Kazuki Tojo
B.S.E. Thesis: Thermal Behaviour of a Lithium Self-Field Magnetoplasmadynamic Thruster
Princeton University, Aug 2023 to Apr 2024. Advised by Professor Edgar Y. Choueiri. Inducted into Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honour Society.Numerical analysis and experimental validation of the thermal behaviour of a lithium self-field MPD thruster. Two phases of the thruster were studied: the heat-up phase, where only the heater is activated, as well as the firing phase, where plasma is initiated. Future works are laid out to further understand this thermal behaviour with higher accuracy and precision.
Cislunar Space Mission Design
Princeton University, Jan 2024 to May 2024. Project run by Professor Ryne Beeson. Project lead.Theoretical design of a space mission to establish communication, data relay and object tracking architectures in the cislunar domain within a $400 million budget to support NASA's Artemis program. Led a 24-person team over 12 weeks to develop a 4-satellite mission satisfying the Request For Proposal. Presented the mission design to space systems experts at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
Search-and-Rescue-Robot Project
Princeton University, Aug 2024 to Dec 2024. Project run by Professor Dan Nosenchuck and Al Gaillard. Project lead. First team in Princeton University course history to achieve full autonomous operation.Designed, manufactured and programmed an autonomous 10 kg SaRR under $750 to manoeuvre through a winding chute, climb over a 12” wall, navigate towards a light source and deposit a medkit by a “trapped victim”.
M.Eng. Thesis: Gas Sensing for Cooling and Combustion using Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems
University of Oxford, Oct 2022 to Jun 2023. Supervised by Professor Kam Chana and Professor John Coull. First-class honours.Developed a novel method of high frequency and high sensitivity gas analysis by pulsing, through a soldered 9-pin d-sub connection, the tungsten filament of a MEMS gas flow sensor as a thin-film and obtaining heat curves. Derived and validated a finite-elements model using high pressure argon gas, compressed dry air and exhaled breath. Improved the measurement frequency by 3 orders of magnitude compared to gas sensors on the current market
Aerofoil Free Flight Data Generator & Analyser
University of Oxford, Oct 2022 to Jan 2023. Project run by Professor Luca Di Mare. First-class honours.A free flight simulator was coded on MATLAB through a finite-elements approach. A progression of models were tested to sequentially introduce complexities such as vortex shedding. The final model was validated against existing data, then used to generate flight trajectory data which was matched to a reference data for optimisation of aerodynamic parameters.