Ping Pong Ball Challenge

Our Principle of Engineering class has a design build challenge to transport a ping pong ball across a two feet table gap out of tape and one manila folder. We were given 16 minutes to make this contraption. 

We used a cup as a way to introduce the ball to the ramp, and a tongue depressor as a way to guide it towards the ramp and to get some momentum.

Our design was successful in that it went two feet and could possibly done an excess of that. 

2014 Super Advertising

Then a naked David Beckham commercial played...

- The Wonderful Pistachios commercials I enjoyed the most

- The fact that there were two commercials, but spread out between one commercial in between and that they played off the the first commercial and the commercial in the middle that wasn't there was clever and funny. Stephen Colbert is also always funny.

- It costed 6 million because there were two commercials, (one was half the full 30 seconds), just for the ad space alone. 

- Colbert was some thousands of dollars, there was a CGI eagle that probably costs some. So there were an addition of thousands on top of the 8 million. 

- They need to sell about 8 hundred thousand 

- I think people who want pistachios will buy pistachios. I never get really persuaded by advertising and I don't know if a lot are. 

Lego Robotics

Design, create, and program an autonomous vehicle with Lego Robotics. Modify designs to be able to maneuver through a 3 foot straight course, and then a bent course.

Straight Course

Test Course (3, 1 foot tiles)

Construction

In Action

Our design was rigid, but had a lot of force behind it and was able to even run over some obstacles. We could make it go on a loop and make it nonstop. It was relatively fast also.  

Bent Course

We played with the settings for individual wheel ports so that we didn't necessarily need to make it turn with specific turning programming, but different powers going straight turned out to be in a straight line.  

Manila Folder Bridge Building

Criteria:

Build a structure that can support as much weight as possible over a 18" gap.

(Note: we will use magazines for "weights" and our "gap" will be positioned between two tables)

Constraints:Part 1

• Materials:
• 2 "letter size" Manilla folders
• 2' of masking tape (may not use any piece longer than 6")
• Weighing:
• Magazines will be used as "weights"
• Your "score" for our competition is determined by how many magazines your structure supports!
• Magazines will be added to your structure one at a time until "failure" is achieved.
• You may place magazines anywhere on your structure as long as:
• All magazines must rest between the two vertical edges of the gap your bridge is spanning (magazines must be over the "gap").
• No magazines may touch the tables (magazines may not be piled up to "self support" themselves).
• Construction Practices:
• Only one end of your design may have a "pinned" connection to the table top (ie. taped). The other end must act as if it were on a "roller" connection (ie. laying on the table top).
• Manila folders may not be layered more than 3 layers thick at any location.
• Parallel structural members may not touch directly (they can be connected via non parallel connection members (ex. a "ladder" style design))

Result:

We used a simple design to hold a magazine and used tape to hold the sides down of the structure. 

Mouse Trap Challenge

This was our annual mousetrap challenge. We were given the goal to create a contraption that has can sustain acceleration and distance using a mousetrap, string, and two axles as a blueprint. 

11 Achievements 

Design Stage

Braniac

1. CD wheels 

2. Fishtertek wheels

3. Red fishertek wheels

4. Circular yellow rods as frame

5. Yellow brackets as frame

6. Axle as the little rods

7. Axle as the bulky square 

8. Paper wings

9. Suspension for more momentum

10. Tape for friction for more acceleration

Visualize it

Build Stage

- Build It

- The Price of Glory

2 axles

4 wheels

One string

Two yellow brackets as frame

Mouse Trap

1 length of string

$11 net cost

Test Stage

Competitor 

"Compete in the 2nd annual mousetrap challenge"

Feedback

+ It accelerated at least some

- The "motor" was not very efficient
Simple design, but sometimes to a fault

Iterate Stage

Re-work

Changes that would be efficient would have a better motor. The string was not very reliable over and over and had a lot of human error. I would string it better or have a easier axle to tie it to.

Game Changer

"No trial runs are allowed"

This would make the teams have to be sure that their designs work.

Name It

"Don't get your finger caught in a mousetrap." 

Don't get your finger caught in a mousetrap. Because it hurts. 

Clean Up Stage

Leave It Cleaner Than You Found It

I picked up all the rods and little parts that were under our desk that no one could see or pick up. 

Reflection Stage

Design build is working up to a final design by creating designs that eventually weed out all problems. We made one design and worked on it when it did not work efficiently. This relates to engineering careers, and really any career. 

Marble Drop

• 4th place

.7/1

Goals:

• Create a structure to launch a marble into a cup 
• Have the longest distance from start to cup 
• Release marble on the freestanding structure
• Winner is located farthest

Constraints

• Use only 14 straws, 2 plastic cups, 3 feet of tape and 10 toothpicks to create it
• 1 marble as a projectile
• You may only use the materials specified. 

Results

• Our team placed 4th place (.7 out of the collective 1)

Construction of the ramp out of straws and the cleanup 

- Clean Up

Cardboard Canoe 2013

15 Achievements

This was a challenge where we had to create a functioning boat made out of only duct tape and cardboard. There is a pilot in the boat, and there a multiple challenges and achievements that have to be overcome.  

 Define the Problem and Brainstorm Solutions

Problem: Navigate a cardboard boat, covered in duct tape, across a pool surface with a human inside.

1. Lightweight

2. Sturdy

3. Completely covered in tape

4. Tall sides so water can't get in

5. Large surface area

6. Not too heavy

7. Strong enough to hold a person

8. Not too big

9. Leave no holes

10. Build v-bottom

11. Don't stand on it for too long

12. Don't splash or water will get in

13. Don't shift weight quickly

14. Measure the width of the door for size

15. Use a ruler when cutting cardboard for straight edges

16. Use precise measurements

17. Be careful with the knife

18. Don't bend the cardboard

19. Remove air bubbles while taping

20. Don't bend tape and make precise tape placement

 Criteria & Constraints 

Criteria:

• Build a watercraft that allows you to traverse the CHS swimming pool.

• Your "boat" must float at least one student through the course of the competition.

• Protect your workspace from damage!

Implied:

Has to fit through the door

Constraints:

• You may only use Cardboard and Duct Tape for this event.

• All Staples or other foreign material must be removed from your cardboard. If we trash the pool, we will not be invited back for other activities during the year (yes, we have other activities in mind for 2nd semester).
• Cardboard must meet our quality standard and be approved by the instructor (more info to follow)
• Each boat must have a minimum of a 3" tall "sidewall" (no completely flat designs).
• All exposed cardboard must be covered in duct tape (this will reduce cardboard disintigration in the pool).
• Each team will be provided one "versa table" cardboard box piece and three 60yrd rolls of duct tape. Any materials beyond this (likely need more cardboard) need to be resourced by your team.

Implied:

You must create the box yourself

Sketch Ideas

Prototype Ideas

Standard 4-wall design

Slanted Front Design

6 Wall Design (pointed front)

Select an Approach

(+) - Our design has several different approaches .

(-) -  The design best design is not very sturdy and can have some water  easily get into it.

(?) - Which concept has the least faults?

(!) - The flat box might be the best.   

The Early Bird Gets the Achievement

This was our final build taped up.

Videographer

Feedback 

(+) - Our surface area worked out really well.

(Change) - I would cover the corners and little spots where water got in.

(?) - Would a V-Shape design had been better?

(!) - Having more ductape around key spots would have stopped water from getting in.

The simple design worked well to our advantage.

The weight of the pilot was beneficial.

We could have built sides more well built.

A better paddle could have been a lot better to get around.

We got a lot of water in our boat.

Taller walls would have been better.

 How Low Did You Go?

Our boat lasted about 15-30 minutes. No, it wasn't surprising when our boat went down because the cardboard was completely wet. The pilot weighed about 160 pounds. Our depth was roughly half a foot.

Balance Master

The boat sunk underwater, but the pilot was still standing on it for the 5 seconds. 

The Farthest

We were doing laps for the length of the time in the pool. 

 Redesign

We would make a two-ply of tape on our boat. 

Wear A Captain's Hat (make your own)

Wear a captain's hat through the midst of the competition. 

Surface area!

About 3000  inches^2, 

22.5 square feet can be covered with one roll 

 84 square feet can be covered with all of our duct tape

 73% efficiency 

Beat Mr. Olson In A Race

I raced our instructor in a race for a lap in the pool, along with the rest of our class.