Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
The 2nd Annual CHS Cardboard Canoe Challenge
Total Amount of Achievements Earned: 15
Design Achievements:• Define the Problem and Brainstorm Solutions
Design Achievements:• Define the Problem and Brainstorm Solutions
Problem: Construct a craft out of only cardboard and duct tape that will float in the pool consistently and have the ability to support one crew member.
Brainstorm:
- Catamaran
- Air Pockets/Baffles
- Duct Tape Bottom
- Raft: (on top of rather than inside of)
- STABILITY ISSUE
o Catamaran- Baffles on edges
o Duct tape ballasts
o Fins
o Rigid Structure
- Propulsion
o Duct Tape sail
o Paddle
o Cardboard/duct tape propeller
o Kicking/swimming
• Big Brain - The individual student with the most brainstorms listed will earn a bonus achievement.
• Criteria & Constraints - • Sketch Ideas
Redesign
- If we were to rebuild our boat, I would definitely make sure it is COMPLETELY covered in duct tape to prevent any types of leaks, and might create a more simplistic design similar to a WWII deployment craft.
- Rack Up Those Points! - The group that obtains the most points in the blindfolded, kick-board finding game get this achievement.
**USS IHopeIFloat obtained 8 points in the blindfolded, kick-board finding game. The most out of our period.
• Prototype Ideas -
• Select an Approach - Generate feedback (+, change, ?, !) and make a decision matrix regarding your sketches/prototypes. Specify the approach you've chosen and justify your selection.
Build Achievements:
• Build It!
Test Achievements:
• The Fastest - Awarded to the first team to reach the far side (25yds)
- Our team absolutely demolished the others in completing 25, 50, 100, and even 200 yards.
• The Farthest - Awarded to the team that can travel the furthest (laps)
- Our team completed the most laps as well (8 laps).
• The Longest - Awarded to the team with the watercraft that floats the longest (multiple teams may be awarded this achievement if multiple boats remain afloat at the end of our competition period).
- Our boat remained afloat during the whole competition along with another teams.
• Balance Master - Awarded if you can have at least one person stand for 5 seconds in the boat (you must conduct this away from the edge of the pool so that non one falls over and hits their head)
- Connor masterfully completed this challenge
• Videographer
Build Achievements:
• Build It!
Test Achievements:
• The Fastest - Awarded to the first team to reach the far side (25yds)
- Our team absolutely demolished the others in completing 25, 50, 100, and even 200 yards.
• The Farthest - Awarded to the team that can travel the furthest (laps)
- Our team completed the most laps as well (8 laps).
• The Longest - Awarded to the team with the watercraft that floats the longest (multiple teams may be awarded this achievement if multiple boats remain afloat at the end of our competition period).
- Our boat remained afloat during the whole competition along with another teams.
• Balance Master - Awarded if you can have at least one person stand for 5 seconds in the boat (you must conduct this away from the edge of the pool so that non one falls over and hits their head)
- Connor masterfully completed this challenge
• Videographer
Reflection Achievements:
• Feedback
+ - Very Fast
- Buoyant
- Somewhat Stable
Change - Simpler design
- Reinforced walls
? - How much did the side flotation devices help?
- Was it necessary to cover part of the front top?
! - Double check everything
- Great building block piece of cardboard
+ - Very Fast
- Buoyant
- Somewhat Stable
Change - Simpler design
- Reinforced walls
? - How much did the side flotation devices help?
- Was it necessary to cover part of the front top?
! - Double check everything
- Great building block piece of cardboard
• How Low Did You Go? -
- Our Boat went about 3 inches beneath the water, which was surprising. The unit weight of water is 62.43 lb/ft cubed. And Connor, our captain, weighed around 130 lbs.
- Our Boat went about 3 inches beneath the water, which was surprising. The unit weight of water is 62.43 lb/ft cubed. And Connor, our captain, weighed around 130 lbs.
Redesign
- If we were to rebuild our boat, I would definitely make sure it is COMPLETELY covered in duct tape to prevent any types of leaks, and might create a more simplistic design similar to a WWII deployment craft.
- Rack Up Those Points! - The group that obtains the most points in the blindfolded, kick-board finding game get this achievement.
**USS IHopeIFloat obtained 8 points in the blindfolded, kick-board finding game. The most out of our period.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
The Future
Imagine working on some of these projects and the effect they could have on everyday life...
Energy Sources!
- I was surprised to see how little wind power we use as a nation. Only 0.26 percent is wind energy. Another thing that was unsettling was their inefficiency. The turbines are only able to generate 30% of their maximum output.
2. Describe one thing that surprised you about an energy source that another team presented.
- With solar power, the fact that there is direct as well as indirect solar power. I never thought of solar power having an effect on water/hydro power in the way that rain is generated from water that has been originally evaporated by the sun.
3. Describe and defend what you believe to be the most important technological need regarding energy.
- I definitely feel as though solar energy is the most important source of energy, however we are not doing all we can to develop it to the fullest. Another thing that is holding us back is the cost. Not to mention the tax that is being implemented by oil companies for not relying heavily on oil.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
The Deep Dive
1. “From the buildings in which we live and work, to the cars we drive, or the knives and forks with which we eat, everything we use was designed to create some sort of marriage between form and function."
2. The folks at IDEO state that they are not experts in any given area. But, they do claim to be experts on the design process, which they apply to the innovation of consumer products.
3. After the team of designers is brought together, told the problem, and informed they have five days to “pull it off,” what phase of the design process do they immediately engage in?
- They first define the problem they have at hand. So in their case, what is wrong with current shopping carts, such as child safety, security, and efficiency
4. Give two examples of what the team members did during this phase.
a. They visited the makers of current shopping carts and got their opinions on the faults of the product they're mass producing
b. They studied patrons of a local food store interact with their shopping carts and noted what seemed to limit them or cause concern.
5. List five rules-of-thumb that IDEO employees follow when they share ideas during the brainstorming phase:
a. One conversation at a time
b. Stay focused on a topic
c. Encourage wild ideas
d. Differ judgement
e. Build on others ideas
6. Why should wild (and sometimes crazy) ideas be entertained during the brainstorming phase?
Because wild ideas are the backbone of innovations
7. After the brainstorming phase was over, the team narrowed down the hundreds of ideas by voting for those ideas that were not only “cool” but also easy to build in a short period of time. What phase of the design process is this called?
8. IDEO believes that the ideas and efforts of a group will always be more successful than the planning of a lone genius.
9. Once the ideas were narrowed down and divided into categories, the group was split into four smaller teams. What phase(s) of the design process was each of these groups responsible for?
To create a prototype that actively solved the problem/idea that their group was given.
10. The leaders at IDEO believe that good behavior and a fun environment are two important reasons why their employees are able to think quickly and creatively to produce innovative results.
11. Sometimes, people come up with great solutions that work by trying their ideas first, and asking for forgiveness later.
12. Design is often a process of going too far and having to take a few steps back. What phase of the design process would the critique of the four mock-ups come under?
Evaluation and redesign
13. Upon critique of the four teams’ models, it was obvious that none of the teams had developed an optimum solution. However, the people at IDEO believe that it is important to fail often in order to succeed sooner.
14. What percentage of the entire week’s time did it take to fabricate the final prototype
About 40%
15. Instead of showering his design team with a tremendous amount of praise, what did the boss require his employees to do with their new design?
Go show it to employees at a local Whole Foods to get their feedback on it.
16. Of all the things that we are surrounded by every day, what has not been placed through the design process?
Nature
Conclusion
1. What did you find to be the most impressive part of the team’s effort?
What I thought was most impressive was the environment they created. Having a workplace where no single persons ideas are better than another. I hope I'll have an opportunity to work in such a workplace professionally
2. What advantages are there to having a design team with members that have non-engineering backgrounds?
It ensures that you're looking at a problem, solution, idea, or anything in various points of view.
3. There was a point in the process where a self-appointed group of adults stepped up, stopped the ideas, and redirected the group to break up into teams. Why was this done?
To create some type of order. Anarchy is never productive.
4. At the end of the video, Dave Kelly states, “Look around. The only things that are not designed are the things we find in nature.” Can you think of anything that would contradict this statement?
Yes, natural selection and evolution disprove this statement because over generations, organisms adapt and change their molecular or physical design to better survive.
2. The folks at IDEO state that they are not experts in any given area. But, they do claim to be experts on the design process, which they apply to the innovation of consumer products.
3. After the team of designers is brought together, told the problem, and informed they have five days to “pull it off,” what phase of the design process do they immediately engage in?
- They first define the problem they have at hand. So in their case, what is wrong with current shopping carts, such as child safety, security, and efficiency
4. Give two examples of what the team members did during this phase.
a. They visited the makers of current shopping carts and got their opinions on the faults of the product they're mass producing
b. They studied patrons of a local food store interact with their shopping carts and noted what seemed to limit them or cause concern.
5. List five rules-of-thumb that IDEO employees follow when they share ideas during the brainstorming phase:
a. One conversation at a time
b. Stay focused on a topic
c. Encourage wild ideas
d. Differ judgement
e. Build on others ideas
6. Why should wild (and sometimes crazy) ideas be entertained during the brainstorming phase?
Because wild ideas are the backbone of innovations
7. After the brainstorming phase was over, the team narrowed down the hundreds of ideas by voting for those ideas that were not only “cool” but also easy to build in a short period of time. What phase of the design process is this called?
8. IDEO believes that the ideas and efforts of a group will always be more successful than the planning of a lone genius.
9. Once the ideas were narrowed down and divided into categories, the group was split into four smaller teams. What phase(s) of the design process was each of these groups responsible for?
To create a prototype that actively solved the problem/idea that their group was given.
10. The leaders at IDEO believe that good behavior and a fun environment are two important reasons why their employees are able to think quickly and creatively to produce innovative results.
11. Sometimes, people come up with great solutions that work by trying their ideas first, and asking for forgiveness later.
12. Design is often a process of going too far and having to take a few steps back. What phase of the design process would the critique of the four mock-ups come under?
Evaluation and redesign
13. Upon critique of the four teams’ models, it was obvious that none of the teams had developed an optimum solution. However, the people at IDEO believe that it is important to fail often in order to succeed sooner.
14. What percentage of the entire week’s time did it take to fabricate the final prototype
About 40%
15. Instead of showering his design team with a tremendous amount of praise, what did the boss require his employees to do with their new design?
Go show it to employees at a local Whole Foods to get their feedback on it.
16. Of all the things that we are surrounded by every day, what has not been placed through the design process?
Nature
Conclusion
1. What did you find to be the most impressive part of the team’s effort?
What I thought was most impressive was the environment they created. Having a workplace where no single persons ideas are better than another. I hope I'll have an opportunity to work in such a workplace professionally
2. What advantages are there to having a design team with members that have non-engineering backgrounds?
It ensures that you're looking at a problem, solution, idea, or anything in various points of view.
3. There was a point in the process where a self-appointed group of adults stepped up, stopped the ideas, and redirected the group to break up into teams. Why was this done?
To create some type of order. Anarchy is never productive.
4. At the end of the video, Dave Kelly states, “Look around. The only things that are not designed are the things we find in nature.” Can you think of anything that would contradict this statement?
Yes, natural selection and evolution disprove this statement because over generations, organisms adapt and change their molecular or physical design to better survive.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
iPhone App Tutorials
Now this is all done in Xcode obviously.
Here's the "Hello World!" basic app tutorial:
Up Next is a video for a tutorial on a generic "Papi Jump" game:
*This is a 10 part series. Sequential videos can be found on TheEagle1100's Youtube Channel
Here's the "Hello World!" basic app tutorial:
Up Next is a video for a tutorial on a generic "Papi Jump" game:
*This is a 10 part series. Sequential videos can be found on TheEagle1100's Youtube Channel
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
First C++ Program: Hello, World!
So this is LONG overdue, seeing as how I created this basic program a few weeks back.
But long behold the beginner's milestone of basic programming in all of its glory: Hello, World!
Basic, yes. Easy, yes. But a stepping stone nevertheless.
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
/*
*
*/
int main() {
cout << "Hello World!";
cout << "I'm a C++ program";
return 0;
}
So I'm currently using NetBeans IDE because Eclipse was acting up for some reason. And what's also nice about NetBeans is that it's capable of creating various Java programs (it's main purpose), however it also can support C++ as well.
But long behold the beginner's milestone of basic programming in all of its glory: Hello, World!
Basic, yes. Easy, yes. But a stepping stone nevertheless.
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
/*
*
*/
int main() {
cout << "Hello World!";
cout << "I'm a C++ program";
return 0;
}
So I'm currently using NetBeans IDE because Eclipse was acting up for some reason. And what's also nice about NetBeans is that it's capable of creating various Java programs (it's main purpose), however it also can support C++ as well.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Emergency Preparedness
Possible Emergency Situations:
- Earthquake
- Wildfire
- Tsunami
Initial Emergency Preparedness List:
- Water
- Flashlights
- Non-Perishable Food
- Fireproof Box
- Fire Blanket
- Radio
- Batteries
- First Aid Kit
- Extra Clothes
Inflatable raft(Portability Issue)Life Jacket(Portability Issue)HAM Radio(Portability Issue, hard to find)- Fire Extinguisher
- Tent
Backup Generator(Portability Issue, expensive)Spare Fuel(Portability Issue, dangerous, and inefficient)Butane Stove(Portability Issue)- Utensils
- Knives
- Leatherman
Family Feedback:
(Source: Mom & Dad)
Some items may not be easy to get or safely store for that matter. The backup generator is a good idea, but not always too portable. Extra fuel, or gas, would not be easy to store and probably not the most efficient use of space. The butane stove, inflatable raft and life jackets would present similar problems as well. And HAM radios are expensive and just as hard to relocate.
Final Emergency Preparedness List:
- Water
- Flashlights
- Non-Perishable Food
- Fireproof Box
- Fire Blanket
- Radio
- Batteries
- First Aid Kit
- Extra Clothes
- Fire Extinguisher
- Tent
- Utensils
- Knives
- Leatherman
Rules of the Road: Mousetrap Racecar Iterative Design
New Challenge Criteria:
1. Use only Fischertechnique components
2. Must cost under $50
3. Weight Limit
Monday, September 26, 2011
Simple Machine Challenge #1: Mousetrap Racecar
Total Number of Achievements: 11
Design:
"Brainiac" - Brainstorm solutions for your design
Build:
"Build It" - Build your design.
Initial Design (Failed):
Final Design:
Changes: No central wheel to power front axel. Uniform wheel size. String wrapped around axis rather then wheel.
"The Price of Glory" - If each part you use costs $1, generate a total cost for your build.
Total Cost: $57
Test (Compete):
"Competitor" - Competed in the 2nd Annual Mousetrap Racecar Challenge.
"Feedback" - Positive: Good idea with front wheel drive
Change: Faster acceleration
Question: Would it have accelerated faster without going under the body
Exclamation: Interesting idea having two levels
Iterate:
"Re-work" - Initial Build and Final Build seen above
"Game Changer" - Not being allowed to use rubberbands. The rubberbands created a new dynamic to the challenge that allowed many participants to easily achieve faster acceleration. Restricting the use of rubberbands would create a "back to roots" and "basic" racecar creation feel.
"Name it" - Change "Re-work" possibly to "Innovate" or "Innovations".
Clean Up:
"Leave It Cleaner Than You Found It" - My workspace was neatly broken down into the order the components were initially found at the start of the challenge.
Reflection:
"Design/Build" - The Design/Build process is used on a daily basis in many professions. It was clearly demonstrated in this challenge as well. Each team created their initial design, tested it and then in most cases went back to the drawing board to rebuild, update, or improve their design. This is a valuable skill that is utilized in every company, group, and organization.
Design:
"Brainiac" - Brainstorm solutions for your design
- Treads vs. Wheels
- Front Wheel Drive
- Back Wheel Drive
- All Wheel Drive
- Double Leveled (with undercarriage)
- Wheel going underneath the back axel
- Using wheel and axel (rather than effort on axel) on the front wheels
- Effort pulling on axel (without central wheel attatched)
- Wheel on back axel to facilitate rotation
- Extension off of mousetrap lever
Build:
"Build It" - Build your design.
Initial Design (Failed):
Final Design:
Changes: No central wheel to power front axel. Uniform wheel size. String wrapped around axis rather then wheel.
"The Price of Glory" - If each part you use costs $1, generate a total cost for your build.
Total Cost: $57
Test (Compete):
"Competitor" - Competed in the 2nd Annual Mousetrap Racecar Challenge.
"Feedback" - Positive: Good idea with front wheel drive
Change: Faster acceleration
Question: Would it have accelerated faster without going under the body
Exclamation: Interesting idea having two levels
Iterate:
"Re-work" - Initial Build and Final Build seen above
"Game Changer" - Not being allowed to use rubberbands. The rubberbands created a new dynamic to the challenge that allowed many participants to easily achieve faster acceleration. Restricting the use of rubberbands would create a "back to roots" and "basic" racecar creation feel.
"Name it" - Change "Re-work" possibly to "Innovate" or "Innovations".
Clean Up:
"Leave It Cleaner Than You Found It" - My workspace was neatly broken down into the order the components were initially found at the start of the challenge.
Reflection:
"Design/Build" - The Design/Build process is used on a daily basis in many professions. It was clearly demonstrated in this challenge as well. Each team created their initial design, tested it and then in most cases went back to the drawing board to rebuild, update, or improve their design. This is a valuable skill that is utilized in every company, group, and organization.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
My First Blog Post!
Hello everyone! My name is Drew Findley and welcome to my Engineering Blog. This is my first time ever blogging in general, so I'm sure it will be an interesting experience for all. Plan on posting any types of projects that I've worked on in my Principles of Engineering class as well as other projects I complete on my own as I slowly (probably extremely slow) learn how to program using Java and C++ over the next year.
Above is the homepage for the US Water Polo Program.
So I look forward to using this as much as possible in the Future!
So as you can see by this image, I play water polo. Its a new sport I just recently picked up this past summer and it's been outrageously difficult and physically demanding. However it's taught me numerous things about commitment, teamwork, mental strength, and time management. So I know the experience will be worth while.
Above is the homepage for the US Water Polo Program.
So I look forward to using this as much as possible in the Future!
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