PRINCIPLES OF ENGINEERING
Through problems that engage and challenge, students explore a broad range of engineering topics, including mechanisms, the strength of structures and materials, and automation. Students develop skills in problem solving, research, and design while learning strategies for design process documentation, collaboration, and presentation.
TRUSS PROJECT
In this project, I utilized my knowledge of force vectors, static equilibrium, and centroids to design a balsa wood truss bridge that maximized efficiency (Weight bridge held / weight of bridge).
I first designed my bridge in MD solids, a stress modeling program, to verify the strength of my design. The design was optimized to reduce compression, because balsa wood performs well under tension, but poorly under compression. After that I build the bridge by gluing the balsa wood supports together.
Results:
Weight: 1.4 grams
Weight Held: 2722 grams
Efficiency: 1579
I first designed my bridge in MD solids, a stress modeling program, to verify the strength of my design. The design was optimized to reduce compression, because balsa wood performs well under tension, but poorly under compression. After that I build the bridge by gluing the balsa wood supports together.
Results:
Weight: 1.4 grams
Weight Held: 2722 grams
Efficiency: 1579
MARBLE SORTER PROJECT
This project tested my knowledge of control systems. With my team I created a marble sorting system that sorts marbles and places them in bins based on color. Analog and digital sensors were required for the program to figure out the color of each marble.
My design involved a small hopper that lead marbles down a track. A gate would open to let one marble into the sensing chamber. After a light and phototransistor determines the color of the marble, one of multiple ramps will extend out and the marble will roll into it's corresponding bin.
My design involved a small hopper that lead marbles down a track. A gate would open to let one marble into the sensing chamber. After a light and phototransistor determines the color of the marble, one of multiple ramps will extend out and the marble will roll into it's corresponding bin.