August 24 Meeting: Preview, Part 2

We need to decide on what projects we wish to complete this semester so we may request funds as soon as possible.

Here are some preliminary project ideas:

Arduino

Arduino is a single-board microcontroller designed to make the process of using electronics in multidisciplinary projects more accessible. Projects include many basic electronic devices.

Arduino Uno Board Micro Servo Motor Potentiometer

$29.96 $4.95 $1.25

Bridge Building Competition

Build a model bridge model either out of balsa wood stripes, cardboard, or architecture form core.

Balsa Strip (1/4” x 1/4” x 36”) Wood glue (4 oz) Push Pins (100)

$1.79 $2.99 $1.99

Gravity Cart

The gravity car uses a falling weight to propel it forward. 

Foam Board (20” x 30”), 10/Pack Glue Gun Glue Sticks (30), Mini ¾” Pulley Rubber Bands (3 ½” x ¼”), ¼ lb bag Wooden Dowel (4’ x 3/8”)

$34.99 $16.99 $3.09 $2.36 $2.49 $0.98

SODIS

The SODIS method uses the sun’s UV radiation and heat to decontaminate water in one liter clear plastic bottles. These bottles are placed in the sun for a number of hours, depending on climate conditions. The shortcomings of the SODIS method are that water is purified only in one liter quantities, and the treated water must be cooled for some additional hours before it can be consumed. Improve the SODIS method by increasing the volume of water that can be treated with solar radiation.

Cost minimal.

Cold Chamber

Currently in Africa there is a system referred to as the “cold chain” to transport medicine, vaccinations, blood samples and other temperature sensitive items from rural areas to larger cities and back. This “cold chain” is a series of stops a driver would make to either store the items in a refrigerator temporarily or acquire bags of ice to inefficiently cool the temperature of the items for the amount of time it takes to get to the next link in the chain. Invent a better cooler that can maintain the near freezing temperature, and is easy to transport and set up.

Cost unknown.