Wednesday, September 18, 2013

The 4th Annual Cardboard Canoe Challenge

We are claiming 15 achievements total 

1Criteria:
-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: Keep your workspace clean 

2.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 two 60yrd rolls of duct tape. Any materials beyond this (likely need more cardboard) need to be resourced by your team.
 - Implied: The boat must fit out of the doorway
 - Implied: The boat must be able to be transported from the classroom to the pool
 - Implied: The boat can not pose any threat to the students in or around the boat while it is in the water

 DESIGN ACHIEVEMENTS Define and Brainstorm the Design: We need to create a boat made of completely cardboard and duct tape that will float in a body of water.
3Brainstormed Ideas: Flat bottom, longer length, high walls, low walls, shorter length, v-shaped bottom, pointed front, angled front, pointed back, flat back, completely covered in duct tape, duct tape only covering cardboard exposed to water, wide bottom, narrow bottom, oars, pull with a rope, push with swimmers, paddle by yourself, one person in boat, two people in boat, lay down flat, sit up on butt, kneel in boat, stand in boat 
4Big Brain: I think I had the most brainstorm ideas WRITTEN DOWN; however, our whole team contributed to the entire brainstorm list 

 5. SKETCH:

 First Idea:

Second:

Third(final):

6. PROTOTYPES: 

 First Prototype: 

 - Flat Bottom 
 - Curved, pointed bow 
- High Walls 


 Second Prototype:

 - V-Shaped Bottom 
 - High Walls 
 - Short Length 


 Third (Final) Prototype:

 - Flat Bottom 
 - Not so high of walls (easier paddling?)
 - Rectangle with a pointed front (stable)


7.  Reflection achievements

 First Idea: 
+ - flat bottom for stability 
 Change - High walls 
 ? - What is the optimal boat length? 
 ! - Shorten the walls and make it longer

 Second Idea:
 + - V bottom for straightness 
 Change - High Walls 
 ? - Should a flat bottom or v shaped bottom be used? 
 ! - Use a flat bottom and shorten the walls and make it longer

 Final Idea: 
 + - Flat bottom and optimal length Change - Final Idea
- no need for a change 
 ? - How should we propel the boat? (pulling or paddling) 
 ! - Pulling could be faster and easier for the pilot to keep the boat stable 

 MATRIX:
 First: short, high walls, flat bottom, one point in front, curved bow 
 Second: short, high walls, curved bottom, two points, looks a lot like a regular canoe 
 Third: longer (optimal lengthe between speed and handling), shorter walls, flat bottom, one point in front, point is slightly curved We will use the third and final prototype for our cardboard boat.

8. How low did you go?: our canoe sat roughly 2 inches in the water. It was very surprising that it didn't go more into the water.

9. Redesign: If I were to build another canoe my team members and I would take more time duct taping it and pay more attention to detail.

10. Own achievement: achievement for fewest amount of team members at race.
11. Extra credit achievement:Sean was able to best mr Olson in a swim competition.

BUILD ACHIEVEMENTS:
12Build it!
Finished cardboard boat

TEST ACHIEVEMENTS:
13. The longest: we won the time challenge
14. Balance Master:http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=J2DVhNxSaHY
15.Videographer:http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=J2DVhNxSaHY

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

My first blog post of the year

I'm very excited to get into engineering and start problem solving. Since I intend to pursue a career in engineering this course will work to an advantage to me. Go engineers.