Module Overview and
Design Challenge
- What You Will Do
- Materials Needed
- Design Challenge
- pecification and Constraints
- Student Requirements
What You Will Do:
In the Safety Light System module, you will work in a group to:
Understand and investigate possible solutions to a given problem
by an informed design cycle.
Investigate that problem by completing Knowlege and Skill Builder
(KSB) activities.
Use appropriate tools and materials to design a solution described
to the design challenge.
Base your design and redesign upon scientific and mathematical concepts.
See that your design meets specifications and constraints.
Collect, plot and compare test data.
Use mathematical models, such as graphs and equations, to analyze
your data.
Make improvements to your design based on your data analysis.
Develop and use a repeatable and reliable method for testing your
design.
Propose improvements based on results of testing your design and
related science and mathematics concepts.
Materials Needed
You will need the electronic components for prototyping.
Resistors
Capacitors
LEDs
A 555 timer
Switches
Electric meters
A solderless breadboard
Package boxes, mounting material, solar cells and batteries will
be provided for the packaging of the safety light system.
Design Challenge
In this module, students will design a safety light system that
could be used by a person running, cycling, or roller blading. The
system will use a power source that has the least negative environmental
impact. The safety light should blink at a rate and at a brightness
that will attract the attention of motorists and should operate
for a minimum of twenty hours before requiring replacement or recharging.
Students will also design a package to house the circuit and battery
and a mounting system to attach the safety light for use while exercising.
Constraints The
finished product will be designed to be:
As light weight as possible
Conveniently portable for joggers and cyclists
Specifications
Your team will demonstrate the ability to:
Design electronic circuits by using a informed design-cycle process,
Learn about primary and rechargeable batteries that are useful to
power the safety light system,
Demonstrate understanding of the environmental and societal costs
of primary and rechargeable batteries,
Use proper and safe techniques to fabricate, test and evaluate the
usability of the safety light system.
Student Requirements Students
will be expected to:
See the specification listing above.
Maintain either a Design Activity
Folio (DAF) or a Design Journal in which you will gather and
record information on a daily basis as you complete the KSBs and
the design challenge for this module.
With your team, students will be expected to:
Submit a final report that summarizes your work and findings:
 Web
search results
Hands-on research
(factor studies)
Completion of
KSBs
Work on design
challenge
Methods used
to generate the final design solution
Make a professional oral presentation (using powerpoint slides)
to your class that will:
Justify
your design solution
Use a variety
of media
Demonstrate that
the solution meets the design challenge
Your teacher will assess your understanding of the Knowledge and Skill
Builders and evaluate the quality of your Design Activity Folio or
Design Journal, your Design Report and your group's presentation.
Knowledge Skill Builders (KSBs)
1. The
Informed Design Cycle
2. Battery
and Alternative Energy Sources
3. Basic Electronic Circuit Relations
4. Circuit Board and Package Design
Back to Module Overview
|
