27Apr

Houston, We Have an Intern: Introducing Our Newest Space Cadet


As part of the staffing pipeline at Dandelions, we regularly hire interns and junior engineers who have an interest in all things aerospace!

We were lucky enough to pick up Michael Yaacoub recently, and after a few months, he very kindly agreed to put together some reflections on his time at Dandelions.

Michael Yaacoub, Abishek Shrestha and Harindi Perera at the Dandelions office in Alexandria!
Michael Yaacoub, Abishek Shrestha and Harindi Perera at the Dandelions office in Alexandria!

About Me

Hi, I’m Michael Yaacoub, and I am currently an aerospace engineering intern at Dandelions. I am a final year student studying a Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering (Hon), majoring in Space Engineering at the University of Sydney. I am passionate about all things aerospace - ranging from flight mechanics, aircraft structures, aerodynamics and UAVs, to spacecraft and satellite design.

As I approach the end of my 6-month internship at Dandelions, it is amazing to reflect on all the experiences I’ve had, the skills I’ve learnt and the memories I’ve made with the team. To summarize, during this internship, I was able to gain valuable experience in various engineering tasks that involved assisting in the mechanical development of our satellite payloads Dandelions-1 and Dandelions-2, and performing R&D applied to our Emergency Services UAV: Gyrochute, specializing in aerodynamic optimization and mathematical modelling.

What I Worked On During My Internship 

During my time at Dandelions, I was responsible for a range of tasks. As a personal project throughout my internship, I focused on developing a mathematical model for the motion of the Gyrochute. This involved research in aerodynamics, rotor dynamics and autorotation to develop and solve the equations which govern the Gyrochute’s motion.

Using numerical approximations in MATLAB/Simulink to solve these equations, I then developed a range of tools, applications and calculators to assist the engineers in designing the Gyrochute for varying customer or payload requirements. Using advanced simulation software such as ANSYS Fluent, the mathematical model was verified and validated against real-life drop tests and computational fluid dynamics simulations. 

I also designed components used for both Space Mission projects. This included writing trade-off tables, developing evaluation criteria for numerous designs, and developing manufacturing and integration plans to assess the feasibility and cost of mechanical components. I also liaised with suppliers and manufacturers and implemented their design feedback.

Finally, I assisted engineers with assembly, mechanical and electromechanical integration, QA, FEA simulations, CAD development, engineering drawings, procurement, and manufacturing consultancy. This involved the use of a range of industry-leading software including: ANSYS Mechanical to perform modal, structural, and random vibration simulations, Autodesk Inventor, ANSYS SpaceClaim, Solidworks CAM and Excel.

Michael Yaacoub putting his skills to use!
Michael Yaacoub putting his skills to use!

What The Team Is Like!

Working with the team at Dandelions has been an incredibly inspiring experience. The team is made up of talented and passionate individuals who are all committed to working together to achieve a common goal. What I appreciate most about working with the team at Dandelions is the sense of community that we have built.

Everyone is encouraged to share their ideas and thoughts, and there is always an open dialogue between team members. I felt that I was a valued member of the company and that my ideas and contributions were respected. 

The team members were incredibly supportive and willing to offer guidance and support whenever I needed it. Their willingness to share their knowledge and expertise with me helped me to develop my skills and knowledge to become a better engineer.

I appreciate the trust and responsibility that the team placed in me, as it allowed me to contribute to meaningful projects and challenged me to be the best I could be. The level of collaboration and teamwork at Dandelions is truly exceptional, and it has been an honour to be a part of such an amazing team.

What Excites Me About The Future!

Reflecting on my time at Dandelions, I can confidently say that it has been a remarkable journey of learning, growth, and collaboration. The experience and knowledge gained here will undoubtedly serve me well in my future career as an aerospace engineer. The aerospace industry is constantly evolving, and I am eager to use what I have learned to tackle new challenges and pursue new opportunities.

I am grateful to have worked alongside a talented and passionate group of individuals who are committed to the success of the company. What I appreciate most about the team at Dandelions is their inclusivity and openness to ideas. As an intern, I felt that my contributions were valued and respected, which allowed me to learn and grow as an engineer. I am confident that the skills and knowledge I have gained here will enable me to make a valuable contribution to the aerospace industry in the future.

Beyond the technical skills, the most important takeaways from my internship are the lessons about teamwork, communication, and the potential impact that engineering can have on the world. As engineers, we have a unique opportunity to make a positive difference in the world, and I am grateful to have had the chance to work with a team that is passionate about doing just that. Dandelions' mission to make space and UAV technology more accessible and affordable is not just about innovation, it's about using engineering to make the world a better place.

Looking back on my time at Dandelions, I am proud of what I have accomplished and excited for what the future holds. I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with such an amazing team and to have been a part of a company that is dedicated to making a difference in the world through engineering.

I am confident that the learnings and experiences I have gained here will stay with me throughout my engineering career and will enable me to make a positive impact in the field. I will always be proud to have been a part of the team at Dandelions, and I look forward to seeing the great things that the company will accomplish in the years to come.

Summary

We are very grateful for the exceptional contribution Mike has made to the team! Also, this pretty heartfelt and detailed write-up was really appreciated.

If you would like to hear more or are keen on a stint with Dandelions in terms of an internship or junior engineering role, please send an email to hello@dandelions.cloud and we'll come back to you!

Recent posts

post

Celebrating Iver Cairns: Scientist of the Year at the 2023 Australian Space Awards

post

Houston, We Have an Intern: Introducing Our Newest Space Cadet

post

A Big Update On Dandelions-2

post

Our People: Abishek Shrestha

post

Dandelions Receives the Aviation & Aerospace Awards 2023!

post

Waratah Seed Satellite Launch Date Announcement!

post

Dandelions Career: Grants Relationship Manager

post

Dandelions goes to Pyne and Partners’ inaugural Taste of Space Expo

post

Shake It! Dandelions-1 Goes For A Shaker Test

post

Introducing Dandelions-2: A Step Towards Space Deployed Sensor Grids

post

A Deep Dive Into The Gyrochute!

post

The Prototype Dandelions-1 Is Ready!

post

Our People: Jamie Dale

post

Making Friends And Influencing Richard Branson

post

Dandelions-1 Is Coming Together!

post

Dandelions' SBIR Phase 1 Journey: Part 1

post

Soft Opening of Wolfpack Spacehub's New Facility

post

We Went to 13th Australian Space Forum and QnA With Dandelions Team

post

Our People: Jake Sheath

post

Dandelions Has Won The SBIR Grant!

post

We Won Waratah Seed! And We Are Going To Space!

post

Happy New Year From Team Dandelions

post

End of Year CEO Message

post

Dandelions: 2021 in Review

post

How to Prepare for Your Engineering Interview

post

Dandelions' Second iFly Test

post

Our People: Vidisha Gosai

post

What You Could Fit In The Gyrochute: Rain Gauge Sensor

post

What You Could Fit In The Gyrochute: GPS

post

Sensors You Could Fit In The Gyrochute: Wind Speed Sensor

post

Sensors You Could Fit In The Gyrochute: Wind Direction

post

What You Could Fit In The Gyrochute: 360 Camera

post

Sensors You Could Fit In The Gyrochute: Rain Sensor

post

Sensors You Could Fit In The Gyrochute: Temperature Sensor

post

We Are Designing A New Gyrochute

post

The Daily Life Of A Dandelions Engineer: Harindi Perera

post

The Daily Life Of A Dandelions Engineer: James Truong

post

The Daily Life Of A Dandelions Engineer: Lea Molnar

post

The Daily Life Of A Dandelions Engineer: Alex Le Poer Trench

post

Are You Prepared For An Emergency? Here Are 7 Steps To Prepare Yourself

post

Attention: New iFly Test Coming Up!

post

Dandelions To Overcome Communication Challenges During A Disaster

post

DIY Project: How To Make Your Own Silicone Toy

post

The Gyrochute Series Compilation

post

We Tested Our Gyrochute At iFly

post

Gyrochute vs Copterbox

post

The Differences Between A Gyrochute And A Gyrocopter

post

How We Tested In A Vertical Wind Tunnel!

post

What Are The Differences Between A Gyrochute And A CoW

post

We Went To The 11th Australian Space Forum!

post

Gyrochute vs RC Helicopter

post

Gyrochute vs Quadrotor Drone

post

Gyrochute vs Parachute

post

Gyrochute: What You Need To Know?

post

Is There Really A Hotel In Space?

post

Australian Space News Highlights (February 2021)

post

Latest Technologies To Prevent and Fight Bushfires - February 2020

post

How To Design And Print Your Own Planetary Gearset

post

Advice For Aspiring Young Engineers

post

Interview With Dandelions Team: Harindi Perera

post

Soldering Tools Used By Professional Electrical Engineer

post

Interview With Dandelions Team: Lea Molnar

post

Pros And Cons Of Being An Electrical Engineer

post

Interview With Dandelions Team: Alexander Le Poer Trench

post

Dandelions' Founder: Brian Lim

post

Our People: Alexander Le Poer Trench

post

Our People: Harindi Perera

post

Our People: Lea Molnar

post

What is the Dandelions product vision?

post

International Fire Fighter Profiled Us!

post

Welcome To Dandelions