Living Building Challenge
February - March
Spring 2023 came pretty quick and really hit. Classes got harder, but robotics season started and we got to build the robot for FRC 2023 (Charged Up). Ai is becoming a big thing that people are starting to learn about and use daily. Thats kinda cool. I still do things in CAD, don't think I will get certified this year though. Lighting is still cool.
I hope to pass this year with an A average and hopefully get into next year with a lot less stress. Next year I am Dual-Enrolling at UNG Online and will have a lot more time on my own to work. I will only really spend time at Mill Creek working in my EPIC Engineering and AP Physics.
February - March
In this project we explored the Georgia Tech Kendena Building and were inspired by other Living Buildings as part of the Living Building Challenge. The challenge is a set of standards that describes how a building that has negative waste could be designed and give back to the environment.
We designed an amphitheater for Auburn Georgia that can serve as an economic and population growth center in the middle of the downtown area.
In Fall 2022 I get to continue my work in Mill Creek's EPIC Program. I was certified in AutoCad last year and hopefully I can use that as the Steel Talons Robotics team 6910's new Mechanical Captain.
I hope to be certified in a 3D CAD software this year at some point. I have gone deeper into live production since last July too and have been programming some lighting shows on Grand MA2. I hope to keep going with that and get better in Technical Theatre this year.
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End of Semester one!
Create a BC Era device, weapon (in cad), or marvel as a model or in CAD as a measure of your performance through the year and design skill.
I designed a trebuchet because it is cool. I used Fusion 360, my choice of CAD software to build it and render it. While it looks a little cartoony on the background, in my honest opinion it still looks awesome and was built to a decent scale.
The trebuchet was a weapon used by large civilizations around the time period the book we are reading (Medea) in Language Arts is placed. While it is not mentioned in the book or really as a part of Greek culture it was in use by other cultures around Asia and the Middle East. Today we dont use trebuchets in active combat but the concept of throwing something really heavy a distance is still used in weapons like the Mortar and just about everyone knows about a trebuchet as an example of an engineering marvel of the period.
October - November
Create something using your knowledge and research into prosthetics, special education, Arduino, CAD, and the tools available in the Lab to solve a real world problem regarding mobility/independence.
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In this project we built a device to better help a local student with spina bifida to mount their iPad for communication to their wheelchair. The current mount bumps into him, gets in the way of pushing himself, and is in the way when trying to get into the chair. Thats hardly independent. We built a mount to balance across the back of the chair, eliminating drift to the side, then the mount came down from the side to a better place that is still accessible, but not in the way.
October
Create a carnival game that EVERYONE can understand and play. Something accessible to people of all walks of life.
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In this project we designed and built a version of MonsterDrop using the cnc machine in our classroom to assist in milling the spinning circle then simplified the actual layout. We made the game more predictable for the students in our schools Special Education program to play in our special ed carnival.
September
Design literally anything that uses an Arduino and a motor. Then market it!
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Early August
Design a system with simple materials to move as many beads at possible to the bottom via water.
September
Design and build a hydroponics build using 2 inch PVC and your own materials. Learn to use tools in the engineering shop.
In this venture we we designed and built a system using household junk to move water and beads. We were given one liter of water, small and large plastic cups, scotch tape, popsicle sticks, and a class period to build. Our structure was not very successful. It fell apart when water hit a certain level and beads fell out voiding the points.
In Spring 2022 I will finish up my Foundations of Engineering Course at Mill Creek under EPIC. We don't have many of the big machines setup yet, but I'm excited to see what happens here.
I have finished the course to become certified in AutoCad and soon plan on getting the full professional certification. I've been teaching myself Inventor Professional and Fusion 360.
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January - March
Without impacting the environment can we create an eye catching drink brand?
In this project we designed a bottle that could be sold in one pack, but splits apart into 4 quarters to share. It was made out of biodegradable plastics and had a few small "gimmicks" like colors changing with temperature and a hand shape on the bottle to make it stand out among the rest. we designed 4 flavors that were more interesting sodas than we would normally see. Flavors like Arnold Palmer, Raspberry Lemonade, Blue-Orange Coconut, and Cherry Limeade.
Fall of 2021 I started Foundations of Engineering and Tech at Mountain View in Mrs. Cross's class. In this class we won't be using any real big machines, but more learning basics like CAD, design rules, safety, and basic prototyping.
I know some of the basics of Cad and have multiple 3D printers I can use to do some of that prototyping. I hope to be able to include some form of computer science into the engineering process and possibly my projects. This website can be one of the ways. I am planning on documenting my time in engineering from first year to fourth through this page and various documents leading to it.
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Required CTAE Section
This section was boring...
We worked on the usual career readiness that we have to do in every engineering/tech/fun skills class. We looked over career predictions from the computer, where we would be best fit, and where we would not work. It wasn't life transforming or really memorable.
August - September
In this project we were to design a box that can protect a plate from a drop from 5 feet. Our plate did not shatter. We could design our box and plate however we wanted so we decided to design a record on a turn table. In terms of design our box used vertical cylinders as a sort of crumple zone to handle the impact. It took the energy and spread it over a weaker area that would absorb the hit.
September - October
In this project we were to design a car that could travel 5 feet in a straight line. The car can only be powered by a single balloon and nothing else, as well as fitting in a box around 18 x 28 inches. Our balloon car, just like our plate, won the cleanest design award and technically went the furthest in our class even though it did not travel straight after the 5 foot box. Our biggest issue was on the test day when we realized that one of our bearing wheels had rusted and would not move the same as the rest. Wd-40 and Graphite Lubricant did not solve the issue but did allow us to continue testing and turn in our car on time.
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October - November
In this project we designed a chair using only the cardboard provided. No glue, staples, tape or any other resources. We did do that, and made a unique design in the process. It was a weird cylindrical thing that used as few different pieces as possible. It held our group members pretty well and did hold Mrs. Cross for 90 seconds.
2nd Period Full Semester
In this program we worked on a water filter. Its a pretty simple project, but it was great to see the different ways people approached water purification. Some made basic filters with cotton, some made elaborate contraptions with heat, 3D printed parts, glue, the whole mix. Our version used a series of interlocking 3D printed sections with activated carbon in between, prefaced by a chlorine and iodine treatment. It was pretty simple and an elegant solution if it worked as intended. It didn't. the device did work, but leaked and we realized water and air pressure would be an issue. Water just would not move through the filter because air could not fill the bottle on top to take its place. The lack of air in the system meant that the bottle would collapse in on itself so you had a squeeze the system to work right.
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