Overview
This project was one of my first hands-on engineering design assignments at LSU. Working as a team, we disassembled and analyzed an electric leaf blower to understand how its components work together, then formalized that understanding into a functional decomposition — a hierarchical diagram that maps what a system does at every level of abstraction.
The exercise introduced core engineering design methodology: before designing anything, understand the system requirements and functions completely.
What I built
- Fusion 360 model: Built a CAD model of the leaf blower assembly in Autodesk Fusion 360, capturing the key structural and mechanical components — motor housing, impeller, intake and exhaust geometry, and handle ergonomics.
- Functional decomposition chart: Mapped the product into three top-level functions (Power, Air Flow, Structure) and decomposed each into sub-functions. The chart illustrated how mechanical energy from the motor drives the impeller, how the housing channels airflow, and how the structural frame connects it all while meeting ergonomic and safety constraints.
- Team analysis: Coordinated with teammates to divide the system into domains, each taking ownership of one subsystem before integrating back into the full chart.
Outcome
The completed decomposition chart clearly illustrated the relationships between the mechanical and electrical subsystems and gave the team a shared vocabulary for discussing design tradeoffs.
More than the artifact itself, this project established the design-first mindset I carry into every project: understand the system fully before touching hardware. That approach directly informed how I tackled the Edge AI and home server projects later.