Toothpick Bridge Challenge!!

We were given the challenge to undertake the building of a bridge using only toothpicks and glue!
So we assembled, 6 powerful teammates, coming together to complete the quest we've accepted!

THE CRITERIA:

• Build the bridge with the highest strength to weight ratio (most weight prior to breaking vs the weight of the design).

THE CONSTRAINTS:

• Bridge may not weigh more than 50 grams.
• Bridge must span a 12” gap.
• Bridge must be at least one toothpick length wide.
• Bridge must be at least one toothpick length in height.
• No more than 8 toothpicks touching in parallel at any point.
• Materials:
• Construction Materials:
• One pack of 800 Count “Royal” toothpicks.
• Glue guns and glue
• Fabrication materials:
• cardboard and wax paper to prevent glue mess.
• graphpaper to layout design.
• Keep your workspace clean!

So our team got together and using the packs of toothpicks we created a structure like the one exemplified in the figures below.

We used at first wood glue (grew impatient with the drying time required) then switched to hot glue guns.

We built one side with this structure

Due to time constraints, we knew we wouldn't be able to finish our original design on time, so we improvised!

What we originally intended as a side piece became the surface! However, when in standard bridge position, our bridge buckled under the empty box. Somewhat discouraged, we attempted it upside down, trying ANYTHING to get it to work.

Surprisingly, it worked beautifully! Our strength ratio was 15:1, way more than anything we had expected from our underdog toothpick bridge!\

This challenge was really valuable in learning something about time management and productivity!

February 19. Design Build Challenge!

What we did! We were told to design something that would transport a ping pong ball 2 feet across a gap between tables. Every team was given $12,000 to buy the materials for our designs. For my team's design:

We spent $9,000 on 4 feet of tape and two cups.

It is a simple design however our simplicity allowed for a clean shoot into the cup!

Lego Robotic Cars!!!

Our objective when beginning this challenge was to create a free moving vehicle using our lego robotic kits! We were to program the vehicle and build it in order to go through a set course!

This is a picture of attaching the final wheels to our car!
So that the final product looks like....

We hadn't sketched any ideas beforehand, we just went at it, building prototype after prototype until a final car emerged victor!

In order to make the car do what we wanted, Dylan used online programming:

At first we had a hard time getting our bot to turn, but with enough fiddling with the programming, Dylan was able to make it do a little walk and turn!!

Our little Star Wars looking robotic lego car was able to complete this course:

Where the white line on the right is start, and the line on the left is finish!

Feedback!

Project Feedback:

• Positive Results:
• We were able to make it go for extended periods of time and added better wheels so that the power wasn't lost! It was able to drive and quickly too!
• The turning capabilities were low at first, but then Dylan and Jose developed "the walk" so our car could walk the walk AND talk the talk!
• Improve
• Turning radius - we saw some vehicles that could nearly "turn on a dime" and that would be something to emulate in the future!
• Aesthetics! We're working with Legos so there could be a lot of opportunity to make our design look more interesting.

Partner feedback:

The main creator was Dylan!! He really worked hard on it and deserves an awesome point!

Manila Folder Bridge Challenge!

We were to build a bridge over a 22" gap and support as many magazines as possible without the bridge collapsing, while also fitting within the following constraints!


Constraints:Part 1

• Materials:
• 2 "letter size" Manilla folders
• 2' of masking tape (may not use any piece longer than 6")
• Weighing:
• Magazines will be used as "weights"
• Your "score" for our competition is determined by how many magazines your structure supports!
• Magazines will be added to your structure one at a time until "failure" is achieved.
• You may place magazines anywhere on your structure as long as:
• All magazines must rest between the two vertical edges of the gap your bridge is spanning (magazines must be over the "gap").
• No magazines may touch the tables (magazines may not be piled up to "self support" themselves).

Our first bridge:

This one was not too successful when I tried it again because it was worn out from our first few tries! It also did not span the 22" distance. So I attempted again:

This one was nearly successful! It was however to weak to hold ANY magazines. This is most likely because after further analyzing my criteria, the distance was not 22" but in fact 18"!! Oops!

This will teach me to read more carefully in order to be successful!

4th Annual Mousetrap-Racecar Races!

 We were given a set criteria and constraints permitted for my team of three to create a race car powered by a mousetrap!

 we were told:

Criteria:
Design, build and compete with a Mousetrap Racecar (A "car" uses at least two axles).
Maintain a clean workspace.

Constraints:
One mousetrap
No more than 12" of masking tape
Fischertechnique robotics parts
No more than 24" of string
All materials used must travel with your vehicle
You must work through the stages of the event (see Achievements below)
Additional materials by Instructor approval

ok...tough...

BUT, we did it and I am claiming 8 achievements!!

1. "Build It"-

2. "The Price of Glory"- $2 for the 2 axles, $1 for the mousetrap, $1 for 12" of tape, $1 for all 24" of string, $4 for all wheels, $4 for 4 bearings, for a total of $13

3./4. "Long Distance Winner!"- We tied for the longest distance with one other team!!!!

        "Going the Mile!"

5."Game Changer"- I think making the game so that you have to also move something from one point to another would create a whole new breed of ideas and creativity!

6."Name it"- "The Participant"- how much did you participate and are there witnesses or proof?

7."Leave It Cleaner Than You Found It"- We cleaned up all our messes and I for one made sure I also picked up some screws and stray string that fell on the ground.

8. "Design/Build"- It was similar in the design/build challenge in that we all had to make suggestions and constantly try them out until we came up with a product that worked! Trying and failing and trying again  is essential in any king of innovative career because theres no way to get something perfectly the first time!

Marble Drop challenge!

 •Goal!!!!- To create a system using only the force of gravity to propel a single marble into a cup as far away from the starting point as possible.

   •Materials!!!!- We were allowed to use 1 marble of our choosing, 14 drinking straws, 10 wooden toothpicks, and 3 paper cups.

so we created a simple tape ramp with straws on the side for a barrier

We then chose a marble of a heavier weight so that it could stay true on the path!

We won the challenge! We got about 18 floor tiles from our starting point directly into the cup first try!!!

Design Build challenge!!

Our goal was to build a structure out of 3 paper cups, 3 feet of tape, 10 toothpicks, and 14 straws, that was successful in getting a marble into one of the cups at the farthest distance from the tables edge!

we used the entire length of the tape, attached it to the table and to the floor. We used the straws to line the tape and make a sort of bumper to keep the marble on track. 

We used a metal marble so it had enough weight to be accurate. About 15 floor tiles from the place where the tape was on the floor, we placed all 3 cups in a row to have the best chances. When it came to testing we won with 18 floor tiles!!