The SMILE Program @ OSU

The engineering team introduces some videos that may be useful to your cable car project.  The videos shows the assembly and disassembly of ski lifts, which are very much like cable cars but not identical.  What are the differences you see? How can this be applied to your project? Let us know in the comments section below!

Video 1: Chairlift Assembly

Video 2: Chairlift Tower Disassembly

Video 3: Peak to Peak Cable Installation

This week Alex talks to us about the engineering code of ethics. Webster’s Dictionary defines ethics as: “rules of behavior based on ideas about what is morally good and bad”.  This can play a role when you engineer a product that is for the masses, such as your cable car.  These practices are good to keep in mind when you incorporate safety into your cable car. Take a listen to the engineering code of ethics!

Previously on the blog we showed you how to build a biodegradable battery from washers, pennies, and vinegar. A SMILE Club from Forest Grove High School shared with us the many different objects they used to try to create a battery.  Success came when the club used a strawberry as their energy source, but what characteristics of strawberry make it a good battery? We think this video does a great job of explaining the science behind this concept:

Hopefully after watching this video you have a better understanding of anodes and cathodes.  What else could be used in place of the strawberry or lemon? Scientist Angela Belcher is working on making batteries from viruses so that batteries can be biodegradable.  In this article she expands on her research.  What do you think will make a good battery?

The SMILE club at Forest Grove High School was nice enough to share with us their pictures of them planting their poplar samplings.  We encourage you to start planting soon and we look forward to exchanging data in the future.  Remember earlier in the term we shared with you a lesson plan as well as a video to help your students learn about bioenergy.  Happy planting!

The mechanical engineering team wants to help you with some of your cable car requirements. First, you must have requirements that are testable.  You also need to find the best test for the requirements you want to meet.  The guys show you how their cable car testing was done and signed off by their professor. Just a reminder your cable car must: cross the 5-foot span of string without falling off, balance on the span without any assistance, have no more than two strings may be used for the cable car, have no human assistance can be used during the operation of the cable car, be able to move in both directions, be reliable and safe, and travel quickly. Good luck!

The group wants to show you how their project is coming along.  Alex, Erik, and Jared are excited to show you how they incorporated their materials into their own cable car reality.

Alex shows you how the team incorporated scale into their design.  A scale is the size you determine your cable car to be.  The group shows us how they used a computer to decide their scale and then put it into practice. Remember the group is making a larger scale project, but these tips can still be applied to you.

Jared and the SMILE Team strongly encourage you to use safety while creating your project.  Jared also tells us about manufacturing and how laying out your project is an important first step.  Remember mistakes happen and it is important to stay positive while working with your group. We encourage you to ask questions on the blog and keep checking back!