Bed Launcher
Bed Launcher is a mechanically actuated bed-lifting system designed to reliably induce wakefulness by physically reorienting the sleeping surface. I independently designed, analyzed, built, tested, and iterated this system from concept through a fully functional prototype using first-principles mechanics, structural reinforcement strategies, and closed-loop iteration driven by test results.
Project Type
Personal Project
Date
Aug. 2024 - Mar. 2025
Progress
Completed
Bed Launcher is a mechanically actuated bed-lifting system designed to physically induce wakefulness by rotating the mattress platform under load. I independently took this project from concept through analysis, CAD, prototyping, testing, and final implementation, using first-principles mechanics to design a system capable of lifting a bed-occupant system in a controlled and repeatable manner.
The system had to lift a distributed mass to a target angle while remaining structurally stable, reversible, and compatible with an existing metal bed frame without permanent modification. The final system reliably achieved approximately 40 degrees of rotation through iterative refinement, with performance aligning closely to analytical predictions.
Actuator placement and hinge geometry were determined using free-body diagrams of the bed, mattress, and occupant system to minimize required actuator force while maintaining stability across the full range of motion. These force models directly informed CAD layouts and were revised repeatedly as physical testing exposed real-world effects such as shifting center of gravity and localized flexure.
The structure was primarily constructed from plywood for manufacturability and stiffness-to-weight efficiency, then reinforced using metal struts and secondary plywood members based on beam bending principles. As iterations progressed, force application points and counterweight placement were adjusted to account for changing load distributions and to prevent unintended system rotation.
The project progressed through multiple build-test-redesign cycles, with each iteration addressing observed failure modes or inefficiencies. When analytical progress stalled, I consulted a mechanical engineering professor to review my force diagrams and assumptions, incorporating that feedback into subsequent revisions. This external validation materially improved load modeling accuracy and system robustness.
Linear actuators were controlled via relays driven by a Raspberry Pi, which hosted a custom web-based interface for scheduling and overrides. Mechanical, electrical, and control decisions were treated as a single integrated system, ensuring that the final design met its functional requirements through disciplined iteration.
