Erim Gokce (Mechanical Engineering)

Erim Gokce (Mechanical Engineering)

Erim Gokce is currently an undergraduate student at Florida International University pursuing his Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering, along with a professional certificate in HVAC design. He expects to graduate in May 2017 and will then continue his education in pursuit of a master’s degree in mechanical engineering. His professional interests include mechanical design, simulation, and assembly in the fields of robotics, HVAC, and computing.

DOE Related Projects

Erim is a DOE Fellow at the Applied Research Center (ARC) under the mentorship of Dr. Dwayne McDaniel and Mr. Anthony Abrahao. Erim is currently tasked with assisting in the development and extensive testing of a robotic inspection tool designed for highly radioactive pipelines located in the AY-102 tank at the DOE Hanford Site. The tool is a mechanically driven miniature crawler comprised of 3-D printed PLA plastics, stainless steel pneumatic cylinders, and an infrared camera affixed to the front of the head component. The mechanism behind the tool lies in a horizontally sliding disc which drives 3 evenly spaced vertically expanding legs that grip the inner walls of the piping. The tool must be able to traverse both 3- and 4-inch diameter pipelines and be able to withstand temperatures of 180 degrees Fahrenheit along with high levels of radioactivity. Erim’s research includes: identifying and acquiring the optimal rubber material for the grips, strengthening and increasing durability of the plastic components, optimizing the force and strength output capabilities, shielding and protecting the onboard camera, and designing both a larger version of the current model and a version based purely on electrical components as opposed to mechanical.