Define

For this project, our goal was to pick a problem and try to solve it using an electrical circuit and present it to the dragons. so, naturally, we started by brainstorming ideas for problems. Our teachers, Ms. Yorke and Mr. Robinson said that first, we could start by writing down any problems on our assigned whiteboards. So while my group members came up with ideas, I wrote them down on the whiteboard, as well as my own.

After we were done brainstorming, we circled some of the big problems we wouldn’t be able to solve but may have smaller problems attached to them that we could solve. Later, we narrowed it down to three problems.

• Power outages
• Kidnappings
• Cost of Livings

The three of us later tried to have a brainstorming session to come up with questions that connect with these three topics. We later decided to work on Power Outages, for it was the easiest to come up with ideas.

So, to sum up, after a few days in the Define stage and brainstorming, we decided to try to solve power outages.

 

Discover

Now, our next step was to research the problem. before this stage, we each gave ourselves roles or stages in the process of this project we would lead. I would lead the research, Liz would lead the circuit design, and Dylan would lead the Outer design (Although we didn’t do anything to make it look aesthetic, so the last part didn’t matter). So, given my position, I did about 50% of the research, whereas Liz and Dylan did 25% each. We researched Important and relevant facts about Power outages, and how wind turbines worked (Although once again later this research proved its self to be not that much use, so I stopped researching about it), materials we would need.

Dream

Our next step now was to start designing the circuit. this was Liz’s job to lead, but we already pretty much had an idea of what we wanted to do from the video we looked at in the Discover section.

So, the first thing we needed to do was to figure out how to make this device, and what we need. As you see above, I have already researched the materials we need; the majority of them, we can get at school. All we had to do was to bring just a few materials to school e=before we started building. I brought cardboard the build the stand shown in the thumbnail above, Liz brought the hot glue, and Dylan brought the ball bearings used to weigh the lid/plastic wheel. Once we got most of the necessary items, all we had left was to get the plastic lid to use as the wheel. So, we decided to 3D print the lid. I was the one who programmed it but once it was in process, the gap in the lid was not centred, so we were panicking. My partners, however, reassured me that the ball bearings were there to center the wight so it spun correctly, so it would be fine. Once the lid was done printing, we went on to build our circuit. We were pretty much done when we noticed that we didn’t have one part that we needed. it was the wart that you would attach to the motor, so when you attach the elastic band onto it, it can spin the motor instead of just rubbing against it. So, at the very last second, we had decided to use this hand electric generator thingy that replicated what we tried to make pretty well.

Here is how it turned out. (please click on the link for the web version)

How the Circuit turned out

Deliver

How does it work?

To generate the electricity, you have to spin the wheel inside the hand generator. With this generator, you just have to spin the handle to spin the wheel on the inside. Then the generated electricity moves through the conductor connecting the generator to the motor, which is the wires. Through the motor, the electricity travels into the rechargeable battery, and BAM, you have batteries for your house. However, this is only o prototype. If it were to actually be built, then the wheel would be moved by the pedals on the bike, and the motor and the battery would be much bigger.

How does it help?

If you had this circuit attached to your stationary bike in your house, then you would have batteries that you could plug into the necessary parts of the house. Then you would have power to the parts of the house you need, like the fridge, some lights, some power outlets, and the furnace. That is only if you exercised daily on the said bike.

Drawbacks/negative things to consider

One thing could be that, if you keep on charging the battery, and don’t use it for a long time, the batteries may not last forever.

Another could be that the rate of generating electricity can be really slow depending on the rate you peddle the bike. If you are well, then it could take longer for you to generate the same amount of electricity than a stronger person.

Debrief

I think the whole process went pretty well. I thought that maybe if we had a bit more coordination, I wouldn’t have felt panicked at the end of the project before the dragon’s den. I wish that I could have been better at leading this group so that we could have gone through the whole process more smoothly. On the day of the dragon’s den, I was also asked questions that I was not prepared for. I also wished that I had a bit more discipline to keep studying. But all in all, I think it went pretty well.