The PhotoSentinel Mach II Enclosure Design project aimed to develop an advanced enclosure system tailored for long-term time-lapse photography projects. The PhotoSentinel Mach II is a robust and versatile solution designed to protect camera equipment from the elements while enhancing usability and efficiency in the field. My role in this project was to lead the mechanical design efforts, focusing on developing innovative features to improve functionality and reliability.
Contributions:
- Modular Internals Design: Conceptualized and designed the internal carriage system, which allows for seamless removal of the controller unit and camera for installation and testing purposes. This innovation eliminates the need for readjustment, saving valuable time and ensuring consistent camera positioning which is fundamental in timelapse photography.
- Quick Disconnect Power System: Developed the quick disconnect power system for the controller unit, enabling the controller and camera to be quickly disconnected from power and the housing for testing and adjustment in the field. This feature enhances convenience and flexibility, empowering users to easily and quickly remove or swap controllers or entire assemblies in the even of faults.
- Custom SSD Enclosure: Designed a bespoke SSD enclosure and receptacle to meet the demands of long-term time-lapse photography projects and the design lifetime and form factor constraints. This custom solution ensures that the same SSD connection system could be utilised over many years and replacements could be manufactured and sent to customers regardless of when a Mach II unit was produced.
- Comprehensive Parts Sourcing: I led the sourcing efforts for all components of the enclosure, SSD and carriage, collaborating closely with vendors to ensure correct and quality parts. This meticulous approach guaranteed optimal performance and durability for the system.
- Environmental Testing: Oversaw the environmental testing phase, ensuring that the enclosure meets and exceeds industry standards for durability and reliability. From extreme temperatures to moisture resistance, the enclosure is built to withstand the harshest conditions.
Successor Products: The parts and features designed for the PhotoSentinel Mach II enclosure are still in use in the successor product, the ‘Tempo.’ This speaks to the enduring quality and innovation of the design, as well as its continued relevance in the evolving landscape of time-lapse photography technology for the company.