Projects:
Power Generation for OLPC
Zeke:
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.
Bicycle attached water pump/UV treatment/water transport
Rebecca & Tom:
Practical attachment that clips onto bike instead of special bike design
Assignment: coordinate with other group members
Taekwondo Training Targets
Jackie:
Carbon Fiber Drive Shaft
Hector:
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.
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
Sprint-Safe Bicycle Rollers
Jeremy & Brian:
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
Automatic Guitar Tuner
Zach:
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
Debarking device:
Clementine:
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
Vitamin D Sensor
Dan:
Background:
Why do we care about measuring Vit. D:
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low vitD makes rickets or osteomalasia.
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Easy to identify an correct problem with simple sensor.
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Most existing technologies use amminoassays and require 5+hours in lab by precipitate out of blood.
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Vit.D converted from one precurser to another in skin, and again in liver. By using enzyme that does conversion, can measure Vit. D
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Enzyme bound to electrode. Electrons are supplied to electrons using sensor. Want to measure peak current.
Goals:
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measure currents generated by electrode and amplify.
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Current ranges from 10nA-10uA, but we want to know peak current: 0.5-2uA
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Ultimately, make a handheld device that communicates with computer to make calibration curves.
Improved Body Armor
Mike:
Initially focus on small section of armor
- 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
Weight must be under 25 lbs (how does that compare to what’s out there)
Must survive impact from a falling mass force test
Tennis Racket String Tensionometer:
Paul:
Main Design Questions:
- 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
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