In a landmark collaboration between the Wond’ry, Vanderbilt’s Innovation Center, and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, a revolutionary drone-control goggle mount has been developed, marking a significant advancement in law enforcement technology. This pioneering project, led by third year mechanical engineering student Philip Butcher, represents a significant leap in operational efficiency and safety for first responders nationwide.
The project was initiated through Makerspace Manager Garrett Thorne, and originally worked on by Wond’ry Maker Tech Henry Mitchell in early 2023. It was initiated to address a specific need of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department’s SWAT team. They requested the design and creation of a mount to combine drone-control goggles with their operational gear. Philip was able to take the initial prototypes and further refine them, incorporating valuable feedback from the officers to enhance functionality, comfort, and the overall integration with the officers’ gear. His dedication to iterative improvement and close collaboration with the end-users were instrumental in evolving the project into a practical, widely-adopted solution.
Philip Butcher, in reflecting on the project, shared his motivations and design process:
“I’ve always wanted to be a design engineer, and this was the first time I was truly able to lead a project and use the skills I’ve been taught at Vanderbilt. Whether it was hearing feedback from the officers or bouncing ideas off of Garrett and Professor Galloway, I was excited to come in each day and continue my progress. After seeing the mount’s widespread success in helping officers around the world, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished and look forward to taking on more projects in the future.”
The impact of this innovation has been profound and far-reaching, as detailed by Officer Steven Jones of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department:
“The design has been presented at national conferences, shared on social media, and has spread globally. The 3D print file has been requested by 179 departments across 37 states and 11 countries. This includes national police forces in France, Spain, Luxembourg, Norway, The Netherlands, and New Zealand. Agencies in the United States include those at the federal, state, and local level. The success of this project has exceeded our expectations, and we are thrilled to provide this solution to first responders worldwide”
The success of the mount is not just in its widespread adoption but also in its commitment to accessibility, remaining free for all first responders, contrasting with commercial versions retailing at a significant cost. This initiative reflects the ethos of Vanderbilt’s Wond’ry – to innovate for impact, not profit.
Garrett Thorne, Makerspace Manager at the Wond’ry commended the collaborative effort: “The drone goggle mount project is a great example of the kind of real-world design challenge we like to work on here at the Wond’ry. We’re committed to creating a culture of innovation that allows our students to learn how to solve complex problems by leveraging their unique skill sets they have acquired here at Vanderbilt.”
Philip’s efforts and his comprehensive design portfolio, showcasing his work at the Wond’ry, led to an internship opportunity with Nissan, highlighting the real-world applicability and recognition of the skills honed at Vanderbilt’s creative hub.
Sean McNamara, Senior Manager of Product Planning Strategy & Operations at Nissan North America, noted, “We were introduced to Philip and his work through our partnership on innovation development with The Wond’ry. We quickly recognized his creativity, along with the practical experience he gained at Vanderbilt, and knew we needed to connect Philip with Nissan’s local engineering team, located at our North American Technical Center in Michigan, through an internship to fully evaluate his talents. Nissan views the relationship with Vanderbilt, not only as the exchange of knowledge & innovative ideas, but also as a great source of future outstanding talent to help us take our business to a higher level of success.”
As the drone goggle mount continues to aid law enforcement agencies globally, the project stands as a beacon of the transformative potential of university-led innovation. With the Wond’ry at the forefront of this change, and students like Philip Butcher leading the charge, the future of practical, impactful innovation is bright and promising.