Final year project
Product Design and Technology (BSc)
SUBMERGE - A system for ghost net removal
In 2018, around half of all plastic in the great pacific garbage patch was abandoned fishing gear, known as ghost gear or ghost nets. These nets float around the ocean for centuries, catching not only fish but sea turtles, dolphins, porpoises, birds, sharks, seals, and even whales, all of whom die helpless tangled in the nets. Fortunately, several charities, such as Ghost Fishing UK, spend their time diving in the oceans, working to remove these nets.
Thetis, The Ghostbuster
One of the largest problems faced by these 'ghost diving' charities is breaking up the nets, nets are designed to catch and so easily tangle into great floating behemoths. Currently, an assortment of diving knives and underwater power tools are used to break the nets into smaller, removable chunks, these tools are far from perfect and none work on all types of nets. Thetis is a bespoke power tool for cutting through every type of fishing net whilst underwater.
The Nereids, Ghost Reconnaissance
Before undertaking any mission, the ghost divers run reconnaissance on the net in question, allowing them to calculate the best way to break the net and check for trapped sea life. The Nereids are small devices which track the users' location underwater, allowing them to log locations of the net and photograph features underwater for analysis.
Working Model, Thetis
A working model was designed and built to test the functionality of Thetis. One of the trickiest aspects of the process was designing a tool which could cut through 0.5mm monofilament wire and 25mm thick steel trawler cable.
Net Analysis
The data gathered from the Nereids is sent to a tablet or computer where the net can be analysed. Tagged locations and photographs are pinned on the 3D map for the divers to analyse, allowing them to plan their mission.
Theseus' Trainers
Theseus is a fully repairable sneaker model. Every component can be purchased and replaced separately by the user, creating a system where shoes are not disposed of when only one aspect is worn down. Theseus is designed to be a classically styled trainer that could be worn with anything and won't go out of fashion. The repairable model gives users full control over the customisation, allowing them to design their trainer from thousands of combinations.
Theseus' Model
Theseus focuses not only on environmental sustainability but its social responsibility, with a long term aim to disrupt the sneaker market into more ethical practices throughout, from reducing waste to transparency in all its practices. It is also designed to inject money into local economies and start-ups by providing a universal model for repairable shoes and pushing businesses to cobblers for users who don't want to repair their own shoes.
William Foster
Final year project
Product Design and Technology (BSc)
Work Experience
I spent a year working for Pioneer Pump designing, engineering and building pump sets for floods, mines and quarries. Working on industrial engines, engineering pressurised water pumps and programming telemetry control systems for electrical and diesel systems. Towards the end of my year, I oversaw and executed a project to convert half the existing EMEA fleet from fossil fuel to electric-powered, whilst converting the existing canopies to be stackable.