Difference between revisions of "Team PB"

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(Revised, added some stuff, split construction process to involve more of our thought process in going from launcher to zipline.)
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'''Initial Ideas'''
 
'''Initial Ideas'''
  
After receiving our materials, which included a rubber band, duct tape, a paper bag, a plastic bag, a paper sign, a foam tube, two skewers, and a tennis ball, our first idea was to use the rubber band to launch the tennis ball. The idea of a simple sligshot, possibly aided by a ramp or track made of the sign or skewers, came up. We also contemplated automated throwing arm and shot-gun ideas. Momentarily, we contemplated making a balloon-motor out of the plastic bag, a bat out of the foam tube, and glider from the plastic bag. Another main idea that we discussed was creating a zip-line out of tape and any other necessary materials. Though enchanting, we circled back to the idea of using the rubber band to project the ball forward. Upon the process of construction, we discussed various sling-shot methods, including setting the skewers into a base of foam with duct tape and launching the ball with the skewers as a ramp.
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After receiving our materials, which included a rubber band, duct tape, a paper bag, a plastic bag, a paper sign, a foam tube, two skewers, and a tennis ball, we began brainstorming ideas. Many of our ideas involved apparatuses that would give the tennis ball potential energy, generally by way of the rubber band, so that the ball could still be released "from rest." The first idea was to use the rubber band to launch the tennis ball. The idea of a simple slingshot, possibly aided by a ramp or track made of the sign or skewers, came up. We also contemplated automated throwing arm and shotgun-like ideas. Momentarily, we contemplated making a balloon-motor out of the plastic bag, a bat out of the foam tube, and glider from the plastic bag. Another main idea that we discussed was creating a zipline, fundamentally made of tape. Though enchanting, we circled back to the idea of using the rubber band to project the ball forward. Upon the process of construction, we discussed various sling-shot methods, including setting the skewers into a base of foam with duct tape and launching the ball with the skewers as a ramp.
  
 
[[File:20120904_094641.jpg]]
 
[[File:20120904_094641.jpg]]
  
===Construction Process===
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===Construction and Redesign Process===
  
The construction of our launching device started with finalizing our brainstorming. Our first course of action was to narrow down our list of options to the truly viable ideas. As such, we whittled down the list to only two ideas, a zip-line and a piston-like launcher, as our final designs. However, we could not decide between either idea, so eventually decided to split our resources in half and attempt to make both devices and use the superior device for the contest. After some testing, we discovered that the zip-line (constructed from duct tape, string, the paper bag, and the cardboard duct tape roll) would hypothetically travel the farthest distance unless the launcher could be modified using more resources that were unfortunately unavailable to us. Therefore we finalized the zip-line idea and tried testing out immediately after construction. However, we encountered some difficulties testing out the zip-line properly on that same day because of the wind so two of our group members volunteered to test it on another day where there was less environmental interference. These tests were ultimately successful, and that success has garnered victory! TEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM P.B.!
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The construction of our launching device started with finalizing our brainstorming. Our first course of action was to narrow down our list of options to the truly viable ideas. During construction, our first focus was on creating a piston-like launcher that would allow the ball to rest at the end of the pool noodle, through which we could use the rubber band to fire one of the sticks and impart momentum to the ball. Initially this was promising, as the stick could be launched separately, but when launching the ball, other issues arose: the stick did not always strike the ball directly, and the rubber band did not impart sufficient momentum to the stick and then to the ball, since the ball weighed significantly more than the stick individually. Our final launcher design was functional but not as effective as we would have liked.
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We then considered another design: the zipline. We hypothesized that a zipline could deliver the tennis ball a further distance than the launcher, given the latter's constraints. There was no way to estimate accurately whether we had sufficient tape, but since the other design was complete, we decided to use the remaining resources in an attempt to create a functional zipline. We folded over the entire role of duct tape to make a track, and then cut that in half to achieve greater length. We used the empty duct tape roll, the string, and the paper bag to create a "harness" for the ball after determining that the duct tape roll minimized friction with the duct tape line (in comparison with string or the paper clip). Therefore we finalized the zipline idea and tried testing out immediately after construction. However, we encountered some difficulties testing out the zipline properly on that same day because of the wind so two of our group members volunteered to test it on another day where there was less environmental interference. These tests were ultimately successful, and that success has garnered victory! TEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM P.B.!
  
 
[[File:dilbert.gif]]
 
[[File:dilbert.gif]]

Revision as of 12:33, 16 September 2012

This is the Team PB Ball Drop page; Team PB won the Ball Drop.

The Design Process

Initial Ideas

After receiving our materials, which included a rubber band, duct tape, a paper bag, a plastic bag, a paper sign, a foam tube, two skewers, and a tennis ball, we began brainstorming ideas. Many of our ideas involved apparatuses that would give the tennis ball potential energy, generally by way of the rubber band, so that the ball could still be released "from rest." The first idea was to use the rubber band to launch the tennis ball. The idea of a simple slingshot, possibly aided by a ramp or track made of the sign or skewers, came up. We also contemplated automated throwing arm and shotgun-like ideas. Momentarily, we contemplated making a balloon-motor out of the plastic bag, a bat out of the foam tube, and glider from the plastic bag. Another main idea that we discussed was creating a zipline, fundamentally made of tape. Though enchanting, we circled back to the idea of using the rubber band to project the ball forward. Upon the process of construction, we discussed various sling-shot methods, including setting the skewers into a base of foam with duct tape and launching the ball with the skewers as a ramp.

20120904 094641.jpg

Construction and Redesign Process

The construction of our launching device started with finalizing our brainstorming. Our first course of action was to narrow down our list of options to the truly viable ideas. During construction, our first focus was on creating a piston-like launcher that would allow the ball to rest at the end of the pool noodle, through which we could use the rubber band to fire one of the sticks and impart momentum to the ball. Initially this was promising, as the stick could be launched separately, but when launching the ball, other issues arose: the stick did not always strike the ball directly, and the rubber band did not impart sufficient momentum to the stick and then to the ball, since the ball weighed significantly more than the stick individually. Our final launcher design was functional but not as effective as we would have liked.

We then considered another design: the zipline. We hypothesized that a zipline could deliver the tennis ball a further distance than the launcher, given the latter's constraints. There was no way to estimate accurately whether we had sufficient tape, but since the other design was complete, we decided to use the remaining resources in an attempt to create a functional zipline. We folded over the entire role of duct tape to make a track, and then cut that in half to achieve greater length. We used the empty duct tape roll, the string, and the paper bag to create a "harness" for the ball after determining that the duct tape roll minimized friction with the duct tape line (in comparison with string or the paper clip). Therefore we finalized the zipline idea and tried testing out immediately after construction. However, we encountered some difficulties testing out the zipline properly on that same day because of the wind so two of our group members volunteered to test it on another day where there was less environmental interference. These tests were ultimately successful, and that success has garnered victory! TEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM P.B.!

Dilbert.gif

Final Design

The zip-line was made of the duct tape we received. We cut the duct tape into fourths in order to increase the length of the zip-line and then folded each fourth in half with the sticky side on the inside. The fourths were taped together with the remaining duct tape. The device carrying the tennis ball consisted of the cardboard roll that the tape had originally been rolled around, a piece of string that was looped and knotted around the roll, and a brown paper bag, which was attached to the other end of the string, that contained the tennis ball. The tape roll was then placed through the line of tape to form our zip-line.

Team Members