Korebami Adebajo
MIT Department: Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Ellen Roche
Research Supervisor: Samuel Gollob
Undergraduate Institution: University of South Carolina
Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria
Website: LinkedIn
Biography
Korebami Adebajo is an undergraduate student at the University of South Carolina, majoring in Mechanical Engineering with minors in Mathematics and Electrical Engineering. Her passion for design and innovation was sparked in a drafting class, where she enjoyed analyzing and hand-drawing complex machine parts. This interest naturally led her to pursue a career in research and development within the industry, aiming to develop and implement new technologies that benefit society. Her journey began in middle school when she became involved with her sister’s NGO focused on climate advocacy. This experience piqued her interest in sustainable energy sources, particularly electric aircraft. Her initial research experience centered on this interest and eventually expanded to include soft robotics, seamlessly blending her educational background in electrical and mechanical engineering. Throughout her time in college, she has participated in her school’s robotics club and led the tractive team in her school’s SAE chapter. These experiences have taught her skills such as collaboration, leadership, critical thinking, and the use of hand tools like a saw and drill press. Through her unique combination of skills and experiences, she is committed to contributing to the advancement of technology and sustainability, adding significant value to any team or project she is part of.
Abstract
Experimental Analysis of Catalyzed Hydrogen Peroxide Decomposition for
Propellant-Based Actuators
Korebami O. Adebajo1, Samuel Dutra Gollob2, Dr. Kaitlyn Becker2, and
Dr. Ellen T. Roche2
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of South Carolina
2Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
This research focuses on the experimental characterization of catalyzed hydrogen peroxide decomposition for propellant-based actuators in untethered soft robotics. The problem at hand is the unpredictable nature of the decomposition reaction, which hinders the control and efficiency of these actuators. The significance of this study lies in its potential to create a compact, high-output propulsion system that surpasses traditional battery and pump systems in speed and power, crucial for many applications like underwater exploration. Our approach couples designing a reactor core to test the catalytic reaction with the derived experimental data to predict and control reaction behaviors such as reaction rate, temperature, and pressure. Existing models, while foundational, require a lot of refinement to align with experimental results, necessitating the inclusion of variables like heat transfer and catalyst orientation. Experimental setups involve custom engine systems for precise data collection of different sets, one to analyze the effect of the catalyst shape, and another for the behavior of the fuel inflow rate.
Preliminary results indicate that modifying variables such as fuel volume and catalyst surface area significantly affects pressure output. By incorporating fuel flow rate and reactant concentration and varying engine reactor designs into our model, we anticipate achieving accurate predictions of dynamic system behaviors. This research aims to enhance the predictability and control of propellant-based actuators, advancing the field of untethered robotics.
