DBDonovan Burke

Projects

Propulsion systems, robotic hardware, and engineering research, from first principles to fabricated hardware.

CAD-style annular chamber and injector illustration for a rotating detonation rocket engine

Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine

Developing a testable propulsion architecture around continuous rotating detonation and pressure-gain combustion.

Rotating detonation engines replace conventional steady combustion with one or more detonation waves traveling continuously around an annular chamber. This project investigates chamber and injector geometry, propellant delivery, transient pressure loading, heat transfer, material selection, instrumentation, and staged test planning.

PropulsionPressure-Gain CombustionInstrumentationHeat Transfer
projectwavefront.org
Cutaway technical illustration of a microturbojet afterburner chamber and flameholder

Microturbojet Afterburner

Leading the chamber and flameholder design for a compact afterburner operating in a high-temperature, high-speed exhaust stream.

I collaborated with student and professional engineers to develop an afterburner for a microturbojet engine. I led design work for the combustion chamber and took responsibility for the flameholder, fuel injection system, and cone while balancing flame stability, pressure loss, thermal protection, manufacturability, packaging, and safe integration.

CombustionThermal DesignMaterial SelectionFabrication
Compact combat robot concept with drivetrain and armored chassis

Big Hero Six Battle Bot

Translating a character-inspired concept into a compact combat robot that can be fabricated, repaired, and controlled reliably.

The design process centers on drivetrain sizing, chassis architecture, weight allocation, component protection, impact loading, serviceability, and rapid iteration through CAD and prototyping.

Assistive arm mechanism illustration with actuator and compliant linkage

ArmAssist

An assistive arm orthotic built around compliant mechanisms and artificial-muscle actuation.

I founded and led this project alongside Henry Aceves. Early prototypes produced approximately five times the force of a leading commercial alternative, while the concept was projected to be five times less expensive and ten times lighter.

Research and lab work.

Soft robotic continuum body concept for a millimeter-scale bronchoscope

Millimeter-Scale Bronchoscope Continuum Bodies

Designed and manufactured soft robotic continuum bodies to improve maneuverability in a millimeter-scale bronchoscope. Ex vivo testing demonstrated one additional degree of freedom.

Fibroin-based therapeutic patch material sample and 3D printing path illustration

Fibroin-Based 3D-Printed Therapeutic Patches

Developed and refined a fabrication process for flexible fibroin-based therapeutic patches and characterized mechanical response using Poisson's ratio.

More engineering builds.

Compact Stirling heat engine mechanism illustration

Stirling Heat Engine

Designing and fabricating a compact Stirling engine as an end-to-end study of thermodynamics, mechanism design, and manufacturing.

Field water-quality sampling device and lake testing illustration

Jones State Forest Water-Quality Study

Coordinated nine student-led teams, designed FDM-printed water sampling devices, and organized field testing across two lakes.

Mechanical siege machine launcher and release geometry illustration

Siege Machine

A mechanical launcher developed to study projectile motion, structural loading, energy storage, and repeatable release behavior.