How 'The Infinite Box' Began

Engineer doing passionate work for a greater purpose.

A dream to become an inventor was provoked when I discovered my ambitious creativity. When I was 12 years old, I began drafting ideas. I began buying sketch books to draw and analyze anything that would come to mind. However, I found out that not all that comes to mind is feasible.

This is the reason I became a Structural Engineer.

I joined makerspaces, student and professional organizations, picked up different types of projects by learning from others, asking professionals, reading blogs, as well as joining the Electrical Engineering department's makerspace to learn different disciplines. I contributed a self-programmable robotic arm structure, a custom gyroscopic stand to help debug quadcopters with a custom quadcopter structure design, a custom 3D printer, and fixed their 3D printers. I also partnered with UCSD SEDS, an internationally recognized student rocket club, to build their first composite structure. Additionally, I helped some UCSD PhD students manufacture composites which include a VTOL box-wing drone and prosthetic structures. This also led me to compete internationally in SAMPE's annual competitions.

I continued my work at home where I design, build, and test prototypes. This includes home-made manufacturing of custom 3D printers, a self-balancing skateboard, and composite structures. I continue building the machinery necessary to make virtually any prototype and ultimately test it. Current projects include building a large fire-proof oven to cure large composite structures (it is 11'x5.5'x6' so it is a fun challenge) and a manned VTOL drone.

(#ideas #engineering #inovations)

- Jordi Medellin

Engineer