enhancing the function of the ankle and foot during walking. However, it is important to note that research in this area is currently insufficient.

To develop a new wet cleaning function that can be applied to (but not limited) robot vacuum cleaners, this function must offer an equal or higher performance than current solutions being able to perform dry and wet cleaning in one stroke. This function must be based on the previous research and analysis stage performed during the internship.

Shared mobility has been present longer than you imagine. In the 1940s, the idea of sharing bicycles started in Switzerland. However, the modern manifestation only became popular about a decade ago, but since then, the market for sharing vehicles has grown significantly. In recent years, different ridesharing services have been popping up. In particular, shared mopeds are on the rise in The Netherlands. Pollution and congestion require us to rethink how we move around and new technologies make sharing continuously easier and more convenient. However, operating shared mobility comes with its own set of challenges, and one major hurdle is the task of keeping all the vehicles charged. Shared moped providers integrated their mopeds into cities using a free-floating system: the user can leave and park the moped everywhere in the service area. With these mopeds spread out in the city, the providers are using a system called battery swapping to charge all these mopeds. However, the free-floating system has led to mopeds being randomly parked everywhere, causing inconvenience in cities. Sidewalks and streets are cluttered with parked mopeds, obstructing the residents’ movement. Furthermore, the battery swapping service is an expensive charging method, requiring vans, personnel, and storage locations. The start-up TILER is currently developing a universal wireless charging solution for e-bikes, using the kickstand and a tile placed in the pavement to charge an e-bike. By integrating the current charging technology of TILER during this project, Mick was created. Mick, is a wireless charger designed specifically for electric mopeds. Mick incorporates a charger into the kickstand of the moped, allowing for effortless charging by simply parking the moped on the accompanying charging tile embedded in the pavement. By integrating TILER’s current charging technology, Mick not only offers a convenient and reliable way to keep shared e-mopeds charged, but it also helps bring order to the cityscape as the mopeds will be neatly parked on their designated spots. This design effectively addresses the challenges associated with bulk charging batteries in the commercial logistic domain, eliminating the need for chaotic charging cabinets and multiple adapters. Moreover, it reduces the reliance on human responsibility, which often leads to reliability and scalability problems, not to mention fire hazards. Mick’s innovative design not only enhances the charging experience but also improves the overall user experience of the shared mobility system, making it a promising solution for the future.

This thesis is result of an assignment set up by Pan Oston. Pan Oston is a company who makes steel product like checkouts and kiosks for the retail market. A sizable part of Pan Oston’s revenue are checkouts and self-checkouts (SCOs). It is expected that in the future of retail these products are less relevant. This is why Pan Oston has requested the design of an improved gate that will be used in self-checkout areas and in future checkoutless stores. It is also requested to design a system that replaces the currently often used barcode scanner that automatically lets people pass the gate or block them. A gate is designed that improves upon existing gates in terms of communication, seamlessness and ease-of-use. The goal of this gate is to make it easy and pleasant for customers to leave the SCO area while supporting the SCO host by giving him/her more control. By using animated green, orange and red lights that are intuitively integrated in the gate, communication between customer and gate is optimized. Sounds are played in case of a warning or an alarm. This gives customers extra hints on what is going on but most importantly alerts the host and other store personnel of the gate’s current situation so that they are always aware even if they are not looking. The gate can be customized if needed, which is one of Pan Oston specialties. In summary the gate improves upon its competing gates in communication, looks, focus on the host and theft-prevention. For the auto-passthrough system Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is used. By attaching BLE signal emitter to the baskets and carts and by placing BLE signal receivers at the SCOs and gate we can keep track of who has paid and who has not and let them leave or block them accordingly. BLE is used because the system will be applied in existing and future supermarkets that use SCO areas. These are supermarkets people are often dependent on so we cannot use biometric technology like face recognition, even though these technologies are incredibly powerful. Because not all customers will like being a part of these technologies, they cannot be applied in these stores. The flip side is that it is now mandatory to use a basket or cart and no more than 1 basket or cart is allowed per group that shops together.

This report describes the development of a redesigned haptic glove for SenseGlove, a Delft-based startup specializing in haptic technologies for use in Virtual Reality. Their Nova product line offers force feedback, haptics, and finger tracking to increase immersion in VR and provide intuitive interaction with virtual objects for training purposes. Driven by a desire to implement new features, communicate a new branding direction and increase production rates while maintaining quality, SenseGlove requested a full redesign of Nova’s enclosure with a focus on improving assembly time. An analysis of Nova’s original assembly process and design was conducted and showed several areas in which it could be improved. Then, three focus points were defined based on principles from Poka Yoke and DFA: Focus point 1: Minimize the number of parts needed for subassemblies within the scope of this project. Focus point 2: Improve the logic of the assembly steps and make them as self-explanatory as possible. Focus point 3: Reduce the loss of progress that can occur from human error during assembly. Guided by the focus points, a three-phase design process was completed in which Nova was divided into several subproblems that were individually solved, then combined into a configuration model, before finally being integrated with a new aesthetic direction that was co-developed with SenseGlove to create a Nova 2.0 concept with a new assembly process. A proposal for CMF was also provided, along with an evaluation based on assembly, aesthetics reception, manufacturability, and costs. The Nova 2.0 concept is estimated to take approximately 53% of the original time to assemble, while eliminating the need for several assembly stations and enabling nondestructive disassembly. The new aesthetic direction fits well among other VR devices often used together with Nova but requires some refinement to meet all visual goals set by SenseGlove. The model provided in this report is not yet completely manufacturable, but with minor adjustments and implementation of recommendations should be ready for production. The new production cost is expected to be higher than the original Nova due to the implementation of new features and a redesigned PCBA, though the exact price cannot be determined as some features were beyond the scope of this project. The Nova 2.0 concept reaches the goals set at the start of this project and SenseGlove is recommended to further develop it but is advised to keep the three focus points in mind when making changes, as design for assembly needs to be applied in all stages of development to bring maximum benefits and reduce the risk of facing issues in the future.

Legionella is a serious thread to public health. For a lot of facilities, obligated water safety plans need to be executed to minimise the chances of a legionellosis outbreak. Unfortunately, these water safety plans are not always executed properly. With the stoppage sensor of Octo Facility Management, there is an opportunity to create a difference in public health, by making it more convenient to execute these water safety plans. Tap points within these facilities need to be weekly flushed for at least two minutes to make sure there is no stagnant water in the water pipe system. The sensor registers if a tap point is used, eliminating the tap points that already have been refreshed during the week. This method can save a lot of water, time and money, and also creates a much better overview of actual risks of legionella contamination in buildings. Subject to this graduation project was to improve the technical performance and usibility of the sensor. The new generation sensor is improved in usability, by creating a vision for the installation process and general use of the product. Guiding the user with a step-by-step guide through the installation process, the user is able to install the sensor without the help of Octo. The sensor itself is designed in a way that it is easy to install and easy to understand by colour coded clamps. With the use of a reference sensor the sensor output can be validated to meet the legionella prevention regulations. New use of data can also initiate the discussion in how the regulations can be interpreted differently.