As a part of our course ME 354- Kinematics and Dynamics of Machines Lab, together with my two colleagues, I worked upon the development of a simple planar mechanism to be used for actuating rooftop for convertible cars. We synthesized the mechanism considering model dimensions of a sedan car and considering the occupant envelope in order to keep the occupant safe during the actuation of the mechanism. We synthesized the mechanism based on scissors mechanism while iterating link lengths and shape to obtain the desired trajectory of the links and the end-point, and minimum space occupied in a proper fashion when retracted back.

 

After Synthesizing the mechanism, we prototyped the working model with 3D printed links and Cardboard, while coping up with the problems of assembling and motion hinderance of one link by another link and cleverly modifying the plane of actuation of the link parallely.