Simple Machine Challenge pt I - Mousetrap Racecars!

Monday, September 19, 2011

Simple Machine Challenge pt I - Mousetrap Racecars!

WE EARNED 12 ACHIEVEMENTS... THEY ARE:

Brainiac: two axles, heavy, mouse trap OFF of car, mousetrap tied to black base, racecar launched from mousetrap lever, four wheels, lots of parts used, most weight in the back, traction made by black plastic wheels, focuses on weight of the car to drive it farther

Visualize It:

Build It:

The Price of Glory: It's worth $44 (44 parts)

Competitor: We competed in the race

Going the Mile: We had the second farthest distance

Heavy Foot: We had the second fastest acceleration

Feedback:

+

-it gets good acceleration and distance

-it rides completely straight

-friction is the only thing working against the car (no strings to brake it)

change

-make it lighter for longer distance

?

-How can you keep the car completely on the ground upon launch?

!

-make it heavier to weigh it down so all wheels stay on ground

Re-Work

-add rubber-bands to the wheels for more grip on the classroom floor

Game Changer

-ALL wheels must stay in contact with surface being raced upon

-spending money ($1 per part) must be between 10-25 parts

Name It

-Led foot can become "Cheetah Speed"

-Heavy foot can become "Lion Speed"

Leave it Cleaner than you Found it:

Our car was completely disassembled and properly stored in the correct boxes of the parts. No leftover parts, scraps, or trash were left at our station.

Design/Build: A Design/Build process is the cycle of how solutions are designed and built. This process includes consulting, analyzing, building and financing, planning of building, and building management and delivery. This cycle is constantly repeated until the product is near perfection. How did your experience with this challenge relate to that? This challenge required consulting with teammates, analyzing possible building techniques, planning of building the racecar, actually building the racecar, and then fine-tuning your product to produce the greatest results. This process is needed and utilized in every technical innovation career. Engineers must think of how to solve the problem and then constantly revise their first idea for maximum potential.

Rules of the Road

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

Rules of the Road

We've seen some extremely creative solutions to our Moustrap Racecar Challenge.

Much like our nation's tax system, there are some clever "exploits" (loopholes) available to sharp players. These aren't "wrong" for our game, just an opportunity for motivated Engineers to create a decisive advantage in the context of the current system.

Unlike our nation's bureaucracy, we have the advantage of being a lean, agile, design focused organization. We can rapidly collaborate to optimize our game design.

With an iteration of competition complete, what Criteria (rules) would you add to the Mousetrap Racecar Challenge to help "level" the playing field?

Generate a list of at least 3 ideas and be prepared to advocate at least one of them in our next class (Monday).

List:

1. Mousetrap must be connected to the car in some way.

2. Car must use between 10 and 30 parts.

3. Multiple timers to time the acceleration portion of the test.

Emergency Preparedness!

Thursday's county wide blackout and Sunday's 10 year anniversary of September 11th are powerful reminders that large scale emergencies can happen without warning. As designers, we will consider ways that we can be better prepared for life's unexpected events. This activity serves as an opportunity to apply the PLTW 12-step design process that is part of our Engineering and Design curriculum.

Task:
Use the 12-step Design Process discussed in class to develop an Emergency Preparedness Plan. Define the problem, brainstorm solutions, create a prototype, generate user feedback and then readjust your solution.

Criteria:
Prepare a list of essential items your family would like to have on hand for an emergency situation.
You may collaborate with your classmates in developing your plan.
Each student will prepare their own list.

Constraints:
Items required for the plan/list must be affordable for your family.

Assignment: Emergency Preparedness Supply List (5pts)
Prepare and complete the following on a sheet of paper. Ensure your product is neat and legible:
Define the Problem (1pt) - What types of emergency situations might you and your family need supplies for? List at least 3.
Brainstorm Ideas (1pt) - List at least 20 ideas for supplies you could use for the given emergencies. Get input from at least one other student (list student next to any ideas they shared). Remember the rules of brainstorming is that there are no rules.
Generate a Solution (1pt) - Given the constraints listed above, generate a list of supplies for you and your family.
Solicit Feedback (1pt) - Get specific "+, delta, ? and !" feedback from your family. List who shared what input with you.
Refine your Solution (1pt) - Adjust your plan based on your feedback. Cite a specific change based on each category of feedback (+, delta, ? and !).

The Problem: A family may need emergency supplies in situations such as earthquakes, tsunamis, blackouts, or major storms. This supplies list would be for extreme situations, such that individuals must fend for themselves.

Brainstorming Supplies:

-Machete

-Flint

-Swiss Army Knife

-Nonperishable Food Items

-Water

-Pot/Pan

-Compass

-Map

-Pistol and Ammunition

-Clothing (ranging in ability to retain heat) (Joe Rodgers)

-Boots

-Binoculars

-Whistle

-Car

-Gasoline (Joe Rodgers)

-Hydrogen Peroxide

-Band-Aids

-Tape

-Rope

-Stress Ball

Affordable List:

-Machete

-Flint

-Swiss Army Knife

-Nonperishable Food Items

-Water

-Pot/Pan

-Compass

-Map

-Pistol and Ammunition

-Clothing (ranging in ability to retain heat)

-Boots

-Binoculars

-Whistle

-Car

-Gasoline

-Hydrogen Peroxide

-Band-Aids

-Tape

-Rope

-Stress Ball

Generate a Solution:

+ (positive)
-Thorough and specific list (Mom/Dad)

Δ (what to change)
ADD:
-Duct Tape (Mom)
-Batteries (Mom)
-Radio (Mom)
-Cooler (Mom)
-Blanket (Mom)
-Tarp (Mom)
-Small generator (Dad)
-Hunting knife(Dad)
-Matches(Dad)

? (questions presented during the discussion)
Mom - None
Dad - Is this too much to be able to carry? (functionality)
Dad - Are we trying to stay alive or move? (purpose)
Mom - How long do we have to acquire these supplies?
Mom - How long does this situation occur for? Indefinite?

! (ideas to add/take off supplies)
-Pistol and Ammunition take off (Mom)... Doesn't know enough about guns to want to use them
-Take the truck instead of the car (Mom & Dad)... 4x4 - Bigger and can carry more
-Substitute first aid kit for some individual first aid items (Dad)
-I would take the pistol and ammunition (Dad)

Refine the Solution:
-Flint
-Nonperishable Food Items
-Water
-Pot/Pan
-Compass
-Map

-Pistol and Ammunition

-Clothing (ranging in ability to retain heat)

-Boots

-Binoculars

-Whistle

-Truck

-Gasoline

-Tape

-Rope
-Duct Tape (Mom)
-Batteries (Mom)
-Radio (Mom)
-Cooler (Mom)
-Blanket (Mom)
-Tarp (Mom)
-Cocoa... Dog (Mom of course)
-Small generator (Dad)
-Hunting knife(Dad)
-Matches(Dad)
-First Aid Kit (Dad)

My First Post!

Hey engineers,
Looking forward to sharing my problem solving ideas!
I'm really interested in being a Navy SEAL...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b614bld3V78
And I play water polo for Coronado High School