Speaker Box Finale

Sebastijan Skoko
12-9-14
Mr. Lieb

Speaker Box Finale

The process of designing and printing out a speaker box was strewn with challenges. The first challenge came in the design process. SketchUp is a difficult software to use, as it is very simple. It is not very simple, however to get the exact result that you want. SketchUp, in my opinion is not very easy to use, and having to figure it out through trial and error was a challenge as well. Another challenge was time. While we were given a very generous amount of time to complete the project, there are 52 kids in the class, and finding time to print was not as easy as it may seem. Certain students, who tend to spend more time in the MSI Lab, seemingly were the priority of Mr. Piper's time. Not to say that that is good or bad, but it made time a bigger hurdle to get over. Another issue relating to time was sports. Playing a winter sport makes the afternoon time slot unavailable, a time of day when many teachers are available. Because of the lack of time, I only was able to print one prototype, which ended up not fitting together, and I was not able to try again, like many other students were able to. 

My design was very basic, something that I could have adjusted if I had a chance to print another box. I had a 3x3 inch cube with one joint on each side of every square. On the top of the box, I cut out a hole where the speaker would be placed. 

The only way to get the finished product to work would be to glue the joints together, as the female joints are slightly larger than the male joints. Due to this, my box was not very successful. If I were to glue the sides together, I would likely get a somewhat louder sound, due to the additional vibrations, but not as successful as if I had gotten the box to work by itself. 

If we were assigned this project again and I had to re-do it, I would be more assertive with the teachers and ensure that I would have enough time to print out a first copy of my box and then make adjustments as I saw fit. It would have been nice to have the luxury of time, which I would have had if I had gone out of my way to get the first prototype done, which ended up being my unsuccessful final result. Although many teachers were busy with other grades, classes, projects, tests, and quizzes, it was ultimately my responsibility to get my work done, which I failed to do. Also I would come up with a more original idea than the idea that was presented to us by the Bose companies representatives that came and spoke with us, and I would have budgeted my time more wisely. I learned a lot from this project and ultimately it was a productive educational experience. 

Animation Disc

Sebastijan Skoko
11-23-14
Animation Disc Finale
Mr. Lieb
MSI

Animation Disc Finale

For my animation disc, I took inspiration from the leaping frog example, made by the professionals over at Bose. The first step I took in creating my disc on SketchUp was creating the disc itself. Next, I had to divide the disc into eight sectors, each sector containing a perfect circle that would serve as a landing pad. The last step of the set up was to draw a square in the center of the circle so that it would be able to sit on the spinning apparatus. Up until this point everything was quite easy. 

The next step, illustrating the figures in a way that would portray them in a way that gives the illusion the figure was jumping from one landing pad to the next, however, was not as simple. The first figure that I made was standing still. The second figure was loading to jump, I illustrated this by bending his knees. The third figure is beginning his jump by leaning toward the next landing pad. The fourth figure is stretching his body, his legs in particular, in order to touch down on the next pad. The fifth figure is finally touching down on the next pad, his legs still spread. The sixth figure has his whole body touching the next pad. The seventh, and last, figure is bracing himself after landing his jump, before standing up loading and jumping again in an on-going cycle. If you noticed, I mentioned that there were eight sectors, yet I only mentioned seven figures. This is because in order to capture the illusion of the figure traveling point a to point b, there has to be one less figure than pad. 

While fun, the process of making a working animation disc had its challenges as well. The first challenge came in making the figures. It was hard to figure out the placement of the figures that would result in one less than the amount of pads. The second minor difficulty was actually laser cutting the disc. When my design was complete, the next step was to actually use the laser cutter. There were two main challenges with this. The first challenge that came with this was that I had to find a time to cut. While nobody is at fault here, between 51 other students, only one laser cutter and two teachers, finding a time to cut was very difficult. The next challenge with cutting was using the software that determines what type of cut would go with which line. Some cuts would only engrave a line while others cut through the cardboard. The last challenge came with the materials. The cardboard was very porous and thus wind blew the disc and it didn't work. This challenge was messing with many people's discs until somebody came up with a solution, taping the outside of the disc. The tape placed on the outer ring of the disc made it so that the air was not able to enter through the holes on the side of the disc. In the end, the process of making a working animation disc was difficult yet fun and educational. 

Below I have attached a link to the video clip of my disc. 

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7KNJz4mwL8edmF3YXpUYWtTTmc&authuser=1

Day 6 Homework

Sebastijan Skoko
11-2-14
MSI Mr. Lieb
Unit 3 - Day 6 HW

Although the cosine and sine functions are similar in the way that they appear regarding the curve, there are substantial differences as well. Regarding the amplitude, both functions (without being manipulated) have amplitudes of 1. Reverting your attention to the period and frequency, they are also the same, as the values have not been manipulated. The "c" value, set to 0 as well, however, does not seem to line up. At the value of 0 on the x axis, the cosine function's curve is at the peak of it's amplitude, while the sine function is at the middle of a wave. I'd like to be able to find out whether or not this has to do with where the curve starts, but the curve is seemingly infinite (or it is infinite) and I am not able to pinpoint the start to either curve. While I am not able to decipher the reason for this difference, it is certainly notable. The "d" value, likewise set to 0, follows the trend of being the same with both curves. In conclusion, the graphs are similar in nature but not the same, the notable difference being horizontal. The curves are the same in shape but not placement.

Sebastijan Skoko
MSI Lieb
10-28-14
Unit 3 - Sounds Good: Moving the Sine Function

The basic element of the sine function is the equation y=sin x, however, by adding additional variables to the equation it can become more complex. In the equation y = asin(b(x-c))+d, the additional values a, b, c, and d, add additional information, changing the curve. 

The value of a changes the amplitude. The amplitude as represented through this curve, dictates how the height of the waves. When the value of a is increased, the waves become taller in height. For example, when the curve is in the middle of the graph (d set to 0) and the value of a is 10, the top and bottom of the waves are at 10 and -10, respectively. To relate to the current unit on sound, a loud sound would have a taller wave and a softer sound would have a shorter wave. 

The value of b changes the frequency. The frequency as represented through this curve, dictates how many waves there are and how often they occur and restart. The more frequent the waves are, the shorter in length they are. When the value is high, or very low (negative) for frequency, the wave lengths are very short and the period (c) is very short. The closer to 0, however, the longer the wave lengths are (at 0 it is a linear function). 

The value of c changes the period. The period as represented through this curve, dictates how long the time between frequencies is. While frequency represents how often, period represents how long as stated by Chris Knight in class. By increasing the value of c, the entire graph moves to the right. Similarly when decreased, the entire graph moves to the left. 

The value of d changes the original height of the curve. By increasing the value for d, the graph slides up without changing it's shape, while decreasing the value for d slides the graph down without changing the shape. 

Sebastijan Skoko
10-16-14
MS1 Day 27-29
Solar Model Blog

The home that I selected, and did my solar model on is my home, 37 W Ridge Dr, Sharon, Ma. My home is not touching any trees and the sunlight would be able to directly hit the roof. My roof is flat, which would make for a simple installation. My roof also sits at a tilt of approximately 26.5 degrees. The length of my roof is 60 feet, the width is 20 feet, the height is 10 feet, and the slant height (hypotenuse) is approximately 22.36 feet. The area of the roof is approximately 1341.64 square feet, and the roof fits comfortably 84 solar panels. These solar panels will produce 26110 watts and the system will cost $83,969.76. While the production every year is in degradation, a profit will eventually be had, after the yearly payments of $11,408.80. However, if you were not planning to dwell in my house for 20 years, or longer, you would receive no profit, although annual net savings would begin to turn positive after 10 years. Therefore, the practicality of putting solar panels on my roof depends on the expected stay of the residents. If you were expecting to live in my house for 20 years, then it would make sense to install a solar system, because you would return a profit. However, if your were to stay for less than 20 years, it would not be sensical to install a solar system, as you would be losing money. Yet still, if you were to stay in the house for 20 plus years, your returns would be remarkable, as you would return approximately $46,000 after 25 years. In the case of my family, although these benefits would be nice down the line, my parents are not expecting to stay in our current house for 20 years more, as they will likely move when my sisters, currently 8th grade go on to college.

Ewok Escape Challenge Specifications

Sebastijan Skoko

9-21-14

Ewok Escape Challenge Specifications

Mr. Lieb

Part I

The problem facing the EDC's platform designed by Wicket.

The problem facing the EDC’s platform designed by Wicket, is that the cart on which the Ewoks are to escape from the danger of the storm troopers, is not evenly balanced. When the cart is placed on the wire, it tips to either side (likely whichever side has more weight). The metal structure on the bottom of the cart, made up mainly of a turnbuckle, wheels, and brackets, is not necessarily centered perfectly on each cart, causing one side to have more weight. The uneven weight distribution causes the cart to tip over. Also the wheels

Part II (By Harris)

How your product addresses that problem.

We had difficulty solving the problem of the Ewok escape. In the beginning we tried to hang a Chinese food box below the platform and prop the car up with wooden sticks. This idea may have worked but we couldn't secure the sticks to the box and get them to stay in place when the pressure of the car was put on them. Our solution is one involving two Chinese food boxes, pipe-cleaners, weights, styrofoam, and wooden sticks. One of our Chinese food boxes hangs below the cart by pipe-cleaners. On top of the cart we have a piece of thin foam with a Chinese food box on top. We decided on the styrofoam so the box doesn’t slide off. The box is where the Ewok will sit. We then have the two sticks going up from the foam with to another foam platform at the top. This creates a birds eye view of the surrounding danger the Ewok needs to avoid. The weight below the platform helps the cart balance.

Part III

Why your product works

Our product works because we put a lot of weight below the turnbuckle. In order to stabilize the cart on the wire, the amount of weight below the turnbuckle needs to be as much or more weight than is above it. The weight of the wooden plank is what tips over the turnbuckle alone. Because the wooden plank is slightly uneven, without force pulling down the turnbuckle and plank, it tips over. Putting the weight below the turnbuckle helps to even out the mass and pull all the force into the right direction, balancing the cart.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_of_mass

Part IV

The process your design team went through in arriving at the final product.

We started our process by simply laying two wooden dowels across the two cardboard tubes. This allowed us to easily slide the cart back and forth, however, Mr. Lieb told us what the bigger project was and we realized that our solution would do absolutely nothing. We then placed a chinese food box below the cart, attached by the turnbuckle, which Mr. Lieb also vetoed. Our next “master plan” was to attach a box below using a pipe cleaner as a tie, and use dowels in order to attach the box to the actual wood and prop up the entire structure, however we were not successful in attaching the sticks. Harris, my partner, then had the idea to take away the sticks, and lace the pipe cleaners with washers to add weight. The washers previously rested inside of the box, however they moved around and we were not able to keep them steady. This made the problem of uneven mass even greater, leading us to come up with the idea of lacing the pipe cleaners. We weighed the washers and put the same weight on each side. This prototype finally balanced the cart on the rope, legally.

    

Part V

Select two variables which are common to all 26 prototypes

A large variable in the 26 final prototypes was the amount of weight. The lighter prototypes were not able to balance quite as well, and if they did, they went slowly down the wire. The heavier prototypes pulled the weight down into the wire, balancing the cart well. As well, obviously given that they are heavier, they went down the wire more quickly.

Part VI

Physical specifications of your product

Directly on top of the wooden plank, we have a piece of foam. Resting on this foam, is a chinese food box, in which the Ewok would ride. Towards the bottom of the box, we have holes on each side, through which a pipe cleaner runs. This pipe cleaner ties to another pipe cleaner below the cart, which is laced with washers. The washer laced pipe cleaner is the connector between the main structure and the final balancing weight, another chinese food box. In the aforementioned foam piece, we stuck a dowel on each side, for height. At the top of these dowels, 24 inches above the car, another piece of foam stabilizes and holds together the two dowels. Although our cart did not make it down the entire wire, had it continued at the same rate, it would likely have taken 45 seconds. The wire was approximately 85 feet in length, thus the cart was moving at a rate of .52 ft per second. If our estimations are plausible, the care moved at about .35 miles per hour.

http://www.metric-conversions.org/speed/feet-per-second-to-miles-per-hour.htm

Part VII

Shortcomings of your product

Our product, although it was able to balance with ease on the simulation track, was not able to withstand the harsh winds, and wobbly wire that the real Endor environment contains. Our prototype, was not able to stay balanced after a slight push, nor were we able to balance it as well on the slightly less tense line. We needed to find a better way to balance our weight below, as the weight is subject to shift sides as we currently have it. Instead of draping the weight on two sides of one pipe cleaner which shifts its weight back and forth through the chinese food box, we should have used multiple in order to have as balanced a prototype as possible.

Mr. Lieb Motion Detector Issue

Sebastijan Skoko
8-28-14
Motion Detector Fix

             After a ten minute brainstorm session, we found ourselves with a spread of thirteen ideas, some more practical than others. We narrowed our possible fixes down to two, a pulley and just using a long pole to wave across the room, having received new knowledge that we were to construct a prototype using only our imaginations and the materials placed in the back of the room, such as pipe cleaners, twine, and a few long poles. We decided that the most reasonable option was to construct a pulley, seeing as Mr. Lieb is not training for a strong man competition any time soon, and a pole that would not go limp while reaching that far would be quite heavy. We used one of the long poles, some twine, and a circular plastic piece with a few punctures. We tied the twine around the pole and wrapped it around the plastic plate, leaving the majority of the twine as slack. The idea here is that the slack would travel all the way to Mr. Lieb's desk from the plate, mounted on the ceiling in the vicinity of the motion detector with the pole is suspended in the air. When the twine on the desk in tugged, the pole moves and the motion detector senses this happen, turning back on the lights. 

Seb_Ewok

Sebastijan Skoko      

9-9-14

  The  Ewok Escape Design Challenge 

The Ewoks live in a part of the universe of Star Wars where there are many trees. There are also many attacks on the Ewoks by the stormtroopers. In order to evade these attacks, we have to be able to balance a cart on a zipline from a height that simulates the trees, but not quite as high, down to the ground. The set up given is a line that goes from one pole and attaches to another. On this line, we are asked to ensure that the Ewok can safely get from one side to the other without the cart on which he is to ride flipping over. Lastly the Ewok is to be placed on the cart in a way that puts him out of harms way. In order to complete this challenge, you have to find a way to balance the cart. If you put the cart on the line by itself, it tips over. Also, on its way down away from the stormtroopers, it needs to be protected in a way that the stormtroopers are not able to see or attack them. We used two chinese take out boxes, a few pipe cleaners and weights. We tied three pipe cleaners around the cart in order to distribute the weight. We also tied a pipe cleaner to a chinese take out box hung below with weights inside, and the three around the cart. Lastly we placed another take out box on the top of the cart, where the Ewok would be able to go and be protected. In order to refine our design, I'd like to find a better way to prop the take out box on top so that it stays. Also, I'd like to find a way to split the four weights up in the box evenly so that the weight stays evenly distributed, such as making  four quadrants. The key issue with "The Ewok Escape Design Challenge" is balancing the cart on top of the wire in a way that it is still portable. On the third day of building we will make the same set up but will make the changes of a tighter structure up top and evenly distributed weight in the box. 

Sebastijan Skoko
8-27-14
MSI 1

1.) What do you think is the most important invention in your lifetime?
      The iPhone. Previous smartphones were not as user friendly, in that they were difficult to read and navigate. Applications make everyday life easier, playing games is entertaining, when your schedule is busy you can become forgetful, however helpful reminders from your phone allow you to be more organized and much more. Not to mention all of these things are in the same compact space. 

2.) What is one product that you think is well designed?
      I think that my bed is well designed. I have a headrest which provides my pillow with support and multiple drawers underneath which provides convenient storage space. 

3.) What do you think of when you hear the word "engineering"?
      When I hear the word "engineering", I think of my grandfather. He has designed multiple buildings and bridges including the New World Trade Center.

4.) What is one piece of art that you enjoy?
     My mom is a painter and I admire her work at home.