Mobile Science Lab

Hello, I am a freshman student at a high school, and I have been tasked to build a portable science lab by my Intro to Design teacher. Instead of coming up with a small lab with wheels, like other designs, I chose to do something different by making a full-size mobile science lab. In this presentation, I will go over the brainstorming phase, prototyping phase, and the 3D modeling phase using Fusion 360.

I didn't make the full-size mobile science lab in real life for obvious reasons. I still use some materials.

1. A4 paper for brainstorming and prototyping
2. sticky notes for brainstorming
3. Pencil for sketching and prototyping
4. Autodesk Fusion 360 for 3D modeling

From the start, I knew I wanted to make a mobile lab. I just needed to know what features I wanted to add to my design. I decided to make a chart with sticky notes to see what things I should add or not add based on how valuable they would be to the final design. I finally chose to include solar panels, roof rack, crane, and it must be an off-road lab truck so it can drive in any terrain. You will see that in my final design, I added many other things. I added those after I made the initial design to add more utility to the truck. In the final design, I also added a folding telescope, an ATV, a drone, a weather station, and a boat. After finding the basic idea and what I wanted to add to the truck, I moved on to prototyping.

With my ideas being finalised, all I had to do was make a prototype drawing of the model to capture the design I wanted to make during the designing part of the project. As you can see from the photo, all the things that are going to be included in the final design are present in the design. This is because I hadn’t come up with the other things that I wanted to add yet during this stage. You will see that I got many of my ideas during the design process itself. However, at this point during the project, the drawing gave me a decent idea of the look and shape of the mobile lab that I wanted to design. Now it's time to go to the final designing phase, which is where you will get to see the final design and the many other equipment that I added to the design.

Before I could add any of the cool ideas that I wanted to add, I had to make the base truck itself. The process was easy and quick. This would become the platform on which the whole lab sits.

1. First, I made a simple design of the truck
2. Then I extruded the design
3. I then made circles
4. I extruded the circles
5. I then cut the middle part to make the four wheels
6. I then extruded a big box on the back of the truck
7. I made a sliding section for the lab
8. Rounded the top of the box
9. I then designed a grill that extruded into the bodywork
10. Moved on to making headlights and extruding them out
11. I added more details with a bumper and extra lights.
12. I hollowed out the wheels and extruded a small section for details
13. Moved on to the back and made rounded tail lights
14. Finally, I colored the lights, wheels, and bumper

After I had a simple base model to work with, I then rounded the harsh-looking edges and colored the truck and the lab on the truck. Here you can also see the sliding lab.

1. I first used Fillet to smooth the edges
2. Then I colored the truck dark gray
3. I colored the lab white and blue
4. I also added a place for a rear licence plate

The front of the ruck was looking basic so I added so needed details. I added mirrors, fenders, a bull bar, and running boards. Nothing much was added in this step, but the truck looks a lot better.

1. First, designed running boards and extruded them out.
2. Then I made two circles and a path
3. I then used the Sweep tool to make the circles follow the path and create the bull bar
4. I made simple designs for the fenders and extruded them out
5. I then made the mirrors using two rectangles.
6. I also added my logo for fun
7. I again used the Fillet tool to round off everything
8. Finally, I colored all the new details that were added

The next step was adding support legs to the sliding lab. When the lab was fully extended out, it was clear that it wouldn't work and needed support legs for stability. I also made the legs extendable in two sections, and they can be extended in Fusion 360. In the photos, you can see how the legs can extend out and retract back.

1. First, I made two circles
2. Then extruded them out to make two cylinders
3. I then used the Joints tool to join the two cylinders to the lab
4. I also used the Joints tool to make the legs extendable
5. Then I made two smaller circles
6. I extruded them to make another set of cylinders
7. I again used the Joints tool and attached the cylinders to the first set of cylinders
8. I also made the smaller cylinders extendable
9. I finally added square-shaped legs at the end and colored the legs

Now this is where the fun begins. I finally got to add the cool extra equipment that I wanted to add from the start. It was also just very fun making a foldable crane. The big challenge with this design was making every component movable or extendable like real folding cranes. In the photos provided, you can see different shots of the crane, both folded and extended. The crane comes with two stabilizing legs, a rotating base, two folding sections, and four extendable sections for better range.

1. First, I added a big flat structure where the crane would go
2. Then I added a cylindrical shape and used the Joints tool to make it spin 360 degrees
3. Then came making the main arm
4. I then added another section and used Joints to make it foldable
5. Then I added another smaller foldable section with the Joints tool
6. I then made a long, rectangular cylinder for the extendable sections.
7. I used Joints for the sliding mechanism
8. Made four other sections
9. I attacked everything together with Joints
10. Then I moved to the stabilizers
11. I made two sliding sections and used Joints for the sliding function
12. Then came the two legs that extend down for stability, and I also used Joints for that
13. I then added smaller tail lights to the crane module
14. Made a small hook point for practicality
15. Decided the Fillet the crane to make it look smoother
16. Finally, I colored the crane module in a striking red and black color scheme

In this step, I just added details and equipment to the truck. I added solar panels on the roof, more foot steps, a roof rack, and a lift system for an ATV. The solar roof was the most challenging part of this step in the design process. Here, you don't see the ATV, but I will discuss it in a later step for more details and a better explanation. The lift also works and can be moved.

1. First, I made a big rectangle on the roof
2. Then I added vertical and horizontal lines
3. I then cut the lines into the rectangle to make the shape of solar panels
4. I then moved on to the roof rack
5. First, I made a long cylinder
6. Copied the cylinder and aligned it in a line
7. I then extruded a big pole that connects all the cylinders
8. Then I added two support legs that hold up the roof rack
9. I then added simple steps for the truck
10. Then I moved on to the lift system
11. I first made four cylinders
12. Then made four other cylinders with smaller diameters
13. I used the Joints tool to connect the two sets of cylinders
14. I then designed a simple base where the ATV would be placed, and connected it to the cylinders
15. Then I used Joints to made the cylinders retract into the body
16. Finally I colored everything

Now is the time to make the ATV itself. I didn't want to make it complicated, so I made a simple design. I also added the ATV to the lift system.

1. First, I used the Create Form to make the curvy design of the body
2. Then I added a cylinder sticking out on the top
3. Then I added the handles to the cylinder and rounded it off
4. Then I added a long rectangle to the build
5. I then made wheels by extruding circles
6. I rounded the wheels by using the Fillet tool
7. I then made simple designs for the headlights
8. I extruded the designs to attach the headlights to the main build
9. Finally, I colored everything and colored the headlights

I moved on to adding cabinets and desks inside the lab. The challenge was getting the measurements right so the modules would fit properly in the lab station. I first added a sliding shelf unit. The glass doors can slide from both sides. This module also hides the big support legs of the lab station when they are not in use.

1. First, I made a big box
2. Then cut into the design to make space
3. Then I added the selfs by extruding rectangles
4. I then cut the sides of the box so the support legs could retract in the truck
5. Then I designed a control panel. I then made sheets of glass
6. I used Joints to make the glass doors slide
7. Finally, I colored the design and placed it inside the lab

Now I also added a big desk for three people with drawers. Up to three people can work on this desk thanks to its long design. There are also two smaller drawers. It also includes two larger and deeper drawers for more storage. The two top drawers work together, and the two larger bottom drawers work together. The drawers are able to move thanks to the Joints tool in Fusion 360.

1. First, I made a big box
2. I then cut into the three spaces where people sit and work
3. I then cut into the spaces where the drawers would go
4. Then I made the big drawers first
5. I then cut them into two big boxes to make the drawers
6. I made handles using the Sweep tool
7. I used Joints to attach the drawers to the desk unit and make them work
8. Then I moved on to making the smaller drawers using the same process
9. I also added handles and used Joints the same way
10. The last step was coloring the desk and placing it in the lab station

In this step, I just added a door and steps to the lab station. Since space is limited, I had to incorporate the stairs and the folding door together. I also had to make a sliding part as the door would not reach the ground. Again, the door is functional and works using the Joints tool.

1. First, I made a big thin rectangle and used Joints to make it fold out and connect to the lab station
2. Then I took the steps that I had made and copied them to make a set of steps
3. I then used Joints to attach the steps to the door
4. As you know, the last step was coloring the door

Now I needed to make a boat. I decided to make a boat because I wanted the scientist to be able to research water. I also needed a place where the boat would be placed.

1. First, I made the base of the raft with a big rectangle
2. Then I made a circle and used the Sweep tool to make the circle go around the raft
3. I also make a hook that can be used in cooperation with the crane
4. I then moved on to making the retractable base
5. I first made a rectangle with a side wall
6. I also added a support cylinder that holds up the base
7. I used Joints for the retraction function
8. Then added the boat on the base
9. Finally, I colored the boat and base

In this step, I just added a drone and a landing dock for the drone on the truck. I added a camera to the drone, and it's movable. All of the blades are also movable. The landing dock can be raised and folded.

1. First, I made a simple shape for the drone and extruded it
2. I then used the Fillet tool to shape and smooth the edges
3. Then I made a cutout for the camera
4. I first made a cylinder and made it rotate 360 degrees using Joints
5. Then made a box coming down from the cylinder
6. I then made the camera out of a box and used the Joints tool to make it go up and down
7. Then I made a circle and used Fillet as the lens of the camera
8. Then I made four sticks and used Joints to connect each one to the drone
9. I then added four support legs
10. Then I made the dock
11. I first made two boxes
12. Then, made a big landing zone and used it to connect the two boxes and make it foldable
13. I placed the drone onto the landing dock
14. The final step was adding colors to the dock and drone

In this step, I designed a portable weather station for the truck. I tried to make it small and compact. I added two extendable sections for a good range. I added four instruments on top of the build.

1. First, I made a long box
2. I then cut the inside to make space
3. Then made a long cylinder and used Joints to make it extendable
4. I made another cylinder and connected it to the first cylinder with Joints, and made that extendable
5. I then added a base for the instruments
6. I designed the four different instruments
7. Then I made a door that covers the instruments using the Joints tool
8. I connected the weather station to the back of the truck next to the drone
9. Finally, I added colors to the weather station

In this step, I added the last big thing to the truck. I wanted to make a telescope from the start and got the chance to do it. It has openable doors, an extendable lens, and it turns side-to-side and up and down. I also added some vents for detailing and black cutouts in the telescope.

1. First, I extruded a big box to make the base
2. Then I added a big cylinder on top of the base using Joints
3. I used the Fillet tool to make it a dome
4. I then cut in the middle of the dome to make space for the telescope
5. I then made a box and used Joints to connect it between the two half domes
6. I made a cylinder and rounded it to make it look like a lens
7. I then cut into the base and telescope to make the vents and detailing
8. Then I made two doors for the telescope and made them movable using Joints
9. The last part was coloring the telescope

This is the last part of this design. On the side, I added some more details like a snorkel, hooks, lights, and move vents. Here you can see the final design, and it has come a long way from the basic gray truck that started this design. You can see all the different details and instruments that were added to this truck. I am super proud of the final design. I can, without a doubt, say that this is the best model I have designed. I am also proud that I was able to make every moving part movable and work like the real thing. I am also proud that my design is something different from other shelter designs. I am glad I used Fusion 360 because working with Autodesk Fusion 360 has allowed me to make great designs like this. I also want to thank you for reading my super-long Instructable and checking out my design.