Group Project
Paul: Tennis racket string sensionometer:
Questions to answer:
How will the tennis player benefit from knowing tension of racket?
Some issues constraining design:
higher tension: more power, less control
lower tension: just the opposite
no way to dynamically retension racket at courtside
First Assignment: find tennis racket tensioning systems that already exist, report to class - 2-3 minutes
Mike: Improved body armor
Initially focus on small section of armor
Class Feb 21: Armor that is lighter but extends over entire body. Take what’s out now and make an “active level design” Multiple layers of material:
layer 1: ceramic plates that deflect energy
layer 2: breaking thin “dragon layer” ceramic plate
layer 3: tension tiles
layer 4: cushion
Thickness: no more than 7”
Look at rheological fluids
How compromised is the system once it gets hit?
Kevlar & ceramic plates don’t protect
First Assignment: 1/2 to 1 page requirements document. Your requirements should reflect improved performance beyond existing technologies. Report to class: 2-3 minutes
For example:
Weight must be under 25 lbs (how does that compare to what’s out there)
Must survive impact from a falling mass force test
Dan: Vitamin D Sensor
Check out Photodiode amplifiers for applicability as current amplifier for your signal:
http://www.analog.com/Wizard/photodiode/photovoltaicHelp/
Feb 21 Class:
Background: Why do we care about measuring Vit. D: low vitD makes rickets or osteomalasia. Easy to identify an correct problem with simple sensor. Most existing technologies use amminoassays and require 5+hours in lab by precipitate out of blood.
Vit.D converted from one precurser to another in skin, and again in liver. By using enzyme that does conversion, can measure Vit. D
Enzyme bound to electrode. Electrons are supplied to electrons using sensor. Want to measure peak current.
Goals: measure currents generated by electrode and amplify.
Current ranges from 10nA-10uA, but we want to know peak current: 0.5-2uA
Ultimately, make a handheld device that communicates with computer to make calibration curves.
First Assignment: 1/2 to 1 page requirements document. Your requirements should reflect expected performance of your system. Report to class: 2-3 minutes
Zach: Electric guitar tuner
Questions to think about:
Does the tuner live in the guitar case or clip onto guitar?
How do you pluck the string?
Your process might involve:
A/D to sample and analyze signal
Build mechanical plucker:
Build key-turner
First Assignment: find existing manual tuners and existing automatic tuners, report to class - 2-3 minutes
Jackie: Taekwondo training targets
Designing holder for pad with adjustable angle & height & adjustable force
Use this device for working without partner
More portable & lighter than a punching bag, very repeatable, no holder fatigue to deal with
First Assignment: find existing punching bags, existing Taekwondo targets, and any new technologies that you find interesting, report to class - 2-3 minutes
Zeke: Developing country power generation for OLPC style devices
Research comparing wind power, solar power, water power, gravity device, human power
Looked at OLPC website: power plug draws 15w, two batteries
Ideas of using weather: solar power and wind turbine, rain collector: multiple power sources
User needs to natural selection for different prototypes
Assignment: find out about OLPC & power consumption, give 2-3min presentation about different power generation options with one pro and con for each one.
Rebecca & Tom: Bicycle attached water pump/UV treatment/water transport
Practical attachment that clips onto bike instead of special bike design
Assignment: coordinate with other group members
Jeremy & Brian: Sprint-Safe Rollers
Things to brainstorm: different drum sizes, different orientations, different configurations
General goal: make rollers more foolproof?
Assignment: Find examples of standard roller technology and any variations for sprinting; make a 2-3min presentation of these examples
Look at similarities of the between different sprintable rollers
Think about mechanics of falling off rollers
Hector: Carbon fiber drive shaft
Look at existing designs for carbon fiber drive shafts
Pay close attention to solutions for the carbon to metal interface
Minimize weight, maximize toughness, minimize toughness, environmental resistance.
Feb 21:
Obstacles: don’t know dimensions, car is still being designed
fabrication issues: delamination (air penetration, humidity, manufacturer quality control)
connection between half-shaft and tire: spline or yoke,
vibrations - 1 krpm-11 krpm: maybe use a dampener.
Specs: 1200 foot-lbs torque
Shock load of 4000 foot-lbs torque
Visteon: continuously applied force of 5000 foot-lbs and chemical bond for pick-up trucks.
First Assignment: 1/2 to 1 page requirements document. Your requirements should reflect expected performance of your system: torques, weight, rotational moment of inertia, length, diameter, etc. Report to class: 2-3 minutes
Clementine: Debarking device:
Short task list:
Find existing background on current technologies
Define user needs: single person device, what kind of trees, what else can they use it for, is it made locally? What are the capabilities of the user?
Assignment for next week: Brief requirements document & user needs document based on information from Chris Bull
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