Brian Chiu

Portfolio

Made in Google Docs

This was the first lesson I learned as an engineer, and it continues to drive my approach to engineering design today.

I believe in prototyping quickly and testing often, in questioning how each detail fits into the bigger picture, and in diving deep to understand the fundamental design intentions and interactions behind an engineering challenge.

My curiosity, diverse experiences, and background in mechanical engineering equip me to meet these challenges with creative solutions. I strive to develop simple, but effective products, inspired by the people who use them.

This is a portfolio of some work I’ve done in the continuing mission to improve my engineering and design skills. Take a look.

PROJECTS

Coffee Sock

Pastry Carrier

Phone Hero

Bicycle Powered Grain Mill

“Fail fast...in order to succeed sooner”

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BICYCLE POWERED GRAIN MILLfor Gulu, Uganda

DESIGN CHALLENGEDesign a bicycle powered grain mill that can be built in Uganda using locally sourced labor, materials, and manufacturing.

BENCHMARKING COMPETITORSFew existing low cost grain mills, no bicycle powered mills under US$50. All use some form of millstone, an expensive and specialized component.

BRAINSTORM CONCEPTSBlend instead of grind: blades to process grain instead of millstonesBelt drive system to adjust torque/speed ratioMake millstones out of poured concreteUse bevel gears to change direction of power transmission

SELECTED IDEAS TO BUILD

Quick release to secure bicycle to millIdler wheel to close force loopCombined mill stand and bicycle mountPerpendicular driveshaft to change direction of transmission

TEST + REFINE20 units are currently in trial phase at Ugandan villages, and students at Bucknell University continues to improve the design.

Idler wheel

Bicycle Mount

Driveshaft

Quick Release

Removable HopperMill Blades3

Bicycle Powered Grain Mill

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Bicycle Powered Grain Mill

The Bicycle Powered Grain Mill began as a Senior Design Project at Bucknell University. Meant as an academic exercise, our team soon realized the potential of the project and partnered with the non-profit Bicycles Against Poverty (BAP) to make it a reality.

After a year of design, we secured a $10,000 grant from Davis Projects for Peace, enabling our team of four to travel to Gulu, Uganda in the summer to implement the project and construct trial prototypes.

The mill processes sorghum and millet, which are staple foods in Uganda, using a bicycle for power. It is durable and constructed with locally available steel, mahogany, and plastic.

It costs $25 to build and is designed to be entirely constructed using local labor and manufacturing, eliminating the need for foreign materials to maintain the project. The mill is fully recyclable, in keeping with ecological sustainability goals.

Blades are used instead of millstones to reduce cost, eliminating the need for specialized rock and knowledge of stone carving. Power is transmitted from the bicycle wheel to the blades via a friction wheel subassembly, which allows for large tolerances in manufacturing while maintaining a small force loop.

The frame uses welds instead of fasteners, as fasteners are difficult to specify and procure in rural Uganda. Bicycles are secured to the frame using a quick release, making it easily removable for other tasks.

The mill is currently in trial phase at villages surrounding Gulu. We developed and donated plans for manufacturing to a local machine shop to build the mills, and our BAP partners offer micro-finance loans to help Ugandan entrepreneurs finance milling businesses.

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PHONE HEROphone charging stationDESIGN CHALLENGEDevelop a machine to recharge phones at bars and restaurants

BENCHMARKING COMPETITORSCompeting products cost more than $1000, and are little more than elaborate outlets. Cannot leave phones to charge unsupervised.

BRAINSTORM CONCEPTSRaspberry Pi to control locks + card readerRent batteries instead of charging directlyInterchangeable skins to match bar decor

SELECTED IDEAS TO BUILDLockers to secure each phone individuallyUsing credit card as “key” to retrieve phone

TEST + REFINEInvited friends, bar staff to try alpha releaseMarket tested at 7 bars in San Francisco

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In 2013, I started a company called Phone Hero with friends to help bar customers keep their phones charged through the end of the day.

Despite the chance of theft, many bar customers ask bartenders to charge their phones for them. We saw an opportunity to create a charging station for this market.

Our first prototype was a locker-based design, where each phone was secured in individual compartments. It allowed the user to leave their phone to recharge safely without risk of theft or damage.

The user’s credit card acted as both their payment method and access key for their phone. A Raspberry Pi kept track of the keys securely, operated locks, and handled encrypted payment processing.

We later pivoted to a battery dispenser model, where the customer could rent or buy an external battery. This allowed users to keep their phones with them and continue to use it while charging.

After 7 pilot tests at local bars, we determined that the volume was too low to be a profitable business. However, the lessons learned from the experience continue to be invaluable.

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Phone Hero

Growing up in Singapore, I remember that coffee was traditionally brewed in a sock-like fabric bag supported by a ring of wire. Coffee Sock is inspired by this simple, but effective apparatus. It is designed to achieve pour-over style coffee in the backcountry while keeping weight, size, and mess to a minimum.

The device is made of nylon mesh and LDPE plastic. The lid is threaded to screw into the top of a standard 32oz Nalgene wide mouth bottle, common amongst backpackers, climbers, and other outdoorsmen. Grounds are scooped into the mesh “sock” and hot water is poured into the bottle to brew coffee. Plastic rings ensure the mesh does not bunch up during the brew process.

To clean up, the user pulls on the stainless steel chain, which lifts the mesh up into the lid. With the mesh out of the water, Coffee Sock can be drip-dried and packed away with the grounds into its carrying case, so the user can clean up the mess at home instead of dealing with it on the trail.

The tapered shape of the Coffee Sock enables the user to invert the mesh for rinsing. The system is convenient for weekend or day trips, where users are willing to trade a little extra weight for creature comforts.

Carrying Case Lid

Stainless Steel Chain

Nylon Mesh

Carrying Case Base

COFFEE SOCK for Nalgene Bottles

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PASTRY CARRIERDESIGN CHALLENGECreate a pastry carrier to protect delicate baked goods while transported. Must fit 9” diameter and 7” tall cakes.

BENCHMARKING COMPETITORSRely on cheap plastic clips to attach base to lidSlick plastic floor causes goods to slide aroundNo ability to keep goods chilledHolds cakes or cupcakes, but not both

SELECTED IDEAS TO BUILDReusable ice packNon-slip floor coatingFold-down doorConvertible insert

Origami Inspired: Foldable Shock-Absorbing Web

BRAINSTORM CONCEPTSConvertible insert to accommodate cakes and cupcakesNon-slip silicon floor coatingRemovable shelf splits container into two tiersThermal insulation lining maintains temperature

Tabbed Insert

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As a freelance pastry chef, my friend needed to transport her delicacies to family and customers around New York City.

But moving fragile cakes and pastries can be challenging; many chefs jury-rig ways to secure their goods. Existing carriers are little more than large Tupperware containers, lacking features to protect delicate and delicious works.

The IceBox Pastry Carrier offers a secure way to deliver and serve food. The fold-down door and separate insert allows goods to be easily removed by sliding out the insert. The base and walls are made as one piece to maximize strength, so heavy cakes can be carried with confidence.

This simple design is comprised of four injection molded pieces (handle, body, door, and insert). The double-sided insert accommodates a wide variety of goods by featuring both twelve cupcake seats and a non-slip silicon flat surface. Chilled food (e.g. cheesecake) can be kept cold by freezing the fluid-filled insert before use.

Integrated,Focused,

Functional.

Pastry Carrier

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10 Principles of DesignIn the early 1980s, Braun designer Dieter Rams became increasingly concerned by the state of the world around him – “an impenetrable confusion of forms, colors and noises.” As a significant contributor to that world, he asked himself an important question: is my design good design? In response, he set about expressing the ten fundamental principles that he believed all great designs embody.

● Good Design Is Innovative

● Good Design Makes Products Useful

● Good Design Is Aesthetic

● Good Design Makes Products Understandable

● Good Design Is Unobtrusive

● Good Design Is Honest

● Good Design Is Long-Lasting

● Good Design Is Thorough, Down to The Last Detail

● Good Design Is Environmentally-Friendly

● Good Design Is As Little Design As Possible

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Co-FounderPhone Hero LLC, San Francisco, CA

● Designed a novel phone battery dispenser for bars and restaurants● Successfully pilot tested business concept at 7 local bars● Developed advertising copy that attracted strong response in trials● Determined business ROI using pilot test data and quantitative analysis

Mechanical Engineer IAclima Inc, San Francisco, CA

● Created a highly efficient process for environmental sensor manufacture● Fabricated lab-grade equipment from hardware store parts● Constructed custom test rigs to calibrate air quality instruments

Associate R&D EngineerAvinger Inc, Redwood City, CA

● Inventor on Patent WO 2013172974 A1; 4 unique Invention Disclosures● Designed ergonomic atherectomy tool to treat Peripheral Artery Disease● Ran motor stability tests for First-In-Human clinical study● Authored protocols and equipment specifications for FDA approval

Design EngineerDavis Projects for Peace, Gulu, Uganda

● Won $10,000 Projects for Peace Grant for $25 bicycle-powered mill● Led a team of engineers to Gulu, Uganda to implement production● On-the-fly redesign of mill using local materials, labor, and manufacturing● Coordinated manufacture of 20 units for local entrepreneurs● Open-sourced machine designs and results online

Undergraduate ResearcherBucknell University, Lewisburg, PA

● Created Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model of erosion around ocean pipelines

● Presented at American Geophysical Union Conference in San Francisco

Mac SpecialistApple Retail, New York, NY

● Engaged in launch preparations for the original iPhone

BRIAN CHIU455 Bowdoin St

San Francisco, CA 94134Cell: (408) 883-5701

Email: brnchiu@gmail.com

EDUCATIONBucknell University, Lewisburg, PA

B.S. Mechanical EngineeringClass of 2011

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIPEagle Scout

Boy Scouts of America, 2006

District Commissioner for San FranciscoBoy Scouts of America Volunteer, 2013

SKILLSSolidWorks, Arduino, Raspberry Pi,

Python, Pro/E, ANSYS, VCarve Pro, AutoCAD, Illustrator

CNC, laser cutting, waterjet cutting, milling, lathing, 3D printing,

CAD, CAM, sheet metal, powder coating, thermoforming,

woodworking, soldering, TIG welding

LANGUAGESEnglish

Chinese (Mandarin)Introductory Japanese

{Experience}{Resume}

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